Monday, 21 December 2015

Focusing on the Deetails

You'll have noticed a fair few of the old Britains 'Deetail' series figures in some recent posts.  My WW2 playtest game highlighted the lack of an LMG in the US infantry range.  Fortunately I had a few CTS and Airfix BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) gunners left over from another project.  But would I be able to  match the rather garish green plastic Britains had used?
After some experiments the answer was a resounding (I think) 'yes!'  The colour I used was Vallejo 857 Golden Olive.  To show what a good match it is, the chap in the middle of the photos above and below is a 'real' Deetail figure.

During this process it struck me that the level of detail painted on the original Deetail figures was about right.  So in future I'll be aiming for Deetail rather then detail.  Still with me?
Early experiments - I had a box of bits of Airfix 'Multipose' figures which I used to knock together two BAR gunners and a pair of NCO types with M3 'Grease Gun' SMGs.


CTS artillery crewmen - complete with the gun captain fielding a telephone call.
CTS sniper and BAR gunner with an Airfix Multipose bazooka gunner.

Coming next - the Germans and a rather trickier paint matching project.
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20 comments:

  1. Nigel Drury21 December 2015 at 17:00

    For re-arming 54mm figures this might be of interest

    http://www.shapeways.com/shops/forpost?section=1%2F35+scale+models&s=0

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  2. Steve821 December 2015 at 17:22

    Noted your comment on the Germans. The Deetail Germans I have ever seen, are a curious blue/grey. Of course we all know WWII Germans did not wear uniforms of this colour, but the little boy in us feels that they ought to be grey (or black if they really 'baddies'). I saw one post on 28mm models where the author deliberately went down this avenue, with his Yanks, in a green colour and his Brits were all Commandoes in some shade of brown. I think it must stem from our comic books. I know what I am doing anyway with my new project which I started this week.

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  3. Pete.21 December 2015 at 17:41

    Looks a good match to me Tim. Do you keep a master list of all your paints used for projects (other than this blog)?

    Cheers,

    Pete.

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  4. Tim Gow21 December 2015 at 20:42

    Nigel Drury
    That looks more like expensive proper modelling to me! I'll stick with cheapskate bodging...

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  5. Tim Gow21 December 2015 at 20:44

    Stephen Briddon
    The Deetail Germans are indeed a very odd colour. But somehow they look right! With my WW2 game I'm very much aiming to recreate the film of the book of the war, rather then the war itself!

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  6. Tim Gow21 December 2015 at 20:46

    Pete
    On my better days I do note these things down. Problem is, I lose the notes....

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  7. Counterpane21 December 2015 at 23:03

    Tim,

    I work near the Monday flea market in Sheffield. There's a stall that quite often has 1/32nd models. Is there anything you want me to look out for?

    Richard C

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  8. Steve822 December 2015 at 00:17

    I agree with your book of the film approach. After all, we know our games are not the 'real' thing, who are we kidding? I have long ago given up going for realism in my painting, and prefer the toy soldier look.

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  9. Col22 December 2015 at 05:25

    Nicely Done Tim! Great to see all that Deetail Goodness! Thank you for the paint match tip.
    I have that colour amongst my Vallejo's but never thought to use it when my Deetails needed a bit of restoration.
    Cheers
    Col

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  10. Paul Foster22 December 2015 at 06:23

    A likely looking bunch of cut-throats Tm.

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  11. Tim Gow22 December 2015 at 07:53

    Counterpane
    I really must have a look at that market sometime. Spectacularly cheap Deetail figures are always welcome!

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  12. Tim Gow22 December 2015 at 07:55

    Stephen Briddon
    You'll recall my painting was never up to much - but I find that the 'toy soldier' look is one I can manage quite well. I still have quite a few figures you painted...

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  13. Tim Gow22 December 2015 at 07:57

    Col
    I bought that colour in specially - I was delighted when it matched straight out of the pot!

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  14. Tim Gow22 December 2015 at 07:58

    Paul Foster
    Like I said to Steve, it's the game of the book of the film...

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  15. Brian Carrick22 December 2015 at 13:52

    That's a spectacularly good match, are you going to paint the whites of the eyes on the Deetail figures so they match the detail on the non Deetail figures or would that be a case of de tail wagging de dog?

    Happy Christmas, Brian

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  16. Tim Gow22 December 2015 at 18:41

    Brian Carrick
    I am very pleased with the match! Sadly I find the Deetail figures don't respond all that well to my usual mad staring eyes approach.

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  17. private w.22 December 2015 at 19:59

    Really nice additions to a Deetails force!! And I think you nailed and matched the Deetails paint scheme very impressively! An inspiring post, thank you!!

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  18. Steve822 December 2015 at 21:22

    Tim has got me all excited about a new wargame project (have no imagination or will of my own anymore thanks to modern pharmaceuticals and teaching High School). I got myself some 1/32nd British and German infantry and can't wait to start slopping the paint around. I am thinking about a Corderyscahuseramas type game. I am now looking at vehicles and all the other impedimenta. I wonder? 1/35th or 1/48-56th ish? Of course price and availability dictate as usual, but I'm a grown up and have a little bit more liberty than a nine year old!

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  19. Tim Gow23 December 2015 at 14:51

    Private W
    Thanks for your kind words.

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  20. Tim Gow23 December 2015 at 14:53

    Steve Briddon
    I think you need a blog sir! I'd stick with 1/48ish scale vehicles - mine are mostly Solido and Dinky diecasts.

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