Flash Gordon - Ray-guns

I came across this Blog which features scratch built ray guns;

http://jmelliott.blogspot.com/2008/04/ray-guns.html

Tony

Yours in white wine sauce Blog competition

German steam powered land-ironclad squad – Chapter Five
The main construction is completed and active field testing has begun, the Holt caterpillar mechanisms have proved to be very reliable and easy to maintain, achieving speeds of nearly four miles and hour. The walker engine and steam hydraulics are proving difficult to operate, however tests have been carried out and the progress has been positive.

Naval and Army engineers have begun to ‘customise’ individual elements of the equipment and guns, which has led to a number of mishaps as teams swap between vehicles. The obvious answer is to allocate individual vehicles to one or the other of the main arms, however senior commanders cannot agree and as such these little problems look like they will continue.

Following a mishap late last week, where one of the assault tanks, was miss-identified it has been decided that each of the four steam vehicles, the two Assault Tanks, the one Command Tank and the Assault Walker will be painted in very distinctive heraldry, and following this decision the individual vehicle commanders have also been agreed on as well as a simple allocation of overall command responsibility. One of the Assault Tanks and the Command Tank have been allocated to the Army Engineers Corps, while the second Assault Tank has been allocated to the Armed Naval Development Division. The Steam Walker has by necessity been allocated to the new and experimental ‘Q’ Division. In an attempt to integrate, the remaining crews will be a mix of Naval and Army personnel and each vehicle will display army numbers and identification as well as Naval ensigns!

The Fenian Airship (Toucan) – Chapter Five
Although construction is completed, there has been nothing but niggling issues with the whole project, tempers have flared and arguments have been seen to erupt in to fights and sulks. A noted independent American observer commented that The Fennian Irish are perhaps not best suited to such engineering feats! The same observer has now been admitted to a high security hospital while his injuries are treated.

Flight tests have once again been delayed and it is noted by those in the know that although the envelope has successfully been inflated and flown in tethered flight, the gondola, engines and equipment has not yet become airborne.

Development is painfully slow - there is even talk that the 80 day deadline may no longer be feasible! For the honour of the Fenian’s and Ireland we all hope that the Toucan can be operational in time.

A side effect of these recent setbacks is that candidates for the position of airship commander are disappearing fast. Nobody wants the responsibility of commanding a new and un-proven airship while the pressure and expectation of success is so palpable. It will be a brave man or a fool who volunteers for such a position. Test crews were initially recruited from amongst volunteers, however as the technical difficulties of this new form or warfare grow, the selection process that was initially envisaged has had to be modified, in fact there are now mercenary elements that have been recruited to fill key roles. Of special interest is the revised plan for crewing this Aeronef. The initial plan was to have two separate crews each training alongside one another and competing for the honour of becoming the ‘A Crew' and a dedicated ground team with engineering support. There now seams to be a core crew (with some dubious mercenary elements) and a very small back up team!

An inspirational miniature painting site

I have admired the miniature painting of Steve Dean for some time. The best description of his painting style is 'Kevin Dallimore style - clean and bright colours, painted in a very precise way and simply based'.

Check out;

http://www.steve-dean.co.uk/

I have tried to paint using the Foundry or Dallimore style, but find I want to use 'washes' which don't always work well with this style. If you want to see more of the 'Foundry' style - then Steve Dean is one of the very best exponents!

Tony

Flash Gordon - Hawkmen part three

This is the latest in my collection of Hawkmen - a Hawkman officer.


The miniature is built in the same way as the previous three Hawkmen, painted with acrylics and mounted on a 4omm round base.

The base figure is from the prehistoric range of 40mm figures from Graven Images.

Of special note is the order I painted this figure. I started with the bronze, first painting it dark brown, then bronze and dark brown, then bronze and finally highlighting with gold. Once dry I applied washes of dark brown ink and Klear. When I was happy with the finish, I painted the rest of the figure with acrylic paints.

Tony

Flash Gordon - in Thailand

In 2007 my wife and I visited family who live in Bangkok, Thailand. We were over there for three weeks and during that time I had the opportunity to visit many shopping malls in search of model shops. There are very few, but what they do have are multipart collectable miniatures from Japan - a bit like 'Kinder Surprise' chocolate eggs sold in vending machines, but so many different themes.

I picked up a number of these models, usually second hand and costing no more than £1.50 each. Then once back in the UK I glued them together, re-based and painted them.

