A Year in Models - 2007 Review

Here is the list from left to right/top to bottom:

Brunswick Hussar in British Service - 54mm Valiant (January)
Swiss Grenadier, 1812 - 54mm Ares conversion (March)
Don Cossack, 1812 - 54mm Airfix conversion (March)
Mig-21 F-13, "VPAAF" - 1/72 Airfix (April)
Eldar Farseer - 30mm Games Workshop (April)
Argive Hoplite - 54mm Romeo (May)
Russian Artillery Officer, 1812 (August)
F-14A Tomcat, Sundowners "Miss Molly" - 1/48 Revell/Monogram (August)
Cuchulainn - 54mm Elite conversion (October)
Brunswick 1st Line Btn NCO w/ Standard at Quatre Bras - 54mm Puchala (October)
Eldar Harlequins - 30mm Games Workshop (November)
Mig-21bis-SAU, Soviet Air Force, 1989, - 1/72 Eastern Express (December)

Looking back 2007 was a fairly successful year for me modelling-wise. I actually forgot that some of these were completed this year.

GB

1/72 Eastern Express Mig-21bis pt.3

The Mig is done. I did my best to bring out the panel lines with a black-brown mix of acrylic paint. The panel lines were very fine and it was hard to see them, especially in the green areas where the paint was three layers deep. I would usually do weathering after a light coat of Future and with the decals in place but because the panel lines were so fine I was worried I'd lose them altogether. I tried to add some hightlights and tonal variations with Citadel acrylic paints as well. The green was highlighted with Jungle Green and the Tan with Elf Flesh. I gave the model a coat of Future floor wax and once that was dried the decals went on. Then it was a matter of finishing off all the little details - pitot, missiles, landing gear, bay doors, canopy etc. Btw the canopy had gotten mucked up during the build and I used toothpaste as a polish. I've read about this a couple of places and y'know what? It really works!

I have to admit the finished product has its fair share of flaws and quite frankly it looks better from a distance. However, when I'm building I like to concentrate on certain areas to try out new techniques. On this build it was the cockpit and gear bays and I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. There's always room for improvement and I there's lots I can take away from this project for the next. So all in all I'm pleased with the results.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.










One more Mig-21 for the collection!


GB

1/72 Eastern Express Mig-21bis pt.2

Into the paintshop now. After pre-shading the panel lines the basic camouflage and underside colours were sprayed on. I used Model Master Dark Tan (1742), Dark Green (1710) and Russian Underside (2123) + White. I experimented with a liquid mask but I wasn't happy with the results. I ended up smoothing out the edges with a brush.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.








GB

1/72 Eastern Express Mig-21bis

I started this one in November for a group build on Aeroscale. I have a thing for Russian subjects - I don't know why. This is a 1/72 Eastern Express Mig-21bis which I believe is a re-box of the KP kit. I have both and they look pretty darn similar. The canopy in the EE kit comes in two parts however, unlike the single piece canopy in the KP offering. The model is pretty sparse in the cockpit and wheel-well areas so I tried to jazz them up. The cockpit is totally rebuilt from plastic card with a True Details KM-1 ejection seat added. The landing gear bays were improved with plastic rod and various thickness of wire. I also improved the struts with some wire and card. Some of the intakes looked a little large so I replaced two with hollow solder wire and sanded down the others. At this point I'm about ready to start masking and painting.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.

GB

The Long Lost Update

I should try to update this blog more often. I have completed quite a few projects since my last post and here they are.

First up is the completed Cúchulainn which I started back in July.





Next is a 54mm by Puchala Miniatures representing the Brunswick 1st Line Battalion's standard at Quatre Bras/Waterloo. The figure is pretty nice for an older miniature.





I am also trying to finish a troop of Games Workshop Harlequins this is the second of five.





Finally here is a Durendal 54mm of one Napoleon's Dutch Lancer Offices in "morning" dress. This is a really nice figure with excellent fit and minimal mold lines.







GB

Two Finishes

It's been a busy summer and not much time was spent on hobbies. It's been awhile since I've posted anything but I did manage to finish off a couple of things. The first is a 54mm Pegaso figure of a Russian Artillery Captain in 1812. He was done with Citadel acrylics.





The other thing I managed to finish was Revell/Monogram's 1/48 scale F-14A Tomcat with Sundowners "Miss Molly" markings from Zotz Decals.




GB

Russian Artillery Officer, 1812

In between working on Cúchulainn I've started on this Pegaso 54mm figure. The figure represents a Russian Artillery officer around 1812. I've gone back to acrylics on this one but I'm rethinking that choice right now. I may go over the tunic with oils to get some smoother transitions.





GB

Cúchulainn

Here is Elite Miniatures' 54mm Celtic Warrior that I am working on. I was inspired by stories of the Irish hero Cúchulainn. This is the first time in a long time that I'll be using oils to do a figure other than horses. It took a bit of time to get used to the feel of the paint. The sheild was done with acrylics.





GB

F-14A Weathering Stage 2

I think Miss Molly is starting to look better. The panel lines were done with a fine lead mechanical pencil and touched up here and there with thinned black-brown acrylic paint. The shading was toned down and unified with a light over-spray of MM Gloss Gull Grey (from the bottle this time with an airbrush). I started putting some of the decals on but I realised this was a mistake when I accidentally lifted the "USS Carl Vincent" off the starboard wing and so will wait until the landing gear is in place to finish off.

F-14A Weathering Stage 1

I started weathering and detailing and now I have renewed hope for this build. I have to go over the panel lines and do some touching up but I'm a little happier now. There are some gaps and mis-aligned seams that jump out but hey I know this is not going to be an award winner.

GB

WIP Sundowners F-14A

Here's a shot of the cockpit tub from my latest model. It is a 1/48 Revell-Monogram F-14A Tomcat that I am going to finish as the Sundowner's Miss Molly using Zotz decals. I am building this one pretty well straight out of the box for a group build on Aeroscale. I can see that the kit is not perfect even from my own limited research into the F-14 but there is a lot of potential. I also have the F-14D version of this kit so some of the lessons learned here will be applied there. Back to this kit one lesson learned is that Model Master spray cans suck. I found the spray too coarse, it goes on too think and feels tacky. I just finished coating the model tonight and I'm not happy. I'm hoping once the weathering, detailing and decals are done with a matte spray to finish off that things will be different.

Finished Hoplite

Here is the finished version of my Argive Hoplite. The figure is Romeo Models 54mm Greek Hoplite VI BC. I found this figure quite a challenge and while not 100% satisfied with the results I am happy it is done.



GB

Model Slide Show

I'm experimenting with some ways to present a gallery of some of my work. Let's see how this goes. Click on the Spitfire to see a slide show of some of my WW2 Allied Fighters.

Argive Hoplite

Here's another of my passions - historical miniatures. This is a 54mm Greek Hoplite by the Italian company Romeo that I'm working on right now.

VPAF Mig-21F-13

This is my latest model. It is a 1/72 Airfix Mig-21. The kit lacked a lot of detail but the dimesions appear to be generally correct. I tried re-scribing the panel lines but when a little heavy in some places. I also added a few details here and there such as angling the rudder. The cockpit was pretty plain so I scratch-built a new one including the ejection seat. It was actually a fun kit to build. The decals are from Albatros but are not really accurate for this time frame but they where the best I had.