IPMS Avon Show 4th August 2024

Yesterday saw Stonehenge Modellers make the quick trip down the M4 to Thornbury for the IPMS Avon show. This was only the second show this year we have displayed at so I was really looking forward to it. As usual finding our tables and navigating through the halls was a breeze thanks to the very good organisation and we were set up and ready in record time. 

Sadly due to lack of mojo on both our parts the display had to fall back on some old builds, but as Brian said some of his display were so old they were practically new again! This year I thought there were more traders in attendance as well as a few more new clubs. Once the show was open to the public it was extremely busy with plenty of visitors enjoying the three halls packed with displays.

Having a good look around early on to get some pictures there were some smashing models on display and a very healthy trade being done at the various trade stands around the halls. Also this year Avon included a competition again but unfortunately I never made it that far to have a look. However I think it was well supported.

So as usual yet again a fantastic show with loads to see and plenty of things to lighten the wallet. Thanks to all at Avon for another cracking day.

     

Lack Of Bench Time

Checking the blog today I was shocked to see my last post with on the 30th of June. It's now the 29th of July and it's been a whole month without any bench time. Real life has seriously curtailed modelling activities at the moment with many other projects and family commitments and a much needed holiday getting in the way. 

Also with only our second show of the year looming large on the horizon, (that being the excellent IPMS Avon show by the way). It's brought home to me how little I've built again this year with only four finished projects so far. This means I will have to dig deep into the smudge reserve collection for some finished models that have not seen the light of day for some time!

Who said as you get older you have more spare time? I'd like to meet said person and give him a swift kick in the soft bits! The opposite seems to be the case for me lately. Anyway here's hoping normal service will resume after the Avon show.

  

Trumpeter BMP-3 Paint On

After a wash and a blast of primer I've now got on the main colour and here I used tamiya XF-55 buff with a bit of white added. This has given me a nice light tan colour. 

 

Trumpeter BMP-3 In Cyprus Service

On the bench since last week is Trumpeter's BMP-3 Cypriot version. A nice simple build apart from the fiddly tracks which I've just finished this evening. Most of the work went into cleaning up and assembling the tracks which consisted of individual links and track horn guides. Very tedious and fiddly but with some patience and care I managed to get two runs sorted out. 

The only extras are an RB barrel set and antenna set as well as a few bits of lead wire. Overall the detail on the kit is good so I'm looking forward to painting. Next thought will be some assorted stowage and perhaps a standing figure to go with the finished piece.  

 

Tamiya Martlet Mk V Complete

I've just finished the model off today after a few days adding decals, pin washes and final weathering before matt varnish. I'm very pleased with the final result and like the fact that the invasion stripes are not perfect but rather have the look of being roughly applied.  

The kit was a delight to build and very simple as well. Just the thing for a fun build. I got so carried away with it that taking pictures for the blog went right out of my mind. So apologies for the lack of progress posts during the build. 

  

Tamiya Martlet Progress

On this eve of one of the most important days in history, D-day 6th June I've finally found the time to update the build progress. I've been having so much fun that I totally forgot to update the blog as I went along. 

It all started with a nice black primer using Mr surfacer 1500 followed by the grey using tamiya XF 22 RLM grey with fading adding white to the grey. Next the green was from tamiya XF 81 dark green 2 RAF with fading using XF 15 flat flesh. Undersides next with XF 21 sky then onto detail painting using various vallejo colours and green stuff world metallics. 

The kit does come with decals for the invasion stripes or I could spray them but in the end I brush painted them on as I wanted a rough look to them very much like the real thing at the time. So far it's gone very well so next I will be adding a gloss coat before applying decals.