Just a few more

I'll stop posting photos of paratroopers soon, honest!  Thought it might be worth posting this batch to compare the Italeri and Revell models, and how they paint up.

The posing on these two is really natural and convincing.  The one on the right in particular is probably my favourite of the bunch, holding his grease gun up while giving orders.

BAR Gunner and rifleman (bayonet removed before painting)

Italeri rifleman on the left, Revell on the right.  You can clearly see here how the casting on the Italeri models is much sharper and takes the wash well.  However they're slimmer and 'lighter' than the Revell.  The model on the right really looks like he's leaning into the rifle, ready for the recoil, whereas the one on the left looks a little more unsteady (to be fair, maybe he's just fired).

Comparison of the two grenadiers.  Again the Revell (on the left this time), to me looks more 'steady'.  Does anyone throw things with one foot in the air?  It seems a lot of models do!

Couple of nice poses form the set, sorting out ammo and equipment.  Essential stuff for paratroopers, but not so often seen in model form.

In summary, I like both sets, for different reasons.  The poses in the Revell set are more convincing overall.  Weapons are held and used like they have some real weight and proportions looks good.  They're carrying a mix of equipment, including field dressings, and look slightly 'shabby', which matches old photos nicely.  The downside is that the detail is a bit soft, webbing sometimes vanishes into the background and faces are vague.  A few of the poses also feel a little flat as well, a result of fitting the the mould rather than natural sculpting.  There's a kneeling rifleman with carbine that I won't use as his pose looks so uncomfortable!

By contrast, the Italeri ones look a little forced.  They look a little thin and weapons aren't being held as if they have any real weight.  Equipment is also light, with no packs and only basic equipment (water bottle, entrenching tool and basic ammo pouches), whereas in most photos of paras they're absolutely loaded down with equipment.  That said the casting and detail is excellent and take washes well and the poses are 3D rather than flat.  They're also a harder plastic that doesn't flex easily and shed paint.

Side by side they look pretty good together, so the two sets should give me plenty of opportunities for variety and the odd head swap.  Weirdly, both include almost identical poses of a para stood at ease, showing off his mohawk.  In both sets I'll probably do a head swap on most of these for helmeted heads from the poses I won't be using (like the para in his chute).

Who let me go shopping?

While M was dragged to watch 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' by The Mother In Law (I think it's fair to say she won't be going to see it again!), I had time to do a bit of hobby shopping.  As well as stocking up on some paints and glue, I added a couple more projects (I'll get around to them all sooner or later, won't I?).

First up was a box of Italeri US Paratroopers.  Nice, crisp models with plenty of detail, as you'd expect from Italeri/Esci.  However I do think there's something ever so slightly 'off' about these models, I think its the narrow shoulders, which makes the heads looks a little out of proportion.  Not enough to put me off though.  I have some Revell US paras winging their way from ebay at the moment for a bit of variety as well.

Here's some work in progress.  After much deliberation I've gone with the uniform that would have been used during the Normandy campaign (I may still do some more in the olive drab uniform for later war use), using Vallejo Green Brown for the base.  The webbing is greener than it should really be, but I was going for balance between accuracy and making it stand out, I'll try some other variations on later models.

The chap in the middle is from the Italeri Anti Tank Teams set, slightly taller and more broad shouldered than his fellows!  Bayonets have been removed from rifles and carbines where they existed, as by all accounts they weren't used often.

The inevitable group shot (with added bazooka).

Whilst in the shop I couldn't resist a couple of cheap little pre-painted Bedford Trucks (they'll need a bit of weathering, but that's it) and a couple more of the Airfix Resin buildings, the 'Italian Farmhouse' and 'Italian Townhouse'.  Like the other Airfix buildings I have they're a bit small (even for 1/76), but I'm not building a diorama here.  They're also described as being Italian buildings, but I don't think they'll look that out of place in the fields of Normandy with a suitable paintjob.

That'll keep me going for a bit!  So, what have you all been up to?

US Airborne Test

Just a quickie this morning.  Tried out two different paint schemes for US Airborne last night using the Italeri Anti Tank Teams Set.  One in the late war olive drab uniform, which was used in Normandy is more suitable for Arnhem etc, one in the early war.  Hoping I've got the early war colour near enough (a 50/50 mix of Green Ochre, US Field Drab and a touch of GW Gretchin Green)

Thoughts, comments and criticism (constructive!) always welcome.