After fiddling with 1/48 figures the past few days, I thought I might give this a go:

Didn't Bronco do this as a figure set in 1:35? Would be easier to work with...

Bronco does a similar set.

I've seen Bronco set. I think the painting above may even have been the inspiration for it. But I want an actual jumping chaplain, and the troops to be paratroopers, and I want them kitted up for battle. So, it may be a little harder to do, but ultimately more satisfying for me.

Yep, you're right there. And there is air crew in the mix, too. Good luck with the build.

Robert, do you already have the Paratroopers and aircrew? Somewhere I have a bunch (more than ten) of the Monogram Paratropers, and I think some aircrew. I was also going to do something similar, but life and age have gotten in the way, and I already have way too many projects on the shelf. Be warned though, most of the Paratroopers are in one of three poses, and the arms are fairly well fixed to the bodies in "straight arm poses". If you want them, they're yours.
VR, Russ

Hi Russ.
Actually, the 1/48 scale figures I mentioned working on are indeed those Monogram figures - but I'll be happy to take more off your hands. They are indeed fun to work with with those three poses, but I've been Bogarting arms and heads from ICM and Revell figures.

This particular scene I'm doing is in 1/35, and the idea came to me after realizing I have a ton of 1/35 paratrooper figures.

PM inbound.

Padres don't get enough attention. I salute you!

A little progress. I need to change the Padre's hand position a bit, and reposition the kneeling soldier's lower arm once I get the weapon from the new set i ordered.

I photographed this years ago thinking it would one day be an inspiration. I think this might be the proper place to share.



I love the way the Padre uses the armored windshield of the Halftrack as an altar.

This is in no way a falsified or staged affair. This was an actual Sunday morning service preformed by a minister who just happens to also be a reenactor. The men standing and those kneeling (as well as the photographer) are actually attending the service.

It was shot in 2009 at the Buckley Homestead reenactment event; Lowell, IN

Well, you know what they say, "There are no atheists in foxholes."

Here's a bit more progress:

I want to thank Kylie Newton for pointing out something to me that should not have needed pointing out: The air crew.
Initially I just wanted the paratroopers in this vignette, but after his comment I knew I had to include them as well. The D Day air crews took enough unwarranted criticism from the likes of Stephen E. Ambrose and his wildly inaccurate accounts of their performance.
So the challenge is to make these two guys:



Other than this figure, which I cannot find for sale anywhere, there seem to be very few options, even in 1/32:



So I've decided to go with the pilot figure from this set:



Of course I'll have to modify the Ike jacket, but that shouldn't be too difficult. Actually I'll need two of these sets.

The other figures have not gone to waste, I originally got them to honor a friend's brother, so I'd like to mention him now.

This is PFC William Ornelas:



He is one of seven brothers from Brownsville, Texas (including my friend who served in the 82nd) who all served in the military. William had the distinction of being one of very few Hispanic paratroopers during WWII, with combat jumps at Normandy, Operation Market Garden, and apparently after being assigned to the 17th Airborne, Operation Varsity.
He also served with distinction at Bastogne, working together with other German medics treating soldiers from both sides.

I gave a figure to his brother based on this photograph, which can be found online, even though I was given several others to work from as well:



Who knows? Maybe he'll be depicted in the vignette.

Ah, and the two woman, slightly modified, will be finding their way into another pet project of mine:

You are doing a GREAT job, in the build as well as in the commemoration of the hero's of WW2

You're doing a great job replicating the poses of the Paratroopers from the painting. I am sure the diorama will look awesome.

I hope you are able to convert those MB figures successfully for the pilots.

What are your plans on conveying the effect of this taking place near the C-47?

Cheers,
James

very cool! as a pastor who enjoys scale modeling (mostly 1/35 armor and figures) I greatly admire the chaplains who provide ministry to those who fight and have fought for our nation

No modelling, but an art question: what is the name of the painting, please?
Who is the artist.
Thanks in advace.

What are your plans on conveying the effect of this taking place near the C-47?

I'm mulling over a few options. The first is to enlarge this photo and use the forward part of the aircraft as a backdrop. Since I took the photo myself I won't have to feel bad about it.



