king derelict

As a diversion from the mud around Ypres I returned to 1/700 (edible) scale for a snowy landscape. I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Christmas Alan

Have a great Christmas OC. Hopefully lots of good things to eat and something warming to dip in the evenings. Wishing you good health in the coming year. Alan

Thank you very much Craig. I don't think a lot of people recognize the misery of living and fighting in such an environment. The heavy clay of the Ypres Salient is hard to slog through even now. The chutes on the side panels of the Whippet were an attempt to dispose of some of the mud caked on the tracks and prevent it causing damage. I want to try to add some caked mud if I can do it without going overscale. I also want to add "water" in the deeper ruts and the shell holes. Alan

For some reason I seem to be mincing around with this build. Motivation is not very strong so only little bits get done between distractions. I've painted the initial colours onto the base using craft acrylics. After the paint was dry I air brushed a very thin black wash to merge the colours and deden some of the lighter shades The vehicles were placed temporarily in their spots I have ordered a large variety (but only a small part of their range) of Woodland Scenic products for grass, weeds and low bushes. The idea is somewhere behind the lines where there is still a bit of green around the mud. The Whippet has had decals applied and both the FWD and the tank have been detailed a bit with rust and bare metal. They will now receive a coat of dry dirt and dust. The markings on the Whippet are far too fresh. The Whippet in the picture has the canvas track guards fitted so I started making a set from card. They will get a base coat of buff and then be considerably dirtied and should look the part. The fuel tins and baggage needs to be created and I must get serious about painting the figures. Thanks for looking in, the likes and comments. Alan

The snow and ice effects look really good on the models. Thank your for sharing your experience. Alan

A great subject and lovely work Patrick Alan

Moving forward in tiny steps here. I added another strip of LED lights to the workbench in an attempt to improve my chances with the figure painting. I painted the basic flesh tones to get them started. After the tight brush control it was nice to slop some plater of Paris onto the prepared base and move it around. The basic layout is a rutted road and a couple of shell holes, This will be enhanced with some foliage and a bit of a building, and probably a few other things. I'm deep in the Woodland Scenics catalogue and its a whole new world. Thanks for looking in and the likes and comments Alan

Roden seem to make some really interesting models. I fancy some of the WW1 aircraft kits. Umm that is my third or fourth Christmas present to me and its only the 14th Alan

I did rather better with the lighting today and although its stil difficult photographing through the case the pictures are better. As seen here, in softer room lighting the support rod almost disappears and the X craft appears to float in the case; an effect I'm quite chuffed about. Thanks for looking in and for all the likes and comments Alan

Thank you very much Keith Alan

The acrylic sheets from TAP Plastics arrived today so I built the usual case and fixed the sub permanently to the display and housed it. I'll try for some better photos tomorrow to finish the log off. Thanks for the likes and comments Alan

Not much to see today. I laid out the various bits and pieces and cut the usual base materials to size. They then got a coat of gesso which is taking ages to dry because the garage is suddenly colder than usual = but I doubt I am going to get any sympathy for that. Its all the way into the low 70s for goodness sake😎 Alan

Beautifully executed model and great recovery on the cowling. Alan

Thanks Craig. I had seen them on the two stores websites. Lovely subjects. I'm sorely tempted but I'm not sure I could do them justice - but its nearly Christmas and I deserve a present. Alan

Thank you very much OC. I'll look around on Ebay for some scenic materials and I probably need to watch some YouTube videos too. This will be a bit more than sand and rocks. Alan

There is a lot of that around and this was with both parts from the kit The kit provides black tank track like plastic for the gun wheel rims. It is quite nicely detailed but the strips are too short I tried carefully stretching the track - and it broke without gaining any appreciable length. I glued them on and made up the gap with a piece of card of suitable thickness. Alan

The back of the truck has a canvas cover. I was not very impressed with it and toyed with making my own from wire and tissue paper but at this scale I didn't think I could get it tidy enough. So I worked on making the plastic version look presentable. Eventually I painted a base layer of buff followed by a coat of chipping fluid and then a coat of green khaki. This was then scrubbed and when dry some black wash added in the folds. Its not perfect but it is better than a uniform colour. And now the part of the build I have been getting nervous about - the figures. I bought a set from Hat and a set from Emhar. I expected a lot oof choice for the figures but I only found these two. The poses are all a bit vigorous for what I want. So out came the scalpel This was the first time I had tried anything like this. I tried to angle the heads slightly differently on the walking soldiers. The sitting figure is a Panzer 1 crew man for Flyhawk. He is wearing coveralls unlike the seated figure in the picture I am using for my diorama but we will go with it. Tankies in WW1 did wear coveralls as far as I have seen. Everyone has had a coat of Mig One Shot black primer and they look a bit better now I could do with a few more figures to mill around the gun so i may have to look a bit harder. I had hoped to model a group having a ciggie break but I may have to abandon that bit. The diorama base needs to be planned and a visit online for some Woodland Scenic ground effects> i think I need grass and a few scrubby bushes Thanks for looking in and the likes and comments Alan

Thank you very much OC I think its nearly time to embarrass myself with some figure painting. Alan

Thank you Ken I plan a bit of mud later in the project. Alan

Please excuse the ignorance. Are Wingnut Wings back in business again? The kits look wonderful but daunting Thanks Alan

The Trinity Marine website is fascinating. I browse and lust! Congrats on the porthole Alan

Marvelous work on those holds. The project is really excellent Alan

Coming together well Patrick. An interesting subject and Roden seem to make nice kits if a bit fiddly Alan

I used an enamel black wash to bring out the details. I added the backboard, struts and canopy for the truck cab. I'm trying to get the look of worn canvas. I'm not there yet and some touching up and details to do before starting the weathering. I'm still fiddling with the figures. They ones I ordered are all to energetic I'm not sure if some surgery can improve things. Thanks for looking in and the likes Alan

Thank you Patrick Alan