Thank you to everyone who has watched and subbed these past few weeks. It's been really exciting to watch the numbers tick up without having to promote my video at all. I'v'e got a new one in the works where I paint a plastic cowboy and then after that I'm going to share some Conquest: Last Argument of Kings models I've been painting. Appreciate all the love ✌ - Update 11-30-22: After learning that these are British Paratroopers I looked up the make of the gun and learned that it's likely a "Lee Enfield" and not a M1 Garand like I said several times throughout the video. *From Wiki:* "The Lee-Enfield or Enfield[9] is a bolt-action, magazine-fed repeating rifle that served as the main firearm of the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century, and was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957." -

@gunner678

11 ай бұрын

The no 4 mk 1 version of the lee enfield. Good job!

Went to Ireland when I was Eleven in 1983, I was in a store where I noticed a "Matchbox" kit with both American Paratrooper's, and German Panzer grenadier Molded, 1/35 scale, plastic army men, I'd never seen Matchbox make anything but miniature cars, and car related items before so I was intrigued right away, and then I saw that intricacy in the soldier's moulds were excellent, unlike the garbage that started being made in the 80's, this kit was more along the lines of the army men my brother had when he was a kid back in the early late 60's early 70's, which were the best I've ever seen, they were virtually the same quality that you would get from a model kit, anyway it was the best quality army men I'd ever had, and I guess because of that I decided to paint them, and was really satisfied with the turnout, and inturn left me wondering if anyone else had ever Done what I think some people would consider a "Stupid?" thing, but It left me thinking of it more as a "Why not" thing.

This is how I started painting mini figures 47 yrs ago and I am still at it!! This art helps me with PTSD!! I enjoy doing this hobby!!!

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

So happy to hear that the hobby treats you so well. 💯

@bkb087

6 күн бұрын

Hay, man, I hope you're doing well. I'm glad to see u found something to cope with ur ptsd . Lots of love, Ben

You can do so much with these cheap figures. I used to buy up the packets of cowboys and indians to use as base figures for anything from the William Britains catalogue. From knights archers and men at arms to guards bands and Bengal lancers. Miliput and paint, stretched sprue etc will allow you to make anything. I even used a set of army men painted up to put in the model set for officer training at a well known British military academy. To my knowledge they soldier on to this day 25 years later. Good job by the way!

awesome.

I would like to see the same army men but painted with camo from a Vietnam era style.❤️🥰❤️

Excellent work! I’m sure many of us have looked at army men and wondered what they would look like painted professionally. I think those guys are British paratroopers. If I remember correctly one of them is carrying a Sten gun.

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Hey bub, thanks for clarifying. I wasn't sure if they were American or British, but I definitely think you're right. Two of them are carrying Sten's with the grenades in opposite hands. Thanks again for watching and commenting :)

@CollectorChronicles

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamesviolaofficial I always thought they were Americans too because of the helmets.

@chrissanchez2998

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamesviolaofficial they are British paratroopers my friend

@SlumberBear2k

Жыл бұрын

wow I never thought about that! as a kid i'd just mix these guys in with the Vietnam ones we're all familiar with and thinking back as an adult I just assumed they were americans. it's weird to think that this set was so popular in the united states. even the manufacturers were probably fooled. in fact it was probably the most popular set for WW2 toy soldiers and yet it was British paratroopers all along!? odd!

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

@@SlumberBear2k Yeah, I guess "Soldiers are soldiers" is all that ever really crossed my mind. I love KZread, man. So many people sharing their knowledge. It's honestly the best.

This was fun. Thanks Mate 👍🇦🇺

I'm glad I'm not the only one that realized that "Slap-Chop" is a method of painting that we've all used since modelers were painting dioramas. I just get annoyed that they had to label it like everything else these days, when all it was known as was wet brushing and glazing. Great job though! 👏 👏 👏 👏

Awesome work my friend

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

They look great! I was impressed with using the purple, brown and flesh tone paints for the skin. This is a new method to me so thank you for sharing it.

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

This is great, I've been painting warhammer 40k minis for a while and I've been planning on buying those cheap bags of army men just to practice and have fun with. This is really useful, thanks a lot! Also, the paint job is amazing. Really brings life to what would be a cheap and boring soldier.

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for saying so. It was a lot of fun to make and Ive got lots more planned!

looks nice. thanks for sharing

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

🙏

Always wanted to do this, so glad you made a video about it. I have searched for one in the past and couldn't find one. Great work keep it up!

Great idea!

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

The figure is a clone of the Airfix WW2 British para stood firing. Trousers drab khaki, jacket was the denison smock with light khaki, green and a reddy brown, the webbing belt, anklets, green, boots black. Oh and a British platoon was 3 sections each 1 corporal usually for 1944 with sten, 1 lance corporal with rifle or sten, one chap with a Bren LMG, one assistant with rifle and 6 riflemen although paras often had several stens. Above them the officer, a sergeant, a runner often with a 2in mortar. You’d often find other lads attached.

@Jamesviolaofficial

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing this info. Really helpful stuff. I never knew these were British soldiers growing up let alone paratroopers so I was pretty surprised to learn that.

awesome!! I've always wanted to try painting plastic army men as practice. Well done!

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Dean!

Came here cause one of my friends in the miniature community told me at the price point green army men make the best practice and test bed for beginner painters

@Jamesviolaofficial

4 ай бұрын

They’re great for practicing, I agree. There’s a lot to learn when you’re just starting out from paint flow to application and color theory that it really saves a ton of money to practice with cheap minis.

