Suit You, Sir!

Hi, All!

Bazalgette Light Armoured Perambulatory Contivance - ready for battle! ... almost...

I've been threatening to update my reports on the progress of the Bazalgette Light Armoured Perambulatory Contrivance for a while now, so as she's starting to look almost finished, I thought I ought to take a moment...

Lieutenant Boddington gets a little excited as the new terror takes shape

...there. That was nice...

Anyway, as you can see, I've made quite a bit of progress since my last report on this project.

Body detailing, gatling guns and pistons are added.

Details are painted. A fairly simple pallette of red, brass and black. Ink washes and drybrushing add depth and weathering.

Up-close and personal..

The BLAP-C now sports pistons in all the right places; guitar-string-conduits; many, many rivets (wait for it...); a twin gatling gun and somewhat detailed controls for the gunner and driver. All that remains is a mechanical right hand (still in planning) and glass canopies for the head and chest...

Leg details: pistons drive knees and ankles.

Guitar strings are added after painting. And a lot of rivets, of course!

This creation took something of a back seat while I worked on the Thomson Tank-Engines (see my "Weapons of Mass Delusion" page) - and I'm glad it did. Coming back to it a little at a time has definitely produced a good result. I was becoming impatient with this machine, and was in danger of rushing it. Walking away from your work can be a very good thing sometimes.

Boiler and chimney - before painting.

Boiler, access ladders, steam conduits, etc. after painting.

I was recently e-mailed by Nate, a fellow enthusiast. During our correspondence, I pointed out that no project ever ends up exactly as you imagined it would - you never really know what you've got until it's finished. This is definitely true in the case of the BLAP-C. I picked up a cheap, simple toy and thought, "Hmmm... This should be a nice quick, easy project..."

How wrong I was.

That said, I didn't expect to be as pleased with the result as I am (so far - touch wood!).

The driver - comfortable and in control, but no doubt wondering when his bullet-proof glass canopy will be installed.

In theory (note the disclaimer - very similar in context to the preface, "Allegedly...") there is not a lot left to do. I need to build the right hand, glass-in the chest and head, and detail the base. British markings, etc. will be added here and there.

Cockpit details. I was in danger of skimping here. Glad I took time out.

Green knobs on the levers contrast with the rest of the colour scheme.

Soon to be closed-in forever...

Other than that, she's more or less complete. Which is a nice feeling.

I started this blog just over a year ago, mostly featuring Leadwood, my Wild West town. Back then, I figured I would largely be sharing insights, tips and techniques regarding terrain-building. Hmmm... Let's take a look at recent work...

HMSW Gargantua
The Faraday Galvanic Field Gun (and Big Mike)
The Thomson Tank-Engines
The Bazalgette Light Armoured Perambulatory Contrivace

Maybe it's time I made some terrain for a bit? After all, my awesome British Victorian Sci-Fi army doesn't actually have a battlefield right now.

Wouldn't want to disappoint the lads, eh what?

Not a knees-ey photograph to take...

Oh yes, almost forgot... Rivet Count so far: 414!
 
More on the Bazalgette blah blah blah soon!

All the Best!

Good Sense Prevails

Hi, All!

Thomson Tank-Engines. Armoured and ready.

I was surprised at the response my latest creations received both here and on various wargaming forums... Not many comments at all, and mostly positive.

"Hmmm," thunk I, "Should I be reading between the lines here...?"

Both Tank-Engines with armoured boilers. I may make other variations such as rams, minesweepers, etc.

So, read between the lines I did... And concluded that perhaps my Tank-Engines ought to be a little less comic and a little more, well, wargamey.

The result was that in a moment of madness, I sliced their faces off.

"Lord Thomson" with even more rivets! What a joy to behold!

It then occurred to me that I could have the best of both worlds - unbelievable silliness and, um, believable silliness. If I were to make new fronts for the engines on metal washers, I could magnetise them to make them removable.

Magnetised fronts are now interchageable.

 Hey presto! Interchangeable faces!

The work took about two hours and added a further 46 rivets to each vehicle, bringing their totals to 485 each! (Yes, that's 970 all up. Cool, huh?)

"Sir Percival"

I now consider the boilers to be armoured. Let's see if the Prussians dare...

Meanwhile, the Bazalgette Light Armoured Perambulatory Contrivance is close to completion. The first coat of paint has gone on and her rivet count is up to 414! More on that soon...

Keep watching, folks!

Two Thomson Tank-Engines flank the Faraday Galvanic Field Gun (and Big Mike)

All the Best!

Some Really Useful Engines

Hi, All!

The "Lord Thomson" and the "Sir Percival"...

In the summer of 1867, the renowned engineer, poet, cricket captain and pig wrestler, Sir Rupert Wombly-Paddinton IV unveiled to Her Majesty's War Office his newest and most terrifying creations, the 'Lord Thomson' and 'Sir Percival' - two steam-driven tanks of the most advanced and up-to-the-minute design. Each was armed with a compact and deadly turret-mounted Mark II Faraday Cannon and twin side-mounted anti-infantry flux projectors. Each had iron tracks that would enable them to steam across the most difficult of terrain in pursuit of Her Majesty's foes. But most devious of all, each bore a hideous, grimacing face that would strike fear into the hearts of even the most savage heathens Her Majesty's forces might ever encounter...

