Boer Commando WIP 2

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.

Euro Militaire 2009

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…

Pilot, Royal Flying Corps, 1917

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.

Sherman Vc ‘Firefly’

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 2009

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

Boer Commando WIP

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…

KV-1

Here are some pics of my finished 1/48 KV-1 by Hobby Boss. The only addition to this was some grills from Hauler. Overall a great little kit. It is painted in White Ensign enamels and weathered with a mixture of oils and MIG Pigments. I am pleased with the finish as I have only been using my airbrush for about seven months. Stills lots to learn but I wonder how I managed without it.

I enjoyed it so much that I have just bought their KV-2;)

Grenadier of the Guard

Finally finished. Made some small additions to it but I can now call it complete.

Grenadier of the Guard

Here is a 200mm bust by EVD of a 2nd Empire Grenadier of the Guard. He is virtually finished. Just a couple of details to finish off but thought i’d post him as is to see if anyone spots anything else before I consign it to the finished section.

Douglas Bader

Just finished this one. It is a 1/48 figure of Douglas Bader, which is produced by Legends. The face has been painted in oils and the rest is in acrylics. The backdrop is supposed to be a dispersal hut and it is scratchbuilt out of plasticard. I have also included a pic that I played around with a bit by making it black and white.