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Special Forces Figure ***COMPLETE - 13MAY09***

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  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Special Forces Figure ***COMPLETE - 13MAY09***
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, March 13, 2009 10:45 AM

So ..... here's the "secret" project that I've been working on. My original intent was to get this finished so that I could ship it off before I went to the field this next week. It's being built for a friend of mine as a gift ... I'm not worried that he'll see it here as he's not a modeler, nor does he know it's coming.

I started out with this one .... pretty much being the only thing that I've build OOB since I was a kid. Due to my normal "style", all the parts that I'm using have been cast from the original kit. (I hord my originals for the day of days when the world is ending and you can no longer get anything ... HAHA!! My wife LOVES it BTW!!!)

The kit is from Airborne Miniatures kit #058, US Special Forces, 1/16 scale. I met the owner/ sculptor not too long ago, and WOW .... what a great guy. These kits are hard to come by, but a LITTLE (literally) easier when you have an inside.

Here I started out with an idea that just came to me. I figured I needed a simple base to mount the figure to. I had seen wooden column type based on ebay for 20-25 bones, but I didn't want to spend that. I thought about a section of 4x4 that I have in the garage, but I don't feel like breaking out the saws. I just happened to be in my LHS the other day picking up some RTV and resin, when I saw these small paper mache boxes. I bought one just b/c of the idea. I basically took the top of the box and put the box on top of the lid. Then I used a small threaded rod and some hardware to hold it together. But, before I screwed it together I used a healthy amount of wood glue inside the box so that when turned upside down and screwed together it would run down and seal the box and top together. And ... here's what I've got. (prior to staining/ painting .... not sure how welll that's going to work out yet ....)

Here's what I've gotten for the figure thus far. My original thought was that I wanted to try and accomplish this with a total build time of about 24hrs. I don't think that I'm too far off that schedule ... This is what I've gotten done from 0hr - about hour 4. (And it's actually sitting in the booth with the 1st prime coat drying.)

I took part of the tops of the boots off to get a better/ relaxed fit btwn the boots and pants.

I had a hard time trying to get the pin and hole lined up just right btwn the torso and legs, so I drilled a bigger hole. Then when I got ready to glue it, I just used some of the resin shaving and CA glue to make a paste that sealed up the rest of the hole around the pin.

... added the arms...

The cast I had for the hand didn't some out all that great ... minus the ends of two finger and a thumb, so I've got some putty work to do. Here's the pin to be used for the thumb.

... and added equipment, and starting on the M4.

The head from this one is actually the head that I used on my OIF fig. The original kit had a mustache on it ... I might add it back, but my buddy does weat a 'stache, do I don't know yet. This is what I've got thus far. I probably won't continue this one until after I get back, but whatever.

I actually just wanted to show psst that it doesn't take FOREVER to build a 120mm figure! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!! (j/k buddy!!!)

Enjoy! And as always, comments welcome.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, March 13, 2009 11:20 AM
fantastic as always model! another one i cant wait to see done!! so you have one of those too, "a wife who loves your model junk lying around". LOL. btw, is it finished yet??? c'mon c'mon...finish it...c'mon!! Laugh [(-D]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, March 13, 2009 11:33 AM

HAHA! Yeah, I sometimes thinks she loves it MORE than me! Oh, and she also LOVES the fact that my home office (located in the front study of our house) doubles as my workbench! I have plans to build a "hide-a-bench" in behind my desk, but she's not pushing it since she loves resin and styrene shavings all over the desk and in the carpet. ....

I'm trying to work this one as quickly as possible .... I'd love nothing more than to get this one out the doo before I leave, but hell!.... I haven't even really started packing for the field yet!

We'll see how much packing I get done today .... that will really help determine how much work gets done tomorrow. The important thing though was that I got it in the booth first thing this morning. Next, I've got to sand and fill any holes I didn't find before and then prime it again .... after that .... I think it'll be pretty quick.