The second is to combine the 1/48 scale diorama I'm working on and create a forced perspective, possibly by channeling the view with mounted historical photos so that the viewer is pretty much channeled into viewing this in the foreground and the other dio in the background.

very cool! as a pastor who enjoys scale modeling (mostly 1/35 armor and figures) I greatly admire the chaplains who provide ministry to those who fight and have fought for our nation

In that case I'll have to let you know when Chaplain Meverden's book comes out on our Afghanistan deployment from 2002. I just spoke to him a few weeks ago at a Dining Out and it's nearly finished. A large part of the inspiration for this vignette, he's a very interesting dude. Ever see a chaplain punch a professional wrestler in the face?

...what is the name of the painting, please?
Who is the artist.

I should have posted that earlier. Here's a link:

http://www.terryjamesart.com/product.aspx?sku=487

Robert,
A Stick+ of jumpers just took off for your dropzone. Jumpmaster said green light is scheduled for Monday 10 December. Aircrew is also on a one-way trip, so they'll be landing with the jumpers. Tail number has been sent by secure coms in PM. Stand up, hook up, stand in the door....
VR, Russ

Hi Rob, you’re too generous. I’m sure you would have noticed, best at the start of the build, not the end.

All the best with this.

Robert- I assume you have seen the 1/32 scale DMM white metal offerings here as well? Just a thought...

http://www.relishmodels.co.uk/dmm-1-32-wwii-usaaf-pilot-in-flying-gear.html

I had not seen that one in my 1/32 search. I think I had set "resin" as a search parameter. However, I think I'll order another Europe 1945 set from Master Box to obtain another pilot figure. The standing one won't be too difficult - different front pockets (which really aren't that necessary given the life jacket, and different arms. For the kneeling one I've decided to find a suitable kneeling figure, and graft on the lower legs (Khakis and low quarters) from the pilot figure, and use his torso once again for a leather jacket.The nice thing is that his cap is a separate piece which I can place under his arm.

Now these guys have become my focus until I get what I need, or until the next shiny object presents itself:



My quandary: Do I stay true as possible to the painting, or use the absolutely bad@$$ figures from MJ Miniatures?



They come with two options:



I liked them so much I purchased two sets, and they're probably the best quality and posed paratrooper figures I've seen yet. The problem is they do not match the poses in the painting, and even if I disregarded that fact, they don't really look pious enough. They've got that Airborne Swagger even standing still.



So, it looks like I may use far less menacing looking figures, mainly from this set, which I actually purchased
two of just for the civilians.



It's hard to find paratrooper figures in relaxed poses and without weapons, so some conversion was necessary. (Thanks to my arms dealer down unda)

The guy on the left became the guy on the right, even though his upper arm was inconveniently cast on:



With an even newer set of arms he may become "Clipboard Guy" as his pistol hangs down to the right. Result of .45? Sure, why not?

The other soldier from the set received different arms too, so I'll have to rework his twin to be the dude with the carbine:



That leaves the guy with the Garand. He may come from this set:



GI with rifle and German dude's arms become this, which just needs a new hand for the rifle:



I already utilized the kneeling figure early on in the thread.

With some added cargo pockets and different pocket flaps, I think even the leftover German bits can become a US paratrooper.



A bit more work to do on these guys and I might be happy.

Robert, How are the Masterbox civilian figures?
Dan

I like them. They have a site which is unfortunately down right now, featuring the work of absolutely the best figure painter I've ever seen. A Japanese gentleman - I wish I could remember his name.
Here's what he can do with these figures:



He did add a few very subtle creases to the trousers, but the female's hair is from the kit, not some synthetic substtitute, although I've seen him use it to good effect on 1/25 scale figures of theirs.

Hey Robert,

I saw the kneeling mechanic figure from Doug's Originals that you were thinking about using for the pilots. Here is the link to where Military Miniatures Warehouse is selling them.

http://www.milminwh.com/dougs_mil_fig_p2.htm

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
James

It does, thanks! That should save me some work.

Ordered!