101st AIRBORNE AT CARENTAN, JUNE 1944

Figures
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120mm Figures Sculpted by Maurice Corry, offered by Mitches Military Models.

Back in the warm waters of Olive Drab and Khaki tones, after the “Battle of the Tartans”, I pulled from my stash a really great couple of figures that have been itching to be worked. Initially there would have been a total of eight figures in this dio, but I scaled it back for lack of space when completed. My curio cabinet is getting full.

In this build there will be four 120 mm, Maurice Corry figures and a Freedom Model Kits 1/16th German Sd.kfz.2 Kettenkraftrad Typ HK 101. Starting off with some really great poses from Maurice Corry’s Airborne figure sets I couldn’t pass up this pair representing the iconic photo of the 101st AB in Normandy holding the Nazi flag. There are two represented from that famous photo and two others, A GI holding a German prisoner at bayonet point.

The initial set from that iconic photo doesn’t appear to be available anymore, but the second set is still shown on the second page as available, 120mm Us Airborne Private with German POW.

The Freedom Model Kits 1/16th German Sd.kfz.2 Kettenkraftrad Typ HK 101 is still available and is reasonably priced for this kit, IHMO. It even comes with a driver, not bad.

Now I know some of you are going to mention that 120mm and 1/16th scales don’t mix. True, but it’s all in the presentation, right? So, I will work with a little optical illusion when placing that Sd.kfz.2. I haven’t quite figured out the scenario just yet, but there will be some small structure and lots of rubble within the scene. Point being, I need to keep my figure work going and these figures were in the cue.

These four resin figures themselves have some really great usable poses which makes for so many possibilities in dio placement. Clean-up was pretty much as per usual, nothing too far out of the ordinary, the casting was good. I did have to make a few minor alterations, some of the parts weren’t fitting as well as they should have, but nothing drastic.

The rifle straps were made from sheet pewter and some copper wire for the lugs, and a few other parts. I also made a pair of glasses for the GI with the flag. They appear a bit on the thick side, so I may scour for a bit thinner wire, but that will be towards the end of the build. Lastly, the figures were given a primer coat of Floquil Primer, oil based, to help identify any areas missed and prep for the base tone color application.

Freedom Model Kits 1/16th German Sd.kfz.2 Kettenkraftrad Typ HK 101 is now in production and is available from several vendors. This is a decent kit so far and it appears to be going together nicely. This blog will not feature the Sd.kfz.2 build, per se, but is mainly about the Airborne figures and painting them. I will update the progress, but not with any SBS on this rig.

More to follow soon, the Sd has to be done before the figure work begins at full speed. Thanks for watching.

Cheers, Ski.

11 Likes
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Looking forward to another one of your great projects

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Definitely tuning into this one. Looking forward to the installments :+1::+1:

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This should be good. :popcorn:

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Tanks, Gentlemen!

I’m going to keep this one rolling, midway thru the bike, figs coming soon.

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Looking forward to this for sure !

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Tanks, Matt!

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Absolutely watching this one!:popcorn:
G.

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Tanks, Brother!

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Looking forward to more figure painting magic, Ski. The Kettenkrad will be interesting too!

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Thanks, Matt!

I’m fighting the steering, i.e., the forks on this trak-bike today, grrrrrrrrr!

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Loo, Kybo, Camode, Privy

Or is it just an outhouse? There are many names for taking care of business, but I’m calling this an “outhouse”. This little insignificant addition should bring the scenario to life and help tell the story. A very simple build using ½”x1/16” strips of pine milled on the band saw, plus a few other square strips of various dimensions. The hardware was made form sheet copper with copper wire for hinge pins and sewing pins were cut to size for attachment bolts. This took only a few days to knock out and was a nice diversion.

I made the potty bucket from sheet pewter and copper wire. Just a simple design since it won’t be seen up close.

After the structure was complete, I gave the entire build a wash of Burnt Sienna with a touch of Cadmium Orange oils. I coated all over, inside and out, to make sure the base tone was visible throughout. Next began the sun beat worn effect using Burnt Umber and Raw Sienna with Mig’s pigments, white or light tones only. Several Burnt Umber tinted washes were applied to slowly bring out a sun beat dusty appearance.

I had never done wood weathering with pigments in the past and found this method very simple with great results. It will now be a standard for my tool box of techniques.

Since this outhouse is intended to appear well used and having been in service for some time, I had to beat it up just a little, but not too much. I also wanted to bring out the weathering often found in wetter climates such as areas in Northern France. I tried to not overdo it, but I think this will work out just fine. Mig’s Slimy Grime Light and Dark came in handy for the subtle mold and mossing effects.

No outhouse would be complete without a few newspapers inside, not only for reading material, but for taking care of business. Reading material was printed from photos of WWII French newspapers found on line.

Once the outhouse is attached to the base, I will add boot prints and a bit more dusting, but for now, it will be set aside awaiting final installation.

Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.

13 Likes
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The outhouse looks great. :+1:

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Looks like another epic diorama. I’ll be watching closely. Right up my alley !

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Love the cracked board below the top hinge. Looks like the door might fall off at any moment! :crescent_moon:

Reminds me of times I’ve spent in something similar back in West Virginia — didn’t dally long enough to read a newspaper though! :nauseated_face:

—mike

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Out-friggin-standing Ski! We have one of these at a family cabin in Virginia and I swear you have replicated it absolutely perfectly down to the last green mossy mark. Miniature perfection, sir.

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Ya, years of construction teaches you not to linger long. Someone just might wrap a power cord around the camode and tip it, with you in it. Hence the saying, “sh@t or get off the pot!”

Thanks, MH. More to follow.

Thanks, Ryan!

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Tanks, Matt, that is good to know. Outhouses are nasty, period, but I didn’t want to over-do it.

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Very well done! I’m curious… maybe some sort of cosmic connection between the commonly seen crescent moon on the outhouse door… and the marking seen on WW2 ration crates?

Unknown

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Not sure, but ya never know :wink: