king derelict

Just keeps getting better and better OC Alan

Absolutely beautiful!. Congratulations Alan

These 2pm to 2am shifts are really beating me up so not much else is getting done at the moment. Hopefully only another week and then back to something a bit more reasonable I have been using the limited spare time available to experiment with ideas for spray and wave tops. I played with clear silicone sealant but it didn't really dry clear and was hard to work. I had read that it could be diluted to a jelly consistency with IPA but mine didn't seem to do that. I tried Lexel clear sealant which does dry crystal clear and glossy but didn't really provide any better options for the seascape. Next up was gloss medium mixed with micro balloons. The micro balloons gave the medium a white colouring and stiffness to create dimensional wave tops. Curiously it dried matt. Initially I thought this might be the way forward but looking at the results for a few days I am not so sure. Then I tried cotton wool teased apart and coated with dilute white glue. This provides something that can be worked with a brush into approximate shapes and further moulded by hand as it dries. I think it might be possible to make candidate shapes on a temporary base and transfer to the diorama for final shaping and installation when dry. That would avoid getting medium all over places it shouldn't be. The following photos show the micro ballons and medium, cotton wool spray and Lexel sealant. More cotton wool experiments looking at creating the skeins of bubbles seen in turbulent water and more spray I like the surface bubble effects. The spray looks promising. Not all results are good but they are quick to create and working off model means the best can be picked. I got some polyester cotton wool material used for stuffing teddy bears and tried that. It is a little stiffer than cotton wool so the results have more depth which I like. It is whiter than the cotton wool and it has a bit of a sparkle to it. I tried spray, bubbles and wave caps and I think with a bit more work they may be the best option Thanks for looking in and likes and comments. Alan

I am quite impressed with the details although I have read some mixed reviews since I bought them. They have a wide range of figures across history. I bought them from Art Girona i Spain and they arrived very quickly although I have found you can get them in the US. I just need a few nights off from work to make some progress Alan

I get that catalogue. Full of stuff you must have - but thankfully the prices stifle any impulse buys Alan

The cockpit details look great.

Thanks OC, I always get a bit nervous when you can't talk to the people directly but they are obviously right on top of their email at MM. Alan

An impressive update. Within two hours of my email, Micromark replied with an apology and the response that the proper vice had been packed and sent out. Excellent and reassuring customer support. Alan

Thank you for the link Jack. There are some very useful techniques being shown there. wow his sea is so good it’s almost depressing me. I think I might burn my seascapes Seriously that’s marvelous Alan

An entertaining update on getting the work holder. After Bobs email I decided to order the Walmart Vice as well partly to see how a $14 one compares to a $30 one. I got home last night and found two packages waiting for me. Walmart and Micromark stuff arrived on the same day. The Walmart Vice looks fine, not an heirloom tool but entirely serviceable. Inside the Micromark package was ….. a small set of brass clamps. They sent the wrong item. And you can only contact them vis email.. I’m glad I ordered the Wally one, at least I can continue alan

Very neat build Jack. It looks great. I hope the medical stuff gets sorted out soon and well. Alan

That’s always my downfall. You have to make the postage worthwhile 😁 Great start alan

I wanted to start adding a bit of background to the figures seeing as they are a bit off to the left hand side as you might say. After the pre shading I will be working on the daffadar first. A daffadar is a sergeant in an Indian cavalry unit. Skinners horse were an irregular cavalry regiment raised in 1803 by James Skinner. They have a long and distinguished history with service ranging through the Boxer Rebellion where they fought alongside US troops, through Flanders and Mesopotamia in the First War and Italy in the Second. They now drive T-72s in teh Indian Army and are one of the oldest regiments. At the time represented by my figure the regiment was mainly made up of Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs and Hindustani Muslims so teh beard on the figure is entirely appropriate. Lets see how this works out Alan

Thank you OC. Its going to be an interesting project. Lots of new things to master. Alan

Thats a super idea and will really show the aircraft off beautifully. It looks to be a great kit. Alan

Thank you very much Jack. I grew up with Plasticine in the UK and have never been able to come up with the US equivalent. Its handy for a bunch of modelling activities. Off to Walmart! Alan

The black primer has been touched up and the dodgy join on the right shoulder of the daffadar looks like its cleaned up with a bit of thickened ca glue. This now sits waiting for MicroMark to send the vice. I plan to try the glazing method used so effectively by @Jack12477 which I seem to recall emanated from the Night Shift guy. I plan to add the bases and then spray the mist coat ready for the glaze coats. I will start with the daffadar because the painting looks simpler and he is by way of being a practice run. My Spanish friend who kindly sent me the Aedes Ars Loarre Castle kit is a professor of Ancient History specialising in the Neo Babylonian Empire and as we all know Nabopolassar was the first king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. If this turns out well it will be a gift and thus the figure will make a round trip to Girona Spain where, coincidentally she lives Thanks for looking in Alan

It was time to start adding colour to the seascape. I started with a mid green which actually looked quite promising as I brushed it on. But when it dried I thought it looked far too green and bright. So I added a black wash and that was far too dark \ Next up was a mid grey coat which left the green to show through in places. It started looking promising again. Lighter greens were added to the wave tops and blended in. It feels like this might be back on track Then a light green added to the wave tops and wakes. White blended in and I think its starting to look quite good. I'll let this dry and then on with the gloss medium. I was beginning to think I couldn't get this off the ground but I'm beginning to like how its working out. Thanks for looking in and the likes and comments. Alan

No, it reminds me of some of the outbuildings on our farm when I was a child alan

Rightly so; it looks great Alan

Thank you Bob for the suggestions and you are right I should have looked around first. I am a bit of a mug when it comes to shopping. Walmart even has free shipping Arrg. I never thought of Walmart for this sort of tool but I see they have a comprehensive range of jewellers tools. I have a bit of a love / hate relationship with Micro Mark. They have some inherently useful things but as you noted; their prices are a bit fierce and sometime the quality isn't the best. I have a handful of their products however and generally I'm pleased with them. I have a small bench vice similar to the one you show which is pretty reliable and a set of the magnetic hands which are definitely useful at times. Many Thanks for your help Alan

Thanks Jack I ordered the hand vice from MicroMark and managed to escape their site with only one other item falling into the basket. Thanks Jack Alan

Its going to be an interesting experiment fo me!

Well holding the figures on a piece of rod didn't work so well. Nabopolassar fell off while I was spraying teh black primer coat. Nothing that can't be fixed and probably better that it failed at an early stage. I'm thinking I should glue the bases on and use them in a fixture going forward. Alan

You did a wonderful job of a challenging kit. Congratulations, its beautiful Alan