discussion Iwo Jima 1-32 Scale

[Mini Me]

cheers Allen
I honestly did think of a tattoo but I chickened out.
As for the grenades I googled images of ww2 US Grenade and I just took my pick-presumably they weren't accurately described?
That's fine with me, it's one less painting step!

Hi Neil, Just spotted this comment about the grenade....don't know if this helps, but it will give you an idea as to size.

 

[Airborne01]

Mind you, they get bigger when you pull that round thing out ...
Steve

 

[Neil Merryweather]

Since my last update I have been doing a little bit of gap-filling and detailing to some of the guys, so here's a couple of shots.



I tried making the eyelets in the belt with a hot needle but I didn't like the effect so i decided to try 3D printing one... that's it in the centre of the pic.
I've also done the 'logistics' and all the guys are fully kitted out with the correct equipment for their weapon.


And I've done some gaiters


They will have laces and straps once I've added the boot soles



And here's the first go at the 3D printed belt- it's a bit difficult to see the fine detail(even without my crappy photography...) until it gets some paint on it, but I think it's going to work.
I expect I will do a bit more filling when I get back to the Fusiliers and I have spare Milliput to use up.
I've been making digital models of things like a K-bar knife and signal-wire reels-there are loads of them littered all over the beach, plus jerry cans and all sorts of other detritus.
Thanks for watching
Neil

 

[scottie3158]

Excellent work as always.

 

[BigGreg]

Sorry l missed this...it looks really amaizing... it's going to look stunning will you add some camo ponchos folded in the belts? Will you mix unifoms?? Or all green?

 

[tr1ckey66]

Great project Neil. I’m loving the figure work and this will build into a really interesting diorama. The research and skills on show - all very cool.
Looking forward to the progress.
Cheers
Paul

 

[Neil Merryweather]

Sorry l missed this...it looks really amaizing... it's going to look stunning will you add some camo ponchos folded in the belts? Will you mix unifoms?? Or all green?

Thanks Greg.
The uniforms are all plain in the pics, but the helmet covers are camo and there will be a poncho or two attached to packs

 

[Neil Merryweather]

Great project Neil. I’m loving the figure work and this will build into a really interesting diorama. The research and skills on show - all very cool.
Looking forward to the progress.
Cheers
Paul

Thanks Paul, I do enjoy the research and no matter how much I try not to care about accuracy I just can't help myself...

 

[tr1ckey66]

Thanks Paul, I do enjoy the research and no matter how much I try not to care about accuracy I just can't help myself...

I know exactly what you mean. I love the research. It’s as much a part of the hobby as the build in my opinion. I’ve got book shelves filled with uniforms, equipment, battles, campaigns. I tell myself that my next build will be an easy, ‘shake and bake’ build but, like you, something inside me wants more. More than that though I enjoy the history

 

[Neil Merryweather]

I’m shocked to find that it’s exactly three years since I started this build, and I shelved it so as not to be distracted from finishing the French Fusiliers diorama....
Anyway, I was working on a figure for a different diorama - (the D-Day diorama, you may have noticed it...) with the same radio equipment as one of these guys, so I thought it would be useful to work on them both in tandem, using the same research and information.
So this was the where I left this guy


And this is where he is now


The big blob of MagicSculpt is his telephone equipment bag.
I created the radio in cad and 3D printed it, but unfortunately I haven’t mastered the digital sculpting that would have enabled me to create the bag and print it at 1-32 scale for this guy and 1-35 for the D-Day diorama guy.

He has a lieutenant using the phone with him, who we left like this

And who now looks like this


And together they will look something like this



You may remember that I was swapping their boot soles for 3D printed ones and sculpting the gaiters? Well in the meantime I managed to find some digital models online that I could cannibalise so I am now 3D printing the boots and gaiters as one- life’s too short.
Of course, once I had brought them out of retirement I got a bit carried away and worked on a couple more of the guys, but that was only because I had some MagicSculpt to use up....
So there will be another instalment when the next two are ready for paint, because I am in a groove now, but then they will all go back on the shelf until the next time. I’m not going to paint any of these until they are all done, for fear of forgetting what I did in the meantime.
Thanks for following
Neil

 

[Neil Merryweather]

This is what the radio bag should look like

 

[John Race]

Great fig Neil, nothing like being a plastic surgeon

 

[Neil Merryweather]

I needed a small amount of MagicSculpt to fill one of my painting projects, so I used the remainder (which was most of it) to progress a couple more of my Iwo Jima boys. And I couldn’t just leave it at the sculpting, I ended up finishing two more of them off, ready for paint.
First up is an NCO, here is where we left him in April 2023;



And here is now, with a nice Hornet head, some 3D printed boots and other bits of kit


And here’s the figure that started the whole thing off( see post number one of the thread)
April 2023;


And now;



The little tank will be added to the flamethrower after painting.
I’ve got to say the harness for the flamethrower was particularly fiddly and probably won’t even get noticed in the midst of all the other mayhem (if it ever gets finished, of course).
So, as I said last time , these will go away until I’m ready to paint them all
Thanks for following
Neil