1935 Morgan Super Sports from Academy/Minicraft

Earlier this month I was given this secondhand 1/16th scale model kit of a 1935 Morgan Super Sports three wheeler as a birthday present. The second hand kit is complete with just the rubber tyres attached to the spoked wheels and minus the decals. Quite a feat for a kit from the 1990's.

I was given the Morgan three wheeler book some time ago so I can't complain that I don't have enough information to build a true replica. But will it be a pristine example or slightly used one? And what colour?

Thanks to Gary and Beckie (and the boys) for my birthday present.

Tony

Turnip40 - an update

I've been asked to include additional images of the snail shell backpacks included on two of my 40mm scale Turnip40 miniatures.....

The original Blog post can be found here.

The snail shells were collected from my back garden and filled with Greenstuff before being glued in place with superglue and then painted with the same techniques used on the rest of the figures.

The second figure also uses a snail shell from the garden, but this one is a little more ornate and was painted with a slightly metallic colour scheme.

The shells were both cleaned before use and come from a selection of seaside shells that I picked up some time ago to decorate the seaside themed summerhouse we have in the garden.

A case of using what I had available.....

Tony

Turnip40 - using 40mm figures with the Turnip28 background

Some time ago, I posted details of a scratch built enormous turnip piece of terrain that I had built for the game Turnip28. For more information, see this link. Since then I have searched through my collection of 40mm figures and built this group of Turnip40 characters.

The first uses the body from a 40 HLBS figure of a Napoleonic rifleman and the helmet and crossbow from a 40mm LOTR figure mounted on to a square base and painted in the typical 'grim dark' style associated with Turnip28.

Figure number two uses the body from an old Flashing Blades 40mm Napoleonic Rifleman miniature and a scratch built head or mask. Again painted in the Turnip28 style including static grass tufts.

Mini number three is a real missmatch of bits and pieces. The legs from a Napoleonic cavalryman, body from a 40mm spartan, arms from a 40mm LOTR figure and the turban from a Horror Clix figure. The sword was from my spares box and the painting was just as dark as the earlier models. Of note is the real snails shell glued to his back!

The groups leader is a cross kitted mini using a ACW body, legs from a 40mm LOTR mini and head from the same figure. The spear was from my spares box and once again I have used a real snails shell as a backpack.

Finally we have a 40mm Foundry ACW body and arms with a scratch built carrot head and modified gun. This was great fun to paint as I used a real carrot as inspiration for the head and the belt decoration.

I'm not expecting to convert or paint up many more Turnip40 minis, but who knows - they were great fun to convert and paint.

Tony

The Enormous Turnip - Turnip28 themed terrain

I have recently seen a YouTube video commenting on both Turnip28 and Sludge - both games with a Grimdark/Napoleonic feel. I've yet to convert or paint up any miniatures but have downloaded the Turnip28 V16 rule set and have enjoyed reading and researching this unusual game.

In a mad fit of modelling I wondered if I could build a piece of themed terrain and here is the result of a mornings work - The Enormous Turnip.

The model was built from a piece of insulating foam and then detailed with DAS modelling clay before being mounted on to a circle of 3mm thick plastic card and having the groundwork built up with more DAS before being detailed with sieved stones and sand.

Painting was very dark, with lots of black/brown washes and a limited use of purple paint.

I think it looks OK, and has certainly prompted me to look at converting some miniatures for use with this game. For more information, a GOOGLE search for - Turnip28 will give loads of inspiration.

Tony

Dark Attack 54mm Miniatures

Last weekend Sue and I visited the Malvern Flea Market and Collectors Fair and I picked up this box of Dark Attack plastic figures (set No. 5002) from Tehnolog.

There are 20 plastic figures, 4 Orcs, 5 Dwarves, 5 Elves and 6 Undead or Tomb Guards. The Elves are particularly well sculpted as are the Orcs, while the Dwarves lack the finesse of the earlier two sets. The Undead are the least well sculpted but they do offer some very well detailed weapons and skulls which should come in handy when building dioramas or decorating bases. At 54mm the Orcs could be used as Ogres in 28mm scale and this is how I might use them although I am particularly looking forward to seeing how the Elves paint up.

The box set cost just £7.00 and at that price I think they are great value. I have seen similar sets on the internet, but wouldn't want to pay any more than £10.00 for a set.

I will keep you informed of how my painting progresses.

Tony

Flintloque/Silver Bayonet cross over - part nine

Another day and another post.....

The mini painting is progressing well and I'm enjoying the laid-back painting (I'm in no rush).

