Fellow modelers, let me begin this review by saying that I know nothing about this particular figure and it’s history.  After an exhaustive search I’ve been able to find two aircraft named “My Devotion.”   The first is a B-17F of the 351^st BG/510th BS.  The second is a B-24M of the 380^th BG/528^th BS.  Neither of the poses on these two aircraft resemble the pose of the kit.  I’m sure someone out there will recognize this figure/pose and I would very much interested in hearing all about this figure.  My best guess is that “My Devotion” was a popular song or lyrics of a song from that era.

 The kit came in three parts (see preview).  The entire body and legs down to the ankle straps of her shoes was one piece.  Each foot was a separate piece.  Detail is crisp and clean except for the resin blocks from the mold that must be cut off and sanded smooth.  The modeler will have to supply his/her own base.

 

CONSTRUCTION & PAINTING

 I began this kit by removing the excess resin from the molding and sanding the kit smooth.  I tested the fit of the feet and was satisfied but did not attach them.  The reason for this was that after examining the kit I thought it would be easier to paint some of the hard to get places before the feet were attached.  In retrospect I guess it really didn’t matter.   I then washed the kit pieces (all 3 of them), let them dry, and then gave the parts a light gray enamel primer coat.  After drying, I mixed up some flesh colored oils and painted the whole figure except the hair and muff (for lack of a better word).  My mixture for flesh is red, white, and yellow ochre.  Mix the red and white to a light shade of pink and then add the yellow ochre in very small amounts until you get the desired color.  After that had dried I mixed up some light blue and painted the muff.  The hair was painted a lightened yellow mix and the shoes were painted insignia red enamel.  After all parts were dry I then attached the feet.  Some sanding and touch up was needed around the attach points but it was very minor. 

 The next step for me was the face painting.  This can be a intimidating for some but I always look forward to this step.  I know I will be challenged and I like that.  After all, I didn’t want to end up with a two-bagger.  The female modelers out there should have an advantage in this respect as most of them paint their faces every day.  For those of you who have never done this before let me begin by saying that there is all kinds of help out there.  Seek advice from your wife, girlfriend, teenage daughter, etc. and find out how they apply make-up   Dig out some women’s magazines or some of your old Playboy mags and examine the faces.  I know this will challenge the concentration for some.  I suggest to those with this problem to sit on your hands while you look through the magazine.  I got help from a dancer that I know from the local “ballet club”…really!  Anyway, I applied the eye shadow and lip stick first.  I then painted the eye whites.  After drying I then sharpened a toothpick to a very fine point and added eyes and the eye brows.  When that had dried, I painted eye-liner using my toothpick  This takes a steady hand and a powerful magnifying glass.  I then did some minor shading and highlighting on the face in the appropriate places.  After all was dried I did the final touch by highlighting the hair with an off-white dry-brush and added a touch of blush to the cheeks.  As for the rest of the body, her nipples were painted a dark pink mixture and the toe nails were painted scarlet.  Most everything else was shading and highlighting.  I mixed up a thin wash of dark brown and using a small brush I let the mixture flow into all the little nooks and crannies.  The highlights are a very light skin tone and the muff was dry-brushed with white.

 After all was dry I used a small block of wood from an old contest award, glued on some model railroad turf, drilled a hole in the bottom of her right foot and a similar hole in the base.  I glued in a small metal pin and mounted her on the base…..Okay, I’ll wait for the laughter to die down.

CONCLUSIONS

 In conclusion I would recommend this kit to anyone interested in figures.  Straight forward, uncomplicated and yet elegant in nature. This kit will grace any figure collection.  Happy modeling!

 Special thanks to Scott Van Aken for the kit and the opportunity to review it. 

Review copy courtesy of the fine folks at Legend