Jump to content

Simmerit's Mat crossing soft ground between Libya and Tunisia - the drop shorts


simmerit

Recommended Posts

@Del Boyhas a build on the go so I wont steal his thunder but I thought I'd get this one away in parallel to the epic (slow) build of the Wokka that's been going on for the last 400 years or so....

 

Blokes

 

So this is the classic photo.  It was taken by Sgt Lansdown - all I know about him is he was a WO2.  I'm not sure if that was at the time of this picture or later having got the promotion.

 

I started my Mat having got my hands on one of the first kits released, so pre-after market.  Some good bits available for it now which I'd have used if they'd been available at the time.

 

Anyway - the blokes make the shot for me.  I put my build on the shelf having made a feeble attempt at using plastic figures chopped up to try and recreate the poses, and failed badly - hence it going on the back burner.

 

There has been a lot of speculation about the names on the radiator grill.  I'm fairly certain they are May, Cath, Alys and Beth.  Alys being the Welsh spelling of Alice and funnily enough my mate's daughter - they are from Ruthin in North Wales.

 

Where I got to with mine is the Mat is mostly finished apart from weathering, tools and decals and a dozen other jobs.  The BL4.5 has been a huge frustration as the InAccurate Armour gun is completely hopeless.  I had a lad who is restoring one up in sunny Yorkshire measure it up for me and the resin one is that bad, I slapped a tarp on it as per the piccie above.

 

I started the build again as there is a desert build going on on another forum, and the Mat keeps winking at me and saying 'come on fella - finish me please'.  

 

So where have I got to?

 

I've never sculpted in my life but I tool the plunge.  I'll post WIP so you can see how I'm getting on.  I do an hour every night so progress will be slowish, but I will get there.

 

I invested in a lot of tools - rubber brushes and what looks like dentists toolset.  I only find myself using a couple of tools now I broadly know what I'm doing.  I've used Magic Sculpt clay for the figures which is absolutely fantastic.

 

Scene set.

 

Here goes.

 

Blokes

 

Doing the blokes has been a huge learning curve.  You can actually get 1/35th mannequins!!!  I went for plastic figures and basically chopped them down to mannequin size.  That's really important as the putty is built up in layers.

 

As you can see, this lad is a candidate for shot put and 100m in the next Invictus games....

 

Blokes

 

Other examples of base figures

 

Blokes

 

before layers of plastic are cut off down to bone sized limbs.

 

Blokes

 

 

a bad day in Syria with ISIS running riot...

 

These are Hornet Heads.  Some of them wont be used.  They are painted in oils.  Relevant heads are hard to find.  I may try sculpting later.

 

Blokes

 

This is one of the anchor figures.  The passenger in the front cab.  I've started to build up the legs.  

 

Blokes

 

Clothing is applied in sections

 

Blokes

 

Arms done.  I chopped the hands off in the end,  Trousers under way

 

Blokes

 

Leather Jerkin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by simmerit
typos
  • Like 5
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought I was in good shape at that point

 

Blokes

 

Then I spotted his right leg was at the wrong angle and his boots were on the wrong feet!

 

One of the advantages on clay is it breaks off really easily when set, so cutting an arm or leg off is not an issue!

 

Blokes

 

So leg is the right angle but the feet had to go!

 

Blokes

 

That Tarp has to go at some point as well.

 

Bkokes

 

Rapid progress!

 

Blokes

 

Tour tash

 

Blokes

 

That's the first three of none done.  Six more to go........

 

Wokka

 

 

Blokes

 

Blokes

 

A bit to do but heading in the right direction.

 

  • Like 15
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Del Boy said:

Brilliant Simmerit, I just love the way you have shaped the Greatcoat and the various limbs etc, really great stuff. How did you do the Tarp?

 

Cheers

 

Derek

 

Its Milliput but I'll be binning it as its too thick

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your work on these figures reminds me of reading one of Bill Horans books on modifying figures and vignettes .....Bills work always left me speechless ....nice to see such skills have not died over the years. Very inspiring work.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, M3talpig said:

Your work on these figures reminds me of reading one of Bill Horans books on modifying figures and vignettes .....Bills work always left me speechless ....nice to see such skills have not died over the years. Very inspiring work.

 

Not quite sure I'm up to that standard just quite yet!  

 

I'll need to clean the figures off a bit to tidy them up, but its getting there.  Deffo up for some BAOR figures at some point

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bit more progress on the little fellas

 

Blokes

 

This lad needs epaulettes and the belt on the back of his greatcoat finishing and he's done.  Pockets padded out which was the last thing outstanding on his greatcoat.

