Quoted Text
He is swell, and very dramatic...keep going.
Alrighty then!!
J
Dioramas
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Last stand at Wake Island
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 05:53 AM UTC
Alrighty then!!
J
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 07:23 AM UTC
Jerry,
Looking great-- this should be a great vignette when finished. Where do you get those heads with such great expressions? About my stay at Guadalcanal-- there's a lot more "stuff" left there than there was on Wake-- in some cases entire aircraft and vehicles were just left in the jungle when we departed there in 1945 (including tons of munitions that the Australian and Solomons Island Government are disposing of little by little). In the 12 hours I spent on Wake, I didn't see as much as a rusty bayonet left. On Guadalcanal I saw a P39, LVTPs (AMTRACKS), several trucks, and lots of munitions. Outside our hotel was the gun mount from an SBD. There's a pretty good private museum there too. Whereas in Europe there's almost no equipment left on the battlefield, that's not true in the Pacific. Looking forward to your tribute to those Wake defenders. It wasn't enough to defend the island, virtually all of them spent the remainder of the war (or their lives for that matter) in Japanese POW camps, several, including Some Pan Am employees and civil contractors never made it off the island. There is (or was 20 years ago) a memorial to them and the USMC/Navy defenders near the terminal.
VR Russ
Looking great-- this should be a great vignette when finished. Where do you get those heads with such great expressions? About my stay at Guadalcanal-- there's a lot more "stuff" left there than there was on Wake-- in some cases entire aircraft and vehicles were just left in the jungle when we departed there in 1945 (including tons of munitions that the Australian and Solomons Island Government are disposing of little by little). In the 12 hours I spent on Wake, I didn't see as much as a rusty bayonet left. On Guadalcanal I saw a P39, LVTPs (AMTRACKS), several trucks, and lots of munitions. Outside our hotel was the gun mount from an SBD. There's a pretty good private museum there too. Whereas in Europe there's almost no equipment left on the battlefield, that's not true in the Pacific. Looking forward to your tribute to those Wake defenders. It wasn't enough to defend the island, virtually all of them spent the remainder of the war (or their lives for that matter) in Japanese POW camps, several, including Some Pan Am employees and civil contractors never made it off the island. There is (or was 20 years ago) a memorial to them and the USMC/Navy defenders near the terminal.
VR Russ
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 07:51 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Jerry,
Looking great-- this should be a great vignette when finished. Where do you get those heads with such great expressions? About my stay at Guadalcanal-- there's a lot more "stuff" left there than there was on Wake-- in some cases entire aircraft and vehicles were just left in the jungle when we departed there in 1945 (including tons of munitions that the Australian and Solomons Island Government are disposing of little by little). In the 12 hours I spent on Wake, I didn't see as much as a rusty bayonet left. On Guadalcanal I saw a P39, LVTPs (AMTRACKS), several trucks, and lots of munitions. Outside our hotel was the gun mount from an SBD. There's a pretty good private museum there too. Whereas in Europe there's almost no equipment left on the battlefield, that's not true in the Pacific. Looking forward to your tribute to those Wake defenders. It wasn't enough to defend the island, virtually all of them spent the remainder of the war (or their lives for that matter) in Japanese POW camps, several, including Some Pan Am employees and civil contractors never made it off the island. There is (or was 20 years ago) a
memorial to them and the USMC/Navy defenders near the terminal.
VR Russ
Thanks buddy! The heads are from Hornet,my go-to company for heads. I also use a few from Alpine but mostly Hornet. The Canal would be cool to visit but me and the jungle don't get along well! I had my fill from three rotations in Panama for jungle warfare school when I was in the 82nd Abn.
There were about 90 US civilians that were kept on Wake for a labor force by the Japanese. They were executed when they outlived their usefulness.
This guy will not be taken prisoner without a fight though,
This will be the third dude and the final one. He is gonna get long trousers. He will be a civilian contractor stuck on the island when the invasion started. So I will have a Marine,a Navy swabby and a civilian. Did this actually happen? Maybe. I just want to include all the branches and give them some props.
