Detailing the Eagle

Now that the model is stripped & clean, I want to add some extra detail before re-assembling it. I'm not aiming to replicate the actual TV models precisely - I just want to give a general impression, and make some of the blank areas of the model a little more interesting.

I have used an assortment of old electronics bits from a dead radio circuit board, plus innumerable plasticard scraps of various thicknesses, and the odd bit of wire or guitar string. All have been stuck in place using superglue (cyanoacrylate).


The spine receives a pair of resistors (?) which look suitably like cryogenic tanks, and an array of plasticard pieces.

The port stern walkway side receives a small shelf with an assortment of plasticard scraps. The TV Eagles all had these small shelves inside the surrounding framework. I could have added a lot more detail here, but as they will be partially hidden inside the surrounding framework, I decided that this will do.

Forward port walkway side - plasticard and bits of wire.

Forward starboard walkway side - plasticard, guitar string. The semicircular piece was one of several hole-punched from a sheet of thin plasticard. Some were used whole, others were cut in half.

Stern starboard walkway side - plasticard, wire.

The detailing complete. Now for painting...

The Eagle progresses...

Paint stripping on the metal parts of my Eagle is now complete - here are all the bits cleaned up and laid out ready for the next stage. Mould lines have been filed away, and any rough bits smoothed with some fine grade wet & dry. After the paint stripping, the whole model (including all plastic parts) has been scrubbed in warm water with washing up liquid and an old toothbrush to make sure that it is thoroughly de-greased and all traces of paint stripper have been removed.

Here is the beaky command module. The fitting was slightly loose, so some superglue has been run around the back to fix it more firmly to the walkway connecting section.

Trial assembly to make sure that all the bits fit together cleanly.

Next... on to superdetailing the model!

DLD Kamodo AFVs

A pair of very nice Kamodo Armoured Fighting Vehicles from DLD (plus GZG NAC marine for scale). Both have been assembled with superglue, apart from the wheels. These were attached using araldite epoxy resin, so that they could be adjusted slightly to ensure they are all level and the vehicle doesn't wobble. Small cardboard spacers were inserted above each wheel while the glue set, and removed afterwards so that the tyre isn't resting directly against the top of the wheel arch.

These are almost finished - they just need some stowage added, plus a commander figure in the hatch of the IFV (left unpainted at present to provide better purchase for the glue).

They are being painted in a standard UK temperate camo scheme - Humbrol matt75 bronze green, over which black stripes will be added.

Marines storm building

"Entry team in position, waiting for go signal..."



"Blast doors open, assault team moving inside..."

Some of my GZG marines assaulting my garage building made of Hirst Arts sci-fi blocks. The top of the doorway lift off so that you can remove the blast doors as required. In this case, they are entering through the airlock at the side of the building. More pics to come when the structure is completed!

Grumpy's Shack update

Grumpy the colonist is slightly less grumpy today as he proudly shows off the latest additions to his grotty shack.

First, we have the lovely rusty fence which now surrounds the outbuilding where he intends to conduct his zombie experiments...

It even has an opening gate - a must for quick getaways when experiments go awry!

Here are the ammo crates where Grumpy stores the "Zombie killer" rounds for his autorifle.

Here are the drums of toxic bioplasm which Grumpy uses in his experiments. Hmm... should they really be leaking like that..?

The fence is plastic mesh that I got in a model railway shop many years ago. It's had a coat of black acrylic, followed by patches of brown and terracotta for the rusty effect, and finally a drybrush of GW chainmail.

Oil drums (resin) and ammo boxes (white metal) from Continental Model Supply Company.

GZG Fast Recon

My NAC Marines obviously need some sort of reconnaisance elements. I have a light gunsled, but I fancied something else for a little variety.


When I spotted the Slammers infantry on skimmers (SG15-HS3) in the GZG catalogue, I decided to add a pack to my order to see what they were like. They're great! You get 4 one-piece castings of skimmer & rider. All 4 are the same pose, but it would be pretty easy to do a headswap or two if desired. I've painted mine to match my NAC Marines. Although they aren't quite the same as the NAC troops, I can just use the excuse that these little chaps have lighweight recon armour and cut-down carbines instead of the standard-issue combat gear. When they're painted, you don't really notice the difference much anyway.

I've already got another pack ready to paint, and I may add a squad of dismounted slammers infantry to my next order too.

Badger

The BADGER is an old Matchbox "rollamatic" vehicle. All the Rollamatic vehicles had some feature which was activated by a a cog as the wheels turned. In this case, the radar dish on top rotates as the vehicle drives along. Matchbox produced several fictional army vehicles, some of which were loosely based on real vehicles (the "Weasel" scout car is a vague approximation of the British Fv700 series "Ferret" scout car). No two vehicles from this series are quite the same scale as each other, but this one looks especially good with 15mm figures.

This was from my childhood toy car collection. It originally came in a metallic brown colour, but had been repainted by my Dad in Humbrol matt brown with WWII allied white star roundels, giving it a more military appearance. It served with distinction alongside my 1/72 scale WWII figures for many years.

The rivets were drilled out, enabling me to disassemble the whole vehicle. The green plastic windows were given a good clean to remove any errant brown paint spots and decades of sticky fingerprints. Large amounts of carpet fluff were cut away from the axles (which were also straightened with a pair of pliers where necessary), and the body shell was cleaned back to the bare metal with paint stripper & an old toothbrush.

Painting used Humbrol matt enamels. All the metal parts received a base/undercoat of 33 Black followed by a very heavy drybrush of 29 Dark Earth. A splotched camo pattern of 27 Sea Grey and 86 Light Olive was drybrushed over this, then the vehicle was reassembled with a spot of araldite epoxy resin and ready for action!

It now acts as a command or patrol vehicle for my NAC Marines.