Día de Muertos

The day of the dead is a big deal here in Tucson and my wife has always wanted a decorated "sugar Skull.  I found this resin replica and decorated it up for her.  Just have to deliver it to the UK with me in tow.  Probably in January.

Hope you like.

Snitchy sends.

Green stuff added to the vanguard.

Don't mind the mess.  Thats it for now!
Snitchy sends. 

Still Stuck in Arizona. Doing a bit of "work"!

As the title suggests, I am still here until at least January.  That means that I have time to kill.  So being a sadomasochist I found a Warmachine Vanguard on eBay.  I only have one and have conveniently forgotten what a pain they are to assemble.  I really hate the same pose so I had to to some conversion work to get it ready. 
I did some major pinning using both 20 guage brass wire and some coat hangers.  I cut out major pistons and replaced them with the hanger to get this reposition.   Green stuff will be added later.
Hope you like.

 Snitchy sends. 

Transporting the Galleon

With such a large model, I needed a transport case that would keep it safe, and be relatively handy.   I paid $25.00 at a sports store for a four pistol carrying case from Plano.  If you look around in the winter, you can find them under $20.00 at wallymart (hunting season).  The middle foam is cell cut so you can pull out the pieces you need.  Once that is done, I carefully cut the top and bottom foam to accommodate the base (since I did not want the corn stalks damaged).  Hope you like. 

Snitchy sends.

Pallets

A while ago I said I would post an article on how to do pallets. 

First I cut wood coffee stirrers and match sticks.  They are cut to the same length.  1 1/2 inches.

 Then I glue down the two outside internal supports (matchsticks) to the outside edge of a coffee stirrer.  The second coffee stirrer is used to support the matchsticks and are not glued.

 I then glue in the middle support.  Note I did not measure in any way. 

 Then I turn the set pallet base over and glue another coffee stirrer to the other edge of the top and I add another strip roughly in the middle of the supports. 

I then add the next two strips to finish the top of the pallet.

 When set I turn it over and glue the three bottom boards. 

When completed, arrange them in an interesting stack and glue them in place. 

   I usually make about twenty at a time so I have parts drying the whole time that I am working.  Hope you like.  

Snitchy sends.

A little something that I have been working on.

At this time almost all of my tools, paints, and supplies have already shipped.  Saying that, I picked up the Galleon to take it with, and could not leave it alone.  I had to purchase paints and tools as I went.  It came out OK.  For the base, I wanted to do something different than the Galleon rolling in from the sea, so mine is hiding in the corn field.  Hope you like.

 Snitchy sends.

Another update

Stuck here grinding my wheels. I have been working on my house for six months.  My wife has been applying for any position that she can.  Unfortunately the house is not even up on the market yet, and she has only found a position that is well below her skill level.  Now for the bad news.  She has to be making 18,500 pounds a year for six months before we can apply for my visa to immigrate over.  The other bad news (that was not initially clear from the information that we had) is that we are also required to have 16,000 pounds in the bank for six months prior to applying for the visa.  Good news is that the house is almost done.  I should have it on the market by July.  Unfortunately I am looking at seven to twelve months wait before I can work on terrain again.  I am painting again so I will post images soon.
Snitchy sends.