HoolioPaulio

So I began etching the roof tile detail on some 1mm plasticard. I should have enough at the top to miss out the squiffy line across the bottom That's the small roof finished, just need to do the same for the main roof on the big sheet 😐 Oh, and I have started to get regimental colours on the horses

We're all also helping out with scenery for the table. I began construction of a farmhouse on Thursday Then today I finished the roof off, which is removable. You can see in the foreground my test to make sure the filler stuck securely to the cardboard, which it seems to have.

I started this kit in 2021, and last made any progress in Jan 2022!! I didn't realise it had been that long. I need to pick it back up again, but I shall be watching your build for now. What you've done so far looks incredible, nice work.

Been a while, lots going on so little time for painting, then I made more work for myself. I initially painted the leather work black (well off black), but I wasn't happy. Too much contrast on the Palomino, and none on the Bays against the black hair. So I mixed up some brown instead, which in hindsight was too light, but when painted over the black made the perfect colour. So I had to paint all 8 Bays black first, then go over with the brown. Happy though, the colour looks very good compared to my daughters riding tack.

So I decided to treat myself to a proper wet palette as my home made one wasn't great, after a couple of days too much water had leeched through and made the paint very runny. That and a fresh cutting mat which is always nice I forgot to photo the first wave of primer, but after a round of sanding and re-priming I have the following There is a faint horizontal line still remaining across the middle of his torso and biceps (if you can call them that ). This was very visible to the naked eye, but now only visible on close up photos so I'm happy with it and won't risk anymore sanding. Its had a coat of white primer now as I want the colours to 'pop' a little, he is primarily a comic book character after all. But I hope to do some shading etc to give it depth in the creases etc. Unsure as yet what colour to do his shoes. I was going to go with off-white, like white trainers that have got grubby over time. Still thinking on that one.

Really enjoying these little 75mm figures. Next up to the table is this one I'm painting for my eldest daughter, who is obsessed with Tom Holland. It was listed on Ebay as "Handsome Boy" Stock picture from the listing Printed in one solid piece for the figure, and a separate base, it looks pretty nice with minimal tidy up required One of the backpack strap ends has snapped off, but it was still in the packaging. Its about 5mm long and I'm not hopeful of getting it to stay attached if I glue it, but I'll try once I've washed, primed, and sanded any nubbins off. See how it goes.

Calling this one done. Not perfect on camera, but looks pretty decent to the naked eye.

Another minor update, getting the face and gloves done. A couple more coats needed on the gloves

Love this model, I have the same one in my ever growing stash. I had this shape (though mine wasn't a turbo, but previous owner had fitted turbo body kit, and it was a 4-door) so I'm toying with the idea of turning it into a road version. the same colour as mine. I miss that car every day, even if it was a little rough around the edges. Best drive I've ever had.

Put 2 layers of flesh colour on now, needs at least one more though I think Had to take the pin out of her foot though, and hand hold for painting. Developed a split up the side of her shoe...

Probably not now. I thought about adding some glitter effect, I was in two minds. I eventually decided that in the film its a pink dress that's glittery for her opening number, but normally she just wears a red dress. Part of me does wish I added an iridescent top layer for a bit of sparkle, but its too late now as I'd ideally need to airbrush it.

I remember when this build started, I immediately fell in love with the Scania T134H kit and its been on my wishlist ever since. I will pick one up eventually, but the only mods I'll be doing is a different colour, nothing as awesome this. Your scratch building is mainly what pushed me to eventually try it recently, and I made a nice little 1940's microphone for my Jessica Rabbit figure. It was only 5 pieces though. This is another amazing build, and the weathering is sooo good. Well done my friend, I love it.

Hair is done.

