Not sure how I missed this thread back in May, but great work, Andy. Really great stuff, mate.

Rudi

Lovely finish!

Hi Andy,

I really like how you use and use the lights, I think are very, very good and super fine!. Their camos they find it difficult to perform and you've solved the fine.

His eyes look a tad large to white-eyed, a tad smaller, I think much better (constructive and commentary from my humility).

Of course I will remain very alert their evolution ...

Best Regards,
Fernando Sancho.

PD: I am sorry by my english...

Thanks Guys,

Frank - You are right, these figures are a bit "soft", I really must try that trick of yours scraping at some of the detail to sharpen it. On the bright side, after Dragon stuff, it is an absolute joy to paint an Alpine figure ! (A bit busy to get to Donegal this year, although we have along weekend in Dublin planned soon )

Simon - Thanks

Rudy - Thanks (has it really been that long, I really must get it together)

Mark - Thanks again, you are a painting machine, sir

Fernando - Thankyou. I agree sometimes my faces can be a bit "cartoony" in the eyes.

I will post a mock-up of the scene soon so you can see how it will all fit together.

Andy

Mate,

It was no reflection on you, but rather myself Don't stress the long bench time, hell, I've still got figures on the bench going back 2-3 years! LOL! Fair enough, the bench moved inter-continentally, but still...

Rudi

Obviously Rudi has shamed me into getting this project finished (Spelt your name right this time so here is the current status of the next contestant - figure number 4.



Thought I would add a bit of variation and paint the tan version of the splinter camo on the jump smock, don't think it looks as "right" as the grey/green one but it adds a little something to the overall composition.

And for those of you who are wondering where this is going, these are a couple of shots of the inspiration behind the Dragon figures and will form the basis of my diorama (bit aprehensive as I haven't built an armour kit for over ten years !!!)




As usual, please feel free to make any suggestions. In fact, I am still unsure as to what scheme to paint this guys camo helmet cover - any ideas ?

Thanks for looking,

Andy

Great stuff Andy... I have couple of those FJ figures in 120mm and was thinking of doing a wedgie.

Your work on splinter camo pattern is great. I also like the way you paint the faces.

Hope to see more of your project soon.
Mario

Excellent paint and camo work Andy!

Cheers,
Marcel.

Mario - Thanks, the camo is quite time consuming compared to a "normal" figure, but it is quite easy to do when you get the hang of it. The faces are painted using the techniques and colour mixes in the book by Brett Avants so I can't take any credit there ! Definetely worth picking up a copy if you can find one.

Marcel - Thanks for the comment.

I decided to go with the early war grey/green helmet cover for this guy as there is evidence that some FJ's continued to wear this (and the early smock) right up until the end. Also, I think it adds a nice contrast to the complexity of the camo, although I may have made it too dark.

Anyway, this figure looked a bit out of place on his own so here he is in context with the next guy to show how they interact. Still quite a bit of work to be done on him but I'm getting there.

Don't forget, kids - smoking kills !

Really great work Andy! love the bare-headed FJ with the Gw43. All look excellent, a top-notch job from start to finish.

Wonderful stuff!
Rod


P.S. Color mixes for US items were emailed.

Rod, thanks for the kind comments.

Hopefully these figures will all "gel" when they are put together as a group but I wanted to make sure that they were good enough on their own too.

Just realised the similarity of the last picture to Randall & Hopkirk (That may be one more for our British viewers, and it also shows my age !)

Thanks again for the paint mixes.

Andy

Bet you thought I had given up on this project ?

Anyway, apologies. I got sidetracked into a Marine for the Pacific campaign but will continue with this next.

A few people have PM'ed me for the colours used for the splinter pattern so there they are if you want to give it a go:

Base 1:2 mix of Russian Uniform 924 and Pastel Green 885. (Or 100% 821 German Camo Beige for the tan base version).

Brown splinters 826 German Camo Medium Brown.
Green splinters 895 Gunship Green.
Raindrops 888 Olive Green.

All colours highlighted by adding 845 Sunny Skintone to the mix (except the tan base where I used deck tan) and shaded with 872 Chocolate Brown.

Stay tuned - more FJ wierdness soon

Looking forward to seeing more of this project. Keep us posted Andy!

Mario

OK, that is figure number 4 finished - again alongside figure 5 to show the interaction.

I wanted this next guy to have a net cover on his helmet and spent quite some time trying to figure out how to do it. In the end I used some wedding veil (don't ask !) and painted it before attaching to the helmet with cyano. Had to do a bit of touching up but it looked far better (I think) than trying to paint it in situ.

Anyway, enough waffle, here are the pictures so far:

Andy, inspirational figures and possibly the best splinter camo I've seen. Thanks for the colours. Is it possible to list the colours you use for the Marsh version? Thanks in anticipation
Rob Matthews

Rob,

Stop it , your'e making me blush Thanks for the comment, really appreciate it.

Colours for the Marsh pattern are a little more complicated :

Base colour =
3parts 824 German Camo Orange Ochre
1 part 819 Iraqi Sand
1 part 872 Chocolate Brown
(Highlight with 819, Shadow with 872).

