One Weeks Catch Up, Fun and Games

Gosh I cannot believe its the beginning of December and only a few weeks to Christmas and it has been a little busy here at Château PK what with one thing another.  Firstly I gave up smoking almost four weeks ago and I am feeling good for it but I have to admit I actually miss it. I hope that the feeling will go but it is a right pain in the arse for the time being. Secondly I am also diapathetic, which is like being a diabetic but being sad and useless over it, and I am off to the doctors tomorrow to be told off for being useless and I will die if I don't change my life style, will I have and I have had the worst results ever. Thirdly I really don't know why I am telling any of this as that's not what you read my blog for, so to the actual post.

Firstly, or is that fourthly? The Cover for the Montrose book is finished and I have to say I am rather pleased will the results of it. I strongly resisted adding green into the picture and adding plaids to him, the nearest was adding a bit of texture to the hat. But overall I really like the look of him and I am very pleased with the results.

Seondly, fifthly or whatever, there is a vehicle painting competition going on at the Very British Civil Forum where you;
1. Category: a single Vehicle (Air, Ground, Water) Self-propelled
2. In any scale
3. Suitable for the VBCW/SCW/2nd ACW Period
4. For any faction (or unaligned)
5. Basing….Up to you
6. With photos at the start (showing the unpainted model/kit you start off with), and final photos submitted at the end. WIP photo threads are encouraged.
7. Deadline for entries is midnight (GMT) Friday 25 Jan 2014, to be Judged by Poll later.

And what is really nice about the competition it that there is actually a prize which the wonderfully, lovely chap at Sloppy Jalopy are fronting up a prize for winner, a Interwar Vehicle. Now if you don't know Sloppy Jalopy check them out are they do some amazing vehicles and soon will be doing some cricketers and miners for VBCW. Feel free to come over the VBCF and join in the competition, its a great prize.

Anyway, enough of the advertising, I have decided to enter the competition with an Austin Type 3 Armoured Car from Sloppy Jalopy and it has been fun. I have finished assembling the vehicle and I have to say it was a dream. The instructions from Sloppy Jalopy where rather clear and the whole thing went together with minimal fuss. Now next is the undercoating which I am going to attempt today if the weather is fine, I have even washed the resin which is something I usually doing do. Here are some progress pictures.

Lastly I have another project on the boil too but this one is a little special and actually so English its should Law that every village in the land should have one. But more of that later.

The Partizan Show Freebie Figure

Some of you might remember me saying something about a being asked if they can make a figure of one of my illustrations well this evening I was emails some photos, Top Secret like of the green of the freebie figure for the Other Partizan show and I was shocked at what I saw. I opened the emails and saw the photos I realised that a dream of mine was fulfilled, that of seeing what of my illustrations realised as a sculpt.

Illustration of the Kelham Monk

Above is the original idea of the Kelham Monk, as appeared in the Guide to the Anglican League, a group of militant monks fighting with the Anglican League in and around Newark, based at Kelham Hall. Below is the sculpt created by Mark Sims of Crusader Miniatures and i have to say he has a wonderful job in being him to live. He has been sent to the mould maker and caster today and should be ready for the Other Partizan show on 2nd September as the freebie figure. 

I love the fact he has a covered Adrian Helmet and drawstrings on the waist, why did I think of that? I am so over the moon and please with this, you cant imagine my first figure of one of my illustrations. Hopefully it will be the first of many. 

Now there is a good reason for going to the show.

New Surprises from Sloppy Jalopy

Can you imagine my surprise at this email this morning from Tricks at Sloppy Jalopy with pictures of their new figures and very nice they look too, Yes there are for VBCW and the heads will be separate and in about 10 different variants so that although these are miner figures we will be able to produce dockers and all sorts of other workers as we go forward. They are not expecting to get the figures for 6 to 8 weeks but will let you know as and when I get the masters.These look like a very good addition to the range.