 

Blokes

 

The last two lads are now under way.  Hoping I may have all nine completed by next weekend....

 

Blokes

 

I need to get buttons on all the greatcoats of course..

 

Blokes

 

A lot to do on the Mat, which I may have said before

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bit of an early start this morning, but cracked on a little bit

 

Blokes

 

Finished the collar on the greatcoat of the driver.  He needs goggles on yet.  Not sure if i should strip the oils off the figures I've done and start again.

 

Blokes

 

Must be private pike here.  This lad has is scarf on as its a bit chilly.

 

Blokes

 

Leather jerkin started.  The lad has a greatcoat on which is open, so a bit of the detail underneath needs to be visible.  The jerkin is buttoned up.

 

I've got one more figure to do after this.  I'm hoping to have them all nailed by Sunday night, including the buttons!!

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Dads203 said:

You are really getting to grips with these scratch figures mate, each one gets more refined fella, nice one :thumbsup:

 

lets see what they are like when painted.....

 

They really bring the Mat to life when you look at the real piccie

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Managed to crack on a bit and hoping to have them finished by Monday if I can.  The problem is the greatcoats which can take a day per panel and there are four panels per coat.  Anyway.  Here they are

 

Blokes

 

Blokes

 

Blokes

 

Blokes

 

and this is what I'm aiming for

 

Blokes

 

 

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd hoped to finish the blokes today, but unfortunately I wont quite make it.

 

Blokes

 

Epaulettes and belt on this lad

 

Blokes

 

and a little touch was the pocket flaps - you can he's a gunner by the hands in the pockets.  He still needs buttons, as do all of them.

 

Blokes

 

So the two lads on the left are the ones I've got to finish.

 

Blokes

 

Not in their exact  positions, but it shouldn't be too far off the picture when it's done.

 

Any the photo noone ever saw

 

Blokes

 

The photographers.  I'll need to get greatcoats on these lads and and the berets will have to go

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Not a great deal of progress as the Covid jab wiped me out for a week!

 

I have stuck some primer on them though just to see what I'm dealing with from a finish perspective.  A little work to do to tidy them up, including buttons on a few of them.  This is seven of the nine.  The other two should be nailed this weekend

 

Blokes

 

Then I can turn back to the Mat and finishing it off and weathering it before painting these lads

 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice build. I once visited the Chot El Jerrid where this photo was (probably) taken. Very flat and very bleak. There is a "new" road across it now, but you can still see the road Rommel had built during the war.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

So this is figure No 8

 

Blokes

 

all done now. 

 

Edward Scissorhands Walt.

 

Blokes

 

Figure No 9 and the last member of the gunners in the Mat.

 

Blokes

 

Blokes

 

 

Blokes

 

He's all done now.

 

and this is the nine of them

 

Blokes

 

All that needs to be done now is a tidy up with a sharp knife and buttons and they are ready for painting.

 

The last figure which is the final figure to do is Sgt Lansdown who took the photograph.  I've got two photographers but they need greatcoats and leather jerkins.  I'll pick one of them for the shot.  I'll be stripping the heads and redoing them.  They were done in oils but have had a lot of wear and tear as I didnt look after them as they were WIP and always going to get redone at some point.

 

 

 

 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I has a short break from the little lads as they were doing my nut in and have spent the last couple of weeks putting together  Chally 2 using the first Trumpeter kit (which is dire) and three lots on InAccurate Armour resin aftermarket kits.  As I've ground to a halt with it, I've turned my attentions back to the Mat.

 

Little fella

 

So he's done.  Epaulettes attached and that's him sorted.  Once he's dry, I'll prime the last two figures so I can see what tidying up needs doing.

 

The final debate to have on the scene in the IWM piccie is what to do abotu Sgt Lansdown who took the shot.  I cant find anything out about him.  Its reasonable to assume he was a gunner, but there were also specialist teams out with the troops taking piccies, writing press releases and doing drawings.  Sgt Lansdown could possible be one of these lads.

 

So my decision is what to do about Sgt Lansdown.

 

Photographers

 

These two lads are photographers from the Bronco set.  Clearly not gunners and also not wearing kit that's suitable for winter in North Africa.  If I use one or both of them, they will need suitable attire.  Its either that or I leave them off, or leave them in European/summer dress.

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...