British Royal Tank Regiment trooper , late 1944 .

Tony Barton · 02-12-2007, 01:51 PM

Ever since the arrival of DML's " Douglas Kay "figure , I've been fiddling about with his "Oversuit, Tank Crews " , popularly known at the time as the "Pixie suit ", after a popular forties style of childrens' clothing . These blanket-lined outfits were widely issued to AFV crews from September 1944 , and proved very popular through what turned out to be a very cold European winter .
Having recently also made an RAC steel helmet , I thought it about time I set to and finished the figure . This is the result :

The DML suit is rather small , so I've used a Medicom body , which come out about 5'6" , and are very slender , allowing the Battledress to fit underneath without the suit looking impossibly tight : I've used up my " Harry Collins" cotton BD for this .
To fit DML or BBI hands to a Medicom body , you have to fit plastic tubing sleeves into the forearms : in this case I've used my own Fimo hands , mounted on DML pins .

The helmet is the DML airborne one , relined and strapped .

The main modification to the suit is to replace the plastic buttons with brass snaps : these are sold as button caps by various suppliers : I have to be honest and say I can't remember where I got mine ! The buttons were removed and saved ( come in very useful for other bashes ) and the button caps glued in their place .

I also resewed the top of the central gusset ( between the two front zips ) , since mine was too short , using the spare fabric turned back inside : unpick , open out and resew to proper length .

The goggles are made by carefully carving of the actual lenses from the BBI Douglas Caldwell ones , then mounting them on a grey Fimo ( or Sculpey )" rubber " base , lined with washleather. The strap is grey elastic .

The hood was sewn from a fine khaki drill shirt ( charity shop ), with a lining from a darker , heavier shirt . I'm not absolutely sure what the seams do at the back , but I worked out a pattern that seemed probable , given that there are three seams visible at the top front in the pics I have .
I gave it a wash of colour to improve the match with the suit .

The beret was made for me ages ago by Royoboy : I like it's large size , seemingly more typical of the period .

The scarf was cut from a khaki sock .
The boots are 21stCentury : small , which suits the body .

The tear in the left knee was accidental : a shelf dive ! It looked so good I left it alone . The suit has been stained with washes of acrylic paint .

The head is one of my own ( No.22 ) and proves that not all my figures look cheerful . Thanks to Royoboy for the beret , and Richie Elbourne for the matchbox .

*************************************************************

flaptop · 02-12-2007, 02:19 PM

Wow....... steel helmet! First seen RAC helmet in 1/6 scale, looks fantastic!

Lost Records · 02-12-2007, 02:28 PM

Wow, that's a fantastic figure! All the little details you've made really makes it stand out.

drummerboy · 02-12-2007, 02:28 PM

Nice poses and presentation. I love all your work. I like the ripped hole in the pants around the right knee. Nice touch. Now he just needs a Firefly or Churchill.

chung814 · 02-12-2007, 02:31 PM

Absolutely eye-catching figure. TKS for sharing, Tony.

tiger calico · 02-12-2007, 02:34 PM

very nice figure!!!!

BlondKnight352 · 02-12-2007, 04:15 PM

Another winner, Tony! Please, please make some of those hands to sell

Dougmo · 02-12-2007, 04:32 PM

Let me echo Daniel's sentiments...especially the part about the hands-

Thanks for invigorating us lazy figure types with you outstanding work, Tony!

k ration · 02-12-2007, 04:35 PM

your figures are the best. a master of art.

DEIIP · 02-12-2007, 05:14 PM

BLOODKNIGHT:

Quote:

Another winner, Tony! Please, please make some of those hands to sell

I agree!!! Mr. Barton, so when are you planning on making some "hand sculpts" for sale? But other than that, as usual, your talented work is always admired by many!!! I'm one of them.

Horsa · 02-12-2007, 05:19 PM

Fan-freaking-tastic, Tony! The modifications to the suit are amazing. Good tip on using a smaller body; I suspect he fits in your M5A1 better too. Great stuff, I hope DML releases this suit to the general public soon...and they include a hood as nice as your's.

