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OK,I have googled and googled and in fact,maybe it was too much ! I still have not found the proper shoulder patch for the 2/Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders worn during Op Epsom 1944.
Anyone ??
J

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Jerry,

I'm afraid I haven't a complete answer but I might be able to give you some pointers; I hope I'm not teaching you to suck eggs.

The soldiers would have sported the Divisional flash of the Scottish Lion (probably described as rampant or similar but I'm not a heraldic expert); this was a red lion on a yellow circle, outlined in white within a black square. Although the Division consisted of 3 x Brigades, the Brigades did not sport their own emblem - as far as I am aware.

The composite Brigades were 44th (Lowland), 46th (Highland), and 227th (Highland) and that reflects the order of seniority established by either historical or date of formation criteria. Each Brigade was therefore designated on the uniform by a thin red horizontal stripe ergo 44th would sport 1 x stripe, 46th x 2, and 227 x 3.

2 A & SH were part of 227 so beneath the Divisional badge they would have 3 x horizontal red stripes. These would be above any rank stripes etc.

Most British units wore an abbreviated title in a curved strip following the curve of the shoulder below the epaulette. This would be red for infantry but in Scottish units this was replaced by a small flash of tartan material above the Div badge - which would reflect the respective (historical) tartan of that particular regiment.

So, to sort of recap (and perhaps this will prompt some of my more knowledgeable countryman to respond)from the top of the battledress sleeve - both sides:

Tartan flash

Div flash - the Scottish Lion

Brigade strips (x 3)

Rank stripes or not

Further down above the cuff:

Warrant Officer badges of rank

Wound stripes (unsure of which sleeve)

Long service stripes - dependent on of course, the soldier's career (again, unsure of which sleeve).

And of course, dependent on the type of qualification, various trade badges either further up the sleeve or above the cuff.

This all sounds quite busy and photographic evidence may not support all of it.

The answer could be quite easily found (and indeed, all the fiendish machinations of 37 pattern webbing) in the excellent Histoire & Collection volumes 1 and 2 "From D Day to VE Day - the British Soldier"; sadly I lent mine a long time ago and lost them.

Sorry for this long-winded and ultimately incomplete response; in principle the uniforms could look quite colourful!

Brian

Jerry,

As I don't normally model WW2 stuff except in small scale I'm not too sure. I also still use enamels so can only really speak about them.

I do know that there were colour variations and different shades and patterns of battledress as the war progressed, with an inevitable concomitant lack of quality. I have seen very brownish shades and also very noticeable green tinges.

I have also worn Battledress (in addition to wearing the wretched 37 webbing) but that was the 1949 version so not really relevant. I have used Humbrol No 26 when painting my small scale efforts and having just rediscovered a Militaria Magazine from 1995, wherein lies an article about the British Infantryman in Normandy, would suggest that this - Humbrol 26 - may well work for 1:35 as well.

I have no idea what an acrylic equivalent is, and of course colour perception is a very individual thing! I'm assuming scale colour will also impact but Humbrol 26 might just be good enough.

Brian

Hi Jerry!

Have you taken a look at AK Interactive sets??
https://ak-interactive.com/product-category/paints/paints-acrylics/paints-acrylics-sets/figures/

Maybe you can find something useful.

First chappy almost done. I am debating the burlap strips on his helmet.







Suitably Scottish looking ??

First chappy almost done. I am debating the burlap strips on his helmet.







Suitably Scottish looking ??

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First chappy almost done. I am debating the burlap strips on his helmet.







Suitably Scottish looking ??

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Jerry,

Great work; I would suggest that the burlap strips on the helmet are vital (Hessian usually to us Brits). I note that there are plenty of pictures throughout the Normandy campaign showing none, but I feel that to the Infantryman, personal concealment could mean a matter of life and death and simply as part of his battle prep he would have camouflaged his helmet, if not other items. Most of the footage of Epsom does indeed show this.

Keep up the good work.

Brian

It's very tricky depicting hessian in 1:35; I used endless strips of Tamiya tape to depict a camouflage net affixed to my 1:35 Conqueror, then painted green and brown respectively. I achieved an effect after a fashion but it wasn't quite as it should be.

I had experimented using fabric plasters - the ones for cuts and grazes - but that was too overscale. I suppose the answer might be to texturize whatever you are using - be it tape or lead foil; with a texture the ragged edges would perhaps be suggested if not there, if you see what I mean.

I look forward to a solution - any solution!

Brian

Hello Jerry

Looking good so far. The first guy is great. Brian is right I think that hessian/burlap is almost essential, although it seems a shame to cover up that nice mesh.
For the material itself, I've been experimenting too and have had half decent results with tissue.
Two ply tissue given a coat on both side with appropriately coloured acrylic paint (main reason being quick drying). When dry thinly sliced with a new or new-ish blade. It's not quite the same as the real thing but does have a bit more surface texture that other materials and cane be frayed a little too.
I hope my description makes sense. Keep up the good work

Cheers

Sean