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 /

Lancaster B Mk I #3 / Jinx /

Since the very beginning, assembly of Phantom of Ruhr Lancaster was long and painstaking. Not that I had great problems while building it, but certain occurrences made me scrap it. It is the first build that I stopped almost at the final stage, for my own sake (and my fingers!). Score for this fight is 3:0 (0 for me). First time (1 point) I was wounded when cutting rear hatch out, piece of my pinkie was separated from the rest (still really miss it). Second wound (2 points) was received during act of not entirely rage, no, it must have been something else - common sense maybe?, 3rd point is for the whole thing - after all it is me who could not stand it anymore, even after putting it away for awhile. 3 turned out to be the charm.

Sdkfz 234/3

Lancaster B Mk I #2 / Assembly & Painting /

This Lancaster model became my test subject (second to Pzkpfw II), there are new things worth trying out. So far I used Citadel (Base, Layer or Wash) paints for all airbrushing, I also tried paints included in this kit, Humbrol acrylics. Samples provided are not enough for whole model, so I turned to available paints from Tamiya, XF11 & XF10 colors were picked, without trying to match real shades, historical accuracy may come some time later.

Focke Wulf 190 A-8

Conservation Centre Open Week at Cosford

Scale Model World 2013 Telford

Lancaster B Mk I #1 / Fuselage /

Lancaster is famous British bomber, haunting Germany at night, often identified with the Dambuster's Raid (70th anniversary this year). It is also my new project, from Battle of Britain Memorial Flight kit, which I picked up from late Modelzone, lured by the bargain. For the same price Dambuster Lanc by the same manufacturer is available, but BBMF set contains Spitfire & Hurricane models, supplied with very handy 5 model stand & set of acrylic paints. Spitfire is already built, Hurricane may become part of Bomber Airfield diorama in future. I happen to have RAF Bomber re - supply kit and airfield crew, which will be used to spark some life around a stand down bomber.

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.