On the Workbench: The Green Angels, Part III

Just a quick update on the Green Angels for you all!

I started applying decals today, which is something I've been dreading. Today I confirmed something that I've long suspected: I really don't like applying decals. Yes they make the model pop, but I've found that my patience really wasn't up to it today. But I chugged along anyway as best I could.

I didn't help that I was having issues with some of the decals. I think my Navy decals are too old or something, because they kept splitting in two. After three tries I decided to go on without them. Unless I can find replacements (it took me forever to find the sheet that I ended up getting) I think they might go without. But I think it might be okay.

I do have to say that the decals look really nice! I picked up a few sets of 1/144 scale MARK 1 brand USAAF insignia and number decals for this project. So far I just have these two X-Wings done and I'll get to the other two later this evening.   

Throwback Thursday: Gruß vom Krampus!

NOTE: This blog post was originally posted on December 5, 2013. I'd meant to paint a new Krampus figure but my schedule has been insane lately and that unfortunately didn't happen. Since it's also Thursday, however, I figured this would make an appropriate Throwback Thursday post.

Saint Nicholas and his traveling companion, Krampus, have been fixtures of Alpine and Germanic traditions for centuries. The two of them are said to travel the land on the night of December 5 (the eve of Saint Nicholas Day) to respectively reward and punish children. Like his Americanized offshoot Santa Claus, Nicholas gives gifts and presents those kids who have been all year. Bad children, however, are punished by Krampus. Think of him as the "bad cop" to Saint Nicholas' "good cop."

These punishments vary by tradition. In some, Krampus gives naughty children coal or swats them with a bundle of birch sticks. More sinister traditions, however, say that he kidnaps them and takes them back to his lair.

So in the spirit of this holiday tradition, I present to you Krampus!

This Krampus figure was produced by Reaper Miniatures (who seem to make anything and everything under the sun in 28mm scale). I painted this guy up in about an hour while I was taking a break from my final projects.

Gruß vom Krampus!

The Ranger is on Instagram!

I’ve started an Instagram page! If you’re on the platform and want to see more day-to-day miniature stuff, please give me a follow. You can find me @ranger_miniatures.

Thanks folks! I look forward to seeing you on Instagram. 

On the Workbench: The Green Angels, Part II

 Made some progress on the Green Angels today! As I’ve said in previous posts, they’re based off of  a photo of an F4U Corsair from NAS Los Alamitos in Southern California. 

I opted to paint the engine intakes orange because I thought it’d look a tad cleaner. They were then given an orange wash, while the rest of the ship was given a light grey wash. I’d intended to panel line the model but realized that it might be a bit much at that scale.

Then I realized that I hadn’t applied the decals. I’d been intending to apply them before washing or weathering the ship, but I think I can still make it work. I’m going to apply some gloss varnish before applying them and call it good.

The decals themselves are a mixture of 1/144 and 1/350 scale sets. They’re going to be the next step of this project.

Out of the Ashes: Eagle and Empire Reopens!

After 38 days of being closed following a six-alarm fire in the Belle View Shopping Center, Eagle and Empire has reopened! Northern Virginia area gamers and hobbyists rejoice! It’s been fully stocked and is ready for both it’s Grand Reopening and Small Business Saturday. 

Courtesy of the Eagle and Empire Facebook page.

Many thanks to all who have helped my FLGS and the shopping center’s other affected businesses during this tough time. The Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce and Belle View Merchants Association raised a total of $7,110 and the Eagle and Empire GoFundMe raised $3,400. That's a grand total of $10,510!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to make a list for my next run to Eagle and Empire!

DECEMBER 8, 2019 UPDATE 

I was in the shop today for the first time since it’s reopened and got to chatting with the owner. Apparently about half of the impacted businesses are still closed; he had pretty good insurance and was able to reopen quickly by comparison. Hopefully everyone will recover sooner rather than later. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you have a wonderful day!

On the Workbench: The Green Angels, Part I

Just just a quick update from the workbench! 

The new Green Angels squadron is progressing nicely. Just sprayed them with a gloss varnish and I think they look even better than before. Once everything’s dry it’ll be time to move on to decals and weathering. Because of my busy schedule it’s taking me a lot longer to finish these than I’d like, but I feel like I’m making steady progress overall.