I am sure that a collector could tell you exactly what monster each of these represents, but to me they are just opponents for my 40mm Flash Gordon miniatures.

The first is a winged lizard creature that came in parts and is based on a 40mm round base. I have painted it in the same colours as the original.

The second is an armoured, giant turtle (or as I now know - a Gamera) this model came in nine parts and is based on a 60mm round base.

Others in the 'Thailand collection' include a Lizardman/Lizard Monster - see above and based on a 50mm round base and some Fantasy Samurai that I intend painting as statues!

I also picked up a number of Thai and Japanese modelling magazines, which although I cannot read, do have some fantastic picture articles, particularly Mecha and Transformer models.

Tony

Current Projects - March 26th

• This week I have continued with my two entries to the Yours in White Wine Sauce Blog Competition - the German steam tanks & steam walker and the Fenian Airship Toucan. Modelling is finished and they have all been undercoated.
• I am still trying to make room in the attic - my son returns from University this summer and I know I will have to either sell (e-bay) or donate loads of books and magazines! If anyone is enterested, my e-bay store is http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/korgrockking
• I have just finished a fourth Hawkman figure and I plan on up-loading pictures very soon. In addition a Lizardman/Lizard Monster has also been modelled, painted and based.
• I am also trying to sort out my pictures/photos on the home computer - the amount of files is making it very difficult to find any particular photo.

Tony

Shipyard - Hullcutters

In modelling aeronefs from Space 1889 (Sky Galleons of Mars) no collection would be complete without Hullcutters! In my collection I have two distinct styles 'High Martian Hullcutters' which tend to be better finished and more advanced and 'Low Martian Hullcutters' as seen below, which are slightly more crude.

Construction of all three uses roughly the same techniques, a balsawood core with strip wood, cocktail sticks and cardboard glued with either superglue or PVA 'white glue'. I did produce a whole range of design sketches for these models, but in the end the models just 'grew', adding a bit here, trimming a bit there! In addition the Hullcutters used at 'Salute' in 2005 were also a great help in designing and building these models, see;

http://www.salute.co.uk/salutegames/cloudships/main.htm

The work-in-progress shots show the construction much better than words, but for a 'walkthrough', the construction would proceed as;

Balsawood shapes, first cut and then sanded to shape, glued together and then sanded again. Hull detail could be card or stiff paper glued with PVA glue and rams built from either stripwood (needed for strength) or balsawood. The detail around the ram is 'greenstuff', first added and when set, carved and sanded to shape.

Further detailing comes from plastic card and rod (the guns), cocktail sticks (the masts), matchsticks (railings) and scrap plastic from old toys or one of my favourite materials - knitting needles!

Before painting each of these models was painted with PVA glue and then base coated with a mix of acrylic paints and PVA glue.

The models are painted with sombre acrylic paints and Klear (Future in the US) washes. The flags are hand painted.

The propeller discs are cut with an Olfa compass cutter and each of the Hullcutters are based as are all of the fleet - on Games Workshop 40mm round bases. For anyone new to the site the models are built to the scale of 1/300 or 1mm = 1foot and are about 100mm to 120mm long.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Leaper Demon

This particlular miniature is a Leaper Demon from Grim Reaper Castings that I picked up from Spirit Games in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.

I first saw the miniature in an on-line catalogue and knew that I wanted it, many months later and after a number of telephone calls, I was pleased to pick it up from Spirit Games, thank you.

The miniature came in six pieces - base, main body, two legs and two arms. I had to bend the legs and alter the stance so it would fit on the 50mm round base.

The miniature is painted with acrylics, a sombre colour scheme of grey with small spashes of colour.

Althought the creature is quite fearsome, it always reminds me of the caterpillar in the Lewis Carrol book 'Alice in Wonderland'. In my alternative Flash Gordon Universe, I could picture it offering sage advice to space travellers!

Tony

Flash Gordon - Rocketship Mongo

No, this is not a scratchbuilt model, but a digital image produced by Kurokuma and available for sale at; http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/shop/itemdetails/-/?item=2196&cat=27&_m=d

I've included it on my Blog because I think its just fantastic and sums up my view as to what a Flash Gordon Rocketship should look like. Well done. I would hope that one day I can reproduce it as a model.

The image above is the Rocketship from Star Trek Voyager, the rocket that Captain Proton uses in one of the holodeck adventures.

