IPMS Model Show, Telford

I have just returned from the IPMS Model Show at the International Conference Centre, Telford. A two day exhibition and without doubt the very best model exhibition in the UK (possibly in the world - yes it is that good!) This is the fourth year I have attended, but the first time for a Sunday visit, I usually attend on the first day - a Saturday.

Photo One - Shows the second exhibition hall.

Photo Two and Three - The first or main exhibition hall, photographed from the centre showing both views to the right and left.

Photo Four - The competition area, held in a separate hall.

Photo Five and Six - A Belgium exhibition showing true 'scratch building'.

Photo Seven - A Victorian Science Fiction flying machine with a fully modelled interior.

Photo Eight - A beautifully modelled and painted piece, showing a battle in the ice.

Photo Nine - Included because I am just in awe of the level of detail in this model, just breathtaking.

Photo Ten - The winning entry in the Fantasy painting competition. A 54mm Woodland Sprite or Dryad.

Photo Eleven - A bust of Banastre Tarleton.

Photo Twelve - The new 54mm Victrix British.

Photo Thirteen - A HUGE Spectrum Angel Interceptor - it must be over three feet long, the models in the background are 1/72nd.

Photo Fourteen - Warhammer 40K diorama.

Photo Fifteen - A 1/72nd scale Ironclad, included for inspiration.

Photo Sixteen - A resin War of the Worlds Martian Walker.

Photo Seventeen - A scratch built 1/35th scale Sci Fi Anime tank diorama.

Photo Eighteen - There were a lot of 'what if' or Special Interest groups, I particularly liked this subject and colour scheme.

Photo Nineteen - A 1/120th scale Moon Landing, modelled from a V2 rocket on a fantastic display base.

Photo Twenty - Another 'what if' subject - there were loads of these, but this gives a feel for what was modelled.

Photo Twenty-one - included just for the size of this huge Russian jet and display - it really was huge and dominated the display!

Photo Twenty-two - There were hundreds of such display pieces, this one was one of the better painted.

Photo Twenty-three - another display piece that caught my eye.

Having remembered to take my digital camera and take photos, here are just a tiny fraction of the thousands of exhibits, but these few were some that I found of interest, I hope you do too.

If you can visit this particular show, I would recommend that you go next year - a really great day out and a show full of bargains. My own purchases included, magazines, terrain pieces, paints, blades and some new superglue from Filla-Glu, based in Cardiff, see; www.filla-glu.com

Finally on Remembrance Sunday, I can proudly report that the two minute silence was fully observed and when finished, there was a spontaneous round of applause.

Tony

Crashed Rocketship Terrain Board part six

With the main groundwork painted and hundreds of small stones individually highlighted, I felt that the board was still looking too plain. I first added some dark green railway modelling hedges that were trimmed into 2cms - 3cms clumps or sections and superglued into small holes, then pressed in to the surface with a pair of pliers. These were situated near natural variations in strata and around breaks in the terrain (as I had noted from illustrations in American holiday brochures). Later I mixed up some mid green ground foam and after adding uPVA glue, some flow improver and a drop of distilled water, I scooped it onto one edge of the board in clumps of random foliage. Finally I added some tufts of long grass, which was cut from a broom head, bound with fuse wire and superglued into holes. This group of six photos shows the final effect.

The board edges have been painted black and the whole board (minus the rocketship - which was covered with cling-film) was airbrushed with Matt Varnish.

The terrain board is 2 foot x 2 foot and to give an idea of scale the miniatures are 40mm tall and mounted on to 40mm round bases.

Throughout the construction and painting of this board there was one big question. Should I permanently mount the Rocketship, or have it removable? In the end I compromised and the completed Rocketship is mounted into the board but with the minimum of uPVA glue and the smallest amount of DAS modelling clay. If I ever want to remove it, I believe that I could, whether I will is a different matter altogether!

The board was finished well over a year ago and has, so far only been gamed with once. For me the whole project was about the modelling. I have even thought about selling it, but in the end think this is one board that I will keep as I feel it is just full of character and suits my Flash Gordon collection so well. It is also the heaviest terrain board that I own and the thought of transporting it without damaging it, is quite horrendous.

I would hope to have one more entry in this series - maybe a game report - but don't hold your breath!

Tony

HELLBOY - On-line painting article part four

This illustration of a 54mm Hellboy is the colour guide I will be using. It is taken from the Spanish Magazine GameZone.

The second photo shows the skin tones, in my opinion the most important colour to get right with this particular figure. I used GW Blood Red/Vallejo Scorched Brown over Scorched Brown, then highlighted with Blood Red and finally some (very small) single stroke highlights of Vallejo Hot Orange.

I decided to paint a black vest, as seen in Hellboy II, rather than have a bare chest. I used GW Chaos Black, highlighted with Foundry Charcoal. The trunks and holster are GW Snakebite Leather with some Skull White added for highlights.

