I've started work on the figures for a dio which i've not completely decided on the direction of yet... It may be German POWs getting escorted by Soviet troops or (more likely) will be British troops escorting them..

The German figures are from Masterbox Ltd's set MB3517 - German Captives, 1944 a review of which can be seen:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/1997

I've also included the female soldier from ICM's 35541 - May 1945 set:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/2161

The British infantryman is from DML and i've given him a (Legend) head with forage cap - at least superficially it's pretty similar to the British one, so, we'll see...

Modifications are minimal. I've changed some of the heads from Legend's excelllent German Head sets and their 'Generic' bare-heads.

One of the figures has his head swathed in bandages, another has a blanket draped round him. Here are the modified figures:



















I have undercoated the figures using Citadel matt black spray. Now, I've had some good results using a technique 'borrowed' from Calvin Tan. Rather than apply solid blocks of color, the color is built up gradually using washes. With this is mind, the first stage is to dry-brush matt white acrylic over the figures. It looks horrible but does also help to identify seam-lines, gaps or other 'imperfections':





































More to come when I start laying on some paint...

Looking good so far. Keep us all posted on your progress

Des

Interesting approach Jim, I'll be watching to see how it works out. I approach figures the exact opposite by basecoating in white and letting the washes create the shadows.

Ola Jim

Looking very interesting. I have seen more people painting figures this way... And it is always a bit strange looking but I'm sure it will end up Ok.
Looking forward to the further paintstages.

With friendly greetz

RoberT Blokker

I use a variation on this method that a bloke I met at Euromil a few years back put me onto - so I also spray with Citadel matt black ("Chaos Black") but then instead of dry-drushing white on top, I 'mist' the figures with Citadel "Skull White" (also from a rattle can), allowing the white paint to settle on the raised areas but leaving the recesses black.

It creates a pretty cool effect and really brings out the detail in the figures amazingly well - so much so that I even leave the occasional figure in that state.

It works especially well on the larger scale 120 mm figures, I find.

- Steve

Jim,

Taking shape very nicely. Interesting way of doing these figures. I will be watching close sensei.

I'll be watching closely this one. Never heard of this technique before... Thanks for sharing.

Considering the very relaxed pose of the prisoners, i think there captor looks a bit too tense, I would suggest to find more relaxed type

Otherwise it looks good and interesting.

Right, got some of the first bits done. As the German infantry are all sculpted wearing the late-pattern uniform, i've had to move away from the usual FeldGrau and go green...

The basic uniform tone is Vallejo VC-830 + VC-868 (German Field Grey & Dark Sea Green) mixed in a 50/50 ratio and applied as a series of washes to gradually build up the solid color.

Shadow is a series of washes of 979 (German Camo Dark Green) mixed with the base color.

Highlighting is 886 (Green Grey) with a (very) little white mixed-in.

I'm not too happy with the faces (yet) so i'll be doing a little more work on them - particularly a bit more variation in flesh-tone. I've also noticed some defects (mould-lines etc.) which will have to be dealt with...

Here are some pics - shot in natural light:

Ola Jim

Looks very good mate. Now you can definately see the effect of the Black primer with the white drybrushing and how that turns into shadows and basecoat/highlight. Really looking forward to how this progresses.

With friendly greetz

Robert Blokker

Jim,

Taking shape very nicely. I'm no expert so if I may be permitted, a question. The blankets of military issue would be OD or some sort of dark heavy wool, wouldn't they??? The reason I ask is because the one on the figure almost reminds me of an emergency blanket like I have in my car. The kind that is silver on one side and orange on the other side. A civilian blanket would be very colorful or patterned.

Or am I just getting ahead of you???

Other than that great work so far.

No, it's a good question - it'll be Olive Drab or grey...

Jim ,
I just emailed you an image of a german officer holding a blanket from getty images hope it helps . By the way realy like the figures they are comming on very well

Best wishes

Jerry

Jerry, thanks very much for that - very useful indeed!

Glad it arived ok , Do an Image search on Google German Army blanket It should bring up some more examples

Jerry

Interesting way of priming a figure, I'll have to try it next time. The paint on your figures looks chalky though, will it be like that when it's done or is it the pictures that makes it look like that?

Interesting technique, Jim. Quite nice results actually. Is this in Calvin's Waffen-SS book?

Jim,

Didn't mean to get ahead of you, sorry. I am building a PAK 40/L46 from Tamiya and it came with 3 figures, and after the fiasco with the M 41 tank commander, thought I'd watch this very carefully to get some insight to do the figures on the PAK.

Like I said earlier looking very good so far.

Thank you for sharing Jim. I am just starting to use vallejo paints and giving your mix ratios is a great help. So far awesome cant wait to see them finished.

Mike, the mixes weren't entirely my own... Here's a good point to start for some basic Vallejo mixes:

http://www.coloradominiatures.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=5#fieldgrey2