4th September 2007


After rather longer away from my blog than I would have liked – work, kids, decorating apathy, that unstinting resolve I have not to type any more words than I have to – you know the score… - I'm now back in the hot-seat. So, what the hell have I been up to lately and is any of it remotely interesting? Well yes – I think…

Three weeks from now we'll be in the throws of Euro Militaire and so I've been working on a little something for the event in the form of a 1/35 StuG III. Based on Dragon's largely impressive 'Smart Kit', this model has allowed me the opportunity of building and painting a model 'for me' rather than being constrained by a deadline and as such, there has been the chance to try out some new ideas, more involved weathering techniques and even the sculpting of a few figures – it has, by and large, been enjoyable.

Last Friday I took the time to begin the painting process and so thought I would warm up by painting the gun barrel and mantlet. After spraying on some basic shades, I went for the weathering materials in earnest and so applied washes, paint chips, muck and bullets until I was satisfied with the results. A problem soon manifested itself in me being far from satisfied and so I ended up respraying the damn thing and starting over – after almost and afternoon of work and levels of frustration more often seen in my one year old nephew. Not good and after the problems that I'd had with the Hetzer, more than a problem given my now faltering levels of confidence…

This really goes to show that even when you think you've got a handle on this hobby, it can sometimes bite you on the ass. Here I was, blissfully unaware of the pitfalls that lay before me. Why don't you try something new I asked myself and then wondered after several long hours of unsatisfactory work, why the whole thing looked so terrible. So much for being clever! There's much to be said for the comfort zone – a place I intend spending some considerable time after last Friday's horrors…

Click on any of the images for a bigger view.