Earlier in the year I started painting El Greco’s Boer Commando as sculpted by Carl Reid. However, I was not happy with the attempt so I decided to strip it and restart it. This time I have got a much more rugged look to the face. Here are some pics of the initial work.

I have been working on the face trying to define some of the features. Adding some deep shadows with Mars Brown. Some colour to his cheeks with Venetian Red. I have also tried to give a tired look around the eyes with a mix of Paynes Grey and Mars Brown. Not sure how is has come out. Thoughts? I have also started laying in details such as the eyes.

Got back from the BMSS Bristol show yesterday enthused so I have sat back down with this piece. I picked up some Vallejo Glaze Medium as suggested by Dave Maddox, who used it on his wonderful Landsknecht, to aid the thinning of the paint. Still playing with it so any suggestions on ratios are welcomed. More to do on the trousers such as deepest shadows and highlights.

Despite being enthused after Euro and Gravesham back in September/October I have done a distinct lack of modelling in the last month or two. In order to do something about that I decided to do something outside of my comfort zone, a sci-fi piece. It is one of the AE-WWII pieces from Darkson Designs. It is an officer of the American Faction. It is about 40mm tall. The detail is stunning when you consider the size of it. Not one for sci-fi but this one works and I will be getting some more pieces from them. They do a British Druid in a para smock.

The above pics were taken after priming but before final finishing off. I spotted a few areas that needed sorting. Here is a pic of the box art. It comes with alternative heads and arms.

Here are a few more pics of this one. You will have to keep with me on the photography as I am playing around with my new camera, a Canon Powershot SX20is, and new editing software; a new learning curve. The basics of the face are laid in. I need to go back and tighten it up.

And a pic of the base in progress.

Let me know what you think.

The other weekend saw me attend Euro Militaire for the first time since 2000. I was weary of how I would find it but in the end I really enjoyed the experience and for me it is still the top show here in the UK. I took some pics while I was there. I was trialling my camera on my new phone. It is a Nokia 5800. It has got a 3.2 megapixel camera with a Zeiss lens. If I am honest the pictures came out well. The only addition that would make it better would be some form of stabilisation sensor. Though that may come soon.

Here are some pictures of my favourite pieces from the show…

You can find more pics here…

Here are some pics of my 1/72 Hawker Sea Fury. It is the Trumpeter kit with Eduard coloured etch in the cockpit and the Aeroclub replacement propellers and undercarriage. Finished in White Ensign enamels and weathered with Promodeller washes. My only problem was with the canopy straight down the middle. Having removed it I faced some problems with Klear foggy in the corner. Trying to remove and rectify it seems to have made it worse hence why it is open. Lesson learnt.

Air Power, and the history of the Royal Air Force, is a personal interest of mine. As such I tend to be drawn to figures and busts of pilots, though usually they are portraits of aces.

This is the Latorre Models kit of a Royal Flying Corps pilot. Sculpted by Latorre this figures is a lovely portrait of an airman during the First World War. The figure was painted in oils as I find these the best material to reproduce natural materials. It was quite a challenge to paint that much leather but in the end I am quite pleased with the result.

Here are some WIPs pictures of a project that I have been working on. It is Dragon’s 1/72 Firefly and it is a really well detailed kit with some very small etch included for those who like a challenge. Dragon have really pushed 1/72 that little bit further. Shame that the odd mistake or problem does creep in with their instructions. Nothing that cannot be overcome though. However, for some inexplicable reason Dragon have left out the guard for the no. 19 aerial mount. They have not even included it in plastic.

You can see some pictures of the piece being painted. I have also included some of the base. The base has been undercoated in Israeli Tank Grey to give it an ochre basecoat for subsequent effects. The Firefly has been pre-shaded. All paints are White Ensign enamels. The base coat is White Ensigns SCC No. 15, which is a good match to the real. Having done research for a vintage paint company on this subject I can vouch for that.

There are some pics of the highlighting process. I have tried to push towards a highpoint i.e. the right hand corner. This will all be toned down with weathering when I get round to that.

I am using Bison Decals, as I wanted to do a NZ Firefly. This one is ‘Peacemaker’ of the 4th Armoured Brigade. These went down really well over a gloss coat from the Vallejo Model Air range, a very good varnish. Next step is to apply a stain varnish and then start the weathering process.

IPMS West Cornwall wish to announce their annual model show at St John’s Hall, Alverton Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 2QR on 5 September 2009. Opening times are 10.00 – 16.30, admission price: Adults £1.50, Children £1. Contact Arthur Johnson (Club Secretary) (01736) 757726 or email us at ipmswestcornwall@hotmail.co.uk

Here is a new piece that I picked up at the recent Welling show. It is a bust of a Boer Commando during the 2nd Boer War at the turn of the 19th Century. Sculpted by Carl Reid and released by Matt and Celine at El Greco. It is a lovely piece with the minimum of fuss in terms of preparation. It is cast in resin with my only issue being an air bubble on one of the lapels that needed filling. Here are some pics of the pieces and some early shots of the face being painted.

More soon…

I have been working on this one for a while now but I have not finally finished it in time for the Welling show on 18 April. Roy did an excellent job on this piece and it was a real joy to paint. It is finished in a mix of oils and acrylics and I have tried to recreate a worn look to his face. So here are some pics.