Thanks folks especially Tony I'll take those points on board and re visit it, Carl is always nagging me about highlights and shadows I tend to shy away from them as I'm not a fan of the high contrast look so tend to go to the other extreme
Steve

Steve

At the risk of being seen to be publicly agreeing with Carl , I do think there's some merit in increasing the general level of contrast by a few notches. I'm not suggesting you go extreme levels of contrast, but I think you'll find a slightly higher level of contrast will look better.

Again thanks for your advice Tony
Steve

In case anybody wanted it, the colours used in the DPM are Games Workshop acrylics in order of use Tallarn Sand, Loren Forest and Dryad Bark, the black lightning are Revell Tank Grey. Another tip (From Carl) is mix a small amount of the base with the other colours to help them blend together.
Steve

Did a little more last worked on the shading/pattern as per Tony's ideas started on the webbing and carrying frame for the 320, and got the face somewhere like I want, hopefully it looks cold and tired. Please keep the advice coming folks it's invaluable
Steve

Good progress mate, I see you have added the brass to the smock pockets press studs think zip was brass also but would have to check and confirm that. Nice touch adding the lighter shade to the trim on the resi pouches, really brings them out now.

Cheers
Steve

This is coming along really well.

John

Cheers Steve and John as I remembered it Steve it was a brass zip painted gloss black which I have tried to show see if I can get a decent pic of it
Steve

Just checked the two smocks I have and both show the teeth of the zip are fully brass with green zip cloth holding it together.... does that make sense ... not sure it does to me
Here's picture I found on the internet which explains better

Found this one which has a brass zip but a black whatever the hell it's called that works the zip!

Added the left arm and left ammo pouch, as well as the carrying frame. I've used cotton wool strands for steam but I ain't convinced it's worked, honest opinions welcome if you think it sucks say so It's easy enough to remove. The arm has yet to be weathered in like the smock so it does look a bit brighter, also added a bit more cam cream grubbiness to the face again thoughts appreciated on it, as Jimmy pointed out we were a pretty scruffy lot
Steve

This is looking very good now Steve. A couple of things jar with me though and draw focus away from the whole figure.
Firstly I think you need to tone down the white in the eyes by quite some way. I'd also go for a mid grey eye colour with a very slightly darker edge. As it stands he looks a bit hypnotized.
Secondly the sheen on the beret, might be the lighting but if its not you could try Testors Dulcote lightly stippled on, might even give a sense of texture.
Tat being said a bit of thought and context on the base and groundwork and you will have an impressive figure. I'd leave the 'steam' until the piece is fully finished and then decide.

Cheers Del the beret is down to bad photography the uhhh light yeah that's it the light In all serious it is dead matt as per the first pics. Good call on the eyes I knew there was something not right, I used my usual eye white mix of white with a dab of blue will try a more off white colour. As to the base got one coming from Ron will keep it simple I do have a cap badge so might either have no ground work just the badge or very minimal groundwork as frankly there wasn't really anything striking about the ground down south
Steve

Nice progress mate, frame looks good fitted in place and a good shade of dark green which fit the bill nicely, looking forward to seeing the 320 fitted.
Steam looks OK to me but like Del says wait till the end and then decided for sure.
Cheers
Steve

Cheers Steve, yeah the steam is one of those niggly things I look at it one minute and think it looks good, then next time I think it doesn't
Steve

I have

I have the same issue when looking in the mirror each morning

Ditto actually no on second thoughts it never looks well

I would agree with Derek about the eyes Steve, however on previous photo's they looked ok. You're probably the best judge of that as the figure is in front of you, if it looks fine to you with the naked eye then it is. Same goes for the steam from the wet playful: couldn't help that, none of that Percy Pongo brew malarky around here..) it looks good in the photo but how it looks to you or the viewer in real life is what matters.... unless you're thinking of publishing a book of course.
Hope this helps and you're doing a cracking job, keep it up mate.

Cheers Rog I have just added a slightly greyer white to the eyes and will see how that goes. I see everybody is fence sitting on the steam myself included
Steve

As I said Steve the steam looks good in the pic but we don't all make models for photo's.... your call but don't do anything rash, plenty of time to make up your mind. It might be an idea to ask an independent "expert" and we all know who she is, mine is a very harsh critic with no thought to my feelings whatsoever, if it's s**t I get told.