Re: US Airborne test model [all done, updated 7/3]

[Moribund]

Hi! I'm just getting into WWII painting and have started off with a couple of Artizan Airborne. I got one of them painted the other night and it'd be great to get some feedback on it before I go ahead with the rest of them.



My main concern is for the various uniform colours. Do they look about right? I made my own mix for the green (barely visible in my crappy photos though) and the main brown/green cloth they've got going on.
I know the skin and face is a bit shit but that's easier to fix!

Thanks,
Axel

[Amalric]

Actually your skin tones look great.
As to the uniform colors, take a look at this US Para guide by Tom Weiss, an awesome painter;
http://www.twfigurines.de/wwtwo/uspara/uspara01.htm
Good luck,
Amalric

[Anatoli]

I think it looks great, would be awesome for an Ardennes campaign.

[tomek917]

It almost looks like an old washed out picture. I like it a lot!

[Trooper]

It all  depends on what part of the European campaign you are doing. The colours are wrong for D Day up to Holland. Tom Weiss's guys are right for Normandy. Some sources have the Airborne in OD jump suits for Arnhem. By the Bulge the 101st were wearing pretty standard US uniforms but with jump boots.

[Johan]

Looks a lot like the one in my wardrobe.
When I bought mine I had the choice between an off-beige to almost orangy and even almost white over real beige like Tom Weiss has done them. Actually uniforms are almost always right if you are in a certain colour-palette.
From Holland they started to use the darker version to an almost dark green.

BTW a lot of paratrooper had paint(black or green) smeared over their uniform because they stood out with their light coloured version of d-day. Hardly anyone paints them that way because it looks like crap that way.

[Chairborne_General]

Damn some of you are very impressive with the brush -makes the rest of us go 'aw b*gger!"

:-)

well done.

[Blue in vt]

Damn some of you are very impressive with the brush -makes the rest of us go 'aw b*gger!"

+1! These look great! I'll leave discussion of the details tp the experts... But from my point of view this guy looks just right.

Can you tell me how you did the "5 o'clock shadow?"

cheers

Blue

[Moribund]

Thanks for all your input! I'm happy you like it despite the off colours.

My aim was to have the Normandy look to them, and I actually looked at Tom Weiss' guide (although you'd never have guessed...). What I tried to do was desaturate the colours a bit to get that Band of Brothers feel to it, but I think I might have overdone it. I'll get some more ochre/light brown into the pot of paint I mixed and see if it goes better with the next one! I'll post that one up here as well when it's done.

Again, thanks a lot!
Axel

[Moribund]

Ok, so a double post, sorry, but I've tried a new colour! It's still a bit off from Tom Weiss' but I tried looking at Mick Farnworth's examples from Artizans website.



This is also done in a style much more suited for tabletop gaming and looks much more striking from a distance! Any better?

Axel

[Anatoli]

I like both versions, will give my final thoughts when this one is completely painted but if you like the previous attempt - and don't worry too much about the 100% right shade on uniforms I would say go for the one you like the most 

[Amalric]

I like this second attempt a lot, think you've really nailed the colors and look forward to seeing it finished.
Thanks for posting the pic.
Amalric

[D@rth J@ymZ]

While I confess that I don't tend to be historically accurate when it comes to uniform colours, both versions looked very good.  I prefer the second version as it stands out a little better from the pants.  But in the end, it is your model, have fun with it!

(kinda what Anatoli said)

[Moribund]

He's proper finished now! I appreciate all the input and I'm happy you liked both of them. I'm not usually one for historical accuracy either, but in this case I wanted to at least hit somewhat close to the target, and the lot of you are a great source of knowledge and inspiration. Cheers!

Axel

[Glaiber]

Good lookin mini