'They were no Heroes' Singapore, 1942 (1:35)
Indiana, United States
Joined: May 09, 2008
KitMaker: 1,019 posts
Armorama: 657 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 10:47 AM UTC
a good source for deals on basswood in the US is American Scientific and Surplus. they regularly sell it by the bagfull (and balsa, too) priced cheaply. occasionally they sell it in other forms such as slats that were intended for blinds and the like. they carry lots of odds and ends quite useful to the model builder.
www.sciplus.comIf it weren't for law enforcement and physics I would be unstoppable!
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 09, 2008 - 01:31 AM UTC
Due to exams I haven't touched this project for a few weeks. Today I picked it up again and started working on the concrete surface, scribing the individual slabs and adding damage.
Everything is just about ready for the final prime and painting, then comes the water! yay. Actually, I can't remember why I bothered applying the first primer coat, it was a pointless exercise in the end!
(p.s: I've never seen or heard of basswood, but it sounds like a good product. Obviously I can't buy it from the American Scientific & Surplus, so I'll check out my local hardware).
Chas
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 11:57 PM UTC
With exams finally over, I can now start spending some time modelling.
The M.P's body parts were assembled today (minus the head, still being painted). Obviously I will have to fix the webbing and puttee inaccuracies.
I mixed up some sand, cork dust, hemp rope fibres, sawdust, spakfilla and water to make a gritty sludge which will represent barnacles and weed growth on the surfaces below and just above the waterline.
I went Christmas shopping today! Bought myself a pin vice, 20 tiny drill bits and a hobby knife costing me $45 in all. I used the pin vice to drill a hole in the bottom of the M.P's foot, so that I could attach a pin as an anchor when painting.
It is the niftiest tool I've ever used, I love it! 
Chas
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Aarhus, Denmark
Joined: July 18, 2003
KitMaker: 3,377 posts
Armorama: 1,088 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 12:30 AM UTC
Pre Merry X-mas Chas
a nice tool, you will be very pleased that you spent those money.
Good progress too, I like the way you have done the muck in the waterline.
You should consider priming in black, it gives a lot of debth to the structure.
Cheers/Jan
It´s happy days for modellers...
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 06, 2007
KitMaker: 3,661 posts
Armorama: 2,764 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 12:34 AM UTC
i have that microbox bit set!!!
shame i dont ahve a pin vice that fits them...
i really like your dio progress,, its coming along well
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 01:07 AM UTC
Hey Chas
Good progress here mate.
Doing well with the rubble and surface details.
Glad you have a pin vice; you'll be using it all the time with all those drill bit sizes!
About the figure with the altered arm. Be careful when reposing the arm at 90 degrees from standard that the new attachment point does not make the upper arm too long? Handy to double check... If so, then simply sand/cut the end flatter for attachment.
Brad
"There never was a good war, or a bad peace."
Benjamin Franklin
England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: September 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,548 posts
Armorama: 1,407 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 04:54 AM UTC
wow chas amazing progress!
i hope your exams went well!
Martyn
Paris, France
Joined: August 30, 2005
KitMaker: 2,315 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 05:16 AM UTC
Real Great Chas as usual
Good luck with the exams
Cheers
seb
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 12:09 PM UTC
Jan, and a Happy New Year!
When I was looking for a primer can, I searched for black but simply couldn't find any! I have been happy with grey so far, we'll see how it goes.
Brad, thanks for your comments. I (truthfully) filed the upper arm before I attached it. Looking back I can see it could do with a bit more.
Thanks Jim, Martyn and Seb, it's just a waiting game now. Results are a few weeks away yet.
Today I will begin to paint the base, as well as continue to work on the M.P figure.
Chas
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: December 19, 2007
KitMaker: 235 posts
Armorama: 5 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 03:08 PM UTC
Did you pay over 40 bucks for those two things?Here in Holland i can buy it for under 20 euro's!Is it really that expensive over there?
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 03:52 PM UTC
Well, 20 euro works out to be about $40 AUD anyway? And I bought three things, the pin vice, drill bits and the hobby knife.
Pin Vice: $10
Drill bits: $30
Knife: $5
Considering our exchange, buying from the US or UK plus shipping would be very expensive.
