Hay-on-Wye - a much needed away-day

It's been some time since Sue and I have had an away-day but earlier this week we had a short two day break in Hay-on-Wye, the town of books. We took the Kangoo and booked one night camping at Racquety Farm which is situated just over the bridge on the north side of the town.

It should come as no surprise that I spent most of my time rummaging around old book shops and picked up these little gems (amongst others).

The first is Pigeonniers de France by Dominique Letellier a book brimmed full of both period photographs and beautiful illustrations. Published by Editions Privat in 1991.

Here are just a couple of sample pages - which I am sure will inspire loads of wargame buildings.

The second is this Shire Album - 160 The Gunpowder Industry by Glenys Crocker. This small booklet was found in a bargain box and bought for just 99p.

Once again, I have included a sample page.

On the way back home we stopped off in Hereford and I picked up some modelling supplies from The Hereford Model Centre.

It was only one night away, but given the restrictions we have been living under for the last 18 months, it felt like a real break - a memorable holiday and I picked up some bargains.

Tony

UK Games Expo 2021

I've just seen that UK Games Expo is on this weekend. I would usually go, but what with the current restrictions and the fact that we have arraigned to be out. I'll be giving it a miss this year.

For anyone wanting any additional information, just follow this link.

Good luck and stay safe. See you next year (hopefully)

Tony

The Yellow Pelican Mining Co. - more work on the loading shed

The individual wooden strips on the walls of the loading shed have been weathered with watered-down acrylic washes and nail holes added by using a pointed pencil.

The steam and smoke weathering above the door was more pronounced and painted on with dark grey acrylic paint.

While the lettering on the main wall was inspired by an internet search and drawn on with a watercolour pencil.

I have kept the two building separate as I find it easier to work on.

Tony

The Yellow Pelican Mining Co. - the main building continued

I used scrap plywood (an old wooden packing case picked up at Pershore Market) to clad the cardboard structure, as you can see I have not added wood where the second building will clip in place.

This plain wood was then 'aged' by adding washes of diluted acrylic paint following some examples of old wood seen in the garden.

This final image shows the main mine building alongside the loading barn where the trains will reverse in the empty wagons and then exit with full loads.

The loading area has also been built from corrugated cardboard and clad with individual strips of more scrap wood.

Tony

The Yellow Pelican Mining Co. - starting the main building

Construction of the main building started with this corrugated cardboard core. In the first instance the pieces were held together with masking tape as I worked out the shape and size.

Later I used my tried and tested technique of gluing the cardboard together with my hot glue gun and then strengthening the edges with strips of torn newspaper glued in place and sealed with PVA glue.

The edges were further strengthened with strips of manilla envelope also glued in place with PVA glue.

I used fruit packing case wood (picked up free from Pershore Market) to clad the cardboard structure.

I will be adding detail later, but as you can see the main mine building is progressing well.

Tony

From the mouths of children

We were babysitting our two grandchildren earlier this week and Finley came out with this.....

                "Bampi* doesn't have a real job he just makes models."

Tony

* Bampi - a colloquial Welsh language word meaning Grandad 

Airfix Cloud Climber Glider

A charity shop find.....

Airfix Cloud Climber Glider in original packaging for just £1.00. I'm estimating the model to be from the 1960's or 70's - So do I open it?

Pattern No. 1645

I think I will and have the fun of flying it.

Tony

A Tree Stump Dwelling for Burrows & Badgers

Issue 460 of Miniature Wargames (August 2021) features this scratch built model built by me for the anthropomorphic miniatures game Burrows & Badgers from Oathsworn Miniatures. the model was inspired by a concrete garden ornament and built from corrugated cardboard and DAS modelling clay. The model was painted using a 'splattering' technique which I feel mimics the natural bark well. The roof tiles are modelled from egg box card.

For full details of how this model was built and painted check out the magazine yourself.

The Frog Fixer miniature is from the B&B game and is included for scale purposes.

Tony

Future Magazine Articles?

Regular readers and followers will know that I've been producing magazine articles for both Miniature Wargames and Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy for some time. The articles have covered a wide variety of different styles and genres, with the most recent series in MW showing how I build wargame terrain from scrap or readily available materials. 

I'm now planning a new series of themed articles and was looking for some help.....

The theme I'm think about is buildings or structures from the movies. I already have a couple of suitable buildings, but was hoping that I could get some suggestions as to others I might look at.

Do you have any suggestions?

They can be modern, traditional or even fantasy, but I would like to have some from both recognised films, for example Star Wars and Marvel films or less well known for example The Lost Command (which was filmed in Spain but was about the independence conflicts in Algeria).

I might even look at buildings from animated films. For example Asterix (I'm currently working on an Asterix themed building at the moment).

So, any suggestions and remember the more unusual or quirky, the better.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing what are suggested.

Tony

Models For Wargamers book is still available to purchase

A timely reminder; Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 3 - Models For Wargamers is still available. For details of how to order your copy see this link.

The image below shows the books contents and there are many reviews available on the link above.

Tony