IPMS Scale ModelWorld 2010 part two

I thought I would include in this report some photos showing the general layout and some of the major trade stands. I will post more photos showing the club displays and some 'spectaculars' later.....

Photo One - The Replica Spitfire which dominated the Competition and Kit Swap area (Hall one).

Photos Two and Three - Show the sight that greets you when you move from the Spitfire Hall and into the first display hall (Hall two). First to the left.

And then to the left.

These images show some of the trade stands. First Air Molds.

These two show Comet Models, stacked high with Sci-Fi kits of all descriptions. It was a scrum (a very enjoyable scrum) to see all the kits and magazines.

Then Mr Models, Birmingham, The shop is usually just as haphazard.

The Huge Airfix Stand, they also had a children's build and paint section that was full all day.

I took this photos to show one of the new models from Airfix - a sort of Gundam what-if!

Military in Scale (they also had a display table, photos to follow).

Tamiya - a beautifully stocked display, but quiet!

Two shots of the very professional Revel display.

Another trade stand.

I hope that these give a flavour of what the show was like.

Tony

IPMS Scale ModelWorld 2010

Earlier today I drove up to Telford - The International centre and to the IPMS (International Plastic Modelling Society) model show, Scale ModelWorld 2010. This is the fourth year I have attended and regular followers and readers will know how much I rate this particular show, quite possibly the best model show in the world! A big claim - but one that I am quite happy to defend.

With over 200 photos on my new memory card, I have loads of information and inspiration for this Blog. To begin with, I'll start by saying that the £9.00 entry fee although a little high was worth every penny, four and a half hours after entering I was heading back with a bag full of goodies.

Photo One - A haul of over sixteen magazines as well as catalogues and leaflets, total cost, less than £5.00, and no this is not a typing error, all this for less than £5.00. (Actually, I think it was less than £3.00, but I didn't want to boast).

Photo Two - The IPMS operate a transfer (decal) exchange. I spoke with the member who was manning the stand and explained that I regularly produce Fantasy, Victorian Science Fiction and Sci-Fi models and am always on the look-out for suitable and unusual transfers. This bunch of used transfer was given to me for free, again, no typing error - totally free. At this stage I was so embarrassed that I found a British Legion Poppy tin and made a donation!

Photo Three - Shows the bulk of my purchases, all ten wooden bases cost just £1.00, the large bag of static grass was reduced to £2.00 and the Focker DVII was £3.00. I don't want to gain a reputation for being a skin-flint, but these are just some of the great bargains you have missed out on.

Due to changes in personal circumstances, I am aware that this may be my last Modelling/Wargame Show for some time and I made the most of it and really, really enjoyed myself, a total indulgence. More posts to follow and loads more photos.

Tony

Portuguese Cazadores - part four

These photos show the progress so far, most of the base painting or first and second layers have been completed and I have mounted the miniature to a small display base, a 2inch Oak cube and built up the base with Milliput sprinkled with sieved sand and small stones.

There is still a great deal of 'detail' painting to be done, but regular followers/readers will know how 'haphazard' my painting style is. The truth is I'm just impatient!

I am pleased with the figure so far, but do feel that the eyes need some work!

My plan (I do have one - honest) is to paint up the ground-work in a light sand colour and then use a 'detail brush' to touch up and add the missing highlights, then varnish figure and base together. I am sure there will be some static grass or clumps, but this is all for the future. I also feel these photos are so much better than the last (and dark) two.

Tomorrow, I'm off to Scale Model World, the IPMS Model Show at Telford, see; link

Tony

Portuguese Cazadores - part three

Firstly, I have to apologise for the quality of these two photos, they really are very dark! Since the last post, I have tidied up some of the conversion detail - carving back the plume, sanding the shako smooth and defining the lace-work on the jacket front with a scalpel. The figure was spray painted with Games Workshop Chaos Black and Tamiya Dark Brown. I sprayed the whole figure with the GW Black and then sprayed the Tamiya Brown from above, giving some definition to the miniature.

