European Windmill in 28mm

This latest Blog entry details a 28mm European Windmill based on a number of illustrations - for example The Battle of Naseby, an illustrated book on early windmills at Swansea Library and French Rural Windmills from the Internet. The model is more accurately - a Post Windmill, having a main post and support below the mill housing and the model has been considerably reduced, as a correctly proportioned or scaled windmill would have stood well over 50cms tall!

The windmill fits within a number of gaming periods, from the 100 years war, up to WWII, although the sail type is a little more modern, with the sail fabric being stored (when not in use) in the large wooden boxes to the side of each sail.

The final photo shows the eight separate pieces all ready to be moulded and cast. I have included some (simple) internal detail, although the actual brief/commission stated none.

With windmill designs being so eclectic and no one design ever dominating, I can see variation of this particular casting being released in future.

The master was constructed from lollipop sticks over 3mm Plastic Card, with the base being carved from Balsawood and the sails a converted Grand Manner resin casting.

Tony

Hartwell Tavern in 28mm - part three

This photo shows the reconstructed Hartwell Tavern on Battle Road, Massachusetts, USA.

Hartwell Tavern, the 28mm master model - finished. The largest commission piece I have produced so far with a 'footprint' of 36cms x 30cms and standing nearly 15cms tall.

This final photo shows all fourteen individual pieces ready to be moulded and cast.

Hartwell Tavern in 28mm - part two

Hartwell Tavern from Battle Road, in the American War of Independence, modelled in 28mm for Grand Manner.

Since the earlier post I have done quite a bit of construction work on this commission. The main building work is now completed and with the master about 90% finished it is onto detailing and surface texturing.

With this piece being so large and a 'signature piece' I felt additional 'work-in-progress' shots were warranted.

This photo shows the amount of work that goes into detailing the interior. So far eight individual pieces and more to come.

Finally, here is a plan/sketch that was used by me during the planning and building period. It would have been easier to have used commercial castings of plastic sheets to build the roof and weather-board section. I choose to scratchbuild all but the windows, which are resin castings produced by Grand Manner from my initial masters. All have been modified to fit with this building.

The drawings were taken from photos of the actual Hartwell Tavern and scaled using door and window heights. The finished model is a 90% - 95% scale model of the photograph images - I have used some compression.

The two main buildings are designed to be used together or as individual pieces. The bases have 'jigsaw' cut-outs to allow for them to be closely based as the original Hartwell Tavern.

Neilson's Farm in 40mm

Neilson's Farm from the American War of Independence in 40mm built for Grand Manner. The first photo shows the finished and painted casting (actually the very first), while the rest of the photos show the 'master', the bare resin casting and more photos of the painted model. The Farm was painted in a red oxide finish which although totally authentic, does make a change from the white or bare wood colour schemes.

http://www.grandmanner.co.uk/shop/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=84&numRecordPosition=11&strPageHistory=cat&strKeywords=&strSearchCriteria=

The model features a fully detailed interior, a lift-out first floor and a removable roof.

Hartwell Tavern in 28mm

My latest Work-in-Progress project a group of three separate buildings depicting Hartwell Tavern on Battle Road from The American War of Independence in 28mm.

This is without doubt the largest commission I have worked on so far - a signature piece being built for Grand Manner, and due to be cast and released in the new year. The main tavern building is 165mm x 140mm x 140mm while the total 'footprint' will be over 350mm x 280mm.

Progress so far has gone well,with a core of 3mm Plastic Card, individual wood lathes and the use of modified resin windows.

Martian Skiff in 28mm

This is the finished 'master' for a Martian Skiff. A commission that I built in early 2009. The finished model was built in five pieces and was intended to be cast in resin. I have no idea if the model was ever cast! But this photographic record shows that I can model subjects other than buildings.

The final photo shows the design brief for this model.

Guilford Cabin in 28mm

This model is a copy of the Guilford Cabin produced in 40mm and available from Grand Manner, but this time reproduced in 28mm scale. The first photo shows work-in-progress, while the rest show the finished 'master'.

The building is built around a 3mm thick plastic card skeleton with individual balsa wood logs and DAS modelling clay filling. The roof shingles are individual wood veneer and the chimney is modelled and carved DAS.

The model has a fully detailed interior and features a lift-off roof.