Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 12:00 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Wow!! Superb show Sir!!!
Eager to see it completed and painted up!
Thanks for sharing m8!!
Cheers
Romain
Danke Herr Hauptmann!!
I am working on the M1950 weapons case right now. I already have the right arm on and the web gear assembled and attached. Getting close. Pics follow.
J
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 02:02 AM UTC
OK,got the web gear on,M1950 fabricated and attached and the basic arm pieces in place. Flashlight and first aid pouch added to front web gear.
I believe all I still need are hands,helmet and snap link going around from parachute pack to carrying handle on reserve chute in front.
Still no putty! Last thing before paint.
If all this looks bulky and heavy,believe me,it was. Imagine the poor blokes that jumped an M60 or a Dragon besides all of this stuff?
J
The loose strap at the bottom of the M1950 weapons case was looped around the jumpers' leg after he got on the plane. It had a velcro pad that kept it closed. This prevented the case from "flying" out to the side too much
J
Alberta, Canada
Joined: August 20, 2008
KitMaker: 1,295 posts
Armorama: 1,191 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 02:54 AM UTC
Jerry, your attention to all the details is unmatched in the figures I see on this site. You never cut a corner or scrimp on a process in your effort to achieve the end you see in your minds eye. Well done Bubba...
Do what you love, and love what you do... then everything else is simply an extension of that which drives your heart.
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Joined: June 03, 2014
KitMaker: 277 posts
Armorama: 66 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 02:59 AM UTC
Jerry he looks great, so much gear though.
When we would go jump we would get all equipped on the Tarmac at the air force base, like a a giant bus stop. You would get strapped in and then sit down, putting the helmet under the parachute behind you so it was off the ground. The C-130 would materialize out of the morning mist growling and harshly lit. The butterflies quadrupled as the big plane lurched to a stop and its ramp opened beckoning us to our one way trip. The jump instructors would come and help us stand up pulling on the straps of the parachute. When I jumped with the mortar barrel it took two to get me up. Your figure looks like he might need a third. I really hope he has a soft landing.
Did you have a similar pre-boarding process?
Was it equally nerve racking?
Following closely and convincing myself that the light will never go green!
Bryan
#284
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2006
KitMaker: 3,094 posts
Armorama: 2,942 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 04:20 PM UTC
You describe that boarding process brilliantly Bryan!
As for the figure he looks so weighed down its incredible. As Dave said, the detail you manage to pack into your builds is second to none Jerry. I particularly like the way you have the canteens hanging down at the back suggesting they are full- really nice touch.
Also, I have another question about this whole parachute business! Obviously you jumped with reserve chutes- I was just wondering did you guys practice using the reserve chutes- i.e. did you have to jump out and ignore your regular chute and just use the reserve so you would know what to expect if you had to use it for real?
On The Bench:
Ethiopian BMP-1 (Trumpeter 1/35)
AMX-13/75 (Takom 1/35)
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 08:10 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Jerry, your attention to all the details is unmatched in the figures I see on this site. You never cut a corner or scrimp on a process in your effort to achieve the end you see in your minds eye. Well done Bubba...
Thanks Dave,
I got this attention to detail from Mike Roof. I never used to bother so much before. Also,my painting skills aren't that good so the better the prep is during the build,the better my crappy paint job will look!
J
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 08:20 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Jerry he looks great, so much gear though.
When we would go jump we would get all equipped on the Tarmac at the air force base, like a a giant bus stop. You would get strapped in and then sit down, putting the helmet under the parachute behind you so it was off the ground. The C-130 would materialize out of the morning mist growling and harshly lit. The butterflies quadrupled as the big plane lurched to a stop and its ramp opened beckoning us to our one way trip. The jump instructors would come and help us stand up pulling on the straps of the parachute. When I jumped with the mortar barrel it took two to get me up. Your figure looks like he might need a third. I really hope he has a soft landing.
Did you have a similar pre-boarding process?
Was it equally nerve racking?
Following closely and convincing myself that the light will never go green!
Bryan
The last part of my service in the Abn I was a jumpmaster so I was always too busy to be nervous!! When you have those duties,everyone on "your" airplane is under your command,even the Commander of the 82nd!!
