Young Miniatures - The Liberator, Western Ukraine, 1941

I have finally placed the finishing touches on this piece. The symbolic reason behind the flamboyant Ukrainian embroidered scarf relates to the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa when Nazi Germany was seen as the liberators of Western Ukraine from Soviet oppressive rule. The soldier has obviously been showered with a token of gratitude, but as history would unfold, a far greater evil lurked behind the lavish facade.

Cheers,

Calvin

Sergeant, 5th Royal Armored Regiment, Normandy 1944

This quick project was completed over the past week using the spare head from the earlier Alpine Miniatures box art assignment.

Here is the lineup of colours used to paint the British Battledress. The base colour is a 1:1 mixture of N5 Earth Brown and British Uniform Base. Brown Black Quick Gen is added to the base colour for the shadows, whereas Light Earth is for the highlights.  

As mentioned, I had the opportunity to try out the new AK Quick Gen paints on this figure. My assessment is that this series of paints are specially formulated to provide a quick translucent wash/glaze to deepen and enrich the tones of the AK Gen 3 acrylics. I suspect that the Quick Gen is mainly dye/ink-based, whereas the AK Gen 3 acrylics are heavily pigment-based. For those who have experience using the AK Gen 3 paint to perform thin glazes, they might occasionally encounter a "chalky" matt finish, sometimes lacking in colour saturation and depth. That is where the AK Quick Gen comes in to enrich and deepen that particular tone. 

In summary, consider the Gen 3 acrylics as gouache, viscous and highly opaque. Its main purpose is to provide effective coverage. The Quick Gen on the other hand, are like inks and watercolours; though fluid and translucent, they possess a richer tone and are therefore most ideal for staining surfaces. This is the perfect complement to the Gen 3 acrylics, and it will definitely take one's painting to another higher level.   

Calvin

The Passing of a Giant - Goodbye Mr Shunsaku Tamiya

On July 18, 2025, Mr. Shunsaku Tamiya, the second-generation successor to the Tamiya Incorporation, passed away, signalling the end of an era. Under his helm, Mr Shunsaku Tamiya elevated his family's business to new heights and delighted many hobbyists around the world with Tamiya's high-quality products. I count myself very fortunate to have been able to interact with him numerous times at the annual Shizuoka Hobby Show. In our brief exchanges, his indomitable spirit echoes through his words as he speaks not only about his passion for scale models but also the strong desire to craft beautiful experiences for all hobbyists. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I pen this blog post to honour a great man whose vision and drive have created much joy and happy memories for many scale modellers such as myself. Goodbye, Mr Shunsaku Tamiya. You have made a big difference.

Calvin

Alpine Miniatures - WW2 British Commonwealth Tank Crews, 1944-45

Finally done. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Visit to AK Interactive HQ in Logroño, Spain

This is a short report of my trip to AK Interactive's HQ located in the town of Logroño, Spain. 

My adventure begins at Bilbao International Airport, followed by a 90-minute car ride to the town of Logroño.

I met with Rick Lawler who was also in town right after his adventure from the 2025 World Expo at Versailles. Together, we visited the AK Museum to view some of the exquisite masterpieces in their collection.  

A panoramic view of the gift shop at the museum. 

The museum display begins with a historical overview of scale modelling. 

Here are some model exhibits featured in the AK museum.

Together with the AK Interactive's President, Fernando Vallejo

Here is one of the many vintage vehicles also in their collection, which is now available in plastic kit form.

A walk through the warehouse of AK Interactive's warehouse and office.

Face to face with a huge stock of my signature paint set for painting World War Two German uniforms.

I had the chance to test-drive the new Quick Gen range while at the HQ, and the results speak for themselves in this figure that was completed within a day.

Here are some sights around Logroño, starting with the timeless trail of the Camino de Santiago. 

Concatedral de Santa María de la Redonda in the background. 

The quiet soul of Logroño, found in its simple, honest fare. Every plate was a masterclass in local hospitality.

From the heart of the AK Interactive warehouse to the historic flavours of Logroño, this trip has been an incredible journey. A massive thank you to the team for the warm welcome and for letting me peek behind the curtain of the hobby's most iconic headquarters. Logroño, your hospitality and your kitchens have won me over. I will definitely be back. 

Cheers,

Calvin

A Wonderful Surprise from WME( World Model Expo) 2025

A heartfelt thank you to the WME committee for conferring this accolade. It is a great honour for me, but more importantly, this is a reminder for me to keep striving to do my best for this hobby and art form of ours.  

Cheers,

Calvin