Tuesday 30 March 2021

Scratch Built Narrow Gauge Ore Wagons - additional content

Following on from this earlier post I have included additional images to show how I built the removable loads for the three scratch built narrow gauge ore wagons featured in Narrow Gauge World - issue 154.

The three ore loads have been constructed from 3mm thick plastic card with real crushed rock loads glued over some blue foam formers.

The spacers were built from the same 3mm thick plastic card. At some stage it is my intention to add some magnets so removal will be easier.

Here you can see the three stages of loading/unloading. From left to right they are; fully loaded, partially removed (by tipping the load) and fully removed.


This final image shows the three fully loaded wagons on a stretch of 18inch gauge narrow gauge track. I will post more images soon showing some of the 'other' wagon loads that I have built for the layout.

Tony

Sunday 28 March 2021

Flintloque Dwarf Landwehr - decorating the bases

At long last the varnishing is done and I have decorated the bases with static grass and static grass tufts.

Here is an image of the eight completed Dwarves all ready to take on that rampaging Werewolf.


The minis have taken a little longer than expected, but have been great fun to modify and paint following this inspirational image by Jakub Rozalski.

The Blog theme hasn't finished yet - I now have to paint the Werewolf.

Tony

I'm also looking forward to seeing if the new Osprey Book The Silver Bayonet has any scenarios with stout Landwehr confronting vicious Werewolves

Friday 26 March 2021

The Silver Bayonet from Osprey Games - Napoleonic Gothic Horror


I recently saw this and thought it was worth while re-posting details.

A Napoleonic Gothic Horror game from Osprey - The Silver Bayonet is due out this October/November. Regular readers will no doubt be aware of my love of Flintloque which covers the same style or genre and background - Orc Redcoats against Ferach Elves with Undead Russians thrown in for effect.

For more information, see this link.

I look forward to reading more.....

Tony

Thursday 25 March 2021

Scratch Built Narrow Gauge Ore Wagons - in Narrow Gauge World Magazine issue 154

I have recently received a copy of Narrow Gauge World - the January/February 2021 issue which included an article written by me showing how I scratch built a rake of three narrow gauge wagons for use on the Yellow Pelican narrow gauge railway layout which I have been building for my Grandsons Finley and Charlie.

The wagons are built to the scale of 1:27.7 or 11mm = 1 foot and run on 16.5mm Peco Crazy Track which equates to a narrow gauge railway of 18 inch gauge.

I used some second-hand HO-OO wagons for the base and built the bodies from plastic card and wire. The full article gives details of the materials used and the process of painting and weathering them. For full details search out a copy of the Jan/Feb Narrow Gauge World - issue 154.

The final image shows the three ore wagons and my latest scratch built narrow gauge Shay on a display plinth with one of my modified 1:27.7 scale resin crew shown for scale.


I would expect more articles chronicling this narrow gauge layout soon.

Tony

Tuesday 23 March 2021

Flintloque Dwarf Landwehr - painting the details

Firstly; I'm sorry for the delay in posting updates but I have been busy with 'other' projects.

The beard have been painted in a variety of different colours and effects as I wanted to add some character to the otherwise drab grey figures. In addition the weapons have been painted and finished with metallic effects.


My plan in to both Gloss varnish and then Matt varnish this week, so expect updates soon.

Tony

Monday 22 March 2021

14th Century Cog - W, S & S additional content

Following on from my earlier post showing details of the Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy article on how to build a 14th Century Cog I have included this additional content showing how the sails were made.

I used a linen handkerchief as the base and after dying it with acrylic paints, I drew on the sail design with pencil.

The sail shape was cut out with this disc cutter. Note the small seam on the sides and top.

Using the original design as a stencil I drew on the cross.

The sail seam have been exaggerated with a watercolour pencil. In addition the seams along the edges have glued back on themselves with PVA glue. I also added a strengthening strip across the sail which was cut from the handkerchief and also glued in place with PVA glue.

The red cross was painted with acrylic paints and highlighted to show both wear and the red strips crossing each other - this is how I believe sail decoration would have been added.

