Alan Hausmann
Alan Hausmann - This is my gallery.
When I was a small boy I was fascinated by WW2 and all the stories told to me by my Dad, uncles and their friends and so when I was able to I started making models; this was about 1963. I gradually increased my interest and my models got more intricate, subject to pocket money, of course. When I left school and started my apprenticeship as a joiner I continued building kits, but wanted more. Then I found a collectables shop in south-east London where I lived and bought my first original item - a WW2 U.S. army helmet and that's when models took a back seat and collecting militaria started. My last kit, an Esci 1/9th BMW R75 Solo, was built and then stuck in a box (1978).
Jump to 2013 and having collected G.I uniforms, equipment, weapons and a vehicle, then selling the entire collection along with my 1942 Ford GPW Jeep, I felt I needed an interest to maintain my sanity and turned back to model making. It's been an uphill struggle with family, work and free-time commitments, but I think I'm on the right track. I produced my first-ever figure / bust in December 2015, which was something of a milestone for me.
I work in the film industry as a scenic construction carpenter, but have also work as a military costumer and my other role as a senior armoury technician working on movies and TV shows like Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers and Warhorse, to name but a few.
This 1/9th scale bust is my first model in 38 years and my very first attempt at painting a face. I discovered a lot when painting the bust about the way paints now work compared to 38 years ago. The paints are a combination of Vallejo and Andrea acrylics and the building and use of a wet pallet enabled easy blending and layering of tones. The eyes are Archer fine eyeball decals from the United States.