JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
It has been a while since I posted here. For a while I had lost my focus and motivation, but now it is back. I am currently working on a vignette depicting the aftermath of a night of human wave attacks.
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"Thousand Yard Stare" Vietnam 1967
- Thread starter JamesOLeary
- Start date
Welcome back James. Can't wait to see what you got on the work bench.
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
This is the basic layout. There is a wedgie of a bunker, three dead VC, a dazed US Infantry Platoon Sergeant overwhelmed by the carnage and the loss of some of his Soldiers, and a dazed Grunt who was wounded during the course of the fight and ended up with a jammed weapon so he continued the fight with a machete.
The dead VC are from Bravo 6's "Ace of Spades" kit 1 and kit 2. The Platoon Sergeant is a conversion of one of the figures from Bravo 6's "MIKE Force (1)" kit and the other guy is also a conversion of a Bravo 6 kit. The bunker is made from Magic Sculpt textured with the grid pattern from a cap from a mini-drill. The PSP is photo etch from Firestorm.
The dead VC are from Bravo 6's "Ace of Spades" kit 1 and kit 2. The Platoon Sergeant is a conversion of one of the figures from Bravo 6's "MIKE Force (1)" kit and the other guy is also a conversion of a Bravo 6 kit. The bunker is made from Magic Sculpt textured with the grid pattern from a cap from a mini-drill. The PSP is photo etch from Firestorm.
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Since then, I have painted the bunker and added an empty bandoleer, some M16 magazines and shell casings, and a claymore clacker. Unlike most of my vignettes and dioramas, I did most of the work on the groundwork first. I just placed the figures temporarily to mark their places, then let the Magic Sculpt cure before painting. I then painted the three VC, the third one being completed this morning.
I plan on starting to paint the GIs tomorrow or Wednesday.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James
I plan on starting to paint the GIs tomorrow or Wednesday.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Thanks. It is good to be back. This is what I am currently working on. I still have the MEDCAP figures I converted last year and some other stuff not completed that I am going to try to work on, too.
Duke Maddog
Well-known member
Wow, amazing work James! It's a thrill seeing your work again. This is an especially good subject.
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Thanks. I am glad to be back at the bench. I started painting the first GI this evening and hope to have him completed by the end of the week.
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Well, I had to cut today's paint session short due to rain storms as I did not want to be in the middle of painting some small detail and the power go out like it has during the past two storms. Anyway, I got his face completed minus his hair.
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
I think this guy is just about done. After I took the photos I added a few more spots of splatter to his face and the inside of his arm. The look I am going for is one of exhaustion after having to be extremely focused on fighting for survival, of shock, and the development of the "Thousand Yard Stare" while trying to process what he had just experienced. After this, he will never be the same.
Wow! James you've captured the look.
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Thank you. I am glad he turned out well.
Here are some photos after I attached the figure to the base.
Now to start painting the last figure...
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
I have started to paint the Platoon Sergeant figure. As I was painting the face, the right arm popped off. Fortunately it was a clean break so it should reattach fine one I paint the right arm and M16. The arm breaking off actually turned out to be a good thing as it was going to be difficult to paint the right side. In close up, the paint looks a bit sloppy, but when the figure is held at arms length, or at audience viewing distance, the shadows and highlights look smooth.
Tomorrow I plan on painting the back and the left arm. If I have time, I may also paint the jungle boots. I hope to have him and the vignette completed by the end of the week.
Tomorrow I plan on painting the back and the left arm. If I have time, I may also paint the jungle boots. I hope to have him and the vignette completed by the end of the week.
Skinny_Mike
Well-known member
This is just superb James!
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Thanks, guys
I had planned on working on the Platoon Sergeant Wednesday and Thursday, but I wasn't able to. However, I did get to work on him today and got quite a bit done.
I painted the left sleeve, the 9th ID patch (after I looked at these photos I saw a small flaw on the patch that I have since fixed), the subdued SFC chevron, the back of the shirt, the boots, the skin tones of the hands and forearms, and the M16. I also reglued the right arm back onto the figure and am letting the glue cure overnight before anymore work on the figure.
Tomorrow I plan on touching up around where the arm was glued back on, painting the right sleeve and chevron, touch up anything else that might need it, and dirty up the uniform. Once that is done I will mount the figure to the base and the vignette will be complete.
I had planned on working on the Platoon Sergeant Wednesday and Thursday, but I wasn't able to. However, I did get to work on him today and got quite a bit done.
I painted the left sleeve, the 9th ID patch (after I looked at these photos I saw a small flaw on the patch that I have since fixed), the subdued SFC chevron, the back of the shirt, the boots, the skin tones of the hands and forearms, and the M16. I also reglued the right arm back onto the figure and am letting the glue cure overnight before anymore work on the figure.
Tomorrow I plan on touching up around where the arm was glued back on, painting the right sleeve and chevron, touch up anything else that might need it, and dirty up the uniform. Once that is done I will mount the figure to the base and the vignette will be complete.
Dig it Steve!
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Today I completed the Platoon Sergeant by painting his right sleeve and chevron, dirtying his uniform and making sweat stains under his arms and down his back, and applying Blood Effect to various places. Blood on the buttstock of his M16 is from butt stroking some VC when his magazine was empty, blood on his hands and forearms are a combination of blood splatter from hand to hand combat and from helping the medic with the wounded, blood splatter on his uniform is from fighting hand to hand, and the blood on his shoulder is from carrying a wounded Soldier to the casualty collection point.
JamesOLeary
Master at Arms
Now that the Platoon Sergeant is done, I glued him into position. These are the initial photos. At some point I will break out the portable photo booth and take better photos.
"THOUSAND YARD STARE" is now complete. In the aftermath of a night of fierce fighting and multiple human wave attacks often resulting in close quarters hand to hand combat, two survivors emerge to survey the carnage that they had just endured. The shock, exhaustion, and feeling of loss due to the KIAs and WIAs the unit sustained weigh heavily on these Grunts' minds and souls.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James
"THOUSAND YARD STARE" is now complete. In the aftermath of a night of fierce fighting and multiple human wave attacks often resulting in close quarters hand to hand combat, two survivors emerge to survey the carnage that they had just endured. The shock, exhaustion, and feeling of loss due to the KIAs and WIAs the unit sustained weigh heavily on these Grunts' minds and souls.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
James
Attachments
Excellent display James. 
