Another post showing the finished ruined shrine gaming board, but this time I have added some of my 40mm Typhon or Greek Myth figures to give an idea of scale. In addition, I think the lighting is better. As detailed in earlier posts, this board was built using scrap materials that I had stored in the workshop or garage. I did not need to buy anything for the model and although it took way longer than the planned weekend - I like it.
Issue 152 of Narrow Gauge World has an article written by me showing how I built this cute one truck Shay. The model was scratch-built to the unusual scale of 1:27.7 or 11mm = 1 foot which perfectly mimics 18 inch narrow gauge running on 16.5mm or HO-OO scale track, in this case Peco Crazy Track.
The model was built from various thicknesses of plastic card and runs on a modified Hornby 'Smokey-Joe' 0-4-0 HO-OO chassis.
The model locomotive was conceived and built to run on my latest narrow gauge railway layout, The Yellow Pelican Mining Co. Expect to see many more posts over the coming months, detailing how I planned the layout and how I built it. The whole idea for the layout was a joint effort between myself and the two junior engineers Charlie and Finley (my grandsons) who have been quite vocal about what they want to see on their model train set - for example; Engine No. 3 (the first engine built for the layout) was named by Charlie - it had to be called Percy!
Tony
The newest terrain board finished. I've glued on some ground foam greenery and static grass tufts while the olive trees which were built from some dried roots and more ground foam have been added to the side of the temple or shrine.
The sides of the board have been painted satin black and then varnished. The board is 560mm x 560mm.
Tony
Tony
It's quite obvious that my planned weekend project has and is taking a lot longer than just a weekend!
Painting has continued with a light sand colour and drybrushing in the same colour with added Titanium White. I have also used my Paasche airbrush to add shadows and define the individual items or features on this skirmish board with a diluted light grey colour.
The board was painted in a light brown/leather brown colour but.....
I wasn't too keen on the look and decided to add more terrain features. The statue was re-modelled and the main figure was removed and now shown as a destroyed statue with various pieces strewn on the ground. I also used DAS modelling clay to 'bed-in' more plaster ruins.
Here are a couple of images showing the changes.
I then added more sieved stones and fine sand to the surface which was glued in place with dilute PVA glue.
The final image for this post shows the ruined shrine with a couple of 40mm miniatures to give an idea of scale and the amount of ground cover texture.
Tony
The ruined shrine has been further detailed with plaster pillars that were cast some years ago and have been patiently waiting in my spares box for the right project, while the groundwork has been built-up with ready-mixed filler and Modelling Compound from Geek's Gaming.
In addition, I have added odd plaster castings of stones and broken pillars to the base and 'blended' them in with DAS modelling clay.
I use scrap blue foam to build a set of rough steps to the side and added a plastic statue on a scratch-built plinth to the front. The statue is a 54mm scale plastic figure that was bought from a charity store many years ago.
Tony
While tidying the garage, I came across this coffee table top. I'd already started work on the exposed edges, but this had long ago become one of those started but never finished projects. In fact I had started using it as a base for spray painting.
I thought it was time I did something with it
I grabbed a piece of expanded polystyrene and trimmed it to shape, then using some scrap wood, I lined the edges. At this time it was all very rough and ready - just scrap materials I had lying about, some glue and a couple of nails.
The polystyrene was covered with some paper mache and ready-mixed filler to which I had added both PVA glue and acrylic paint.
The temple base was built from an off cut of blue foam and plaster castings of cut stone that I had been given many years ago. I used my hot glue gun for most of the basis construction and set the temple base at an angle to give more interest to the composition.
Construction time so far - about three hours.
More updated to come.
Tony
In this update you can see how I have continued to add paint to this 40mm Spartan Miniatures Hero.
After painting the base and the shield I varnished the mini with both gloss and matt varnish before adding static grass decoration to the base.
Keep calm and Carry On Modelling
Tony
Another 40mm Spartan Miniatures model. This time one of the heroes. The model was mounted onto a pre-decimalisation penny and the groundwork was built up with Milliput epoxy putty. I then used some Vallejo modelling putty to hide seams and smooth out areas of the armour.
I have found that the Spartan Miniatures sculpts are of varing quality - the main group of modular Hoplites (body and lower legs as a one piece casting and then head and arms can be added) are better sculpts while the heroes, see above are more 'two dimensional' and can look very flat from certain angles.
The figure was undercoated with Tamiya spray primer and then basecoated with a black/brown base.
The metallic areas were painted first with a bright gold colour which was 'washed' to bring out the sheen and detail.
I'll post more images and details later, but for now, stay safe and
Keep Calm and Carry On Modelling
Tony
