Mike's Modeling: 2013

Saturday, 28 December 2013

I visited The Tank Museum once again at the end of October 2013, year after my first trip. This time I went with quite good idea what I want to see and take a picture of for reference library, all objects of my interests (many I am yet to build) were neatly noted and ticked off not to miss anything, at some point I felt like little boy in Christmas shop hunting for gifts. The bonus, as it turned out, was the Annual Pass for UK tax payers, which granted free access for a year. Shame really I could not visit more often, as 3 - 3,5 hours drive is the issue here. Nevertheless, this was not my last trip to Dorset, there are many more objects to be seen, Great War and modern tanks I am not yet interested in, but before traveling in time, I need to expire major subjects from Second World War period.

Horch 1a DAK / Archive /

Sdkfz 234/3

Focke Wulf 190 A-8

Conservation Centre Open Week at Cosford

Scale Model World 2013 Telford

Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition

Harriet's Triumph #4

Junkers Ju - 52 (BA) / Cockpit /

Harriet's Triumph #3 / The Base /

The idea how to use figure of Harriet was pretty clear from very beginning, even with few options, but what kind of base to build to fit her and her Triumph was a mystery. At least until I started painting the figure... Airfix magazine came inspirational as well, especially Simca 5 Staff Car building report from latest issue. I've decided to try following tips from that article and built my base to suit my needs, but with general idea remaining the same. After few trials the idea evolved, from very simple base/car/figure set-up to little scene with 3 characters.

Harriet's Triumph #2 / Final Assembly /

Detailing is quite absorbing job, there would be (too) many to come, but remembering "less is more" thing (hope that actually works) I put everything together before it was too late. Model is fitted pretty well, after some adjustment even gap between bonnet and front bumper was minimized and could be left unglued with engine compartment clearly visible. Beside worn out, early post-atomic look which I tried to emulate here, final weathering is to be done when base is built. Some dusty old road, and a reason to stop...

Open Cockpits Event at Cosford

Harriet's Triumph #1 / Basic Assembly & Painting /

When attending modeling shows I've seen many fantasy, sci-fi or movie/game character models & dioramas but some really caught my eye. Following inspiration (very sudden and unexpected) I thought of trying to build something of different theme than military. Model of Triumph Herald comes from Airfix in 1:32 scale (starter kit, with few paints and cement). Main idea is to convert car as much as I can, use spares from other kits - Dragon/Tamiya. Despite number of components, kit includes 73 white plastic parts plus sprue of clear plastic, it is rather simple kit. This is a good opportunity to let inspiration work and combine it with 54 mm War Griffon's figure of Harriet (hence the title). All is to be in Mad Max & Fallout post - nuclear reality style.