This is probably a topic that has been worked to death, but... **pics**

MrDrummy wrote:

1.)  How do you pros get the gear to fit to the curvature of the soldiers' bodies?  Some of the bags etc should conform somewhat, right?

You can carve away some of the figure or some of hte gear.

I've also read that people turn the toes of the boots up too add more realism.  Can you use the same method?

In 1/35 this would be minimal. MOre work than it's worth, IMHO.

2.) Do you usually attach all the gear and get rid of gaps etc before painting the figures?

I dry fit my figures. If I can paint the figure after assembly, I'll do that. However, some poses preclude that, such as when a a fugure has folded arms and there's a lot of detail fehinmd them. I paint gear before attaching it in most cases.

Alright-- giving it a try!  Thanks for the tips. 

Now the only problem I'm having is that it seems the German Field Gray that I'm using seems to be VERY gray--while pictures I've seen seem to be more of a green gray.  Hmmm....  Testors Acryl stuff.

Well, for now, I'll use what I've got at home--mainly because it's easy, AND the holidays are coming up! :)

Here's where I am so far on one of the riflemen:

Basic painting done, a little "shading" or something.  All grays and blacks for the moment.  I just noticed the little strip of off-color on his left sleeve.  Don't you love the macro setting?!  Excuse the little bits of dust too!

A bit of a flat spot on his rear to make the shovel/knife deal lay down a little better.  I just attached his bag, and so it is still completely unweathered.  Obviously I missed that little seam there... How?!

Just another shot from the side.  I figure if the man is tromping through snow, his overcoat is going to end up a little darker near the bottom. 

Alright, pros-- help?

Here are some more progress pics.  I've attached all his gear, painted some of the detail, and did a dark wash to accentuate some of the edges of his clothing, straps, etc.  What would you guys like to see more of?  (Yeah, I know, a head would be nice...)

Am I overdoing things?  Not enough emphasis on certain places?  Yucky seams? 

Let me know-- I really appreciate it.  This is my first figure, so I'm completely in the dark without some of your input!

Check your colors. I think the bread bag was more of a khaki color and the gas mask can more of a gray green than straight gray.

aj-

Thanks for the comments, AND for the awesome reference photos!  Those help out a lot!

Here's my attempt to remedy my errors!  

The bread bag may be a bit too brown, so I'll have to dry brush that just a little more.  

That look more like the real article?

I've still got some touchups that need to be made!  That macro lens will make you look sloppy every time! 

You might want to darken the e-tool handle just a tad, I've never seen one that was not at least some darker for all the hand contact, and ground contact the end takes.

Now, all of the German field gear I ever seen was at shows and six decades old, too.  I'm "used" to the leather being a hershey's sort of brown with the black dying only in the low and flat spots, too. 

I think it is coming along rather nicely Justin!  I think the dirt creeping up onto the bottom of the coat is a really nice touch.  It looks to be well executed too.  You also seem to have a knack for knowing where to put the shading in the folds, something that has always eluded me!  Sanding down the figure to help the gear fit closer really helped as well.  The only things I would work on would be a little more blending between the dark colors in the folds, and maybe adding a little more wear on the equipment.  Although, you may be planning that to come.  Maybe a piece of sponge dipped in some raw umber and silver and dabbed around on the can.  But all in all, a very nice looking figure thus far!  Well, maybe except for the head, of course...

Hey Capn!

Yeah, that's one of the next steps in the painting.  That wood is WAY too clean!  Even though the leather is all black now, I DO plan on at least putting a little brown in it!  It's used, and so it has GOT to have SOME weathering on it.  I'm having to learn all sorts of little tricks for this figure business!!

Aj-

Again, AWESOME website there-- it doesn't get much easier than that!  Thanks again.

Hey Frank-

Thanks for poppin' over and taking a look.  Yeah, the wash that I put on the figure last night stuck too thickly in some spots, and I need to go back and remove some of it.  The weathering is coming later tonight!! 

Should have some more pictures up tomorrow!!  If you see something that doesn't look right-let me know, I'll try to get a better picture of it!

Hey, Mike.  Thanks for stopping by, man!  Appreciate the comment.  Tried to soften those areas a bit, and I think that it looks a little better!  Also, yeah, a flat coat is definitely in the future for this guy!! 

Worked a little more last night on getting a somewhat weathered appearance on this guy.  Added a little strap to the gas mask case, because it was easy! :)

Added a bit of mud to his boots and lower part of the jacket.  Just trying out some techniques I found over on missinglynx-cool site! 

I promise there will be a head soon, so y'all can stop looking at this creepy, headless German soldier. 

