Thread started by Nikiforos
Nikiforos PI'm trying to find a driver figure for this project I'm "working" on (still ideas phase), a 90s-00s Greek military Jeep (or other 4x4 like the Mercedes G-wagen, etc, I haven't decided yet) in 1/35 scale, you'll find it on my profile.
The figure included in, say, Tamiya's M151A2 MUTT, moreso their Willys Jeep doesn't really fit - I want my guy to be in just fatigues and a field/patrol cap, no helmet or beret preferrably. Beggars can't be choosers, of course. Obviously I can't afford to be super particular with the details, but a guy in fatigues is a guy in fatigues, don't think it matters too much where he's from, once painted in lizard camo he should look just right.
I have actually already found the perfect figure - the driver from the Academy M966 TOW, but he's only sold as part of that kit and I don't like Humvees, not planning on getting the set any time soon. Other than him I can't really find any figures that fit what I'm looking for, not even US Army/Marines, for example (which you'd assume there'd be more of). No resin heads either, from what I've seen.
I was actually looking at the ICM Soviet Drivers set, modifying one of the guys's cap (it's got ear flaps), but I'd like to only do that as a last resort.
Also, for those that have painted modern Greek armour and/or vehicles before (I do realise I'm looking for a very very small subset of scale modellers), what colours would you suggest for the four-colour camo? I'm not talking about the one on Leopard 2A6s that has the bright brown/orange kind of tone. Preferrably in Vallejo Model Colour paints. I can't figure it out by myself - from pictures it seems to be anything from WW2 German Field Grey to 3-colour NATO green, and let's not get into the brown, and especially the white bits being anything from dark khaki to bright white...
Thanks in advance!!
The figure included in, say, Tamiya's M151A2 MUTT, moreso their Willys Jeep doesn't really fit - I want my guy to be in just fatigues and a field/patrol cap, no helmet or beret preferrably. Beggars can't be choosers, of course. Obviously I can't afford to be super particular with the details, but a guy in fatigues is a guy in fatigues, don't think it matters too much where he's from, once painted in lizard camo he should look just right.
I have actually already found the perfect figure - the driver from the Academy M966 TOW, but he's only sold as part of that kit and I don't like Humvees, not planning on getting the set any time soon. Other than him I can't really find any figures that fit what I'm looking for, not even US Army/Marines, for example (which you'd assume there'd be more of). No resin heads either, from what I've seen.
I was actually looking at the ICM Soviet Drivers set, modifying one of the guys's cap (it's got ear flaps), but I'd like to only do that as a last resort.
Also, for those that have painted modern Greek armour and/or vehicles before (I do realise I'm looking for a very very small subset of scale modellers), what colours would you suggest for the four-colour camo? I'm not talking about the one on Leopard 2A6s that has the bright brown/orange kind of tone. Preferrably in Vallejo Model Colour paints. I can't figure it out by myself - from pictures it seems to be anything from WW2 German Field Grey to 3-colour NATO green, and let's not get into the brown, and especially the white bits being anything from dark khaki to bright white...
Thanks in advance!!
1 5 December 2023, 19:06
Alex KHi. I'm not at all an expert, I still have to build myself a Greek military vehicle in MERDC camo, but out of curiosity I took a look at my old (or very old) issues of IPMS-Greece, in articles regarding vehicles in the aforementioned 4-color scheme. The general idea is that you have two basic colors (a Green and an Earth), with two secondary colors (Light Sand -sometimes so light that it turns to White- and Black). Beyond that... don't really expect neither full standardization (on the contrary: expect huge variations) nor very specific shades. In short: don't loose any sleep over it.
Just to take it one step further, if this helps:
- from an old article on a Hellenic Army Willis Jeep with MERDC camo:
Green FS34102 / Earth FS30118 / Light Sand > Grey FS36662 (or is it a typo? FS36622?) / Black FS37038
- from various other articles, on various other Greek vehicles of that period:
Green FS34079 / Earth FS30118 or FS30117 / Light Sand FS36622 or FS30277 or simply... WHITE / Black FS37038
- my strictly personal take, as an old dinosaur using Humbrol enamels:
I'd go for Green: Humbrol 117 or 116 / Earth Humbrol 186 / Light Grey Humbrol 28 / Black Humbrol 33... and I'll be OK with it.
That's my two cents - I do hope it helps a bit. Cheers.
6 December 2023, 19:35
Nikiforos PThanks a lot, Alex – very informative reply! You're absolutely right, and it pretty much confirms my suspicions that I shouldn't lose sleep over it.
Now that I think about it, I've never seen anyone say "yes, it's absolutely crucial you find the exact paint match, do lose sleep over it" – I wonder if there are any such cases where the colour is absolutely crucial and there's zero margin for colour variation or error, but that's another topic...
I've been wanting to get an issue or two of IPMS Hellas even just to look through modelling stuff in my native language, but so far I haven't. Out of curiosity, which issue did you find that article on the Willys Jeep?
Great thing is, I think I already have all these paints in Vallejo acrylics 😄
Thanks!
6 December 2023, 20:23
Bob HallYou looking for some one like this ?
Military Driver 90s-2000s (Tank Т35236, 1:35)
6 December 2023, 20:55
Alex KI'm glad if the above was of help - and that you could easily and conveniently "translate" it to your preferred Vallejo acrylics... 👍
It happens to me all the time: anxiously trying to figure out "what paint to use", only to realize that there are no definitive answers and that there are great margins of variations... and that finally you can just go with "what feels right" for your personal perception...
The aforementioned article on a 1:76 Hellenic Army Police (Stratonomia) Willys Jeep, by Tasos Tsiplakos, was on the (one and only) ... 1987 issue of "Nea apo tin IPMS-Ellados..."... way back at a time when the magazine was still written on typewriters... (or early word processors...) and photocopied...
When you decide on your build (Willys? M38? M151? Dodge M37? Iltis? or the more modern Mercedes G? - btw I do like that you appreciate "softskins"...), do drop me a PM, to see if I can be of any assistance re documentation.
Xairetismous - A.
6 December 2023, 21:02
Nikiforos PBob, yes, it's just the cap that is a problem (but easily fixable with sanding and greenstuff, having thought about it). Also, the pose – I want my guy to be driving, and converting a figure made for trucks to fit a Jeep, should be a bit of an endeavour... the legs would have to be stretched out more in the Jeep, I'm pretty sure.
But as I said the ICM Soviet Drivers kit would also do the job, it just has these 3 "problems", like the figure you shared.
Thanks!
6 December 2023, 21:06
Bob HallWould the figure from the Academy M1025 work for you ? I think there is a PC figure head in kit. I'm not gonna use the one in the kit, as I'm doing a Blackhawk down scenarios. You can have it if you want.
6 December 2023, 21:12
Nikiforos PUpdate: I have found a set of figures that should work with for my purposes! The set is "Charlie on the left!!!" by Master Box, for anyone interested, I might also get a set of Hornet heads to go with it as plastic heads aren't too great from my experience.
9 December 2023, 10:15