BTW .... what colors (camo) were you using for your tri-color uniforms. I'm going that route on this one ... screw that ARPAT stuff! ... well, for now.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, March 13, 2009 12:54 PM
 modelchasm wrote:

HAHA! Yeah, I sometimes thinks she loves it MORE than me! Oh, and she also LOVES the fact that my home office (located in the front study of our house) doubles as my workbench! I have plans to build a "hide-a-bench" in behind my desk, but she's not pushing it since she loves resin and styrene shavings all over the desk and in the carpet. ....

BTW .... what colors (camo) were you using for your tri-color uniforms. I'm going that route on this one ... screw that ARPAT stuff! ... well, for now.

carpet shavings....LOL....yep...know it wel...LOL. AHHHH...funny stuff.

the colors i use for the 3 color camo are...humbrol #72 (khaki drill) mixed with #34 (white), humbrol #90 (beige green) mixed with a drop of humbrol #159 (khaki drab) then humbrol #160 (german camo red brown). the proportions arent important mix wise...but i use about a 50/50% mix of 72 & 34, a 90/10% mix of #90 & 159...and obviously a 100% mix of #160. all perspectively of course! that's about it. hope u have the humbrol paints buddy!! Thumbs Up [tup] btw, where's that pm?? Whistling [:-^] good luck on the desk too btw...i just use an old computer desk!! its great when you pull out the tray underneath for where the keyboard would go....helps keep the Censored [censored] small parts and garbage from getting too bad on the floor!! good luck with that uniform...i look forward to seeing it!!! Thumbs Up [tup]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, March 13, 2009 1:10 PM

sorry .... I got distracted from the PM. I'll get to it asap. That's for the paint info. Unfortunatly, I don't use Humbrol .... Vallejo is more my taste. However, I can still use your info ... color charts are my friend!

I'll get you that info on the ARPAT soon ... I've still got to do the write up on my OIF fig too!

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, March 13, 2009 1:15 PM
ok well if you can find vallejo that works for ya good deal. i forgot, u did use it on the oif build...LOL. as far as the pm...whenever then...not like im going to get anything done for another 4 days since i'll be at the in-laws until late mon. besides, i'm still a little ways away b4 i start messing with the figs anyway.
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, March 13, 2009 2:20 PM

Ah!!! Watch one little movie on a Friday morning and this is what I miss!! Awesome surprise build model... I know I know I know... IM ALMOST DONE THOUGH! hahaha I just need the masking tape straps and radio wire- that's it! I swear!!

I like the position of the gun and the right hand. Looks really good- very nice pose, and that box would be really cool of it worked out- I like the shape, as far as the stash goes- eh, I'm no good at painting hair, so if I don't have to (like if your friend doesn't sport one) I wouldn't. But as you don't seem to have a problem with normal model stuff (FO and crazy McF figures aside Tongue [:P]) I figure there'll be no corner cutting on this one. So... 4 hours and primed??

Disapprove [V]

(I hord my originals for the day of days when the world is ending and you can no longer get anything ... HAHA!! My wife LOVES it BTW!!!)
haha this really made me laugh- I can picture you in Apocalyptica using up the last of the worlds super glue supply on your dwindling stash!

If your wife can put up with resin dust in the carpet I guess Res-Life can put up with it in my dorm... looks like I'm taking it with me- don't want to be left behind in the Mosul GB now do I???

Thanks again for the colors you used on the tri-color camo... camo, I'll have to use this mix the next time around.

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, March 13, 2009 2:54 PM
 psstoff995 wrote:

Ah!!! Watch one little movie on a Friday morning and this is what I miss!! Awesome surprise build model... 

 

Thanks again for the colors you used on the tri-color camo... camo, I'll have to use this mix the next time around.

hey, u snooze u lose buddy!!! Laugh [(-D] now had ya been working on your figs...well maybe we could 4-give ya....right model!! as for the camo...n/p...hope it works 4 ya!! Thumbs Up [tup]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, March 13, 2009 3:15 PM

now had ya been working on your figs...well maybe we could 4-give ya....

hahah yeah maybe Dunce [D)]

I'm going to try models little personal challenge trick and try to get some 1/35 figures primed in 24 hours, maybe that will speed me up a bit.

I could do it with plastic! Thats for sure- It's the dremel and the CA glue that slows me up

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, March 13, 2009 5:10 PM
 psstoff995 wrote:

It's the dremel and the CA glue that slows me up

 

Huh!?! Dunce [D)] .... I thought ... Rrrrr ... nevermind. (hehe!)

