ModelKraft 2010

Sunday saw me take the train the Milton Keynes for the Milton Keynes Scale Model Clubs ModelKraft 2010. Often lauded as one of the best shows in the country I thought I had go along and see what all the fuss was about. If I am honest while I was impressed by the show it had nothing that stood out to me to make it different from many of the good shows around the country. In particular as I am primarily a figure modeller there was a dearth of figure related stands. El Greco were there so I got to have a good chat with Matt and Celine, which was nice. As to the competition area this was well subscribed to with some lovely entries. However, I wish IPMS clubs would realise that it is not wight to lump scratchbuilt/converted figures in with stock kits. They do not do it with aircraft so why do it with figures. It needs to change. The figures that won the figure class were obviously scratch/converted but the finish of several other figure in the class. Why penalize this? Have a separate class for them. Another way around it would be to implement the open system of judging and award multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. They could then weight the judging in this class and award depending on the nature of the piece. Arbitrary decision are just not needed now. Also the argument that well we need more awards and they cost does not really wash as there are plenty of ways around this. To be honest this may sound that I am winging at the Milton Keynes crew but I am just using them as an example of something that I think needs to really change in the UK modelling scene.

Anyway here are a few pics of pieces that really caught my eye at the show.

Here you can find a link to the rest of the pics.

Group Builds…

I seem to be starting more than I am finishing again but I suppose that is the nature of the hobby. The two latest peices to hit my bench are for Group Builds on forum that I frequent. They are both pilots sculpted by Mike Good. I have, as I have noted elsewhere, an interest in the history of flight so these pieces fit nicely with that interest.

The first peice is for a Group Build on The Basement called ‘Flight’. Basically anything that conforms to the concept of flight is eligible. Take a look at the forum you will find some interesting pieces on there.

My entry is Ultracasts Francis Gabreski.

Francis Stanley “Gabby” Gabreski (Franciszek Gabryszewski) (January 28, 1919 – January 31, 2002) was the top American fighter ace in Europe during World War II, a jet fighter ace in Korea, and a career officer in the United States Air Force with more than 26 years service.

Although best known for his credited destruction of 34½ aircraft in aerial combat and being one of only seven U.S. pilots to become an ace in two wars, Gabreski was also one of the Air Force’s most accomplished leaders. In addition to commanding two fighter squadrons, Gabreski had six command tours at group or wing level, including one in combat in Korea, totalling over 11 years of command and 15 overall in operational fighter assignments.

Here is a pic of the box art and the casting.

Here is a close up of the head. A great likeness.

I have started laying in the basic colours on the face but I need to return to this to tighten up the features.

The other Group Build is a piece I am doing for the Great War group build over on Britmodeller. It is Pegaso’s Lanoe Hawker VC.

Hawker was the third pilot to recieve the VC. He earned it for attacking and downing three German aircraft in succession, flying Bristol Scout C, serial No. 1611. The first, after he had emptied a complete drum of bullets from his aircraft’s single Lewis machine gun into it, went spinning down. The second was driven to the ground damaged, and the third – an Albatros C.I of FA 3, which he attacked at a height of about 10,000 feet, burst into flames and crashed. (Pilot Oberleutnant Uebelacker and observer Hauptmann Roser were both killed.) Hawker would eventually be killed in 1916 when he was shot down by Richtofen.

His VC citation read:

The award of the Victoria Cross was made to Major Lanoe Hawker for most conspicuous bravery and very great ability on 25 July 1915. When flying alone he attacked 3 German aeroplanes in succession. The first managed eventually to escape, the second was driven to the ground damaged, and the third, which he attacked at a height of about 10,000 feet, was driven to earth in British lines, the pilot and observer being killed. The personal bravery shown by this officer was of the very highest order, as the enemy’s aircraft were armed with machine guns, and all carried a passenger as well as the pilot.

I have not started painting this one yet so here are some pics of the casting and the box art.

More soon…

Coventry Transport Museum

Here you will find some pics from my visit to the Coventry Transport Museum.

Here is a pic of what I think is IMHO the most beautiful car in history; the Jaguar XK120 hard top coupé. Does anyone make a model of it?

Midland Air Museum

Today I went to the Midland Air Museum just on the edge of Coventry. Some good exhibits with more bits to do with Sir Frank Whittle. The more I am exploring the more I am coming to the conclusion that Coventry not only has a rich automotive history but also a rich aviation heritage that I may have to explore further. Here is one of my favourite pics of the day. It is a shot of the cockpit of a Sea Harrier FA2.

You can see more pics here.

Boer Commando WIP 4

Some more pics of this one as it stood after a first coat of acylics. I have been working on the hat. Trying to get a worn look to it. I had planned for it to be a cloth hat but I have decided to change it to a leather hat, which will mean a change to oils. The work done will not be a waste though as it will prove a useful undercoat to the effect that I will be going for.

Matilda II WIP 4

After a few weeks off modelling I was back at it yesterday, well only an hours or so but it needed to be done. Started constructing the suspension for this one. The detail is great. It shows what Tamiya are capable of. There is quite a lot involved int he construction of this despite the fact that the majority of it is hidden away under the sideskirts. I am only half way through the left hand side but it gives you an idea of what is there.

Here is the sproket wheel

The idler wheel

The jockey wheel assembly

The rear left handside roadwheel assembly. There are two double sets of these that make up the rest of one side. I’ll take some pics of them once made. Look at the bolt head detail. Very nice.

Here is the idler and jockey wheel attached and a shot of the sprocket attached to the lower hull.

More soon…

2009’s Builds

Here are some pics of what I have managed to complete this year. 9 builds in total which is records for me in recent years. A good mix of builds too; aircraft, armour and of course figures. I managed to fulfil a new years resolution by completing an aircraft, well actually 3. It is unlikely that I will finish anything more before the end of the year.

A 200mm bust of a Grendier of the French Imperial Guard by EVD.

1/48 KV-1. This is one of the Hobby Boss kits.

A 1:10 scale bust of Spahi Private of the Vichy French Army, Syria, 1941. Sculpted by the late Roy Hunt and produced by El Greco Miniatures.

1/72 Hawker Hurricane MkIIc. This is the old Academy kit.

1/72 Sherman MkVc ‘Firefly’. This is the very good Dragon kit.

28mm Lawrence of Arabia

54mm RFC Pilot, 1917

1/72 Hawker Sea Fury FBII. This is the Trumpter kit. Generally a very good kit. A few issues but nothing that can not be sorted.

1/72 Supermarine Spitfire MkI.

Boer Commando WIP 3

Some more on this one…

The hair is almost there. I am just going to apply a light wash of paynes grey. I have also started painting the eyes. Not finished. I need to add the pupils and finish the whites. You can also see a bit a magic sculpt to fix a small gap between the hat and head. This will be easy to cover up. More soon.

Matilda II WIP 3

Having started this, here and here, I am going to do the pics do most of the talking…

Here are some more pics of it.

Here are some shots of the front plate attached to the lower hull.

Some shots of the general look of it. The upper hull is not atteached here just dry fitted.

An overhead shot and the rear deck area.

The rear transmission cover.

Some more detail shots of the turret. Look at those smoke dischargers.

Matilda II WIP 2

Some more work on this…

Started on the lower hull, which goes together very well. You can see the front hull plate here and the bottom of the hull. The kit is very well thought out. Once the front plate is attached to the lower hull the upper hull just slots in.