Réplique d'armes anciennes

This German Fallschirmjager in winter dress is an old Dragon Models 12 inches figure (ref.33112) released in 1999. Despite its age, this model still is an excellent base as almost 90% of its components were kept « out the box », except the head, the woollen gloves, the  binoculars and the belt.

Nevertheless, once the figure is finished it has little to do with the original « doll » of the Dragon box. This change was achieved by first choosing the most  natural pose shwing a Fallschirmjager pointing out a suspect enemy live he had spotted in the front line no man’s land. This is easy to reach as an action figure is fully articulated. There after, the replacement head was partially repainted with oils insisting on the reddish tones on the nose tip and chins to represent the severe cold of russian winter. 

The immaculate white uniform is then dirtied using various shades of brown applied with dry pastel pencils. Some pieces of equipment (the bread bag and ammo pouches) are weathered the same way). The already white washed typical Fallschirmjager helmet was given another wash of white acrylic paint roughly applied with a thick brush. One dried, the white color was scratches with a blade and sanding papier until reaching the original plastic olive green color. At places, the surface was rubbed with graphite pencil to imitate rough metal. The same technic was used on the binoculars.

The MP 40 submachine gun was given a very thin cloud of white applied with an air brush and sharp edges rubbed with graphite pen to reproduction metal shine.
The boots were dirtied with a mix of brown earth and white « snow » applied with Tamiya weathering pencils, gloss varnish was gently applied on the boots bottom, a simple but effective way to give an icy effect to frozen mud and snow. Last step is to fix all  equipment on the figure.

The plastic base received a heavy layer of « snow » by mixing shaving cream, white glue and baking soda. While this artificial snow ground is still fresh some miserable small bushes (natural dry wild hebs) are fixed directly on the snow ground, the figure foot print beeing marked by lightly pressing the boots on the snow surface. Once the snow ground is fully dry, the figure is firmly fixed to the ground with extra strong  super glue.

Though dirtying and weathering the figure is a time  consuming process the final result is an astonishing  figure, and its natural pose turns it into a living piece of WWII History. Beeing unique, this life like Fallschirmjager will appeal the true connoisseur and collector.