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, March 13, 2009 5:21 PM

It's the dremel and the CA glue that slows me up 

hahaha I can use an exacto knife and a tube of testors glue and throw a plastic figure together in a few hours... but I open up a resin kit and these giant chunks of resin I have to grind off and then gluing my fingers together with the super glue ... Banged Head [banghead] not to mention trying to find a nice day to spray the primer from the rattle can which in itself is really hit or miss ... lol

I know you were just messin around with me with the timeline and stuff. I know I'm a slow builder though, even when I am home from school Boohoo [BH] haha so it's not you making me feel like I need to build faster- at least not all you. I've been wanting to speed things up for a while.

So I am going to try and pick up my over all building pase- I'm bringing more of my workbench down to school.

Apreciate you checking in and commenting on my stuff too!

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, March 13, 2009 8:07 PM

I just like to try and build something fast every now and then. It gets my mind a little free from all the detailing work that I try to pull off ... and doing quick builds is the only way I know how.

Don't think that being a "slow builder" is bad. There's something theraputic about taking a figure and putting him together one slow hour at a time. For me, at least, that's where I get my base work done. About the only thing fast about my regular builds is my CA glue!

With the time that you have in hand; with school, work ... and more school, you're doin' just fine.

The bottom line is ... you do what you can, not when you can, but when you feel like it ... and you be happy with what you're doin'.

Again, that's one of the main reasons that I jumped in with a quick build ... I just wasn't feelin' "happy" about the "Mosul" build.

Hopefully, I'll have some more update photos in the morning.

Cheers!

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, March 13, 2009 8:56 PM

That makes sense- kind of what I was talking about too, I'm trying to get back into putting a figure together in a few hours. hahah my CA glue's probably a little too fast Black Eye [B)] but I hear what you're sayin-

I'm trying to be happy with what I'm doing. And I'm no longer happy with having a ton of kits gathering dust and adding to my collection instead of myself putting a few more on the display shelf. I've been at the hobby for... a good half of my life and only have about a half dozen figures and 1 maybe 2 and a half tanks. A lot of half built and 3/4 built. I just need a smaller "in progress" section, stick to one thing at a time and move forward with it. I have some serious model ADD

So I'm trying to calm myself down with the extra detail, the make or break historical accuracy and the like. I'm enjoying my "huge" dio just because I'm only adding as much detail as I see fit and I'm making it more of a mini movie set than a 1/35 historical reenactment of the battle of Arnhem.

But you're right, I have a lot on my plate, I'm just trying to keep from using that as a crutch.

Thanks for that though, this has definitly focused me in.Smile [:)]

Guess camo and I can take turns going crazy while you're gone- I'll try and get him to add that Abrams to his urban street dio

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, March 13, 2009 9:40 PM
 psstoff995 wrote:

Guess camo and I can take turns going crazy while you're gone- I'll try and get him to add that Abrams to his urban street dio

yeah...good luck with that one...LOL. i can take a pic of it...but like i said....it looks waaaaaaayyyyyyy 2 big!! as far as going crazy well...arent we all!!! LOL. see if you guys were like me a victim of this economy and didnt have a job....you could have all day to build and paint like me!!! i tell ya if i didnt have this hobby....i'd of lost my mind by now from not working!! Banged Head [banghead]. btw p.o., if you think about it and want to use something for your plastic 1/35 figures that wont glue your hands together...use ambroid pro weld....love that stuff!!!!! just a thought...lol....oh and btw, not that im being "picky" about this (im not really guys)...just simply want to bring it to your attention without being a jerk....your use of "pase"....should be "pace". no big deal....just thought i'd mention it buddy! we still cool? Laugh [(-D]

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, March 13, 2009 9:55 PM

Thanks for the tip camo- I'll definitly check out the ambroid, I've been moving away from using super glue to primarily hold resin parts as it's more of a seal as apposed to any real bond.

