Welcome To My Stan Wiley US Military Policeman Page.

This page is about the Dragon USA Exclusive Stan Wiley US military policeman and how I have put him together. The pictures below we supplied to me by a very kind gentleman Peter Marshall, and I would like to say a very big thank you to him for the images. As they are an excellent reference source to help me with my figure.

Military Police re-enactors

I have just received some excellent reference pictures from Thomas of the equipment that was used by the US Military Police from his collection, and I have placed them here to share with my fellow modellers.

I would like to say a very big thank you to Thomas for the images above, and for his kind permission to allow me to use here for reference. Especially the one's of the truncheon holder, as I can see now that the one I have made from plastic is very near to what this looks like in real life.

Some information about the above pictures was very kindly supplied by Thomas:

The whole white gear is all post WW2 except the belt - also the belt is not dated but hardware is identical to other ww2 dated belts in my collection! Holster has no info on it - might be some parade or honour guard equipment ... - mag.-pouch is 1950 dated and baton holder is 1972 dated - official issuing date for baton holders was 1946 with the leather gear I also sent a picture ... - but I'm sure most of the MP's found a way to "field make" such a holder ...

The leather gear is ALL dated 1946 except the Sam Brown belt - most of the brown gear was painted black in the 50ies 60ies so it is hard to get hands on such a fully brown set ... The white cover for the holster was also issued towards end of war but no date on it coz of the lack of white holsters - some MP's even painted their gear white (had a colt ammo pouch which was altered that way) and also holsters where converted to MP gear with painting them white (what a shame) ... The guy on the pics was seen in 2004 during Normandy celebrations ...

Headsculpt

These are the before and after headsculpt pastel wash pictures, and it took I think 4 attempts at getting it right before I finally settled on this. To be really honest with myself the pictures above look better than the actual headsculpt when it is in front of me, and I am forcing myself to now leave it alone in case I end up ruining the sculpt. One thing that I have done differently with this head, was that I gave it a very diluted wash of Model Colour 70934 Transparent Red to add some pink to the facial colouring. Note: This paint has to be used very sparingly because even a small drop of it can change the colour very drastically. On top of that when wiped over and dried off fully, I gave the head a wash of some brown pastel chalk and a drybrush of some cream pastel chalk.

Uniform

The uniform for this figure I feel is a very nice copy of the Other Ranks Class A uniform, and in the pictures below I have

laid it alongside the DiD Officers Class A uniform for comparison. The first picture is of the DML uniform, the second one is the DiD Class A uniform. The next two pictures are to compare the material used for the tunics.

One thing that I thought was missing from the DML Stan Wiley uniform was the centre belt, this I have been corrected on by Paul with the link he has supplied me with below. Because from that page I have obtained the two pictures above of an enlisted Class A uniform, which shows that no belt is supplied with the uniform.

The belt that does come with the figure is plastic, this I will be replacing it with a fabric one from my spares box, which I am hoping to be able to change with some white shoe dye. Another item I am hoping to be able to make for this figure, is the truncheon holder as shown on the right. But at the moment I am looking for a better picture of it and information about what it is made from.

I asked about the belt equipment for the figure on the SAG forum, and I had a reply back from siegi (he219u) about the kit and he supplied me with the picture on the right. I have also had some excellent help from Shane regarding what the parts are.

I can tell you that #2 is the truncheon holder. #1 and #4, I think are what we call belt keepers. They look as though these are intended to hold something like a canteen. Usually they would go around the web belt and the waist belt (of the jacket or the pants) to keep the web belt from falling lower on the body.

They also look as though they could be parts to connect a “Suicide Strap” to the web belt (the strap that would go across the chest). #3 looks like it is something that would go behind the holster. This would give a more ceremonial look to the belt.

From the picture that was supplied by Peter above I have taken out a closer picture of the holster, and I can see how it is supported on the belt by another strap.

Boots

The boots are another item that I will be replacing as I dislike the moulded plastic boots from DML, the one's I will be using a pair from the DiD Albert Ross figure.

To show a comparison with the boots that came with the figure and a pair from the Albert Ross figure, I have placed them together in the picture on the right. The DiD boots in the centre have had a rub over with some shoe polish to bring out the shine.

I have found it is not until you actually compare the boots alongside each other, do you realise the detail that is missing with the moulded boots.

An interesting item regarding the boots that were worn by the paratrooper MP's, was told to me by Shane about how the laces for the boots were white.

If you are going to keep the MP as a 101st MP, I would keep the high leg corrocan, as the corrocans were a badge of honor worn by the paratroopers. For this next part there is no historical data to back this up other then my conversations with other WWII MPs,,, when the MPs were on duty using this dress uniform often times they would use white shoe laces (Paratroopers Only).

I have used the advice as given by Shane and I have changed the colour of the laces on the boots as shown on the right. To do this I used some cotton thread I found and dyed it with the white shoe dye, removed the supplied laces and re-threaded the boots with the new laces.

Blousing trousers

Regarding the enlisted ranks Class A uniform, I have been shown a page by Paul about the correct use of the Class A uniform for enlisted ranks. Of particular interest I have found is the text regarding blousing the trousers over the top of a pair of corrocan boots. Class A uniform

From the page above I have copied this text about how to blouse the 1:1 trousers over the top of a pair of paratrooper boots, and my tip here, here and here about using the dental rings for 1/6th scale will I hope allow us modellers to get the same result.

Blousing the wool trousers over the jump boots must also be done properly to accurately portray a paratrooper. Paratroopers in WW2 took great pride in blousing their highly shined jump boots as it separated them from their “straight-leg infantry” US Army counterparts. However, there is good news, it is extremely easy. First, do not try doing this while sitting down as it will not give you the proper amount of trouser length that will eventually end up under the blousing band. There are many documented references to paratroopers using non-used (make sure they’re non-used) condoms for blousing bands, however most re-enactors use modern elastic blousing bands. Situate the blousing band on the jump boot somewhere close to the top of the boot. Then, with your trouser legs fully extended, neatly fold the ends of the trouser legs, similar to rolling up your sleeves, until they reach just below the blousing bands. Then simply and NEATLY tuck the ends of the trouser legs into the blousing bands, making sure it’s smooth.

Figure Assembly

This is my first trial to see how the uniform goes together, the first thing that sprung to mind was the creases in the trousers have been ironed in wrong so these will have to be re-ironed. I also realised that the DiD boots really do add a lot of detail to the figure, another item that I have changed are the hands as they are also moulded plastic. These were traded with Terry (many thanks) for some cotton gloves from the DiD Willi Baver figure, and I much prefer these gloves to the moulded plastic hands.

The new cloth gloved hands are shown above which were fitted to a pair of DiD bendy hands, these also had to have the pins replaced for fitting into the DML arms. The other thing I have done to the uniform so far is shorten the elastic on the tie, as I did not like the way it hung down which allowed the neck gap to show. This was just a case of cutting the threads that held the ends together, sewing it back together about a 1/4 inch shorter and then cutting off the surplus elastic and fitting the tie to the shirt.

Helmet

I do like this helmet from the set as it made from metal, but I had to replace the plastic inner part as I wanted the strap and buckle on the front as shown right. To do this replaced it with a DiD helmet inner which slotted into the outer shell very nicely. This can also be seen with the other picture on the right.

Note: One small problem I had with the outer helmet shell, was when one of the straps for the back of the shell came off. This was replaced with some super glue to hold it in place.

Truncheon Holder And Web Belt

This item I have had to scratchbuild as it does not come with the figure, and after looking at the pictures at the top of the page plus having some excellent help from Bob, I made up the holder out of some thin plastic card.

