Another Project Finished

I just completed a figure for my freind Richard at Tamiya. I have been working on this one since April this year (2007 is almost done!). This is the Mirage 200mm 101st Airborne that was changed to 82nd- Richard is partial to the 82nd Airborne because he was in the 82nd Airborne (as well as 1st Rgr Bn.)!

During the Bulge, on the Northern shoulder of the battle, the 82nd fought elements of the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th & 12th SS Panzer Divisions. According to 82 veterans the 101st fought old men and ladies. (not confirmed!).

It is a resin figure painted with acrylics and opils for the flesh. I modified the base- cause the kit one sucked. Have a Happy New Year!!!

Here is a picture of figure number two for the T-34 Diorama. This is a S&T figure, sculpted by John. Not a lot of parts, fairly quick to paint. Nice figures are fun to paint- they just seem to come together nicely.

Well finally some time to take pictures so I can update the blog. This is one of the figures going with the T-34. He will be poised on the4 turret.















Fresh in from UK, Spud Murphy sent me a few copies of my latest article- MMI issue 20. It features the article I wrote on the 82 Airborne figure.

I have been busy doing figure reviews for MMI. One figure I particularly like is the new release from Miniature Alliance. It is a 90 mm Fallshirmjager armed with the FG42. It is a great casting, and very well made. It should be a blast to paint. Look for the full review soon.......

Here we go.... some progress on one figure- for the top of the turret of the T34. Still more work on the camo...... adjustments here and there, and shading. Don't fret, I will change the belt buckle for a SS soldier. I will probably paint the flesh next to see how if comes together.

Here are the figures for the T-34

S&T figures

Working more on the T-34 project- here is shot of the exterior as the weathering progressed:

Here is the mother of all projects (at least for me). For about a year now, I have been working on a large scale diorama. It features Trumpeter's 1/16 scale T-34 and two S&T figures. The goal is to have a scene that shows two SS soldiers checking out an abandoned tank. The tank broke down, and in the middle of attempting to repair it, the Russians had to hastily leave. The model features a full interior. It is sitting next to a farm house.

This is Young Miniatures SS Feldgendarme bust. Really simple piece, lots of character, and fun to paint. I used acrylics and oils for the face on this one.

More Pictures....

This is "On a Wing and a Prayer at the Edge of No Man's Land"

I was inspired to do this piece after looking at James Dietz's "Mud in your Eye" painting of a crashed Sopwith Camel in a trench.

I like airplane models, but one posed on a flat base without a figure is boring and lifeless. Fortunately the Hobbycraft kit (1/32 scale) is a good one, and I modified the Pegaso Frank Luke figure to work in the scene. This was a real fun project. I have not built a airplane model in about 20 years, so that was a switch.

The figure was painted with oils for the flesh, and acrylics for everything else. The base was scratchbuilt- along with the dead German. I used an Airfix multipose figure as a starting point. Roger Claeps was kind enough to give me a few WW1 parts from his stash. The sandbags were just A&B rolled out and formed into bags.

Matt

This is S&T's 101st paratrooper figure. I have converted it to a 82nd trooper. This is the first figure that I have painted the face with acrylics! Super nice figure, a future article will be in MMI.

I was fortunate to be awarded the Series 77 "Best American" figure at the 2007 SCAHMS show

Hello! I decided to put together this "blog". Although my website is still working, this seemed more convenient to use. I hope this is helpful to fellow modelers.

I have been busy with several projects at once (who isn't?). I am working on a 1/9 scale commission figure for a friend, a gigantic 1/15 scale T-34 tank with figures, and about a half a dozen other things. Soon as I figure this out, I will have pictures up!

I have been busy writing articles for Model Military International. John Murphy has been really a great editor to work with and I just need more time to put things together.

That's all for now, I'll post more later--

Matt