Models For Wargamers is still available

Another reminder.....

Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 3 - Models For Wargamers is still available to purchase. For full details see this post.

In addition there are limited numbers of Dampfpanzerwagon Gude No 2 - More Wargame Terrain and once again for more information see this post.

I would expect supplies to be exhausted following WMMS, Alumwell in March.

Thank you.

Tony

Winsor & Newton Series 7

I have in the past written about my preferred paint brushes being the Rosemary & Co synthetic/sable mix and this still holds true, however I wanted to highlight this beautifully presented gift box set from Winsor & Newton that I received as a gift earlier today. The box contains three brushes, a No 1, a No. 4 and a 6mm flat or chisel edge brush. They look almost too good to use.

Thank you Sue.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part eighteen

The OSO salt pan and brick built base are now finished. The model is 175mm long x 145mm high x 100mm deep. It is built to the rather unusual scale of 1;27.7 or 11mm = 1 foot and was designed and built to run proprietary HO-OO mechanisms with custom built or scratch built bodies on 16.5mm PECO 'Crazy Track' replicating 18inch gauge narrow gauge industrial engines and track. The salt pan is based on but not an exact copy of The Lion Salt Works salt pan in Cheshire. The OSO name was once an independent salt manufacturer in my home town of Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire.

The figures are heavily modified 1;24th scale figures purchased from China and resin copies are available to buy from me. For full details see this post.

Tony

Book Treasures and where to find them - part one Cornell Books

Back in early 2017 I read a short magazine article called 'Where Bookworms browse for buried treasure' and ever since I have wanted to write a Blog entry detailing some of the second-hand book shops that I frequent. With nearly a year passed since I first set myself this target I think it is time I started.

Bookworms part one.

Cornell Books of Tewkesbury, Glos. is housed in this grand old building that was once The Wheatsheaf (or Ye Olde Wheatsheaf), 132 High Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5JR. It is a typical old school second-hand book store with racks of books from floor to ceiling, boxes of books awaiting sorting and even a bargain table where many books are discounted to just £1.00. The shop specialises in maps and the back room can be a treasure trove of old maps and guides. For me there are a couple of areas of interest.

Firstly there are shelves stacked with Railway books, a Military section and even a couple of old boxes filled with D&D magazines. Then we have the discount table at the front of the store (The Dining Room) as well as further discounted books on display out front (see image above) and in the stone lined alleyway to the side. I have picked up many magazines and book bargains, but as with all second-hand book stores it is the browsing that is the real pleasure.

I would give this shop a 4 Star (out of five) Bookworm rating, but advise anyone visiting the area to allow themselves some time to explore this treasure trove.

Finally there is a second-hand charity store just a few doors away called Bookworm which is also worth a visit.

For more information please see this link and this link.

Tony

A Christmas Carol at the RSC Stratford

Last night, Sue and I went to see A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and adapted by David Edgar as the RSC Stratford-upon-Avon.

The play was staged on the main stage at the RSC, the first time I had been to this theatre and not seen a Shakespeare play. It was all and more than I expected, at times funny, at times moving and at times thought provoking. All-in-all a fine performance and a well worked adaptation.

The lead role of Scrooge was played by Phil Davis and I have to say it was a performance full of humbug character - very well done.

As is becoming the norm for Sue and I we stayed for the question and answer session afterwards and again I found this informative and interesting.

I will pass on one comment that we heard from a family seated behind us. As you may know the stage at the RSC is a plain stage in-the-round with seating on three sides - as the performance develops different parts of the stage will open and close and the main arch will recede or change shape. This family had never been to the RSC before and passed comment on the fact that they were disappointed that there was no stage furniture at the start of the play and for the money they had paid they would have expected more.

At the interval the comments had changed to WOW, did you see how the stage moved, opened, changed etc.....

Sue and I gave our selves knowing looks.

For more details of this fantastic performance see this link.

Tony

Free Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a

Yesterday afternoon I came home to this surprise. Sue had picked up the Daily Mail newspaper from WH Smiths which was offering this Airfix 1/72nd scale Spitfire Mk.1a model kit free. The newspaper proclaimed that the model kit was worth £9.99 quite a jump from the 2/6 kits I used to buy with my pocket money. Thank you Sue.

For more details see this link.

Later I was searching the internet for some images and came across this Limited Edition box art with Daily Mail logo in the lower right hand corner. My free kit is plain (without the logo) and I couldn't help thinking how rare such a Limited Edition box is or could be in the future.

It is disappointing to read rumours that Hornby (the owners of Airfix) are looking to sell the brand.

Tony

Scale Model World 2017 - part five

This update is a mix of 'what-if' planes, special colour schemes and Sci-Fi models from the show. I have started with some unusual aircraft that were spotted at Scale Model World - the IPMS show held in Telford last year.

Then some TV or Film inspired models.

And finally a scratch-built, steampunk motorcycle.

Tony

Cold Weather

Blog updates and new modelling projects have been delayed since Christmas as cold weather has limited the amount of time I have wanted to sit in the cold and model or paint.

Commissions and work on magazine and book articles have fared worse but I am hopeful that once the better (warmer) weather starts, I can get back on track.

I will of course keep the Blog updated as to progress.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part seventeen

Taking inspiration from the original Lion Salt Works salt pan, I felt that the model needed even more weathering. I have once again used watercolour pencils to add more ageing. The police officer stands around 60mm tall from head to toe and gives some idea of the scale of the model.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part sixteen

I started by ageing the OSO SALT lettering. I used a broken sponge and dark grey acrylic paint which was dabbed on to the metal salt pan walls. Further weathering was carried out with thinned and watered-down light grey washes built up in thin layers while a white Conte a Paris 630 artist pencil was used to produce the vertical white streaks. I sharpened the pencil to a very fine point and used it to draw fine lines on the sides of the salt pan.

Tony

An Industrial Narrow Gauge Adventure - the layout part fifteen

The metal salt pan has been weathered, well at least the weathering has been started. I have used acrylic paint applied with both a broken sponge and a fine brush to add rust streaks to the salt pan.

Please note, the metal salt pan is still not glued in place. I'm thinking I might have to add even more weathering.....

Tony

Christmas (and New Year) Board Games

As usual, we managed to play some board games over the Christmas and New Year period. First up we have Dixit an old favourite that we brought out once again.

Similarly Codenames had an outing and we had great fun, particularly one clue - four links - Bagatelle! Ask Sue and Holly about how I cocked this one up.....

Crossfire was a New game for 2018 and although we all enjoyed it, playing it a number of times gets you rely quite confused as to exactly what cards you have or have had!

Finally Mysterium - my favourite of the holiday games and one that although expensive is a great family co-op game.

Happy New Year.

Tony