For figure builders, or anyone who builds models that might have some leather (seat covers and the like), one of the latest releases from Ammo by Mig is a six-piece leather color range set. The colors vary from dark brown to rust ochre and should satisfy all your brown leather painting needs. The paints all have a stainless-steel mixing ball already contained in the bottles to aid in mixing, and the colors can be mixed to provide the base color, shadows, highlights, and even scratches and tears. I would highly recommend this set to any modeler looking to add some brown leather to their builds.

History

If you were born in the last century at any time, you probably remember an older relative- perhaps a grandparent or older aunt who had an outhouse in the backyard. At the very least-- maybe a campsite or campground anyways. I frequented the one in my grandfather´s backyard as it was much easier than having to take off my shoes to go in the house and back then, I never wanted to come in. ICM has provided a relatively straightforward kit of the standard field toilet, although to be sure- one would probably only see these in more permanent set-ups. Most of the time these were set up over a hold in the ground with no wooden floor- but this is a dolled up version to be sure.

The Kit

Inside the durable cardboard box is just one sprue that contains the roof, door, sides, rear, and front frame of the assembly. There are also a few parts for the seat and inside assembly as well as a latch to lock yourself in and a handle for the front.

PJ Productions continues to issue excellent pilots for kits with this latest release, a 1/32^nd scale Eurofighter pilot. The kit is simple with three well cast parts- two arms and the body. I removed all three parts with a razor saw and washed the parts in case of mold release. I glued the arms into position and filled the seams with glazing putty and let it dry. The few seams were sanded, and a couple of small pinholes were filled. These were wiped with a Q-tip and lacquer thinner and smooth seams were accomplished.

Painting was straightforward and done with acrylics. The helmet was white, visor black and face mask dark gray with its attached hose. The main uniform was green with washes and dry brushed and black for the shoes and gray for the gloves.

This is another excellent kit from PJ Productions- simple to build and true to the flight outfit worn by Eurofighter pilots. Highly recommended.

Quote from “Gladiator”, the movie, “Are you not entertained?”

ICM has released this Gladiator kit in 1/16^th scale, and just a note that may be interest, ICM also offers a kit of “Roman Centurion, 1st Century, Kit # 16302 and also in 1/16th scale.

The kit includes 44 parts. There is no information to accompany this kit that indicates that this model is modeled after a particular historic figure. There is no mention of such a person and no historical or biographical information is provided. That being the case, you are free to paint the figure as you wish without a concern for precise accuracy.

If, on the other hand, you wish to model a more accurate figure then there are some references that could be useful.

I didn’t really know this, but the Swiss have a long and distinguished history of serving as mercenaries in other country’s armies, especially France, from as far back as the Late Middle Ages all the way through the Age of Napoleon and beyond. The last vestige of this type of Swiss service remains in the Swiss guards at the Vatican today. In some ways, these mercenaries were the harbingers of today’s professional soldiers – men dedicated to a life of arms rather than the temporary civilian levies standard up until that time.