Ciao everyone,
Well, 140+ photos later ( I could have spent that time modelling! ) I have added two photos of my latest marine that will go into my Remember Korea submission. Hope you like it, and comments are welcome. Thanks to Porkchop, I think that I got the webgear correct this time. Comments are welcome and solicited.


Ciao for now
Rob

The figure looks very good Rob. Let me be the first to request an explanation of how you painted the figure, particularly the rifle as it looks very nice.

Keith

Ciao Keith,
Thanks for the compliment. I paint with a mixture of acrylics, but my favorite is PollyS. I also use Model Masters (second favorite) and Andrea. But, always acrylic. I just don't have the patience or talent for oils.
I paint a figure like he is getting dressed in layers. I paint the flesh, then the clothes from t-shirt out to the uniform and then overcoats. Now, in the Marines' case, I would have painted the flesh first, then the boots, and then filled in the middle with OD. Then the belts and everything on the outside of the coat.
The face is one solid color of PollyS US Tan special. I think it looks more like caucasian skin than any other. I use a red brown wash for the entire face and hands, and then I lighten the Tan Spec with some white, do highlights, and then lighten that mix with a little more white, then do just the extreme hightlights (edge of ears, top of cheekbone, edge of nose). Then, I do the eyes with one slash of white, and then the eyes are dots (always blue or green.) Now, this is just if their eyes are open normally. If the guy is squinting, I would use a different technique for the eyes.
The clothes are one solid color. Then I darken with black to do grooves in the cloth and then I lighten the solid color with white or light tan to do the lands of the cloth. Then you have the three-tiered color of the darkened color, original color and then lightened color.
I don't really shade in the colors because I love the drama of the differences. Besides, I have been doing that way for so long (30 years now) that I doubt I could ever learn a different way.
Again, thanks for the compliment. I just have one figure to go and then I can put them together in my dio.
Ciao for now
Rob

Ciao Keith,
Sorry about not covering the rifle. I use a silver Sharpie for the metal. Then I paint the wood with leather (red brown is good, too.) Then I use a wash of black. Then I go back over the wood with the leather. Sometimes, I will lighten the leather slightly just to show wear. Finally, I use a pencil to highlight the metal of the gun. Then I use muffler tape for the strap and very fine wire for the strap retainers.
Ciao for now
Rob

Rob:
great looking figure, I really like the 5'o-clock shadow, it looks nice. I also did a double take on the sling swivels. that a really nice looking figure and I like the choice of green on the material inside the hood (and the web belt!).

Ciao Nathan,
What do you think of the color? I picked that color out as being the closest thing that looked right (in scale.) Again, I appreciate the tip.
Ciao for now
Rob

I like it, the question is if you're happy with it -- that's all that really matters.

Again, I like the shadows on this figure. One more left to do?

Ciao Nathan,
Yes, I have one more to do, and yes, I do like the color. Oh, I can tell you where I got the idea to paint them green (actually from two sources). First, the DML box displays them as having green web gear. Second, my father's web gear (at least the belt and canteen) were neutral green. Oh, well. I like this other color so much better because it really gives a nice constrast to the overall OD (which dominates this uniform.)
I have just taught myself how to make the strap swivels (and they are a pain.) I also make metalwork for chinstraps (even more of a pain.) Glad you noticed. I can't believe that I am in the middle of this dio, and I am already anxious to start on the next one (either the Fallschrimjaeger with the Liechtgeshutz or the German medical personnel - both from DML.)
Again thanks for the compliments. It's motivating!!
Ciao for now
Rob

Rob;
Take a step to the dark side and do multiple projects at once!!! I never use to do that but have been for the last few months, I find it keeps the juices flowing and if something goes wrong on one figure, just move to the next for a while.

Looks like you've got a nice little dio shaping up....

Ciao Nathan,
I have given your sinister suggestion some thought, but I have decided against it. The only problem with that is that if I did several projects at once, I would probably wind up never finishing any of them. Besides, I would have a storage problem, if I had several unfinished projects laying around. That is something that I might do when I have actually retired for real (as in not working anymore.) That is 15 years down the road, though. Still, I ponder what I am going to do next.
Ciao for now
Rob