Just completed another batch of figures from that recent delivery. First up are twelve Airfix Desert Rats, painted up as an Indian Empire battalion. With darker skin tones, these figures can also represent Jordanian troops for the post-WW2 era, or even top up my Chinese army for the 1940s. I think it was the 6th Chinese Division which was trained and supplied by the British Empire in India, to fight the Japanese.
Next up, two Airfix Japanese have been converted into naval infantry. This gives me a complete battalion of twelve.
MGB
Some time back, I picked up eight Starlux post-WW2 French infantry. Have repainted some old GI's to provide the French with a bazooka team. They have already acquired a two man HMG team.
Finally. An old metal casting has been given a new head. This is my rendition of Colonel Sapt (also spelt Zapt) who was second in command to Prince Rudolf of Rurtiania, that good for nothing, lazy sod. The colonel is wearing the uniform he wore to the faudulent coronation in the 1952 movie.
Superb! I like your multiple purpose thinking, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Q, they will certainly be useful!
DeleteMichael
As for skin tones, the one you gave the 8th Army looks like tanned European. For Indian I'd aim for more brown in the mix, with some ochre tones. Indians vary a lot from lighter tones verging on European to very dark brown. For Chinese the tone is more 'yellow' (again, more light ochre tones mixed in).
ReplyDeleteQ, they are painted as more Southern Indian, with a British CO. This is not a Sikh or northern regiment, so their colour is quite dark. Perhaps the gloss varnish gives a lighter impression on your computer. For more authentic 'quality model' tones, I would not have applied a traditional gloss varnish, or even standardised the colour on every figure. But I will still use these toy soldiers in alternative settings, as games require. (My old school in London was about 10% Indian Sub-continent, yes, they do vary in colour.)
DeleteMichael
An excellent and very versatile Indian Empire unit Michael, they look great! The naval battalion is wonderful and I love their very unique flag! The headgear on Colonel Sapt is so stylish, very Hollywood! It's all wonderful as usual!
ReplyDeleteCheers Brad, I have researched a number of Japanese unit flags, and they give an interesting variation to the more typical red disc. As we have discussed before, toy soldiers must have their flags!
DeleteMichael