Tom has an eye for detail (1 Viewer)

[Guy]

Dear Froggers
look how realistic the uniforms are:
I join a picture of a jacket from a Normandy museum of a para from the 82nd, and used in the D-Day jump
look at the pockets: the pockets are placed almost diagonally on the jump suits and the pocket flap is larger on one side of the pocket. You can also see the remnant of the green paint used as camo
guy:smile2:

 

[chocolate mousse]

Good research

 

[Firebat]

Finally....No one has ever done the Normandy pockets right. Tom and I had a long talk about that a while back. Also only the 82nd had the American Flag at Normandy.

 

[Hunter Rose]

Thomas Gunn has quickly become my favorite manufacturer of figures, and their realism, detail, and excellent paint are the reasons. At this point, I think they should change how their website reads, as Thomas Gunn is no longer merely "compatible" with King and Country, IMO they are superior. I collect mainly Germans, and the helmets and weapons (especially the MP40s with extended stocks) are great examples of TG attention to detail.

 

[Firebat]

Thomas Gunn has quickly become my favorite manufacturer of figures, and their realism, detail, and excellent paint are the reasons. At this point, I think they should change how their website reads, as Thomas Gunn is no longer merely "compatible" with King and Country, IMO they are superior. I collect mainly Germans, and the helmets and weapons (especially the MP40s with extended stocks) are great examples of TG attention to detail.

I agree...And I suggested to Tom to slightly weather his figures a bit ( Or have a weathered version). Let K&C appeal to the Collector Types. We need a manufacturer to appeal to the modeler types, as Figarti has done with their AFV's and Tom has done to his AFV's. Why have weathered vehicles and clean soldiers. And if no one thinks that is a good idea, NP I will weather them myself.

There is room for everyone in this hobby and the division between the pure collector and modeler are seperating a bit.

Then there is size, but that is a whole other story. I am begining to see that most of the manufacturers figures are a bit too large for the vehicles. And First Legion is yet another story. This will never be settled, so it is not worth discussing. Alex

 

[AIDMAN]

Hi fellahs. As i understand it ...Indeed only the 82nd made use of the shoulder flag...And only the 101st had the riggers (or themselves) stitch extra pockets on thier Jackets..(upper arms). and even some guys had extra pockets on the rear skirt of the Jacket...Don"t think this was too widespread though!!. Guy is"nt that photo of the Jump Jacket from the excellent Museum at Deadmans Corner???.

Steve

 

[Hunter Rose]

I agree...And I suggested to Tom to slightly weather his figures a bit ( Or have a weathered version). Let K&C appeal to the Collector Types. We need a manufacturer to appeal to the modeler types, as Figarti has done with their AFV's and Tom has done to his AFV's. Why have weathered vehicles and clean soldiers. And if no one thinks that is a good idea, NP I will weather them myself.

There is room for everyone in this hobby and the division between the pure collector and modeler are seperating a bit.

Then there is size, but that is a whole other story. I am begining to see that most of the manufacturers figures are a bit too large for the vehicles. And First Legion is yet another story. This will never be settled, so it is not worth discussing. Alex

You and I think alike. More weathered/war torn soldiers would be great, and it looks like TG may be moving in this direction. The Normandy Battle Group sets I just received today are batting about .500 for pristine vs weathered. The soldier firing a rifle while kneeling/squatting looks amazing while the grenadier on his knees arming a grenade looks a little too clean and bright IMO.

I also agree with you on the armor being undersized. I have found Collectors Showcase armor works very well with K&C and TG figures. It's marked as 1/30 but even the owner has acknowledged it is scaled to look correct with the figures. Downside is it is not as detailed as Figarti, but it is significantly cheaper, and its the only armor that looks correct when my Panzergrenadiers are standing next to a Tiger or Sherman (and compared to wartime photographs).

I also vote for Thomas Gunn to continue with the weathering trend, and prefer the gritty war weary look for figures and armor alike.

 

[Firebat]

You and I think alike. More weathered/war torn soldiers would be great, and it looks like TG may be moving in this direction. The Normandy Battle Group sets I just received today are batting about .500 for pristine vs weathered. The soldier firing a rifle while kneeling/squatting looks amazing while the grenadier on his knees arming a grenade looks a little too clean and bright IMO.

