International Scale Modeller

Finally up and running. Just a very quick post to start.

Cleared the bench and got the bits out of the box. First thoughts are its stunning. The resin is smooth and the detail is just beautiful. AND you get 2 heads, 1 for use with the helmet and 1 in the style of the Mohawk that some of the 101st pathfinders went for on D-day. I plan on using the head that goes with the helmet but I will paint the Mohawk fella for practice.

IMG_5539 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Absolutely stunning

IMG_5540 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Err, is that Lt Winters? I do think it is!

IMG_5541 by David Stokes, on Flickr

So we're up and running. I've started on removing the resin casting blocks so I'll post more detailed progress from now on.

That looks a very good casting mate, looking forward to this

Steve

rcfanuk wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2017 4:49 pm That looks a very good casting mate, looking forward to this

Steve

It certainly is. Up close it really is amazing.

Test fitted the arms, hands and rifle. Everything fits nicely but I'll need to work how out how best to actually attach the hands when the time comes. It doesn't look possible to slide the rifle in once the hands are attached so I may have to get a bit creative.

IMG_5542 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5543 by David Stokes, on Flickr

All the main bits, all cleaned up. Body and heads mounted for painting.

IMG_5544 by David Stokes, on Flickr

The helmet looks superb and I cant wait to see it when the painting starts

IMG_5546 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5548 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Remaining bits and bobs, helmet strap, rifle sling, sidearm, tiny bit of strapping for the ruck sack and the ruck itself.

IMG_5549 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5550 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Arms now properly attached

IMG_5551 by David Stokes, on Flickr

I have used wooden dowels to help with the attaching of the ruck sack. Its nice and tight now. Just needs a little bit more work to get it nice and snug. A little trimming of the dowels should do it.

IMG_5552 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5553 by David Stokes, on Flickr

I'll attach the various pouches to the torso tomorrow than its on to priming

That goes together very nicely, I wish my last figure fitted like that.
I may have to look at getting one of these for the stash

rcfanuk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:20 am That goes together very nicely, I wish my last figure fitted like that.
I may have to look at getting one of these for the stash

I applied a little filler to the arm joints last night but you're right, the fit is very good. Compared to my last figure (Mitches Models Pilot) which needed major work on the joints, this thing is a dream.

Didn't get to priming today but I did sort out most of the extra bits of kit.

The model comes with a length of wire and I couldn't work out what it was for. At the same time I couldn't figure out how to hang the pouches, water bottle and holster on the webbing. You can see where this is going

Started on the canteen first.

IMG_5554 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Drilled out the relevant holes on the webbing belt

IMG_5557 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5558 by David Stokes, on Flickr

There's a location hole for the rear pouch so that went on just with some CA

IMG_5559 by David Stokes,

Wire method for the small pouch at the front

IMG_5555 by David Stokes, on Flickr

And the same for the holster

IMG_5560 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5561 by David Stokes, on Flickr

The wired pieces are not glued in place yet so they can be removed for painting.

I also test fitted the hands and rifle again, this time working out the right way to attach them. Once painted, the left hand will go on the arm, the right hand will be attached to the rifle. I can then just slide the gun into place and fix the right hand to the arm with CA glue. Mystery solved. It also means I can paint everything separately. Nice and simple. Tried it with Blu-Tac.

IMG_5564 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5565 by David Stokes, on Flickr

None of this is down to any skill on my part (yet - but here's hoping ) but holy smokes this thing looks the absolute Nuts!

IMG_5563 by David Stokes, on Flickr

That kit is lookin' pretty slick so far! Can't wait to see some paint applied!

Great,looking mould, interested to see this gentleman progress and come alive

mincemeat wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2017 2:54 am That kit is lookin' pretty slick so far! Can't wait to see some paint applied!

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:41 am Great,looking mould, interested to see this gentleman progress and come alive

Thanks guys. Its certainly a beautiful mould. All ready for priming now but I'm being held up by the weather

The hose from my spray booth exits via the large window in front of my bench. Its chucking it down in Leicester right now and the wind direction is blowing it right at the window. If I set up the booth I'll be spraying in a rain shower Gutted because everything is all set up. All the bits are mounted on poles and I'm good to go.

Looks like a homage to Westworld or Game of Thrones

IMG_5567 by David Stokes, on Flickr

The sun is out in Leicester!

I fired up the booth and got some beautiful Ultimate primer onto Lt Winters. Got to wait 24 hours now before I can paint

Still, its not the end of the world. Got a movie day planned for tomorrow then it'll be painting time on Saturday.

