Fixing Sunbleached Uniforms

[NBTrav]

This is a bit of a double-whammy. I get to show off a new technique I've been experimenting with, and also show off some of what I've been working on lately.

Due to a lack of space and proper shelving in my place, I've taken to putting my figures in window sills, they're over a foot deep, so there's lots of room in there.
I had some of my US troops on display there for well over a year, and the sun wasn't very kind to their uniforms and gear, bleaching much of it to almost white.
To try and help combat this a bit, and give a bit of a grungier look to their gear, I opted to try using some woodstain, of all things.
Brushed on, let dry, and buffed with some sandpaper, and I quite liked the results.

Also, just for fun, here are some Germans I've been working on as well.

Here's a shot to help show off some of the white-washing I've been doing. I've also removed almost all of the liners and added my own straps to the helmets.

Just a quick little update, look forward to hearing what you guys think.

 

[T.H.A.W.]

Looks good...
I kinda like the sun bleached look, it adds to the realism.
And good idea with the wood stain also.

 

[NBTrav]

Thanks a lot fellas!

I usually like the sun bleached look too, but wanted to try to get the uniforms and gear a bit closer to how they appeared in some episodes of Band of Brothers, where their equipment and such looked quite dark, dirty, and almost wet, to me.
Plus it keeps me busy.

 

[pangaloss]

They look excellent, now get those Us and SS troops outside while there'slot of snow and do some Bastogne shots.

Tim

 

[pzrwest]

I agree with all of the above.... they look fantastically real.... what their uniforms and gear would look like in real life

 

[NBTrav]

Thanks a lot guys!
If we had some more snow I'd probably find a good place to go set-up, we've been getting more cold than snow lately though.

 

[krakow]

Can't really tell they were ever bleached out to an almost white as you say.


The helmet strap buckles are a bit of a step backward if I may. Those are some of the original buckles that came on the helmets when they had black elastic straps back in like 1999 or so. You might be better off using thinner leather and some of the tiny buckles from Rio Rondo or even robbing some smaller buckles off some gear in your spares box.


Like the sniper, he looks pretty cool!


Steve

 

[NBTrav]

Thanks a lot for the feedback Steve. I agree, the leather straps on the helmets need some work. The elastics that were on the helmets to begin with were quite old, and starting to break down a bit, as might be noticed on the G43 rifleman. I intend to get them all spruced up with some better quality buckles and straps in the future, I'll definitely check out Rio Rondo

 

[Leandro Lima]

very nice figures....

 

[NBTrav]

Thanks a bunch, Leandro!

 

[Hammer's Africaners]

I think what you have done, makes your already good looking figures look even better.

 

[Pickelhaube]

They look great and I like what you have done. But I wished you would have saved one to compare as a " before and after ".

 

[NBTrav]

Thanks a lot

Pickelhaube, There are some 'Nam US uniforms I've got that are looking rather bleached, I'll be sure to take some before photos if I try to spruce them up in a similar fashion, too.