I also agree with you on the armor being undersized. I have found Collectors Showcase armor works very well with K&C and TG figures. It's marked as 1/30 but even the owner has acknowledged it is scaled to look correct with the figures. Downside is it is not as detailed as Figarti, but it is significantly cheaper, and its the only armor that looks correct when my Panzergrenadiers are standing next to a Tiger or Sherman (and compared to wartime photographs).

I also vote for Thomas Gunn to continue with the weathering trend, and prefer the gritty war weary look for figures and armor alike.

Wow finally some one who gets it !..........When I was a Firefighter my department had some traditional methods of operation, I worked for years to change this. Not until I became a Chief did I get into position to affect the changes. But now the department is said to be one of the most efficient in the state.

This has been a similar mission. I don't want to step on anyones toes, but I want what I want, and I have just as much right as anyone else. I despise Toy Soldiers and I like Realistic military Miniatures. I am not saying the entire industry should change, make the bright and shiny stuff and make the War Torn stuff also.

I realize the manufacturers make a living on this and are hesitant to change. But I think there are plenty of War Torn guys out here and the Manufacturer who really embraces this aspect will do well.

For the most part most of them have already, but I would like to see some one get real down and dirty. The perfect combination is out there as all of the manufacturers have their strong points. If I owned a company now I would know exactly how to deal with this. And If someone dosen't nail this I may have to do it myself.

BSP has been Maligned Fired, Banished, you name it, for taking this posture, but I will never give up on this mission. It took about 25 of my 33 year career to accomplish my mission on the Fire Department and it was successful becase I had the know how and the determination. When I visit the boys ( I am retired now ) all of my methods are second nature to them. Alex

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

And notice the correct brown leather rifle slings, not green

 

[Guy]

Still too clean for me. I automatically repaint and weather all my figures and AFV's that I use in a dio.
Recently I repainted the K&C Armoured jeep for a "Operation Nordwind" dio. Hope you like the result.
guy

 

[Guy]

Finally....No one has ever done the Normandy pockets right. Tom and I had a long talk about that a while back. Also only the 82nd had the American Flag at Normandy.

This is not 100% true.It was not generally worn in Normandy by the 101st. But some soldiers belonging to the 101st had the flag on their shoulder.The pathfinders of the 501st /101St airborne all had the flag on the right shoulder on D-day and so did some other paras of the 101st. It was also part of the M43 jumpsuit and equipment . It was an oilcloth armband. Some paras got rid of the armband an put the cut out flag on their uniform.The purpose of this armband was to identify the nationality of the wearer to the locals of the country being invaded. The flag was worn by everybody in the 101st airborne during the Market Garden operation. A few pictures to prove the above
guy:smile2:
101st boarding a plane
101st in Holland
M43 jump suit and equipment
101st during operation Market Garden

 

[Guy]

Hi fellahs. As i understand it ...Indeed only the 82nd made use of the shoulder flag...And only the 101st had the riggers (or themselves) stitch extra pockets on thier Jackets..(upper arms). and even some guys had extra pockets on the rear skirt of the Jacket...Don"t think this was too widespread though!!. Guy is"nt that photo of the Jump Jacket from the excellent Museum at Deadmans Corner???.

Steve

Steve, I do not know if this jacket is on display in the Deadmans Corner Museum, but what I know about this jacket is the following: It was found in the attic of a barn at Mont d'Etanclin in Varenguebec. This little village is situated on the line of attack of the 3/505 and lays in the middle of the triangle formed by the villages of Picauville, La Haye-du-Puits and Saint-Sauveur-Le-Vicomte.It has been camouflaged with "Apple Green" paint, the same colour used in the cockpits of the C47. The owner of the jacket was probably wounded on the right side of his body because the jacket has been cut. Only the left side ( and collar) of the jacket has been preserved. Also, but not visible in this picture, there is the typical mark and opening in the left sleeve that was made to allow a blood transfusion.
Hope this info is of some interest
guy:smile2:

 

[Firebat]

Still too clean for me. I automatically repaint and weather all my figures and AFV's that I use in a dio.
Recently I repainted the K&C Armoured jeep for a "Operation Nordwind" dio. Hope you like the result.
guy
View attachment 90516View attachment 90517View attachment 90518

Yes .....Yes...Yes......EXCELLENT !....K&C did a nice job with that also. I consider K&C clean, but their winter vechicles have a bit of grit.

