Snubnose - engine

Here it is with the blanking plate on.

Before i put the cowls on, i want to really detail the engine area and this is the start.

Veteran modellers will recognise the engines as those from the Buck Rogers Starfighter kit - this is one of the goodies from my mums attic.

Decided not to strip the paint as, for once, i hadn't smothered the paint on too thick.

The plasticard strip on top is to disguise that its actually an open box affair.

Hellboy - skin done

Rotten pic this, but it gives you an idea.

He was interesting to do, in that his skin has a very plastic apperance in the film and the shading to it is very theatrical and obvious.

Very pleased with how the eyes have come out but the pic doesn't do it justice. Next one will be better.

Snub-nose Starfighter

Really shouldn't take another project on right now, but i came across this clear container in my big bits box and really like the shape.

So, have it in mind that this'll be the hull of a snubby Starfighter, the shorter end on the left being either a weapons or intstrument cluster and the larger end on the right be the engine area.

As you can see, i've already cut out a blanking plate to attach the engines onto, along with top and bottom cowls for that area, keeping the curves going.

Hellboy - base underway

I've used the grey primer as a basecoat, washed it with black then drybrushed the heck out of it with purpose made greys, varying the amounts of black, white and flesh tones each time.

The gunbelt looks like real beat-up leather in the film so i've used Games Workshops new Calthan Brown for the base, then washed it with Scorched Brown then black.

The metal parts are based in Gunmetal.

Fergee and Anderson - more "oh dear"

Something else i come across were two of the 60mm 2000AD figures that were sold through Forbidden Planet in the early 80's.Didn't know about acrylics then, so they're all Humbrol Enamels.

But the thing is, i don't remember buying them, painting them or owning them.Galling as i bought the Anderson one at Salute thinking how much i'd always wanted one...

Oh dear...

So, i'm up in my mums attic today looking for things to flog on eBay.Wells nearly dry there so i'm getting to the bottom of boxes and opening plastic bags - and what do i find?Loads of sprues and kit parts (especially Saturn V), which i'm chuffed about as my bits box is running seriously low and i can't justify buying a kit just for a few greeblies.The reason they're up there is that around the time of Empire Strikes Back being released i got into kit bashing big-time.Trouble was, i didn't just use "virgin" parts and would break apart a model to cannabilse them for parts.So i was sticking already painted parts onto already painted parts, most of the time with no thought as to scale, or whether it fitted in.I might've just covered a shell with glue and thrown bits at it.

Roy Batty - close-up

Blade Runners Roy Batty

Wanted one of these since i first saw it in the UKGK book back in '98 or so.

Luckily, it - and a lot of other classic Killer Kits models - are having a strictly limited re-release.

Got him from Frontier Models for £55.00, which is FAR more than i'd usually spend on a kit, but i'm fired up the mo with all things Blade Runner and i bunged it on my credit card, which makes it easier to live with.

Anyway, he's 1'6th scale, cast in cold cast porcelean and sculpted by Mike Hill.

The resemblance is uncanny, especially from the side and the sculpting on the hands is a work of art.

Also, there's not one air bubble or seam line.

It falls down in a few places though.

The crotch. Its almost cartoony - far too prominent and quite crudely sculpted compared to the rest of it.

The join between arms is not too good, ditton at the waist.

Finally, there's some sort of muck on one leg and an arm. Its a sticky residue, which i'm hoping will clean off, rather than it being a case of the material weeping.

Still, well pleased with it.

Tripod - finished

Used pretty bright natural light for this, so the base is much brighter and more garish than it is.

Pleased how its come out but, boy, am i nervous about moving it.

Don't think i'll be taking it to any shows.

Hellboy - in the red

Basecoated in Volkswagon Mars Red.

This is a very bright red, too bright fo the fella - but i need to start bright as it'll be toned down in later stages.

Far too glossy though, so i need to put a coat of Matt Varnish on before i can start pastelling.

TIE Fighter - finished

Real pleased how this came out. But the solar panels look a bit short to me.

Hellboy - primed

In Halfords grey and white

Hellboy - all ready

Puttied and glued and ready for primer.

Hellboy - what a whopper

Another shot to show off the likeness - and my arm to give it scale.

That's one heavy bit of resin - gonna have big biceps when this is done.

Hellboy bust

Here we go with the next project, the latest kit from Dr One's Lab - and offshoot of the FTVMC.

Of course its Hellboy, the film version, and sculptor Andy Brown has totally nailed the likeness.

Lovely bit of casting too by Jason Andrews - a few tiny airholes and that's it.

Dilemma is what to do with that right arm. Jason's cast it in clear red so it'd be possible to light it from within and copy the scene from the film where the glyphs glow red.

But, how to light it?

What to do?

This here is a project i started about 3 years ago.

Its the back half of a Space 1999 Probe Ship, the front half being an Eagle nose cone and other bits and pieces.

I gave up because i realised that the roundness of this section was clashing with the angles of the Eagle section and the two just weren't gelling.

Still like this bit so i've dusted it off and decided to finish it.

But what to do with the left hand end?

Do i have it as the engines, so the right hand side is the crew area? Or make the keft the crew bit?

If so, what will it look like? Was toying with a 2001 Discovery-type ball but don't think that's look right.

And the bits box is turning up blanks...

Tripod - catching basket

Sunlights really made this stand out. Excelent bit of sculpting/casting.

Tripod - Heat Ray

A bit blurry this (my Macro ain't very Macro) but here's the Heat Ray. I want it distinct from the Tripod's tentacles to try and get over more that its actually holding it.

So, i've basecoated it in the much brighter Mithril Silver and intend to use ink washes to give a different effect to the rest.

Tripod - nearly done

Hmmm... paint job seems too dark to accurately get it across with an indoor shot, so here he is in me back garden.

I'm highlighting with the same colour - Boltgun Metal - which is slightly lighter than its spray counterpart.

Judge Death - finished

Another neglected project.

Here he is all painted up. Really love that pose.