My model supplier

Just thought it worth a mention that my favourite model supplier are these guys:

http://www.emodels.co.uk/plastic-kits/

Not only are they excellent value for money and have just about everything you could possibly want in stock, but they turn your order around within a day or two.

I have ordered several kits on a weekday evening, get an email usually that evening or the following morning acknowledging my order.  I get another an hour or two later to say it's packaged and with Royal Mail, and it usually arrives either the next day or the day after at the latest.

I honestly cannot praise this team enough.

1:35 scale SAS Land Rover

I bought this SAS Pink Panther model at the same time as the SAS jeep kit. When I came to build this though I couldn't bear the idea of painting it pink - so I decided on a desert theme again.

The kit comes with some detail that I chose to change - there are rifle holders that mount on the front wing panels, and a bulky thing that hangs off the back.  I didn't like those, so they got left off - however I did cut down and re-mount one of the rifle holders on the driver's side, which I put an AK47 in.

The kit comes with just the driver, so I made up a pal to ride in the back.  The bulk of that figure was made from the Afrika Corps radio operator kit - I changed the pose of one leg, and one arm, and added a head from an Eastern European soldier because it was wearing a beret.

I have added a lot of extra detail - jerry cans in the back, kit bags and packs, some landmines (no doubt poached from American troops at some point) and extra tools - pick axe, sledge hammer and axe.

I love adding extra detail - chains, towing cables, ropes - and I try and think, if I were out there, what would I have - a few grenades, extra water bottles, an oil can.

I really enjoyed making this one - more than I thought I would.  I think the enjoyment comes from taking a standard kit and adding my own uniqueness to it.  It might not be 100% accurate, but I think it's close enough.

Panzer mk IV - refuelling and re-arming, North Africa

When I first looked at this model, the 1:35 scale Panzer mark IV, I knew I wanted to do something different with it.  Originally I wanted to add the schurzen additional armour.  Then I wanted to add some maintenance guys - refuelling and re-arming, so I left off the extra metal.

And so, here's the finished article.

M41 Bulldog

SAS Jeep, North Africa, LRDG

This 1:35 scale SAS jeep is pretty much as it should be, with just a few additional items added to bulk out the equipment these guys would carry.

US Jeep, France 1944

This 1:35 scale US army jeep with bazooka toting GI is set in a French street.
I enjoyed the detail, additional items like the tarp and kit in the back, plus the Italieri ruins (which I cut down to half their size).  I made the base including flag-stone pavement using car body filler.

I also worked on some weathering, but failed to add detail to the faces.

I was introduced to AK Interactive washes, pigments and streaking grimes!
These are excellent products that add some realism and detail to the paint effects - rust, grime, track wash, fuel stains.

o

US Marines temporary command post

Having struggled with detail on 1:72 scale models I decided it was time to make life easier by graduating to the 1:35 models.
This diorama was made up of figures from 3 or 4 different sets, plus a some spare parts.

Half Track

This is a conventional 1:72 scale half track with 4 x 50 cal guns on a rear turret.
This is the first time I took time with the weathering, and added a little more detailing.
I was happy with the terrain this time.

88mm mounted on Sd Kfz 7

Bored with the conventional 1:72 scale model I adapted it by mounting the 88mm cannon onto the Sd Kfz 7 Tractor. Hand made shells and camo netting added for effect.  I know I have taken some liberties with this kit.  I originally had the 88mm in a sandbagged emplacement, but I messed up the terrain and didn't like the effect.

Model aircraft - the early days.

As I think I mentioned before, I restarted my model making with some biplanes, Hurricane, Messerschmidt, and so on.