Grand Manner Iberian Windmill - Miniature Wargames issue 520

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames (520 - August 2026) includes this article written by me showing how I painted a resin windmill for a friend. The model was available from Grand Manner (but is no longer in production).

The four part resin model was purchased on ebay and was very well cast in a putty coloured resin.

I re-based the windmill on to a piece of 3mm thick plastic card and built up the groundwork with ready mixed filler and DAS modelling clay which was then decorated with sieved stones and sand applied over PVA glue.

Painted followed my usual techniques but was a little more subdued than normal using washes and acrylic tints to produce the sun drenched effect.

The sails were painted in a Linen coloured acrylic paint and highlighted with white. When finished the whole model was varnished with a Galleria matt varnish and ModPodge mix then presented to my friend earlier this year.

Tony

Cold Comfort Lane - Low Relief Building part three

With the brickwork done (see earlier post) it was on to adding detail. I have used a number of different materials to decorate the warehouse such as plastic card and balsawood then watered-down ready mixed filler and acrylic paste to add additional texture and cover up any gaps particularly to the left where the insulation foam on the side meets the front.

Ideally I would have liked to have set the doors back a bit more but as this is a low relief building I can live with it.

As you can see I have tried to copy the design seen in earlier posts as closely as possible.

Tony

Cold Comfort Lane - Low Relief Building part two

The cardboard 'core' has been clad with insulating foam, the sort used as underlay for laminate flooring. The foam has been glued in place with a mix of PVA and superglue. Once fully set, I have trimmed the foam to fit the core and then lightly sanded the edges to make them flush.

The next job was to cut out the windows and door (see previous post) and then start the laborious task of adding the brick texture.

Each scale brick was 8mm x 2,5mm and first had the horizontal cuts made with a scalpel guided with a steel ruler the individual bricks were cut with a scalpel and then later opened up with a sharp pencil. This process took most of the day, but as I was watching/listening to the tennis the time went quickly.

The roof was clad with thinner card and glued in place with the PVA and superglue mix.

The next post will show how I have started to add detail to this low profile building.

Tony

Cold Comfort Lane - Low Relief Building

It's been a while since I have posted any progress on this layout. In truth 'other projects' have taken priority but all that changed this week.

If you check back on earlier Blog posts you will see that the area to the rear, right has not been detailed. This is because my plan from the start was to include a low relief building, a factory or workshop. The image above was inspired by a derelict building seen in Kidderminster. The drawing is my scale plan and the cardboard 'core' below is the start of this series of Blog posts..

I have used materials that I had on-hand - a real mismatch of scraps I had in my shed, corrugated cardboard, foamboard with 4mm and 6mm thick plastic card (ex- advertising signs picked up for free). I have used both superglue and my hot glue gun to hold everything together.

The core is 290mm long x 70mm deep x 215mm tall.

The final image shows the building 'core' with one of the scratch built wagons (that have featured in earlier posts) shown for scale.

Expect updated soon.

Tony

Burrows & Badgers Statue - Miniature Wargames issue 519

My latest article for Miniature Wargames is this Burrows & Badgers Statue, a modified chess piece mounted on a scratch built plinth. Issue 519 (July 2026) features this model on the cover as well as including a three page tutorial on how this conversion was achieved.

For more information, see the magazine. I have included a couple of additional images of the statue as well as a single image of some scratch built or modified toys that I have also converted in to 28mm scale statues for my gaming table.

Tony

Clutch from Maverick Games

Congratulations to all at Maverick Games on the recent reveal of their new open world driving game CLUTCH. For more information, see this link.

Tony

Narrow Gauge Railway book finds

This last week I have been lucky enough to pick up some Wild Swan Publication guides from charity shops in the local area. The first was this pair of books by Gordon Gravett; 7mm Modelling part one - an introduction and 7mm Modelling part two - building the layout. Both were picked up in Droitwich Spa for just £3.00 each. I look forward to reading both.

The next purchase is Plastic Structure Kits by Iain Rice. A real bargain at just £1.99 and this time found in Worcester from another charity shop. It looks like there might have been a railway modelling enthusiast who was clearing out some of his older books. Whatever the case I now have three Wild Swan Publications for my collection.

You can never underestimate the value of browsing charity shops. You never know what you might find.

Tony