Looks very good Jerry. I think you've done an excellent job of putting the straps across the shoulders in an "off kilter" way. Can't really tell from the pictures, but do you feel the straps have "dug into" the shoulders enough? I'm sure these guys would have looked at "padding" those straps some (I know I did on ruck-marches). Maybe you can do that for the next Figgie or two?

Mike




EDIT: Uggh. One foot in front of the other, one foot in front of the other......repeat...pain....

first of all Jerry, I hope your eye gets better.

you did an excellent job with the hat and the figure, it looks more realistic.
Also the belts are excellent done.

However , i have just a little problem with his warm pants or trousers for the Africa scene.

Maybe an idea ,to make a cloth to put it behind the hat for protecting the neck against sunburn ?

Greets Kurt

Jerry- very sorry to hear about your eye problems returning again- I hope it clears up for you soon. I think this is a great story to tell in a dio and I'm liking this first guy on the bench- the thinning of the brim on the cap is a small job but I think it gives a much better impression of the DAK issue hat. The kit and ammo cans are sitting nicely on his back- slightly further down than a ruck would be which suggests how heavy they are. I think if you have his thumbs hooked under his front Y straps then they will likely be digging in deeper around the shoulder. I like the inclusion of the British water bottle- that helps tell the story. Good luck with this mate, its off to a great start!

Your eye (sorry, no pun intended) for detail is legendary m8!
I like your "heavy load straps" a bunch as you know. You are one of the very few to take this into account! Cheers to that!!!
The cap looks a lot better indeed!!
The brim looks folded.....because it actually is. Troops would store them in a pocket, after folding them in 2.
I know because we had (partly have) the problem in the austrian army as well.
The folded look was highly unpopular with the big shots, but nothing would prevent the rank and file from carrying the caps in a pocket or under a shoulder strap.

Wish you a prompt recovery bro!

R.

I was hoping to see you build some paras. Not much to say that hasn't been said already. Awesome stuff, can't wait for more

-Conor

Oh yea, he has that "pack mule" look - head down, trying to slide his hands under his shoulder straps looking for a bit of relief... wondering when Der Spiess is gonna call "Pause machen!"

I had the same headgear problem with the helmet on the gunner for my Bren Gun Carrier. I had to snap it off today and grind it out some more to fit down on his head better.

I agree the hat on this guy would look a little more natural down closer to the tops of his ears.

Did you intend to leave the gas mask canister strap across his chest? Just asking since you've fitted the rest of his kit I wasn't sure if you were going to add that to poor guy's load too. ("Genug ist genug!")

I don't know how you do these guys so fast. You have a veritable army of figgies you're working on...

I was hoping to see you build some paras. Not much to say that hasn't been said already. Awesome stuff, can't wait for more

-Conor

Oh yea, I understand the water bottle strap now. I missed picking up on how the strap you added from foil merged into the strap molded on the front. (Shoulda known...)

Better keep an eye on that second guy, though, or he'll be trying to stick his klein Geld into the nearest cactus thinking he's buying an ice-cold Coke! That or he's a break-in-contact waiting to happen... You know it, too: he'll stop for the guy in front to step over a wait-a-minute vine (do they have those in the desert?) and fall asleep standing up. Before you know it, the front half will be a thousand meters farther on before they realize the back half ain't there!

Lookin' good, old friend!

love the figs,


hope your eyes improve for painting!

Conor,
Yes,I read about Von Lucks' experience as well. Great stuff.
Here you see I used the newer Miniart pouches and they scale out much better to me than the DML ones(which were the brand new ones btw)


I also moved the arms closer to the body. Dragon tends to have the arms too far out from the side and there is no way a person would carry heavy crap for long in that position IMHO

Here is the next guy before I make any alterations. He is from a pretty old Dragon set and you can see how soft the detail is. I chose the head(warriers) because of the facial expression



Romain,thanks for asking. My eye is getting better for sure. Don't want to push my luck and go right back to misery so a few more days off.
I hope your Krankenhaus stay was for nothing too serious?
Meine herzlichen wunschen fur seine gutes gesund,
J