Category: design
-
Northbridge Special – Metrokab

Well, finally. A new taxi cab service to replace the old Swan and Black And White Taxis. It has been far too long in coming. Trying to catch a cab from Northbridge late at night is a nightmare – occasioned as much by the taxi operators as the patrons. The old cab rank gave way…
-
The Delightful Puzzles

A lot of the models displayed at the recent WASMEX display were familiar – they and I had been to previous shows and I think we all had a good time. But there were new things that popped up in the main hall and the competition hall that puzzled me. Aw, the kids have busted…
-
Oh, Spit…

I knew I’d do it. I made a report about our group’s stand at the recent WASMEX scale model show and I missed out one of the photographs I’d taken. That’s it in the heading image. It’s a large scale model of a Lancaster bomber that was made and finished by two other chaps in…
-
The Star-Rangers Ride Again

Or is the Cosmic Commandos? I stopped reading science fiction along about the time I thought about Wernher von Braun bombarding Kent and then working for NASA…and never took it up again. I was content to watch the real space rockets take off on television and just hope that none of his were headed my…
-
The Daily Drivers

At the recent WASMEX scale modelling exhibition there were plenty of fighter planes, battleships, and Grand Prix racers. Even some trains, if you count railway guns and Harry Potter locomotives. And they were all well done and attracted considerable attention. But the ones that really bored into the consciousness were not the exotic wartime subjects…
-
The Newbie – Part Three – There Is No Such Thing

There is no such thing as: a. A completely accurate model. Do it never so well, there will always be a detractor who will pull up an MAP plan from 1959 to prove that you’ve made a mistake. Don’t try to argue the case as their criticism is not intended to make the model look…
-
The Newbie – Part Two – All The Choices!

Discovering a new hobby shop makes you feel like Christopher Columbus. Every aisle is a new land to discover. There are wonders to see. And savage natives. Just kidding – when you have money to spend, the proprietors of the hobby shops are far from savage. They may seem grumpy but if you make the…
-
Douglas Boston MkIII – Part Two – The Multi-kit

I remember the AMT model car kits of the 1960’s with fondness – particularly the 3-in-1 kits that allowed you to build a stock vehicle, a hot rod, or a custom car. I never met anyone who ever built a stock model… The kits seemed to give a lot more value than the dedicated one-car…
-
Republic Thunderflash – Part Four – £ 1 + 1d.

In for one, in for the other. I have decided to see if black-basing has any merit as a technique. The Thunderflash is a sleek enough aircraft and there will be some variations of the metal finish needed. Time to see if this vaunted paint technique actually does anything. That’s a smooth black but I’m…
-
Lockheed Starfire – Part Two – Dry Fit Respect

I have a great deal of respect for whoever Emhar models really are. In my encounters with their products I have found them to fit together excellently. In the case of the featured image, the cockpit tub is cemented together and the fuselage sealed…but everything else is just a dry fit for confirmation purposes. This…
