54mm Russian Fun: Airfix Ivan

Well I have done 20mm (1/72 - 1/76), 1/200, 10mm, 15mm (1/100), 28mm so why not 54mm (1/32)? Some time ago I rescued this favourite childhood pose from my youngest sons toy collection and used it as a painting exercise - inspired from other bloggers (an Australian Dave comes to mind). I was quite pleased with the results. A Vallejo base-coat, brown wash and reapplication of the base plus a couple of highlights. The model is big enough for the sculpting to do the talking (see below, running across the Streets of Stalingrad perhaps):

A close-up look (see below, basic Russian Green helmet, English Uniform base with a Khaki highlight, Black Boots with a ting grey highlight and a little bit of extra time on the face (see below, a stern expression of determination methinks across his brow, it is a long road to Berlin):

Perhaps he could be of use in Tim Gow's 54mm games .. trouble is I don't think he has many friends left in good shape from the Toy Box!

Easter Adventure with Soldiers in Silloth - Museum of 54 mm Magic

Easter holiday fun! The good people of Silloth obviously have some RAF (or Coastal Command) as shown by this Lockheed Hudson ornamented flower bed (see below): 

They also had an interesting museum, whose opening times posed a little bit of a challenge but I managed to get in to see their wears on Good Friday (see below):

Waterloo in 54mm looked spectacular - although I am currently assembling some 28mm Perry's and Victrix chaps whom I consider big (see below, I have to say it "worked" for me, maybe Sharp Practice 2 beckons):

The ACW was more the toy soldiers I remembered as a kid, but not this many (see below, not too sure what the Union gunners are doing at the bottom of the photograph):

These Franco=Prussian "Flats" were the closest is cam to seeing 'wargamers scale' (unless you have become infected by Tim Gow's dangerous past-tines - and don't tell him I have a couple of 54mm Tamiya WWI Tommies partly painted). You have to 'look twice' before you see they are not 3D - or catch them from the side (see below):

The Western Desert looked potentially doable for Chain of Command - but you would need a very large table (see below, I love the Matilda II and Grant - though off camera to the left is a **mm Flak Gun which may well spoil their day): 

To my delight (not so the wife) they had a "rake-out" selling odds and sods. So I picked myself up some very old Practical Wargamer magazines (see below, I was more RPG'ing as an undergrad in those days so missed this magazine the first time round):

I have to say they were all crammed (literally tightly packed type-face) full of interesting stuff. Perhaps my tastes are now wiser or the content in the modern mags is more focused on plenty of photogenic materials and historical detail light (or am I being cynical?). Nice catch methinks.

An Unexpected WWI Project (54mm) Part 1

These are most welcome cast-offs from a friend's daughters WWI School Project. She only needed three and five came in the packet. I didn't realise that Tamiya did anything in WWI. They were beautifully sculpted and went together like a dream (see below): 

I primed them in Airfix Acrylic Grey (01) [which I am now "out of"] (see below):

I then washed them in Vallejo Wash - Sepia for dark shading (see below):

I then kind of stalled, so who knows how long until "Part II+" of this process.

Big Boys .. this is just a simulation (or rather a "painting exercise") .. not the start of a collection.

Tim Gow do not get excited I am NOT going 54mm "that is the way of madness" I was only practising some 'painting techniques' on my son's "big toy soldiers". There is no reason to be alarmed gentlefolk of the jury, this was a "one off", despite a curious feeling of enjoyment in not having to squint so much! (see below, two Airfix Australians, a Star Wars Storm Trooper and a Jedi milling around on the painting tray):

Note: I need to be concentrating on my naval for the Denmark Straits battle, you can see a pot of Tamiya Blue in the background ;)

Lego Castle

During the Easter break I was left alone as my wife took the children to meet the grand parents. I was given many domestic chores but also the freedom of the house once again. Perhaps the first time in eight years. This meant "things" put down in one place did not wander away. Which included the kids Lego. Mysteriously I was drawn to my youngest son's collection that had been handed down to him. Inevitably, in my time "between chores" I casually experimented and "built a castle" I was quite ''proud of". Naturally my son's 1/32d scale Airfix figures were the first choice for the defenders (see below):

Quatro large blocks iced with a top battlement layer of Duplo, giving excellent firing positions. The "gates" were heavy duty Quatro and remained firmly closed. However the orange inner gates could be raised from inside in a 'marvelous feat of engineering' which defines the everlasting appeal of Lego across the ages (see below):

What became of my Maginot Line fortress guarded by Airfix warriors? (see below):

On their return only my children saw the the finished product (and briefly at that) as my youngest son (aged three at the time) did what all three year old's who have seen the "Hulk" in "The Avengers", would do! 

Yes, It lasted but seconds however it apparently took my wife over twenty minutes to clean up afterwards! She was not too impressed at my feat of engineering!