Monday 30 May 2016

Pax Bochemannica Boche - finished



It should be obvious by now, but I really love these figures. They are brimmed-full of character, loads of fun to paint and beautifully sculpted - as a figure collector, what more could I ask for?

After varnishing the miniatures with first gloss and then Galleria matt varnish, I have added static grass, static grass tufts and ground foam to the bases.

The image below shows my complete Boche Warband - all 25 painted figures.


Tony

Sunday 29 May 2016

UK Games Expo - just one week to go



UK Games Expo is nearly upon us - the No.1 UK Games Convention will be running next weekend from Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th. For full details please see this link.

My plans are to be there on Sunday.

Tony

Saturday 28 May 2016

Pax Bochemannia Boche - part seven



My latest update shows all of the painting finished. I just need to varnish and add some decoration to the bases.

Image Two - Tvacii and Mandii - they could almost be sisters!


Image Three - Issvace with Patch.


Image Four - Cheesy with his sock standard.


Tony

Friday 27 May 2016

Pax Bochemannia Boche - part six



The painting continues.....

Not much to add to the previous post/posts. Tvacii has her red bikini and Mandii, painted in much more sombre colours has her leather mini-skirt. Cheesy has his sock painted and we should see the miniatures finished (the painting at least) in the next post.

Tony

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Ruined Temple for sale on e-bay



SOLD

This modified aquarium display piece was modelled by me some time ago and has sat unused in the attic. It is based on a MDF base with the groundwork built up from DAS modelling clay. Additional detailing has been done with Milliput epoxy resin.


The model is 220mm x 180mm and 140mm tall. It is for sale on e-bay with a starting price of just £9.99, for details see this link.

Thank you.

Tony

Monday 23 May 2016

Miniature Wargames June 2016 - issue 398



Issue 398 of Miniature Wargames with Battlegames includes a three page article written by me showing how I scratch-built and painted this 1/100th scale Fokker EIII Eindecker.

Regular readers of the magazine will know of a short two part series of articles written in previous issues by Chris Russell. Eindecker part one - reviewed and gave details of this iconic aircraft, while Eindecker part two published a set of WW1 wargame rules.

In Eindecker part three, I show how I built this model.


The Eindecker is not my only 1/100th scale scratch-built air plane - here you see the Eindecker chasing a DH2 flown by Lanoe Hawker.


Once again, Henry (the editor) has produced a very well illustrated article full of large and useful photos showing the stages of construction and painting. Well done.

Miniature Wargames is currently on sale in WH Smiths. The cover price is £4.50.

Tony

Sunday 22 May 2016

Pax Bochemannica Boche - part five



The painting continues.....

Tvacii has been given a more orange skin tone (all that spray sun tan) while the leader Issvace now has some stripped trews and a scarf. The bulldog (Patch) has the main skin colour laid down with a brown eye patch and Cheesy has his trews painted. Mandii has been painted in much more sombre colours than her 'twin' with grey hair and sallow skin tones.

More to follow.

Tony

Friday 20 May 2016

Pax Bochemannica Boche - part four



I have added many more highlight layers to the flesh areas, building them up with lighter colours and a tiny touch of Stonewall Grey then applying 'washes'. It should be obvious, but Tvacii has been painted in a completely different scheme - much more ORANGE!

Tvacii as a dedicated follower of Boche fashion has decided to have an all-over orange tan, The tan colour is a mix of natural clays applied with a palette knife. The only problem is that it tends to 'run' when it rains!

"The things that these young Boche do in the name of fashion!"

Image Two - Shows the fabric areas started.


Tony

Wednesday 18 May 2016

Out with the old and in with the new.....



It is with some regret that I have finally moved on from my much-loved Spitfire mug and over to my new Panzerfauste mug.

Just look at that chip in the rim of the mug bought for me from the RAF Museum Cosford.

A changing of the guard.....

Thanks Rob.

Tony

Tuesday 17 May 2016

Buried Treasure - Uncovering Hoards



The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham University has a new exhibition - Buried Treasure - Uncovering Hoards. The Barber Institute has 48 Hoards and this display shows eight from around the world, including two from Britain.

This was the first time Sue and I had visited this gallery - a hidden treasure of art and antiquities. We had a grand day out and I would recommend both the art gallery and the exhibition to anyone who can make it.

Details of the exhibition can be found here.