Tuche · 02-12-2007, 06:32 PM

Great work

JTFazz · 02-12-2007, 06:41 PM

As I said over at OSS... another excellent outcome. And you have achieved what is an appropriate pose for a tanker, since normally when they are engaging the enemy they are inside a tank and my guess is you can't quite squeeze into one at this scale to take an appropriate photo.

glenning · 02-12-2007, 06:43 PM

He looks like a sad fellow, great expression on this one Tony! Have you ever thought on making a screaming or "talking" HS? I also like your custom webbing, looks very realistic.

Kev Longino · 02-12-2007, 07:45 PM

Excellent work Tony

He certainly does'nt look happy, despite his beautiful kit - he must be waiting on a nice new Firefly!

Brave Rifles · 02-12-2007, 08:17 PM

Beautiful and inspirational work!

I was going to start a new thread about the pixie suit since I had a question on the manufactures coloring. Aside from the washes you gave , it appears to be correct in color, yes?

I have a Douglas Kay enroute to me and am anxiously waiting for it to arrive so I can get my grubby little paws on the pixie and thrash it up a bit.

HDHSVI · 02-12-2007, 10:39 PM

Tony,

just a fantastic over the top job!

Cya,
Hankster

Leatherneck · 02-13-2007, 06:52 AM

Once again, you've outdone yourself - great job!

Now you just need one of those plasticpanzer M3's...

darkner-imperator · 02-13-2007, 10:49 AM

Wow, that's a fantastic figure!!!!

All the little details you've made really makes it stand out!

egonzinc · 02-15-2007, 06:38 AM

Wonderful work!
An amazing miniature.
E

02-12-2007, 01:51 PM	#1
Tony Barton Company Commander Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: York Posts: 718	British Royal Tank Regiment trooper , late 1944 . Ever since the arrival of DML's " Douglas Kay "figure , I've been fiddling about with his "Oversuit, Tank Crews " , popularly known at the time as the "Pixie suit ", after a popular forties style of childrens' clothing . These blanket-lined outfits were widely issued to AFV crews from September 1944 , and proved very popular through what turned out to be a very cold European winter . Having recently also made an RAC steel helmet , I thought it about time I set to and finished the figure . This is the result : The DML suit is rather small , so I've used a Medicom body , which come out about 5'6" , and are very slender , allowing the Battledress to fit underneath without the suit looking impossibly tight : I've used up my " Harry Collins" cotton BD for this . To fit DML or BBI hands to a Medicom body , you have to fit plastic tubing sleeves into the forearms : in this case I've used my own Fimo hands , mounted on DML pins . The helmet is the DML airborne one , relined and strapped . The main modification to the suit is to replace the plastic buttons with brass snaps : these are sold as button caps by various suppliers : I have to be honest and say I can't remember where I got mine ! The buttons were removed and saved ( come in very useful for other bashes ) and the button caps glued in their place . I also resewed the top of the central gusset ( between the two front zips ) , since mine was too short , using the spare fabric turned back inside : unpick , open out and resew to proper length . The goggles are made by carefully carving of the actual lenses from the BBI Douglas Caldwell ones , then mounting them on a grey Fimo ( or Sculpey )" rubber " base , lined with washleather. The strap is grey elastic . The hood was sewn from a fine khaki drill shirt ( charity shop ), with a lining from a darker , heavier shirt . I'm not absolutely sure what the seams do at the back , but I worked out a pattern that seemed probable , given that there are three seams visible at the top front in the pics I have . I gave it a wash of colour to improve the match with the suit . The beret was made for me ages ago by Royoboy : I like it's large size , seemingly more typical of the period . The scarf was cut from a khaki sock . The boots are 21stCentury : small , which suits the body . The tear in the left knee was accidental : a shelf dive ! It looked so good I left it alone . The suit has been stained with washes of acrylic paint . The head is one of my own ( No.22 ) and proves that not all my figures look cheerful . Thanks to Royoboy for the beret , and Richie Elbourne for the matchbox . *************************************************************

02-12-2007, 02:28 PM	#3
Lost Records Company Commander Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 827	Wow, that's a fantastic figure! All the little details you've made really makes it stand out. __________________ Up the Irons!

