Finished off some more Fallscirmjaegers (FJs)- remember last post, I had some on the painting table being converted, painted, & based? Well here's the finished product along with some group shots of FJs I finished previously. These are all 1/72 plastic figures from Italeri (might be some donated parts from other sets thrown in) see full set here. I think they look much better than the other Italeri FJ set which is an Esci re-issue, and although they say "Tropical Uniform", they are just fine for Normandy and beyond.
Some pictures are less compressed than others and can be clicked on for larger image.
The first pictures are of those most recently finished, they are battle-weary veterans, complete with stubble. I have experimented with FJ camo, so you may notice some variations in some of the smocks- I think there was some battlefield variation in camo patterns used anyway.
Excellent work John! Can you maybe post a little tutorial on how to do the FJ camo scheme? I am currently trying all kinds of mixes on mine and none seem to work.
ReplyDeleteFF
Thanks FF.
DeletePerhaps you could post some of your efforts on your blog, then loads of us wargames bloggers could give some hints about what we have found works?
I'm not entirely convinced about my own efforts yet :)
Good idea, I'll try and take some good shots, but I'm not even close to being good at photography.
DeleteThanks!
FF
Thanks mate, then we can all pitch in with our ideas :)
DeleteThey look fantastic John - all ready to kick some Kiwi butt around Cassino or even Maleme! (We came close though...)
ReplyDeleteWhat blue did you use for the Luftwaffe field kit?
Thanks mate.
DeleteNot a shot will be fired against a Kiwi- saving it all for the Yanks & maybe the British ;)
Vallejo 964 Field Blue.
Sweet, gotta get me some. And don't you worry about the Kiwis - they pretty much gave as much as they got!
DeleteGreat work JS, I have this set on my to do list, love FJs, the Dragon king tiger with the FJ tank riders is a great set for parts for the FJs, the camo looks spot on.
ReplyDeleteCheers Dan, glad you like them, and thanks for the encouragement about the camo.
DeleteRellay good looking unit John
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated Anibul- still got some more in the stash, but don't know when I'll get round to painting them.
DeleteFantastic work Sarge!
ReplyDeleteThankyou Rodger. I'm on a bit of a German theme at the moment and have some other metal figures on the painting table at the moment.
DeleteThis is what I call EXCELLENT WORK! You surpassed your already established quality John! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind of you T.
DeleteGreat looking models, some spot on headswaps in there as well by the looks of it! So good they make me want to have a go at some!
ReplyDeleteCheers Alan.
DeleteIts worth having a go with some chop and swap, makes for more variety in a box of plastics, and helps to use up some of those less than useful poses.
Oh, and cracking photography as well!
ReplyDeleteCheers, I think that grassy hillock might get a bit tired after a while- perhaps I can make another slightly different one?
DeleteF is for flippin fantastic John!
ReplyDeleteI am really impressed with the quality of these fine fellows, leaving me to put away my FJ boxes until I can work out how you did this.
Top notch!
They were a bit tricky to paint in places as some of the detail isn't particularly distinct, and some of it just gets lost in the moulding process.
DeleteIt's all trial and error mate plus a lot of scrounging around on the internet for other people's tutorials and pictures of FJs. I think I got my basic start for the camo from the Flames of War site. Camo in scale is a tricky thing, it's really just an impression of the real thing- to replicate it true to scale would probably look all murky.
They look fantastic mate, i've always been terrified of soft plastic figures. How do you get the paint to stick? The painting is superb, and the splinter pattern camo is very effective.
ReplyDeleteBen
Hi Ben,
Deletecongratulations on your recent wedding.
Thanks for the kind words about the FJs.
Getting the paint to stick? - wash em in warm soapy water, then I undercoat with Artist's Acrylic Gesso (Matisse Background is the brand I use- Austrlian too), they use this stuff for sealing/priming canvases so it gives good flexibility and "tooth" to paint on. I only use acrylics for painting the figures and this seems to help as well. Lately I've been using just a spray of Dullcoat for varnish, as I like the finish better than some "matt" varnishes I've tried. You still have to store them safely like you would your metal stuff. Works for me :)