Ok... I did it.... an impulsive early morning buy from Panther models - Alpine's All American 82nd Airborne Paratrooper in 120mm! What was I thinking? I only do 1/35th... but I was looking on the website and then the release news on here and just fell in love with the sculpting, and, for a brief moment (while my card number went through) thought I'd be able to pull off the paint job as well as Gino Poppe has done for the box...
Well my friends, I'll keep you informed of my progress - hoping to have it done by IPMS Telford in november.
(yeah right!)
Anybody else started this? Any tips?

Richard

good luck!"!!!! remember that cus its bigger you need more skin detail

james

I will be interested to see your progress. Are you going to use acylic's or oils for the skin. I was converted to Vallejo about three years ago. Have fun

I think I've really made progress using Vallejo's on the skin tones of my 1/35th figures, so I'll try and continue in this way... I was going to try and get some practice with oils but more because the sheen they give is more skin-like... I don't think this is the time to start...
And although there is more skin to cover because of the scale, the soldier's wearing gloves so it's only the face I have to do!
The best face painting tip I have read recently is to start painting the left eyeball (if you're right handed) first, then it will be easier to copy the exact position for the right one - it really works! I suspect this time I'll need to do the coloured iris too.
I'm planning on using the head with the helmet on- but want to see how good the foliage moulded to it looks - in the photos it seems a bit "moulded"...
I expect it thursday this week - so photos of the bits as soon as it's with me!

R

its a great kit had a look on the alpine site good luck

I've now got the kit - it's fantastic, comes in little baggies inside a nice green card presentation box, packed with foam...
All the parts are well cast, with little or no flash, and great detail. I've cut them from the pouring blocks, and dry fitted them - so far so good.
What the kit lacks, though, is some detailed pictures of the whole finished figure, for painting reference or even just some clarity on construction. But otherwise it's going to be great fun putting it together and painting it.
I have one question for the WW2 uniform experts out there - where most of the kit (ammo pouches, canteen, pistol) seems to hang from the belt, the entrenching tool (non-folding, 'T' handle) seems to just sit right onto the hem of the jacket, a good five mm lower than the belt with no real visible clue as to how it's attached - is this correct, and if not, how was it attached? I can't really move it up to the belt as there is a precise dent in the jacket lower down to take the shape of the spade head...

Hope someone can help, pics up soon...

richard

Please use the pics on Alpine's website as reference.
There are some areas that can be confusing such as
chin straps, gun sling, ammo pouches, etc.

Thanks! They were the pictures which sold it to me in the first place... but a colour print of them in the box would be nice - I don't paint in front of my computer - just a thought...
They show the entrenching tool a bit higher than I can get it, and a websearch has turned up details of the attachment on the rear of the canvas spade holder - wire through the little holes in the belt... So I might have to move it up a bit and do some light filling around the dent on the jacket... wire fixings

Richard

Thanks for the info and the pic.

As for the color prints, I'd love to include full color painting guide.
But this would only lead to a price increase as printing fee is
sky-rocketing these days...