IMG_5569 by David Stokes, on Flickr

dude that's rad

Mate the detail in that is absolutely eye-popping!

Really looking forward to seeing you bring this together.

Wow the detail on these is amazing

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:36 am Mate the detail in that is absolutely eye-popping!

Really looking forward to seeing you bring this together.

krusty69 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2017 6:42 am dude that's rad

Kevthemodeller wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2017 7:45 am Wow the detail on these is amazing

It is beautiful that's for sure. Its not like any resin I've seen before. It has a plastic like smoothness and I haven't seen any kind of surface blemish you usually find on resin parts. I'm just coming up with the plan for painting, how much I'll be using the AB, how much will be brush painted and what order etc. The biggest challenge will be getting the base colour for the jump jacket right. Its basically a khaki colour but I don't want it too bright.

That's the problem with being a Band of Brothers series fan. The colours in the series are all washed out and bleached by the camera and lighting effects. Darn you HBO and your gritty realism!!!!

Hello sir great to see you back at bench, I'm sorry I've only just found your build which is I must say looks stunning, such detail, good luck with the rest of the build

Oh this is gonna be good
Silly thing to notice, but I LOVE the home made paint stand using the Tamiya box....I am soooooo stealing that idea!!!
Cheers bud, he is going to be awesome

privatepete wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2017 2:27 pm Hello sir great to see you back at bench, I'm sorry I've only just found your build which is I must say looks stunning, such detail, good luck with the rest of the build

Thanks mate. Hope to get some paint down later on today.

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2017 3:20 pm Oh this is gonna be good
Silly thing to notice, but I LOVE the home made paint stand using the Tamiya box....I am soooooo stealing that idea!!!
Cheers bud, he is going to be awesome

I couldn't face shelling out for a paint station once I spotted it was just corrugated card in a box. I'm not great at DIY, my skill set can cope with flat pack furniture and not much more, but I figured I could make a cardboard box if I really put my mind to it

As for the kit, I'm just sorting out which paints and what order to work on. I've also worked out how to do the 506th spade helmet emblem so I'm all set to get some work done later today hopefully.

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:24 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2017 3:20 pm Oh this is gonna be good
Silly thing to notice, but I LOVE the home made paint stand using the Tamiya box....I am soooooo stealing that idea!!!
Cheers bud, he is going to be awesome

I couldn't face shelling out for a paint station once I spotted it was just corrugated card in a box. I'm not great at DIY, my skill set can cope with flat pack furniture and not much more, but I figured I could make a cardboard box if I really put my mind to it

As for the kit, I'm just sorting out which paints and what order to work on. I've also worked out how to do the 506th spade helmet emblem so I'm all set to get some work done later today hopefully.

The model box paint stand is a brilliant idea and allows me to use up my beloved stash of completed kit empty boxes that I just cannot bring myself to just throw away. You sir are a genius

Its been a good day for painting.

Airbrushed the main colour for the uniform jacket, helmet and the face and hands. Then started on the brush painting for the details. Plenty still to do but its off to a good start. For the jacket, straps and webbing I experimented a bit with the colours until I had what I thought was ok.

As mentioned before its pointless using Band of Brothers as a colour reference because of the way it was shot. I've got plenty of reference pics to work with (uniform photos and other model examples) so hopefully it will come out ok. Its all a bit bright at the moment but the shades will be adjusted with oils later on. Base colour wise though, they're ok for now.

Heads and hands. For some reason the Scale 75 paint didn't spray very well so I think I'll do another coat before I start on the shading.

IMG_5577 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5579 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Helmet was nice and straight forward

IMG_5598 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Canteen, aid kit and pouch.

IMG_5592 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Jacket, webbing and ruck.

IMG_5572 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5573 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5574 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5575 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Best time I've had at the bench in a while. Well chuffed

Great job so far mate

WOW! Great start. Looking forward to your progress.

Great start mate - it's amazing how just laying down the base colours really starts bringing it to life.

rcfanuk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:17 pm Great job so far mate

Makarovii wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2017 10:22 pm WOW! Great start. Looking forward to your progress.

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2017 10:02 am Great start mate - it's amazing how just laying down the base colours really starts bringing it to life.

Thanks Guys. It certainly takes on a whole new feel once the paint starts to go on.

Finished the detail painting on the torso.

Painted all the various buttons, studs and clasps on the webbing. During the weathering process they'll get darkened down then dry brushed with Vallejo dark aluminum to look like worn metal.

