Hello again brothers and sisters!
Now I´m probably back for the last time with my Life of a soldier vignette as wip. I forgott to do the dogtags before I started painting so I will not put them there at all. And I didn´t figure out how I should do the chain for them. Out of pure laziness I decided to keep the chinstraps too even if they are a bit too thick.

Since last photos I´ve also made some more dirt over the grave as someone mentioned, thanks! And I´ve also done most of the painting I think I need.

Heres the pics:





Now to the questions... How much grass should I have? Everything covered with lots of high grass? Any grass on the grave, or does it look like it´s too new for that?

To do:
Leaves
Grass
Try the spider web

Anything more? Please comment and criticize!
Cheers Andreas

Ps. Sorry if the pictures are not clear enough, it´s quite bad light here for the moment...

I'd go with some low short grass around the outter area to show where the grave was dug.

How are you planning on doing the spider web? A suggestion, Rubber cement, or tube glue. I remember having fits with the d@@@@ strings that would come off of it when trying to glue parts together. Looks good so far. You might want to add a couple of small items, ie, a picture, cross, empty bootle of booze on the grave. Something like his buddies paying one last salute... Just a thougt. "Q"

Thanks for answering!
Scott: Yes, that seems like a good idea, think I´ll try that!

Matthew: A bottle sounds like a nice idea, I might have some laying around even... nice touch! Some dried flowers will probably be put on the grave too.
I don´t really know about the spider web yet, but glue seems like one of the best ideas so far.

Cheers Andreas

how about some real spider web. be very gentle with it because its fragile good luck

gr. martijn

Hej Andreas!
That has come up well. So many little things to peruse in such a small area!
Think Matthew may have a plan with the tube cement idea...
One thing though- What Scott mentioned is a good tip, but could be contradictory to nature. What I mean, is that a decomposing body (R.I.P.!) would provide more fertilizer through the soil ON the grave... But that said, sometimes modelling the 'realistic' doesn't always have the best visual attraction, so getting the balance right is paramount
Cheers
Brad

Martijn, well, there´s sometimes a bit spider web in my room and my toilet (live in the basement), so if I dare to confrontate those creatures I might try it...hehe :-)

Brad, we´ll see, in this case I think I will go with the way that looks best, even if it´s not the most correct. But what did you mean, that it would perhaps be more grass on the grave then ouside of it?

Cheers Andreas

Andreas- What I meant was that the turned soil in the grave would be richer in nutrients from decomposition of the body than the unturned ground around it, and as such newer sprouts of grass would occur here. But I know this would look weird to try and reproduce :-)
Hey go with the grass around the gravesite. but remember that this would only look good for the fact that the rest of your vignette would be covered in grass which you may or may not want... Does this make sense?
Cheers
Brad

Now that makes sense! :-) I could always try to make new grass, perhaps it works...
Cheers Andreas

Very nice vignette we have here. Like the cross with helmet. It reminds me, about this finnish war movie called "Unknown Soldier". Groundwork is also well done.

How did you do that helmetbelt?

Cheers,

-Anssi

Moi Anssi!
The chin strap on the helmet is tape wich taped together with sticky sides inwards. Then cut to right thickness and length. The kind tape is known in Swedish as "frystejp", don´t know if it´s the same in Finland.

Btw, do you recommend that movie?
Cheers Andreas

OK... Simple but effective solution.

What becomes to that movie, i dont know for sure is it available in Sweden. It's based on the book, writed by Väinö Linna. Perhaps you should check your local bookstore, cos' I know that the book is translated in swedish. At the same time, you can ask about translated version of the movie.

Very good movie, and tells really well how things were during war in Finland.

If you have any questions about that movie, feel free to ask more!

Vi ses!

-Anssi

Hmm....now when you tell me it´s Väinö Linna who has written the book I recall I´ve seen it in my grandmas bookshelf. I think I have to visit her soon...

I forgot one thing, the buckle in the chinstrap (wich can´t be seen very good in those pics) is made of stretched sprue. Something that caused me lot of irritations and curses while I did it!

Må gott och bygg väl
Andreas