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 10:52 PM UTC
Ok things look messy but I'm trying to get some nice blends here. I have progressed further than what is shown, I just had to take the pictures before dark. The rust surface looks slightly glossy but that's only because the paint is still wet.
I'll take more pictures in the morning to show you what I have done tonight: painted wood, final touches to the rust, green seaweed, bird poo etc.
I'll also try my hardest to get the first resin layer done tomorrow!
Chas
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Victoria, Australia
Joined: July 28, 2004
KitMaker: 10,889 posts
Armorama: 3,245 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 11:28 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I bought three things, the pin vice, drill bits and the hobby knife.
Pin Vice: $10
Drill bits: $30
Knife: $5
Mate, I was about to say you got taken on $45 for the goodies, but seeing as how 2/3's of it was for the drill bits, it's probably not a bad deal
So your year 12 's are over? Found a uni yet? I'm working with the Victoria DEECD until Tuesday - if you want i can ask about the better uni history dept's if you want - i think the one guy was a history teacher...
Rudi
p.s nice work on the dio.
Beware the populist demagogues at the head of private armies
Victoria, Australia
Joined: July 28, 2004
KitMaker: 10,889 posts
Armorama: 3,245 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 11:31 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Is it really that expensive over there?
Being new to Aussie, I can say that modelling stuff is
not that expensive here. Prices work out very similar to Europe and the US. Sometimes stuff in the LHSs is even cheaper than the online sellers in Hong Kong - due to exchange fluctuations. As always, it pays to shop around.
Chas: sorry for hijacking the thread.
Rudi
Beware the populist demagogues at the head of private armies
Victoria, Australia
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 11:44 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Being new to Aussie, I can say that modelling stuff is not that expensive here.
Hmmm, even seafoam?
"There never was a good war, or a bad peace."
Benjamin Franklin
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008 - 11:49 PM UTC
Whats all this seafoam business anyway, do I detect a joke/leg pulling?
Chas
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Rhone, France
Joined: November 04, 2005
KitMaker: 1,845 posts
Armorama: 777 posts
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008 - 12:52 AM UTC
I like what you have been doing on your pier, it looks very convincing on the pic above, good luck for the rest.
"too much colour distracts the viewer"
Jacques Tati
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Friday, November 14, 2008 - 01:29 AM UTC
Thanks jba, I appreciate the comment.
Chas
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Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 12:40 AM UTC
YOUR PLAYING WITH YOUR LIFE THIS AIN'T NO TRUTH OR DARE!Listening to the radio while pouring resin is hazardous. Especially when you here Michael Jackson yell this at you.
Seriously, it's the moment of truth for me. I've never been this apprehensive about modelling! The first layer has been poured without mishap. I'll be checking on the resin every few hours just to make sure nothing goes wrong.
A last look before the resin.
First layer poured (about 8mm). Under protection from dust while hardening.
Beat it.
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Baleares, Spain / España
Joined: August 09, 2005
KitMaker: 296 posts
Armorama: 250 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 05:27 AM UTC
I can only tell you that I love, I find all components of the super realistic diorama
congratulations
a curiosity, how long will last its construction?
Domi
Antwerpen, Belgium
Joined: August 19, 2006
KitMaker: 7,084 posts
Armorama: 970 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 06:26 AM UTC
Impressive work, the details are stunning. The dirty edge is nice and the real thing. G.
Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Joined: March 24, 2008
KitMaker: 1,247 posts
Armorama: 913 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 08:02 AM UTC
This is super work! I want to see it finished!
Lars
Western Australia, Australia
Joined: June 05, 2007
KitMaker: 2,166 posts
Armorama: 1,080 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 11:51 AM UTC
Hi Domi, thanks. To answer your question as best as I can, I really have no idea how long the diorama is going to take to complete. I looked back to page 1 and it's hard to believe I've been working for over three months! I've still got about 7-8 figures to paint!
Guy and Lars, glad you like it. At present, it is morning and I'm yet to check on the resin....fingers crossed!
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: January 06, 2007
KitMaker: 3,661 posts
Armorama: 2,764 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 12:26 PM UTC
Keep it comin' Aussie Bro!
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