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CANADIAN HIGHLANDER - World War I Figure

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  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Burlington, Ontario Canada
CANADIAN HIGHLANDER - World War I Figure
Posted by gburdon on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 7:35 AM

Hello All

This is my Canadian Highlander in the trenches of Flanders during World War I. The figure is one from Scale Link in the U.K. The base is scratchbuilt from scrap wood, sheet brass and the retaining section (gabion) at the top is fine wire wrapped around toothpicks the sandbags are made from car filler putty. I painted the entire thing in Tamiya acrylics.

I entered this at the Central Ontario Modelers show at CFB Borden this past weekend and received a Bronze award for my efforts.

Cheers;

Gregory

VETERAN - (Noun) - Definition - One who signed a blank cheque as: “Payable to The People of Canada, Up To and Including My Life."
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posted by T-rex on Thursday, May 3, 2007 12:31 PM
Very good, the figures good but the thrench mit be too deep, trenches in WW1 are about 1.5M deep, deep enuf for soldiers to be safe, but not too deep so that they see german coming in and for aiming at the battlefield, I know cause the the museum of regiment at Calgary not far from my house, although some spots are pretty deep, just remining you not to exagerate too much.

Working on: Trumpeter SU-152 (1/35) Trumpeter E-10 (1/35) Heller Somua (1/35)

"The world is your enemy, prince of a thousand enemy. And when they'll find you, they will kill you... but they will have to catch you first ''

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: USA
Posted by Mike S. on Thursday, May 3, 2007 5:52 PM
Nice job M8! I'm a WWI buff myself, and love to see this subject matter.  Wish you had some clearer photos of your work though (I'm one to talk, my digital camera is ancient as these things go, and gives about the same results).
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Burlington, Ontario Canada
Posted by gburdon on Friday, May 4, 2007 5:02 AM

 Fritzfix wrote:
Nice job M8! I'm a WWI buff myself, and love to see this subject matter.  Wish you had some clearer photos of your work though (I'm one to talk, my digital camera is ancient as these things go, and gives about the same results).

Mike here are some closer shots.

Cheers;

Gregory

VETERAN - (Noun) - Definition - One who signed a blank cheque as: “Payable to The People of Canada, Up To and Including My Life."
  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: USA
Posted by Mike S. on Friday, May 4, 2007 7:06 AM

Cheers and thanks Gregory. Nice job, and I especially like the trench detail. BTW, these varied quite a bit in depth, some being just deep enough to cover the head in a standing position, and some needing a ladder to scale the heights of. This is evidenced by both extant examples, and photographic evidence.

Being more than a bit Scottish in ancestory myself (as well as German and Welsh), and a player of the Great Highland Bagpipe, the Scottish Regiments are particularly near and dear to my heart.

Lovely job.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Friday, May 4, 2007 9:53 AM
Great job, Gregory!

So long folks!

JS1
  • Member since
    May 2007
Posted by JS1 on Friday, May 4, 2007 11:08 AM

Wow !! Extremely well done. I like the figure details and the trench is perfect. There were indeed all sort of depths depending local terrain condition, type of soil, etc... Also, a first line trench is different compared with second+ line trenches (Deckungsgraben),and connecting communication trenches (Verbindungsgraben) or forward trenches to the enemy to a MG stand or an observation post.  The German instruction book "Die Feldgraue" of December 1916, mentions especially that the trench should be deep and small to provide adequate protection. Soldier could build a step (Schutzenauftritt) if required to look over the trench or to peep through a protective shield. The illustration in the book gives an example of a trench with a depth of approx. 2.5 - 3 meters, but I have seen period photographs of even deeper trenches.

I also have seen a  model recently of Andrea-Miniatures

http://www.andrea-miniatures.com/market/AspsProductos/Detalle.asp?IdProductoDetalle=1197

which I will like to make one day !

JS

http://germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posted by T-rex on Friday, May 4, 2007 12:15 PM
Like the pipe, fairly realistic smoke.

Working on: Trumpeter SU-152 (1/35) Trumpeter E-10 (1/35) Heller Somua (1/35)

"The world is your enemy, prince of a thousand enemy. And when they'll find you, they will kill you... but they will have to catch you first ''

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Burlington, Ontario Canada
Posted by gburdon on Saturday, May 5, 2007 8:48 AM

Thanks for the comments gentlemen.

This is the second figure vignette I have ever built. So I am pleased with it. I was aiming to improve my painting skill and to try out some new ideas for making a background. Based on the feedback here and the bronze award at the show. I think I am on the right track.

The trench was not modelled after any specific trench. I simply wanted to display the figure in a natural setting. I also wanted to try a bit of scratchbuilding with the retaining wall and so on. The gabbion like I mentioned before is fine gauge wire wrapped around toothpicks. It was wound around a series of finishing nails first and then removed and the toothpicks were inserted in to the openings created by the nails. The corrugated metal was made by placing a piece of shim brass across the ribs of a soup can and burnishing it down with my finger. Then I just flattened each sheet out and placed it against the lower portion. The improvised stove was made from the same material and so were the discarded food cans behind it.

So all in all it worked out how I planned.

Cheers;

Gregory

VETERAN - (Noun) - Definition - One who signed a blank cheque as: “Payable to The People of Canada, Up To and Including My Life."
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