Return to a stalled build - WW1 trench attack

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

a bit distracted on other stuff, but I have had a go at the barbed wire using this wire I bought:


it is good quality wire and very easy to use - it holds its shape without springing out of shape. Unfortunately it is so shiny and polished that the twists which make the barbs slide along the wire far too much. i've found some different fuse wire at 0.25mm diameter so when that arrives i'll have another go. In the meantime its bach to sculpting a bust - officer of the Royal Regiment of Scotland in Mess Dress

[Windy]

Hi Peter. Looking good! I had the same problem making the barbed wire for this chap. My first attempt was way over scale so I used 0.15mm copper wire, incredibly fiddly and I had to put a dab of CA on each barb to stop them moving. The screw picket was made from steel wire left over from a trip-flare I think - about 0.5mm - wound around a cocktail stick. Keep up the good work.

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

here are the results of the 0.25mm wire. It worked quite well. A little bit of the barba sliding, but thag was sorted by using some a burnt umber oil paint wash whihc fixed the barbs in place when it dried.

here is a photo of the wire in place:



I will crush the wire and a couple of the posts when the tank is put in place - just need to get some epoxy glue tomorrow to securly fix the tank in place.

next the figures!

peter

[SimonT]

Hi Peter - barb spacing still looks rather erratic but overall, strung between the screw pickets, it conveys barbed wire

I'm still thinking on how to get consistent 2mm spacing.......:thinking:..........

[Peter Gillson]

Simon

i agree, but hope that by the time the tank is in place, and the figures as well as other bits and pieces the differing gaps will not be too noticable.

i think I might have another go in a few weeks time, but this time not as part of a specific build, that way there will be no pressure on finishing the wire.

didn't get a chance to get the epoxy glue, so thet's my job for tomorrow , and fixing the tank in place.

peter

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

here is a photo of the latest work - the tank securely fixed in place over the barbed wire:

[Guest]

Brilliant work Peter.

[Peter Gillson]

Thanks Peter - now my figures can bring the standard down! Its been quite a while since I painted in 1/35

petet

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

it's been a while but here is the first figure - a Tommy who will be to the side of thd tank looking down into the trench.

The eagle-eyed will immidiately notice a lack of fingers. These will be added now the rifle is in place, and that could only be positioned after I had painted him. After the fingers are added and painted, a little more refining the shadows, add a bit of mud to the feet and he will be fixed in place.

Time to mix a very small amount of putty ...

Peter

[Guest]

Oh, he's nice Peter. Great work.

[Steve Jones]

Ditto. How many more to do Peter

[Peter Gillson]

peter- thank for the support.
Steve - ditto, and no more Tommies, but possibly 3 Germans, definitely 2 more

peter

[Peter Gillson]

Hi Guys

I have finished the first figure and he is on place, here are some photos:



Next, the first German

can anybody answer a question for me: i would like to paint one of the Germans with a camoflaged helmet - does anybody know when they started to paint cammo on their helmets and whether havign one in a trench setting like this would be correct?

peter

[wotan]

Peter

I'm no expert but as far as I know after the Germans dispensed with the pickelhaub spiked helmet in 1915 they went with the standard classic German style helmet through to the end of the war. It would therefore seem reasonable to assume that at least some were painted in camo through 1916, 1917 and 1918.

John

[Peter Gillson]

Hi John

that's what I thought, but somewhere in the back of my mind is a thought that only certaint troops had cammo helmets, but I know so little about WW1 I don't trust my memory!

peter