Category: Scale Models
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Shinden – Part One – Out Of The Mould

And into the mould. This kit has been invaded. Not by aliens…mould spores are definitely from here on Earth. And this Hasegawa kit has met them. Perhaps from time spent in Japan in humid weather or out in the sheed during the winter.. The condition of the box, instructions, and decals shows fair deterioration, though…
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The Corner Of Frugal Boulevard and Tight Arse Lane

The cheap end of town. I got there after consulting the internet and looking at eBay sales items. The prices were high and the shipping costs higher. But I did benefit from the product illustrations – which I could screen save and use for reference. Free information. My project involved making some more buildings for…
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Occam’s Razor Saw

Go google up William of Ockham and read the article. Follow a few of the rabbit hole links and then come back. You’ll want a stiff drink now. Don’t try to model as your hands will be shaky. Avoid bright lights. The principles that William seemed to be writing about and that have provided philosophers…
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Soviet AS Truck – Part One – Diorama Time

I am so ignorant. I know nothing. I know less than John Banner as Sgt. Schultz. But I get to find out a lot of things. In this case the impetus proved to be the Library diorama business. I wanted to do the Soviet airfield at Uszhitmi and needed a vehicle for it. I thought…
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Heinkel 51 – Part Three – A “Civil ” Heinkel

I have chosen this title as a nod to the paint scheme on this Heinkel. I am pretending it was a civilian aircraft. Anyone familiar with the history of Germany at the time this was flying – mid thirties – can draw their own conclusions about what was a civil aircraft and what was a…
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Heinkel 51- Part two – A Sunshiny Grey Day

And as the house-keeping has been done for the week, there is nothing left but the Heinkel-keeping. You are never going to be doing all that much to an early Hasegawa kit – a little filling and sanding where the ejector pins were aggressive, but there is no overweening detail to dismay you. You are…
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Renault R-35 – Part Six – Hit Me With That Rhythm Stick

Or a German tank shell – because that seems to be what the French armoured corps were hoping for when they thought up their paint scheme and then added tricolour insignia at all the best aiming points. I realise that they did not know what they were up against, nor what to do about it,…
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Renault R-35 – Part Five – Pierrot

I have discarded the idea of Art Deco – this tank has been painted by the costume designer for the Commedia Dell’Arte. I expect that there is an ammunition carrier that looks like Pierrette… The business of brush painting a model is both thrillingly new and old. It was my only means of model decoration…
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Renault R-35 – Part Four – Art Deco Armour

I cannot see the French armour colours in any other light than that of the 1920’s Art Deco movement. They are straight out of a pattern book of the period. Whether they disguised the tanks is another thing, but I’m guessing not. I have done a small bit of dirt-spray weathering on the hull at…
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Renault R-35 – Part Three – Running Gear

There must have been as many designs of tank suspension as there were designers – so few seemed to quite agree with each other. Even when one tank was the norm – like the Sherman – there were a number of suspensions and wheel arrangements This Renault R-35 seems to make use of the squeeze-a-rubber…
