Japanese in M1930 uniforms coming - MORE pictures!(12/29/09)

[Doc Twilight]

Seems like I'm doing nothing but posting on Black Army these days, and I do apologize, but I've been super busy with getting into a PhD program and I have had very little time to do much else but business related stuff. I don't mean to be such a shameless hack.

That said..

I just wanted to thank you all for your help with the Japanese uniform issue for our Shanghai range. I am pleased to inform you that Leandro Ventic (who has already done a lot of beautiful work for us, including Mata Hari, Dillinger, FC Julian, Julian the Apostate...) is working on the Japanese for our Shanghai, 1930 range.

These will be Japanese in M1930 uniforms with "cherry blossom" helmets. They will be equipped with standard pattern kit for the time. The initial release will include four infantrymen, one "officer" character (Colonel Washiji Toro) and the redoubtable "Eastern Pearl" herself, Kawashima Yoshiko, with more releases to follow.

As an added bonus for those who like pulp, Leandro is sculpting gasmask heads for these guys! They will be wearing standard IJA issue gasmasks. The idea is that the guys with gasmasks will represent "Special Unit 66", our Japanese occult unit in the Shanghai, 1930 universe, but they could just as easily represent historical troops, since the Japanese did conduct operations with gasmasks during the period...

Leandro told me just this morning that he's very close to finished with the figs, and will be sending photos soon. If there's interest, I'll be happy to post them here. Given the high standard of his work - I'm THRILLED that he's doing these guys. It will give our pulp line the attention it deserves, I suspect.

-Doc

[Mancha]

Seems like I'm doing nothing but posting on Black Army these days, and I do apologize, but I've been super busy with getting into a PhD program and I have had very little time to do much else but business related stuff.

You intend to be earning a PhD at the same time you're running a business?!      

[Wirelizard]

You intend to be earning a PhD at the same time you're running a business?!      

That's insanity on a pulpish scale! Bravo! And heck, you're already using the title on this forum, you might as well get the PhD and be the real-life Doc Twilight! (is your family going to go along with you changing your last name to Twilight, though?) 

Also, excellent news on the interwar Japanese.

[Doc Twilight]

  What can I say. I'm insane.

Actually, running the business isn't too bad. It's more of a side line for me. I have very low overhead, and very few employees. All I really need to do is ship the orders out in a relatively timely manner, come up with ideas, etc. So, I guess it is work, but it's not killer work. And it's fun to see some of my imagination in metal.

-Doc

[Doc Twilight]

Some gorgeous shots from Leandro!

These are still a work in progress. The gas mask heads are being sculpted now, as is an NCO for the riflemen. I am extremely pleased with these so far, however. All are wearing historical gear. Only Colonel Toro's mask is fiction. (Yes, that's an m1930 raincape.)

Group Shot:


Infantry Pics:




Toro and Kawashima Yoshiko


Pretty cool, eh?

Comments welcome, as always!

-Doc

[Svennn]

Very nice, I think I can see myself painting some of those

[Phil Robinson]

Looking good.

[Tacgnol]

Dead cool, eagerly awaiting the gas mask sculpts.

[Mancha]

These are way cool.  I love the Japanese guy with the mask and the cape, and the soldiers are fun as well. 

I'm not a huge fan of the female though.  Her hair is kind of formless, and her hands are begging to be grasping something.  She looks like someone just said "Say cheese" while she was lifting a crate.  But as you said, these are works in progress.  Can't wait to see them done.

[Arlequín]

Excellent looking figures, the rifles really look like Arisakas too! 

[Captaingeneral]

Goodness these look nice...and I thought I had finished with the interwar stuff.....

[traveller]

Very nice! Can these be ordered in your current Holiday discount offer?

[Doc Twilight]

Thank you all for the support, guys. I say it a lot, but I mean it: your comments really mean a lot.

Mancha - Point taken. The picture is very close to the appearance of Yoshiko as she appeared in life, however. She favored wearing mens clothes a lot, and tended to cut her hair quite short. However, she is still a work in progress. I've asked Leandro to soften her face a bit (she was a real beauty, historically, and though the face is very close, I think it could be a little closer), and to arm her with a pistol.

Jim - those Arisakas are killer, aren't they? I sent him a link to an online version of the old Handbook on Japanese Military Forces, and he apparently studied the images of uniforms and weaponry very closely. Just amazing stuff. The helmets are spot on, too!

Traveller - Wish they were, pal, but they aren't ready yet. Hope to have them available by February.

-Doc

[Helen]

Hi Alex, nice miniature greens by Leandro.

A couple of observations if I may.

Where the metal band/bayonet housing should actually loop over the barrel. From the photo it stops short of this.

A recommendation for the officers shin-gunto sword. A tassel attached to the sword will provde an added attraction for this officer as they were normally attached anyway.

Helen

[Doc Twilight]

Thanks for the suggestions, Helen. I shall pass them along.

-Alex