From Bob and the 4th ID MP Platoon US MP re-enactors

For the past several years, we've been discussing and researching the truncheon or club scabbard issue within our group and we agree that the scabbard was not an official US Army issue item during WWII. Therefore, scabbards that are seen in photos are private purchase or hand-made as this was commonplace. We have also interviewed WWII MPs who corroborated this conclusion.

The pictures above show the truncheon holder that I made from some thin plastic card Note: The dimensions for it are as follows - Belt hanger - 8mm wide by 38mm long (the length has to be doubled so it can be folded over and glued in place) leaving enough room for the web belt to pass through. The holder for the truncheon (12mm wide) was made by folding the strip of card around the bottom of the truncheon as this is the widest part, then remove the truncheon and glue the circle ends together and then glue it to the hanger. When this was all dry I then gave it a coat of Matt White enamel paint  and I made sure that I left some brushstrokes in the paint, to make surface look a little bit rough.

The other pictures are of the canvas belt I had in my spares box, which I re-coloured with some white shoe dye, this took about 3 goes to make sure it had soaked in enough. The final picture above right is a DML rigger pouch which again I dyed white, with the fastener replaced with a DiD lift dot. The .45 ammo pouch that came with the figure also had the fastener replaced with another lift dot.

Shoulder Epaulette Error

I have just got to the stage of attaching the CVI shoulder insignia I wanted to use, and I discovered that the shoulder epaulette on the right hand side of the uniform (figure facing you) is sewn on wrong. The first picture above left shows the centre of the badge in line with the seam, the second one shows a line for the seam and how much the epaulette is out of line. I have now checked my second uniform that I bought loose, and again I find I have the same problem on the same side, again the red line is the seam on the last picture above.

I have now been able to use both the text and the image below, to show how the lanyard is worn by the US MP's. And I would like to thank both Shane and Brady for allowing me to use the text and picture here.

Lanyards

The final part of my figure is the fitting of the lanyards and because I was a little bit unsure how they were worn, I asked Shane to explain about them and he has very kindly supplied the following excellent information.

I have attached a pic of the MP from Monkey Depot. You will notice I have 3 different color lines and #1 and #2.

#1 with the black arrows. The lanyard should be a loop. In this case the loop would not go under the epaulette, but under the collar and cross the chest and attach to the lanyard loop on the pistol.

#1 with the red arrow. MPs also wore the lanyard on the same side as the pistol. In this case the lanyard would go under the epaulette at the same side as the pistol.

#2 green arrow. Again the lanyard should be a loop. Usually looped under the epaulette, looping down and back up and hooking under the pocket flap at the button.

I don’t remember seeing many white whistle lanyards; I mostly remember seeing chains, like on the pics I sent, and the DML Lou. That’s not to say that the white lanyards were not used. Each unit had a lot of freedom to play with their uniform. As of WWII the Military Police corps was a relatively new concept. Prior to WWII the MPs were usually some guys who were trust worthy and detailed to MP duty (usually straggler control and deserter apprehension). Even in WWII they were often from other branches and trained, then released into the MP Corps. There is little historical data, even in the MP Museum. Much of what I tell you is a reference from Old Timer MPs I have talked to over the years.

That is probably why I am enjoying this so much, you are capturing some unwritten history and really honouring those who have gone before me and made the MP corps the element it is today. Due to the nature of today’s battle field the broad sword approach (Infantry, Artillery, and Armor) is not the preferred method. A more precise approach the MPs bring is the preference, earning today’s MPs the title “The Force of Choice”

These are some pictures of the finished figure. The lapel and paratrooper wing badges were put onto some double sided tape, cut out and then fixed onto the uniform. With the lanyard end I found out it has to be attached to the pistol, so I made a loop of stretched sprue, glued it onto the pistol butt and tied the lanyard to it.

Peter Marshall, Paul (.308), siegi (he219u), Terry ('The Bhoy'), Bob (4th ID MP Platoon).

82nd Div Living History Group

Brady (Monkey Depot)

Shane for his excellent help with the reference details.