Dragon 1/16 Screaming Eagle

[rtfoe]

Hi Peter, wish I had this figure to compliment my British Paratrooper. Before you paint his tunic, the light color of the fabric was due to the surplus used in the North African and Italian campaign. They were still in use during D-day including buck skinned gloves that were even brighter. These brighter battle dress ahd darker material sewned patches for the knee and elbows and lots of straps to hold in the often overloaded pockets.

The paratroopers started wearing the darker colored uniforms from Market Garden onwards. Newer patterned uniforms replaced the older pattern for operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine.

The head looks good. :thumb2: You've got to add the netting and familiar bandage strapped to the helmet.

Cheers,
Richard

[Neil Merryweather]

But seriously, Peter, I was actually looking at buying this recently and I didn't because of the head.

[Guest]

Richard - Thanks for that. I will do the uniform in a light olive drab, but definitely not the tan khaki often used. I was actually thinking of Market Garden, as I recently watched the Band of Brothers episode about the attack on Neunen, which impressed me a lot. Probably won't be able to do the netting, but may be able to do a bandage, but then again, invoking artistic license, a few discrepancies don't matter in my book.

Neil - I used the same head on this chap:

[ATTACH alt="100_4582.JPG"]342895[/ATTACH]

I don't think it's that bad, though admit that the present Alpine one is better.

[rtfoe]

Richard - Thanks for that. I will do the uniform in a light olive drab, but definitely not the tan khaki often used. I was actually thinking of Market Garden, as I recently watched the Band of Brothers episode about the attack on Neunen, which impressed me a lot. Probably won't be able to do the netting, but may be able to do a bandage, but then again, invoking artistic license, a few discrepancies don't matter in my book.

Neil - I used the same head on this chap:

[ATTACH alt="100_4582.JPG"]342895[/ATTACH]

I don't think it's that bad, though admit that the present Alpine one is better.

Hi Peter, if its Market Garden then the netting and bandage can be left out. They dropped in daylight so finding the first aid pouch was much easier. New equipment and uniforms would have been issued when refitting for this campaign. The individual paratrooper didn't carry as much having had the experience of their last combat jump and transports and supplies were airdropped simultaneously as the main drop. They retrieved most of it unlike the British 1st Airborne at Arnhem.

Cheers,
Richard

[Guest]

Cheers Richard - It's all very complicated isn't it?

Having assumed that the uniform would turn out quite dark, I've ended up with this:



The colour is based on Vallejo's Russian Uniform, which makes a nice olive drab. Another lovely figure from Dragon, with superb detailing.

[Jim R]

Hi Peter
Missed the start as I was away granddadding - actually building a playhouse. Took 3 days and nearly killed me but the little one loves it and it looks good.
I agree that changing the head was a good move - your painted version looks great. As for the uniform colour, a real can of worms, but not worth beating yourself up for. What you have done is quality painting of clothing.
Jim

[Guest]

Very nice Jacket.

[Steve Jones]

Very nice and crisp Peter. Really enjoying where this one is going. Great stuff

[Guest]

Jim - I always panic when someone starts talking about uniform colour. There are so many different opinions about this one out there that it's bound to cause argument (including one mad US commentator who was furiously angry and put the erroneous tan colour down to a Hollywood/Zionist conspiracy!). I want to get it right, but I'm not such a stickler for accuracy that I'll let it spoil my enjoyment.

Ralph - Thank you. It's actually a bit greener than the photographs are showing.

Steve - Really inspired by the IPMS photos you showed on your thread. This one is proving a joy to paint. I've done it twice before, but in the early days I lacked confidence and let it defeat me somewhat.

[JR]

It's up to your normal high standard Peter.
Great detail and shading .

[BigGreg]

Well.. Peter... what can i say... as usual you deliver FANTASTIC figures.... if you are doing a D-DAY paratrooper... there must be an helmet mesh with or without hessian stripes depending on the regiment (501-502-506)
here you have 2 examples..
1st with hessian stripes
2nd without stripes..
Just a friendly advice

[Guest]

John - Many thanks.

Greg - Thanks for the great reference. That's decided the issue though - Market Garden it is! The attack of the 506th on Neunen, the Netherlands, 20 September 1944. I'll add the insignia to the helmet.

[BigGreg]

Ok ..... just be aware that during operation Market Garden the 101st used already the new uniform the M43 and not the M42 (the uniform that you painted) that was used manly during Normandy campaign
If you decide to do a 82nd airborne paratrooper you can use the M42 since many paratrooper especially the 504th (the guys that did the WAAL Crossing you know.. Robert Redford in the movie a bridge too far praying "hail mary mother of God") used it (they were not issued the new uniforms) ... my 2 cents...
1st pic is a reinforced M42 for Normandy
2nd Pic difference M42(up) and M43(down) trousers
3rd pic M43 jacket used from Market Garden by the 101st... note the difference of the pockets and no belt

[BigGreg]

here you can see George Luz (Machine Gunner) and Eugene "Babe" Heffron on the right entering Eindhoven 18th Sept 1944

[BigGreg]

Here you can see Elements of 506 Easy Co. Operation Market Garden
the NCO that you see with the M1928 Thompson (his back) is 1st Sgt. Carwood Lipton

and check this out Mr Heffron himself in the serie Band of Brother during the liberation of Eindhoven (the old man seated)