IMG_5601 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Very excited because I painted the screaming eagle shoulder flash. Took ages but he's definitely a 101st Airborne trooper now.

IMG_5603 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5604 by David Stokes, on Flickr

That will be it from me for a few days. I have a hernia op scheduled for tomorrow so hopefully I'll be back at the bench sometime next week.

Awesome work - simply stunning

There's some fine work going on here mate looking forward to the finished figure

Great work there and good luck with the surgery. Hope you have a quick recovery!

Best wishes for a fast and easy recovery

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2017 4:02 pm Awesome work - simply stunning

Kevthemodeller wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2017 6:13 pm There's some fine work going on here mate looking forward to the finished figure

mincemeat wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2017 12:06 am Great work there and good luck with the surgery. Hope you have a quick recovery!

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2017 1:41 am Best wishes for a fast and easy recovery

Thanks Guys. I don't have much experience with resin but the quality of this thing is just silly. I've got my eye on 3 more kits too, this time from RP Models. Beginning to think I shouldn't have bought those 3 AFV's last time I was up at the Breedon Model shop. I guess my reach continues to exceed my grasp

Also, thanks for your best wishes on my speedy recovery. You Gents rock.

Watch out for stashitus mate, I keep buying more figures as I see them, this will be another I suspect
Speedy recovery from the op

Hi Guys

No modelling update, I just wanted to say thanks to all who wished me a speedy recovery from my operation. It went ahead as scheduled on Thursday and I am recovering well, thank you.

I'm not yet back at the bench. Sitting upright on a hard chair and leaning forward is out for a few more days yet. There's nothing like having surgery on your abdominal wall to make you realise just how much you use your stomach muscles!

So instead I have been watching The England boys thrash South Africa at the Oval and cherry picking episodes of Stargate SG1 from SKY Box Sets. Still got a bit of a crush on Amanda Tapping! I loves me a bit of Colonel Samantha Carter!

Best wishes and speedy recovery mate

Get well!!!

best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Skullfish wrote: ↑Tue Aug 01, 2017 8:34 pm best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Tue Aug 01, 2017 3:39 pm Get well!!!

Kevthemodeller wrote: ↑Tue Aug 01, 2017 10:15 am Best wishes and speedy recovery mate

Thanks Guys. Its a nightmare (the lack of modelling, not the recovery), every time I walk into the kitchen, the bench stares at me with an accusing eye, it whispers to me, 'why are you ignoring me?' And then every time I walk into the bedroom, the stash does the same thing, I swear I heard it mumbling this morning, 'Cant even finish the paratrooper, what about all of us then eh? You're weak etc....'

I cant really grumble though. I'm on the mend, that's what matters.

Great to hear you're on the mend mate, take it easy and don't rush things!

Will be good to see you back at the bench when you're ready!

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:20 pm Great to hear you're on the mend mate, take it easy and don't rush things!

Will be good to see you back at the bench when you're ready!

Cheers mate, I'm behaving myself and being a proper lazy bas***d

Hey hey!

I'm back at the bench, the soundtrack from Dunkirk is on the stereo and it feels GREAT!

IMG_5617 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Only a short session but I sprayed another coat of flesh on the faces and hands as I wasn't happy with the original coverage

IMG_5618 by David Stokes, on Flickr

And did the base coats for the holster and M1 rifle.

IMG_5620 by David Stokes, on Flickr

They'll get lots of oil and shading work but the base is done so I can put the airbrush away for the rest of the build now.

As I said, only a short session but well pleased nonetheless. Thanks to all those who sent their good wishes on a speedy recovery.

Good to see you back mate, looking forward to seeing this come together

Steve

rcfanuk wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2017 7:21 am Good to see you back mate, looking forward to seeing this come together

Steve

Cheers mate.

First real session today

As the kit comes with 2 heads I thought I would paint them both - firstly, to get my money's worth - but also to practice on the Mohawk fella before I work on the Winters bonce.

Base coat was sprayed a while ago so I worked on the hair and then the skin shading today. I applied highs and lows then blended them in using thinned colours and a brown wash. I also did the whites of the eyes and the black for the irises.

IMG_5621 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5622 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5624 by David Stokes, on Flickr

The eyes need their colour and highlights then I'll switch to oils for skin tone washes. All good fun.

I did the helmet too. First up was the netting then the cloth strips using different tones of brown and green. Once I've done some dry brushing for chipping on the edges, I'll switch to oils here too.

IMG_5626 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5629 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5627 by David Stokes, on Flickr

I thought of all sorts of ways I could paint the 506th PIR spade emblem using paint masks but in the end I thought, stuff it, just free hand paint the thing!

