Dampf's Wargame Terrain Survey - last day!

For the whole month of September, I have been running a simple survey asking just three questions relating to my magazine articles/tutorials;

1 - What scale should I build models for the magazine tutorials?

2 - Lift off roof or fixed?

3 - Integral base or not

For full details see this earlier post. I will be closing the survey later today and expect results to be posted very soon.

Thank you to everyone who took part.

Tony

The Yellow Pelican Mining Co. - sheeting the roof

The first image shows the main roof clad with corrugated sheeting that has been painted and weathered. The sheeting was made from aluminium food containers and corrugated with a simple paper rolling machine that was picked up from The Works.

I started with strips of aluminium foil that was cut from food containers.

Here is the modified paper creasing machine that I used to make the corrugated sheets.

And here you have the individual metal sheets ready to be glued in place.

The next couple of images show the sequence of building up the roof covering. I used superglue to glue the sheets in place.

Finally for this post - I have included this work-in-progress shot showing how the sheets were weathered with a mix of acrylic paints and some weathering powders.

I would hope to be able to post more images in the near future.

Tony

Charity Shop finds

Yesterday, Sue and I walked into Droitwich Spa and enjoyed browsing the shops before picnicking in the park and returning home.

I was lucky enough to pick up this Beaufighter magazine - a Flypast Special for just £1.00 and then went on to find Battle Chasers - a graphic novel for £2.50. I thought it was a great haul and have already enjoyed reading the Beaufighter magazine.

I have also included a link to the Wargame Terrain Survey that I have been running during the month of September - should you want to take part here is the link.

Thank you.

Tony

The Silver Bayonet - a Wargame of Napoleonic Gothic Horror

The Silver Bayonet is a new set of rules from Joseph A. McCullough and published by Osprey Publishing and a book I am very much looking forward to purchasing when it is released (publication date - 11th November). For more details see this link.

There is a pre-publication review over on You Tube from Wargames Illustrated which should answer any questions you may have about the contents. The review is an extensive 35 minute tour of the new book and showcases some of the new miniatures from North Star. For details see this You Tube link.

I've written about this rule book in earlier post and am looking forward to picking up a copy as I think it will work well alongside Flintloque/Slaughterloo.

Tony

Malvern Airbrush update

This vintage airbrush was picked up at the Malvern Flea Fayre last month. For more information see this post. After a quick clean I tested the spray with both plain water and some acrylic ink. It worked perfectly and I have since used it to spray paint a piece of scratch built terrain (more on this in a later post).

After using acrylic paints, I thought I had better give it a thorough clean and left it soak in some airbrush cleaner. Unfortunately the steel screws (there are three of them) started to rust and discolour the chrome. So it was time for a complete strip down and clean.

The airbrush cleaner had done most of the work for me, but I did need to clear up the rust stains. I used mild metal polish to clean and polish the chrome and once that was done I lubricated the innards with WD40. A test spray highlighted some air seepage around the plunger so I wiped on a tiny amount of petroleum jelly to the polished needle and can report that this simple £7.00 airbrush works perfectly.

I have not been able to find out that much about this model or the company - the airbrush has these markings;

COLOUR SPRAYS LTD LONDON and the model number 5018. If any reader can supply more information, I would be grateful. 

I have once again included a link to my Dampf's Wargame Terrain Survey and would welcome any answers to the three simple questions. For more information on the survey, see this link for details.

Thank you.

Tony

Majorcan Boathouse for Flintloque - Miniature Wargames issue 462

Issue 462 of Miniature Wargames (October 2021) features this scratch built boathouse that was inspired by some sketches I did when on holiday in Majorca nearly twenty years ago (yes, I do keep my sketchbooks for that long!).

The three page article follows the tried and tested route of building a newspaper covered cardboard core with DAS modelling clay and adding card roof tiles before sealing everything under a layer of ready-mixed filler, PVA glue and acrylic paint. The painting was done with various acrylic paints and includes basecoating, layering, drybrushing and splattering techniques.

For more details see this link or pick up the magazine.

I am once again including a link to the Dampf's Wargame Terrain Survey and would ask that you take the time to answer the three simple questions. The results should help me when planning and producing future wargame articles. For full details of the survey, see this post.