I can only add to what others have said pretty much. First off, I second getting a box of plastic spoons, not only to practice technique but good for testing colour and paint combos. I mainly use Vallejo, either Model Air thinned a smidge or Model Colour thinned maybe 50/50. I thin with water, and as someone else has said use Vallejo Airbrush Flow Improver in small quantities. I've read adding too much could mean it takes days just to dry, then it has to cure. Currently I use Ultimate primer in various colours. Vallejo sticks very well to it and no odd reactions as yet. I liked it slightly better than Vallejo's own primers. As for airbrushing I'm using a H&S Ultra with a 0.4mm nozzle. I used run somewhere in 15-18 psi range (not sure how accurate my gauge is tbh), but I'm not moving towards thinning the Model Air a bit more, and lowering the psi a little. I'm still learning. Most important tip with Vallejo I reckon is to make sure you add flow improver, especially if thinning (water works perfectly well but I use Vallejo Airbrush thinner). Thinning them will cause tip dry quicker than usual, and Vallejo is quick enough out of the bottle for that already. I also keep a bit of kitchen roll with a few blobs of airbrush cleaner on it to wipe the airbrush tip regularly if spraying for a long period, I try to pre-empt any issues from tip dry. Also I have an old pair of tights in my drawer (the wife's, not mine lol) and I cut a square out and stretch it across the top of the bottle the push the dropper nozzle back in to secure. Not sure why, but I've found mainly with darker colours and the metallics they can sometimes develop blobs that quickly block the AB nozzle. I also drop a 6mm glass ball into each bottle to help with mixing the Model Air, and any of my thinned mixes (Model Colour will not need this). I get them from Ebay in bags of 50. As others have said, get some plastic spoons or an old model to use as a mule and start shooting. Make a note of settings and see what happens when you thin more, raise or lower psi etc. I find the best way to learn what works for me is to just experiment, and make mistakes on junk so I can see what can and does go wrong, and get a feel for when it goes right. I'd say the flow improver and tip dry warning are the only universal tips to follow with Vallejo. For everything else, you can use others advice as a starting point but depending on your airbrushing style, and equipment, you'll most certainly need to fine tune it to you. Finally, and this applies to any gear/paint setup, keep your airbrush clean. As clean as you can. From what I've read, and my limited experience, Vallejo acrylics seem to be more susceptible to issues when you don't keep everything clean. I've found Vallejo very good for a colour change, just run a full cup of Airbrush Cleaner through it (Vallejo just needs 50/50 cleaner and water for this), and I've never had an issue spraying the next colour. But obviously I avoid spraying white after black etc. Once finished, I strip the airbrush down and soak the nozzle in a little pot of neat AB Cleaner for an hour or so, then rinse with clean water. Clean the AB body under the tap before anything dries inside. Paul

So I made a wet palette, mixed up black with a smidge of brown so its not 100% black and began the mane/feet detail on the Bays. Got 2 of them done, but they might want a second coat on the manes, and one of the socks needs the blending fixing

Minor update, painting over the Microscale gloss was fine on the test piece, so I have begun putting anything not dress or shoes back to a white base.

Well I always covered the clears with Microscale gloss to protect them, and that never had issues. And I'm pretty sure I've painted over Microscale before, but now you got me thinking. Might do a quick spoon test...

Dress done. First was Ultimate pink primer Then came Vallejo light red, leaves it looking a bit orange Then Tamiya clear red, to give it some shine Just needs a final gloss coat to protect it, then its brushes from here on.

I love this, the detail is amazing in the muscle definition. If my figures are only half as good as this I'll be happy. Its nice to watch your full process, as I'm very in-experienced with my figure painting.

This is some fine work sir, and as others have said the goggles look ace.

One finished microphone

So I finished the 'cable' for the mic, not glued in yet so I can paint the mic alu/steel, and the cable black.

I wasn't happy with the colour of the Bay horses. So I mixed up some new paint darker with a smidge of red. I'm a lot happier with the colour on the right

Thanks. So today has been some stress, but we'll come to that. Last night Mrs. Rabbit had a layer of primer added, then I remember to fill in the air bubble in the hair right on top of her head. Not happy about the horizontal lines, but I know I will ruin the dress texture and make it worse if I try to remove it, so unfortunately they are staying. Todays stress was making the microphone. I started the day with a trip to my LHS to start my collection of plasticard strips, then I made somewhere to keep them in a gap for spare cardboard Then I began fabricating the bracket to hold the mic to the stem. I cut a small piece off the internal chassis of an old PS4 controller I had previously stripped down for another project, as it was roughly the right shape. After a lot of careful sanding and pin vice drilling (1mm and 0.5mm holes) I had this Did the job reasonably well. I was using this as a reference for making it. Then while repeatedly attempting to fabricate the mic out of 3mm square bar I eventually dropped the bracket while test fitting in the mic. Carpet monster claimed it and 20 minutes of searching yielded nothing. So I had to start again. After 3 unsuccessful attempts to recreate the part the same way I eventually used a 1.5mm strip of plasticard and shaped a new bracket which turned out way better than the lost one in the end. By this point though I had long forgotten about taking progress pics, so here is the (almost) finished mic. Needs the top sanding, as I had drilled out the top of it, and the 0.5mm hole is for the power cable that goes into the bottom of the bracket which is some 0.mm wire. The base is the top of a button from the PS4 controller, and 1mm plasticard rod. Its a very basic representation of a 1940's mic, but I lack the skills to make it any more detailed (I wanted more horizontal grooves, and some across the top). This has taken me most of the day as it is.

So the Brigade Commanders Palomino had its mane/tail painted in a very pale yellow (probably more like off-white), and a sock and stocking added. Never blended colours before, looks reasonable in real life, a bit ropey on close up photos. I'm happy enough for now.