SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Need advice on First figures, Us Infantry

1031 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Need advice on First figures, Us Infantry
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Friday, September 29, 2006 12:59 PM

Hey, Im working on a Normany hedgerows diorama which includes a six man squad of US infantry ambushing a hanomag half track or armored car or something.  I bought the tamiya US assault marines figures because they really look like their sneaking up on something.  I painted them up, not quite finished i need to do some touch up and attempt faces, but im looking for suggestions because i want them to look awesome since their the focus of the diorama.  By the way they were painted in water based craft paints, with terible craft brushes, thats why their so rough.  Any suggestions?

http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iansmodels005nf2.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iansmodels006ik4.jpg

"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Friday, September 29, 2006 4:20 PM

See my post to you in dioramas.

Getting figures to "look awesome" requires a lot of patience and learning. It's not likely anyone's first figures looked awesome. Study some art books from the library to see how shading is done. No one walks in off the street and wins the Indy 500, please don't expect to have your first efforts look like the cover of Historical Miniatures Magazine.

Google US Army uniforms for 1944 in Europe to get the right colors. Steven Spielberg did a lot of your research for you when he made Saving Private Ryan,

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Friday, September 29, 2006 6:06 PM
Thanks, for both the posts.  Your right, I know im not going to get perfect right away, but i have seen improvement on these guys, i did some old tamiya half track crew that came out okay, then a dragon flak crew which was decent, and these im pretty proud of for now, im just looking for a few hints that maybe i did wrong? im planning on making wire gun straps for a bit of realism
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Friday, September 29, 2006 6:38 PM

Wire won't do it. You meed something flat. If you have access to wine bottle foil, that's perfect. Other wise, try the foil that tops yogurt cups. Cut them into thin strips, fold over about 1/8 inch at each end and attache them with super glue.

What are you using for paints and brushes? If you can get Vallejo or Andrea acrylics, they are the best there is for figure painting. Don't even try using Tamiya paints. It's not worth the effort. Also, make sure you have good brushes. You'll need to spend a few dollars on each but with good care on your part they'll last a good, long time. .

The better the figure, the better your final product is gooing to be. Most Tamiya figures have very soft detail. Dragon are much better in the plastic realm.

What I, and many figure painters do, is paint from the skin outward. Face, shirt, coat, web gear.

What makes a figure pop is highlighting and shading. Folds should have a darker value of the base color and ridges a lighter value. Again, you should do some research onthe proper colors to use to do this. It's not as simple as adding black or white. In fact, you should almost never add black or white to get shadows and highlights.

Here are a few figure oriented sights that might be of help. Most have articles specific to painting figures that will be quite helpful.

http://www.hfmodeling.com/

http://www.planetfigure.com/

http://www.mb-miniatures.com/index.htm

http://www.metalsofhonour.com/

And finally, http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/. Here you need to go to Model color in the drop down menu and choose model color. At the bottom of the page, there's a tutorial on figure painting.

Good luck.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Friday, September 29, 2006 7:30 PM
wow thanks again for taking the time to give me tons of help, your right, wire is too round, im sure ill find something though.  And your question about paint an brushes, I know its terrible, but ive been using some old water based paints, and just frayed old brushes, thats why so far they look extremely rough.   They were my first figures, so i had no idea what I needed, but after this experience im going to go out and buy myself some nice paints.  Thanks again for the advice
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 29, 2006 7:47 PM
I need to add one small, insignificant historical note. The Marines never served in Europe in WWII. They were deployed only to the pacific and fought only the Japanese throughout the war. They were certainly never at Normandy.

Your links timed out, so I couldn't see the figures. If they're WWII figures, it probably wouldn't be that big a deal to just call them US Army and move on, but if they're sculpted to look specifically like Marines, with some of the USMC specific uniforms and such that were seen in the Pacific, then you might have a problem. Are you sure they're Marines? I'm not familiar with that kit, but then I don't do 1/35th much anymore, so there are lots of new kits I've not heard of. What does the box say?

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Friday, September 29, 2006 8:50 PM
No, they were actually US infantry, i just incorrectly called them marines in a hurry, thanks for the note though.  By the way, what do you mean my links "timed out"? becaus ei only posted them earlier today? do they leave after 24 hours or 12 hours or what? or did your computer jsut not let you see them?
"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 29, 2006 9:39 PM
That's the alert I got when I clicked on them and they didn't load, after trying for a while. It said that the link had "timed out".  It could be my own net conn though. I seem to be having some trouble elsewhere too tonight.

It said "The Operation Timed Out When Attempting To Contact  img208.imageshack.us"
 
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 30, 2006 1:18 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE><table class="quoteOuterTable"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/FSM/CS/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>plymonkey wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4">I need to add one small, insignificant historical note. The Marines
never served in Europe in WWII. They were deployed only to the pacific
and fought only the Japanese throughout the war. They were certainly
never at Normandy.<br>
<br>
Your links timed out, so I couldn't see the figures. If they're WWII
figures, it probably wouldn't be that big a deal to just call them US
Army and move on, but if they're sculpted to look specifically like
Marines, with some of the USMC specific uniforms and such that were
seen in the Pacific, then you might have a problem. Are you sure
they're Marines? I'm not familiar with that kit, but then I don't do
1/35th much anymore, so there are lots of new kits I've not heard of.
What does the box say?<br>
<br></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well............US Marine snipers were in the invasion ships rigging on DDay, and the ships company of Marines as well, so almost true but not entirely
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: The Green "Mountains", Vermont
Posted by IanIsBored2000 on Saturday, September 30, 2006 8:24 AM

 

ok, Ive realized my mistake in calling them marines, and changed my title to US infantry, which is what they actually molded and painted to look like, i just incorrectly called them marines.  As to the problem with my links timing out, well ill fix that right after i post this, so check again very soon.  The only thing i wonder about is why these timed out, but some pictures i posted in armor even longer ago didnt time out yet...hmm? any idea how to keep them from timing out? Thanks in advance

"Scanlon: work your knobby hands on the table in front of you, constructing a make-beleive bomb to blow up a make-beleive world."
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Sunday, October 1, 2006 9:20 AM

The only thing i wonder about is why these timed out, but some pictures i posted in armor even longer ago didnt time out yet...hmm? any idea how to keep them from timing out? Thanks in advance

It is due to exceeding your alloted bandwidth at the site you posted them on.  You are alloted only a limited amount of times someone can view them per month.  Once that has been exceeded, they will no longer be available till the next month.   The links work now since it is OCT and a new count began.

Better bet is to go with a good photo-host site like PhotoBucket.  I have never had a bandwidth problem with them.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 1, 2006 10:17 PM
Yes I can see them now. They aren't bad, for a first attempt. Keep picking people's brains about technique, and study the works of others. There are many different techniques out there. If one method doesn't work for you, try another.

My first website was a free geocities site, and I ran into the same problem with monthly download allotments. I finally sprung for a basic package at 50megs, and haven't had a problem since. Though you shouldn't have to go to the time and expense of buying a web address. Photobucket should do just fine.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.