It smells like… staplers!

With the Chanel gig completed, I’m looking to finish up a lot of other projects.  One is this group of four red Swinglines.  One is spoke for as a Christmas gift, but I figured it best to get them all done at the same time.  No sense in opening up a window to vent the airbrush booth in this frigid weather for just one piece.

During the past month I’ve been traveling like I have the money to afford it.  A week in Gettysburg (that I already covered) and three days at the yearly ReaderCon writer’s conference outside of Boston (that’s been covered so thoroughly on the ‘net that I won’t waste anyone’s time by recapping here).

Last weekend I nurtured my inner model builder and went to the IPMS National show in Virginia Beach.  It was my first Nationals, and I was mightily impressed.  The craftsmanship was amazing, some of the best models from kits and scratch-builds that I’ve ever seen.  I was stunned when the Weehawken took a silver medal in her category.  I was happy just to have my work on the table and seen with the other entries, but to win something was very gratifying.  I also spent a little money in the vendor room; picked up a big hunk of resin ironclad to keep Weehawken company on the shelf.

I’ve put some photos online here.  I apologize that some are a bit dark, I didn’t take time to correct the exposure on any of them (the ceilings were a bit high for my usual flash-bounce technique).

There’s a part of any model project where it finally starts to come together. With Weehawken it’s this red paint. All of the sanding and filling are done and now I’m applying color. This shot is of the first coat applied. Some of the raised hull plating detail that I created is barely visible in the photo; it’s hard to see even in person, but that’s how it should be. Weathering and detail washes will bring it out a bit.  I hate to admit it, but this is the second attempt at this red paint.  I totally boned the paint-to-thinner ratio the first time, and my airbrush decided to literally puke all over my hands.  I guess the next time someone asks me for advice on airbrushing I can leave that part out.

The deck hatches will be open on Weehawken, so I have to show something. Here’s a shot of some interior details: pipes with cut-off wheels, cabin doors, green watertight door, and a gray strong-door (probably used to lock up weapons, payroll, etc.).

And finally something that I just have to do over. The gun carriage is in good shape, wheels designed by Gary Kingzett, and one of them built by him. I built the other wheel and the carriage. My father and I turned the gun barrel on his lathe while I was home over the holidays, but MAN, we got the barrel too big. It looks like some of the phallic graffiti you see on the walls at Pompei. I’ve got some brass rod chucked in my Dremel tool. Hopefully that will allow me to turn a more in-scale barrel.

I needed a break from building the USS Weehawken, so I picked up this kit as a quick project. Word to the wise: If you’re looking for something quick to build, do not pick something with multiple wings, spindly landing gear, rigging, struts… you get the idea.

You can see more photos and read of a few of the issues I had with it here.