Ace 1/72 Citroen Traction Avant (Vignette)

[B4en]

An innovative and lovely car, but not the loveliest of kits. It took a lot of work to get this looking passable. I added a roof rack, luggage, and passengers. The tyres were also made a little bigger as the kit ones look too small. I made up a vignette base and lamp post to go with it, and tweaked/painted up some Dapol railway passengers and workmen to look more french. (I managed to avoid the strings of onions and mime artist suggested by my brother though! )

So the scene is 1940 somewhere in northern France. The caption: "C'est ma femme... Elle a peur des bosches."

[JamesPerrin]

This is superb, especially the figures!

[PGAS]

Beat me to the punch! The figures are wonderfully painted! A very nice scene overall!

[general rocket]

A well built scene.

[iggie]

Very nicely done indeed, the story is clear to see

[B4en]

Cheers everyone for the nice comments! I wish I'd been able to get a better finish on the car - really must invest in some proper gloss varnish rather than using multiple layers of Pledge. The front windscreen could be much better too - it's ok from a distance but close up you can see what a mess it became.
Those old figure sets turned out much better than I expected - thay are (even) older than I am I think. Nice that they were repopped by Dapol in 'proper' kit plastic which makes converting and cleanup very easy. The dio base was quite satisfying to do and will get reused - the lamp post is removable so I can use the hole it slots into for other 'street furniture' at some point.

[Migrant]

It's superb Ben, your figure painting is amazing. What size brush did you use to paint the French guys' stripey shirts? Do you leave the figures on bases so you can swap them around between vignettes?

[Clashcityrocker]

Fantastique

Nigel

[Stuart]

That is a superb little Vignette Ben, very nicely done indeed! I do like the figures, especially the ones in the car.

[B4en]

Thanks again guys, the little vignette has attracted a lot of comments from visitors as well. I suppose my friends aren't used to me making non-military subjects.

It's superb Ben, your figure painting is amazing. What size brush did you use to paint the French guys' stripey shirts? Do you leave the figures on bases so you can swap them around between vignettes?

Cheers Mike! The brush was a size 100 - very small with long bristles. It's a proper pricey one from an art shop. You definitely get what you pay for with brushes as it's lasted much longer than my normal cheapo ones, and works much better. And yes, I'll be reusing the figures - maybe the car as well - for future projects.

[ShaunW]

Superb effort, Ben, that is a lovely vignette. I'm also amazed at the painting of the figures in this scale, including the geezers' stripey shirts! This is top class modelling.

[BWP]

Superb work as usual!

I wish I'd been able to get a better finish on the car - really must invest in some proper gloss varnish rather than using multiple layers of Pledge.

Why is Pledge not "proper gloss varnish"?

[B4en]

Thanks again guys, this was an interestingly different thing to try for me.

I wish I'd been able to get a better finish on the car - really must invest in some proper gloss varnish rather than using multiple layers of Pledge.

Why is Pledge not "proper gloss varnish"?

I suppose it is really Bruce. I'd like to try something that doesn't require multiple coats next time I want a gloss finish. It's not a high priority though as most of my stuff is matt anyway.

[KellerModeller]

Beautiful vignette and excellent brush work on the figures!!
At first I wondered why I found it in this section, but then I remembered that being 1/72 does not necessarily make something a military model..