A lump of balsawood!

I was recently given this block of balsawood. It's a lump measuring 600mm x 140mm x 70mm.

I usually buy my balsawood as balsa scrap or odd pieces, so this will be ideal for my purposes.

Thank you Alex

Alumwell Wargame Show 2017

I can confirm that I will be exhibiting at the WMMS - Alumwell Wargames Show on Sunday 12th March 2017. I first exhibited in 2015, see this blog post for further details but took a break this year. I should have new models and am planning that Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 3 - Models for Wargamers will be launched at the show. Please keep checking the Blog for updates.

For details of the show - one of the friendliest in the UK, please see this link.

Tony

Full gloss shine on plastic models

I recently encountered a problem in getting a truly high gloss shine on a plastic model. I had used Halfords Plastic Primer then Halfords Gloss Black, then Halfords Gloss Lacquer , but still the finish was not good enough.

I tried T Cut, Glass Polish. Jewellers Rouge, Future and even toothpaste (I'd read that this could be used as a polish), nothing was giving me that real high, ex-showroom shine or deep mirror finish.

Then I tried Turtle Wax Safe Cut or scratch remover.

WOW - what a difference the gloss finish I obtained with this product was better than all the others and I pass this along to others who might be looking for this high gloss finish on one of their projects now or in the future.

Tony

Three reasons to take up a hobby

I recently saw an article in one of my Mother-in-Laws magazines and thought it was worth posting here.

Three Reasons To Have A Hobby;

1 - IT MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY
When you are completely absorbed in a hobby you love, you enter a 'flow state' where you lose the sense of time passing. Studies have shown that being in this high state of concentration releases 'happy' chemicals - endorphins and dopamine.

This is certainly the case with me when I am working down my shed - the time just flies by.

2 - IT IS GOOD FOR THE HEART
A US study found that people with a hobby were 34% less stressed and their heart rates were not only lower but stayed that way for longer.

3 - YOU'LL BE BETTER AT YOUR JOB
A recent study in the Journal of occupational and Organizational Psychology found that those with hobbies had improved problem solving skills and were more likely to help a workmate tackle problems. Plus the more time they spent on their hobby the better their job performance - scoring between 15 - 30% higher than colleagues without a hobby.

I find that if I am away from my hobby - the shed in particular for any length of time, I get withdraw symptoms and find myself needing to model or paint something.

Tony

Miniature Holder - Latest Update

Following on from my earlier post here are some images of my Miniature Holder Mk II. I picked up four grey napkins rings from a charity shop in Kidderminster for just 50p. They are made of wood and a sticker on the inside says MADE IN INDIA.

I have added a bent coat-hanger hook to the side of one and glued it in place with superglue. The cork is the same as the cork featured in the earlier post. Since taking these images, I have trimmed the top of the cork and sanded it smooth so it fits a little better and does not stick out the top so much.

The figure is a MSB TOYS Pig Rogue bought off the internet. The figure stands 35mm tall foot to top of head.

I can report that the earlier holder and the holder without the coat-hanger wire work fine. I used them to hold the Wedding Cake Toppers featured earlier in this blog. I have yet to use the holder with the wire.

I am still pledging towards the Rathcore V3 holder, but thought it was still worth posting that these holders are not that hard or expensive to scratch-build and are very practical.

Tony

Away-Day - Birmingham November 25th 2016

I have written on previous occasions about how I try to have an Away-Day at Parabellum, Birmingham at least once a year and usually around Christmas - 2016 will be no different.

This years Away-Day will be Friday 25th November and like earlier ones. I promise to bring the cakes!

I have sent out e-mail, but if you were missed off the list please excuse me as things have been a bit hectic recently.

I plan on being at Parabellum around 11.30 - 12.00 and although this is an informal meeting, I can at least offer great banter, cakes and (if Mark and Rich agree) mugs of tea.

Hopefully this gives everyone enough notice - see you there.

Tony

Parabellum
54 Vyse Street
Hockley
Birmingham
B18 6HR

Wedding Cake Topper

You may have wondered why updates to the Blog were a little slow last month. One of the reasons was that I was 'press-ganged' into producing this Wedding Cake Topper by my daughter Holly, who was bridesmaid at Kate's wedding.

The plan was to build the figures out of icing sugar but the tight deadline meant that this would have been almost impossible as icing sugar figures need a longer period to harden-off. I built this Bride and Groom from DAS modelling clay over metal and wooden manikins and mounted them to a plastic card base - the benefit of such a construction is that this cake topper should last.

The couple were painted with acrylic paints and matt varnished. The two guinea pigs were sculpted by Holly.

Congratulations and best wishes to Kate and Tom.

Tony