Make a Jetbike by November 30th

Finished - and just in time.

Here is my entry in to the Rattrap Productions competition to build a Jetbike by November 30th. It will come as no surprise that my Jetbike is inspired by Flash Gordon and built to the same 40mm scale that all of my Flash collection is.

Using a Testors Salt Flats Racer as the base, the main body was quickly put together. The miniature Flash is from Graven Images, a converted Nazi soldier.

I am happy with the finished model, but am not sure how I will use it in my own skirmish games.
Tony

In greater detail;
The design is based on the 'skimmer' used in the Queen - Flash Gordon film. I tried to model the hull as the film version, but found the many angles too difficult to reproduce. I already had a Salt Flats Racer model from the American producer Testors and thought that this would make a great base for a more curved skimmer.

The body of the racer was first glued to a base, then a section from the centre removed and the two hull pieces glues back together. Similarly a section was then removed from the middle section and the two pieces glued together and a base added. The curved hull was then built up with scrap plastic and covered with two part epoxy and sanded smooth. This took some time and a lot of sanding/smoothing/filling/sanding etc. etc.

The control column was layers of plastic card glued together and sanded smooth. The wings are from the Airfix Robotwars boxed set and the small rockets on the wind roots are sanded bombs from my spares box. There is also a rocket body under the main sled, which also came from my spares box, additional detail are sections of plastic card/plastic rod and bits.

The figure is from Graven Images - much re-modelled and converted.

Painting was done with acrylics and washed with Games Workshop washes and watered down inks.

Flash Gordon Rocket Prints from Richard Grohs

I have recently purchased these two signed prints by Richards Grohs from Prisma-Art. The first is Z-4 or Dr. Zarkovs Rocketship and the second is Alien Rocket Fighter or Mings Rocketship. They were ordered via e-bay, see the link below. The quality is fantastic and I would have no issues with ordering from Prisma-Art again or recommending their products.

I have yet to frame them, but look forward to seeing them adorning the walls of my computer room.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/THE-GROH-GALLERY-OF-AVIATION-ART

Tony

Flash Gordon - Alien figures

In my search for suitable 40mm miniatures to supplement my ever growing Flash Gordon collection I came across these figures from Mithril, Ireland;

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Casting-molds-and-Lord-of-the-Rings_Mithril-Ents_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ4QQftidZ2QQtZkm

The figures stand between 43mm and 63mm tall and are beautifully sculpted almost ethereal. I intend painting them as some type of benevolent alien race rather than Ents, but am at a loss as to what colour!

Grey would be an easy choice, as traditional Grey's, but I was hoping for some more colourful suggestions and some inspiration. Any ideas?

Links would help.

Tony

UPDATE - This poor quality snap show three of the figures based on 40mm round bases. The main ground-work is DAS with small pieces of cork and fine sand.

Flash Gordon - The Crashed Rocketship board

Here is a teaser, just one photo of the Crashed Rocketship gaming board that I finished some time ago. I am still hoping that a complete article, including background, building and painting will appear in print or on the web, but it is taking some time.

For now, here is the completed board in all its glory. Just click on the image to enlarge it.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Komok

A real beast of a miniature - a Komok, known to the cavemen as "the eater of men." The base miniature is a Purple Worm from the D&D collectable miniatures game, re-based and modelled before being painted with various acrylic paints.

The rock base needed some modelling with Milliput and fine sand. The body of the worm, also had considerable re-modelling to hide some of the very prominent mould lines and various joints.

I used Milliput, DAS and filler, before sanding them smooth and coating the miniature and base with dilute PVA glue prior to painting over a grey basecoat. Once the main colours were laid down I again used Games Workshop Washes - Black and Brown to add surface detail to the sculpt.

The final two photos, show work-in-progress shots which highlight some of the detailing prior to painting and having the base colours added.

The miniature is based on a 80mm round resin base from http://www.fenrisgames.com/ and stands 120mm tall. I painted the model grey and brown as I did not want the miniature to be recognisable as a Purple Worm. The grey rock area is OK, but I am not sure this is my best painting of grey rock or stone. Once again the D&D miniature range offers great value for money.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Grom

Another Superfigs miniature, this time Warlord Grom, (Alien 12), a huge alien monster dressed in retro equipment, see; http://www.fourcolorfigs.com/catalog_alien.html

The miniature was picked up from the bargain basket at Waylands Forge, Birmingham and based on a 50mm round base. The miniature stands 60mm tall and was painted red as I already had a dark brown and white 'hairy monster'. The miniature is modified, having the axe cut from the right hand, the right hand and right knee re-modelled with 'green stuff' prior to being painted with acrylic paints over a black basecoat.

Tony

Joccian Rats patrol a Catalutian street

Yet another staged photo - this time a group of Rats, are patrolling a Spanish town, between the run down housing and walled grave yard. You may know this particular scenario?

Most of the troops are obvious, however please note that there is an Orc officer in the foreground. The buildings and wall are scratch built, the road is simple sandpaper, the piece of fence is built from toffee apple sticks and all of the grave stones are scratch built (the first time they have all appeared on film).

Tony