These are all rough poses so far so bear with me please.
J
GazzaS
#424
Joined: April 23, 2015
KitMaker: 4,648 posts
Armorama: 2,248 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 08:04 AM UTC
Awesome looking characters. I definitely can definitely sense that last-stand feeling.
Gaz
Gaz
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 11:29 AM UTC
Jerry,
Long pants for the last guy? It might be neat to leave him in shorts, no shirt, maybe with some bandages on an arm or leg? Desperation at the last minute?
VR Russ
Long pants for the last guy? It might be neat to leave him in shorts, no shirt, maybe with some bandages on an arm or leg? Desperation at the last minute?
VR Russ
Frenchy
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 03:57 PM UTC
Hi Jerry
Ir's maybe a bit late, bur I've came across some period pics that may be worth a look.
6th Marines, Marine Barracks, San Diego, mid-1941:
from http://www.ww2gyrene.org/Prewar_782_Gear.html
Keep on the good work
H.P.
Ir's maybe a bit late, bur I've came across some period pics that may be worth a look.
6th Marines, Marine Barracks, San Diego, mid-1941:
from http://www.ww2gyrene.org/Prewar_782_Gear.html
Keep on the good work
H.P.
exer
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 04:24 PM UTC
This looks great Jerry. Any chance of a pic of the three together?
erichvon
Joined: January 17, 2006
KitMaker: 1,694 posts
Armorama: 1,584 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 04:34 PM UTC
Hi Jerry, as always following with interest. It's not an area of the war that I profess to know much about as I'm a NW Europe modeller as you know. I knew I'd seen something that would be of use to you and here it is https://www.facebook.com/1634742540105069/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1717009695211686
https://www.facebook.com/1634742540105069/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1731582537087735
https://www.facebook.com/1634742540105069/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1735269016719087
While not specifically Wake it's uniform details you're after and here it is in spades lol. Same site I sent you before just different albums. There should be enough there to help you out. Looking forward to see how this progresses. Already like the way it's shaping up.
https://www.facebook.com/1634742540105069/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1731582537087735
https://www.facebook.com/1634742540105069/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1735269016719087
While not specifically Wake it's uniform details you're after and here it is in spades lol. Same site I sent you before just different albums. There should be enough there to help you out. Looking forward to see how this progresses. Already like the way it's shaping up.
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorJoined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 09:26 PM UTC
Watching intently.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 28, 2016 - 10:58 PM UTC
Kurt and Frenchie!!! You guys rock!! Thanks so much for the great refs and no...they are not too late at all!
Bill,I will try not to let you down buddy!
Gary,Russ and Pat,
Thanks guys for the comments and suggestions. I did start to stress them a bit,adding a tear in the one guys pants and another on an elbow. I do really want to make them beat up looking. I started to conform the figs to their poses by removing plastic and adding putty. The first guy is the furthest along and you can see the work on the fingers,etc as I hate the "loose grip" you see on a lot of plastic figs. I also started on his cuffs as the jarhead shirts had the button cuffs. I thinned out the rims on the steel pots as well and put the first app of putty on the Kar98 to make it a springfield.
Pat,here you go,all together. The terrible trio,
Bill,I will try not to let you down buddy!
Gary,Russ and Pat,
Thanks guys for the comments and suggestions. I did start to stress them a bit,adding a tear in the one guys pants and another on an elbow. I do really want to make them beat up looking. I started to conform the figs to their poses by removing plastic and adding putty. The first guy is the furthest along and you can see the work on the fingers,etc as I hate the "loose grip" you see on a lot of plastic figs. I also started on his cuffs as the jarhead shirts had the button cuffs. I thinned out the rims on the steel pots as well and put the first app of putty on the Kar98 to make it a springfield.
Pat,here you go,all together. The terrible trio,
strongarden
Joined: May 14, 2012
KitMaker: 730 posts
Armorama: 624 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 02:22 AM UTC
Sooo Jerry, this is merely a "side-project" then. Uh. ok sure man, sure.
