Brews Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I got this on E-bay some time ago, for somewhat less than these usually go for. For some patriotic reason, I guess, they go for much more than most of the range. This was missing his carbine (and I was aware of this when I placed my bid). I'd always intended substituting a carbine from the Airfix Multi-pose set for US infantry. I started attacking this tonight. The task of converting the carbine is relatively simple - to cut off the wooden stock and replace it with a pistol grip and folding metal stock, which I'll do with some wire of appropriate thickness. So to the build - here is the box: And here is the armless metal man: Gentlemen, we can rebuild him! You will note the sawn-off carbine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 (edited) I've done as much as I wish to tonight. I determined that the trooper's arms are not, in fact his. There is a row of buttons on the cuff which I cut off, and some putty was required around his armpits. The M1 carbine has, however, progressed to the point of happiness except for the folding stock, for which I found some wire. Edit: Grrr! Frigging digital cameras! Jjust noticed a sink mark in his right forearm (elbow area). By the way, here is a link to what I'm trying to emulate with the carbine. Edited February 19, 2009 by Brews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Nice one Brews, looking forward to watching this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 (edited) Thank you, Mish. You will have noticed, I'm sure, the Sherman bogies lying around on the bench. I need to clean up some awkward seams on those, before I can paint them, attach them to the hull, and paint/attach the tracks. This build is a necessary (to my mind) distraction from that tedium. Edited February 19, 2009 by Brews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 (edited) Here is the state of the carbine: I read some interesting things about the carbine on Wikipedia. Firstly, I thought that all carbines were M1 carbines. Not so, apparently. This paratrooper version is the M1A1. The M2 was capable of selective fire (semi or full automatic). The M3 was used in the Far East, and had active infra-red sights (effective up to 70m). Cool, huh! Edited February 20, 2009 by Brews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 (edited) A little update: I had brushed a coat of Citadel "Black Ink" over this a couple of nights ago. Tonight, I used some water colour pencils and brushed white into the eye sockets, and skin tones around the face and hands, and pencilled eyebrows on. Possibly put the eyebrows in the wrong spot <G>. I then mixed up some acrylics and painted the helmet, jump suit and parachutes / packs etc. I'm not happy with the colours, but I think that the contrast is about right, so maybe I'll mix up a thin oil filter and brush that on tomorrow. Edit to include pics: Looking at those pics, I'm not even happy with the contrast now! Edited February 22, 2009 by Brews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Gunthwaite Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 (edited) Hi Brews I'm looking forward to see what you do with this. In their time the Monogram figures were way ahead of practically anything else available. I collected a few of them. This was my US Para (no jokes about it being done so long ago that colour film wasn't available!): I remember that I had the same problem with the M1 carbine - I replaced it with a Thompson. Al Edited February 22, 2009 by Al Gunthwaite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 Thanks, Al. I've since read that the paras also used M1 Carbines (i.e. with wooden stocks) so if you think my attempt at the folding stock is too ham-fisted (I can't find my long-nose pliers!) then I can always change weapons to a that one ... or the M1 Garand, or a Bazooka ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Gunthwaite Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Hi Brews. I think your folding stock on the carbine will look fine when it's painted up. It's a shame you don't have the original arms - there is some really nice detail on them. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 Al, I have the original items for the others that I have (e.g. Fallschirmjaeger, DAK Infantryman... and a few others). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Looking good Brews. In the second photo the figure looks like it needs some 'depth'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brews Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Yes, Mish, he certainly needs more paint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAF Liberators Posted April 28, 2009 Share Posted April 28, 2009 That's a nice figure, is that a Shermy bogie on the mat there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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