The jacket and trousers were painted in slightly different hues of Dark Brown, I actually used Vallejo Charred Brown as the base for both and added GW Gore Red or GW Snakebite Leather to lighten the colour. Both areas were Given a 'wash' of GW Baal Red and GW Sepia. The face was built up over GW Dwarf Flesh and the Red collar from GW Gore Red. The Black lace was built up from GW Chaos Black with just a touch of Vallejo Stonewall Grey.

The figure has been given a number of 'washes' to tone down my poor brushwork. With the basecoats finished I will build up lighter colours over the next couple of days. I have tried to be more 'subtle' with both the colour choice and the highlighting as strong (Dallimore or Heavy Metal highlighting would have been to 'toy like' on such a large figure).

I have a small Oak Base, 2inches x 2inches x 2inches that I intend using to display the figure on, while I have been preparing the model, I have also been sanding it smooth and will be mounting it once I am happy with the painting progress.

I will try to take better photos before the next post. One good point is that progress has been much quicker than I had expected!

Tony

Portuguese Cazadores - part two

The Del Prado model arrived yesterday morning. I was surprised to see how tall it is as I had expected it to be 54mm, but it is closer to 62/63mm (head to toe). The example I purchased via e-bay cost me £3.00, as you can see it was brand new and still in it's packaging, which was a good thing as the metal is quite soft, the rifle and particularly the bayonet are very easily bent.

This photo shows the model removed from the packaging, quite an imposing stance. I like it!

Photo three shows the conversion work. I have used Milliput Grey/Green and Green Stuff to build up the shako and shoulder decoration, while the lace-work to the front of the jacket is 100% Green Stuff.

I have added sideburns and a moustache as shown on the Victrix 28mm models featured in Wargames Illustrated. I think it gives the figure some character.

I would think that this same miniature could be converted to a British 95th Rifles with little trouble, the cut of the uniform being very similar.

The model has been 'cooked' in the oven (to set the Milliput and Green Stuff) and undercoated, but this can wait until the next update.

Tony

Download The Ancible Magazine issue # 6 for free

The Ancible Magazine, Issue #6 is available for FREE DOWNLOAD, go to this link and follow the instructions. Issue #6 includes another article written by me, the construction and painting of the Space 1889/Aeronef Pirate Kite - Lilith, a design based on the old Dungeons & Dragons supplement Spelljammer.

Earlier this year, The Ancible moved from being a print based publication to a web only magazine and although I am not overly keen on reading from the Web, (being a little old fashioned), I have found The Ancible layout and content to be very well done. I like the mix of subject matter as well as the beautiful illustrations and speaking personally, I think they have done a great job in transferring my simple article into a stunning feature. Very well done.

Issue #6 is available for free download (it is totally free - I've just done it!) and I would recommend any reader interested in miniatures, painting or gaming to avail themselves of this fantastic offer. In fact if you enjoy issue #6, then issue #1 is also available for free download, so a double win!

The Squidship Lilith is a totally scratch built model, of a Martian pirate kite modelled to the scale of 1/300th (or 6mm) and was built by me to see if I could produce a totally unique and animal/creature inspired design.

This second photo shows the Squidship Lilith flying alongside the Le Fee Verte - yet another of my 1/300th scale Aeronefs details of which appear in The Ancible issue #4.

I would hope that readers will download the free issue (issues) and enjoy them as much as I did.

Tony

Portuguese Cazadores

In December I will once again be running a 'guess the Vintage Port' competition at my local lodge. This will be the seventh year in a row that I have arranged such a charity evening and in an attempt to do something a little different, I will be highlighting the military treaty between Portugal and Great Britain. Then following the very good article on the Portuguese Cazadores in the latest issue of Wargame Illustrated (issue 277), I thought I would re-paint a Del Prado 54mm miniature of a Cazadores soldier, and auction it following the Port tasting.

I have just won the e-bay auction for this figure and am now hoping I can get the figure re-painted and based in time. It will be a tight call! (I think there might also be a little bit of re-modelling, adding epaulettes and re-shaping the plume and shako!) The good news is that already have a base...............

I will keep an on-line diary of progress, but am now wondering if I have bitten off more than I can realistically achieve in such a short dead line. The Port tasting is planned for December 1st, just 22 days away - and I still haven't received the figure!

I think I will need to hone my speed-painting skills. Hopefully it will turn out OK.

Tony