28mm Dovecote

My latest, finished project - a 28mm Tudor style Dovecote.

Photo One - The finished 'master' model. The model stands 190mm tall.

Photo Two - This was the commission brief, a photocopy of an illustration from an unknown booklet. The illustration is similar but not exactly the same as Luntley Court Dovecote, Hereford.

The model became a labour of love as I wanted show how my modelling skills have improved, plus I also wanted to try out new techniques, copying more closely Dave's (Grand Manner) style. Dave supplied me with a couple of small wall sections, which I used as inspiration for the finish.

Photo Three and Four - These two photos show the initial stages of construction, a 3mm plastic card core with plastic card framing and a stone base. In addition I added one section of wattle (from another small section of a Grand Manner building) as I wanted to show a section of damaged wall.

Photo Five - The internal detail was to be kept plain (there isn't a lot you can model in a dovecote!) However I was pleased with the building/roof split, which has worked very well.

Photo Six, Seven and Eight - At this stage, I have in-filled the wall sections with Das modelling clay, constructed the roof and entrance for the Doves/Pigeons plus started to build up the base.

Photo Nine - In this photo, you can see how the walls and roof have been constructed and textured. The Dovecote floor is detailed with a small section of wallpaper and the entrance and base have been further detailed.

Photo Ten, Eleven and Twelve - At this stage the model is ready to be moulded. Texturing has been continued with wire pegs, Plastic rod nails and paper hinges with plastic card door furniture. I have used Das and Milliput to add detail as well as smoothing-out joints and gaps.

Photo Thirteen - The finished model split into its three separate sections, the main building, the gabled roof and the roof to the dovecote entrance.

I am very pleased with the final result and look forward to seeing it cast in resin (and painted). I also enjoyed working to such a 'tight' brief and attempting to copy the illustration as closely as possible.

I have attempted to use Milliput (as Dave does) but have reverted back to my preferred sculpting medium Das modelling clay. Even so, I have tried to copy the particular style of texturing that Dave uses on his buildings.

Tony

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.