WIP US Marines in Hue during the 1968 TET Offensive

[vlpbruce]

Looking good Dennis. I look forward to more.

[dennis]

Hello all, sorry for not posting anything sooner, after Euro I had to go back to work full time; what a shock to the system! I had got used to being in the man cave almost permanently.
Here is a couple of shots of the Bravo 6 USMC Officer’s WIP.
He was undercoated using Vallejo Grey Surface Primer using the airbrush, the base coat on his trousers is my usual combinations of Andrea NAC-04 Field Grey with a touch of Vallejo AV 807 Medium Gray.
For the highlighted areas I have added extra AV 807 Medium Gray to the base colour, and applied this using a layering system building up the colour gradually. I did the same for shadowed areas I adding Vallejo AV 950 Black to the base colour and built the shadows gradually, remebering that there is a difference in the intensity of shadows some are deeper than others.
On his shirt/jacket for a slightly different shade effect I used Scale 75 Field Green instead of Andrea NAC-04 Field Grey as part of the base colour on the shirt/jacket. The thinking behind this was to just give a slightly different look to one of the main figures on the finished scene
I will do some more painting and post more on this interesting little guy soon.
Thanks for popping in
Cheers
Dennis

[Leon]

Progressing nicely Dennis.

[dennis]

Thanks Leon, I have done some more work on the figure including his Flak jacket and equipment, holster etc. But seeing the photos made me aware that his boots were a tad on the bright side so I have toned them down. Next stage is his flesh areas.
Cheers
Dennis

[Steve Zuleski]

Ruckin On very nicely Bro, looks great!

Cheers, Ski.

[dennis]

Thanks Steve, I have got to keep the pressure on and not get distracted, easier said than done mate!
Dennis

[Steve Zuleski]

Oct 5, 2014 13:38:49 GMT -5 dennis said:

Thanks Steve, I have got to keep the pressure on and not get distracted, easier said than done mate!
Dennis

Ah, a couple of good ol' war flicks playin in the background and you'll be set. Keeps me rollin every time. Of course, movies from the era of interest work best for me.

When building the Hue dio I watched the History Channel's documentary on Hue, kept me in the groove, so to speak. Got a lot of still shot from the video on my computer and plastered the railings of the shelves in the bunker for quick reference. That M48A3 was tough to nail down all the markings and stowage, not a whole lot of good shots of it. Sometimes I think my research goes into overkill, but I've been known to be anal retentive at times, lol.

Looking awesome Dennis, standing by for more. Cheers, Ski.

[dennis]

Hello everyone; Steve thanks for the encouragement mate, I know what you mean when you say play some war flicks in the background, for me though it is talking books. I have just finished listening to “Night Raid The True Story of the First Victorious British Para Raid of WW2” by Taylor Downing, a really good audio book teaming technical descriptions of Radar and its development and the daring of the original Paras. I used listen to a lot of Terry Pratchetts Discworld books but had to stop as they kept making me laugh, no good when you are trying to paint figures. But like your war flicks the audio books keep me in the groove.
Here is a couple of shots of the Bravo 6 Lt, he is completed apart from his helmet and his M3 Grease gun.
I have roughed in his hair as you cannot see any hair once his helmet is on his head.
He is depicted him as an older bloke and I look forward to seeing him on the base connected up via the telephone wire to the RTO.
I have toned down the nylon uppers on his Jungle boots to a more in scale finish.
Once he and his gang are all in place on the base I will tie them all in with some pigments/dust to the base.
Thanks for popping in will post again soon.
Cheers
Dennis

[kaytermarram]

Ha, I go crazy: Clark Gable in the jungle!! Super figure, super face indeed! Today I have got me a set of Masterbox Vietnam Figures in 1:35 just to check them out. Really welll done. Not as good as the resin stuff from Bravo6, but to my eyes on the same level with the elder Verlinden Resin figures. And top weapons (ok, no Live Resin, but who can?) And another big recommending is GRUNT, a new big hardcover book from the Andrea Press. Absolut great reference material shown here.

Frank

[deafpanzer]

Fantastic... you are definitely one of my fav figures painters out there!

[vlpbruce]

Outstanding work as usual Dennis.

[Steve Zuleski]

Fig looks great and good tone down on the green boots, looks much better!

Cheers, Ski.

[bullardino]

I'm speechless. That's a true wonder.

[dennis]

Thank you very much lads for your support. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, just some weapons, ancillaries and the two figures in the M60 team to complete.
He has the look of Clark Gable Frank, I envision him as the older guy in a position of authority trying to bring some order to the situation while his guys hold off the enemy.
I have looked at the Grunt book from Andrea, a wonderful book I hope Santa brings it for me.
I started on this guys tin hat this evening and will post a picture as soon as this is finished and in position.
Thanks again for your support I will post again soon.
Dennis

[kaytermarram]

The GRUNT is definitly worth the money. I take it every day for checking out and anytime, I find new stuff to see. And what a great inspiration it is!

So, as usual, I am very curious what will come next from your desk. The figures are, to make a sumary till now, outstanding. Love your painting style. Really!

Frank

[deafpanzer]

Thanks for the tip... I do need a good book about figure painting. Are you talking about this book?

www.andreadepotusa.com/en/5/publications/501/andrea-press-publications/2041/ap-053i-grunt.html?redirect=true

[dennis]

Hello Andy, yes this is the book, as Frank points out it is worth going to as a reference From the quick look I had at Euro it is worth obtaining if you have an interest in the American involvement in Vietnam. I do not know if there are any painting tips in it as I only had a quick glance.
Dennis

[deafpanzer]

Thanks! It has been added to my wish list. Amazon has it listed for $66. Vietnam Conflict is my second fav subject... thanks again!!!

