Hi Jerry, The hands are pretty incredible as well! If you need a good US distributor for Hornet, here you go: 'Michigan Toy Soldier Co.' ... Good turnaround and it beats hunting all over eBay land! Here's a pretty complete 'Hornet' Catalog PDF.

Note: No new releases. As per an e-mail about a year ago, Mr. Saunders has retired from sculpting.

—mike

Nice work thus far. It might also be good posing on the part of MB, but the first stretcher bearer has that perfect swagger to his pose- not stiff like Frankenstein. The work on the casualty's feet is a nice surprise too, I've got a few of those boot bottoms in my AM kit as well but never though of how to use them.

I feel the same way about those Hornet heads, and Mike is right- Michigan Toy Soldier Co. is the way to go since Colorado Miniatures bit the dust.

-Conor

Thanks guys for the comments and the good intel on Hornet. I didn't know the maistro had retired!!! That sux for us. Hope he is doing well though? Anyone have the skinny?
Shame about Colorado. I bought some Hornet stuff as part of the close-out sale. They had weird hats and stuff but you can still change that out!!
Here is the basic parts of number two man. I looked for an old,worn out face here. Contrast between the youthful casualty and the older man makes a statement about the German Army in 1944.
I hope anyway.





I do appreciate the nice sculpting on these. Great anatomy. These MB figs are getting better and better. The head on the casualty that came with the kit is very nice but I wanted a younger guy otherwise I would have used the original for sure.
Once again,I updated the uniform to the unpleated pocket version,etc etc.
And Nick,yes,it is still odd not to get the usual comments from M8!!! Really miss that.

J

Ηι Jerry
Another 105, desert storm.....storm of dios but a good storm.
And now I guess something dramatic
keep modelling my friend
D

Thanks for the comments! I do seem to have developed modelers' ADD. I better focus!!
Stay thirsty my friend,
J

It's coming long nicely. Good choice of faces for the litter bearers.

Cheers,
James

Thanks Jim,
The groundwork is dry on the TOW launcher so I have to get back to that for a fw days maybe and get that done finally.
Je

Here are the guys on the back corners. Worn out guy and another kid. Just the basics are done. I have decided to use the Dragon helmets as the MB ones look way big.
J

Have a look,

Hi Jerry ,

it looks already very promising to me and any kit or figure that goes through your hands is astonishing afterwards . So keep us amused and we will thank you a million times for it !

Kurt

Looking awfully good Jerry. Keep going, maybe I'll catch up someday.

Kurt and Dave,
Thanks for the words of encouragement! I seem to have a bit of my mojo back. Here is what the 4 guys look like together.



And here is another element of misery.





I have built these two guys before about 15 years ago. This is a nice set from Dragon for being released so long ago already. I was very impressed the first time I built them by the fit. It will take a bit of putty here and there but the fit is great for such a complex pose. And,of course,...those Hornet heads!
Adds a whole different element doesn't it?
J

Hi Jerry,

Now that you've added the other two bearers (and additional misery!), this is really looking the part!


Absolutely!

—mike

I could see these figures trudging along with your sad souls in the 105mm diorama! I really like what you did to the MB guys. I've got the Dragon kit as well, it really does fit nicely together.



And awesome finish on the TOW launcher scene! Forgot to leave a comment there so I'll just do it here. Loved watching that, and I think the weld seams on the pipe were b-e-a-u-tiful. haha

I like this, I like it a lot. Maybe it'll help me get my mojo back too?

-Conor

Conor--Thanks for checking in buddy and thanks for the kudos about my TOW project.
I ran out of room on the 105 dio but good idea!
These guys started out as a small fast project but now what is happening is what always happens with me---mission creep!
Maybe I better get back to the Ramcke guys now that it's getting warm outside again? Or the 105?
J

Haha I figured the 105 was full. These guys just seemed to be walking at the same pace as the ones there. Would be nice to see the Ramcke guys come back! Never see enough FJ builds around here, except the occasional vignette from Gary. Then again the 105 would be nice to see all finished off. But it would also be cool to see where this goes... I can't help you narrow things down hahah

-Conor

Sat down today with these guys. Added a wristwatch and full kit to the helper guy and tightened up the under cutting on both. Added a wound badge on the wounded guy. Still need to add his hair and wound,etc. Lots to do yet in this interim pic.



Back view. I found if you seperate the handle of the bayonet from the leather carrier it looks a lot better and the hanger fits on the belt way better IMHO.

I also took a few pounds off the guys as they looked way too beefy for mid/late war soldiers.
Got started on the gear for one of the back corner guys as well.


Usual deal. Lead foil belt with PE buckle. E-tool from MB and the ammo pouches are Dragon GenII.

Hey Jerry - man! You've been a model building machine these days! Like the bayonet idea - keep posting the WIP, thanks!

Cheers
Nick

Thanks Nick!! I am still striving to improve the look of the weight of things. Trying to eliminate the "floating" equipment look.
J

Weighted gear and a weight-loss program for the troops! ... I like it!

—mike

I thought it would look better on the screen if I shot a thin coat of primer on to get the shine down.
Love that Hornet head.

These two MB guys are looking pretty respectable now. The sculpting was nice to begin with but undercutting set off some more detail,etc. Plus a few judicious pieces of added PE to top things off.
I now have to fix the lines of the poncho as they should be straight from the carriers hands down to the carried weight,IE the casualty.

Last man almost done. Small bits to fix yet I see such as his sling. I will leave the slings off until most of the painting is done. Too easy to break.







The sad procession all together. Taking shape slowly.

like the progress, Jerry... looking forward to see this build develop!

Jerry,

Excellent stuff.
I know you said you'd ran out of room on the 105 diorama but I see elsewhere you're contemplating inclusion of these guys.
Would that be instead of the 105?
If you could squeeze them in together I think it's a very natural combination.
Whatever you do with them, the expressions and poses are perfect for the circumstances.
Well done.

Cheers,

Sean

Hi Jerry,
Looking real good so far.
Are the hands molded to the ground sheet? and on the fella helping the wounded figure you have him with a rip in his trousers how did you you do that,it's something I'd like to try at some stage.

Cheers


Chris