From: rray@lookout.it.uswc.uswest.com (Randy J. Ray)
Newsgroups: alt.models
Subject: REVIEW: Verlinden 120mm Israeli Captain, Golani Bde.
Date: 1 Sep 92 16:14:26 GMT
Organization: US WEST Communications, Inc. -- Denver, CO

[Also posted to the figures mailing list]

Kit:  Israeli Captain, Golani Bde. in 120mm (1/16 scale)
From: VLS Productions
Cost: MSRP $29.99

This is my first attempt at the large scale figures offered by VLS, and I was
anything but disappointed.

The figure comes in no less than 25 pieces, with a small sheet of lead foil for
the gun strap and helmet strap. The body comes in 9 pieces: upper torso, lower
torso, separate feet, separate arms, right hand (empty), left hand (holding
flak jacket), and head. The remaining 14 pieces are all equipment, including a
4-piece rifle.

Assembly was very simple. The parts were removed from runners where necessary,
and cleaned of the runner tabs (or casting blocks, in the case of the larger
torso parts). Joining was done with medium-setting superglue, and the joints 
and seams were filled with Squadron White putty. There were very few places
where putty was needed. The fit is very good for a resin kit. Better than most
injection kits. The hands and head were left off to be painted separately, as
were the feet. The gun was assembled with a little more difficulty, as the fit
is not quite up to par with the rest of the kit. The other accessories were
just set aside to await painting.

The hands and face were painted using the technique in Verlinden Magazine vol 1
no 2, and set aside to let the oils dry. This technique for face painting uses
oils exclusively for the flesh tones.

The body and accessories were airbrushed with Humbrol Khaki Drab, a dark green
color whose catalog number I forget. The flak jacket attached to the left hand
was brush painted in this color. When the paint was dry, Humbrol Khaki Drill,
no. 72, was used on the web gear and straps of the flak jacket. These sub-
assemblies were given two days for the paint to completely dry. After this time
a lightened shade of the green was drybrushed to all green areas. The feet were
attached and painted a 50/50 mixture of Scale Black (Pactra) and Testor's
Model Master Leather. When this had had a day or so to dry, the whole body 
(minus accessories, head, and hands) was given a light coat of dullcote, to
add more protection against the upcoming wash.

For weathering and washing, a wash was made of Burnt Umber oil, and applied
very lightly with a 2/0 brush to the accessories. This was to provide some
contrast with the body, which would be weathered a little more heavily. The
wash on the body was applied much heavier, the net result making the uniform
look darker than the personal equipment, or in essence giving the equipment a
more faded look. When the wash had time to dry, another coat of dullcote went
on, and then the hands, head, and equipment were attached.

The gun was painted Scale Black, with the wood parts getting MM Leather, and
the Burnt Umber wash. Powdered graphite was applied to the black areas for a
worn, metallic look. The strap was measured and cut, and painted a 50/50 mix
of the Khaki Drab and Khaki Drill. Copper wire was used to make the hooks and
buckles where the strap attaches to the rifle.

Finally, the figure was mounted to an oval 3" by 1.5" base, that had some of
the Woodlands Scenics medium-coarseness turf sprinkled on it and bonded down
with a 50% solution of artist's acrylic matte medium.

I spent about 2.5 hours in construction, and about 10-15 hours on painting, due
to the slow drying time of oils. This was also due to my inexperience with this
genre of modeling. Average time would probably be closer to 10 hours total.

Overall impressions: I'm hooked. I just wish the figures were not so expensive.
I got mine for only $19, but still, that's a lot for one figure. Especially
when you don't get as much "quality time" out of it as you would, say, from a
tank or aircraft of equal investment. But working this scale can be addictive,
especially with Kirin and VLS both releasing multimedia kits of artillery and
other "large accessories." Not to mention the old Bandai and Tamiya large-
scale AFVs.

Ratings (10-point scale):

Accuracy: 8 (the gun given is not a very common weapon, even for an officer)
Quality of parts (casting): 9
Level of skill for construction: 9 (resin, and need to make pieces from foil)

References:
"Focus On: IDF Personal Gear and Equipment," Verlinden Magazine vol 2 no 1.
_Israel's Cutting Edge_, Samuel M. Katz, Concord Publication 1005.
_Tools of the Trade: The Weapons, Gear, and Uniforms of the IDF_, Samuel M.
Katz, Concord Publication 1016.

Randy
-- 
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Randy J. Ray -- U S WEST IT/CSD         rray@{lookout,uswat}.it.uswc.uswest.com
I'd rather talk religion with Charles Manson than discuss ethics with Congress.
     -me                                                   Phone: (303)595-2852
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