Worcestershire Model Expo - a gallery of some of the images

From earlier on today. I cannot take full credit for the images as many were taken by my grandsons Finley and Charlie who were in attendance helping out on the Yellow Pelican Mining narrow gauge railway layout.

Tony

Worcestershire Model Expo - Sunday September 20th

This Sunday I will be attending the inaugural Worcesterhire Model Expo which will be held at the Perdiswell Leisure Centre from 10.00 to 4.00.

My intention is to exhibit The Yellow Pelican narrow gauge layout and some other models (space permitting).

For more information see this link.

Tony

5 4 3 2 1 FAB Exhibition at Worcester Museum 2026

These are just some of the exhibits at the 54321 FAB exhibition at Worcester Museum this month. The displays show a huge variety of different toys, books and illustrations from the life of Gerry Anderson and his creations. For more information, see this link.

Tony

Car Boot Sale Bargains

Sue and I have just returned from the local car boot sale where I picked up this bargain box of sanding sticks for just £4.00. My best bargain buy of the year!

Below I have detailed the full contents which I have estimated to be worth in excess of £60.00. The stall holder was not aware of what they were and said I could have the whole box for £4.00. I later told him what they were and he was pleased that they were going to someone who both knew what they were and would use them.

On a different stall I bought this OLFA rotary cutter and spare blades for £2.00 - £1.50 for the cutter and 50p for the blades. In addition I picked up two A3 cutting mats one brand new for £3.00 and 20p for a used example. Even more modelling bargains.

Back home I just couldn't wait to post about my good fortune.

Tony

Clutch from Maverick Games

Congratulations to all at Maverick Games on the recent reveal of their new open world driving game CLUTCH. For more information, see this link.

Tony

Late March and early April purchases

These two packs of DAS modelling clay and sketch book were just some of the birthday presents I received last month. Thank you.

In addition Sue and I have just returned from a short trip to Disneyland Paris where we had great fun watching our two grandsons enjoy the rides. On the way back home we stopped off at Carrefour and as well as bottles of Normandy cidre, Belgian beers and lots of French crisps I picked up these essentials. Two metal set squares (I use them for marking and cutting out plastic card), a pack of wooden knives (they were much cheaper than lollipop sticks) and a pack of discounted fine sandpaper (you can never have enough sandpaper).

Happy Easter.

Tony

Jason Buck - The hare that stole the Sun Kings crown

Last night Sue and I went to see Jason Buck (again). This time the story was The hare that stole the Sun Kings crown and performed at the Temperance Bar, Leamington Spa.

Like the earlier story Slain - The Horned God that we had seen in Ludlow Assembly Rooms back in February this performance was fantastic. A much smaller audience but just as enthralling and we are even talking about a third visit later in the year.

For more information about this tale see this link.

Or for more about Jason see this link.

Tony

Slaine The Horned God - with storyteller Jason Buck

Last night Sue and I accompanied by our daughter Holly were privileged to see the fantastic storyteller Jason Buck re-tell the tales and mythology behind Slaine - The Horned God at The Assembly Rooms , Ludlow.

I had seen this performance highlighted on Facebook earlier this year and suggested that I might like to go and see it. Holly and Sue bought the tickets for me as an early birthday present and even though I had seen reviews of this one-man on stage performance and was looking forward to seeing Jason for the first time, I was 'blown away' by the storytelling and enjoyed every minute of the two hour performance.

One man claiming a huge cinemas stage and without any props holding the audience of over two hundred in the palm of his hands - true traditional storytelling at its very best 10 out of 10.

Just days before at my grandsons birthday party, we were asked by Finley and Charlie 'who are you going to see?' Jason Buck - the storyteller. 'Oh' said Charlie, 'we've seen him, he's performed at our school and he lives not far away from us in Leamington Spa!'

So this confirms our belief that Finley aged 11 and Charlie aged just 8 are true connoisseurs of classic comics and traditional storytelling!

For more information about Jason, see this Facebook page.

Finally. I am aware that Jason is planning an on-line performance for March 22. For details see this link. If you can not see him in person, I guarantee that this will be a very special performance.

Tony

Magazine article inspiration?

I'm hoping for a little help. As many readers and followers will know I have been scratch building models for the wargame table for some time and then writing tutorials or articles in various magazines but I am now looking for some new and fresh inspiration as to what I should model next. I already have a number of articles with the editor or Miniature Wargames but am looking to produce something original for later in the year. Have you got any suggestions?

The more original or 'off the wall' the better as I am looking for a challenge.

Thank you in advance

Tony

A £3.00 charity shop find - Fischer Technik

A recent visit to Stratford - upon - Avon and I came away with this collection of Fischer Technik construction toy parts for £3.00. That's the first three images of part for just £3.00. (There was just too much for just one image).

Bargain.

For anyone not familiar with this construction toy, see this link.

I already have a collection of Fischer Technik parts which my grandsons play with but this addition should make me the best Bampi in the world.

I have decanted ALL the parts in to a new plastic crate and can't wait to see their faces the next time they visit.

Tony

Christmas 2025

Sue and I have had a very busy Christmas with visits to my son and daughter-in-law as well as spending time with my two grandsons. I was very lucky with the selection of presents I received with clothes and sweets as well as this fantastic selection of books.

In addition I hit the jackpot with these bottles of Port - one of which we opened on Christmas day.....

But once again - NO DAS modelling clay!

Thank you for ALL the wonderful presents and I hope you too had a great Christmas.

Tony

Can you guess the game?

Something new.....

Can you guess what board game this is?

About three months ago and following the visit to Worcester museum to see the Terry Pratchett themed exhibit of artwork by Paul Kidby my grandsons, Finley and Charlie were showing an interest in the books by Terry Pratchett and in particular the board game THUD.

Mal suggested that a set of resin printed pieces could be sources and he would produce them on condition that I finish and paint the pieces as well as making two gaming boards, one for Finley and Charlie and one for him.

Here are the finished and painted gaming pieces (two sets - 2 stone pillars, 16 Trolls and 64 Dwarves) as well as the hand drawn gaming boards.

I added metallic helmets to the Dwarves,wooden clubs and glowing eyes to the Trolls and ground foam decoration to the stone pillars (foam that was produced with Finley from ground up sponge).

Finished gaming board number one.

and finished gaming board number two with additional decoration.

Finally, the two gaming boards complete with playing pieces next to one another. I was trying for a pub brawl set or well used gaming board effect rather than the pristine look of the shop bought, boxed game. Hence the stains! The gaming boards were drawn on to material backed off-white vinyl with alcohol based permanent marker pens.

They were great fun to produce but did take some time. But they were eventually finished and in time for Christmas. Thank you Mal for the resin pieces.

Tony