Thursday 27 May 2021

Hornet Models - SS Oberscharführer, Das Reich, Operation Citadel, Kursk 1943

Completed this classic figure from Hornet Models for the month of May. This was an unexpected project for which I only wanted to use the simplicity of this figure's sculpt to experiment on the photo print transfers. Fortunately it turned out not too shabby and thus I ventured further with the ground work which is no doubt a conceptual variation from my previous project Valley of Tears. 





Cheers,

Calvin



Tuesday 25 May 2021

Hornet Models - SS Oberscharführer, Das Reich, Operation Citadel, Kursk 1943

 Added some grass to the ground work to convey the grassy steppes of the Russian front.





Cheers,

Calvin





Wednesday 19 May 2021

Experiments with Photo Print Transfers - Day 5

 Moved on to a 1/10 scale helmet cover. Frankly speaking, this technique is more suited for larger scale figures as the surface area is much larger and the plastic film does not obscure much of the surface details. Took me only 1 hour from the application of the film to the touch up by brush to attain this current result. Definitely a time saving measure especially when you have a lot of 1/10 scale busts in the storage room ;).




Cheers,

Calvin



Tuesday 18 May 2021

Hornet Models - SS Oberscharführer, Das Reich, Operation Citadel, Kursk 1943

Placed in the insignia for the side cap, Iron Cross ribbon and the shoulder boards for the figure and the ground receives its first pass of colour. Not to sure about the messy coil of wire at the front. Reckon I will add more litter to reinforce the idea of a destroyed T-34. 



Cheers,

Calvin



Monday 17 May 2021

Hornet Models - SS Oberscharführer, Das Reich, Operation Citadel, Kursk 1943

Adding in a simple groundwork to set off this piece with track links of a vanquished T-34 from AFV Club.  





Cheers,

Calvin



Sunday 16 May 2021

Experiments with Photo Print Transfers - Day 4

Flat coat with some touch ups and highlighting with a brush using AK Gen 3 paints. The buttons are rebuilt with epoxy putty. The shoulder boards, insignia on the side cap and the rank patch will be added in later using transfers. When that is done I will be glad to say that's a wrap.





Cheers,

Calvin




Saturday 15 May 2021

Experiments with Photo Print Transfers - Day 3

 I was not feeling satisfied with the first attempt which I attributed to my poor decal application skills. There were too many wrinkles to tease out. I therefore threw the figure into a vat of thinner and started over. 

This round I took my time and I feel that the results are much neater than the previous attempt. I realised that a big sheet of plastic film is difficult to conform onto a highly wrinkled surface and thus decided to cut the sheet onto smaller pieces and stitch them along the crest of the folds. These conspicuous areas are also very accessible to mend with gloss varnish and paint. Mark Softer from Gunze Sanyo Mr Hobby was used to great effect in softening the plastic film so that it conforms easily to the surface of the figure. 

Trimming was done with  a color shaper on one hand and a fresh scalpel on the other. This operation requires a great degree of patience and precision. In all, it took me about half an evening and one afternoon to arrive at this stage and I think it looks promising from this point on. 


Cheers,

Calvin





Thursday 13 May 2021

Experiments with Photo Print Transfers - Day 2

 



I have allowed the gloss varnish to set overnight and this morning I gave the figure a spray of matt varnish. Imperfections were touched up with paint from AK Interactive Gen 3 Figure Series. 

Cheers,

Calvin 



Wednesday 12 May 2021

Experiments with Photo Print Transfers - Day 1

Here is today's results of my experiment using the Canon Selphy photo print transfer. The greatest difficult lies in trying to manoeuvre and fit the film onto the tight corners of the sleeves as well as the pockets on the chest area. Surprisingly a light blast of heat from a heat gun managed to shrink wrap the film onto the figure surface for a tight hug and even so some unwanted wrinkles and tiny air bubbles also appeared. Those need to be rubbed down and repainted. In my opinion, the process is not as fun as painting and there are a lot of kinks on the surface one will need to smooth out for a presentable result.





Cheers,

Calvin



Tuesday 11 May 2021

Something Is Evolving........

 I am in the midst of ironing the kinks of this technique but I am pretty sure the end is in sight...




Cheers,

Calvin



Saturday 8 May 2021

Souvenirs from Normandy, France 1944

 



Some experiments with photo printing and transfers.

Cheers,

Calvin



Thursday 6 May 2021

Monday 3 May 2021

9th SS Panzer Division, Normandy 1944

After finishing the box art for the pair of running soldiers, I could not resist placing them into individual scenes. The reason being that I could use up the remaining telegraph poles from Miniart. The sign boards are designed in Photoshop and printed with my Canon Selphy photo printer. I gave a light spray of Mr Color Super Flat Clear to dull the sheen of the photo paper and proceeded to weather them with acrylic paints and the weathering pencils from AK Interactive. 



The abandoned British equipment is from Miniart. 
The straps and details are modelled with epoxy putty.




I updated the scene of running Schütze with some sign boards as I felt that the middle of the telegraph pole appeared rather bare. 

A overview of my "telegraph pole series". The left most figure is from Rado Miniatures. You can see how it holds up against the ones from Alpine Miniatures. 

Cheers,

Calvin



Saturday 1 May 2021

A Delightful Afternoon at Allan's

After relocating to Singapore for four months,  Allan Yong and his family has finally settled into their  new apartment and has invited me and some local modellers over to admire his discerning collection of scale models and figurines. 

Allan's collection of figures created by some of the world's finest artists displayed on his dining table.

A small collection of armour models. 




Miniature works by Spanish Master Arnau Lazaro

Spanish Masters Marc Masclans and Jaume Ortiz 


Korean Master Lee Sang Eon's take on a Latorre classic. 

Italian master painter Luca Oliveri.




Spanish master painter Gustavo Gil Campos

Spanish Master Arnau Lazaro


It was a delightful Friday afternoon spent admiring some of the world's best miniatures in the company of good friends. My heartfelt thanks and appreciation extended out to Allan's generosity for hosting this gathering. Here's looking forward to the next one. 

Cheers

Calvin