Things Are Starting To Pick Up Pace...
Fresh Start for 2025?
...Well, mostly fresh. It just happens that I am just undertaking a couple of new projects as we are about to kick off the new month, so it seems like I've cleared some big outstanding jobs.
One of the main projects that's finally come to an end (after two years) is my ROKR Illuminated Globe kit. This was a Christmas present from the wife in 2023 and pottered along at a very slow pace between other things.
However, it was not - for once - just my painfully slow work pace that was altogether to blame for this, but rather a mishap which saw me 'misplace' some tiny components to the dreaded carpet monster! 😬
I had to wait for replacement parts to be sent from China before I could finish the final few stages in putting this ornament together...
Trench Crusade - Figure Number 2
My idea to cheaply kit bash a small Trench Crusade warband has hit the speedbumps for quite an unusual reason. You see, the whole reason I decided to have a go at kit bashing a little set of these figures was that the game's official figures had not yet been fully released... However...
Along came my new Elegoo Mars 3 Pro resin printer!
So, I am in something of a quandary at the moment because there are a host of third part 3D model files available online and this *kinda* makes the idea of having to kit bash my own figures sorta redundant.
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| Above: As far as I have got with my New Antioch Mechanised Heavy Infantryman. What to do now? |
Indeed, one of the first test miniatures that I tried printing out on my resin printer was a free sample model of a Trench Crusade proxy figure - a Elegoo Mars 3 Pro First Miniature- Heretic Priest (which I was very pleased with)...
So this whole project is in something of a hiatus while I decide what to do - continue with my plan to kit bash a small warband OR jump ship and 3D print some nice model figures instead!? 🤔
Watch this space!
Elegoo Mars 3 Pro Resin Printing - Test #3
And talking about my new 3D printer, my learning journey proceeds as I carefully and methodically work through the procedures involved in resin printing. It has not been as straight forward and plain sailing as it was when I first started FDM 3D printing on my Flashforge Adventurer 3!
That said, the differences in quality were immediately obvious when it came to printing small miniature models and either 3D printing method has it's strengths and weaknesses.
Long story short, it turns out that the new resin printer will not be a straight replacement for my Adventurer 3, but rather compliments it. The FDM printer is better for doing all the home DIY gadget projects as the materials it uses - filaments - are stronger, while resin is a little softer and apt to break, but is OK for display models. So, horses for courses and the two printers now sit side by side in my man cave.
COBI Polish P11.C Fighter Plane Kit
This has been in my model stash for a while and I've been keen to crack this one open and make a start on it. The reason I'm so excited about this particular plane is because it one of my favourite fighters, I have a big passion for 'underdog' aircraft types and the PZL P.11c is the epitome of this.
I won't go into the - remarkable - history of this Polish aircraft and it exploits but suffice to say that it established the legendary reputation of Polish pilots in their fight against technically superior Nazi opposition. (I have already built another Polish example from this period - leading up to the Pole's amazing accomplishments with the RAF during The Battle of Britain - with my COBI 1/32 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 build.)
In fact, I'd like to complete this fascinating bit of military history and I really hope that COBI bring out a Hawker Hurricane model in the colours of the famed Polish No. 303 Squadron RAF Squadron. (They already make a Hurricane Mk. I in desert colours so they are half way there!)
Anyway, I literally started putting the pieces of this kit together yesterday and hope to record a 'speed build' of the process.
Age of Sigmar Orks Pack #2
A bit of an unexpected purchase here with this second box of Warhammer Oruks (see unboxing video for 'set1' here). I haven't even completed my first box yet (which should really be what I am highlighting in this update) but - on our recent Half Term holiday break to York - my wife happened to notice this set for sale in a store we were visiting and asked me if I would like them... Well, it would have been rude not to! 😁
So, instead of just my original set of 10 Orks I will now bundle both set up into one big mega painting project and make a large warband of green skins. One nice thing about this new set of Orks is that they have some different weapons to 'set 1' (which just gave you the choice of swords or spears), set 2 has some nasty looking cleavers and mace (is it 'mace' or 'maces')!
New Workbench Tools
Super Glue Accelerator:-
I use super glue every day, I go through it very quickly. It's great... BUT... I notice that the strength of the glue deteriorates quick quickly once you crack open the tube/bottle and over time, which is annoying.
Glue which used to bond *instantly* when new now takes it's time to stick and has to be held in place. Not very convenient and one of the main advantages of super glue is it's quick stick (particularly when you are trying to glue small parts that are hard to hold or position in place). 😖
SO... I gave this 'Super glue accelerator' spray a go and it seems to have solved the weakening glue issue!
New Silicon Palette:-
I'm a solid convert to silicon paint palettes now. My first example (see video) has seen a lot of use and it is far, far better than the old 'tin plate and kitchen foil' system that I used to use (or the plastic palette that I used before that).
Even though I recently bought a 'wet palette' system the majority of my painting is still done using a 'dry palette' and the silicon version is invaluable.
One of the chief advantages of buying on of these 'pop fidget' toys for use as a palette is that once the paint dries you can simply pop out the soft 'cups' which detaches most of the now dry acrylic paint from the palette, leaving it (mostly) clean. I then just bang the palette through our dish washer.
Over time it does eventually stain, and my original multicoloured version wasn't ideal for colour mixing, so I have now got a completely white version...
Makeup Brushes - Cheaper than 'specialist' model brushes:-
When any model company markets a tool as being a 'specialist' model painting tool it automatically bangs a premium price on to the item. And as far as I have seen that extra cost is in most cases completely undeserved.
Brushes are a prime example of how model companies gouge the customer over - what should be - a fairly inexpensive and basic tool just because they bang a 'pro' title on it. 😡
Anyway, I like many other modellers have started using fairly cheap make-up brushes instead of the model-specific ones. They are mostly good quality yet do not come with the unreasonable price attached.
In particular, I find eye shading and outlining make-up brushes great for detail and dry-brushing purposes and at only a fraction of the cost of the 'specialist' modelling ones!
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