The training for that job is the most intense that I ever experienced in the Army,even more so that my 8 months in Special Warfare school and it also gave me a lot of confidence in the equipment. If you have an equipment failure with this gear,you are the most unlucky person ever!
The jump prep varied. Training jumps were mostly preped at the "Green Ramp" at Pope AFB in a large open tin building with rows of wooden benches in it that had a nice step in the back to hold your main parachute up. When we got ready to board,we waddled out to the planes from that shed. If it was a largeBn or Bde mass tactical jump we suited up behind our respective a/c so we didn't have to walk that far. That is what happened on the night we got ready for "Just Cause". We suited up in the freezing rain wearing only tropical uniforms and froze until we got JMPIed and boarded the planes,which had to be de-iced before they took off.
And yes,we lined up in reverse stick order and sat on the ground until boarding. The Jumpmasters would give a hand to the guys to help them up while the safety JMs did their pre-flight a/c check.
Fun times.
J
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 08:27 PM UTC
Quoted Text
You describe that boarding process brilliantly Bryan!
As for the figure he looks so weighed down its incredible. As Dave said, the detail you manage to pack into your builds is second to none Jerry. I particularly like the way you have the canteens hanging down at the back suggesting they are full- really nice touch.
Also, I have another question about this whole parachute business! Obviously you jumped with reserve chutes- I was just wondering did you guys practice using the reserve chutes- i.e. did you have to jump out and ignore your regular chute and just use the reserve so you would know what to expect if you had to use it for real?
Thanks Karl,as always for your excellent posts.
The canteens are hanging a bit oddly because the web belt was not fastened so the whole thing hung down in back. You couldn't fasten the belt because of the ammo pouches being in the way of the reserve chute.
The reserve chute was not practiced with no. You didn't want to ever have to use those!! Hahaha We were given a briefing before every jump that reminded you how to deploy the reserve in different situations. I actually saw a guy deploy his in the air once. His main was only partially inflated. His reserve took a long time to inflate and he was really spinning badly when he landed. Don't know what the outcome was. He did live though.
In the Panama combat jump,the reserve was just for comfort as we jumped at 500 feet above ground level and there was no time to use the reserve if your main malfunctioned!! It was nice to hang onto though,as I exited the aircraft.
J
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 - 11:46 PM UTC
Putty added at last. I am happy that I didn't waste much time filling seems as I went along because almost all was covered during the build. I only had to work on the arms and the beret with the putty.
Need to let that dry overnight and then shape it. I think that will take care of the beret once I shape the putty.
Next up is the jungle boot,no headgear guy. Way more authentic than the jump boot,beret wearing guy.
I will be casting this guy for future projects and hopefully orders. The head will be separate so I can personalize the figures.
Almost paint time,
J
Texas, United States
Joined: July 29, 2002
KitMaker: 7 posts
Armorama: 3 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 12:55 AM UTC
Did you know a JM named Robert Berry? He got me started building models when we were in junior high school. He was with the 82nd during the period you are portraying and jumped into Panama.
Ted
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 03:13 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Did you know a JM named Robert Berry? He got me started building models when we were in junior high school. He was with the 82nd during the period you are portraying and jumped into Panama.
Ted
Sorry,no.
The Army can be very insular as far as units go. I never got to meet many people from outside of my Bn in the almost 7 years I was in the 82nd. We tended to do everything within our Delta Company "home".
So Berry may have been in the 504PIR but there was not much chance I knew him. Every unit had their own jumpmasters as that was an additional duty and not a specific job. Unless you were assigned to the jumpmaster school. Small elite group there! Blackhats!
J
#284
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2006
KitMaker: 3,094 posts
Armorama: 2,942 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 04:19 PM UTC
Great to see the guy with the beret nearing completion and to see work started on the other guy.
Also- thanks for answering my questions Jerry!
On The Bench:
Ethiopian BMP-1 (Trumpeter 1/35)
AMX-13/75 (Takom 1/35)
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 08:14 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Great to see the guy with the beret nearing completion and to see work started on the other guy.
