Sertorian Legionary: Groundwork done

Well, this really is rather embarrasing. Yes, I really am still busy with this figure...

Actually, in a previous post I jokingly commented on making monthly updates to this thread. Quite unintentionally that was a month ago. Anyways, here's the progress over the last month or so...

I'm pretty much done with the groundwork. I'm not really too happy with the grass, as I think it needs more highlights and shadows. But... the missus took a look and gave me the "hands of the groundwork now!" command. If she's happy with it then best safer not to argue.





It's really just the sleeves of the tunic that have been finished off. Again, not crazy about them, but... The cloak has been BC'ed with VC822, and then had a wash with Citadel Black Ink. Oh, and I discovered how much I really hate the Citadel pots: when I bumped the black ink pot over on my workbench! Anyway, no use crying over spilt paint.




I'm going to have to get a move on with this figure - I really don't have much time left...

German SS Unit Insignia: Badges GSS-001 - GSS-019

Manufacturer: The Regimental S-4
Item Code: Badges GSS-001 - GSS-019
Scale: N/A
Material: Resin
Sculptor: Nick Majerus
Review Publication Date: June 17th 2008

Have you ever completed a figure, vehicle or diorama depicting an action of a particular SS division and wanted to add just that little something extra to make your base stand out from the rest? How about wanting to add the divisional insignia to your base to clearly define your model’s represented unit? Generally speaking the only quick option has been to print it out and paste it to the base. And we all know how inks fade and paper yellows over time.

The Regimental S-4 has just the solution for you then. The Regimental S-4, a model figure company owned and operated by sculptor Nick Majerus, although specialising in mostly US subjects have a very unique line of products entitled “Badges”. And they are exactly that: badges. Cast in resin the series currently comprises of “U.S. Army Unit Insignia”, “German SS Unit Insignia”, “German Luftwaffe Insignia”, “U.S. Military Awards” and “WWII Desert War Unit Insignia”.

The subject of this review is the nineteen “German SS Unit Insignia” currently available, items GSS-001 through GSS-019.

My review on Historicus Forma

A forgotten Sertorian Legionary update

This is actually an update from a few weeks ago. I posted it on HF but somehow forgot to post it here.

• Face has now been finished off. Not 100% happy with it personally, but the missus likes it so I guess it'll do.

• Scarf has been finished off with a wash followed by a series of highlights followed by a glaze.

• Helmet's done.. don't ask me how, quite honestly I can't remember... I sort of followed Daniello's method substituting a few items for others I had...

• Plume... Hmm, worked on this today. Started off with a BC of VC822 plus a dash of black, followed with a heavy wash of Citadel Black Ink. Then DB'ed the BC, followed by a couple more lighter coats. Finished off with another wash of Black Ink. Suspect the ink has toned the highlights down too much though... might have another pass with the highlight...

• Mail has been treated with a wash of Lamp Black and Burnt Umber oils.

 

And yes, that really is clingwrap ("seran wrap"?) around the figure. Picked up the tip from Mike Butler over at Medrom. Prevents finger oils from contacting the figure and rubbing off the paint.

The mail was allowed to dry overnight, and was then treated to a Tamiya Smoke wash. I'm don't work with Tamiya acrylics too often, so I thought I'd better give a chance to dry properly overnight - probably overkill...

The groundwork as also been treated to a series of dry-brushings. To be honest I can't remember the colours, so it's probably not a good idea to ask me...

Platoon's 12SS HJ Normandy ala Tan: Part 2

Preparation: Information Gathering

 

The first thing I do when starting any figure is to look for reviews of the topic. Now unfortunately it appears the only review of this figure is mine. In a way that's a pity, as I would have liked to have seen if the experiences of others were the same as mine. On the other hand, it's quite flattering.

Next I'll look for painted versions and interpretations of the figure. Again a search, albeit a quick one, yields nil. It's always nice to see how someone else interpreted the figure, although it's important not to merely clone their figure.

That was the "informal" and easy part of the information gathering. The next phase can become time consuming but it's an important stage as it will not only help you ascertain the accuracy of the figure (if that is important to you), but it will help you place the figure in terms of groundwork as well as defining your colour palette.

These are the references I used when reviewing the figure:

• “Waffen-SS Soldier 1940-45”. Warrior 2. Bruce Quarrie. Illustrated by Jeffrey Burn. Osprey Publishing. 1993.
• “Waffen-SS in Combat”. Robert Michulec. Colour Plates by Ronald Volstad. Concord Publishing.
• “Waffen-SS (2) From Glory to Defeat 1943 – 1945”. Robert Michulec. Colour Plates by Ronald Volstad. Concord Publishing. 2000.
• “German Combat Equipments 1939-45”. Men-at-Arms 234. Gordon Rottman. Illustrated by Ron Volstad. Osprey Publishing. 1991.

