Looking good
Very interesting subject, i will follow your project with interest.

I will be ordering this one after the holidays, so I will be following your SBS closely Ken. I like your idea of adding the coffin. Wish I had thought of it, but won't stop me from borrowing your idea. Have a happy holiday.

The efficient troopers shoveled the pile of soil just far enough away (off my base) to allow the burial service to take place. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks! I appreciate the interest.

Thanks Mike! Once I saw a brief glimpse of a coffin in the movie as the flag is placed on it, I knew I had to add it. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Well, the base is finished except for minor tweaks when the figures are added.

I also want to apologise for the photo quality as, during work on the base, I'm using my phone camera. I'll go back to my normal camera and light box for the individual figures and the final shots.

The base was undercoated in my "Western" colors which are basically 2 parts Vallejo Yellow Ochre to 1 part Vallejo Light Brown and then lightly dry brushed with White added. The complete base is then washed with Citadel Earthshade (wash/shade) to tone down the colors and highlight the textures.

Now I add sand/gravel to the base in various spots using Mod Podge Matte sealer as glue (make sure it's the Matte version as the original version dries glossy). This sealer comes in a bottle and is brushed on. I do one spot at a time until I'm happy with the result. Once dry, I apply Citadel Sepia (wash/shade) to the sand areas only. Personally, I don't dry brush the sand as the Sepia pulls it all together but doesn't hide the natural colors of the sand. Finally, I add some static grass and Grass tufts to the base again using Mod Podge.

I use these techniques on most of my groundwork, although the undercoat varies depending on where the scene is taking place.

The coffin was built by the Troopers from wood found at the site and I painted it to represent old weathered wood. The coffin in the movie is barely seen and appears to be roughly put together in more of a box form. I went for the coffin shape to make things more obvious. I also added the ropes on the ground that will be used to lower the coffin once the burial service is finished.

That's it for now. I'll be back with the first painted figure and continue from there.

Thanks for looking,
Ken

Base looks great!

Thanks Scott! I'm looking forward to figures instead of pins now that the base is done.

Cheers,
Ken

Thanks Rick! I'm about to post the first figure with the rest to follow (hopefully) over the next couple days.

Ok, first figure. I decided to work from the back forward, so Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne) becomes the first painted. Sculpting a likeness of John Wayne in 36mm can be tricky and I'm not sure my paint job provides any help in reinforcing that likeness. However, I'm not unhappy with the result and look forward to seeing all five figures on the base.

The figure was painted entirely in acrylics as usual for me.

I'd like to get the rest of the figures painted and the vignette completed before Christmas eve when my attention will be refocused for several days. We'll see...

Again, thanks for following,
Ken

Very nicely done. Love your painting style.

Thanks Graham! Much appreciated.

Just saw this Ken. Off to a great start. I also decided that I have to have a coffin with mine too. I haven't got mine yet. It's been over a month but with everything going on hopefully it will be here soon.
All the best,
Mark

Thanks Mark! It's a nice kit. Have a great holiday and take care.

Ta
Thanks Nap! I'm enjoying this one just a little pressure to get it done before the holidays.

You too Ken.
Mark

You'll be painting like a maniac to get this done, JW looks good.

Thanks Bob! I'm getting close. I just finished the next two and am posting them now. The rest tomorrow, hopefully.