Step 1. Base colours

[tonydawe]

End of session one; phew!!

Vallejo acrylic (2 washes 1:1 paint to distilled water) base coats over shirt and trousers.

Shirt is nearing the end of its life. Been worn of the last two patrols and has bleached through with sweat, mud, water and constant wear for the last 14 days. Base colour is Buff.

The trooper has "broken in" his new trousers on this patrol, which are a later pattern ERDL developed by the US but made in South Vietnam. They have been wet for the last two weeks and have not been taken off, except for when the trooper had a call of nature!! Base colour on trousers is Yellow Green.

First colour on the four colour camoflague pattern is (appropriately) Gunship Green, applied in two rough washes. The colours will be applied in order of lightest to darkest.

I started priming this figure approximately 10 hours ago. I've had less than 5 hours of solid painting in that time.

Very early days, and a long, long, long way to go yet my friends.

Hope you stick with it. I hope I do too.

Cheers

 

[tonydawe]

Trousers ERDL pattern

Step 1. Base Colours - Trousers

4 colour ERDL pattern trousers base coated in Vallejo acrylics.

Yellow Green (lightest)
Gunship Green
US Field Brad + Burnt Umber
Grey Black + drop of Oxford Blue + drop of Black

No highlights or shading yet.

Shirt base coated in Buff.

Backyard pics next to tennis ball for scale reference.

Cheers

 

[Roc]

Very good start, looking forward to your next step.

Cheers
Roc

 

[tonydawe]

Step 1. Base Coat - Shirt

Step 1. Base Coat - Shirt

4 colour ERDL pattern shirt, a shade or two lighter than trousers due to fading and bleaching over several months wear.

Base - Buff
Gunship Green + drop of Yellow Green
US Field Drab + drop Orange Brown
Black Grey.

Next step - base coating webbing, pack and accoutrements.

Cheers

 

[billyturnip]

Great step by step Tony. Keep it up, you've plenty of time, I'm here for a months leave

Roger

 

[megroot]

Excellent SBS.'
Not my cup of tea, but i find it great.

marc

 

[tonydawe]

Big scale tips

Marc

If it helps, I look at painting this figure in exactly the same way I do with a 54mm figure or 90mm or 120mm. The techniques are the same, the shadowing and highlighting process are the same, and the paints are the same.

The only difference with LARGE scale figures is to balance the highlights and the shadows against the natural shadows and highlights that the figure will create on its own.

The contrast decreases and the level of sculpted detail requires every part of the surface to be thoroughly shaded, shadowed and highlighted. At this scale every little bit of this figure needs to be painted in micro detail, while also creating a natural and realistic look from a distance. There are no short cuts.

In the case of this figure, I am greatly assisted by the excellence of the sculpting and the quality of the casting.

Marc, you should try one, just for fun . Think BIG my friends .

Cheers

 

[alamac]

G'Day Tony.
Off to a flyer my friend, looking great so far, looking forward to seeing the life being breathed into him with each stroke of the brush.
Cheers
Alan

 

[tonydawe]

Step 1. Base Colours - Webbing, flesh areas

Latest pics showing further progress on applying base coats. Minimum 2 coats on all painted surfaces so far.

This figure is already coming alive before my eyes .

Cheers

 

[Black Army]

Great great work! Beautiful camo.

Keep us posting!

Cheers,
Balázs

 

[tonydawe]

Balazs & Alan - thank you both for your encouraging comments .

Alan - thanks for giving me the inspiration (kick up the arse ) I needed to get started on this wonderful figure.

Cheers