 

[Firebat]

This is not 100% true.It was not generally worn in Normandy by the 101st. But some soldiers belonging to the 101st had the flag on their shoulder.The pathfinders of the 501st /101St airborne all had the flag on the right shoulder on D-day and so did some other paras of the 101st. It was also part of the M43 jumpsuit and equipment . It was an oilcloth armband. Some paras got rid of the armband an put the cut out flag on their uniform.The purpose of this armband was to identify the nationality of the wearer to the locals of the country being invaded. The flag was worn by everybody in the 101st airborne during the Market Garden operation. A few pictures to prove the above
guy:smile2:
View attachment 90519 101st boarding a plane
View attachment 90520 101st in Holland
View attachment 90521 M43 jump suit and equipment
View attachment 90522 101st during operation Market Garden

There are always exceptions, but for the most part the 101st didn't have the flag ( I am referring to Normandy only ). I am friends with Wild Bill and Ed Tipper from BOB and they said the 101st was not authorized to have the flag. Yes both divisions had them at Market Garden with the white are band and the 1943 uniform. No manufacturer has actually done a Market Garden Para yet. Conte might be the closest. Tom's are Normandy and correct.

Also the camo paint was mostly the Pathfinders.

 

[Hunter Rose]

Firebat,

This guys models are what toy soldier/military minatures need to look like. Thomas Gunn take note!

http://www.geocities.jp/shige122112/tank.html

 

[Mitch]

its never going to happen. The cost to get a model to this standard would exclude 90% of the current collector base. These models take several months to complete even longer. I don't want to rain on this parade but, I think we need to be realistic with what manufacturers can and will do. TG and all other manufacturers can take note but, I would give my entire collection away if we ever get to anywhere near this detail. for me, the detail and weathering in kits by a small munber of model makers will never come into this hobby.

Figarti I remember stated a number of times about the way they wanted to import model techniques into their sets. I, personally, think they have failed and never got anywhere near that

I am still not convinced there is a modeller/collector divide or, I am missing what this really means. I don't consider myself a modeller with all the repaints and conversions I do as it is not modelling what I do. Modelling for me is building from either scratch or, in kit form. I know plenty like to play around with sets to enhance the existing detail and collectors want specific paint jobs to recreate certain AFV's but, thats just painting.
Mitch

 

[AIDMAN]

Steve, I do not know if this jacket is on display in the Deadmans Corner Museum, but what I know about this jacket is the following: It was found in the attic of a barn at Mont d'Etanclin in Varenguebec. This little village is situated on the line of attack of the 3/505 and lays in the middle of the triangle formed by the villages of Picauville, La Haye-du-Puits and Saint-Sauveur-Le-Vicomte.It has been camouflaged with "Apple Green" paint, the same colour used in the cockpits of the C47. The owner of the jacket was probably wounded on the right side of his body because the jacket has been cut. Only the left side ( and collar) of the jacket has been preserved. Also, but not visible in this picture, there is the typical mark and opening in the left sleeve that was made to allow a blood transfusion.
Hope this info is of some interest
guy:smile2:

Wow!!...Interesting info Guy, if only those treasured exhibits in museums could tell thier story!!...Hope the guy who got hit while wearing this jacket made it back home.

Steve

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

You will never get detail like that with polystone. Yes Figarti did try to add some fine detail parts to their tank line, but they always arrive in pieces. First Legion is probably the closest to achieving that kind of detail in a toy soldier manufacturer. You could always buy a Dragon built 1/35 scale tank and add the weathering and painted figures. You can even replace the tank treads with an after market metal kit and add other detail parts for a nice model at less cost. Lately some of the polystone offerings I have seen seem to be going backwards in detail. Some of them look like they should be on the Chia Pet shelf in Walmart. Just my opinion

 

[Firebat]

I think it is getting close ( NO nothing can beat a scale model )....But we have not really worked our stuff over big time just yet...We have some new sponsors coming in shortly with finishing products and techniques that look incredible. We will keep everyone informed.

I think Guy's Jeep above looks great. No, not a scale model, but very nice. I dont want to rivet count any more. I think stuff like Guy is doing works.

THOMAS GUNN

FIGARTI

FIRST LEGION

JOHN JENKINS

 

[Guy]

Thanks Firebat, nice to hear my work gets some appreciation
guy