Brown patches =
3 parts 846 Mahogany Brown
1 part 872 Chocolate Brown
1 part 845 Sunny Skintone
(Highlight 845, Shadow 872)

Green patches =
6 parts 888 Olive Grey
3 parts 845 Sunny Skintone
1 part 872 Chocolate Brown
(Highlight 845, Shadow 872)

Raindrops 888 Olive Grey.

Mix the green or brown with the base mix 50:50 and water it down some to get that "feather edge" around the pattern. Also note that the highlight and shadow colours are already in the base mix so it does not change the tone.

And for completeness, the rest of the uniform :

Helmet = Base 888 Olive Grey, Highlight 830 Field Grey, Shadow/Wash 816 Luftwaffe Blue.

Ammo Bandoliers/Bread Bags = Base 900 Mirage Blue, Highlight 870 Medium Sea Grey, Shadow 816 Luftwaffe Blue.

Tan leather webbing = Base 875 Beige Brown, Highlight 876 Brown Sand, Shadow 872 Chocolate Brown.

Trousers = UA077 Field Grey (Lifecolour), Highlight 815 Basic Skintone, Shadow 950 Black.

Boots = 50% 862 Black Grey + 50% 988 Khaki, Highlight 988 Khaki, Shadow 950 Black.

All colours are Vallejo acrylics apart from the trousers. Hope this helps in some way and look forward to seeing some of your figures posted here. You have no excuse now !!

Any more questions, please ask.

Andy

Andy - that was very kind of you to take the time
I've tried these mixes (Jaume Ortiz-Modelling Fallschirmjager Figures) and I did not get results like you (or him!)
Back to practice, I guess
I'll show my attempts here when I'm done (I normally "live" at Model Armour)

If I can get close to your quality I'll be thoroughly pleased
By the way - I read your post about Rosemary brushes - there are some winging their way together with some "Masters" brush cleaner
Great tip
I am truly in your Debt!
Regards
Rob

Rob,

Happy to help.




That, unfortunately, is the key to it. I have only been using acrylics as a medium for about three years having been used to using Humbrol enamel. I too started with Jaume Ortiz's book and it really is a great guide to using acrylics. Another good book is "Getting started painting diorama figures in acrylics" by Brett Avants. Sadly OOP now but copies turn up now and again.

I tend to practice on old Tamiya figures before I commit to a project just to make sure I get the colour tones right and it is a great way of trying out highlight and shadow mixes for a new colour scheme. If it doesn't work, use a bit of Fairy Power Spray and strip the figure and start again. Not that I consider myself an expert in any way, but if you need any advice, PM me and I'll do my best to help.

Hope you are happy with the Rosemary brushes, they are all I use now (lot cheaper than W&N, and just as good). Unfortunately they haven't sent me any freebies yet even though I keep singing their praises

Right then, SBS on how I painted the splinter. Are you sitting comfortably ?, then I'll begin

1 - First up, basecoat ( I won't bore you again with the colours, they are further up in the post ). -



2 - Next, all seams outlined in chocolate brown (just so I can see where the details are) -



3 - Brown splinter outlined in thinned paint to get the pattern marked out -



4 - Started to block in the brown, it may take a few coats. Left hand side (as worn) has had three, right side only one. Building up the colour gradually to avoid paint build-up and brush marks -



5 - Brown section completed, took three/four coats to get it even -



6 - Same again with the green -



7 - Finally, the raindrops (and the size of the brush I use - what is that about size not being everything ) -



Next up, shading and highlighting - stay tuned. And, as always, feel free to share your thoughts.

8 - Shadows added with a thinned controlled wash of chocolate brown and some black added to the final darkest recesses.



9 - Highlighting of each colour separately adding sunny skintone to each colour. This just about completes the smock other than painting in the chest eagle and press studs.




There won't be any more WIP shots of the remaining FJ figures because it is all pretty much the same as has already been seen. I will however, post them as they are finished and then explain in more detail the completion of this diorama.

As always, shout if you want any info.

Andy

Very nice tutorial Andy. I hope you'll do something similar as an article for HF once the vignette is finished... that would be an impressive feature.

Cheers,
Mario

Mario,

Thanks. I will certainly do this as an article if it would be of interest.

Not many more to paint now !

Andy

I'm sure it would generate quite an interest... not just the splinter painting feature, but also the whole process of building the vignette. Since you have been taking in progress pics, I'm sure it could very well be one of the "most read" titles on HF.

Keep it up,
Mario

Mario,




Ha, ha - That is only because it is taking me so long to finish it

Andy,

I heartily second Mario's suggestion (plea?) for a feature article on this. In the mean time, I've had this thread book marked as a reference for quite some time.

I particulary appreciate the last few SBS photos! I don't suppose you have a series of similar photos for the earlier "Sumpfmuster" smock that you painted?

At any rate, inspiring and brillant!

Thanks so much for taking the time to share it all.