Also- thanks for answering my questions Jerry!
Any time Kamrad Karl!!
J
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Friday, January 16, 2015 - 12:14 AM UTC
This is my motley crew after the festivities were over with. We are at the Panamanian mounted forces barracks in the old city area,amongst the old Spanish City ruins.
This is where our Bn ended up when the action was over. We only had two of our usual 6 Hmvs in country. Both armed with 50cals but the TOWs were stowed inside just in case.
J
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Friday, January 16, 2015 - 01:11 AM UTC
Here is my guy with the putty sanded and carved out. I am finally happy with the shape of the beret. I see though that there are still some dings in it to straighten out.
J
I also see some mold seems on the hand and dings in the putty. More work.
J
South Carolina, United States
Joined: May 07, 2010
KitMaker: 2,238 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 03:28 AM UTC
Damn that was fast!
You adding the rest of the static line and snap hook last after painting the figure?
Keep your feet and knees together...
Mike Roof
AMPS #1632
Chapter Contact
AMPS Central SC
Visit us at http://www.ampscentralsouthcarolina.org
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 08:18 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Damn that was fast!
You adding the rest of the static line and snap hook last after painting the figure?
Keep your feet and knees together...
Yup,
Those go on after painting. Figured it would save some trouble. Unfortunately the only time I keep my feet and knees together nowadays is when I have to pee real bad.
Thanks for looking in bubba!
J
South Carolina, United States
Joined: May 07, 2010
KitMaker: 2,238 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 09:02 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
... Keep your feet and knees together...
... Unfortunately the only time I keep my feet and knees together nowadays is when I have to pee real bad.
Hope that's because you're drinking lots'a beer in polite company and the woodline is just too public!
Mike Roof
AMPS #1632
Chapter Contact
AMPS Central SC
Visit us at http://www.ampscentralsouthcarolina.org
Colorado, United States
Joined: February 24, 2014
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 10:39 PM UTC
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 12:41 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
... Keep your feet and knees together...
... Unfortunately the only time I keep my feet and knees together nowadays is when I have to pee real bad.
Hope that's because you're drinking lots'a beer in polite company and the woodline is just too public!
Uhh Uhhh YEAH!!! yeah that's what it is.
I figured since it was getting time to paint I would find a reference. So I dug out the actual uniform I wore on that jump,commemorated by the yellow combat star in the middle of my senior parachutists' wings. I never got the jumps required to make Masterblaster because after Desert Storm we had so few aircraft available to use that we rarely got to jump,in fact about half the unit was a"pay hurt" at any given time. Really sucked.
Now....to match these colors he'ah.
J
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
Joined: June 03, 2014
KitMaker: 277 posts
Armorama: 66 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 02:37 AM UTC
Jerry, I have to know, which one of the platoon are you in the photo from Panama?
Bryan
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 08:10 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Jerry, I have to know, which one of the platoon are you in the photo from Panama?
Bryan
Kneeling,front row,middle. And no,I am not the bronze statue,although I have put on some weight since this!!
Hahaha,
J
Texas, United States
Joined: June 07, 2006
KitMaker: 726 posts
Armorama: 687 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 10:29 PM UTC
Hey Jerry,
You are doing a great job on these figures. I really like how you captured the pistol belt hanging open and low with the canteens dangling in the back like they are doing.
Can't wait to see the completed figures all painted up.
These guys make me want to jump again in a way.
Keep up the great work.
Cheers,
James
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 01:46 AM UTC
Thanks Jim,for the kind words and comments. Only a fellow jumper would notice the hanging canteen/web gear thing.
Here I have blocked in some basic colors and the cammo. It will pop more when I shade and cutline the seems pockets,etc.
Beret need some shading as well.
Paint was a combo of Lifecolors and Vallejo.
Wien, Austria
Joined: May 20, 2011
KitMaker: 1,744 posts
Armorama: 1,727 posts
Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 02:22 AM UTC
Hi Jerry
congrats for that camo and the flesh colours m8!!! Super start into painting!!
Keep up the super show bro!!
Cheers
Romain
un pour tous et tous pour un!
