Friday, February 22, 2019

My secret new project revealed! Big scale, big ambitions

I've been busy since I became a full-time modeller a few weeks back, and I can finally reveal my plans to you now that I have at least one completed project to show you. I've finished my first new scratch build, and it's big in a number of ways: big scale (1/20) and big plans ahead.





The new build is a miniature urban artwork of a building in my local area, the Yarraville Racing Pigeon Homing Club. I've spent three weeks scratch building this, and the finished result is about 40cm wide.

My plan is to try to complete a number of similar large scale miniatures of buildings and locations that I love in Melbourne, the city I live in. After a few months, I'm hoping to hold an art exhibition and showcase my work in person.

It's still early days, but it's very exciting to have embarked on this crazy plan. I'm loving the building process - it's great to feel a real sense of my modelling mojo set to full steam ahead!

I've also started a new Instagram page to highlight my artworks - you can see them @davidhouriganartist

Of course, Dave's Model Workshop will continue as it always has - I'm not going anywhere. I'll still continue to produce content around scale model kits and dioramas. This second outlet is more about artworks for sale rather than commercially available kits for the modelling hobby.

It's all happening!

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
My new project finally revealed: Scratch built large scale diorama

Cheers,

Dave



Friday, February 15, 2019

New video: What do you do with all your built models?

Yesterday I bought a model that has already been built. It was for sale by a widow, who was getting rid of the scale models her husband had made while he was still alive. It got me thinking about what the hell will happen to all of the models that we build - more specifically, it got me wondering what will happen to all of my built models when I shuffle off?





It's easy enough to sell off your stash of unbuilt model kits if you need to. But getting rid of built models? Not so easy.

The model I bought, a 1/350 Tamiya King George V battleship, is in pretty poor shape. The guy who built it was no master of his craft, but that's what tempted me, I plan to (some day) try to resurrect it, to take the basic structure and improve upon it and make something special. It's a form of recycling - rather than seeing this end up in landfill, which I suspect was the alternative.

Anyway, I'm very interested to hear from you guys as to what you actually do with all your built models, and what you ultimately plan to see happen to them. It's a slightly morbid, but fascinating, aspect to our hobby that I've not really considered before.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
What do you do with your built scale models?

Cheers,

Dave



Saturday, February 2, 2019

Exclusive video for MOD Squad members - a behind-the-scenes tour of Dave's Model Workshop

I've just released a special behind-the-scenes video touring my workshop area, which is going to be released exclusively for members of The MOD Squad, my supporters on Patreon. So aside from getting a 10% discount at a number of hobby suppliers, you also get some content that will never be released to the general public.


There's no link or embedded video today - the link is only visible to supporters on my Patreon page.


If you're already a member - this is one more small way to say thank you for your support. It helps me to build Dave's Model Workshop into something greater.

If you're not already a member - please consider it. For 3 bucks a month you get a lot of benefits. Here's my Patreon page if you want to check it out in more detail. I want this to be a two way street, if you support me you get tangible benefits in return. Seems only fair to me.


Some Australians in the audience may get the below reference, but for the rest of you: Go on, do yourself a favour. Join The MOD Squad.

Source.


Cheers,

Dave




Friday, February 1, 2019

New video: 1/32 scale Hasegawa Mitsubishi Zero A6M5 - built model showcase

A lot of you have asked for a more detailed view of some of the models I display in my workshop - the older stuff that I didn't film as I made them. So today I've released a video showcasing one of my favourites - the ancient 1/32 Hasegawa kit of the Mitsubishi Zero A6M5. It's a cracker.



1/32 scale Hasegawa Mitsubishi Zero A6M5 - built model showcase


Even though there are some pretty big faults with this build, the Zero remains one of my favourite completed models. Partly this is because I like the Zero aircraft itself - it's a tough little beast and yet it's lines are simple and elegant, it's very Japanese in that way that they can make things utilitarian yet beautiful at the same time.

The second reason I like this build is because it was the first time I ever tried salt chipping to weather the paint job. It was a bit of a watershed moment for me.

It's not my best build ever, there are some glaring problems, but it has a special place in my heart.

Watch the video - I hope you'll like it.

Video is embedded below, but in case that doesn't work here is the link:
1/32 scale Hasegawa Mitsubishi Zero A6M5 - built model showcase

Cheers,

Dave