We Are Walking In The Air... ... ...

[Plopper]

OK I didn't know where else to put this! So it's here!

A bit of background first. A few years ago I started re-collecting the Action Men I had when I was a lad (I've got about 15 now) and I wanted to make a base to display them on. So started on a 1/12 scale diorama. Those two idea are what got me back in to model making about 3/4 years ago.

So from making that base I realised that I love to make scratch built things as much as kits, maybe even more! Every time I do try some scratch building it usually involves Miliput!!! And I always mix too much, so in stead of chucking it I'll shape it into something, wait for it to dry and place it in a bits draw and hope I can use it for something in the future.

As I am in between kits at the moment, I am about to start a solid week in work so won't have hardly any time to do anything after Friday. So thought that I'd do something from scratch with the bits I have.

I wanted to do something for my parents for Christmas, have lots of ball shaped pieces of Miliput, can anybody guess what I'm making?



Yes to anybody that said DEAD Snowman. No not really, I just drilled out the sockets for the coals.



I'm doing a 6 inch by 6 inch base with a simple fence on two sides and a crazy paving path in front.



That's the crazy paving from a pack of 5 sheets I got from somewhere I can't remember, can't even remember what scale they are in. All sprayed and painted/weathered ready to go in place.



Some Balsa wood for the fence, again painted and weathered ready..



That is supposed to be a Robin sitting next to the 1/48th scale pilot, it's TINY and looks more like the shape of a Duck!



And that is how I left the Snowman this evening when I came out of the shed!

I'm having FUN with this build!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Hey this is great!!!

[chops1sc]

"Do you want to build a snow maaaaan??"

[Plopper]

Thanx guys.

[Plopper]

Had my last day in the shed before a week of work!

Snowman is finished, I've changed the Robin a bit and I've started laying the snow down!

YAY.





I'm quite happy with the way he's turned out! Some mistakes and bits of rough painting but I'm pleased.



Looks more like a pigeon now!!! But more like a Robin than it did.



This was the other reason for me wanting to do a winter scene, I wanted to try some of this out to see what it's like. And it's very good, it goes down like any other kind of scatter you would use, the flakes are a bit big for what I wanted, but usable.

I may use the recipe I found on the net of baking soda, PVA and white paint to see how that looks, see how they compare, but on a test piece.



That's with a second layer sitting on top drying. I'll leave that as is until I can get back into the shed one evening in the week.



And that is how I left the shed tonight it's just about as messy as I get in there!!!

[Lee]

Sweet - That pilot is from the Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire kit isn't it?

[Plopper]

He sure is Lee. I've had him on that spike for months meaning to use him as a test piece. Just never seem to get around to finishing him.

[Plopper]

Well I've managed to get into the shed tonight, had to brave torrential rain to do so. Hehe.



That is with two layers on the ground, I want to redo parts to tie in the snow effect with the bare Milliput where the footsteps are a bit more and to blend in all around. Just one layer on the newly installed fence, going to build it up quite thick so that it looks like it's got a good 3 or 4 inches of snow! I'm going to try and make some icicles too!!!



That's me first bash at painting the Robin, I want to give him a wash yet to tone the colours down a bit, but I'm quite chuffed!



And there he is next to his old mate again! I don't know exactly where to put him yet though, maybe on the ground with some tiny Robin foot prints around him???

[Twokidsnosleep]

He could be a hobo beside a fire, warming his can of beans for dinner
Great dio, love the base

[privatepete]

Nice Idea Dave and to do something for your parents at Christmas even better,good on you.
Pete

[Plopper]

Thanx guys.

[Plopper]

He's finished! I'm very pleased with the way he turned out. And I've had a load of fun doing this fun little build.

[Johnj]

Exellent !

what did the first snowman say to the second snowman ?

[Plopper]

I don't know what did he say?

[Johnj]

Can you smell carrots !

[Johnj]

It was my daughter's

Of coarse she wants me to build her one now

[Twokidsnosleep]

Super job!!!
Love seeing something different like this

[privatepete]

Like it a lot and agree with Scott it's refreshing to see something different and original, great imagination
Pete

[Plopper]

It was my daughter's

Of coarse she wants me to build her one now

Please thank her for making me laugh

You should make one together, it's not difficult at all. I used Miliput, and twigs that was it. But it could just as easily be done with air dry clay.

Thanx for the kind words guys.

[Johnj]

It was my daughter's

Of coarse she wants me to build her one now

Please thank her for making me laugh

You should make one together, it's not difficult at all. I used Miliput, and twigs that was it. But it could just as easily be done with air dry clay.

Thanx for the kind words guys.

Hi dave, yeah, she's 14 now but when she was younger we would do the airfix shaun the sheep and wallace and grommit kits and she really enjoyed them. Were off to hobbycraft tonight for some supplies, i'll post the results good or bad. Thank you for the idea

[Plopper]

YAY, can't wait to see... ... ...

Ah! Hobbycraft my favourite shop.

[Plopper]

Well I'm well on my way to my FOURTH Snowman now. Well two completed and two well on the way to completion.

And as the person that is going to get the second one has no way of seeing this post!!! !!! !!!

I may as well add some pictures of it!



That's all the bits of the next two!



It's sitting on a 5" X 5" photo frame filled in with foam board and topped with home made snow effect.



Nice bit of Bakki in his pipe!



Body, head and scarf are all Miliput everything else is styrene.



Looking well dapper!

[privatepete]

He's certainly dose look dapper I think there brillant ,you must be Miliput best customer ,you could start a snowman SIG next year.
Pete

[Plopper]

He's certainly dose look dapper I think there brillant ,you must be Miliput best customer ,you could start a snowman SIG next year.
Pete

Thanx Pete.

Yeah! I love Miliput, I use it for everything from scratch building to seam filling.

That's not a bad idea, "Snowman SIG 2017".

[privatepete]

That's not a bad idea, "Snowman SIG 2017".

Hi I would sign up for it if you ever do one.
Pete

[Twokidsnosleep]

Top notch top hat!!!
He looks very professionally made

[exmoor]

Love it plopper merry xmas to you.

[Plopper]

Thanx guys, and a Merry Christmas to you too exmoor, it will be all the merrier with these little fellows too!

[chief5437]

These are brilliant! They look great. And that joke made me chuckle, nice one!

[Plopper]

Thanx guy.

RIGHT. I've finished and the people/person that may have seen something if I posted here has had her snowman, so I can now post pictures of the other Snowmen!!!



Early stages, just most of the Miliput bits done, extra fine white, so no need to paint!



Got his scarf on now!



All the Styrene parts painted up and clear coated!



Without any Styrene parts added!



And with!





That's the other one! All done!



And that makes four. I'm all done for this year now!!! Unless somebody else asks!!!

[Twokidsnosleep]

It just dawned on me the source for your title...one of my favorite winter animations.
The song is so haunting
Good stuff

[Plopper]

Hehe. I've never actually watched it I don't think!

[Relic]

It's nice to see a model that puts a smile on your dial.
They're cute.

[Plopper]

Thank You Sir.