Very cool. I’ve gotten back into scale model building after 40 years.

Excellent work, i love this videos.

@Jamesviolaofficial

8 ай бұрын

Thank you!

I'm desperate to get started painting figures. This will help me. Thank you!

Awesome job! Always wondered if this kind of thing would look good, turns out it does

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

Awesome paintjob. Pretty decent. Looks very natural. Maybe straighten the rifles by cooking water and holding the gun into it. Then bend the gun into the right form.

Great video very enjoyable thanks very much

Nice job! Just a small note - I think they are late WW2 british, as evidenced by their front pouches, the water bottle and its holde,r and the rifle which is bolt action with the magazine protruding from the bottom.

What paint kit did you use? I was planning to paint my army men and also is the paint permanent once applied to the army men? Does the paint smear?

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Hey Aaron, all the paints in thia video are Army Painter. I havent handled them much since I painted them a few weeks ago, but if you use a good plastic primer first it shouldn’t smear at all. The trick is to be patient and let each application of paint dry before you apply another or it will become a muddy soup. What else can I help ya with? Let me know and maybe I can fit it in my next video. Thanks and have a great day

@Aaron-8989

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamesviolaofficial thanks

Yeah i did that once with little indians vs cowboy pack. Was fun. Where do get those army men n r they on Amazon?

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

It’s been so long now I can’t remember. I probably got them over 20 years ago at a Rite Aid or something.

Cool

thanks for the video, just awaiting delivery of 100+ green men to paint up for a board game.

@Jamesviolaofficial

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment, Tim. This method is an easy way to batch paint lots of figures in a few sittings. Let me know if you need any advice.

Sometimes a Elmer's glue dip works to prime...thinned just right Elmer's glue that is

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

I don’t think I would have ever thought to do this. Does the glue ever chip? How does it react to watered down paints?

@minifun

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamesviolaofficial no chipping, and with most waterer paints try not to go over it twice...let dry between coats. Only HAT brand mini's I have had this problem

I did this to several figures, but it was 1990 so I painted them in desert camo.

🤩

These look great. Don't know if it's already been mentioned but you may want to wash the figures in warm water with dish washing liquid before painting. The plastic guys have a mold release agent on them which makes it difficult to keep paint on 'em. one other suggestion. If you plan to use these guys in a stop-motion film, use a very small brush and outline everything on each guy in black (belts, weapons, shirt cuffs, helmets, everything). It'll make the guys stand out better on camera.

@HO-bndk

7 ай бұрын

Yes to mould release agent, and if polythene figures are a few years old they will have started to leach their phthalate plasticizers onto the surface.

I love this

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for saying so

@James Viola where did you get the foliage? it looks so good!

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Hey bud thanks for the question. I put a link to it in the description. It’s from Amazon :)

Great tutorial - where did you get that leaves from? they look cool

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Thanks buddy. I got them amazon. I searched Miniature Leaves a.co/d/c4NzlZw

@toysoldier68

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamesviolaofficial Thank you

When did you start painting army nen

@Jamesviolaofficial

2 күн бұрын

These are first ones I ever painted. I was painting Warhammer before that

Very nice. Which primer did you used?

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Hey Kevin, I didn't use anything fancy, just Krylon Flat Black Primer (it's in a rattle can). I'll put a link to something similar in the description. :)

Do you ever make a dioramas for Your P km article Army amen Do you Do the Bases or this OK eave them as is

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

I've made a few scenic bases for my other miniatures that a little like dioramas. I might make that into a video actually as I'm quite proud of it. For the army men I've painted so far I've left the bases black like you see in those pictures, but if I were going to put them into a diorama I think I would remove the base portion entirely and adhere the figures to it some way (probably super glue). Love the questions, George!

That type of plastic hard to keep paint from flaking off?

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Hey there, the paint hasnt worn or chipped at all since painting. I used Krylon brand spray paint PRIMER and it bonds really well to plastic. The paints are acrylic and they bond really well to the primer.

@minifun

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamesviolaofficial thanks I will try that...

Is it possible V to use a Wood Burner Pyrogravure To detail Plastic Army Men Faces

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Hmm I’m going to say no, and that’s because i think this plastic would melt from the radiant heat of the metal tool. I think an exact-o knife or modeling knife is best for scraping away pieces.

@georgemartinezjr

Жыл бұрын

Well I tried the Exacto Knike and Metal Scriber No good My amodeling Book Recommended The Pyrogravure Because has A lower Temp. That that if a Soldiering Iron Some are Heat Adjustable

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

I know I wouldn't be able to use it confidently to get rid of mold lines, but I guess I could see how melting the plastic would also get rid of those lines pretty effectively.

@georgemartinezjr

Жыл бұрын

I want to use it to add some eyes to a poor cast Knock off. Ita Skill Building Project. I got Replace his Nissing Forearm Fix the Face then Paint. Can you recommend a Primer Brush on

What type of coloring paint u use?

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

Army painter army green, grimoire purple, barbarian flesh, matt black, uniform grey, and oak brown.

@jackandy8507

Жыл бұрын

@@Jamesviolaofficial thanks for the info!

They look like Cold War Canadians with the foliage on their helmets.

@Jamesviolaofficial

Жыл бұрын

I gotta look them up!