Jerry your figure just popped to life. Awesome camo. Im sure lots of the people here have embarrassing service photos, your not alone. I know I do.

Bryan

Hi Jerry,

Excellent work, I take my hat off to you.

Cheers

Al

Romain,Alan and Bryon,

Thanks fellas for checking in and the kind words. Getting there bit by bit.
J

Slapped some more paint on. Still some shading to do,etc. Only the base coat is on the flesh parts.





Almost got this one in the can.
J

Daaaaaaamn!!! ... Nice work Jerry!

Makes my knees buckle just thinking about all of that weight!

—mike

Yikes! That's one intimidating dude you got there. Loved watching him come together too. It's nice to see someone doing a war/conflict different from the usual, and from what you've said you know a thing or 2 about this one...

-Conor

Wow!! Another great build to watch Jerry! Maybe if I watch you build and paint enough of these guys I'll become half as good at it!! The persistence with the beret (and everything else!) really paid off - and you're not even done yet - nice!
Cheers
Nick

He's looking awesome. Good job on it.

Excellent paint work Jerry- he is really coming to life brilliantly now!

Mike,Conor,Nick,Karl and Arty,
Thanks for the kind words as always me mateys. Aarrrr

Slapped some paint on the flesh parts. Bad pics though. I will try to get better lighting. Enlarged the beret flash as well. Looks better I think. Bit of shading here and there and then his snap link and helmet and I can move him down the assembly line.






Size reference pic. Normal exacto blade for ref.

Static line snap link added.

Yesss!!!!!!
That's my man!!!
Superb job bro!! He is perfect!

Have you seen the light coloured diagonal streak under (his) the left cheekbone. Maybe you should tone it down just a little???

Just my 5c worth!

A (bigger) group of pals...and a C130 in 1/35...and you're in business!

Cheers

Romain

Thanks Romain,
Yes,I noticed that vexing streak after I posted this pic. Man,just when I thought I was getting close.
But...that is why I post. So I get another view.
J

This guy just needs his helmet to be casted and then painted and then he can have his knees in the breeze!!
Coming home from Operation Just Cause.

Excellent work, as always, brother!

It's time to hot-load and get going. I can smell that burning JP-4 and feel the hot exhausts from those big Allison turboprops...

Nothing like the smell of kerosene in the twilight! C-141s whining on idle ramp down two sticks per a/c waddling out to the ramps in reverse stick order. Safety hands each jumper their forward seatbelt and points to the assigned space. Stick divided facing each other knees to knees rucksacks folded up on each other. Tension mounts Gettin drowsy from the excessive heat in North Carolina until the call "20 MINUTES"!!! Right side stand up!!! Go through the sequence and then "Green Light Go!!! Last man in the stick "elbowing" the guys out the door as unofficial stick pusher then check your door and the other jumpmaster and then---knees in the breeze.
Land like a sack of s--t and on to the mundane business of Infantry combat training or...actual Infantry combat!
J

Finally got the basic stuff for the second jumper scratchbuilt. I then made molds and had to let them cure for a few days. The first couple ccpies in resin are usually rejects and so I use those to sort of get additional curing of the molds done. Here we see the first usable parts. There are a couple of air bubble holes but those will get filled with putty or resin so I can move on without casting anything else. I hate casting!
Next up is gluing the parts together and then building the arms and making molds of them.



I left the head off so I could have different options in the future.
J

Get the second guy together and the arms patched on. Still need to add the various bits of straps that I could not include in the molded and cast pieces.

Nice casting work, Jer! You look like you've done that once or twice...

Yes. I have made a few castings here and there! Heheheh
Believe it or not I just got an order for a female para! This should be interesting.
J

Beret guy finally got his helmet I cast two of them and had them painted by today.

Just need to make a base and this guy is done.




The second guy just needs some touch ups and his helmet. Some paint rubbed off his boots and needs fixing.
He is coming along though.








You can see he has a medium alice pack and regular canteen on it. I also used the Tamiya ammo pouches and canteens as I like their size and molding much better than the Dragon ones.
I should point out the straps hanging loose from the back of the helmet are the parachutist retention straps. They looped around the chinstrap when it was attached and fastened by velcro. This helped keep the jumpers' helmet on when going out the door.
The castings didn't turn out half bad.
J

Wow!! Jerry - he looks great! Yes, I saved the image for my figure file - at least something to try for 😃 I noticed you worked some real magic getting the eyes in there - nice! I really appreciate your posting your progress, it's really helpful for me! Some day....

Cheers
Nick

Thanks Nick
I thought I was maybe wasting my time but I do see there are a lot of "hits" so somebody is watching!
The eyes came out better than usual for me. The lower lip I thought I made a mistake on but it actually doesn't look too bad either when I see it enlarged here. Gives him sort of a hard core look I think.
J

Jerry- very fine work my friend- two awesome looking figures nearly done. You've really brought both the faces to life with your painting. Their general 'stance' too is very convincing- now that we see all the kit on them- that combined with the stance really adds to the idea that they are very weighed down.

Great job Jerry! We learn from your every move, so no waste of time. IMO.

I agree with your comment about the lower lip — makes him look badass as all hell! I'd have second thoughts about tangling with that guy ... ... after he drops all that gear!

—mike