The Commander Series Forum

Has anyone done this for 10/12mm figures if so how did you find it?

The reason I am asking is that my next project will be Sicily 1943 and I am considering converting 8th Army figures to Paras and giving Pendraken Brits in slouch hat helmets.

"Has anyone done this for 10/12mm figures if so how did you find it?"

Fiddly

No, really, it is - and of IMHO of questionable use - I think at this scale, at arm's length on-table, that you can 'fudge' things better with paintjobs & persuasion rather than resorting to a process which will drive you to distraction as you get frustrated with sharp implements, sticky superglue, misplaced cuts which ruin the head, dropped heads, and figure conversions which don't look quite right...



"converting 8th Army figures to Paras and giving Pendraken Brits in slouch hat helmets."

Have you got pic references of what you're trying for - I can't quite visualise why you're not just using Pendraken paras & infantry in helmets straight from the list

Nik,

Thanks for that I suspected it might be more trouble than it's worth.

On the Paras I am looking to get them in KD shorts & shirts rather than Denisons & BD. Easist option I think would be file down helmets to look like berets or use green stuff.
I have assumed that the slouch hat figures have long trousers rather than shorts and long trousers were worn by some troops in Sicily.

Ah OK - gotcha

I think you'll be much better off trying to file down the helmets as you say...

As for the others - I'm pretty sure that not all the Pendraken 8th Army are wearing shorts - have a look here: http://nikharwood.pbworks.com/BKC+8th+Army

I'd have a closer look at them "in the flesh", but I've lent them to a well-known rules-writer fella

I also think you'd get some use out of the Commando pack...

I'm pretty sure that all the Pendraken 8th Army Infantry are in shorts -- some of the officers may be in long trousers.

If you want guys in short sleeves it is probably easiest to do paint brush conversions. I have certainly done this on some figs for my 8th Army. Though can't spot any in pics now.

Thanks for the feed back.

Good point on the Commando pack I hadn't thought about that one.

I will have to do some paint brush conversions anyway e.g. Piat teams as there is no other alternative. I remember doing that 25 years ago with H&R 1:300 for Brits in Tunisia worked Ok will have to see how it looks in 10mm.

Here's a photo of what I would like to achieve

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/sicily/frames.htm

The more I think about it I'll probably just use 8th Army types as is and do a few conversions for the command groups.

The link above does not take you directly to the pictures.
Click on photo gallery then Op Ladbroke & under 1st lift are a number of pictures of 1st Borders in KD shorts & shirts with beret.

That's certainly a unique look!

Probably get away with using more in tin hats in combat. Did they have para helmets at this stage, or soup bowls?

I'm not sure when the Airlanding troops were first issued with Para helmets. I cannot see any type of helmet in those photos.

Remembered I have 'When Dragons Flew, the Illustrated History of the 1st Borders'so I skimmed through that at the weekend. It seems the Para helmet began to be issued to Airlanding troops in 1942. There are training photos mid '42 showing a mix with battle bowlers. Photos from Nov '42 on show only the Para helmet. There are clearer versions of the pictures on the website linked above and you can see one man is carrying a Para helmet.

I have, mostly to get kit I otherwise could not, like swapping Russian heads on to Brit bodies crewing a bofors gun. It was not as hard as I thought it would be, and the results are adequate.