lazyschnauzer

Hmmm....I suppose I didn't consider it in the way you did. What I saw was an allegorical painting of loss and war's futility. An unknown soldier whose duty to others caused him to lose his life. Basically, I was going for the same effect or intention. As for the "cold box", it's meant to be a large shell dressing bag or box. Look on the left bottom of the painting. I'm sure this will become clear once it is painted. Glad you liked the blog! I spoke with the painter last night and he won't be able to even start painting this until sometime in the summer. He has a lot of commissions to do. All the best, Dan

In the meantime, if you are interested in seeing more figures - take a look at Planetfigure.com. Well worth the trip! All the best, Dan

Many thanks for your encouragement! As I mentioned, I'm really just a learner. I use two brands of two part putties specifically made for model-making and sculpting. Pro-create and Magic-sculpt. Pro-create is more flexible and sticky. I use it mixed with MS to do things like field harness or equipment. The majority of every figure is Magic-sculpt. So far I've done figures of the Great War and the Russo-Japanese and Russo-Turkish wars. My main area of interest is the wars from 1870 - 1930. One of my problems is I constantly have too many projects underway. I started five mounted WWI cavalry figures - US, German, French, British, and Austro-Hungarian. I've received 3 commissions from a figure NYC collector and have worked my way through two of them. I believe I posted both of them here - a Russian infantryman from 1919 and a British Tommy Lewis gunner in Mesopotamia, 1915. The vignette of three Tommies is the collector's idea and actually, it's a very good one. He wanted me to do three figures from an illustration (don't know the artist) in Eye Deep in Hell by John Ellis. Two Tommies are trying to pull a wounded comrade from a mud hole. The wounded man is up to his waist, weak and unable to get out. The two Tommies have hooked two rifle slings under his arms and then over a rifle one end of which is on each of their shoulders. Got the picture? A crude lever. So they're sliding, losing their footing, moving their boots to a new position and straining every muscle to get their buddy out. Since I took the photo posted earlier, I've moved the wounded Tommy a lot lower and I've added this and that. Here's another photo. Lots more to do! All the best, Dan

Chris and Snoopy: Many thanks fellas! I sculpt and put the models together, but I am not a painter. That is, I could paint it, but I'm a very mediocre painter. Therefore I collaborate with various European and US painters. When I finished this vignette I wanted to try out a Spanish painter that said he was interested in collaborating with me. He had an excellent reputation and had done well in shows and with online reviews. Unfortunately the poor fella had some family troubles almost immediately after receiving the model. I believe his father became very ill and painting the vignette became (understandably) the last thing on his mind. There are things much more important than figure models. I haven't heard from the painter in quite a while, but I'm always reluctant to query someone in this situation. If he never paints it, c'est la guerre, c'est la vie! There are more where that one came from. I'm working on a 3 figure vignette of DLI Tommies on the Somme and a single figure 2nd CMR Canadian soldier shoveling. All the best, Dan

This is work in progress for a friend and painter, Marc Megroot. Two French Fusilier Marins in a deep, but not well made trench (typical for 1915). One is using a trench periscope. I'm working on the groundwork now and will put all of it together and show you the outcome later. All the best, Dan

Sergey, There is a master sculptor and fine artist named Sergey [sergei?] Zlobov living in Moscow (I believe.). He's posted some marvelous work on Planetfigure.com and elsewhere. Makes some incredibly beautiful horses! All the best, Dan

I start with wire - usually 0.8 mm copperish welding wire - that works best. The wire is put into 2-part putty that has already hardened. I usually make a hardened torso and a pelvis connected by wire. Then add the arms and legs. The wire is bent into the pose I want. Boots and a head are added. Sometimes these are resin cast parts from other kits; sometimes not. The rest of the model is then made using 2-part putty which air dries over a period of 30 to 45 minutes. I work on only one leg, one arm, etc. at a time using various tools to form the model. When finished with a portion, it's allowed to dry thoroughly. Then sanded, etc., etc. I use a couple 2-part putties, but the one I use the most is called Magicsculpt. Here's a web site where you can buy some. http://www.michael-robertsltd.com/scripts/...p?idProduct=121 If you are interested in possibly learning to make figures, go to www.planetfigure.com. I learned from the tremendously talented folks on the site - they were very generous with their assistance. Everyone is welcome! All the best, Dan

Attached you'll find pics of Roger's superbly painting of two Soviet 1919 period figures. Both are based on illustrations from Osprey MAA 293. The standing figure is a train guard from Trotsky's armored train all in red leather uniform. The corpse is an infantryman in the typical uniform of the period. Hope you like them! More photos on my web site later today. http://heroesonthewire.blogspot.com/ All the best, Dan