Looks ok to me

Its good to be properly back in the groove

Looking great stokesy

You are good at this mate, really good

Really, really nice work mate!

Fridgy wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2017 2:16 pm Looking great stokesy

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2017 4:15 pm You are good at this mate, really good

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:54 am Really, really nice work mate!

Thanks Guys,

Had a couple of bench visits today. First off I finished the eyes on the Mohawk head. I'm not too happy so I may do them again, the pupils look a bit off to me. Maybe, maybe not.

IMG_5636 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5637 by David Stokes, on Flickr

I then did some washes for wood effects on the M1 before adding in the gun metal sections. I'll enhance the wood some more when I apply a satin varnish to it. I'll cut in a little light brown and orange into the varnish and that will hopefully create more grain in the wood.

IMG_5638 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5639 by David Stokes, on Flickr

I then got stuck into shading on the field jacket. I painted in the shadows using the base colour cut with black, then brushed / dry brushed highlights using the base plus white. Finally I applied a dry brush with the base just to tone and blend. Still more to do but its off to a nice start. Once I'm happy with the shading I'll switch to oils for washing but that's a way off still.

IMG_5640 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5641 by David Stokes, on Flickr

IMG_5642 by David Stokes, on Flickr

All in all, some good progress, time well spent since the cricket finished yesterday.

Great progress mate - the eyes look good to me but you may be seeing something the camera isn't picking up.

What did you make of the pink ball?

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:02 am Great progress mate - the eyes look good to me but you may be seeing something the camera isn't picking up.

What did you make of the pink ball?

Thanks mate

I wasn't impressed to be honest. For English cricket I just don't see it, the conditions don't support it and day games are well attended enough as it is. The only thing it does do is give our players some experience ahead of the day / night game scheduled for the Ashes. Admittedly, a game against the Windies isn't a decent test, but it did give our bowlers and batters some experience.

I was watching Cricket Writers on TV yesterday morning and one of the guys said he struggled to see the pink ball from the stands, kind of self-defeating if the whole point is to increase ground attendance.

There's loads that could be done to help test cricket, this just seems like typical ICC nonsense as opposed to tackling the real issues.

Still, a win is a win, and before everyone starts lamenting the state of West Indian cricket, this is the kind of drubbing they regularly handed out to us back in the 1980s so I don't feel too sorry for them

Same here. The guys on TMS were saying the same thing about losing sight of the ball at certain times during the evening sessions too.

My first thought was that they were trying to boost the crowds by having sessions "after work" as it were, but as you said the day crowds are generally ok. I just wonder if the weak West Indian side was part of the decision making - people might not be tempted to take time off work to attend a day session for a weak team, especially when there's a chance the game will be finished prior to the money-spinning weekend days.

Tomcat64 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:45 am Same here. The guys on TMS were saying the same thing about losing sight of the ball at certain times during the evening sessions too.

My first thought was that they were trying to boost the crowds by having sessions "after work" as it were, but as you said the day crowds are generally ok. I just wonder if the weak West Indian side was part of the decision making - people might not be tempted to take time off work to attend a day session for a weak team, especially when there's a chance the game will be finished prior to the money-spinning weekend days.

Absolutely. The tickets were deeply discounted too so that must be factored in when looking at how big the crowds were.

Got started on Lt Winters today.

Same as the Mohawk head I applied light and darks then blended a little with thinned out mixes of varying shades. I also filled in the whites of the eyes and the black for the iris backgrounds. They still need to the blueing for the irises and the pupils and highlights. As for the skin tones, there's more blending and then oil washes still to do.

IMG_5648 by David Stokes, on Flickr
IMG_5649 by David Stokes, on Flickr
IMG_5650 by David Stokes, on Flickr
IMG_5653 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Only used one drop of paint for each colour and still loads left over. The flesh tones are thick paints so its hard to get a smaller blob to come out of the bottle!

IMG_5654 by David Stokes, on Flickr

These are the 2 brushes I used, left hand one for the eyes (obviously )

IMG_5656 by David Stokes, on Flickr

Sneak peak of what he'll look like under the helmet. The shade from the helmet shows how much more blending and subtle shading needs doing. It makes him look a bit pale but the washes will fix that.

IMG_5662 by David Stokes, on Flickr
IMG_5664 by David Stokes, on Flickr
IMG_5666 by David Stokes, on Flickr

All in all, a good session, had my war themes playlist on so I was happy as Larry while I worked. Great fun.