Mike's Modeling: 2015

Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Iwm Duxford #1 / Land Warfare /

Museum at Duxford is a branch of Imperial Wat Museum located at former RAF fighter airfield in Cambridgeshire, England. During Second World War, Duxford was home for thousands servicemen from Britain, Commonwealth and Allied countries. In 1970 IWM took over and new structures have been built to accommodate planned exhibitions to preserve history, to help understand future generations importance of people and their actions during World Wars. Museum consists of 8 main exhibitions, from Air Space through Battle of Britain and Conservation in Action to Land Warfare which is a subject of this post. This exhibition has great many objects available to see, from period World War Two to modern, tanks, armored cars and artillery pieces. It is 'Candyland' for anybody who is interested in history, also a place where time bends while exploring this vast collection.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery #3 / Ancient Egypt - Mummification and Afterlife /

Mummification was a custom of preserving bodies of deceased performed by ancient Egyptians. Before pharaohs, deceased where buried in the desert where sand, temperature and dehydration preserved the bodies. With development of architecture and tombs, came artificial ways of keeping bodies from decay. It was believed that the spirit can re-enter the body in the afterlife and destruction of a body (or mummy) meant destruction of a spirit (unless statue of deceased was provided for spirit to inhabit it). The whole process of mummification took up to 70 days. During that period the body was washed and internal organs removed, with exception of heart. Other vital organs were placed in separate containers called canopic jars. The brain was drawn through the nose, using metal rod for head to remain intact. After removal of organs and intestines body was dehydrated in mixture of crushed salt for 40 days, skin rubbed with oils, cavity packed with lichen or bandages to reduce shrinkage, then wrapped in bandages, that could use up to 375 square meters of linen.

Pz Inz 130 Polish Amphibious Tank #3

The 20th anniversary build continues. Little amphibian is coming along nicely, has already reached the point beyond my first (ever) attempt, where hull, turret and details were made & put together. Previously, as starting modeler had lost my patience while preparing road wheels and simply let it go. It was a challenge from a start, had no idea about ways of folding card, no idea what glue to use (as a kid had only school glue and used it extensively, but after a while it simply fallen apart) or about tools. Now, two decades later, with little better skill and another copy, could get back to the roots of m hobby and build the model again and also (hopefully) finish it.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery #2 / Staffordshire Hoard /

Staffordshire Hoard is the largest Anglo - Saxon treasure discovered so far. It was found in a field near village Hammerwich, not far away from Lichfield in south Staffordshire, which used to be heart of kingdom of Mercia around 7 AD. It contains over 4000 broken gold and silver artifacts, many of them are stripped parts of swords or other weapons, also Christian crosses and other yet to be identified objects. It is a window to the past, posing questions who, why and why there buried so many valuable items. Treasure is dated between 650 - 670 AD, may have been loot from a battle, ransom for a king or simply hidden away...

Museum of Polish Military Technology #1 / Vehicles & Indoor Exhibition /

Pz Inz 130 Polish Amphibious Tank #1 / Hull & Chassis /

(source: Internet)

PzInz 130 was a prototype of amphibious tank for Polish Army designed in late 30's, based on British Vickers-Carden-Loyd Amphibian. Unarmed prototype was ready in 1937, in October of the same year underwent military testing, where proved to be reliable vehicle. In May 1939 Army High Command decided to cease further development of amphibious tanks, PzInz 130 was relocated to Ursus' R&D department. In September 1939 the prototype was lost, might have been taken over by Werhmacht, its fate is not known.

Technical Data:

(source: Internet)

Crew: 2

Engine: PZInz.425:8 (V8), with power of 95 KM, of capacity 3880 cm³,

Armor: 4-8 mm

Length: 4,22 m

Width: 2,08 m

Height: 1,88 m

Weight: 3,92 t

Speed: 60 km/h (on road), 7-8 km/h (in water)

Range 360 km (on road), 210-220 km (terrain)

Armament:

1 x 20 mm cannon or 1 x 7,62 mm machine gun (prototype was not armed)

PZL 11 c

The Sutton Coldfield Modelmakers Expo 2015 #2

The Sutton Coldfield Modelmakers Expo 2015 #1

Fantastic Plastic 2015 Wombourne

National Memorial Arboretum

Bugman's Raid #5

Bugman's Raid #4 / Painting Rat Ogres /

Bugman's Raid #3 / Painting the Dwarfs /

Severn Valley Railway - 1940's Weekend (Saturday)

Bugman's Raid #2 / Painting the Skaven /

Bugman's Raid #1 / Setting the scene /

Story of this Warhammer diorama is happening in the underworld of Rat-Men, known as Skaven and halls of mine dwelling Dwarfs. Two races digging tunnels, building under-strongholds, fighting for territory or survival, stand against each other once again, this time at Joseph Bugman's. Skaven warlock engineer Ratchitt with Rat Lord Trikk Greybeard broken into establishment using force of Warp Stone, blowing up wall, through secretly made tunnel straight in. Famous Pub has famous ALE, valuable stock among many races, the barrel is clearly an objective of this raid. Dwarfs will fight bravely for barrel of high percentage alcohol, some even may go berserk swinging their axes with deadly force and precision. Two Rat Ogres lead by Master Moulder, Skreet Verminkin, secured the advantage of surprise and numbers ...