However as I now need to actually paint and place the figure, not only will I recheck these references, but I browse through more sources including Wehrmacht references.

Something else I tend to do before undertaking a figure is to browse through my figure modelling books. For this figure the two books in particular that I referenced are:

• "Modelling Waffen-SS Figures". Osprey Modelling 23. Calvin Tan. Osprey Publishing. 2005.
• "Modelling Fallschirmjager Figures". Osprey Modelling 31. Jaume Ortiz Forns & Daniel Alfonsea Romero. Osprey Publishing. 2006.

I also reread though an excellent camouflage article on HF to help motivate me: Painting 3 Types of German WWII Camouflage by Pete Becerra Jr.

As I mentioned though, during this build I will be applying Calvin's technique, so his book will become my primary reference.

 

Preparation: Supplies

 

Having gathered enough information (is there such a thing as enough information?) I put together a preliminary list of colours I will be using on my palette. In recent times I've gradually been moving away from enamels and oils to acrylics. Unfortunately my wife appears to have some sort of allergic or chemical reaction to oil based paints and solvents so I need to minimise their use when she's around. And so, I've gradually been replacing my trusty old Humbrols with Vallejo's Model Colour range, as well as acrylics by Citadel and Tamiya where the Vallejo's are unavailable. Unfortunately Vallejo is not too popular in South Africa, and only one LHS in Cape Town stocks them. Colours like Sunny Skintone seem to always be out of stock, and you're not always guaranteed to find everything you're looking for, and so you are forced to substitute where you can.

But back to the list of colours, as I said, this is a preliminary list of colours I'll be requiring:

VC#	Chart Pos	Name	Comment
837	7	Sand light
915	14	Deep yellow
845	20	Sunny skintone	Out of stock. Sub w/ 815 Flesh Tone
909	28	Vermillion
835	37	Salmon rose
899	50	Dark Prussian
833	80	Germ.cam.
975	89	Military green ja
890	90	Reflective green
889	91	Us olive drab
924	94	Russian uniform WWII
896	99	Cam.extra dark green
830	102	German fieldgrey WWII	Out of stock. Sub w/Tam XF-22
821	103	Ger. cam. beige WWII
986	110	Deck tan
988	115	Khaki
847	123	Dark sand
824	128	Germ. cam. orange ochre
981	131	Orange brown
875	135	Beige brown
984	140	Flat brown
921	141	English uniform
873	142	Us field drab	Out of stock. Sub w/?? Maybe English Uniform or Burnt Umber?
825	144	Germ.cam.
985	146	Hull red
871	147	Leather brown
822	150	Germ. cam. black brown
950	169	Black

I'll also be using Humbrol Silver 11 and Tamiya X-21 Flat Base.

Tip: Prior to going to the LHS I always make a complete but preliminary list of all the materials I'll be needing for the project. I then cross off all the supplies I already have. You will note I sort the AV colours by chart position so as to make finding them in the LHS's paint rack a bit easier.

Paint however is not all we need to finish a model, is it? I'll also be using Tamiya filler putty, CA glue, epoxy glue, paper clips for pinning parts, paper or plasticard for straps, brass or fuse wire for buckles, and maybe the other odd bit or bob.

How about the base and groundwork? I have a general idea in mind of what I want to do. Something rather simple in fact, the figure's going to be complicated enough as it is, no need to recede my hairline further by complicating the groundwork. The groundwork will probably consist of epoxy putty, fine gravel, static grass and the odd root or twig. Later I'll add some WS Flock and grass.

Now that I have gathered the supplies, it's time to start cleaning up the figure and preparing the groundwork.

Platoon's 12SS HJ Normandy ala Tan: Part 1

Against my better judgement but doing it for the sake of my HF peeps I have decided to participate in Historicus Forma's latest contest: The Pegaso Painting Contest 2008 (PPC2008). For more info, check out Historicus Forma - see the link in my sidebar.

The figure I've selected is one I reviewed a few months back, Panzergrenadier ‘Hitlerjugend’ 1944 from the Platoon range of figures. Here's the review: In-box review

These first pics are those of the box art and not my work:

These are the parts in the box, and as I have yet to start still in this state:

I am an absolute glutton for punishment. Not only do I hope to finish the figure on time, but the plan is to paint the figure using techniques described by Calvin Tan in his "Modelling Waffen-SS Figures" book which was published by Osprey a few years ago. These are techniques I've never tried before.

To compound the situation further, the plan at the moment is to attempt to paint 3 different SS camouflage patterns on this figure. I'll not say which schemes or which parts yet, but know this: this is the most "technical" figure I've yet to undertake as this will be my first real attempt at camo (previous attempts being bad attempts a BDU and choc chip many, many years ago).