odds and ends

Not much going on in the way of commissions, awaiting some briefs, waiting for my inbox to flag a new message from someone wanting images, so in the meantime, I have been teaching myself how to skin and rig 3-D models ready for animation.

This character is called Abura-Sumeshi and is an Obakemono, a kind of garden spirit from Japan.. he is a potato/yam-headed chap dressed in rough sack cloth with a straw hat and wooden shoes, he carries a stick with a gourd attached for carrying lamp oil that he steals from people's houses at night. 

This is a long-term project, eventually I will texture him and put him in an environment to make a little animation sequence.

Other than that, I have made a few more Dino images:

Cryolophosaurus

Tyrannosaurus attacking a Triceratops

That's all for now...

Supermarine Walrus MkII

I managed to finally finish off the 1/72nd scale Supermarine Walrus last week, it has been sitting half finished for months , but just couldn't seem to find the time to complete it.


Pretty much out of the box this one, but added in port and starboard windows, rigging, radio aerials and decided to give it a seawater-weathered finish.

The model features the Supermarine Walrus MkII of 1700 NAS, Operating from HMS Emperor, as part of the British Pacific Fleet in the Far East in 1945.

Although fragile in appearance, this amphibious aircraft proved to be extremely rugged, could take punishment from enemy fire, land on rough seas, and even take the strain of a catapult take-off from a ship. During trials, one Walrus was accidentally landed in the sea with the wheels down, resulting in a sudden and abrupt cartwheel upon contact with the water surface. One would have thought that the aircraft would have been ripped apart and would have sunk with loss of life with such an event, but amazingly the aircraft remained intact, afloat and the pilot was rescued (albeit a bit battered).The aircraft was serviced and back in full operation within a few days!

The walrus was used effectively throughout WW2 predominantly as a reconnaissance and rescue aircraft (assigned to rescuing downed pilots adrift at sea). This particular model features the aircraft flown by Lieutenant A.F.Lawrence RNVR, who rescued a pilot from the sea, 200 yards from Japanese forces on Car Nicobar on July 8th 1945.

Tough Times

It's been months since my last update, a combination of lack of funds, shortage of commissions and day-to-day distractions and difficulties resulted in little or no activity worth posting about.

Through the worst of it now, but still, can't say the past 6 months have been the best in my life.

Got to take the rough with the smooth I guess, so ....onwards!

I have done no scale modelling whatsoever since October and have a poorly abandoned Supermarine Walrus sitting waiting to be finished off...I have managed to produce a few illustrations though and have also been updating art assets for Aventurine SA and the much-fabled and long-awaited "Darkfall 2.0".

So, here are some shots of some boats (have done lots of other things, but this will do for now I guess) and a couple of Spinosaurus fishing on a beach

Blohm and Voss BV141 V10 (B-02)

Finally put the finishing touches to the 1/72nd scale ww2 tactical reconnaissance aircraft, the Blohm and Voss BV141.

This is one of the most asymmetrical and unorthodox aitrcraft to appear in WW2. Although it never went into operational service, this was not due to any failings with the design. There were plans to form a squadron in Russia, but this never was actioned and all development was scrapped by 1942.

I added the white band marking to the rear boom, indicating allocation to a western front squadron, and whilst this is a flight of fantasy, I have seen reference shots of an actual aircraft (albeit not the NCRA aircraft featured) with similar markings , and thought it added to the overall effect.

Not in itself a very complicated model to build, but there were a few issues that would catch out any modeller without some due dilligence:

i) The cockpit was devoid of any details, owing to the amount of clear plastic, it is neccessary to delve into a bit of modification and scratch-building for the interior.


ii) the cockpit halves do not marry up that well and the clear plastic does not seat well (lots of gaps), and there is quite a bit of that!


iii) the clear plastic is a real trial to paint, lots of it, very fiddly and requires a steady hand. I have seen examples of other models where cocktail sticks, painted transfers and masking have been used to moderate effect. I thought I would just get on with it and paint it freehand.. the results are passable.


iv) the bombloads on the underwing have to be added after the registration decals (not mentioned in the instructions), plus the Balkankreuz on the underside have to lie over very prominant control surfaces, requiring cutting and re-touching...and do not match up with the wheel bays... not for the faint hearted or novice!

Apologies for my camerawork.. I will take shots of all the models again with a proper set-up when the weather is next good enough for an outside shoot.. might even make a diorama for them to sit on.

October already

Not been updating the blog recently, I have been a bit slack for a multitude of reasons.
Not a lot of modelling activity recently either, but I am working on a fiddly 1/72 scale model of a WW2 BV141 tactical reconnaissance aircraft, have had a few issues with it and progress is slow, but will upload pictures when completed.

Did a few small pieces of work featuring ammonites and Trilobites, plus a meteorite for use as sample packaging and point of sale.

Joint Force Harrier

Latest 1/72 nd scale model completed is a BAE Harrier GR7A No.800 NAS Joint Forces based at RAF Cottesmore, Leicestershire.

The build was quite tricky, lots of errors with the instructions and numbering... fun though ;-)

Had to modify the cockpit and ejector seat to get it to fit the fuselage.

Further to this the Kit contained components for other Harrier versions to help confuse things.

Applying decals was an interesting task, lots of them and mostly microscopic!

Westland Lynx HAS.3

OK, next off the bench is a Westland Lynx HAS.3 of the 815 Naval Air Squadron, Fleet Air Arm operating from HMS Exeter, April 1987. The white canisters are housings for ships' biscuits and rum...

edit: ok, rum was stopped back in the 70's (thanks f.y.i. Ian)

I am guessing that the white ordinance are anti-submarine torpedo, but despite some research I am still ignorant.