I have already been taken back to school by reading thru this, and you already have yet another excellent vignette begun which will really shine.
Will be watching
Dave
I have already been taken back to school by reading thru this, and you already have yet another excellent vignette begun which will really shine.
Will be watching
Dave
Karl187
#284
Joined: October 04, 2006
KitMaker: 3,094 posts
Armorama: 2,942 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 03:44 PM UTC
Damn Jerry, to 'relax' you go and start another masterpiece of figure conversion!
Apologies for not commenting as often but I have been watching both this and the 'Elbe' scene coming together.
The raw drama of this one I find very interesting because you are having to match the extreme expressions of the faces to the shape and stance of each body to really convey that drama. I think each stance and face is telling a story of desperation and resistance against all the odds.
I particularly like the middle guy as he looks like he's going to bayonet someone clean off the ground!
Apologies for not commenting as often but I have been watching both this and the 'Elbe' scene coming together.
The raw drama of this one I find very interesting because you are having to match the extreme expressions of the faces to the shape and stance of each body to really convey that drama. I think each stance and face is telling a story of desperation and resistance against all the odds.
I particularly like the middle guy as he looks like he's going to bayonet someone clean off the ground!
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 29, 2016 - 06:34 PM UTC
Dave and Karl,
Thanks guys for typing in some great comments! I have now done so many fig conversions that it is beginning to get a bit easier for me. The Elbe dio really helped on that front as there are so many actors involved.
As I have said before,this little vignette will help me keep some sort of feelings of "completion" as I work on the time consuming larger dio. This way I hopefully can keep my mojo going for the big one.
I have changed the legs on the middle guy Karl,to try to accomplish just what you pointed out,matching the bodies to the heads expressions! Right on the money again pal. It's like you are inside my head!! Uh oh,Twilight Zone....
J
Thanks guys for typing in some great comments! I have now done so many fig conversions that it is beginning to get a bit easier for me. The Elbe dio really helped on that front as there are so many actors involved.
As I have said before,this little vignette will help me keep some sort of feelings of "completion" as I work on the time consuming larger dio. This way I hopefully can keep my mojo going for the big one.
I have changed the legs on the middle guy Karl,to try to accomplish just what you pointed out,matching the bodies to the heads expressions! Right on the money again pal. It's like you are inside my head!! Uh oh,Twilight Zone....
J
maartenboersma
Joined: October 10, 2010
KitMaker: 764 posts
Armorama: 742 posts
Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 12:23 AM UTC
Looking GOOD!
disorderly
Joined: June 07, 2014
KitMaker: 125 posts
Armorama: 114 posts
Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 02:36 AM UTC
Jerry, I don't comment much. but I've followed your earlier builds, as well as your Elbe build and now this. It's a pleasure to watch you convert these stock figures into your own unique creations.
The figures are fantastic and as someone already mentioned they really have a last stand look about them.
Looking forward to the rest of this.
The figures are fantastic and as someone already mentioned they really have a last stand look about them.
Looking forward to the rest of this.
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 05:20 AM UTC
Maarten-thanks buddy!!
Patrick-thanks for breaking lurking silence buddy! Those were awfully nice things to say man,I appreciate that.
Now if I can remember how to paint and play catch up to my own building program!
J
Patrick-thanks for breaking lurking silence buddy! Those were awfully nice things to say man,I appreciate that.
Now if I can remember how to paint and play catch up to my own building program!
J
GazzaS
#424
Joined: April 23, 2015
KitMaker: 4,648 posts
Armorama: 2,248 posts
Posted: Monday, May 30, 2016 - 10:55 AM UTC
Now, you need one more thing... A seasoned Gunny firing a Thompson from the hip... With a stub of a cigar in his mouth.
Admiring your work!
Gaz
Admiring your work!
Gaz
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 12:05 AM UTC
Too late for the Gunny buddy but I did have an NCO with a tommy gun in my last dio concerning Trois Ponts.
