Iberian Windmill - update

This is not the first time that I have featured this particular model on the blog. For details of the earlier post see this link. However I have recently repaired the sails and thought it was worth adding these images.

The model was built some years ago from DAS covered corrugated cardboard, card and balsawood with the sails modelled from skewers. I had damaged the sails and the cotton rigging after attending the West Midlands Military Show, Alumwell in March this year and thought it was time that I repaired them.

The simple model is one of my all-time favourite scratch-built terrain models, one that I am very proud of. It was inspired by an image I had found in a Portuguese tourism guide picked up at a local travel agents and although simple in design and construction I think the model is just perfect for showing how I build and paint my terrain pieces.

Unfortunately, I do not have any work-in-progress shots to show how it was built and painted.

Tony

More Wargame Terrain Book - SOLD OUT

Earlier this week my son bought a copy of Models For Wargamers and the very last copy of More Wargame Terrain as a gift for a work colleague.

After the initial print run and one additional re-print, all copies of More Wargame Terrain have now been sold. Thank you to everyone who has supported this limited edition, self published book.

Tony

Please note there are still copies of Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 3 - Models For Wargamers available and at the reduced price of just £12.50 (plus postage). For details of how to order see this post.

Henry's Cafe and Bookstore Upton-upon-Severn

Earlier this month, Sue and I visited Upton-upon-Severn, a quaint river-side town in South Worcester. The town has always had a thriving second-hand book culture, but now we have Henry's.

Henry's is one of the new style Cafe bars with a thriving antiques and second-hand book store integrated into the cafe. The military book section, situated on the first floor is very well stocked and (when I visited) had many modern information booklets for under £6.00 in addition to a well stocked second-hand military and history section.

I know that the store is closed on a Monday. For more details check out their own web page here and in particular the short sections about and photos which offer some interesting background and a couple of images of the stocked book shelves.

Henry's Cafe and Bookstore
22 High Street
Upton-upon-Severn
Worcester
WR8 0HB

I would recommend Upton and Henry's as a great day out, there is lots to see in Upton and the many second-hand and antique shops make it a great hunting ground. 4 bookworms out of 5.

Tony

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy issue 98

Issue 98 of Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy includes an article written by me showing how I turned a simple toy train into a 1/56th scale, American Civil War steam engine inspired by the Andreas Miniatures 1/32nd scale locomotive (SG-S10 54mm).

The tutorial in the October/November issue shows over two pages how I modified the plastic train then painted and weathered it. As can be seen in the image below.

While here you can see the boxed train set before I started work on it.

For full details of this latest issue please see this link or visit WH Smiths.

Tony

The Merry Wives of Windsor - RST, Stratford-upon-Avon

Last night Holly and I saw the latest Royal Shakespeare Theatre production - The Merry Wives of Windsor. A truly laugh-out-loud romp that combined Elizabethan England with classic TV references from The Only Way Is Essex, Eastenders, Only Fools and Horses and Allo Allo.

This was the first time I had ever seen this play and although the synopsis was a little complicated, the superb performance made it an easy story to follow with fun and humour from the very start. In fact within minutes of the lights going down, I turned to Holly and said "I'm going to enjoy this." And I did. Possibly one of the best nights out for a very long time with more laughs and humour than a Live at the Apollo set. Very well worth seeing and the good news is that although the Stratford performances are finished, the cast is moving on to the Barbican in London  from December - I think we may have to have a visit to the Capitol to enjoy this play again.

For more details see this link.

Tony (and Holly)

Charlie Grey - RIP

Earlier this week I was told of the passing of a long-term family friend. Charles or as I have always known him Charlie. Some time ago I wrote a Flintloque inspired short-story called 'The Legend of Charlie Grey'. I think it is fitting to include the link here to honour a real character.

Lots of love to all the family, particularly Tony, John and Michelle.

Tony

The story can be found here.

Painting Rust Tutorial

As promised, today I will show how I paint rust effects on plastic. 

Step One
I chose a couple of plain plastic pieces. The white plastic bracket is from a small paint pot tester rack that I picked up from a scrap resources centre in Worceter for free. While the yellow/grey roller is a spare part from a label printer that had just been replaced and was going to be thrown away.

Step Two
Both pieces have been cleaned up and in the case of the white moulding, I have added a couple of plastic tube brackets or hole extensions which were glued in place with superglue.

I have roughed up the plastic with some sanding sticks prior to applying paint.

Step Three
I produced this colour chart to show the main colours used. They are;
1 - Charred Brown 72.045 Vallejo Game Color
2 - 50/50 mix Charred Brown/ Orange Fire
3 - Orange Fire 72.008 (Note - I usually use Hot Orange 72.009 but on this occasion I had run out)
4 - Rusty Patina a textured craft paint that I have been experimenting with. I find that the texturing is a little to much for smaller models, but can be used on my 1:27.7 scale structures.
5 - Rusty Patina mixed with Charred Brown
6 - Rusty Patina mixed with Orange Fire

Rusty Patina bought from a craft store in Evesham for £7.00

Step Four
I have basecoated the pieces with a Charred Brown to which I have added a tiny drop of black. The black was used around the banding and to add some shadows.

The paint was applied in two thin coats to which I have added some very fine powder which will act as texturing for the rust surface.

Step Five
The first highlight. I have mixed some Orange Fire to the Charred Brown and started to stipple on the rust colour. I use a really old and very damaged brush for this, think dead spider and you are getting close to what the bristles look like!

Step Six
A second highlight using more Orange Fire and the same damaged brush to add more rust effect.

Step Seven
The test pieces have been varnished with Galleria water based, Matt Varnish to which I have added some black (Nuhl) wash, notice how the pieces are now looking matt, but also how the rust texturing has been highlighted with the wash.

Step Eight
I then used an oil based Light Rust Wash, a rust wash from Soilworks to further highlight the shadows around the banding and accentuate surface detail and texturing.

Step Nine
Finally, I have used a rust coloured weathering powder from Humbrol which was dusted on to the pieces with a fan shaped brush, a brush I keep just for adding weathering powders,

And there you have it - How I Paint Rust Effects on Plastic. I hope it is of use to others who paint models and terrain.

Tony