Tony

Sunday 15 May 2016

Pax Bochemannica Boche - part three



With the basing done - I undercoated the figures with a dark brown/charred brown mix. I have been moving away from a 100% black undercoat over the last couple of years - I'm not saying that I won't go back to it at some time. It's just that my preferred undercoat (at least for the time being) is dark brown.

Image Two - This dark brown base was further detailed with a rough mid brown 'wet-brush' (like drybrushing, but with more paint on the brush). I think it it obvious to see just how well sculpted and full of character these particular miniatures are - they all but paint themselves!


I should have mentioned in an earlier post that the sock windsock has been 'pinned' with a short section of paperclip before being glued in place with superglue. I have also used a tiny bit of Milliput to hide the join and strengthen it.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Tony

Friday 13 May 2016

Pax Bochemannica Boche - part two



The bases were built up with standard Yellow-Grey Milliput.


I then added texture by sprinkling sieved sand and small stones over uPVA glue.

I prefer to base and texture the bases before painting - even before undercoating the figures.

Tony

Thursday 12 May 2016

Pax Bochemannica Boche - New Additions



Earlier this year I posted images of some new SPQOrc - Pax Bochemannica miniatures that are now available to purchase from from Hysterical Games for details see this link.

I picked up all three backs while at Alumwell - The WMMS back in March.

Image One - the raw resin. The twins Mandii and Tvacii, Cheesy, the standard bearer (with huge sock standard) and Issvace with his pet bulldog.


The model didn't require much in the way of clean-up but I did wash them in warm soapy water before gluing them on to 1p coins (the same as the rest of my Boche).


Look out for more updates over the next couple of days.

Tony

Wednesday 11 May 2016

Blogger playing up?

Posts have been a little slower than usual as I have had issues with Blogger, not allowing me access to my account.

It looks like it is now sorted, so back to normal - I hope.

Tony

Saturday 7 May 2016

Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No.3



Over the last couple of years I have written a number of terrain building articles/tutorials for various magazines. In the main they have been simpler and less well illustrated than the tutorials I had included in both Building Wargame Terrain and More Wargame Terrain and (obviously) edited by other people.

My current work schedule includes a number of similar projects and although I get a great deal of satisfaction from these commissions, I do feel that, A - they could be more in-depth and B- there could be more illustrations.

I understand the limitations, the articles have in the main appeared in Wargame Magazines and not Model Making Magazines. I love reading the in-depth articles you see in Military Modeller or Tamiya Magazine or Fine Scale Modeller. Lots of detailed text and hundreds of glorious photos.

So is there a market for these articles in a Book 3 (Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 3 - Models for Wargamers!) - giving much more detail and with more (and larger) illustrations?

The reason I ask is that I'm not sure a re-worked article or tutorial, even if it has more detailed and included more illustrations would be welcomed. If it's a no to a book three - I could always add additional images to the Blog.

I would once again, produce a card covered, full colour A4 book, around 100 pages and with a mixture of old and new projects. The production run would be limited to around 200 - 250 copies and the first 100 numbered and signed (as the earlier books).

I am sure that there are 100 followers who would support this, but I'm asking anyway to judge the demand and to see the reaction.

Thanks

Tony

PS.
Copies of Dampfpanzerwagon No.3 More Wargame Terrain are running very low (less than a dozen copies left).

Wednesday 4 May 2016

UK Games Expo, Birmingham




Games Expo, Birmingham, just one month to go.

I've booked time off work to visit on the Sunday. It's been a couple of years since I last visited so I'm looking forward to a great day out.

Full details can be found here.

Tony

Sunday 1 May 2016

The Church of St. Laurence - or Tarting-up MDF part two



Issue 84 of Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy - May/June 2016 includes an article written by me called The Church of St Laurence, Bradford-on-Avon, Building a Saxon Church. The article/tutorial carries on from my earlier published article - Tarting-up MDF, (for details see this link) and again uses a simple MDF kit from Timeline Miniatures - The Saxon Church (see below).


Obviously, I couldn't build the 'stock' model and set about carving detail in to the MDF surfaces, re-modelling one of the side buildings and completely re-building the stone roof.

The painting used the original church for inspiration, as Sue and I had been lucky enough to visit the church while on a visit to Bath. I have included this Wiki link to show the original building which is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.


The base was re-worked and I have added some scatter, ground foam and static grass to decorate it.


For full details of the build and to see how I painted the model, please support Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy and pick up a copy of this magazine today.

Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy

Tony