What is your opinion on 5 o'clock shadows on the figures accompanying armor models or those in dioramas? Clearly there's no wrong or right here. It just seems that from an artisitic standpoint the pendulam has swung in favor of a little stubble.

I'll be the first to admit that seeing a worn and weathered tiger or panther with a grizzled commader sporting some stubble looks, well cool. Same could be said for the stubble on a sarge or lieutenant lugging a tommy gun while on patrol.

However, have you guys given any thought to how realistic this might be? I'm really beggining to wonder. I was talking to my dad the other day and he reminded me that when he entered the Navy in '45 he was 17 and lucky if he needed to shave once a week. I saw some intersting threads and stories in a number of publications the last couple of months about the men asigned to various tigers on the eastern front. None of those guys looked like they could grow a single wisker, let alone a beard.

I'm curious to see folks thoughts and whether there is any type of consensus on how hairy or clean a figure could/should be.

And for those of you in the "no stubble" camp, I'd love to know your thoughts/techniques for capturing the "fresh faced" look of an 18 year old in 1/35th - my poor guys look like one big shade of pale beige.

And to add just a teeny bit of irony, I have a goatee.

Interesting Topic,

I think maybe for multiple figures I would mix it up, some with stubble some without. I remember my old army days in basic training as a young man and I couldn't grow a beard if my life depended on it but there were others at 5 PM had to shave again for late night inspections.

Study the face of the figure if it looks young in your mind make them clean shaven if they look a little older give them the shadow. But you are right sometimes when you see a well beaten armour model the grizzled look suits the setup.

Cheers

Ray

IMHO, I'd have to agree with Ray. I've got one set of Trumpeter figures with an officer who strikes me as being grey-haired, or at least a little bit of salt'n'pepper. Unfortunately, my skill level doesn't (yet) allow me that kind of detail successfully, but I'm learning!

I have noticed more and more through reading posts and looking at other people's work, that modelling isn't simply reproducing the picture on the box, and shouldn't be! There's no question that it's a form of personal expression. Take two experienced modellers, give them both the same kits, and you'll get two different results time after time. Do what feels right!

Scott,

For realism in that time frame I can't comment...but for ODS/S? During Shield I shaved "just about" every day....sure, on occasion I may have displayed some "stubble." During Storm? I honestly think I shaved 2 or 3 times at the most during the five-day ground combat period....We really didn't have the time as we were on the move all the time.

I'd be inclined that, based on my limited experience in combat, if you display a really beat up, worn vehicle, chances are the occupants showed a similar appearance.....stubble. However, if the vehicle's nice and clean, that lends to "time on hand." Clean vehicle equates to clean crew...dirty vehicle equates to unkempt crew.....just seems to fit the situation.

I could be wrong....but I doubt it. With that said, maybe I was just a "ruffian."

Mike

You need to look at the circumstances, conditions, and even the nationality you are portraying. A soldier near the rear would have to comply to military standards and ensure he's clean shaven. Men out on patrol for 5 days may not have time to shave.

Interestingly my late grandfather served in North Africa, Iraq and Italy and claimed to have bathed and shaved every day - including during his months at sea while travelling from SA to NA.He served as a SA officer seconded to the British Army. He always said the British officers were all like that, whereas the SA officers were a bit more rough around the edges and regulations weren't given too much attention...

Rudi

Reminds me of Lt. Winters in BOB. Always shaving even in the middle of winter with cold water. 70% of the time I put 5am shadow on my figures at any scale. I don't shave for 2 days I have a shadow. Just makes good sense.

Depends. In the photo below, from the North African landings in 1942, note the difference in the face of the guy circled (my father in law) and the guy in front of him. At the time of the picture, my FiL was a fair haired 17 year old who wouldn't have shown 5 day shadow.



To the question of representing a younger person, I'd treat him much the same way I'd paint a female face.

Start with a slightly lighter mix of your basic flesh. For me, that's Vallejo beige red. I'd likely add a touch of sunny skintone. I'd reduce the shading with dark fleshtone accordingly. I'd add a touch of maybe vermillion to light flesh as a highlight on the cheeks.

Al, that's your father in law? That's really cool considering that picture is now a little a famous!