(WIP 1) Alpine BAR Gunner US 29th Infantry Division

My next project is a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) gunner from the US 29th Infantry Division released by Alpine Miniatures.

In my excitement to paint this figure, it slipped my mind to take some WIP photos. Much apologies, here's a photo taken during the rendering of the jacket. As you can see the groundwork is also in progress. More to follow in the subsequent posts.

(WIP 3) Life 6th German Army Stalingrad 1942

The Jon Sonja colors used to render the completed tunic are as follows:

Base: Olive Green + French Blue + Prussian Blue
Shadows: Base + Prussian Blue + Burnt Umber
Highlights: Base + Skin Tone Base

The key is to paint in thin layers and create a gradual transition of colors that is lightest at the top (shoulder) to the lowest part of the bust. To emphasise the highlights, a mix of Skin Base Tone + White was used  to pick out the highest areas. Likewise to create a distinct shadow area, a mix of Prussian Blue + Burnt Umber was introduced into the darkest folds of the uniform. In some case, I used Carbon Black to further vary the dark areas.

Glass Lenses

A fellow member of planetFigure (Thanks Nap !) introduced me to a product, Kristal Klear, to create the lenses of the glasses. I found a youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ_ggnLYkPM) showing how it was done. In the case of this bust, I used a size 2 brush instead of a toothpick to drag the medium across the glasses as the gap is larger.

(WIP 2) Life 6th German Army Stalingrad 1942

Here's the tunic rendered to about 80% completion :)

(WIP 1) Life 6th German Army Stalingrad 1942

This next project is a trooper from the 6th German Army during the Battle of Stalingrad.

The glasses gave the figure a nice touch. Some photos to share the process of rendering the face. If you noticed, the initial stages are rather messy as I was more concerned with blocking out the colors than blending. 

(Completed) Jeff Shiu SS Untersturmfuhrer Western Front 1944

Done ! Will be entering this into the Hong Kong Scale Modelling competition in Nov this year :)

(WIP 2) Jeff Shiu SS Untersturmfuhrer Western Front 1944

Painting the black leather trenchcoat on the subject is a trial and error process.

Initially I started out with a Prussian Blue + Burnt Sienna base. However this was too blue for my likely and a thin coat of Burnt Umber was painted over. The highlights on the trenchcoat was picked out by light drybushing with a mixture of Yellow Orche & Burnt Umber. (Buff works as well). This helped me to visualise  the fall of light and identify the subsequent areas I want to empahsise. Matt Black was painted into the shadow areas to give it depth.

Given the limited range of colours to work with, the weathering effects of trenchcoat gave it an addition dimension to an otherwise rather monotone area. It also allowed additional colours to be introduced. (Burnt Sienna, Yellow Orche, Fawn etc...)

Drawing on references, emphasis was given to the edges, joints and contact areas of the trenchcoat. Scratches were also introduced for a worn look.

(WIP 1) Jeff Shiu SS Untersturmfuhrer Western Front 1944

My next project is a Waffen SS Untersturmfuhrer (2nd Lieutenant) during the Western Front of 1944.

From his medals, this is individual is battle hardened veteran from earlier campaigns. I am planning to portray him as an officer from the 2nd Waffen SS Division " Das Reich". The division was transferred to France in anticipation of the allied invasion. In preparation for the allied forces, most of the Das Reich men were stationed in Montauban, a town north of Toulouse, for refit and resupply.