Nice work on the helmet Peter, good thinking 
British Airborne - Red Devil - Dragon kit
- Thread starter pjgtech
- Start date
Nicely done Peter.Thin strips of Milliput can be great.If you get some Greenstuff and mix it with Milliput and let it sit for awhile.Roll thin on say a tile with talc and then cut into strips.Can be manipulated with brush and water and attach with dobs of Cyano.
Richard
Richard
Hi Peter, beautiful work on the helmet. I remember working on the same figure years back and have the thread here if you'd like to see what I did. I beefed up the trouser legs and added a Cavalry holster which was carried by some 6th Airborne troops...the 1st Airborne were the first to acquire these holsters. You've done a pretty good job on the Hessian strips, I only wished I had discovered elastoplast earlier which has a scaled weave pattern to Hessian and can be pulled and shredded just like it.
It still needs improvement and will work on it when I get the Airborne fever again. Here's another thread if you're into Airborne dios. Did it many moons ago. Too bad the images are still small and haven't been adjusted. Just let me know if you want larger images for reference especially the scratched helmet strap and the camo pattern on the tunic and pocket patches.
Cheers,
Wabble
It still needs improvement and will work on it when I get the Airborne fever again. Here's another thread if you're into Airborne dios. Did it many moons ago. Too bad the images are still small and haven't been adjusted. Just let me know if you want larger images for reference especially the scratched helmet strap and the camo pattern on the tunic and pocket patches.
Cheers,
Wabble
I have now drilled and stuck a pin (cut from a paper clip) into the figures foot using superglue.
Looking at the supplied base, its just a thin hollow sort of cube, so needs beefing up a bit.
I'm think I will add some sort of weight to it..... but what?
I have also glued up a small "block", eg: bits of flat sprue cut into squares, layered one upon the other and glued together.
This block has now been glued to the underside of the base, where the hole will be drilled to accept the pin from the figures foot.
My theory being that when I drill the base, rather than just having the thin plastic top layer, it now has a much thicker lower cube into which the pin can be inserted and glued, thus giving a much sturdier fixing.
Looking at the supplied base, its just a thin hollow sort of cube, so needs beefing up a bit.
I'm think I will add some sort of weight to it..... but what?
I have also glued up a small "block", eg: bits of flat sprue cut into squares, layered one upon the other and glued together.
This block has now been glued to the underside of the base, where the hole will be drilled to accept the pin from the figures foot.
My theory being that when I drill the base, rather than just having the thin plastic top layer, it now has a much thicker lower cube into which the pin can be inserted and glued, thus giving a much sturdier fixing.
Further update...
Some pics of the current state of my British Airbourne figure.
Underside of base "beefed" up a bit with strips of sprue, so when the figure is finally glued in place will have a more stable/solid connection.
Pin to the figures foot.
Tunic/jacket colour now darkened. Camo shades now added to the torso, still have the arms/sleeves to do.
Face painted, but not finished yet. Man, eyes are hard! Took me three attempts to get the blue bits looking sort of ok. My hands are just not steady enough for really, really small/fine work!
Water bottle added to rear, still have the two front pouches to add, but wanted to do the torso camo first.
Helmet now on head. Really pleased with the camo strips on the helmet.
Need to tidy up the helmet straps, etc.
Painting generally needs tidying up.
Once I've applied camo to the arms, we will be ready to glue arms on, with weapon, and attach the head.
Then some final tidying up before a gloss coat, then think about weathering?
We are getting there. But still lots to do....
Some pics of the current state of my British Airbourne figure.
Underside of base "beefed" up a bit with strips of sprue, so when the figure is finally glued in place will have a more stable/solid connection.
Pin to the figures foot.
Tunic/jacket colour now darkened. Camo shades now added to the torso, still have the arms/sleeves to do.
Face painted, but not finished yet. Man, eyes are hard! Took me three attempts to get the blue bits looking sort of ok. My hands are just not steady enough for really, really small/fine work!
Water bottle added to rear, still have the two front pouches to add, but wanted to do the torso camo first.
Helmet now on head. Really pleased with the camo strips on the helmet.
Need to tidy up the helmet straps, etc.
Painting generally needs tidying up.
Once I've applied camo to the arms, we will be ready to glue arms on, with weapon, and attach the head.
Then some final tidying up before a gloss coat, then think about weathering?
We are getting there. But still lots to do....
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Helmet looks good. Very sensible to beef up the base ready for the foot pin. Painting coming on a treat.
Last update tonight...
My little man is now all in one piece, finally!
Still got to tidy up bits of paint, try and" blend" in some of the highlights to the trousers, rather than the big splodges they currently are!
Still don't like the eyes, but terrified to try and do them again! So I think they will have to do for this first figure attempt.
He looks a bit startled and surprised! Maybe he's just stumbled across an enemy machine gun nest?
Pics...
My little man is now all in one piece, finally!
Still got to tidy up bits of paint, try and" blend" in some of the highlights to the trousers, rather than the big splodges they currently are!
Still don't like the eyes, but terrified to try and do them again! So I think they will have to do for this first figure attempt.
He looks a bit startled and surprised! Maybe he's just stumbled across an enemy machine gun nest?
Pics...
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Had a break from the modelling today.
Will try and tidy up the paint tomorrow.
Still learning stuff, I have also now realised that handling the model a lot, whilst painting, but before glossing, will leave smudges, finger marks, etc.
I don't really notice these that much, but when I take photos, especially with flash, they really show up.
