Luft46's Blog

This is the first of my diorama projects that has got some work done. This idea has been brewing for a number of years whilst I tracked down the apprpriate materials as much as anything. Fortunately in recent times a number of manufacturers have cooperated with new releases that will find their way into this project. The above shot is my first proof of concept piece. This is glass from a photo frame that was painted grey then treated with Mig concrete pigment. Glass especially this thin is not the best material but usefull to get some practice on. Having discovered foamboard many of my next works will use this material such as the aircraft hangar that needs to get started. Moving on below is a quick list of items that will go into this dio/vignette. MAM carpet Verlinden No 307 Framed Paintings and Carpets, probably not the carpets as the above looks better but will need some serious weathering A.m.r.i architectural figures in 1/200 scale ie 1/35 of 1/6 figures is about 1/210 so close enough though mostly the female ones Archer Vietnam era pinups AR35360 Reality in Scale wallpaper, plenty in the pack Verlinden Movie posters, centr folds etc No274 Military in Detail Pinups and Magazines 35048 & 49 Verlinden wallpaper but this may not make the grade given the above Accurate Armour Accessory Urban refuse #2 A121 though the Meng set would be a better bet, found some of the resin vey soft and sticky

PC Station 224 from Plus model 1/350 scale aircrew from Tamiya, not sure whether bumps will be necessary in this scale and Diopark Factory Tools Set 1, great table including working drawers which also has a KV2 model on the back of the pack. This was a totally gratuitous inclusion on their part but indicates they thought the kit would be used by modellers trying to depict a modeller at his workbench scene.

Anyway back to doing the base.

This arrived in the mail today from Uschi van der Rosten in Augsburg Germany or at http://www.uschivdr.com. It is a set of two A4 sized sheets of thick paper on which are enough parts to make up two sides of a workshop with the other two being open. One side of the workshop has a large window and the other side is a closed door. As well you ge a concrete floor with grates. Colours look quite good and other inclusions are a clock face, some oil drums. The web site includes instructions on how to turn this into a very 3D diorama though accessories including some of that plastic card board to provide bracing for the walls. Now here’s the kicker myine arrived a bit bent because of my strong mail box flap and an overzealous postie. I will be providing feedback on this score. It is now off to sit under some heavy books. Below is the second sheet or check out the website.

Ok so the dicky 5 1/4 inch floppy in the top right means I want to publish something, glad they told me this when they changed things around. That symbol is just so last century…. I am well and truly myself but so what.

The photos are pretty average but the Tornado in RLM 66 on the top seems to suck light, three lights on it didnt help last night. Even for a resin kit this kit was an arm wrestle all the way. I have shots somewhere of an ordinary power drill bit well buried in the pulse tube as I tried to hollow out the exhaust. This and other tragedies like the many pinholes, the supports that either wouldnt stay glued or if they did were at the wrong angle made this an unfun build. Deciding to use Lifecolor paints through an airbrush didnt help either though I solved this in the end by not using them, subsequent research has shown I am not the only one struggling in this regard. Anyway it is now finished so onto something more pleasant.

Ok so WordPress changed things around, why…….. Who knows so this is the pithy version, went to this model show had a good time, bought a few magazines, found two old model catalogues for $1.00 and got some wallpaper for a current project and some ral artificial dirt from Mig. Had a good time, saw lots of models and took lots of photos. This show is going very well and entries are up so much they have added a third row of contest tables this year. Much better organised and nicer people than the Sydney version.

After many years of fighting the carpet monster I have finally vanquished him. I had been increasingly unhappy about the lost items as well as the occasional red back spider ( google it if you are foreign ) in my garage modelling area. I was discussing this with my wife who suggested carpet tiles that would have a relatively flat pile eliminating the grasping tendencies of the carpet monster. After moving my work benches a bit, solid construction equals bloody heavy, I removed the four rolls of carpet, but not without finding a half dozen redbacks and one with a million babies. Carefully squashing these got rid of the problem, the red back may have been downgraded from lethal recently but I hate them, mind you I am the only one who will shepherd the Huntsman spider outside when they come inside in summer. The above mess on my second bench is the result of a little garage tidy up, well that and half the house. I should be back to modelling soon.

This just arrived in the post today, I would do a more extensive post but every man and his dog have already done so. One for me and one for a friend. OTOH I am already having whif thoughts about different radar fits, just can’t help myself at times thought this is the most modelling I have done in weeks.

I’ve been working on too many real world projects lately including helping children with tests. Also putting in a path in the backyard and applying for a job so little inclination to model despite a four day weekend. The Tornado is now painted but needs a final touch up and the last parts added, maybe this week.  Below are shots of that and my workbench, note the real world intrusion on the right!

The desk has just been coated with raw umber oil paint and will need a few days to dry. The beige had two coats and as per advice the raw umber was applied with a bit of a kitchen sponge, due to the awkwardness of some shapes I used two brushes to apply this first on some parts and then finished off with the sponge. I am away for a few days so this will stop me fiddling with the oil paint while it dries.

After a rather long break I have been modelling again. Have slipped into doing a long planned vignette called ” But it’s refence material dear ” based loosely on figure painters, ok very loosely, it’s more of a pastiche than anything. I am also intending to spray tonight on the Tornado.

At the front is the desk with its first coat of Lifecolor Light Stone or beige  with to the left a computer monitor and to the right is my female figure and behind that is the office chair.

The end result of all this tidying up. Compare the cupboard to my first post.

The desk