IPMS AVON Show Report

Today saw myself and Brian head off to the Avon show. After transferring all of Brian's models to my car in the pouring rain at my house we had a fun and very wet drive down the M4 in some really atrocious weather. Torrential rain and driving winds made the journey interesting to say the least! However it's only an hour away from my gaff so not too bad and we set off early as well.

As last year the event was held at the Thornbury leisure centre and incorporated the Bristol area war gamer's annual show. After a quick set up we could relax and dry out with a cuppa before the punters arrived at 9.30. Again this was a very well attended show with two massive halls and plenty of space to wander around between the displays and traders. I took a large amount of surplus kits to sell (as you know I'm going through a change in direction regarding the stash at the moment) and came back home with more money than I went out the door with!

We were kept busy all day chatting to visitors and friends and also having a look around the displays. I only bought one kit in the end and a few bargain bits and pieces so a very frugal day model wise for me. Well I am trying to save plenty of pennies for the Belgium trip! However there was as usual plenty of traders and plenty of variety. The war-game traders in particular had some great scenic stuff which is handy for military modelling as well.  Another great day was had at the show and a big thank you to IPMS Avon for hosting the show and indeed for inviting two sad old gits, aka Stonehenge Modellers and allowing us to bore the public with our insane ramblings.

And lastly today's stash additions,

Masterbox 1/72nd Mk 1 Male Tank Completed

The model is now all done and just in time for the Avon show on Sunday. I worked on the base yesterday after drilling out some holes the day before and adding the plaster. The groundwork is just plan plaster with no sand or gravel added as I thought it would look out of scale.

My next job was to spray the base with various earth tones and make up some wire pickets from wire and a little barbed wire from fine fuse wire. The tree stump is a bit of twig from the garden. Once dry I went over the base and model with pigments. The whole thing looks quite monotone but I think it looks rather good and portrays the desolation of the battlefield well.

I've really enjoyed this project and being as this is my first ever WW1 subject I think it's a fitting model to start with and also a fitting tribute to all who fought in the conflict.

Mk1 Male Tank Base

Here is my base work for the Mk 1. First off I attacked the wooden base I selected with some drill bits to add craters. Next up was a liberal application of filler  coloured with vallejo brown. I used a gloved finger to define the shell holes and add texture to the groundwork. No sand or grit was added as I felt it would be out of scale for this base. Next up I made some wire posts using lead wire and added a bit of twig from the garden for a shell damaged tree.

In all it took me about an hour to get the base sorted. Got to love this small scale stuff!

CV90-40 Saved From The Pile Of Doom

Remember this one? I started it last October but due to track issues it got put away on the shelf of doom. I was planning on using fruils but in the end I purchased some spade ace models tracks. First time I have used these and they are rather good. Cheaper than fruilmodel tracks and at least on this set the links have virtually no clean up.

Best thing is that they actually fit around the sprocket! So in between painting and weathering three models I'll slowly get the tracks sorted on this.

Mk1 Male & Stug Progress

I've been working on and off on the Mk 1 over the last week and have added a few filters then some oil fading. Today the little model had a coat of matt varnish sprayed on. As you can see all the oil work has really toned down the chipping added to the model and I think it looks just right. I'm now going to work on a small base for it then once that's sorted I'll start on the pigments.

The stug has now had all the tools picked out, a gloss coat and finally today the decals went on. Really like the colourful markings on this and the yellow death's head looks great with the contrasting grey main colour.

It's certainly a bit of a frenzy at the bench today, I've even got the M109 primed and sprayed the first colour coat on. No pictures till tomorrow though as it's still drying.

Modelling 0, Sorting Everything Else Out 1

Well July was a very slow month in the cave, just far too hot to spray paint about and personally I don't like sweating like a navvie when I'm just sitting down! However I did manage to get lots done around the house and earned a few brownie points in the process.
However now that the temperature is starting to drop I can now comfortably get back at it. Good job really as IPMS Avon's show is only a couple of weeks away and I'd really like to get the Mk1 and the stug done for that.

Stonehenge modellers trip to Belgium is now all sorted too with the euro shuttle and hotel booked. Just need to show some restraint over the next couple of months to save up some spending money! As I'm sure there will be many tempting items to purchase! oh and beer to drink as well!