Flamethrower Up! **FINISHED**for real! pg8

here is a pic of one of the Marines wip. (looks like a zombie to me, some say thats all we are anyway) trying some different techniques on the figs to improve them...hope they are are better than previous ones, you guys let me know what you think.

Here is where it stands today...Final coat of sand (siffted) some veggies and a few scratched palms..Thanks to the U.S. Navy there was not much vegatation left on Betio!

Mansteins revenge wrote:

Impressive...looks very much like Tarawa...that figgie looks pretty darn good! The camo is pretty convincing, although I'm not sure how many Marines had the full camo outfit---I've seen mostly helmet covers in that pattern in most refs...What is the "mud" you used on the base???

 Shouldn't there be some "blazes" on those trees? Shrapnell marks/damage?

  But it's rocking!

                                      60

M.R., Thanks for the positive comments especially on the fig...trying to make them look better and stressing it!! Of course you make it look so easy. The only reason the marine has full camo is the box art...he is the only one, everyone else is mixed with the santinis (green), the flamethrower is just santinis. I used my favorite medium for the base, Sheetrock mud also known as jointcompound. Very cheap, very forgiving.....On previous builds I have made my ground work solid SR mud..I did use some old sanding sponges to "fill" in  this time. The only bad thing about sheetrock mud is drying time...after each layer I sat it in the sun, helped alot., and that was only because it was very thick!

60, Good call!!! Consider the trees marred....I'm sure there wasn't anything around that didn't have shrapnel scars or bullet holes...thanks!!

Indy,Thanks for the realisim comment...my big peeve is to make it as real as possible, frustrating sometimes....

CJ, I did redo the pants and I'll try again....dam figures are killing me!!! Thanks for the help.

CJ, Chris, Thank you guys for your support and encouragment on the figs...I see so many outstanding figs from you fellas, I just want to catch up! up until the last few years I have painted my figs (acrylic) then washed with a burnt umber oil wash..thats it! that just won't cut it anymore, you guys have that bar way up there. Just keep telling me whats good and whats not..Many thanks!

BTW. I did redo the pants!

Lookin' good there Stern .... as Camo stated .... just keep tinkering and you'll find the technique that works for you.

Again, lookin' good ... keep it comin' ...

Going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you mean mediocre minded modelers in a broad, nonspecific way and you weren't taking jabs at anyone in particular on this thread there indy...

Stern0- when I think of small dioramas with a clear subject/theme at hand- yours quickly come to mind. Hope we all can continue to bounce ideas and inspiration off each other. You put so much emotion into little plastic people (and usually OOB from what I can tell) and that's something I think we all strive for and few achieve.

psstoff995 wrote:

Going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you mean mediocre minded modelers in a broad, non specific way and you weren't taking jabs at anyone in particular on this thread there indy...

Stern0- when I think of small dioramas with a clear subject/theme at hand- yours quickly come to mind. Hope we all can continue to bounce ideas and inspiration off each other. You put so much emotion into little plastic people (and usually OOB from what I can tell) and that's something I think we all strive for and few achieve.

anyhow...can we get back to stern0's build!

Good to hear indy. And also glad you agree with me on Steve's great portrayal of emotion.

But I agree camo! Lets see these new pants!! haha

CJ, Good points all around....I know what I like and I know how things should look and I try to get it that way by method ...back to highlighting..you guys have that down and just want to try my hand at it because it looks awsome..and humility....please...the minute anyone thinks they are the best is the minute they see something that makes their work look terrible..a little humbleness goes a long way!

Scott, many thanks! I think that is my journey now...trying to find a techniqe that works, that can be a little taxing.

Indy, I have a pretty good filter when it comes to things I can use to improve my modeling,  But I have yet to read a mundane opinion or come across a mediocre modeler in here...I think that its all relative...I'm very glad to see that you used a broad stroke when saying that. You can bet your boots i'll be striving for improvments!

Chris...Stop making fun of me!

p.m. me with your ?'s buddy. i'll help ya however i can.

... or maybe we could stay away from inflamitory comments to begin with ...

Stern ... glad that you got the pants re-painted. Just keep working it, and when you hear the "ding", then you know you're done. HAHA!!!

How many figures are you planning for this one again!?! ... and are you looking to "animate" the flamethrower? (ie .... flaming cotton balls, etc.) ... just curious.

Stern0 wrote:

...I know what I like and I know how things should look and I try to get it that way by method ...back to highlighting..you guys have that down and just want to try my hand at it because it looks awsome.....

As far as highlighting goes .... As I said before, even though I almost strictly use acrylics, I like highlighting w/ enamels. I have found that acrylics just dry too fast. Enamels give me the time I need. As far as colors to use .... I either use the base color (or a variation of it) or for OD green equipment (as Camo taught me) I use pale yellow. When I started back into modeling I basically read a bunch of how to's and kind-of combined a few methods from each one ... Hard to explain exactly how I finish my figures, but I'm pleased w/ the results.

... and yes, as indy pointed out, I continuously try to improve my finishing skills.

CJ, Will do...thanks a million!

Chris, I was being silly .....thats an incredible compliment, thank you...yep..everything to date except for my frozen germans are OOB..Thanks for noticing..I think..

MC, I am going to try to fit all four of the figs in...originaly I wasn't going to put the flamethrower in, was going to have him implied...The pictured Marine is the one yelling FLAMETHROWER UP! so I think the FT will be behind some debris at the end of the wall getting his command....having him flamming the hole would be awsome, but not in the cards on this one...id like to develop good fire first. You do as I do I take a little from each how to and customize it to fit your needs..I finally found a face technique that I can work with (hope it shows) but need to work on those highlights...standby for questions! Thanks.