(Please note I accept that I do not have the copyright to either of these images and should there be an issue I will remove them immediately. The images are included as inspiration for future modelling projects only.)

'Traditional' Flash Gordon and Ming Rocketships (as seen in the black & white serials) can be found at; http://www.retro1-2-3.com/store/prodinfo.asp?number=112003275&variation=&aitem=6&mitem=10

The colour of Flash Gordon Rocketships is something that can cause some debate, my own view is that they should be silver. If not silver then they should be red and yellow!

Tony

Flash Gordon - Mothman

In my search for suitable 40mm donor miniatures to increase my Graven Images Flash Gordon collection, I am always on the look out for figures I can convert. Mothman was such a project.


The miniature is a Super Hero figure and stands just over 50mm tall. The photo below shows the original miniatures based on a 40mm round base and the additional sculpting just begining.

Graven Images figures have a style of of their own and as I convert or modify other suppliers miniatures I find that I have to 'bulk up' the sculpts to match-in. I believe that the photos show how I go about this better than words.

This photo shows the modifications complete. I used 'green stuff' and the sculpting was done with a couple of dental tools and a cocktail stick. I decided to add a decorative plume to the helmet as I had just finished modifying a group of Flintloque Napoleonic figures and had seen the Austrian style plume in one of the books I was using.

The last two photos show the finished miniature, painted, varnished and based. The simple grey colour scheme was not planned but developed as the sculpt progressed.

I like the finished sculp and feel that I had been successful in capturing a particular look, the miniature is not based on any character or Flash Gordon figure, but has instead evolved.

Tony

Where do you go to model/paint?

There have been a number of articles over the last couple of months that have highlighted where people model and paint. Here is my haven, a garden sun room that my wife bought for my 40th birthday.

The sun room is situated in the corner of the garden and is 2.5mtrs x 2.5mtrs with one corner cut at an angle, there are windows to two sides and a double, glass door to the side cut at an angle. This photo show one of the windows and my main workbench, which was cleaned for the occasion, allthough I should have changed the dirty water! There is electricity which allows light, heating and the use of power tools and a radio (since this photo was taken I have replaced the old black radio cassette with a DAB radio). The angle lights have 'daylight bulbs' and one is fitted with a magnifying lens, which I very rarely use.

Tony

Achtung Schweinehund!

I have just finished reading this very funny account of wargaming in the 1960's and 70's for the second time and it has lost none of its very cutting humour. I would recommend it to anyone of my vintage - born in 1959!

The book is written by Harry Pearson and has been available via discount book stores in the UK.

"A brilliantly funny and nostalgic look at 1960s and 70s childhood as well as a more serious examination of boy's (and some men's) obsession with war."

It is rare for me to laugh out loud while reading a book (Terry Pratchett is an exception), but this book had me laughing out loud and smiling all the way through!

ISBN 13: 9780316861366
Published Date: 18/01/2007
RRP: £9.99
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Tony

Flash Gordon - Monster-in-my-Pocket part one

I have allready written about my search for suitable figures to support the Graven Images 40mm range of Flash Gordon miniatures. Here you can see two such toys from the collectable miniatures and card game called Monster-in-my-Pocket.



The first is the 'Bishop Fish' Number 47, from the Sea Monster group. The miniature was re-based on a 40mm round base and then re-painted with acrylics.

The second miniature is the 'Haniver', number 17 from the Ancients group, this time based on a 50mm round base.

The 'toy' miniatures are made from flexible plastic and allthough very strong, still need to be cleaned, undercoated with white PVA glue and based before painting.

Both miniatures are re-painted as the original colour schemes.

The 'Monster-in-my-Pocket' sets are sold attached to card packaging with either one or three miniatures to a pack. I picked mine up from a variety of stores and priced between £1.00 - £2.00 per pack.

I will post additional photos of other 'Monster-in-my-Pocket' miniatures later.

Tony

Shipyard - The Steam Ram Florence

The 165 ton Steam Ram Florence. Inspiration came from a 28mm scale model of the 165 ton Steam Ram Penelope, and captain Gustav Barnaby that I saw on the net. See below;

I knew that I wanted to model this Aeronef, just as soon as I'd seen it and after the initial sketches, the hull was carved from three pieces of balsa - the bow, mid section and tail. Once they were about the right size and shape I glued them together and sanded them smooth.

