D-Day Tribute

Every June 6th I try and do a little something to commemorate the Normandy invasion. I wasn't able able to do as much as I would've liked this time, as I was stuck on Dad Duty with my little guy, but I still managed to dash out and take a couple quick shots.





I had planned on having this paratrooper suspended from my clothesline with his chute deployed, held open with some thin wire or something, as if he was dropping down.

Maybe next year.





Instead I thought to show the harsh reality that, after so much training and preparation...some of those brave souls never even made it to French soil.

Nice photos and cool looking figure. I really like that last shot.

Thanks a lot Mark!

Very nicely done, as usual. Doesn't your little guy help out?

GubernatorFan wrote:Very nicely done, as usual. Doesn't your little guy help out?

Thanks! Haha he does sometimes, when he feels like it...that was not one of those days, unfortunately.

Well, you soldiered on. And triumphed.

Great looking figure, and nice tribute.

Thanks a lot folks!

Great job, really like the detailed crispiness of the paratrooer pics, bringing out his detailedness.

Thanks Ovy! I often forget what a process it can be to get these parachute rigs done up, so many straps and buckles! And that's before I found the leg bag!

For a moment I was wondering whether one could conceal a helium balloon in the parachute to depict the moment of landing, but I suppose unless there is a very happy coincidence of size and shape, it will be both impractical and visible.

Hmm that does give me some food for thought...you can get clear balloons. It could be useful even just for keeping the form of the parachute open, with the knot poking through a hole at the top of the canopy, attached to a string, letting the figure dangle off it with gravity for the rest...

PickleMunkey wrote:Hmm that does give me some food for thought...you can get clear balloons. It could be useful even just for keeping the form of the parachute open, with the knot poking through a hole at the top of the canopy, attached to a string, letting the figure dangle off it with gravity for the rest...

That's exactly what I meant. As long as too much doesn't show up at the bottom of the canopy. Maybe if there is the right size of "bagel"-shaped balloon?

Son of a gun...there are! Donut balloons!


I think even regular lightbulb or round ones could possibly work, too, if rigged up just right.

LOL I almost wrote "doughnut-shaped" but figured it would be even harder to make them with the hole inside, so I went for "bagel"! Now let's hope they are a suitable size.

Heck yeah, I'll have to do some research now.

Love the D-Day tribute! Really like the fading on the unis and gear, particularly the paratrooper.

Some good photos and great looking figures, D-Day should never be forgotten, nor should the reason why it all happened. I see you guys wondering about using balloons in order to keep the parachutes open and that reminded me of how our local toys R us had some paratroopers displayed up on the ceiling, their parachutes had clear acrylic domes on the inside, no idea on how they kept it from falling but the way it looked was fantastic, also no idea on where one could get a clear acrylic dome either, but I hope it's another idea.

Good idea about clear plastic domes, although in that case they would have to be suspended from something.

Hmm...I do have access to clear acrylic. I could use a heat-gun to shape it into an arch and run some clear fishing line through it and the top of the canopy...

Also, thanks tankgirl! His uniform and gear got a good soak in some tea. It really helps tone stuff down and give a more worn really well.