Next model is this Samurai figure I got at Telford this year. The best thing about it is that if I make a total "pigs ear" of the face, it has a mask I could cover up the face with and just paint it gold.

This was found at Telford and will be a speed build ( or as its called in the modelling world "A Dave Smith" ) for next months competition.
The original Graf Zeppelin was built, but not used by the Germans during WW2. Left to rot during the last years of the war she was then sunk to avoid capture by the Russians at the end of the war. The Russians raised her but decided she was in such a bad condition she was expended as a target in 1947.
This is a "what if" model -- if she was in a good state when the Russians raised her and she was then overhauled to bring her back into a full fighting ship. She will have her 8 x 15cm guns in casements removed from the hull -- fully enclosed bow with extended flight deck -- new planes for the deck -- and anything else I think about during the build.
Started yesterday afternoon - photos show the casements on the ships side for the 15cm guns before  removal.

Another batch of zombie fingers made for tonight - just to prove its NOT JUST YOU LOT I try to poison but all the kids in the neighbourhood as well.

Have coated the ground in front of the building with PVA glue and fastened tea leaves onto this -- all OK at the moment.
What do you think is the best thing to cover this with, to give it some strength and stop the leaves coming off as I work on the model ??   
My thought was give it a spray with Klear -- what do you think

Sorry for the late arrival of the photos but the web site has been down until now.

Found these in Croppers CHEAP - thought they would make Zak "The Rocket Man " happy as another model for his missile sig.
They are 1/72 scale with 4 sprue the same in the box.
One will be done as the instructions the next with a combined ladder/rocket launcher i found on the internet and the last one as Indian troops firing at Wellington before the Napoleonic Wars.  Before you ask yes I did say 4 sprue -- gave one to Zak so expect it will be finished by now as another great model.
Now off to sit in the garden with "she who must be obeyed" and start to remove some of the flash from the figures.

Well back in the modelling world after a week in London at RHS Wisley gardens and a few other bits and bobs. Took "she who must be obeyed" to York to see some friends from "down south" (yes Zak  I do have friends) and found this box of samurai in Monksbar models in the reduced section. Could not see on the box how many figures so checked with the staff and they had to open the box - the number is on the inside flap so you had to open the box to find out - for a change it was not me being daft and not seeing things.
Now for the funny bit - the models are not just any old samurai but all faithfully depicted from a film I have seen recently - The 47 Ronin .
If you are sitting comfortably I will tell you the story - if not interested OR you are going to watch the film -- skip to the photos.  In 1701 Lord Asano was ordered to commit suicide because he had attacked Kira in the Shogans palace, you could not even draw your sword let alone attack somebody in that place. Kira had told Asano "porky pies" to make him look stupid in front of the Shogan,  orders are orders so Lord Asano committed suicide,  this made his samurai into lowly RONIN    ( fighting men with no Lord to serve). Kira thought the ronin would attack him for what he had done so surrounded himself with lots of guards and protection, but they waited and waited and waited and after a year attacked Kira and cut off his head, placing it on their late Lord Asanos grave, as a mark of respect. Not a happy ending - even thou the Shogan respected and admired the ronin for what they had done - he ordered them to also commit suicide, orders are orders, so they all did, but knew they had fulfilled their role as samurai and avenged their Lords death.

First 2 photos show the box art and the next 2 the first figure with eyes and a first coat of paint on the face. Next some shading on the face and block colour in the uniform. Will bring it next meeting so Howard can show me what I have done wrong with the face

I built the Knaz Suverov see first photo many years ago BH ( Before Haddock showed me how to make ship models) and she is a sister ship of the Orel, all in the Borodino Class of Russian battleships.
I decided to make the Orel taking on coal but nobody seems to make a collier in 1/350 scale -- so i will make it from scratch.
Being away for 2 weeks took some bits and bobs to make a start on the collier. Second photo is the bridge parts and the enginroom top ( could not take superglue with me) so just made the parts and have fastened them together now i am home.
The main deck and three islands have now been fastened together ( the sharp eyed amongst you will find the that I had run out of 5mm solid bar and had to use 5mm tube and fill in the holes. )
Made some vents and pulley blocks (If Wizzel wants to find out how to make the small pulleys I will show some step by step photos)