Thank you.

Tony

Malvern Flea Fayre 2021

Sue and I attended the Bank Holiday Show at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern at the end of September. We try to get to at least one show or fayre each year as I enjoy walking around the stalls and seeing all those items I used to own!

I picked up a number of interesting finds which I felt could be of use when building or painting models.

The main purchase - I bought it for just £7.00 was this antique airbrush. The markings show COLOUR SPRAYS LTD LONDON and 5018. I've tried to find out more information, but the best I could do was an image of three similar models with different cups. If you have any additional info. please comment.

After a quick clean with plain water and washing up liquid, I was surprised to find that it works perfectly. I've since used it to spray paint a piece of scratch built terrain.

The two Swann-Morton scalpel handles were spotted on a art material table, and for just 50p each I thought it would be silly to miss out.

The final item is this universal set square which was £1.00. I'm aware that it will need some cleaning up but for model making, it is just the right size.

So for just £9.00 I have now have four very handy modelling tools.

I am still looking for replies to the Dampf's Wargame Terrain Survey, just three simple questions to help me with future terrain builds - for more information, see this post. Thank you.

Tony

Droitwich Spa Salt Fest 2021

This weekend was the annual Droitwich Spa Salt Fest a carnival day celebrating the towns links with salt. One of the regular features of the day are the Roman history reenactors group who always put on a great interactive display. Here are some images featuring these dedicated people who give up their free time to entertain and inform members of the public. It was a busy day and these were just some of the images I took.

Once again I have included a link to my wargame terrain survey and would ask that you respond to the three simple questions on this Blog. For full details - see this link.

Thank you.

Tony

Hildebrandt The Tolkien Years

I picked up this fully illustrated book when browsing the shelves at The Oxfam Bookshop, Leamington Spa for just £1.99 which I thought was a real bargain.

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt The Tolkien Years Text by Gregory Hildebrandt Junior and published by Watson-Guptill Pubications New York.

ISBN - 0-8230-5124-2

The 132 pages show work from the Hildebrandt brother and in particular their collaboration with the Tolkien calendars published in the seventies. For more information see this link.

I have also included a link to the Dampf's Wargame Terrain Survey and would welcome comments and re-posting, for details, see this link.

Tony

Abstract acrylic paint half price at Hobbycraft

Hobbycraft (UK) are selling Sennelier Abstract acrylic paint pouches plus other items for half price during their Art Event. For more information see this post. I have posted about Abstract paint pouches before and find these paints ideal for painting terrain and scenery, at just £2.00 for a 120ml pouch (4oz) they are currently great value.

In addition, don't forget that I am running a Wargame Terrain Survey for the whole month of September, details of which can be found here. Please take time to answer the three simple questions.

Tony

Dampf's Wargame Terrain Survey - September 2021

DAMPF'S WARGAME TERRAIN SURVEY

Regular followers and readers of this Blog will know that I enjoy constructing scratch built terrain for my own use and as masters for other companies. I have produced three self published wargame terrain books and two further books available from Pen & Sword, as well as regularly writing for wargame magazines. I recently received a comment on my Blog asking if I would produce a tutorial featuring a lift off roof and this got me thinking.....

Am I producing the content that fits with my readers and their needs?

So in response, throughout the month of September, I will be running this simple survey, which I hope you will take part in. My plan is to ask a series of simple questions which I hope will help to guide me when producing further articles/tutorials for magazines.

Question 1

What scale? I propose that you respond with a figure or figures, for example - less than 15mm, 15mm - 18mm, 20mm, 25mm, 28mm 30mm, 32mm or larger.

Question 2

Lift off roof or fixed? A further question could be detailed interior or plain? I prefer models with a fixed roof as these offer additional strength and fit with my own gaming requirements but I am aware that others like the novelty of a lift off roof.

Question 3

Integral base or not. Again my own preference is for a decorative base slightly larger than the model with some added items of clutter, as seen above.

Please respond in the comments section, with answers to Q1, Q2, Q3 and feel free to add any additional views or re-post.

Thank you.

Tony