This is WIP, so I'm correcting things. Since I posted the photos, I've removed the shirt pockets and replaced them higher on the shirt, slanting the one near the raised arm slightly. I've also added more vertical folds under the raised arm. Also 3 rocker stripes on the lowered arm and a bit of the upper stripe showing on the raised arm above the cuff. Lots more to do... All the best, Dan

Me again with WIP on the first of several planned WWI cavalry projects. Still a long way to go. The figure is mostly there. Lots of horse equipment and other stuff still to do. The equipment is listed below so you'll get an idea how he'll be equipped. The scale is 120mm or 1/15th. I've used some resin parts from various kits - head from the Lost Battalion, campaign hat from Alan Ball's recent sculpt of a USMC officer, hands from Verlinden, boots from Verlinden. 13th US Cavalry Sergeant, Mexican Punitive Expedition Horse M1904 McClellan saddle, light brown leather, with darkened brass fittings - Unusually this saddle has no fender or ?sweat leathers?, it was produced without them - Horse hair cincha - Ring chape - Wooden stirrups and leather stirrup hoods - No curb bit - M1908 saddle bags - Blanket bed roll - Tin cup and M1902 canteen - Rolled M1912 coat - M1903 Springfield rifle in russet brown leather scabbard The figure is a Sergeant halting a column. He's wearing - M1902 OD green shirt - the shirt is worn with the first few buttons unbuttoned and the sleeves rolled up. - M1912 trousers - M1912 campaign hat - M1910 first aid kit - M1911 Colt 0.45 caliber automatic pistol - M1903 canvas cartridge belt - I'm a little concerned about this. I may have gotten this a bit to small. It may have to be redone. This is supposed to be taking place in and around Columbus, NM just after Villa's raid on March 9, 1916. The 13th Cavalry were based in Columbus. During the attack, they put up a fierce resistance, surprising Villa's men. Immediately afterwards, Troop H under Major Frank Tompkins and Capt Rudolph Smyser were ordered to pursue. Early in the pursuit Troop F under Lt. Castleman joined in the fight, making a total of 56 US cavalrymen pursuing Villa's gang of 300. In spite of these odds, the cavalrymen inflicted 75 - 100 casualties and only broke off the fight because they'd used up almost all their ammunition. The US cavalrymen were not, unfortunately, all recognized for their heroism because of the US-Mexican political situation at the time. Tompkins was promoted and received the DSC eventually. All the best, Dan

This is a little Great War trench vignette based on the Gilbert Rogers painting of the same name hanging [i believe...] in the Imperial War Museum in London. Your comments and critique, as always, are very welcome! The Gilbert Rogers painting.... The vignette..... I took the liberty of giving his uniform a (yellow) diamond insignia of the British 62nd Division in 1917. I hope I've done him justice. Kreston Peckham will be painting the vignette and we hope to have it done in time for MFCA in May next year. All the best, Dan more pics on my blog - http://heroesonthewire.blogspot.com/

Many thanks! Glad you like it! I sculpted quite a bit of it. The rifle is a conversion from a Verlinden kit Mauser. The head is from Dragon, but has been modified a lot. The hands are Verlinden kit from ?? The boots started off being from Dragon, but again have been modified. Everything else is original. This is a 'one-off', meaning I have no intention of making copies, etc. It will be painted by Roger Newsome, a Gold Medalist figure painter from Yorkshire. He should receive the figure and another to paint a couple weeks from now. The most interesting thing about this guy will be the red leather uniform from top to bottom. Kinky, huh? I'm looking forward to seeing what Roger does with it. This piece should be available for purchase in about a month to six weeks. All the best, Dan

I posted this figure earlier but on another forum a friend pointed out that the rifle sling looked too loose. Hopefully these corrections will be an improvement. All the best, Dan

Dave - Your figures and busts look just terrific!! Dolf - I know Dave knows about Planetfigure and Timelines, but haven't seen you on them. Thought I'd offer them as "other places to play". http://planetfigure.com/ http://www.timelinesforum.com/ All the best, Dan