I got some done on the middle guy. I didn't think his body totally matched his face so I changed up the legs. I also started to putty in the joins,etc and missing clothing areas. The ammo pouches,first aid kit and canteen got started and I also began to modify the rifle into a springfield. Still more putty to add when this dries in few hours or so.
Hope ya'll had an excellent Memorial Day weekend! It was my honor to decorate the graves of our Tomb of the Unknowns from the Revolutionary War yesterday,something I have done for a few years now. I also place them on the grave of Aqius Wilmot,the chief surgeon of the Continental Army who died while in town administring to the wounded from the Battle of Brandywine. I can't thank the Rev War vets enough. Without them there would be no "us".
[/URL
[URL=http://s595.photobucket.com/user/jrutman53/media/IMG_1266_zpss2tnuaca.jpg.html]
J
I got some done on the middle guy. I didn't think his body totally matched his face so I changed up the legs. I also started to putty in the joins,etc and missing clothing areas. The ammo pouches,first aid kit and canteen got started and I also began to modify the rifle into a springfield. Still more putty to add when this dries in few hours or so.
Hope ya'll had an excellent Memorial Day weekend! It was my honor to decorate the graves of our Tomb of the Unknowns from the Revolutionary War yesterday,something I have done for a few years now. I also place them on the grave of Aqius Wilmot,the chief surgeon of the Continental Army who died while in town administring to the wounded from the Battle of Brandywine. I can't thank the Rev War vets enough. Without them there would be no "us".
[/URL[URL=http://s595.photobucket.com/user/jrutman53/media/IMG_1266_zpss2tnuaca.jpg.html]
J
M4A1Sherman
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 12:41 AM UTC
Quoted Text
As some of you may already know,when I am in the middle of building a large project requiring a lot of time and effort I like to knock something else out quickly so I get that feeling of completing something. Otherwise it is hard for me to maintain the proper mojo to keep going with the bigger project.
This is my very first US Marine project so be gentle my Marine guys,I am a boot!
This subject has always fascinated me,the dogged defense of Wake Island in the face of superior numbers and firepower brought to bear by the Invading Japanese force.
My first leatherneck. He is in the initial mock up stage with all that is not needed being already removed. He started as a GenII Mech Inf guy from Dragon. I started to modify a Kar98K as I am pretty sure these guys didn't have Garands at this early point in the war?
Have a look-see,
The only thing Google helped with was the Marines looked like they had all khaki uniforms,shirts tucked in with pistol belts,ammo pouches and canteens. Leggings and flat helmets. I could use any additional info.
TIA,
J
Just something to bear in mind:
USMC and US Navy personnel fought in their shirtsleeves at Wake Island- It was HOT...
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 05:37 AM UTC
Just something to bear in mind:
USMC and US Navy personnel fought in their shirtsleeves at Wake Island- It was HOT...[/quote]
Dennis, Jerry,
Your are likely right regarding the temperature, but... I went through Wake in October of 1988 on my way to Sendai Japan, and we got stuck there for about 12 hours during the late morning until just before midnight-- I wouldn't call it hot-- Wake is a very low lying island, and there was a very cool breeze coming from the west. We were in tropical BDU's with jungle boots, sleeves down, and I'd say we were quite comfortable. The Island fell to the Japanese in late December, which is the start of the cool rainy season in that part of the Pacific. So long sleeves might not be improbable at that time of year-- but shorts might also apply, depending on the conditions and what was available. I've been at Pohakaloa training area on the Big Island of Hawaii where the temperature dipped into the upper 30s at night (it is at a much higher altitude though)-- so it could have been moderately cool at that time of year too, and depends on the time of day as well.
