I do like WW1 era so, but based on how long it takes me to build models, I should really start this whilst my fingers can still do the rigging…time to research after market turnbuckles (another rabbit hole to run down)…#histscalemodels

Looks like York IPMS model show is being moved into the main T2 Halifax hanger rather one of the other smaller WW2 buildings…perfect backdrop

You can’t have the destruction, mud and barbed wire of WW1 without the colour of Flanders Poppy’s as a counterpoint…happy with this balance especially with it recently being Remeberance Sunday and Armistice Day #histscalemodels

Well, you can’t really have a WW 1 diorama without Flanders Poppy’s especially with Armistice Day being this week so I’ll tuck these away in a corner #histscalemodels

With the mud of WW1 France behind me, I will be moving on to the red dust of Vietnam…

I’m calling this done , there are a couple of figures to paint that but these will have to wait until next week after York IPMS Model Show on Saturday. When I get a moment, I need to get the SLR out and redo these and then photoshop a suitable background #histscalemodels

Looking better already

Ignoring the fact it is still in white primer the barbed wire has been attached to the base. It needs painting in various rust colours tomorrow night and in areas “blending” into the mud #histscalemodels

Tonight will mainly spent making barbed wire #histscalemodels

Nearly done…..just need to make a load of barbed wire and a few other bits and pieces #histscalemodels

One week to go and the Whippet is ready for a light mist of matt varnish before final weathering and mud and then adding to the base. Trying to get this done this weekend so I can concentrate on barbed wire, and if time finish the figures #histscalemodels p

I am now convinced it would have been quicker to paint all these bits by hand !

Tonight’s progress, a dust wash followed by same wash with pigment as a base layer of dried mud. All the stowage needs painting and then glueing on before a unifying Matt varnish andk final mud layers to tie in with the base. Lot to do in 10 days not counting two figures to paint #histscalemodels

Bought some “foliage” for a camouflage on a couple of ongoing tank projects and I have to say, I’m rather pleased with them…#histscalemodels

A bit more weathering on the Whippet and starting to think about stowage. The tanks were provided with canvas mudguards although they were lost quite quickly. I’ve scratch built one from Tamiya tape and a bit of plastic card….

First layers of rust paint on the exhaust which I’ll finish off with pigments at the end. Oil paints next but that will have to wait for next week as we are off to see the Grandson this weekend #histscalemodels

Got home early from work thanks to a site meeting near home so I’ve made a start on the tracks of the Whippet with a dark rust and light rust over the initial grey paint #histscalemodeld

The Emhar 1/35 Whippet is down from the shelf of doom, glued on broken bits, touched up the paint and ID markings by hand and painted the base colour of the tracks. Gloss varnish, decals and gloss topcoat next so weathering can start. Mud will be my friend on this project #histscalemodels

Well, with it being in the next village it would be rude not to…#histscalemodels

A bit of very very slow progress on the WW1 whippet… #histscalemodels

Well that’s pretty much all the plastic bits glued on the T-54 having sat on the shelf of doom for a year…a few PE brackets and engine grills and we are ready for painting

It’s starting to look like a T-54 #histscalemodels

a unique set of photos of a Tiger II at Kummersdorf in late 1944 with a brand new factory applied “ambush” camouflage. You can’t get better than these as a primary source factory applied camouflage pattern although I always remain wary of colour contrast with digitised versions of old BW photos

Our recent trip to Arnhem for the 81st commemorations included a drive up Hell’s Highway and including the Son, Grave, Nijmegen and Arnhem bridges.

Wilhelminapark, Breda - the only know surviving complete Panther D in the world. In 1945, the 1st Polish Armoured Div, who liberated the city in 1944 presented it as a gift having “liberated” it in Germany. In 2004/2005 the tank was restored for static display by Kevin Wheatcroft.

The 1/35 MiniArt 12.7mm DShK anti-aircraft heavy machine gun for the T-54 is finally finished…lots of small fiddley parts…#histscalemodels

The Tank Museum are raising funds to bet their pre-production Tiger II v2 back to running order www.facebook.com/share/p/17Q2...

Two weeks before the next road trip…following XXX Corps charge up Hell’s Highway in memory of my grandad who got as far as Elst with 43 Wessex, few miles short of Arnhem…A bridge to far #arnhem #arnhem81

Not much modelling recently with a new Grandson but I did get to do my 15thC hobby last weekend at Bosworth Battlefield as it was the 540th anniversary and 40 years since my first Bosworth in 1985

#otd my Grandad, Ernest Kingham was part of 969th Port Floating Equipment Company, RE which began landing in Normandy on the afternoon of 6 June 1944 under the command of Lt Col Mays to assemble Mulberry B at Gold Beach #dday

….Result !

The gun platform is complete. Scratch built with wooden coffee stirrers, plastic card and strip, brass strip and a lot of swearing. First time I’ve used a spirit level on a model kit. Platform removed now for painting separate to the wagon…just need to fit the wagon doors #histscalemodels

Apparently Hasting’s says no more modelling tonight !

AA wagon raised gun platform has been formed using a plasticard sheet and rectangular strip with wooden boarding courtesy of a well known fast food restaurant. These will be glued to the plastic deck, trimmed and sanded and then “timber” posts and some steps added along with a guard rail

It’s starting to look like a train #scalemodels #histscslemodels #trainmodels #trainmodelling

VE Day 1945 - Chesterfield #veday #veday80

VE Day 1945 with a streetparty on Reservoir Terrace, Chesterfield with my mum, uncle, grandma and great grandma and I suspect my great grandad is the one taking the photo. My grandad was by now in the Far East so the war continued for him until VJ Day. #veday #veday80

The dedicated airbrush workbench area in the garage is now complete - ready for a trial at the weekend…just need to pick up a strip extension block and tidy up the cables

Well, that’s the flakvierling finished and ready for the paint shop. Time to move onto the timber platform in the wagon #histscalrmodels

The end is in sight for the quad 2cm flakvierling. The magazine racks need to be added along with the gun crew seats. The replacement brass barrels will be the last to add….should be done by the end of the weekend #histscalemodels

Hastings…this is really not helpful…I know the lights are warm but….

Well that’s the first railway wagon nearly finished but it’s time to move onto the flak gun that’s going to mounted on a raised platform inside #histscalemodels

Whilst the current railway wagon is not a tank transport and will eventually mount a quad 2cm Flakvierling 38 on a raised platform, I couldn’t resist putting the StuH 42 on it to get a sense of where this project is going …#histscalemodels #scalemodels #railwaymodelling

I’m not saying it’s like watching glue dry, but…..

I have a rolling chassis….#histscalemodels

It’s starting to look a bit like a railway wagon !

Not quite a railway yet but good progress on the two sets of tracks. Time to move onto the rolling stock as this will ultimately decide how long each section of track is needed, but now I have track I can make sure the wheels are set to the correct width to suit the track #histscalemodels

Back to modelling after our weekend Rail Trip to Brussels. I’m using MiniArt and AK track on the diorama to avoid the two tracks looking identical but having assembled a section of MiniArt the detail is amazing with individual rail clips so these will be at the front of the diorama #histscalemodels

Well the M6N is complete for 2025 and what a result in Cardiff but we are now looking forward to going to watch England’s opening W6N game against Italy next Sunday in York #englandrugby #w6n