Герой витка = Hero of the Revolution These figures are both WIP, not quite finished. I believe I'll need another weekend to finish the sculpting. They will both be painted by Roger Newsome, a very gifted painter from Yorkshire. The train guard will be for sale and the other figure is a commission. Both are based on illustrations by Andrei Karachtchouk in the Osprey book on the Russian Civil War - Red Army. The first is a train guard on Trotsky's Armored Train. His uniform consists of red leather coat and trousers, red budenka cap and black boots. He will be armed with a Mosin-Nagant, two grenades and a pistol. [attachmentid=63561] The next is a 1919 Soviet infantryman in a budenka, a long grey overcoat with strange flap buttons, long fold-down cuffs, and a huge collar. He is armed with a Mosin-Nagant. The pose is at the request of the customer. He asked that the infantryman be posed in a shell hole, surrounded by ice and snow (that will be added later by Roger). He's been shot to death and his corpse has fallen sideways and become partly embedded in the mud. Gruesome! [attachmentid=63560] More pics on my blog at http://heroesonthewire.blogspot.com/. All the best, Dan

Glad to do it, Stephen! Are you a modeller also? Do you know about Planetfigure.com? If you have an interest in making military figures, you'd probably enjoy a trip to PF. All the best, Dan

You are cordially invited to visit my new blog - Heroes on the Wire. http://heroesonthewire.blogspot.com/ Many more pictures of my miniatures on the blog site! All the best, lazyschnauzer aka Dan Morton

Thanks Chris! The whitish debris and lumpy bits are a bit deceiving. Keep in mind that this is a close-up. At "normal" size you wouldn't see those and anyway this shot is pre-sanding and steel wool smoothing. All the best, Dan

This is another two figure vignette from a famous illustration. 120mm scale with some resin parts and about 80% sculpted from Magicsculpt. It's an old vet instructing a newbie in the ways of the trenches ca. 1915. I've posted a close-up of the vignette. The base is a poorly constructed dug-in position with lots of debris. Painting, is underway, so all I have to show you is the various putty shades. Marc Megroot, a Dutch painter is working on it. In shipment the left hand of the vet was broken, so I'm replacing it with one a bit different. In the new hand, he'll be casually holding a pipe. All the best, lazyschnauzer

As the title says, this two figure vignette is taken from a Georges Scott illustration. The action and pose should be self-explanatory. It is in the process of being painted now, so I'm afraid all I have to show you is the putty colors. 120mm scale. Some resin parts from kits. About 80% scratchbuilt. All the best, lazyschnauzer

Not a scratchbuilt, but a conversion of a Verlinden kit. Completed four years ago. I sculpted the beard and some of the field gear. The figure is of a Matrosen (Seaman) assigned to the German naval infantry in Belgium in 1915. Not very well painted by me. Available for purchase. All the best, lazyschnauzer

This figure is based on an illustration from the Osprey book on the Russo-Japanese war. The seaman is in landing uniform and is armed with a Mosin-Nagant rifle. 120mm Painted by the very talented Yorkshire figure painter, Roger Newsome. We won a gold medal in the open at the recent MMSI in Chicago. It is for sale. All the best, lazyschnauzer

Didn't mention it in the first post, but all my stuff is "one-offs". No resin copies. This one sold to a collector after the recent MMSI in Chicago. Painted beautifully by Kreston Peckham. The origin of this one is based on two sources. The first is Sting's song "Children's Crusade". Part of the lyrics - "The children of England would never be slaves; Trapped on the wire and dying in waves:" The second is a trench story or myth and you need to know a little British army history to fully understand it. A young subaltern of Kitchener's army is sitting in a dugout with a much older pre-war professional soldier, a corporal and a Yorkshireman. The subaltern is bemoaning the lack of rifle shooting skill shown by his recently trained Kitchener's army platoon. The corporal has his back to the officer working on his field equipment and quips back, "Orr - could me platoon shoot befar the war, sir. Wonderful shots they was, just wonderful!" The subaltern, without thinking, asks, "Well then, corp, where are they now when I need 'em, eh? Where are those fine rifleman of yours?" The corporal turns to the subaltern, purple with rage, "I'll tell thee whar they are, shall I? Aye, I'll tell thee, son!" And with his eyes filling with tears, he points towards No Man's Land, "I'll tell thee - they're out there! Out there hanging on the bloody wire!" All the best, lazyschnauzer

My period of interest is around WWI. My stuff is mostly scratchbuilt, some resin parts from various kits. This is based on a famous war-time newspaper photo of the same title. The figure is a Belgian chasseur a cheval in 1914 on a recon keeping track of the Germans. You can see more photos of my figures on Planetfigure.com. Painted in oils by Marc Megroot, a very good Dutch figure painter. This piece is for sale and I am available for commissions. Hope you like it! All the best, lazyschnauzer