1:35 Italian Officer Btg. Azzurro - with base

An officer figure with a base of its own, 1:35

This item comes with a base belonging to the figure according to the name. The result is a complete display object: you do not have to deal with a base or its shape and can concentrate straight away on the painting. The subject depicted is an Italian officer from the time of the Second World War, that is the type of figure where what decides above all is the fineness of the execution of the face and the equipment.

What the designation in the name means

The abbreviation Btg. is the usual Italian shortening of the word battaglione, that is battalion, and the word azzurro means blue or azure. The kit of an officer of the Italian army differed from that of the rank and file in the quality of the cloth, the cut and above all the rank markings, which were worn on the cuffs of the sleeves and on the headgear. Accessories such as a pistol holster, a field bag or gloves belonged to the usual outfit, and in a small scale it is exactly these that carry most of the character of a figure.

Working with the base

With a figure that has a base of its own it is worth considering how strongly to play the terrain. A restrained treatment, that is a fine texture, one muted shade and discreet weathering, lets the figure come out, whereas rich terrain suppresses it instead. The transition between the feet and the surface is best filled with putty, so that the figure does not look stuck on from above. You will appreciate the lower edge of the base in a dark, saturated tone.

Who it is for

• collectors who want a complete unit for a display case
• figure painters with an interest in Italian uniforms
• scenes from the Mediterranean theater
• a gift for a modeler focused on figures

No finish has been applied and paints are not enclosed; it is material to be worked up.