SPA Modeler

As I mentioned earlier in the "Completed Armor Builds" thread, although my M7 Priest is done, the crew is a WIP. So far I've finished 2, almost finished 1, started 1, and still have 2 more to figure out.

Here's the one I've almost finished. Base coats are all applied, now it's time for shadows, highlights, washes and weathering. I'm not sure what you would call him. I guess an ammo bearer, but I'm not familiar with gun crew positions. Therefore I shall call him "big bullet holding guy"



Next is one of the finished crewmen. I shall call him "gun aiming, pointing guy"....



Last finished crewman, is the radio operator, but in keeping with my new tradition, "phone talky guy"..

I like the figures... but you have to work on your crew nomenclature

Stikpusher wrote:I like the figures... but you have to work on your crew nomenclature

Just so you know, I'm currently working on the "wheely turny aiming gun at bad guys, guy"......

lawman56 wrote:

Stikpusher wrote:I like the figures... but you have to work on your crew nomenclature

Just so you know, I'm currently working on the "wheely turny aiming gun at bad guys, guy"......

Not you, henchman randomly turning knobs...

I like the "bent down pretending to hold an invisible gun or big bullet" guy myself.

Lyle, for the record, it will eventually be a big bullet....

Thought I'd show what I go through to create a scene using figures. In other posts I've made reference to my "Frankenstein" box, and the perfect balance when it comes to figures. This is what becomes so time consuming, frustrating and monotonous. Yet, when it's done right, it can make a good idea become the near perfect diorama. I've studied tons of pictures on M7 crews, (both in action and at rest), to try and get the perfect poses. The trick, to me anyhow, is finding that balance. Everything, whether it's troops, aircraft, ships, armor, etc...was idle until suddenly thrown into action. Aircraft are easy, in this aspect, as they're next to impossible to show "in action". However, they almost always have to have some sort of supporting background, whether it be fuel tanks, bombs, pilot strapping in, etc...in order to convey use. On the other hand, ground vehicles can be a challenge. Unless you're showing a rear area where the vehicle is in a shop, it will 99% of the time, be ready to use almost immediately. Yet crews use them as their "homes" as well. So it would not be wrong to show personal equipment, soda cans, etc... in a vehicle engaged in combat. The trick is conveying the time frame. When does your scene take place? Right as the action starts? 5 minutes in? 10? 30?, you get the idea.



So, taking all that into consideration, here's what works for me. I'll use the gun aimer, (aka the wheely turny aiming the gun at bad guys, guy). I've already glued an upper and lower torso together and installed the seat he will be sitting on. I've taken white glue and temporarily affixed his torso to the seat.



Now I go through my "Frankenstein" box and start fishing out arms. I started with the left arms, and after eliminating any that were in short sleeves, extended straight out, or that I couldn't modify, if I needed to, I was left with a small pile of limbs to try.



I then held them in place with a pair of tweezers, approximating where they would go. Once I settled on 3-4 that I liked, I started the same process for other arm. Now I'll weed them out, one at a time, until I get the exact combination, showing the exact motion I want to convey.

And that is where I'm at right now. Two little piles of arms......

Truly a Frankenbox...Pretty cool to see the process you use. I am not at all that organized!

LyleW wrote:Truly a Frankenbox...Pretty cool to see the process you use. I am not at all that organized!

Thanks Lyle. Sadly, right now, that box is the only thing in my garage that's organized!

I've been re-modelling the garage for a couple months, so I have piles of stuff scattered throughout. Model stuff, train stuff, Army stuff, construction stuff, etc...

Joe, having just finished (for the most part) our basement, I know about construction piles. Amazing how much of that stuff can accumulate.

Just figured I'd bring everyone up to speed. I finished the ammo handler, or loader, (I plan to call him "big bullet that gives a hernia" handling guy ). As you can see, I've applied the shadows, highlights and a thin black wash. Then I dusted his boots with some MIG pigments and sealed it all in dullcoat. Three down, and three to go....