Young Miniatures - British Airborne, NW Europe 1944 (Version 2)

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As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another and hence my second rendition of this fine sculpt from Young Miniatures for a trade with Japanese modeller     Kazufumi Tomori's Fallschirmjäger bust that is featured in the Scale Model Handbook 3 published by Mr Black Publications.

 

Here are some close-ups of the face -showing the stippling of paint to create the effects of the beard stubble. Notice the subtle hints of green and blue employed to enhance the quality of illumination within the darker areas like the underside of the brow, the eye bags and the neck. You can also catch a glimpse of the range of colors used to render the green on the camouflage of the Denison smock. Pure black was not used - rather cut either by mixing Hooker's Green, Storm Blue or Purple Madder. With that may I add that the color mixed from Hooker's Green and Purple Madder makes a nice dark tone. I like it because it can be either green or red bias depending how much you mix of each. 

 

 

The British airborne beret badge on the pedestal makes a respectable display as a commemorative tribute to the British airborne in World War 2.

And finally for curious folks who wonder how I can still paint given the current circumstances of have two young children at home; here's my answer with the portable set-up I'm using to paint at my place of work.

Cheers,

Calvin

Young Miniatures - British Paratrooper, Northwest Europe, 1944

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Here are some of my personal shots of the finished British airborne trooper bust to mark a belated conclusion to this painting assignment.

I had a great deal of fun painting this jolly bloke - especially with the slightly caricatured face - that it spurred me on to embark on another painted rendition of this piece.  More on that after I conclude another box art assignment for Alpine Miniatures.  In the meantime, here's a publicity flyer of a British glider airborne troop at Bénouville Bridge on D+1.

Cheers,

Calvin

Young Miniatures - British Paratrooper, Northwest Europe, 1944

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Here's a belated update showing the close-up on painting of the details and accessories like the Bren gun ammo pouch, zipper and buckles. Additional highlighting was done on the smock and webbing with chafe effects given to the helmet strap.

Cheers,

Calvin

Young Miniatures - British Paratrooper, Northwest Europe, 1944

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Still on a roll with the painting streak, I've been once again offered another irresistible assignment to paint the box art for Young Miniature's upcoming offering - a WW2 British paratrooper sculpted by Young himself. I am sure that many will agree, that Young deserves kudos for taking up the courageous gamble to abstain the trial and tested commercial viability of WW2 Germans subjects for a WW2 Allied offering instead.

In retrospect, it seems that Young does have a penchant for WW2 airborne troops -with his past releases of Fallschirmjagers, US 82nd and 101st Airborne. It would seem that this upcoming release will complete the full collection of Allied airborne troops operating on D+1. Perhaps he could be so kind as to consider also packaging this British Paratrooper together with his previously released 101st and 82nd Airborne busts as a complete special D-Day anniversary collectors set.

The kit contains 9 parts - including a bonus British airborne badge. It definitely looks the part of a commemorative tribute to the British airborne in WW2 when pieced together as a complete display. Another distinguishing aspect of this portraiture would be Young's recent shift in the depiction of an archetypical "good looking" face to that of slight caricature and character personality. As far as stereotypes goes, one could readily assume that this bloke is a familiar face in one of those English bars chugging down a pint of ale after a rugby match.

Regrettably, I was unable to spare the additional effort to provide a blow by blow pictorial account of the painting process - especially on the camouflage for the Denison smock. Fast forward here is a week's intermittent effort. Jo Sonja paints were used exclusively up to this point and hopefully I'll be able provide some color notes here at my earliest possible free time.

Cheers,

Calvin