Flash Gordon - The Crashed Rocketship

No work-in-progress pictures this time just a written up-date on the progress so far of the 40mm Crashed Rocketship gaming board. This weekend I completed the painting of the groundwork and started to add some foliage. I would expect to finish the whole board within the next couple of weeks.

For anyone not familiar with this very long-running project. I have been planning a crashed rocketship skirmish board for some time - maybe years. I finished the Flash Gordon rocketship ages ago - see earlier Flash Gordon entries, but the board which was initially planned as a 3 foot x 3 foot board has now been built (2 foot x 2 foot), sculpted and painted.

I have promised a complete article, 'how I built it' and 'how I painted it' to Richard at Rattrap Productions LLC (see; http://www.rattrapproductions.com/). Part one is already complete. Once I have a finished board I promise to post a link and some actual in-game shots.

For now, not even a 'teaser', oh OK, just one - a rough pencil sketch, showing the first designs, inspired by the Alex Raymond comic strip rocketships, but believe me the full article/articles will be worth the wait!

Tony

Flintloque - Windmill

Over the last month I have been modelling this Flintloque (Spanish) Windmill and writing a construction and painting article for the next issue of 60 Bloody Rounds, a Flintloque Fanzine. See;

http://www.alternative-armies.com/60_Bloody_Rounds_Fanzine.htm

The full article is due to be included in the next issue (November/December), but I just couldn't resist including this one posed photo as a teaser. The figure is a Grenadier Guard, the subject of my latest Flintloque regiment and the photo is taken on my flock-covered gaming board.

"If you want to read more or see how I made it - sorry, you will just have to wait until issue #3 of 60 Bloody Rounds, due out in November."

Tony
My 165th post - a very special occasion and milestone for me and this Blog.

Steam Airplanes

I have recently joined the Lead Adventure Forum and one of the VSF threads was talking about steam powered flying machines - and the possibility of a modelling challenge to produce a suitable model.

I had already produced a VSF, steam powered flying machine model - a William Hensons Aerial Steam Carriage. See below;

The construction was based on the Fiddlers Green Aerial Carriage and re-scaled to 1/300th (or 1mm = 1foot). Construction started with the main body, which was first carved and then sanded to shape. The wing and tail are 1mm plastic card and the struts are sanded cocktail sticks. Other detail comes from the spares box or plastic card/plastic rod.

The model is 80mm long, has a wingspan of 130mm and the main carriage is 12mm tall.

Painting was carried out with acrylics and the markings were hand painted - a Texan blockage runner. The flags are just plain paper and the propeller discs are from clear plastic packaging blisters.

Here is a new photo, taken in natural light, which I think shows off the model better than the previous four photos.


Tony

Flash Gordon - Buster Crabbe

As if in answer to a prayer, a Buster Crabbe 1/6th collectable figure. I am embarrassed to say that I missed it the first time around! See;

http://www.gohero.com/flash_gordon/earthman.htm

I look forward to seeing the finished figure and hopefully range of figures. I wonder what scale that Dr Zarkov's die-cast Rocketship is?

Tony

PS. there's also a link to Buck Rogers.

Flash Gordon - Robots (the animated series) part four

I just couldn't resist this additional post.

Converted Hydra Legionnaire Robots with a female command figure from Graven Images, the 40mm Cliffhanger or Flash Gordon range.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Lizardman

The miniature is from the American company - Lance & Lazer Models INC. a Dragonewt Champion (no. 03031).

Mounted on a 40mm round base the model is 46mm tall. The claws on the feet had to be cut off and re-modelled with 'green stuff' to fit the 40mm base and the green colour scheme is a little predictable, but I like the miniature and it fits a classic Lizardman profile better than others I have seen.

The casting was very well done, with fantastic skin and scale texture. The miniature was painted over a black undercoat with a mixture of acrylic paints.

The service from Lance & Lazer Models was very good, with the figures arriving from America within 14 days of ordering. There are others in the range that I would expect to order in the future, but for now I will try to paint the lead mountain I already have before ordering any more!

Tony

Inspirational Artwork

The Internet is full of great inspirational artwork, one of the best and one of my personal favourites are the illustrations of Keith Thompson, see the link below.

http://www.keiththompsonart.com/index.html

Tony