[kaytermarram]

Just a few words on the book: Deaf, it is NO book about figure painting, no tips, no tricks. In GRUNT you see a collection in clear colour pics of all the stuff GIs used in the Vietnam War. It begins with all kind of clothes, camouflaged or olive drab, hats, helmets, caps, watercans, bandolliers, weapons and all kinds of equipment you can think of (up to match boxes, sun glasses, even the magazines and press are shown and mentioned. You see bottles of brands for beer, but I missed Cool Aid). And some live action pictures are inclueded too. All with explanational text. As said, if you are interested in the Vietnam War and the US Soldiers (NO stuff of the Vietcong!) who are involved, checkc it out (but take care, special weapons like the SAW or Equipment of the Special Forces is not shown. I guess, that would be a book on itself!). It is expensive, ok, but when you build figures from that concflict, this is a must!

Frank

[Steve Zuleski]

Gee Wiz, might as well pass off your kid's college fund for a book like that. With the inet and all the "color" picks available why buy a book at $66, or $99 for that matter, just to get more pics on a period of history. The web negates such lunacy.

As for tips on painting Nam era figures, IMHO there is no need for a SBS other than the basics of figure painting. The color schemes are so narrow with slight variations in uniform color it's not difficult to be accurate in most any case.

I say use your best judgment on colors and go from there. So far Dennis I think you have the color scheme nailed to a "T" and all your figures are flowing nicely, what more could you ask for?

Sorry if I sound like I'm ranting, I just hate seeing study material costs set at such ridiculously high prices when the same material is available elsewhere for way less. I konw the author poured his heart into his book, but it's not practical for our purposes, IMHO. I recon I'm a cheap skate in that arena.

Cheers, Ski.

[kaytermarram]

Sure, the Net is full of stuff like this. But: I have to find it. That takes time. I have to print out what I need. That takes time AND money. Printing all the pics in the book I would spend tons of money for ink jet carts. Not to mention a good quality paper. Because when I paint and build, I would like to have my resources around my desk. And I do not like pads or notebooks lying around where I handle paint and diluting agents. Besides that I am that old fashioned that I love books. Even more than computers. So I would NEVER buy a kindle or another reader. Never.

Frank

[Steve Zuleski]

Point well taken Frank. I too like books and actually have a book stand right in front of my work area for just that reason. I also print up pics from the web and peg them to the shelf railings as reference while sniffing paint or gluing my fingers together, lol. Whatever works, right?

The beauty of the computer is that I have run the video, paused, printed screen and had an actual frame from the DVD printed up and pegged to the shelf. It really helps when trying to nail down details that often elude during research.

Cheers, Ski.

[dennis]

Hello all, Steve if you came into my man cave you would be shocked at the cost of some of the books on my shelves, I love books especially ones that are really helpful in research. I too use the DVD tecnique and I print pictures and I agree with Frank ink for printers is expensive, there is no easy route to good reference pictures it all costs either money or time.
I consider carefully before paying a college fund sized ammounts in book purchases but I am afraid I still spend the kids inheritance on models and books. I have learned to look around the internet and booksellers for a cheaper copy, but; and it is a big but Andrea have sewn up the market on this one; there was one copy at Euro for £60 I did not buy it for reasons of price initially (I leave my cards in a safe place before entering the hall at Euro otherwise I go mad).
Talking of use of the internet for photographic I am trying to find out anything about the Mytie Mite sprayer the US Tunnel Rats used in Vietnam to spray smoke or CS into tunnels, but I have had hardly any hits on the web, can anyone help please.
Got to go now as I am off to a family wedding, the money we are spending on petrol, gifts and drinks I could have bought two copies of Grunt, oh and a new white shirt I will only wear once. Muttter moan grumble.
Dennis

[kaytermarram]

I guess one of the main points is the amount of money we have to put in new and good books. When I see especially the Andrea Press books (be it THE COMPLETE BILL HORAN, the SHEPERD PAINE book or their books on military equipment like GRUNT or the book around the German stuff used in WWII) I notice they are VERY EXPENSIVE. Comaring it ot other books I think they could be around 15 bucks cheaper. By the way, I have payed 69 Euro for the GRUNT book at Amazon Germany. On the other hand, we have tons of possibilities today, be it DVDs on our subjects or the net beiing a cool source for reference material (I have collected tons of "alien design" or "the thing design" pics I never have seen in film related books. Secured on CD, hehe!). The main point is to have all stuff at hand when we need it. But now back to Dennis´ figures!

Frank

[Steve Zuleski]

Enjoy the wedding Dennis, got one coming up soon too. And yes, a shirt I will never wear again as well. But, I just have to buy the rehearsal dinner, HA! I'm considering this getting off easy, lol.

Cheers, Ski.

P.S. I use to spend over $70 a month on research books in the late 90's, when the dollar bought something, so I too have tons of books.



Note the books and book stand on the bench along with the pegged printed pics.

[kaytermarram]

A working place I LOVE!!

Frank

[Steve Zuleski]

Oct 12, 2014 12:26:06 GMT -5 kaytermarram said:

A working place I LOVE!!

Frank

it's a cozy spot to work from, that's for sure.

[dennis]

Hello all, well I survived the wedding, it was a must do as it is one of the wifes twin nephews the other ones getting wed next month, bloody hell still I get to use the shirt again. If I had saved my money from the drinks I could have bought 'Grunt'. Great working space Steve love all the pictures and stuff. I have completed the LT to go with the RTO and have posted a shot of him in his helmet, the only thing I have added to the figure is the helmet chin strap made from 'post it' note paper.
I have started on the M60 gunner and I will post a shot of the parts that make up this amazing figure.
Thanks for popping in will post again soon.
Dennis

[deafpanzer]

He looks fantastic especially his eyes!

[robbo]

Smashing figure painting mate, really is very good