VR Russ
ColinEdm
Associate Editor
Joined: October 15, 2013
KitMaker: 1,355 posts
Armorama: 1,229 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 09:12 AM UTC
Wow, I can't even think of trying anything like this yet, hopefully in a few years if I keep practicing! You do amazing work Jerry. What do you use for putty to make the additional details?
iguanac
Joined: September 06, 2007
KitMaker: 145 posts
Armorama: 131 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 12:08 PM UTC
Jerry, you can find springfields in Academy French foreign legion set (one excellent piece). Other than that, ICM makes some in Goumiers, Heller has some awful ones (avoid that), and in USMC set by Masterbox you can find springfields.
Hope this helps,
Marko
Hope this helps,
Marko
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 06:34 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextAs some of you may already know,when I am in the middle of building a large project requiring a lot of time and effort I like to knock something else out quickly so I get that feeling of completing something. Otherwise it is hard for me to maintain the proper mojo to keep going with the bigger project.
This is my very first US Marine project so be gentle my Marine guys,I am a boot!
This subject has always fascinated me,the dogged defense of Wake Island in the face of superior numbers and firepower brought to bear by the Invading Japanese force.
My first leatherneck. He is in the initial mock up stage with all that is not needed being already removed. He started as a GenII Mech Inf guy from Dragon. I started to modify a Kar98K as I am pretty sure these guys didn't have Garands at this early point in the war?
Have a look-see,
The only thing Google helped with was the Marines looked like they had all khaki uniforms,shirts tucked in with pistol belts,ammo pouches and canteens. Leggings and flat helmets. I could use any additional info.
TIA,
J
Just something to bear in mind:
USMC and US Navy personnel fought in their shirtsleeves at Wake Island- It was HOT...
I will keep that in mind brother. I am kind of conflicted though on this point. When I went to Desert Shield and then Storm with the 82nd it was hotter than blazes. We got there at night and it wasn't too bad but the next day as acting 1ST Sgt I had to walk across a large concrete parking lot with a detail to pick up breakfast for my company. By the time I got back to the paint shed where we were put in I thought I would die. It was about 125 degrees,no exaggeration. And yet,the uniform was prescribed as sleeves down and kevlar on as well as full webgear and weapon,including protective mask. We stayed in that uniform till the week prior to us departing the "Kingdom" about 8 months later. The point of this long story is...the weather often has zero to do with uniform. Heheheh
J
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 06:36 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Just something to bear in mind:
USMC and US Navy personnel fought in their shirtsleeves at Wake Island- It was HOT...
Dennis, Jerry,
Your are likely right regarding the temperature, but... I went through Wake in October of 1988 on my way to Sendai Japan, and we got stuck there for about 12 hours during the late morning until just before midnight-- I wouldn't call it hot-- Wake is a very low lying island, and there was a very cool breeze coming from the west. We were in tropical BDU's with jungle boots, sleeves down, and I'd say we were quite comfortable. The Island fell to the Japanese in late December, which is the start of the cool rainy season in that part of the Pacific. So long sleeves might not be improbable at that time of year-- but shorts might also apply, depending on the conditions and what was available. I've been at Pohakaloa training area on the Big Island of Hawaii where the temperature dipped into the upper 30s at night (it is at a much higher altitude though)-- so it could have been moderately cool at that time of year too, and depends on the time of day as well.
VR Russ [/quote]
I hear ya brother and see the post above. I got some pics and drawing from the interwebs that show the Marine gunners wearing full khakies manning the field pieces. Plus you will otice later in the war the Marines on Iwo had the long sleeves down!
J
jrutman
Joined: April 10, 2011
KitMaker: 7,941 posts
Armorama: 7,934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 06:39 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Wow, I can't even think of trying anything like this yet, hopefully in a few years if I keep practicing! You do amazing work Jerry. What do you use for putty to make the additional details?
Thanks for the excellent comments buddy,I appreciate it. Just keep going because practice makes perfect ( or almost in my case). As I have stated many times,I used to build vehicles and through the figs away as it was too hard or time consuming for me. Then I gave it a try and now I don't build many vehicles!
The putty I am now using is Epoxy Sculpt,a two part putty. I used to used a standard plumbers putty and it worked fine!! Cheaper as well.
J
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