Verlinden 120mm U Boat Captain

[Guest]

This is one that I've always passed over because, as you can see, it has a couple of problems. The most obvious is that the hands are way too big, following a rather complicated attempt by the sculptor to get them to hold the binoculars. I will try to re-position the arms and get him to do something else with his hands.

The other problem is the pretty awful face. I will try to find another head and will hopefully be able to remove the cap without damaging it.

[Jim R]

Hi Peter
Interesting to see what you can do with this. Not the most promising starting point but with your skills .... :thumb2:
Jim

[JR]

Peter.
They do look big, as for the face it must have been a bad day at the bench for the sculptor, have every confidence that you will make it into something worth while ............. or throw it into the bin. The latter I hope not.
John .

[Guest]

Hi Jim and John.

Definitely not Verlinden's finest hour. This is what I've come up with:



I tried to remove the cap from the kit head, but it was no go. I then tried various spare head/cap combinations, but found they were all too small for the figure. This was the last resort, a Verlinden German head wearing a winter cap. The Kriegsmarine did have something similar made of grey leather lined with brown fur, so I think it will do.

The fact that the face is obviously eating something fitted into the scheme that I had in mind, so he has also been given a mug of coffee in one hand and a sandwich in the other. The kit binoculars fell apart when I tried to remove the flash, so these are from the spares box.

I also tried knocking up a bit of U-Boat slatted decking for the base:

[Guest]

Good idea Peter.

[JR]

Peter.
Perfect choice for the figure, and the base :thumb2: love those bolt heads and the deck at that angle.
John.

[Guest]

Nice sandwich Peter, give it your best I'd say:thumb2:.

DIRK

[Steve Jones]

Nice additions Peter. I do hope you stick with this one until the end despite all its short comings:thumb2:

[Guest]

Cheers chaps. This will definitely make it to the end.

[Guest]

Great change in his character. What I prefer to do as well :smiling5: (coffee with sandwich I mean). Bring on the end :thumb2:

[SteveH]

Morning Peter

Nice change of head, the original was grim!

Nothing better than a brew and butty, where ever you are in the world.

Well done with the decking for a base too.

I guess you will be sticking to the box colour scheme, blue ish jacket, grey ish trousers?

An opportunity to have a colourful scarf?

Enjoy painting the head today

warm, wet and windy weather on the way, everywhere

regards

Steve H

[Guest]

John - Cheers. Not a great head either, but way better than the first.

Steve - Glad you like the changes. Work on this one is interrupted due to the arrival of two new Sarnia busts. More anon.

[Peter Gillson]

A very nice conversion, the U Boat baseis a loverly idea. I feel guilty that you have been diverted from this by Lawrence.

[Lee Drennen]

Peter
I’m finding out if the face isn’t good the whole thing will not look good you can only put so much lipstick on a pig

[Guest]

Peter - Just a head and hand swap, but hopefully it has improved the thing. Don't feel guilty - I'm loving doing the bust as well.

Lee - Funny thing is that though I agree about the head being important, I'm beginning to realise that the whole thing has to 'gel' for it to look right. I used to think that you could get away with so-so drapery if the head was OK, but it all matters and has to receive the same level of attention (he says!).