And by all means camo! No problem at all, if you haven't found out that I am a terrible speller (I can type pretty fast... but I'm surprised they let me out of elementary school). I'll change up pase to pace from now one. But I warn you haha you're welcome to spell check me and I have no problem with you calling me out but be warned I'm sure this one post alone is chalk full of things that would sound right if you did it phonetically... but that's where the "correctness" ends. For words I know I don't know- I type them into my little google search bar and hope it's close enough for an auto correct, if not I usually wing it haha sorry to all! Thanks for putting up with my translation of the english language Tongue [:P]

My brothers going to be graduating high school this year and going to college to be an english major- he's a little OCD on gramer- he'll catch me when I speak saying who instead of whom and stuff like that- thank goodness he's not on this forum. The high school freshman is, maybe he'll taddle on me Shock [:O]

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Friday, March 13, 2009 10:50 PM
 hey, no big deal....i admit (not that im perfect please dont think that) sometimes its hard to follow some of these conversations (not just yours p.o.) i basically "get it" in the end. but whatever....! i agree with ya on the super glue...and the pro-weld, awsome for plastic figs and models....i use nothing but. (helps too to have a small file with ya but the proweld actually "melts" the plastic to create a bond...fills alot of the seams and leaves no "residue" (if ya do it right)...its just awesome (to me) and only cost about 3 to 4 bucks a bottle...but that bottle will last ya awhile. and the super....i only use it for resin.
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, March 13, 2009 11:09 PM
Yeah I can see that- at the back and forth rate model you and I start to get at sometimes (across two or three threads!), I don't have as much of a chance to spell check. Usually I write up the whole thing in a Word doc. and then copy it in. I wish this txt box had an auto correct or spell check built in or something... I'll try harder- don't want to be misread.

I have a problem with super glue on in that no matter how hard I seal it, it’ll dry in the applicator, all over my fingers, and definitely leaves a white residue. Not all the time- I’d say about 70% of the time I can get it to work like it should, but when it doesn’t- it’s a big mess. lol hey- I’ll keep an eye out for the weld product (used to use a JB Weld before I got into the magic sculpt as far as 2 part epoxy putty went- is that a similar product?)

If I need any help with it I’ll know who to talk to- same with any kind of color work! haha

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Saturday, March 14, 2009 6:20 AM

Now that this thread has turned into a "techniques" section ... (haha)

psst, go down to the grocery store and pick up one of those .99c boxes of toothpicks. I put a small drop of the CA on the pick and use it as an applicator. I typically don't get my fingers anywhere near it. Then again, some people like to take baths in strange things ....

I've never tried the weld product camo was talking about, but it sounds worth a shot. Personally, I haven't used anything but CA for about the past 5 years.

But then again .... to each his own right.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Saturday, March 14, 2009 8:17 AM

i was sitting here wondering y i couldnt post....LOL.... thought it was the m-i-laws' computer setup the i realized i wasnt logged in. Dunce [D)]

one, p.o. stop worrying about the spell check...i just simply wanted to point it out and its no big deal...just wasnt sure how to approach it and probably better left alone! no big deal.

two, i know what ya mean about the ca glue messing up the applicator and such. one of my hobby shops near me still uses it but went with a different type of bottle because of the complaints they were getting for the same problem...also the shelf life on it sucked! well, i've had 0 problems with it since...they did a great job whomever they went with or whatever. also, do what model says about the toothpicks...you'd be surprised at how well that works. remember, the pro-weld for plastic only buddy!

three, i forgot what i wanted to say....ahhhh....didnt sleep too  well, no wonder im having the problems on this site etc....LOL. how about this...where's that s.f. build at model....painted yet??? Laugh [(-D]

 

"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:03 AM

Not yet .... but by my watch, I've still got 20 more hrs left. I am working on it this morning, so maybe 19 now ....

After the primer went on, I've got it back at the bench this morning. Cleaning up little casting spots/ holes that I may have missed prior. Working with three different color resins can make your eyes go bonkers!

I'll try to take some more pictures, but not much is going to change from now until I get the uniform colors started ... unless you really want to see what the previous pictures look like in primer grey!?!

