I think this is my first time in the figures section.
Inspired by a bit of discussion of one of the grimmest films ever, “Threads”, over on the Models in TV and Film thread, I’m trying to make the iconic traffic warden from old Tamiya figures that I’ve had knocking around for about 50 years.
For those unfamiliar, this is him, he appears for just a few seconds, representing the desperation of the authorities in that they’ve co-opted and armed traffic wardens in their efforts to keep order.
The right arm is straightforward as it’s just hanging by his side. The left arm holds an FN FAL rifle, which has proved awkward as most old figures I have tend to be holding everything in their right hand. I’m trying to make a left arm (I think he came from the old Kettenkrad kit) fit the hand that I’ve attached to the rifle, which is the recent release from FoxHopp. I have already snapped the grip off, but seems kind of OK.
This is all glued in place with lots of gaps at shoulder, elbow and wrist. Once fully set I’ll try to join it all up with my new non lumpy Magic Sculpt.
I think this one is the DS Arms “Traditional’ SA58 Para FAL. I traded my 12” SA58 Pistol for a 1944 Ithaca 1911A1, but i have a light barrel Israeli FAL rifle. Would love to add a proper inch-pattern L1A1 SLR to my collection.
That’s an interesting subject- I watched the film there recently and must agree with you about how grim it is- not all that brutal by modern standards but grim enough to be a bit of a slog to watch.
Your work so far is first class- the jacket, hat and pose look great. What are you planning to use for the bandages on the face?
Thank you for that, though with the pose I’m struggling with that left arm still. The hand angle looks awkward on the arm. I’ll wait for this layer of putty to set then see if I can grind off the top of the forearm and build it up a bit around the bottom side to change the angle without making the elbow look weirdly low. If not I might have to start that again.
The bandage I’ll try to make from magic sculpt again, probably like with the coat collar I’ll try to make a template from the sticky bit of a post it note first to get the size and the eyes in the right place.
I took some screenshots from the clip showing the bandages from the side:
I can see clearly there what you mean by the angle of the arm- a difficult sculpt without a doubt. However- I think what you have is good- the shape does not look odd or ‘off’ to me. The jacket also looks quite thick- the arms would likely be large enough to hide all but the most general shape of the arm with the fabric.
“Threads” and “The Day After” were all too plausible at the time they were made, if, if the Cold War had turned hot; of course, the Cold War is now long gone, but if you want to consider other, equally, terrifying scenarios - not least the rogue actor state and the “bolt from the blue” attack then consider reading this:
I saw Threads when Ted Turner brought it to the US, I’d graduated from Chemical School a few months before, the scenes in the EOC where they’re looking at the nomograms for yield and casualty levels resonated with me, as did the plotting of the bursts on the map. I’m liking the choice of the traffic warden for this project, it’s coming along nicely!
I tried to write to her courtesy of her web page (it rejected me as unsafe - or similar which is fair enough(!)) I’d wondered if she’d come across HH Kahn’s “On Thermonuclear War” as it wasn’t listed in her bibliography for this one; Kahn’s works was one of the first books on the subject when I tried to get to grips with it all as a young soldier; we sort of practiced it at the end of every exercise or so it seemed, usually with the announcement “SACEUR has authorised nuclear release” which used to spook me a fair bit! Mind you, Kahn’s book took some digesting for a 17-year old.
Thanks for pointing this out, I don’t know what I’m looking at clearly…
I have now given him 8 quite big buttons from punched plastic.
Thanks, that is reassuring, although I have altered slightly the relative shape of the left hand, the sleeve and elbow to make it look a bit more natural, and bulked up the right arm a little more.
The bandage is on the face, that’s all I dare do while the putty is wet, I’m hoping to tidy it all a bit once it sets.
