My 1st "Stand Alone" figure

well you could add flesh tones to the face but other than that its excellent (by flesh tones i mean shadows, warm cheeks, wheatherd face, eyebrows same color as hair, highlights to hair so it dosnt look like a helmet under the hat, maybe a small cut or scrape on the face, ears, and or neck, and just for fun you could give him a look like he broke his nose once upon a time.) If you do already have flesh tones and stuff, I apoligize but from the pictures I cant tell.

I saw it on the armor thread and liked it.
My personal preference is I like to exagerate the details a bit. Add highlights to the edge of pockets, collars, cuffs, that sort of thing. Even black uniforms are not solid black when you view them. I use a dark, almost black, blue for the base or mid color. Shadows get straight black and highlights get a lightened version of the mid color. I also tend to "outline" things like hems, seams, the lower side of belts etc. with a dark color. A dark wash on the leather bag and binoculars would have made the detail pop as well as some drybrushing on the highlights. Same on the edges of the belting, straps and shoes. Shading where straps pass through buckles or under other equipment. I also tend to like to alter the shades of just a smidge. i.e. give the pants a little, sometimes almost minute difference from the tunic or jacket. It just that little bit that gives the figure an overall look that is more real for me.
On things like hair, if there is detail sculpted in, highlight it with some drybrushing. If not, paint your base color, and then go in with some drybrushng and "streak" some highlights.

Give him a real base. Not that plain old piece of plastic card stock that Tamiya threw in there. He's a work of art man, display him like one.

(Mind you Erock these are my personal preferences and I am not detracting from your piece at all. I like what you've done. I think your work is superb for having just tried acrylics for the first time. They are tough to work with sometimes and for this being your first project......zowie!)

Well done sir. Lets see more! Whats next?

Mike

For a first attempt, you did an outstanding job. Keep up the good work.

If you want to try something new, I use oil paints to get my flesh colors. After painting my base flesh color (using either Humbrol enamels {my most common is to use #63 sand} or Model Master acryl) I then use oil paints to capture all shadows and highlights. The Verlinden book on figure painting is, in my humble opinion, the best source available to the figure modeler. I follow his recommendation of putting on a reddish-brown color first and covering the entire flesh area. After about 45 minutes I remove this from the flesh areas using a brush (frequently cleaning it on a paper towel) I only leave the color in low lying areas. Next I put yellow on high areas and again after 45 minutes, remove the heavy color and blend it in. Next comes the white highlights over the areas that were painted yellow, but covering only a small area. I paint the hair next with oils and don't do any further paint removal. Finally I finish the lips with oils (I usually dry brush the color so that it isn't too heavy. The last thing I do is to paint the eyes.

As far as the uniform goes, I think Mike did a nice job of covering that.

Again, for a first attempt, you did great! Keep experimenting and see what works for you.

For a first attempt I think it a pretty darn good job. Its a very clean piece and can add some additional work as mentioned above. For figures you can approach them just as armour models - washes and dry brushing to bring out details. To augment what has already been suggested, I noticed the overall glossy look so you should spray the uniform with dullcote. The metal badges, cap visor, and to a lesser extent the boots and belt/mapcase should be glossy. Note too a bit of the "popeye" look - try adding drop of red wash over the eye sockets to tone down the whites of the eyes. Finally you need to add a strap for the binoculars and the knights cross around the neck should be lowered .... it was worn with a ribbon hanging around the neck. I built the exact same figure also with acrylics and a Verlinden base.

Jack



(both URLS are of same pic, but one might not work)

Thanks for the feedback all.

I have since lowered the Knights Cross, added the ribbon and have added a Binocular strap (jeez, I can't believe I forgot that)

I have it on this base for now. I have a smaller base stained and drying at this time.

can you post new pictures?