As always, any comments welcome!! 

Justin,

Much, much better!  The added weathering on the tools, and the smoother transition between shading and color really helps.  Can't wait to see this guy with his head!

Let me quote what you stated in your initial post: 

MrDrummy wrote:

I'm new to figures, and am doing some just for a change of pace (well, why some of my aircraft projects are drying!)

My question is: ARE YOU SURE IT'S YOUR FIRST FIGURE?!
It looks awesome, way better than my first figure and better than some "pro's" work.

Keep it up and I'm looking forward to see it done. 

Hey, Avus!

THanks for the comments.  It really IS my first figure!  I'm just getting lucky, and taking it nice and slow.  

I'm working on the head at the moment-should be done within the next week, I think, if all goes well!  

Thanks again! 

ajlafleche.....Are you a WW-II reenactor?

Scott

Archangel Shooter wrote:

ajlafleche.....Are you a WW-II reenactor? Scott

I did Civil War for 4 years. That's me on the national colors in the picture below, C Company, 10th Massachustts Volunteer Militia. I chose not to re-up when there were just too many "Mandatory" weekend events and we'd always be doing things when there was sweltering heat or biting cold. It just stopped being fun.

MrDrummy wrote:

Hey, Mike.  Thanks for stopping by, man!  Appreciate the comment.  Tried to soften those areas a bit, and I think that it looks a little better!  Also, yeah, a flat coat is definitely in the future for this guy!!  Worked a little more last night on getting a somewhat weathered appearance on this guy.  Added a little strap to the gas mask case, because it was easy! :) Added a bit of mud to his boots and lower part of the jacket.  Just trying out some techniques I found over on missinglynx-cool site!  I promise there will be a head soon, so y'all can stop looking at this creepy, headless German soldier.  As always, any comments welcome!!

IanIsBored2000 wrote:

Guess I know who to come to for help with my Civil War homework the next couple months.

I'll be glad to help.

Wow, that's looking good.

Might try one thing though, take and highlight the bayonet scabbard with a #2 pencil.  That ought to be just the right amount of compromise between the dark, almost glossy paint on the scabbard, and toning down for scale effect and weathering.

In bigger scales, like 120mm, an HB pencil is a neat trick for that tiny line of wear on the e-tool from the leather carrier--needs a good sharp point, but "uh-ohs" are easily repaiarble. 

Here's the finished product!  Made a boo-boo on the K98 strap--it should insert into the rifle at more of a vertical angle- oh well.  Next time!

Comments, criticism, and whatever else appreciated!  This is my first one, so help me out here!!

Sorry, could get the shadow out of his eyes! 

Ok, here we go with the critics:

...

...

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Oh, come on! Someone help me! I can't find anything to criticise!

Faces are the toughest part so you'll need a little more practise on them, but none the less it's a great work!

Looking forward to see your second, third, fourth and so on figure! 

I dunno, it's pretty great. Maybe beat up his helmet a little more, mke him look a little more war-torn? Perhaps it's just the lighting. But for your first figure, I'd say remarkable.

Steve

Overall, quite good. I really like the stock on the rifle.

On the left side of the head, there seems to be a mold line on the baklava just above the collar. I hate when I find those things late in the painting process.

The helmet strap looks kind of lost. Maybe it's the lighting, though. Is there a bit of flesh bleed over on the right strap in the first picture?

Work on getting more highlights and shadows in the face. The rest of the figure looks very nice for this, but the face is kind of monochromatic. What did you use for the flesh? In the pictures, it looks a bit too yellow.

Now, these are tweaks, not major criticisms. For a first figure, you did quite well.

Oh, and do your work justice in its display. Go to a craft store and get a piece of unstained wood. I use two inch cubes that I stain walnut. They cost about a dollar. If you have a couple figures together, you can get a decoupage plaque for about 50 cents. In the figure world, presentation is important.

Justin,

Excellent work my friend!  You are definately one of those modellers whose talents extend beyond a single arena.  Your aircraft are nothing short of amazing, and you appear to be destined for greatness with figures as well!  Well done!  Excellent detail work with the equipment, especially the gun stock.  Looks like the "Knights of the Sky" GB is paying dividends!  The two things I see to work on are the skin tones (a little yellow) as ajlafleche mentioned as well as the strap on the rifle.  I like the addition of the strap, just the attachment could be different. 

Otherwise, very nice job!

Great job for your first try.  Looks real good, but I agree with others that the helmet looks a bit too pristine & the face could use more shading.  Still, a very nice Figure.

Regards,  Rick