The reason I carved them in three sections is that this particular hull is quite complicated and having tried to model it in one, I gave up. This revised technique suited the hull shape better.


The two 'work-in-progress' shots, show the model completed and undercoated. The main items of construction are; Ram section - sticky label, Main wheelhouse - thick white plastic used for double glazing, Mast - cocktail stick, Engine room - more thick plastic, Boiler - section of plastic pen, Tail - plastic card, Gun platforms - sections of knitting needles and Guns - plastic card and plastic rod.

Additional detail is sections of plastic rod and small pieces of plastic card.

I have named the Aeronef 'Florence' after my Mother-in-law, I know that she likes the idea as many years ago I modelled an O'Gauge steam engine and named it 'Joseph' after my Father-in-law.

The model is painted with acrylics and the flag was hand painted.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Mudman

Mudman, or more correctly a 'Mudman Mountain' as the model stands over 60mm tall, and the model is kneeling!

The model is a resin casting from Grendel (I think) and is mounted on a 60mm round base which meant that the casting was trimmed to fit!

The base is built up with Das modelling clay and certain features had to be re-modelled with 'Milliput' and 'green stuff' to make it fit, but I am pleased with the overall impact.

The model was painted with a mix of acrylics and then static grass was added.

Tony

An inspirational Blog

I've included this link as inspiration;

http://jmelliott.blogspot.com/2007/04/train-models.html

'You would expect me to say that the Flash Gordon Engine is my favourite and I'm not going to disappoint. Thank you. '

Tony

Flash Gordon - Combat car

The latest post shows one of my 'scratch built' Flash Gordon vehicles - a Combat car based on the Juggernaut from Undersea Kingdom, see;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undersea_Kingdom

and

http://monstersinmotion.us/ships/hdjuggernaut1.html

Here you see the completed model with the 40mm Graven Images miniature of Dr. Zarkoff.

The next four photos show the finished model prior to painting. The main construction is in fact plastic card over the wheel and track assemblies of the Games Workshop Rhino Mk1 tank, a second hand Rhino was taken apart and the two track assemblies covered in plastic card and then the front, top and rear sections added. The round section to the rear of the drivers compartment is a section of clear plastic tubing from a deodorant bottle, while the fin is 3mm plastic card. The radiator grill is sections of 1mm plastic card glued together and on to another piece of plastic card, the whole assemble was then sanded to shape, a very satisfying experience!

The rivet and strapping detail is plastic card and plastic rod (cut into thin slivers and glued on individually), the gun and gun mounting are sections of a propelling pencil glued to a plastic bead.

Additional detailing is either plastic card, plastic rod or bits from the 'spares box'.

The model is very sturdy, being built on the GW Rhino, and the only real issue was painting, I had first tried to paint it silver, but it looked to 'toy like' and was repainted grey. The design on the rear fin is a roundel from a WW2 Mosquito with a seperate transfer of a lightning strike over a yellow disc from a GW transfer sheet placed on top.

Tony

Update - I have added two new pictures as posts on various yahoo sites and modelling pages commented on the colour - grey rather than silver. I thought that the first picture apeared too dark and so took some more in natural light. I hope that the combat car looks lighter in the newer posts, but also agree with some of the comments, I wish that I had left it silver!

Tony

Flash Gordon - Graven Images conversions

These photos are conversions of existing Graven Images Miniatures, or in the case of the first photo - the Tin Can Robot, a 'pre-production test piece'.



The Tin Can Robot was sculpted - or more accuratly modelled by me, it is one of my first production figures and was cast by Graven Images as a test piece. The original master was destroyed in the casting and this is a modified first metal casting. One point of note is that the original Tin Can Robot was not cylindrical but oval in cross section! This particular model was based on Dr Zatan's Robot and the tin can robot from Star Trek Voyager. The original was made from plastic tubing and knitting needles. The model is based on a 40mm round base.

These two figures are conversions of Dale and Dr. Zarkof - Prince Barin and Princess Aura.

These two Lion Men are conversions of the Graven Images Werewolves, remodelled head and mane plus a tail! These Lion Men are based on the Lion Men from Flash Gordon the animated series, where Thun does not use weapons.

Graven Images Formorians - with re-modelled weapons, a pair of clubs rather than swords. These were a joy to paint, a lot of fun!

Klytus, (from the Queen Flash Gordon film), a conversion based on Rasputin, the special edition miniature and the head from a Terry Pratchett troll miniature.

