Assassins, Planes and Automobiles

 So here's an update. I have finished a few models.

The first are the 12 outstanding figures from the Dapol Station Passengers set. Here they are prior to being added to the layout.

Next I have a Ral Partha Thuggee Cultist I picked up. He has been an experiment painting Black, and has mainly been dry brushed grey shades, over painted with Grim Black speed paint.

Finally, I have completed 4 jeeps and an L4 'Grasshopper' Air Observation Post for my US Paras. These models being complete allow me to bring this force back to 100 percent done. At least till I buy more anyway.

Finally, as one more experimentation, I've tried my new phone for tonight's pictures. I think it's done pretty well!

House

Quick one again. I've completed this cottage for the railway. I picked it up for a pound at a model rail show, but believe it's an old hornby kit. Either way, a good way to practice painting thatch, and glazing windows

Adventures in Speedpaint - Dryad

I'm almost not sure I should post this, as it's a bit "exposed".

However, I'm really pleased with the tree on this Reaper Bones Dryad, so have decided to pop it up.

The model is a Reaper Bones Dryad which I picked up as:

a) I liked the model

b) I was interested in doing a limited pallet challenge

The aim here was to paint the model in greens and browns, natural colours. For the dagger I've tried to go for an obsidian effect. Undercoat was zenithal Sand over Brown.

As the tree is a major part of the model, I didn't just want to paint it brown. One side was 'mossed' with Camo Cloak, and vines/ivy picked out in Goblin Green, meanwhile streaks of Codex Grey, were put over the top of Dark Wood, to indicate the bark. Finally two layers of clump foilage where added in small dark green clumps and then mid-green turf over the top, both from Woodland Scenics.

All in all, I'm really happy with the model, though I should have picked a different hair colour I think. Currently I think the hair blends into the wood a bit too much, despite attempts to stop this. One to consider for future models I think!

Photos have been taken outside, to take advantage of the good weather.

 

So somehow another month has passed

 Oh poo, these come round quick don't they!

So what have I got done this month? Odds and ends for the railway mostly, mainly the goods yard.

Firstly there is this Single Pen Cattle Dock from MMR Models. It went together fairly easily, and painted up well.

Secondly, this Hornby loading gauge got a clean up of the moulded numbers and mould lines, followed by a coat of paint.

Finally, both these Dapol figures got some paint

Not a lot really, still better than nothing!

Slow Progress

 So I've managed to get some more painting done, and thought that I would show you what I've done.

Firstly are some more Dapol Platform passengers and staff from their Platform figures set. I have about 12 more of these to do, and they are a useful side project, so expect to see more at some point. Biggest problem is how to mount the sitting figures to the sticks for spraying/painting.

Next up is a project that has been on the bench for way too long, 3 M48 Patton tanks and 3 M47 tanks for my Jordanians. These are big vehicles and have taken a lot of work to pin wash, for example. In addition, I think I lost some enthusiam for the project, so they have taken longer than planned. The end result is good though. The Skytrex M48 is a great kit, while the Butler's 3D Models M47 has not come out badly at all, despite suffering from layer lines (particularly on the angled glacis). I did hit these with a file and putty during assembly which has helped a bit, and once painted, they are a lot harder to see.

So what's next? I currently have a half timbered house and a cattle dock on the bench, built so probably those, and some railway figures. Or I might decide to build another kit from the pile of shame!

Railway Figures

 So these were actually finish just before I went on holiday 3 weeks ago but I forgot to photograph them.

As such I'm correcting this now, here they are.

These are Dapol C008 Platform Figures, of a style I've painted before and are pretty nice models.

These have largely been another adventure in Speed Paint, unlike the previous batch. I think they have come out quite well.

 

2022: Year in review

Hey, so time to do our look back at 2022.

Not been a successful year on the painting front really with only 67, models painted, very poor compared to previous years (100+). Many reasons for this, work being put into the railway, for example. However my job has got even more manic this year and I don't think it has helped at all. The lack of a lockdown hasn't helped, but lets not ask to get that back!

I have made good progress on the Jordanian force however, getting a lot of their armour painted.

I also won Best Painted Army at the Corrivalry Flames of War Competition with my North West Europe WW2 British.

My Germans finally got their Panthers painted as well, my Soviets got a boost with some more tanks and aircraft and the Cold War British got their infantry and Harriers!

I also started a Tunesian German force. I have also been Playing around with the new Army Painter Speedpaint, meaning I got some models built.

I also built one of my biggest models, a G gauge FNA Wagon, for my collegue Phil's retirement present.

My model railway has seen a substantial amount of work, gaining several new buildings, and scenary this year. I've attached a couple of photos of the layout and the display shelf I've been building (Still WIP, awaiting track). Still plenty to do.