A new hot glue gun

This week my tried and trusted hot glue gun gave up on me.....

My Stanley hot glue gun has been my go-to for over five years and in my opinion the best hot glue gun I have even owned but this week it went pop. I tried replacing the fuse but nothing happened. Then a second replacement fuse and the glue gun went pop. I use it too often to take any chances so have binned it and ordered a new Stanley gun via ebay.

The two heat setting Stanley hot glue gun has been a real workhorse for me. I had a second cheaper hot glue gun but it just isn't up to the job and although great for simple paper-to-paper joins it just isn't as good as my old Stanley.

What do you think?

Tony

Yellow Pelican update

This weekend, Sue and I were childminding our two grandsons Finley and Charlie. When I asked what they wanted to do today, they said play with Yellow Pelican. So out came the narrow gauge layout and we had fun playing trains.

I now have a couple of repair jobs that need doing but we all enjoyed or time running the engines and producing videos.

The Yellow Pelican Mining Co. narrow gauge railway layout was built some years ago to the scale of 1/27.7 or 11mm = 1 foot running on 16.5mm Peco Crazy Track to mimic a 18 inch American mining railway, somewhere North of California.

Tony

Pueblo - Miniature Wargames issue 505

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames (May 2025) features this scratch built Pueblo building. the building was constructed from DAS modelling clay and ready-mixed filler over corrugated cardboard on a resin floor tile base.

I started with a rough sketch following a suggestion from John Treadaway (editor of MW) which uses ideas and inspiration found on the internet.

The cardboard was strengthened with strips of torn newspaper glued in place with PVA glue and later clad in ready-mixed filler.

The model was based on a surplus resin floor tile which was cut and then sanded to shape. I have used DAS modelling clay and more ready-mixed filler to refine the shape while sieved stones and sand were glued to the groundwork to give added texture.

Painting was built up over a terracotta base colour using various tester pot paints (bought from my local DIY store). The detail painting was done with acrylic modelling paints and the whole model was varnished with Galleria matt varnish before tufts of static grass and ground foam were glued in place.

For more information, see MW issue 505.

Or see this link.

Tony

West Midlands Military Show 2025 - part two

Part two and this time aircraft. I hope you like them.

Tony

West Midlands Military Show 2025

This weekend I attended the West Midlands Military Show. I didn't buy that much but did meet up and chat to a number of like minded modellers and enjoyed the day. I also took some images of what was displayed. 

For more information, see this link.

I will post more images later this week.

Tony

Wilco Brush Cleaning Pad

This was a recent find from a local charity shop. A Make Up Brush Cleaning Pad which I thought would make a great drybrush testing pad as well as helping to clean the make up brushes I use when drybrushing.

Just 50p. I know that Wilco's stores have now closed down, but you must be able to get similar products from discount or make up stores in the UK. I've found some on Amazon!

Check out the silicone pad and the textures. I'll report back once I have tested it.

Tony

A decorative Gourd Hovel for Burrows & Badgers. Miniature Wargames magazine issue 504

Miniature Wargames issue 504 (April 2025) features this Burrows & Badgers inspired hovel, a decorative squash modelled by me and converted from a discounted Christmas decoration.

It all started with a decorative glitter covered apple bought from The Range (UK discount store).

Conversion work was carried out with home-made paper mache and Milliput two part epoxy.

The squash or decorative pumpkin was mounted on to a plastic card base and the groundwork built up with DAS modelling clay textured with sieved stones and sand. The door and window surround was constructed from scrap foam.

The model was painted in colours found on the internet and following an illustration found on the Burrows & Badgers Facebook page.

For more information and a detailed description please search out the most recent magazine. Or go to this page.

The model was great fun to build and paint and I'm looking forward to building a second and similar model very soon.

Tony