Beautiful work.
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Now that is VERY good indeed. Well done indeed Tim.
ATB
AndrewComment
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Lovely job.Comment
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Tim,
Very nicely done.Comment
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I've actually seen the gun at AWM in Canberra when I visited but didn't pay much attention to it and now regretting. I think I may have some photos. Under the museum soft lights I couldn't make out the actual color. My funny comment was "Ah...it's the 2 pounder that was used at Bakri"...somebody should have slapped the back of my head to take more shots of it.
Cheers,
RichardComment
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Hi Tim, I've only got these two shots and it didn't have the side shields. I think the actual guns were never brought back to Australia.
Unfortunately not much help.
Cheers,
RichardComment
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Thanks everyone - and especially Richard for the photos. I agree that it's very unlikely that any of the 2 pounders used in Malaya (or Singapore) ever made it back to Australia...
Now, on to the figures…
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It has been two years since my last figures were being readied for my ‘Liberation, Italy 1944’ dio. In the end there were a whopping eleven in all - and I’m not making that mistake again any time soon… I admit that I have been nervous about doing it all again.
In the iconic photograph at the top of this blog there are four men: Sgt Parsons and two of the gun crew. There’s also a guy with a rifle just visible to the left. He may well be part of the 2 pounder crew as well, because in the cine film taken at around the same time there are four actually serving the gun. Obviously there would have been others in the immediate vicinity, but I feel these are enough to tell the story for now.
Finally, there is the Madras sapper, who I have already trailered above. I’m very glad to have him, because otherwise the figures would all be bunched up at the extreme left of the scene. He also adds scale to the Ha-Go and the trees and, just as importantly, helps to explain why the tree has been felled. I just know that some people looking at this diorama are going to be asking: "How come the tree has fallen behind the tank?!
So here are the figures in either their pre-painted state or after an airbrushed coat of Vallejo Medium Grey 987 (which I read somewhere was a good starting point for Khaki Drill). They are largely a mixture of Miniart, Masterbox and Dragon with heads from Hornet or Royal Models. Re-sculpted webbing is made from Tamiya masking tape, over-painted with Mr Surfacer and any gaps were filled first with Magic Sculpt and then Mr Dissolved Putty.
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I took some time to rework the ‘Bombay bloomers’ worn by Sgt Parsons to give them more wrinkles and folds.
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The gunner was the hardest figure of all, because he has to fit. He started out with shorts, but looking at the Bakri images at least one of the gunners had long trousers, so I decided to sculpt these - partly to hide all the surgery on his legs. The head on this guy (and the left hand) is from Royal Models - he has a fantastic ‘triumphant’ expression!
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So... let brush painting commence!Comment
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Hi Tim, just got back around to this and the progress you have made is phenomenal! Keep it coming Sir. :thumb2: Rick H.Comment
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The figures are looking good Tim, like the odd Sikh Sapper.
Cheers,
RichardComment
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Tim
Really looking forward to these seeing some paint.
ATB.
AndrewComment
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Hi Tim, this is becoming a real masterpiece ! The figures are excellent and will really bring the diorama to life. One little nit pick if I may, and this is just me being pedantic. The guy with the rifle appears to be holding a Lee Enfield No4. This early in the war it would have been a No1 Mk3. Rant over. Keep up the good work.
John.Comment
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Thanks John. Not taken as a nitpick or rant... I'm happy to be corrected.
The Lee Enfield was left over from my Italy 44 dio when I remember doing my research and settling for the Mk IV. You are quite correct and I have already dug out some Mk.IIIs from the excellent Riich accessory set...Comment
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Good spot there John. Yup...it would have been the old MkIII Enfield. Better to be corrected at this early stage.
Cheers,
RuchardComment
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Glad I haven't caused any upset there Tim. Certainly not my intention. After 50 odd years collecting and shooting vintage and classic firearms I can be a bit anal about the subject.
John.Comment
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