PERSPECTIVES IN MINIATURE: Young Miniatures - Obersturmführer, SS Cavalry Division, Florian Geyer, 1944

ARTIST STATEMENT

In the words of Wilbur Smith "War is the game played by old men with the lives of the young". The pawn in this game is the combat soldier, represented by the miniature toy soldier; an insignificant being on the battlefield. Combat is the most intense moment of war, where life and death balances on a knife's edge. The results are terrifying and reveal the worst part of our human nature. Conversely, there are moments when it exudes the best of our human spirit. Most of the miniatures you see here are diligently researched from historical sources and handcrafted between scales of 1/35 to 1/16 (approx 50mm to 120mm). The intricate rendition of human expression and fine details not only demonstrates the level of craftsmanship but also serves as a reminder of the fragile nature of human life. I represent no political bias though my miniature creations. My aim is to portray humanity through the chronicles of military history and thus it is my pleasure that I present to you my weblog Perspectives in Miniature.

Calvin Tan

WWII GERMAN UNIFORMS - PERSONAL MIXES BY CALVIN TAN

In conjunction with AK Interactive, this exclusive Gen 3 acrylic paint set is specially composed with the essential colours that I use to render WWII German Uniforms. It contains 18 colours and a small pamphlet with my personal colour mixes. If you are keen to acquire all the colours on my palette to paint a field grey tunic, a splinter pattern zeltbahn, an oak-leaf pattern smock or the Kharkov anorak, look no further, this is the set for you to get started.

CALVIN TAN'S BASIC GUIDE TO FIGURE PAINTING

This instructional DVD published by Model Art magazine was primarily developed for the beginner armour and diorama modeller in mind. The video presentation will feature a variety of easy to master techniques used to render a 1/35 scale plastic injected moulded figure.Topics include proper paint application techniques, choice of brushes as well as some little tricks for painting fine detail. It is fundamentally a showcase of some of my methods and techniques for painting military figures and I am certain it will prove beneficial for any modeller who wishes to improve on figure painting. It is currently available in both Japanese and English.

CALVIN TAN'S GUIDE TO CONVERTING AND PAINTING FIGURES

In this third instalment, I will share my techniques and materials to customize and detail an inexpensive stock plastic figure. Watch as I take you through the steps on how I modify a pose, model details such as hands, belts and webbing and insignias. Learn about working effectively with epoxy putty as well as plastic styrene and paper. As a continuation from my first two DVDs, I will demonstrate how to model and paint a simple groundwork as well as an alternate approach using a monochromatic underpainting to render both a field grey tunic and the World War 2 German Splinter Camouflage pattern on a helmet cover. If you have enjoyed and benefitted from those previous titles, this edition will be a welcome addition to your journey in scale figure modelling – regardless of your current skill level. It is my sincere hope that this could inspire you to embark on your own creative adventure in this fantastic hobby. .

Sunday 1 July 2012

Young Miniatures - Obersturmführer, SS Cavalry Division, Florian Geyer, 1944

Labels: Young Miniatures - Obersturmführer SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer 1944 Posted by Calvin Tan at 23:53

Just thought I would kick start this month by sharing a "spotty" piece of work on the SS-Erbsenmuster I'm currently busy with. My personal take on Young's characterization - brutish features and the penetrating gaze - makes him out to be a villainous partisan hunter that feeds into the Waffen-SS stereotype.

I'm quite liking on how this leisure project is coming together; the caricatured look of the defined features allows more permutations of colors to be introduced into the color space. Phthalo Green was used as a shadow color around the eyes to convey an aura of evil to the gaze.

That is all for now. Hopefully new week heralds some free time to resume painting on the back of the figure.

Cheers,

Calvin

5 comments:

BOAZ said...: Hi Calvin,

A beautiful piece of art as usual.

I hope you dont mind me being cheeky, but would it be at all possible for you to undertake a project that explains the technique of painting realistic woodland pattern, as it looks so simple but never seems to come out looking right.

I am looking to build some figures from OIF and pieces of kit that are in woodland pattern looks so good, when added to a figure in desert uniform, adding some interest as well as making them realistic.

Thanks,

John M; 4 July 2012 at 06:57
Calvin Tan said...: Hi John,

Thanks for the compliment.
Unfortunately, I do not have any projects in the near future that elaborates the painting of the woodland pattern in a SBS format.
What can perhaps help is for you to send me a picture of your attemps and for me to address the issues that are troubling you.

Cheers,

Calvin; 8 July 2012 at 20:54
BOAZ said...: Hi Calvin,

I am ashamed to admit that I have never kept any of those that I have painted and in truth, just avoided adding figures by not attempting anymore. This is because despite my models advancing in skill, woodland or temperate[UK] Pattern uniforms never seemed to show any progress.

I have at various times bought items of uniform to add to those that I have been issued as both a regular and later on reserve soldier, but can never seem to find a happy method of copying the methods that are employed in printing the fabrics. I suppose that part of the problem is in not understanding how they are printed with regard to overlay of colour, whilst maintaining the fact that patterns repeat at regular intervals.

Your many articles on painting German camouflage in magazines, books and online have been very helpful in that you seem to have a great deal of understanding in the methods that are used in developing camouflage cloth, in respect of starting colour, overlay colour and pattern and how the cloth is printed and indeed interpreted at the scales we work with.

I may well have a go in the future and then ask you for your advice and any suggestions in technique to plan and paint these quite complex patterns.

Yours Aye',

John; 13 July 2012 at 04:18
SCOTT CAPLE said...: Dearest Calvin,
Scott Caple here, from Canada and NYP a few years ago, remember? Just dropping by and saying hi! Sorry to be out of touch for so long. You probably have five kids by now, right? The work looks great, as always!( I see Brian alot still. He is coming over there this summer, I believe..me, too, very soon!)

Cheers,
scott; 14 July 2012 at 09:58
Calvin Tan said...: Hi Scott,

long time no hear! I'm also equally to blame for not keeping in touch - so don't beat yourself up for that ;)

Gwen and myself have two kids and it's more than we can handle.

I've have been actively following your blog with your teaching notes on perspective drawing and layout. They are really awesome considering how direct and simple they are to comprehend.

Please give Brian our regards the next time you see him and we look forward to seeing him soon in this part of the woods.

Have a great summer and hope that you can make it here as well!

Cheers,

Calvin; 18 July 2012 at 22:04