A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: AVOIDING THE COMFORT ZONE…

27th September 2025

As you may or may not know, I’m currently completing a new model. Though I’m sure many of you are bored of my vague references to it over the last few months or so, it’s being done for an upcoming show, so I’m keen for it to be brand-new and not seen before.

Anyway, I digress…

Today, I’ve been weathering the surface of the model. I actually started it yesterday, applying a few washes to the panel lines which in all honesty were only marginally successful. I have a clear idea of how I want this model to look and yesterday, it looked nothing like the image in my mind. So I left it alone, went out for a pint and few hours watching football.

With time running out, I decided not to go to the Coventry City game today, waved Liz off and settled down for a fun day of trying to get the thing to a point that I was happy with. Eight hours later, I think I might be somewhere close.

The main problem was the depth of the panel lines and the difficulty that I had getting a wash to stay in them. This was then exacerbated by the large areas of plain colour that needed to be broken up to create interest. The model looked nice enough, but not that interesting if you catch my drift.

What it needed was for me to step away from my comfort zone and work ideas into my build that I’d used on other models: random washes, highlighted panels and then the use of carefully applied oil paints that would further break up the finish. Looking at it now, I think I may be past that bland look that I had last night into a place where the model is now looking a little more pleasing and a little closer to other models in my collection.

I’d become so bogged down with the idea of trying to capture the look of the real machine that I was struggling to create a miniature that could be read by a viewer and that will be important when it’s on display in a few weeks time. Only time will tell if the model is well-received, but at least I will be happy that it is where I want it to be, rather than feeling I hadn’t taken it far enough and like I have in the past, taken the easy route to completion, when stepping out of my comfort zone would have been a far better option.

See you tomorrow.