WWI British and French Infantry in Gas Masks

[Marvin]

I've been mostly busy this year painting HaT 7 Years War Prussian infantry and Austrian Dragoons (which I might share on here soon...). Occasionally, however, I'll branch off in to some topic that's totally different for some variety. I've never painted 20th century figures before, so this is my first foray into the era of more 'modern' warfare with it's less colourful uniforms and modern weaponry.

I was attracted to these Strelets figures because their gas masks add a certain inhuman nightmare quality to what was certainly for the combatants a nightmare conflict. On a personal note, my great grandfather was the victim of a gas attack on the western front and I've been very mindful of that in working with these figures. There's a little more about this with photos of these figures (and a Wilfred Owen poem) on my blog http://suburbanmilitarism.wordpress.com

Best wishes to all

[Kekso]

Good work.. I like dark shadings on uniforms very much

[Bluefalchion]

I am not a fan of the figures, sculpting and poses of this manufacturer, but you have done an excellent job of painting them. I especially like the way you did the eyes on the gas masks.

[despertaferro]

Excellent painting!

Knowing how these figures look like, I’m amazed how good they turned out once painted by you.

Congratulations!

[Konrad]

I love the figs from STRELETS.
(Ok,maybe not all...)

These figures are often underestimated very much.
I find wrongfully.

But you did a very good job on this figs
and they looking great in my eyes.
My respect.

[santifernandez]

nice paint.
Santi.

[SamSagace]

I love the figs from STRELETS.
(Ok,maybe not all...)
These figures are often underestimated very much.
I find wrongfully.
But you did a very good job on this figs
and they looking great in my eyes.
My respect.

if Konrad say "it's good " for Strelets figures, it means that it's "very good " ..
if he say "it's very good", it means that "it's excellent " !
and when Konrad say that, I agree with him !

They look more like scifi figures !
I like a lot *!

*and when I say "I like" it means, etc.... "

[Marvin]

Thank you very much for all these kind comments! It means a lot.

And when I say thank you "very" much, I mean...

[RCD]

Excellent painting Marvin. What blue did you use for the French uniforms - horizon blue? nice to see some Strelet figures on the forum.

I know the very mention of Strelet (and HaT) will always generate negative comments but they do try and produce orginal figures. For these sets and the Stalingrad and police battalion (a must be any serious representation of the German army on the Eastern front) ones Strelet must be congratulated.

How many WW1 sets would we have without strelet or HaT is they did not produce any!

[Marvin]

Thank you RCD, glad you like them!

I used Vallejo acrylic Grey Blue (watch out - I think they do Blue Grey as well!). I did a bit of research on what colour to use for 'horizon blue' and it's debatable. I think in reality various shades of sky blue were used for the uniforms, all of them being called 'horizon blue'. So in the end I just went with Blue Grey! Sorry - I mean Grey Blue!

I must say that, like you, one of the things I appreciate most about Strelets is their dedication to covering different topics or eras, and producing WWI troops in gas masks is a case in point. Their sculpting style is a bit of, err... an 'acquired taste' admittedly!

But personally I like the eccentricity of some of their poses. It gives the figures a little bit of character and 'life'.

[David O'Brien]

These gas mask sets from Strelets were good and nice to see them painted up so well.

A lot of the Strelets figures coming out at this time were short in the leg and were criticised for looking a bit dwarfish. I suppose I would criticise the figures on their exaggerated dimensions rather than alluding to fantasy figure genres but I would consider my criticism positive and self evident if you have studied human proportion and maybe the latter is slightly negative.

Adding to the legs (or hiding them in mud), building up bases, changing heads, skilful paint jobs so on could lead to creditable figures. It would be a shame to miss them by not examining them as a 3d figure rather than a pic and making your own mind up.
See my gallery post of a WWI Austrian figure.

David

[Peter]

You did a great job on those figures! Like the French the most!

[Beano Boy]

Wow! I like this work Marvin.Well Done.BB

[Ochoin]

IMO Strelets' figures need to be judged on a case by case basis. These, with the great paint job, are very good indeed.

The deep detail in most Strelets' figures lends itself to effective shading


donald

[vellek]

I'm generally not a Strelets fan either, but the final result of your efforts brings out the figures' hidden potential as well as the horror of combat on the Western Front.

At the risk of repeating myself from an earlier post, someone at Strelets owes you (and Konrad too, for that matter) a beer.

[Marvin]

I'm generally not a Strelets fan either, but the final result of your efforts brings out the figures' hidden potential as well as the horror of combat on the Western Front.

At the risk of repeating myself from an earlier post, someone at Strelets owes you (and Konrad too, for that matter) a beer.

Thanks Vellek - appreciated.

Note to Strelets: I will be very happy to accept that beer whenever is convenient. And I'm sure the same goes for Konrad too!

[MABO]

Impressive painting job!

[Xantippos]

Very nice job on them, really this is the way to paint them, with very realistic colours and having a dark gloomy sensation. They are on my want list, and more after seeing them painted!