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:30 AM
no that's ok (no offense). what's the diff between primer and resin color right? i trust ya and know one, you'll have it in 19 hrs from now...lol and two, it'll look great!!! even if ya dont finish it!!! LOL.
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:44 AM
Yeah, thanks for the toothpick tip. I've given up on the little metal pin in the applicator tube, that ends up getting glued in anyway.  And no problem on the spell check camo, it’s really no extra work for me to get it spell checked before hand if it’s not a post-off between you and model haha

19 hours to go eh? Sounds like a doable paint job- we’re talking 3 tone though right? haha

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • From: wilmington nc
Posted by ranger on Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:46 AM

I wish you luck on this build.

j.c.

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Saturday, March 14, 2009 9:56 AM

Yeah ... it's going to be the tri-color. If I was going for WHATEVER-PAT, I'd ask for an extension ... HA!

Also, another thing on the CA .... 9 times out of 10 I leave my bottle open (cap off) and I've never had a bottle dry up on me. Those little "needle" applicators are just a scam to get you to buy something else. The only other thing that I've used other than toothpicks is a metal detal pick. Worked great, but the toothpicks are easier to handle. Most of the time I just stick the other end in my mouth until I'm ready to use it ... and yes, I've glued my lips before. I don't recommend it!

**UPDATE**

Just got done cleaning up the rest of the holes with putty. I'm going to let it sit for about 30 and then I'm going to scrape and sand ... then prime again. After that prime coat, it should be ready to paint in about an hour. (And that's why I LOVE acylics!!!)

I tried using a stain on the base last night .... bad idea. Should have known too .... paper mache + something wet = I'm an idiot. So I'm going to try one of those nifty spray paints that come in a can. I'm not sure what I want to try yet (Keep in mind that I'm planning on putting an SF crest on the front of the base.) But, I'm going to run down to Wal-ly World after the prime coat goes on and see what I can find. The only other thing that I can think of would be to use a wood vaneer ... and that just screams "pain in the arse!!!"

For the top of the base, where the fig will be standing, I was just thinking about a spackling the top to cover the nut. Then spray with adhesive, cover with dirt, brush off .... wash, rinse, repeat until I'm happy. However, I'd like to put something on the base, possible next to his feet .... any suggestions?

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:38 AM
maybe a couple of bricks, a palm plant....something simple! i'd say maybe an arm attached to a partial torso...but that means more work so the plant or bricks is simple enough. just a thought.
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:47 AM
The old school spray can sounds like it should work fine, your base is still ok right? I'd think that if something liquid got into that almost layered cardboard looking material it might start to get a little mushy and break apart- hope that's not the case!

As for the feet- I think the dirt is really the most you can do? There doesn't seem to be much space up there for anything else? Although I could offer the same ol ideas haha

-Some scattered 5.56 brass (I’ve heard .50 cal in 1/35 is a close match??)
-Maybe a broken chuck of camo’s yellow and white curb in 1/16?
-Vegetation, large rocks if it’s not urban
-Afghan Mts. Perhaps?- maybe some snow as well?

I think it depends on what (or where) you want to portray or where your buddy has been if you’re allowed to say Tongue [:P]

EDIT!!- Go for the torso with the arm. Sound good to me, would really go with the nonchalant /casual pose. He’s a hardcore SF guy right? Not even phased.

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Saturday, March 14, 2009 10:58 AM

brick .... palms ... snow .... severed arm ... partial tor ....WHAT!?!!!!!

I think that you two should take up modeling puppies or something ... HOLY GEZZZ!!!!

I'm trying to think of something that I might have around the bench, if not around the house. Again, I'm leaving tomorrow for three weeks .....

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Saturday, March 14, 2009 11:01 AM
ahhhhhhhahahahahahahaha!!!! remember what i said about giving children candy for dinner buddy....hahahaha...
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Saturday, March 14, 2009 8:21 PM
guess it aint happening tonight eh buddy? see, if it were mine or p.o.'s...(a modeled puppy) we'd be done with lots of pics....lol.
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Sunday, March 15, 2009 5:06 AM

Yeah- don't they mold puppies in one piece?! Even I could do... well... maybe it'd take a day or two... Blush [:I]

But you got the "lots of pics" part right!

Enjoy the trip the best you can model, talk with you soon.

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

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