Dragon 1/16 Screaming Eagle

[Guest]

I've been bitten by the plastic bug somewhat, so have decided to carry on with Dragon and Tamiya figures for a while (plus perhaps a Miniart?!). I've made all of them before, but it's always worth seeing if the earlier efforts can be improved upon.

Quite a simple kit:



A bit of work required to knock this one into shape and perhaps a head change. I believe the mohawk/warpaint combination was just worn for publicity and not in combat, so I won't be going down that road. Also, the uniform colour will be green olive drab - the khaki colour shown on the box art and perpertuated by modellers did not exist. Airborne clothing was modified from the standard infantry pattern and would have only have become lightened after extreme weathering.

[Guest]

Have fun with this Peter :smiling3:.

[Steve Jones]

Pulled up a chair front and centre. Big fan of the Airborne. Good luck

[Neil Merryweather]

yes Peter PLEASE change the head!
I think it really spoils this figure.
watching avidly :thumb2:

[Guest]

Ralph - I intend to!

Steve - I've been watching re-runs of Band of Brothers on one of the Freeview channels - so well done.

Neil - Well I can't not change the head after that plea!

It's now ready for the paint:



Quite a lot of work was involved in preparing this. The join of the two body halves was a bit messy and needed a lot of sanding and filling. The trouser pockets are supplied as separate parts and there were large gaps where the straps met, so I decided to replace them with metal foil to improve the look. I've swapped the kit water bottle for a Verlinden version and added a pistol and grenades by the same manufacturer.

Fortunately, I had a nice Alpine head from Ralph's stash, and I've made some chin straps to give it an Airborne look. As I had the tweezers and scalpel handy I also made the rifle sling at this stage. All of the straps are a combination of paper, thin wire, scrap plastic and Aber buckles and strap ends.

[JR]

Peter are you ok,:flushed::flushed::flushed: I read the words MiniArt, I myself have conquered the fear and am filling one or two modified one now.

If you have any old ones available it would be nice to have a comparison when these are finished.
John.

[Guest]

Nice work with the straps Peter :smiling3:.

[Guest]

John - I'm a glutton for punishment. I've ordered the Athenian Hoplite as I don't currently have one in the cabinet (made it before).

Ralph - Thanks. The Alpine head from the group you sent me is a perfect fit.

[BattleshipBob]

Count me in sir!

Bob

[SteveH]

Morning Peter

Well done with the construction and strap work too.

The box art looks very good for publicity as you said, not too bright to go into combat without your steel helmet in place though!

Looks like it will be a good long Bank Holiday weekend for painting.

Hopefully rain soon up North to keep me safely inside and trying to finish the bust

Thanks for the guidance too.

Have a good day with the head

Regards

Steve H

[Guest]

Morning Steve. There are a lot of photographs of US paras with Mohawk hairdos and warpaint, but they were all obviously taken for publicity purposes back at the training camp. If anything, faces were blackened for combat and even insignia were removed - Band of Brothers had characters removing the Stars and Stripes from the right arm and pocketing them.

On that point, Dragon had modelled some nicely defined insignia on the arms, but it was a bit big and stood too proud. As I had this rather nice sheet of Peddinghaus decals in the cupboard, I thought I'd use those instead (also easier than painting!):



I actually did quite a lot of gardening today, so hopefully I'm off he hook, and yes, lets pray for rain shall we? Hope the face painting goes well.

[Guest]

Airborne noggin:

[Guest]

Nice one Peter :smiling3:.

[Neil Merryweather]

I approve.........:smiling4:

[Guest]

Ralph - Cheers.

Neil - That's a relief! From now on I'm never going to be able to paint ahead without thinking of you....