At this stage I have 'washed' the red, black and brown with suitable GW Washes, but these have been kept very light and watered-down.

Now that the right hand is attached and painted, the miniature is beginning to 'come together'

Tony

Samurai 7

I recently picked up this seven DVD box set called Samurai 7. A Japanese Anime series from 2004, produced by Gonzo and based on the Akira Kurosaw movie Seven Samurai. The series was directed by Toshifumi Takizawa.

There are 26 episodes over the seven discs and I am halfway through the second disc and really enjoying both the story and the fantastic animation.

It should come as no surprise that the re-worked sci-fi setting is based very much on the original Seven Samurai/Magnificent Seven movies, recounting the story of a small rice village that is harassed by bandits every harvest time. The bandits are now becoming more demanding and now taking women and children.

The elders decide that to protect the village they must hire Samurai, but with no money they search out a group that will agree to protect the village for a payment of rice.

Three members are sent to the city to recruit the Samurai and the adventure begins. This illustration shows the seven samurai.

So far I would give the series a 7 out of 10 (no pun intended), the animation and story are very good, but the music and particularly the Japanese singing does grate!

Tony

HELLBOY - On-line painting article part three

The third post in this latest On-line build and still no real painting! The Lego blocks have been superglued on to a Games Workshop 40mm square, plastic base. A perfect fit for a display plinth such as this.

The miniature (and plinth) have been spray painted, first with Games Workshop Chaos Black and then, more lightly with Tamiya Brown. The mottled finish (brown over black) is a base that I find easier to paint over, rather than plain black.

I have had to do some 'cleaning-up', removing mould lines and flash, but overall the figure was very well cast. The miniature including plinth is 80mm tall.

Hellboy has now had his right arm attached with thick or gel-type superglue. Quite an imposing figure.

I would hope that the next post will show some actual painting, but for now I hope that you agree with me that the plain Lego block base or plinth (now finished off with a GW plastic base) is looking very good.I particularly like the way that the groundwork and base blend into one another. Simple, but as you can see very effective.

Tony

HELLBOY - On-line painting article part two

I wanted this particular miniature to be mounted on to a small plinth or display base. After much searching I decided not to use one of my ready-made wooden bases, but instead to use Lego building blocks!

As you can see in this first photo the figure has been superglued on to six, 8 prong Lego building blocks, which have in turn been glued together. The ground work has been built up with DAS modelling clay over white PVA glue, with the rear left area being sculpted into a larger rock for Hellboy to rest his right leg on. I sculpted the rock with a couple of metal sculpting tools and when fully dry used a scalpel blade to further detail the rock face.

You can also see that I have modelled the DAS to overhang the sides of the Lego blocks, once set I sanded the sides flush and smooth.

Once the sides of the plinth had been sanded and the groundwork detailed I added some small stones and fine sand to the centre of the base area. In this photo you can see how I have carved the rock or stone face with a scalpel and how the DAS groundwork now matches, seamlessly with the building blocks. You will also notice how I have not yet attached Hellboy's right arm, as this would have made sanding the sides difficult.

The sanding was done by attaching fine sandpaper to a toughened glass tray with double-sided tape and gently sanding in a circular action until the sides were smooth.

These photos do not show how fine, ready-mixed filler was used to fill the joins between the building bricks. I added some filler and white glue to the joins and when dry the joins were sanded - this took about three attempts before the fine joins were hidden.

Before undercoating I added some larger stones and a couple of pieces of broken cork with thin superglue and allowed the glue to fully set before starting the painting.

This is the first time I have used Lego blocks in this way - but am very pleased with the result and can see further plinths, and even sculpted or part plinths being used for future miniatures. I would recommend the technique to modeller's who want a 'custom base' for their display miniatures.

In part one, I mentioned how heavy this particular sculpt is - I now wish that I had added some ballast to the inside of the Lego blocks prior to gluing them together. If anyone wishes to copy this base building technique, I would suggest that you think about this earlier in the build.

Tony

HELLBOY - On-line painting article

Following my first On-line build, an actual time article on modelling and painting an early Grenadier Miniatures Orcus figure, I am starting a second. This set of posts will detail how I modelled and then painted a Graven Images figure - Hellboy.

The miniature is one of three that I purchased off e-bay last month for £2.00, plus P&P. They are 40mm metal figures from the Graven Images range, distributed by Monolith Designs and sculpted by Jim Bowen. To the best of my knowledge these three are part of a larger range which were sold either as individual models or as a set. The range is no longer available due to licencing issues when the film Hellboy and official figures were released.

This photo is the actual e-bay auction illustration and not one of mine.

For this On-line build, I will be basing, painting and finishing the Hellboy figure only, the Abe and Liz figures will follow in future 'how I did it' painting articles.

The Hellboy figure is a two-piece casting and stands just over 43mm tall, it is quite a heavy casting.

Tony