Sanitäter - France 1940

The painting begins by misting a fine layer of flat white over a black undercoat to simulate the bright spots on the figure. This is followed by the base colours of the tunic and trousers. 

This approach allows the base colour to appear brighter than just spraying the base colours over the black undercoat. 

The tiles are made with epoxy putty using a photo transfer method and attached to a piece of plastic sheet for reinforcement. Textures and pork marks are created with a ball shaped dental burr. 

After the tiles are painted and weathered, debris are also made from epoxy putty mixed in with some talcum powder to create a more brittle compound. When dried, they are easily chipped with a pair of nippers and painted to resemble brick and concrete litter. 

The figure and groundwork are assembled together to assess the colour scheme of the composition. I am still ambivalent about the colour of the floor tiles and might go about changing it. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Sanitäter - France 1940

This figure set German Soldiers at Rest was released sometime in the mid 1980's. In my opinion  this is probably the finest set of figures made by Tamiya and it is still good after more than 30 years in the market. The box art was painted by the renown military illustrator, Rick Scollins and I read somewhere that the figure set was designed by Bill Hearne. Some of you might recall Francois Verlinden utilising this set on his numerous dioramas before he launched his own line of figures.  

Taking advantage of the accessories included in the kit,I decided to compose a small scene of a German medic (Sanitäter) making supper next to a camp fire. The jerry cans are from a separate set of accessories also by Tamiya and a crowbar holding up the sausage over the pan is made from styrene.  To transform the soldier to a medic, I added a arm band on his left sleeve and converted the ammo pouches to the medic pouches; both using epoxy putty. 

Now that the scene is built, I do hope that the painting can be completed equally fast. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Diptych - Ich hatt' einen Kameraden

Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, 

Einen bessern findst du nit.

 Die Trommel schlug zum Streite, 

Er ging an meiner Seite 

In gleichem Schritt und Tritt.

 Eine Kugel kam geflogen: 

Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir? 

Ihn hat es weggerissen, 

Er liegt zu meinen Füßen 

Als wär's ein Stück von mir. 

 Will mir die Hand noch reichen, 

Derweil ich eben lad. 

Kann dir die Hand nicht geben, 

Bleib du im ew'gen Leben 

Mein guter Kamerad! 

Ludwig Uhland

Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, Falaise Pocket 1944

Finally completed this poignant scene from the battle of the Falaise pocket. 

Here are some of the colors used to render the black tunic. From the left, Violet AC-23 from Andrea Color, AK Interactive  AK11017 Reddish Grey, AK11146 Dark Green and Pure Black from AK Interactive's 502 Abteilung range.

Cheers,

Calvin

Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, Falaise Pocket 1944

 A brief update on the progress of the vignette. I added the photo etched insignia from Rado Miniatures onto the Feldwebel and the buttons ( fashioned from epoxy putty) onto the zeltbahn. Only the modelling of the fingers on the hand holding the zeltbahn remains before I add in the crowning touches to the painting. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, Falaise Pocket 1944

It has been a slow week touching up the Splinter pattern on the Zeltbahn .

Cheers,

Calvin

Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, Falaise Pocket 1944

 This is a work on progress on a vignette utilising figures from Tamiya's Marder III (Kit number 35364) and Werhmacht Tank Crew Set (Kit number 35354) and heads from Hornet Models. The Zeltbahn is made from epoxy putty using the photo print transfer technique.

Some work in progress shots of the vignette.

Cheers,

Calvin