Thank you Gamera!  :D

This was the thinned-down version I wrote up quickly. There was a lot that happened between those pictures that I haven't explained. Mostly it was just the time consuming method I use for layering on the various shades. I even forgot to take pictures of some of the in-between work where I redefined the eyes even further. I think you can see it in the pictures as to where they suddenly took a leap towards looking more real without any reason for it :/

I was almost heartbroken when I ran that pen out of ink lol. I absolutely love those pens for inking in my sketches. I kept in for no reason except to remind myself I needed a new one and after a lot of attempts in diffent methods I settled on using the dead Micron as a brush. I worked the best and remained the most consistent for that task.

I also highly recommend the The Army Painter-Wargamer series of brushes. They are invaluable for such detailed work.

I can hardly wait to see what you can do once you've found one of your old Micron pens. :D

Yeah, I think the blending of the flesh tones is the hardest part. I probably should do more on my figures but I've always figured most people are going to be looking at the figure from about two-three feet away so I tend to go with a more stark contrast. 

It's cool you use your pens for sketching, funny I bought the few I have just for doing eyes on figures! 

Yeah I used to do more contrast on my figures. But I've gone more towards being able to see the details more clearly up close. I like the more realistic look of it now more than I did before. Remember that I started of painting Games Workshop and Warhammer figs. It seems that painting them in a more life-like way is starting to gain momentum with that crowd as well.

Here is a new shot of the tankers. I ran a Vallejo Dark Green wash over the fatigues and I like the darkness of how it turned out. Now its only a matter of layering on my highlights.

These figures are really starting to pop. :)

Shaping up very nicely Mike! 

Thank you Gamera.  :)

Have you had a chance at it yet?

I am working on some figures but I don't have anything really at a point of using your suggestion. I did find a dried-out pen and tossed it in the jar where I keep my brushes so it's ready to go when I do need it.

Thanks again for your advice!  

You're welcome and I really want to see it when you get a chance.  :)

I added some dark brown between the loader's eyes and eyebrows. He doesn't look quite as amazed as he did before and I think this will help him look more life-like.



I then blocked-in the TC's vest. Looks like poo right now, but it will clean up well I'm sure.



And for the final detail on this bust I decided to add some rank patches. I need to look up the proper color for these. First thing I thought of was yellow, but I think its probably more toned down than this.




Have a good one guys! Happy Friday.  

Except for the earliest days of US involvement, from early 1966 on rank chevrons were black embroidered on Olive Green background. Before then, they were the same as on the dress Greens and Khakis: gold embroidered on army green. 

Thanks Stik. I found some pictures and you're absolutely correct. I don't know why I thought they were yellow.

Back on track however. :)

They were in 65 and before during the advisory period. Along withe the full color unit patches, name tapes and service tape on the chest. And all proved to be "sniper bait" for the VC & NVA. Some units kept their full color patches longer than others, but rank was subdued very quickly. And by late in the war, enlisted rank was moved from the sleeves to the collar on fatigues. Which only recently ended when BDUs were replaced.

Oh good, then I'm headed in the right direction with these guys. I know they have the early type helmets, but they used those for a while even after the newer ones were introduced. That always seems to be a popular theme with our military lol.

Yes indeed. No change happens overnight in the military. Especially with equipment. In any service it takes years to phase out the old and replace it with the newest stuff all across that service.

so true early vietnam US still had 1911's from korea

Yes they did. My Dad still used them in the late 70's and early 80's I believe. The problem with switching out the 1911 for the M9 was that every guy who had the 1911 first didn't want to give it up for that puny little 9mm toy. It took more bullets to drop someone.

when they used (9mm+P+) THE m9 frames cracked after awhile

Ah yes, I'd heard about that. Something to do with the metal in the frames being a little substandard? Or was it just the hot loads the military ordered that were not meant to be fired from the Barretta?

steel side on aluminum frame cant take to much mg ammo

Of course, that makes sense. That's a "duh" moment right there. :/

You guys are repeating some urban legends in regards to pistols. I was issued a M1911 as. My duty weapon in 1984. It was junk- worn out. Move it around and the parts rattled like nuts & bolts in a coffee can. I would not get issued a GI M9 Baretta until much later in my career. And it was nice. As far as the military shooting +Ps goes, not allowed. Only standard ball ammo is issued, per Geneva convention. Only SOF types use the "hot load" 147 grain +P hollow points. The same round I have carried on duty for nearly 25 years as a cop and put thousands thru my department issue 92F with no slide cracks. It is a good pistol. As far as combat use of the M9 goes, there has not been much. Panama & Gulf War did not see much pistol shooting by guys issued M9s. By the time of OIF/OEF, the pistoleros who did combat shooting with handguns, had the new HK .45s. Shot placement is what drops your bad guys most, not caliber. A proficient shooter is far more likely to drop his target with a 9mm than a poor shooter with a .45. The SAS used the 9mm Browning High Power for decades with no complaints to drop lots of bad guys. Because they were proficient. It's the shooter that counts most in a gunfight. 

Hmm... now I better go educate myself. I don't like feeling stupid and I prefer not to perpetuate urban legends lol.

I owned a 1911 replica. No love for that gun. And it's true- .45 doesn't help much if your effective accuracy is maybe 50 yards.

On a slightly different subject, my Berlin tankers in 1961 still have the old style tankers helmets. Have a look at this photo. Stik if you had a minute- a rundown on this rummage sale...

M. Brindos

Hmm... now I better go educate myself. I don't like feeling stupid and I prefer not to perpetuate urban legends lol.

 

unfortunately with the Internet, it is all too easy to pass on stuff opined someone as hard facts. When it comes to pistols, there is a LOT of mystique associated with the 1911. As well the ongoing .45 vs 9mm debate. And a lot of snobbery and bias can be found in there. People pick and choose their facts to support their viewpoint. The reality is far more nuanced. 

It is kinda like we see in this hobby in certain quarters. 

Great photo GM... The tankers are a mix of the WWII and 60s era helmets... Too funny! One interesting thing that I learned when doing some image searches for your Berlin stuff recently was that prior to the 1961 Wall Crisis, it seems that the Berlin Brigade was not high on the priority list for new weapons and gear. The Army was embarrassed in the press for having WWII small arms and had to fly out new weapons, and trainer teams to rectify that as the crisis wore on. Not what was expected of a showboat unit on "the front line" of the Cold War.

this is like color its subjective whats red to me my not be for you. Im not in law enforcememt but I been around fire arms over 50yrs its all good

well your guys still great with thier patches 

Crown, you are quite correct. Firearms are VERY subjective. I  spent 24 years in the Army, both active and Guard, and have been a cop for over 26 years now. I have been around firearms and shooting for over 40 years now, from .22s to wire guided anti tank missiles, grenade launchers, automatic weapons, etc. I LOVE to shoot. There are so many weapons out there I have yet to sample.  And what works best for me, may not be best for you, GM, or any other shooter due to a variety of reasons. But it can be lots of fun finding out. 

crown r n7

I'll drink to that but what really bothers me is when .22 costs the same as .223

 

You and me both pal! Unless its like it used to be when both types were quite cheap!

I find it funny how different my painting can look under different lighting. I prefer working with natural light and I don't do much painting at night usually.

The patches did turn out okay. It was a bit tricky to get the points on those stripes and they didn't turn out 100% good, but I checked and his shoulders are not even visible with his head in the hatch.