More images and another update soon.

Tony

Gaul Defence Tower from Asterix and the Cauldron

Another month and another magazine article showing how I build scratch built terrain for the wargame table. But this time it's a little different.....

Miniature Wargames issue 463 (November 2021) has this article showing how I built a Gaul Defence Tower from corrugated cardboard, card, egg box card and DAS modelling clay with a lift-off plastic card roof detailed with real wood.

The model was inspired by an illustration in the Asterix book Asterix and the Cauldron - in which the treacherous Gaul Whosmoralsarelastix uses his friendship with the Romans to trick the Gauls into searching out some treasure. I was struck by the illustration when reading the book to my grandsons and thought it would make a great centre piece for my Pax Bochemannica games.

Illustration taken from Asterix and the Caldron (used without permission).

For full details of this comic inspired piece of wargame terrain, check out the latest issue of Miniature Wargames.

Tony

Jason's Argo - part two

Today's post shows how the model Argo was detailed. The 28mm scale model is available from Grand Manner - see this link.

Tony

Jason's Argo - part one

This particular model was built over ten years ago as a commission for Grand Manner. The model was meant to represent a small sailing/rowing boat and based on a number of illustrations showing reproductions of early Greek ships or Jason's Argo. The model is scaled for 28mm/32mm miniatures

This image was taken from a children's story book and became the main inspiration when planning and starting construction. The finished resin model can still be bought from Grand Manner - for more information, see this link

The main hull was built up over a sandwich of plastic card with foam, wood and Milliput used to define the sleek shape.

Detailing was done with more foam, plastic card and Milliput epoxy putty.

I will add more work-in-progress shots over the next couple of days but for now, I hope that you like seeing how I work on these master models.

Tony

A Scratch Built Epic Scale Barn for ACW gaming

Issue 459 of Miniature Wargames (July 2021) has another scratch built modelling article written by me - this time a traditional red barn built to match with the Epic Scale ACW plastic figures from Warlord Games.

The model was built over a balsawood former and I used card and DAS modelling clay to model the features. 

For more information, see the full article in MW.

The model was built to accompany the earlier Epic Scale church, details of which can be found on the Blog. See this link for more details.

Tony

A Scratch Built Epic Scale Church for ACW gaming

The most recent edition of Miniature Wargames (issue 456 - April 2021) has another 'how-to' article showing how I built and painted an Epic Scale American Civil War Church which was inspired by the new Epic Scale ACW plastic figures produced by Warlord Games.

The finished model is mounted on to a used CD with groundwork built up from ready-mixed filler and DAS modelling clay. The painted figure in the image below is from the Warlord games plastic sprue but mounted on a round plastic counter rather than the square base supplied.

The model was great fun to produce and a change from my more usual 28mm/32mm scale terrain pieces.

For more details of the magazine contents, see this link.

The break from producing Simple and Practical wargame terrain articles has meant that I have had to think about the materials used, but don't worry normal service will be resumed in next months magazine.

Tony

Scratch Built 40K Gobsmasha

Today's post is a real 'blast-from-the-past'. A scratch built Orc 40k Gobsmasha that was built nearly thirty years ago using plans included in an old White Dwarf magazine. The model was built during a holiday at my Mother-in-Laws and uses bits and pieces found around the house. The finished model was featured as a showcase model in the old Swansea Models and Hobbies store, Swansea.

The core construction was some thick card, which had been 'layered' with more card to give a strong basis on which to add detailing.

Some of the scrap material used includes, Christmas decorations, pen barrels and tops, a Pritt glue stick for the gun barrel and rivets sliced from artificial flower stems.

The wheels were cut from beer mats and covered with more card and detailed with more cut up beer mat card and some spare washers.

The model was undercoated with grey primer (a rattle can spray paint) and the treads on the wheels are lentils/split peas, stuck in place with PVA glue.

The whole model was 'textured' by splattering the tank with watered-down Milliput epoxy putty which gave the model a solid base for painting and added some subtle interest to the basic and plain panels.

Painting went a little haywire; tiger stripes and lots of rust. I particularly liked the eyes painted on the front.

The exhausts were painted in a basic rust colour and the exhaust staining was drybrushed black.

Some time after it was on display in Swansea Models and Hobbies, it was returned to me and I thought I had placed it in the attic. I am sorry to say that I no longer know where it is. But at least I have these images, which were found when I was searching through some old photographs earlier this week.

I hope you like the Gobsmasha - it was great fun to build and paint.

Tony