OK - I'm sorry. I had to. I mean I really had to. Tanks? Engines? Tank Engines? Someone was going to do it one day...

The 'Lord Thomson'...

I had this idea years ago, and it wouldn't leave me alone. So I thought, "What the hell..."

Ignoring the faces for a moment, I am really pleased with the way these have turned out. The Faraday guns are adapted from my earlier design and once again, the guitar-string conduits really finish them off nicely. By cutting the lengths of string to exactly the same length, it was pretty easy to achieve a nice uniform curve throughout. And the copper paint contrasts well with the dichroic reflector of the halogen lamp...

The 'Sir Percival'...

These guys are pretty much finished now. I'd like to add some badges, numbers, boiler plates, etc. but otherwise they are done. I'm still playing with the idea of adding tenders. Not sure...

Rear gantry. I finally ran out of plastic rod while finishing these...

I added rear gantries to help the Victorian steam-train appearance. These actually sit way too close to the ground and would snap off if the vehicle went up a steep bank, but never mind. I can suspend disbelief if you can...

Rear gantries again. A little low, but what the heck...

So there you go: another slightly ridiculous project out of the way.

Rivet Count: 439. EACH! (That's 878, folks...)

Meanwhile, work steams ahead on the Bazalgette Light Armoured Perambulatory Contrivance...

Stomping to a battlefield near you... Soon!

 
 ...more on that soon!

Lord Thomson the Engine-Tank rolled into the Sudan...

 All the Best!

What's Green and Dangerous...?

Hi, All!

Steam tank - still in training...

I am happy to report that the steam tank has come along nicely today and shouldn't take too long to finish now. After an epic session of rivets and glue, the first coats of paint went on this afternoon.

Rivets are added. Lots of 'em!

Obviously, there is still a fair bit of detailing to do, but it's surprising how fast these things can come together when you have a ready supply of coffee. I even managed to get the housework done by cutting one hundred rivets at a time, gluing them on, then performing a domestic task, and so on...

Undercoat and first coats of colour go on... This is where you say to yourself, "Oh God! It looks terrible!"

I plan to add a gantry to the rear of the tank, in preparation for which, I have to paint the tank first. I won't be able to get a paint brush in there after the gantry goes on. I am still playing with the idea of coupling gear to pull tenders/carriages.

Faraday Flux Projector detail. Nice and bright!

I decided to continue in the somewhat gaudy style I began with the Faraday Galvanic Field Gun... Bright metallic colours contrasting strongly with bold green and the dichroic reflector of the MR11 lamp. No camouflage or khaki here, by Harry! Let the blighters see what they're in for, eh what!?

Rear hatch - a gantry will soon be added.

I'm also considering making alternative weapon variants, as the turret is removable. Maybe a Hotchkiss gun? Steam-pressure rocket launchers? Who knows?

Anyway, for those who care, the rivet-count for this one currently stands at 419. With a few still to go, I daresay. In my next session, I'll be working on the rear gantry, finishing the painting and adding details such as regimental markings, a flag, and (of course) wiggly bits of guitar strings!

That's all for tonight! More soon...

Absolutely First Class armoured transport!

All the Best!

Starting to feel a little familiar...

Hi, All!

Steam tank - looking a bit rivety now...

Work continues on both the steam tank and the Bazalgette Light Armoured Perambulatory Contrivance (BLAP-C), with both now in the detailing stages.

BLAP-C, hobbling along at the moment...

The steam tank now sports Faraday Flux Projector side armaments and a few other new details since my last post, as well as, you guessed it... rivets! Lots of 'em. Given that I haven't spent a lot of time on this model this week, it's coming together quite quickly.

Many rivets and a Faraday Flux Projector now adorn the side of the tank.

Closeup of the Faraday Flux Projector. Should look pretty cool when it's painted.

The Faraday Flux Projectors were thrown together using drawing pins and small beads. They are mounted on plastic rod, large beads and cogs from a correction tape spool. The combination of cogs and sci-fi should be sufficiently convincing when they are painted.

Rear hatch with lock. A gantry will be fitted later.

I plan to build a back gantry behind the tank, along the lines of the end of a Victorian train carriage. The big rear hatch has (of course) a trundley-trundley-clunk locking mechanism. It's the law. So does the turret hatch, while the turret itself is now mounted on a big cog for a more VSF feel.

Details are added to the turret. A flagpole will eventually reside in the upright bracket. The turret itself is now mounted on a big cog.

So far then, 193 rivets. With many more to come.

In the case of the BLAP-C, I have applied 88 rivets so far. I need to do a bit of work with green stuff (grrr!) before I can finish the cabin, so I've been putting it off. But have no fear! It will be finished! I swear! Often!

Bazalgette Light Armoured Perambulatory Contrivance... now with rivets!

So there you go. A lot of rivets still to go but I can see light at the end of the tunnel... Which is great, as I have a couple of new vehicles planned that I'd really like to make a start on soon!

"Chuffity, chuffity, chuffity... ZZAAAPP!" went the little train...

All the Best!