Even more wands

I've had great fun producing even more wands for my grandchildren. Here are the complete set of seven scratch built wands that I have made laid out out the order they were constructed with the latest - the bone wand at the bottom.

Most are inspired but not copied from images of Harry Potter wands that I have found on the internet. I think my favourite is the Elder Wand, third from the top.

Tony

Flintloque Elf Grenadiers - update

The Ferach standard has now been hand painted and finished. This image was taken on my small display board with a  ruined tower building and some bottle-brush trees in in-direct sunshine earlier today.

I would expect to show some work-in-progress shots later this week.

Tony

Flintloque Elf Grenadiers

This is my unit of eight Elf Grenadiers from the Flintloque boxed set 5105 1er Velite Grenadiers de la Garde Mordred. The figures were bought secondhand some time ago and the box set was not complete, hence just eight minis. The miniatures have been mounted on to 2p coins with the groundwork built-up with Milliput two part epoxy putty. I will give more details of how they were painted in later posts, but for now here are the varnished and based figures.

The unit was painted in two batches of four minis - the first two started prior to my recent visit to Portugal and the second batch on my return. I find that painting minis in small batches is so much easier.

More to follow but for now, enjoy.

Tony

Pen and Art Shop in Porto, Portugal

Sue and I have just returned from a short holiday in Porto with our daughter Holly. One of the highlights for me was a visit to this pen and art shop on the R.das Flores, Porto. It was one of the most beautiful retail shops I have ever visited and as a bonus was crammed full of both pens and artist materials. I spent ages browsing the display cabinets and even convinced Sue and Holly to re-visit (twice).

Obviously I found something to buy, but now I'm back home, I wish I had spent more.....

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Porto you should make time amongst the many Port Lodge visits and lectures and tastings and seafood restaurants to walk up the hill and visit this little jewel.

Tony

Warmonger Orcs with big guns!

These four miniatures were picked up secondhand some time ago from Worcester Wargames and were originally finished with a very rough 'slap chop' paint scheme. Since then, I have re-based them on to 40mm round Games Workshop plastic bases and touched up the paint chips. They are from the Foundry/Warmonger range of Orcs (Mercenary Orcs with big guns!).

I have not tried for a perfect finish, preferring to make the most of the existing paint scheme and just adding some detail and highlights.

I don't have any more minis from this range and as they are going for silly money over on ebay, I'm not sure there will be any new additions, even so they were fun to base, paint and detail and they didn't cost that much.

Tony

Interesting tool kit find

Sue and I found this tool kit at the local charity shop yesterday. As you can see it was not complete, but for just £1.00 I thought it was well worth taking a chance and picked it up.

Back home I realised that I could use my existing paper crafting tools and Exacto knife handles to hold the wide variety of different tools.

I am well aware that I have way too many modelling tools but I just can't resist buying more.....

Tony

Another wand

Sue and I visited Stratford-upon-Avon yesterday and I saw a Harry Potter Elder wand in one of the tourists shops. Back home I thought I could produce one like that.....

Here is my Elder wand constructed from a scrap piece of dowel and Milliput Terracotta two-part epoxy putty. It didn't take that long to make and paint but like the earlier wand, I'm very pleased with how it turned out. The wand is slightly longer than my earlier wands, at 15 inches long. I just have to make a box for it now.

Tony