So, must learn to handle the model much less as I go along.
As this is a figure, I still assume that glossing after painting is the usual next step?
Then will need to think about weathering, maybe some sort of grime wash, as he would not have been spotlessly clean.
Will try and tidy up the paint tomorrow.
Still learning stuff, I have also now realised that handling the model a lot, whilst painting, but before glossing, will leave smudges, finger marks, etc.
I don't really notice these that much, but when I take photos, especially with flash, they really show up.
So, must learn to handle the model much less as I go along.
As this is a figure, I still assume that glossing after painting is the usual next step?
Then will need to think about weathering, maybe some sort of grime wash, as he would not have been spotlessly clean.
You may have just removed it for photos, but with the pin in the foot I usually glue that into a cork or something similar. Makes it easier to handle without having to touch it.
I have been holding it, so will maybe use a cork, or some sort of small block next time, cheers
Touched up the paint a bit more, added stripes, etc, but still needs tidying up a bit....
Not varnished or weathered yet...
Place on plinth for photos, but not actually stuck onto the plinth yet either.
Not varnished or weathered yet...
Place on plinth for photos, but not actually stuck onto the plinth yet either.
Looking good. Once varnished you can have a play with oil washes for weathering and pin washes to outline lots of detail. All correctable, especially if you use gloss varnish. You're in for real treat - the oils will completely transform your figure for the better. Once you're happy with it, stick it on a radiator for a day or two and the oil should cure nicely for you. Then maybe a coat or three of matt varnish to finish.
Ok so a little update.... 
I applied the gloss varnish coat on Monday.
I then had a play (my 1st) with an oil wash, very dark and very thin mix of dark umber, black and white, which flowed quite well.
This morning I applied some very light (white) oil paint highlights using a dry brush, eg: very small amount on the brush, then remove as much as a could, then just very gentle strokes on the figure to highlight raised areas......
Slowly I am learning all the techniques, not sure about my practical application though! It still looks very "splodgy" to me.
And I'm still not happy with the face, but I think on my third attempt I got it sort of looking ok (from a distance, and if you squint), and now I don't want to touch it anymore in case I ruin it and make it worse...
But its my first figure, so hey, I don't expect it be perfect.
So this figure is now very nearly finished. all it needs now is another day or so to dry and then its final coat of matt varnish, (as its still a bit shiny) which will hopefully bring it all together.
Some pics.
I applied the gloss varnish coat on Monday.
I then had a play (my 1st) with an oil wash, very dark and very thin mix of dark umber, black and white, which flowed quite well.
This morning I applied some very light (white) oil paint highlights using a dry brush, eg: very small amount on the brush, then remove as much as a could, then just very gentle strokes on the figure to highlight raised areas......
Slowly I am learning all the techniques, not sure about my practical application though! It still looks very "splodgy" to me.
And I'm still not happy with the face, but I think on my third attempt I got it sort of looking ok (from a distance, and if you squint), and now I don't want to touch it anymore in case I ruin it and make it worse...
But its my first figure, so hey, I don't expect it be perfect.
So this figure is now very nearly finished. all it needs now is another day or so to dry and then its final coat of matt varnish, (as its still a bit shiny) which will hopefully bring it all together.
Some pics.
Great work.If you need a good varnish to kill the Shiny shiny then id recommend Winsor and Newton Galleria varnish.The Range does it etc.Nice to see more figures done.Been years since i painted any.
Richard
Richard
Plus one on the Galleria. Mix it well and it brush paints really nicely. Clean brushes with white spirit. It is pretty much the same stuff as Humbrol Matt Cote…..except it comes in a much bigger bottle so is cheaper per unit volume….
I was going to use Tamiya matt varnish, would that be ok once the oils are dry? Its been over one day, but I was going to give it another day to properly dry out, as I only put one very thin coat of oil wash on, and it seems to be dry already now. But will wait another day just in case.
Final update and pics on this one I think....
Not happy with the finish, still a bit shiny?
Not happy with the face.
But happy overall considering its my first figure.
Pics....
Not happy with the finish, still a bit shiny?
Not happy with the face.
But happy overall considering its my first figure.
Pics....
A couple of things.I don't think there's any need at all to put a gloss varnish on your base coat.Any oil wash or shading will work fine on a figure with a flat Matt finish.It may be worth thinning your paints on the Dennison smock colours to give a more subtle,faded effect.
Oils are worth messing about with over the base coat even if you're not applying shadows and highlights.A simple wash gives depth and shading.
Jon.
Oils are worth messing about with over the base coat even if you're not applying shadows and highlights.A simple wash gives depth and shading.
Jon.
Good job for your first figure. In your place I would add more matte varnish so that the shine is completely killed off. I use an artists spray matte picture varnish, this works well over oils and should end up completely matte. Like Jon says I never gloss varnish figures, particularly if I use oils. Applying washes or highlights over the base paint works just fine.
One final tip on the overall figure I would try to achieve a higher level of contrast in order to make the figure pop. Darker darks and lighter lights will do this. Finally try to add shadows and highlights using colours other than black and white. This will make the figure more three dimensional. Using opposite colours often works well, Blue over yellow, green over red etc.
John
One final tip on the overall figure I would try to achieve a higher level of contrast in order to make the figure pop. Darker darks and lighter lights will do this. Finally try to add shadows and highlights using colours other than black and white. This will make the figure more three dimensional. Using opposite colours often works well, Blue over yellow, green over red etc.
John
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