CANADIAN HIGHLANDER - World War I Figure

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

Like the pipe, fairly realistic smoke.

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

 

 

Great job, Gregory!

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.

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

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).

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.