The sail was further details with mending thread (a thicker cotton thread) along the edges and to produce the sail tie-backs - once again glued in place with PVA glue. (You can see this detail if you 'click' on the images).

The finished sail was stitched onto the mast with cotton ready to be installed on the cog.

The finished 28mm scale Cog with the sail in place.


When producing magazine articles for publication, I am well aware that I have to cut-down the content quite a bit. By including these additional content posts, I would hope that I could add interest to the shortened article and pass on hints and tips that would otherwise have taken up too much magazine space.

Tony

Saturday 20 March 2021

14th Century Cog - Wargames Soldiers & Strategy issue 113

The March/April issue of Wargames Soldiers & Strategy (issue 113) has an article written by me showing how I scratch-built this 14th Century Crusader Cog.

The model was built from blue foam, egg box card and balsawood then painted with various acrylic paints.

The sail was made from a linen handkerchief dyed with watered-down acrylic paints then hand stitched in place.

For full details see the latest edition of W, S & S or go here.

 

Tony

Thursday 18 March 2021

BLOOD BOWL and TYRANID ATTACK from Games Workshop

I was recently given a carrier bag full of modelling materials and these two games. The modelling materials have already been moved to the shed and will no doubt be used very soon but I'm not sure what to do with BLOOD BOWL and TYRANID ATTACK.

As you can see both games are either complete or nearly complete - I have not had chance to check ALL of the contents.


Tyranid Attack looks to be all there with some of the pieces constructed and painted (at least with an undercoat).



Both boxed games were a gift from a friend of my daughters who was clearing out some of his older content. I would normally offer the games to my son who has quite a collect of board games, but he has said no as he already has a number of GW games that he does not play.

I think I might try to paint up a couple of models and see how I get on.

Thank you Mal.

Tony

Tuesday 16 March 2021

Flintloque Dwarf Landwehr - painting the bases

I know it's a little out of sequence but I have now painted the bases of all eight miniatures. I have used my usual formula of a Snakebite Leather base and highlighted by adding either Flesh or white to the mix with individual stones picked-out in a grey then highlighted with white.


I think the painted bases have helped to define the minis as the overall grey colour was a little dour.

Stay safe.

Tony

Monday 15 March 2021

A Scratch Built Epic Scale Church for ACW gaming

The most recent edition of Miniature Wargames (issue 456 - April 2021) has another 'how-to' article showing how I built and painted an Epic Scale American Civil War Church which was inspired by the new Epic Scale ACW plastic figures produced by Warlord Games.

The finished model is mounted on to a used CD with groundwork built up from ready-mixed filler and DAS modelling clay. The painted figure in the image below is from the Warlord games plastic sprue but mounted on a round plastic counter rather than the square base supplied.

The model was great fun to produce and a change from my more usual 28mm/32mm scale terrain pieces.

For more details of the magazine contents, see this link.


The break from producing Simple and Practical wargame terrain articles has meant that I have had to think about the materials used, but don't worry normal service will be resumed in next months magazine.

Tony

Saturday 13 March 2021

Flintloque Dwarf Landwehr - more painting

Part Ten

I've started the detail painting. the most imposing is the white cross on the head gear which follows the design in this illustration.


There is still a bit to do, but they are progressing well and the next step will be the bases.


Tony

Wednesday 10 March 2021

Flintloque Dwarf Landwehr - starting to paint

Part Nine

In a change from my usual painting process, I started with the grey uniform colour, which was mixed from both grey and brown. The colour was slightly darker than the colour shown on this illustration as I thought I could always add additional highlights later.

Once the grey/brown was dry, I painted the flesh areas in my Snakebite Leather base colour and highlighted by adding Flesh and white to the mix before washing with a Flesh wash. With over 50% of the minis being grey - I am sure that this was the right order to paint these dour Dwarf Landwehr.



Tony

Monday 8 March 2021

Flintloque Dwarf Landwehr - undercoated

Part Eight

The eight miniatures were first spray painted with Tamiya grey primer.


Then spray painted with acrylic Anthracite paint.


Before I touched-up any areas I had missed with acrylic black and an old paintbrush.

Tony