Each of the figures above are based on 40mm round bases.

Finally in this section a modified werebear, modelled and painted as a Space Bigfoot Monster. The head has been repositioned, the arms pinned and the gaps filled with green stuff.

Tony

My E-Bay Store

I've been clearing out the attic in preperation for my student son returning from three years of University and opened an E-Bay store, check it out at;

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/korgrockking

Many more items to follow, promise!

Tony

Flash Gordon - Girallon

Here is my latest Flash Gordon monster - a four armed, lizard tailed Girallon from D&D CMG - 'Fiendish Girallon' from the War Drums set - 47/60 CE 36

The figure was rebased, had the joints filled with green stuff before being repainted. I picked the miniature up from a recent wargame show for £1.00, a real bargain.

The miniature is just over 54mm tall (head to toe) and is mounted on a 40mm round base. I would suggest that the same figure could be used for 28mm Flash Gordon, Fantastic Worlds or Space Opera wargames.

Tony

Flash Gordon - The Cliffhanger figures

The main characters from the Cliffhanger range of 40mm figures from Graven Images - Ming, Flash, Dale and Dr. Zarkov

And the main troops and officers

All finished miniatures are mounted on 40mm round bases.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Terrain Board part three

This album of photos show the finished board, taken in direct afternoon sunlight - my favourite light for photographing.






I have a number of additional photos, but the photos in part one, part two and these - part three show the main construction, painting and give a good overview of this my first skirmish board.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Terrain Board part two

Thes photos show the next steps, with the board being either painted plus first highlight as well as the rough ground being coated in sand and small stones.


Here we see even more highlighting, mainly drybrushed but also some airbrushing. I have tried to keep the pale grey concrete building as light as possible.

As above. The airbrushing has worked very well.

As above. The wallpaper, once painted looks great.

The grass area is died sawdust. I had thought about grass matting, but went with died sawdust as I had some to hand. Prior to the sawdust being glued down I painted the whole grass area dark brown. The brown still shows through in some small sections.

The trees are Christmas decorations bought in a UK charity store with an additional resin tree stump, the area under the trees is coloured brown and orange with additional died sawdust.

This photo shows the alternative communicated tower which is 'scratch built' from bits and pieces. It also shows the board finished with added texture and contrast from ground foam.

This final picture shows the detail of the vault and stairs. The two bronze 'Saturn' decoration pieces were added very late and are 'scratch built' from plastic balls and plastic card discs. The grass or weed areas on the steps is added for artistic license and colour.

Tony

I am so proud of my son

My son is just finishing a degree course at Carlisle Institute of Arts or CIA!

Here is a piece of course work he has just finished, a digitally produced illustration of a violin. When I see the detail that he can produce I feel so humble.

Love you son.

Tony

Flash Gordon Terrain Board part one

This themed terrain board is 2' 6'' x 2' 6'' (750mm x 750mm) and inspired by an illustration in the book Flash Gordon Volume 3, published by Checker. The book is a reproduction of the original Alex Raymond, Flash Gordon comic strips - by King Features Syndicate.

In part one I will show the inspiration and initial construction. The picture or drawing that was the inspiration appears in the strip Dr. Bono's Secret.

Here you see the actual strip with the vault in the upper left and the steps in the centre top illustration. I initially sketched some, rough drawings, but this illustration was the main 'blue print' for the vault and steps.

The core of the board was layers of cardboard - actually layers of cardboard that are used to seperate layers of products on industrial pallets, which were given to me free-of-charge. The cardboard was cut and glued with an additional layer of white polystyrene for the upper section and another sheet of cardboard on top.


The edges were sealed with sheets of torn newspaper stuck with PVA glue and then coated in dilluted PVA. The piers to either site of the stairs are more cardboard, first stacked, then clad with card and then glued in place. The steps are layers of cardboard, clad with card. The yellow cappings on the piers are sections of a water pistol, cut and sanded before being glued down with super glue.

This phote shows the construction of the vault, foam board clad in thick card with detail from more card and plastic strip. The interior is left undecorated so I can change the buildings purpose as scenarios dictate, allthough the floor is covered with textured plastic card. The paving is wall paper, which I picked up from a local DIY store and the capping of the cardboard retaining walls is plastic card.