02-12-2007, 02:28 PM	#4
drummerboy Company Commander Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: MD Posts: 1,006 Images: 4	Nice poses and presentation. I love all your work. I like the ripped hole in the pants around the right knee. Nice touch. Now he just needs a Firefly or Churchill. __________________

02-12-2007, 04:32 PM	#8
Dougmo Battalion Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Commerce, Michigan Posts: 1,540	Let me echo Daniel's sentiments...especially the part about the hands- Thanks for invigorating us lazy figure types with you outstanding work, Tony! __________________ "It's good to be the King..."

02-12-2007, 05:19 PM	#11
Horsa Company Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 734	Fan-freaking-tastic, Tony! The modifications to the suit are amazing. Good tip on using a smaller body; I suspect he fits in your M5A1 better too. Great stuff, I hope DML releases this suit to the general public soon...and they include a hood as nice as your's. __________________ Horsa

02-12-2007, 02:19 PM	#2
flaptop Company Commander Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Taipei Posts: 640	Wow....... steel helmet! First seen RAC helmet in 1/6 scale, looks fantastic!

02-12-2007, 02:31 PM	#5
chung814 Platoon Leader Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 595	Absolutely eye-catching figure. TKS for sharing, Tony.

02-12-2007, 02:34 PM	#6
tiger calico Company Commander Join Date: May 2006 Location: Barcelona,Spain Posts: 738	very nice figure!!!!

02-12-2007, 04:15 PM	#7
BlondKnight352 Sniper Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Owensboro, KY. Posts: 113	Another winner, Tony! Please, please make some of those hands to sell

02-12-2007, 04:35 PM	#9
k ration Battalion Commander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: in a cardboard box. in back of walmart. Posts: 1,742	your figures are the best. a master of art.

02-12-2007, 06:32 PM	#12
Tuche Tanker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: France Posts: 463	Great work

02-12-2007, 06:41 PM	#13
JTFazz Company Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Plastic Crack Poor House Posts: 868	As I said over at OSS... another excellent outcome. And you have achieved what is an appropriate pose for a tanker, since normally when they are engaging the enemy they are inside a tank and my guess is you can't quite squeeze into one at this scale to take an appropriate photo. __________________ Ty http://pto4.com/moh/cole.jpg

02-12-2007, 06:43 PM	#14
glenning Company Commander Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 910	He looks like a sad fellow, great expression on this one Tony! Have you ever thought on making a screaming or "talking" HS? I also like your custom webbing, looks very realistic. __________________ Check out my Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/pages/16-Fi...47403142154631

02-12-2007, 07:45 PM	#15
Kev Longino Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Scottish Highlands Posts: 2,453	Excellent work Tony He certainly does'nt look happy, despite his beautiful kit - he must be waiting on a nice new Firefly! __________________ "Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty's in every blow! Let us do, or die!"

02-12-2007, 08:17 PM	#16
Brave Rifles Private Citizen Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CenTex and the Fort Hood AO Posts: 2,056 Images: 3	Beautiful and inspirational work! I was going to start a new thread about the pixie suit since I had a question on the manufactures coloring. Aside from the washes you gave , it appears to be correct in color, yes? I have a Douglas Kay enroute to me and am anxiously waiting for it to arrive so I can get my grubby little paws on the pixie and thrash it up a bit.

02-12-2007, 10:39 PM	#17
HDHSVI Company Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Jupiter, FL (West Palm Beach) Posts: 792 Images: 494	! Tony, just a fantastic over the top job! Cya, Hankster __________________ Jupiter, FL

02-13-2007, 06:52 AM	#18
Leatherneck Brigade Commander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,315 Images: 28	Once again, you've outdone yourself - great job! Now you just need one of those plasticpanzer M3's... __________________ Green side out! Brown side out! Run in circles, scream and shout!

02-13-2007, 10:49 AM	#19
darkner-imperator Tanker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Italy Posts: 414	Wow, that's a fantastic figure!!!! All the little details you've made really makes it stand out! __________________ Ciao Francesco http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/7660/logoit7.gif

02-15-2007, 06:38 AM	#20
egonzinc Brigade Commander Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Puerto Rico, USA Posts: 2,743	Wonderful work! An amazing miniature. E __________________ Eduardo www.egonzinc.com

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