In this photo you can see my construction methods: cardboard, newspaper Das modelling clay and sand! Allthough if you study the photos you will also see 'blue foam', a button, balsawood, natural stones and a GW shield!

Here you can see the completed model and how the vault allthough situated at an angle still occupies the centre of the terrain board. The figures are 40mm Graven Images troopers shown for scale.

You can also see how the vault is modular, the main base which will be glued down, a central roof section and a top section - the reason is that I intend using the building for different senarios - the vault being the core one, but a radio or comunications tower has also been modelled.

Here you can see the first coat of paint - dark grey applied before the vault is glued in place.

Tony

Shipyard - Eagle Class Rocket Sloops

The inspiration for these models came from the Space 1889 site of Mateen Greenway, see below

http://mateengreenway.com/steampunk/Space1889USA.htm

Construction started with a rought sketch, which was later modified as different materials became available.


The main hull is plastic strip which is used by builders to clad double glazing window sills, I was lucky enough to pick up a few scraps when my Mother-in-law had her windows replaced. I attached a sheet of plastic card to the bottow and extended the front to model the forward gun platform. The shape was first cut and then sanded until I was satisfied with the result.

Next came the bridge, plastic clad balsa, the main steam boiler, part of a pen barrel and the engine, another piece of plastic pen. The section to the rear - the propeller drive assembly is a section of propelling pencil and two curved sections of plastic rod.

The rocket out-riders are more plastic card with thin slices of plastic rod attached to the tops. The main and secondary guns are made from scrap plastic and glued with super glue. Detail is either plastic card, plastic rod or in the case of the mast a sanded cocktail stick.

Once painted, the models take on a real industrial look, that I like. The colour is overall dark grey with some of the decking painted light tan and overpainted with stripes. The whole model was then washed with Klear (Future in the US) and thinned black ink before having a light 'dry brush' and finishing off with the detail painting.


During the modelling period and later when painting, I tried to give some variation to each of the two Aeronefs, the spotlights are in different places, the funnels have different strapping and the white stripe on USS Grant helps to differentiate the two ships.

During the whole modelling and painting sequences, I had only one problem - the attachment of the fins and rudders to the rear of the hulls, in the end, lots of super glue and white PVA to strengthen the join.

Each model is 108mm long and 78mm wide. They are named USS Grant and USS Sherman. Since these pictures were taken, I have added United States Flags - 1889 versions with the stars in a circle and a clear disc for the propeller.

Tony

Yours in white wine sauce Blog competition

German steam powered land-ironclad squad – Chapter Four
Construction has progressed well since the last update. The armoured compartments have been built and await roofs, which will be added once the guns have been tested and installed. The Holt inspired caterpillar mechanisms are already installed, but await final testing and the management and engineers are happy that they will remain within the planned 80 days deadline.

Naval engineers and specialists from the new Luft force have helped in weight reduction and new ideas.

The only negative is the balancing giros on the armoured walker, as expected this new technology is causing some concern, scale models of the walker mechanism and giros have already been tested, however the greater mass and weight of the actual battle walker has raised additional problems and experts are being recruited to help sort out this issue before it starts to hold up production. One train of thought is to increase the power available in the additional boiler and steam engine being built in the walker body as well as the original one in the fighting compartment, thereby increasing the overall steam power. We await more details.

It is expected that two specialist operators plus reserves will be needed to synchronise the mechanics of walking. The ‘in house’ joke – loosely translated is that these specialists are not allowed to drink any strong alcohol for fear that they will cause the new walker to stumble and fall!

The Fenian Airship (Toucan) – Chapter Four
Additional gas bags have been added to the main envelope, which now gives the impression of a ‘fleshy fish wife in young maiden’s clothes’. It is sincerely hoped that the new pride of the Fenian Aeronef Force (or FAFers) handles better than it looks. The envelope has had to be strengthened as a precaution against tearing and the gondola yet again lightened!

The Shillelagh stick bombs have proven successful and are now being refined to aid stability when dropped. One point of humour is the fact that one of the biggest arguments has been about the colour the bombs should be painted, the test bombs were initially made from compressed card and paper (to keep the weight as low as possible). The next batch were painted green, however there has been talk in the production factory that they should be black with a white or cream head! Senior managers have tried to remain out of this petty argument, however, as the project moves forward this subject looks like it could prove a sticking point.

Another test inflation and tethered flight of the newly increased envelope has been booked for later this week, weather permitting.