MDF Train

 

This is a large MDF train that I have built and painted.   The train was a Clever Cut kit from Stamps Away.   I have kept the colours fairly simple, as guided by Ali Reeve, although I did add ted to the front and rear, as that seemed to be the norm for engines.   I just need to decide a name for it,  to go on the "headboard! - There isn't a lot of room, so as this is a present for my train-loving son-in-law, it will probably be called Sir P.

Brick Man Part 2

In addition to Dr Who, I also made a Harry Potter figure.  Again painted with various acrylic paints and Posca pens.  Card added for collar and also used to create his glasses.  Hair, Golden Snitch and Hedwig the owl were created in Air Dry clay

sitting

golden snitch

Hedwig

Brick Men Part 1

standing

As regular followers will know I have been a bit quiet on the blog recently, and that is because I have been working on a couple of secret projects for my daughter's birthday.

There was a special offer on MDF models etc recently on a friend's website.   I said I didn't need anything and my daughter said she was thinking of buying a couple as she fancied a Dr Who and a Harry Potter figure.  Thankfully she forgot to order them ...... but I had duly noted her wish and I bought them and have been secretly building and painting them over the past few weeks.    Fortunately for me (but not her) she has been quite ill, and hasn't visited quite so much recently, so I only had a couple of mad panics to hide them when she visited unexpectedly!.

sitting

The model kits are from Stamps Away.  I painted them using various makes of acrylic pain and Posca pens.  I added some collars using card, and also a cravat using scrunched up tissue.   I also knitted the scarf -now that is a feat in itself as I hate knitting (and as my daughter remarked when I gave her the model - "ah, that is why your knitting bag was out the other week!).   I created the hat and the hair from air dry clay, as well as the sonic screwdriver,   Yes I did my research on The fourth Dr Who, and discovered what his sonic screwdriver looked like!

I even amazed myself when I painted his face as I think it actually looks like Tom Baker - more by luck than judgement I confess!

MDF Harry Potter

Regular followers may remember the Tim Peake Brick Man that I created.  Well my son couldn't decide how he wanted his painted the other day I had another bit of inspiration and as he girls love anything Harry Potter, I decided to try and paint my MDF man to look like him.

It was quite interesting researching what colours he should be painted and I discovered that in the earlier films the stripes etc were more scarlet and yellow, and in the later films they were burgundy and gold - who knew?

I created his hair from hearty clay and I made his spectacles and his colare out of card. to make them a little more 3D.   I also found an owl mould in my ancient cake decorating stash, and created a white owl from Hearty clay too.  

Robbie Robot

At least he can kneel!

Well I have finished painting the robot, albeit things didn't quite go to plan.  I got interrupted when painting him, and although I had freed up all his joints as I went - I seemed to have overlooked his hip joints.    When I went to pose him and take his photo I managed to break his hip joints.

I tried to remove his hip pin, but it was beyond repair, and knowing how difficult it was to assemble his legs, I abandoned the idea, and just took the hacksaw to the spindle and stuck his hips on.   As you can see  he can kneel, (and he can stand up straight - he just can't sit any more!)

A picture of what he looked like standing before I had finished painting him

a posed picture of him sitting before  I operated on his hips
(they aren't actually attached in this photo!)

Such a shame I messed it up.  I was a tad disappointed as he had been clear gessoed before painting to prevent paint leaking into his joints (and they all moved at this stage).     Hey ho worse things happen at sea as they say - and I did manage to remedy the situation, although not as perfectly as I would have liked.

For info he was painted with Indigoblu translucent paints (I wanted some of the detail on the MDF to show through, particularly on his body).  I then overpainted with Starlights paints - sort of dry brushing the colour on, and then added some Pebeo gilding wax on the elements that appear metallic.
His eyes were painted with Pebeo Ceramic and Fantasy paints.  (Really pleased with the effect).

MDF Robot

sitting down

At last I got around to building my Clevercut Robot.    I will confess that I did struggle with this one - he is quite complex, and I did struggle with the instructions sometimes.  However, it was worth it and he is quite cute.    Now to decide how I will paint him.

standing up, and poised to show all his swivel joints.

MDF Train

I gave you a sneak peak of this the other week - now it is finished.  I must say I am pretty pleased with it.   I hope the recipient will be - but shan't know for a while as it is part of his Christmas pressie!

writing done with Posca pens

I thought I would share a few work in progress shots.

before painting and after having powertex applied

achieving the wood grain effect

The colours used for the woodgrain ....

...... and how the colours were splodged on before brushing out to achieve the wood effect.

Have you missed me?

Hi dear followers - have you missed me - have been awol for a bit for a few days away, followed by a cataract op, with visitors up from Devon to keep and eye on me (sorry for pun).

Needless to say I have done very little, but hoping to get back into the swing of crafting very soon - eyes permitting.

However I thought I would share some work in progress started before the eye op.

Don't you just love this "brick" men.   They are fully jointed - these two are sitting on the table at the mo.

My daughter wants hers painted like Tim Peake!   - so that is going to be a challenge.  Not sure how the other one will be painted yet.  So watch this space as they say.

I also built some other bits of MDF to paint, and will post those in pre-painted form over next few days

One Finished Barge

Well the first barge is painted (and even has a name).    I confess I changed my mind on the colours to paint it a couple of times.

As I mentioned before I painted the barge with Powertex, and then gave them a coat of white gsoo.  I commenced the painting with various acrylic paints (Makes include Amsterdam, Hobbycraft, Pebeo, IndigoBlu and Pentart.)

I created the flower containers, jug and bucket from FMM Air Dry clay, and then painted them. 

The "rope" came with the kit.

The decoration was painted with miniature ball tools, using the paint fusion technique.

and finally I gave it a name ... although I think I should have called it the Elena Dawn , which would have been a bit more "classy"

I have to admit that I am pretty pleased with the result, considering my eyesight isn't great these days as I am awaiting a cataract operation,

Canal Barges - a little teaser

Sorry ... I couldn't resist ... a little teaser of work in progress.  I built two of these barges from Clever Cut and am now in the process of painting them.

I applied ivory powertex to the insides of both of them, in an attempt to make them more weatherproof.  One had powertex applied to the outside, and both had white gesso applied.

That is as far as I have got - I can't decide on the colours to paint them yet!

Another Jeep

I finally got around to painting the second jeep.

Mini Vardo

Just a quick glimpse of work in progress on a mini Vardo.     I do love these models.  Once I have finished painting it I will show the rear of it, which even has shutters on the window.   As you will see this mini version also has a chimney.

The granddaughters want me to paint the roof purple ..... so watch this space as they say!

Well before this post was scheduled to be published, I finished painting the Vardo.    So here it is finished.  I kept it simple and used two shades of blue Amsterdam paints, and Indigoblu Fuschia for the roof.

I finished the decoration using Nuvo drops.

Christmas Lanterns

Yes I know it is only July, but I got sent these as an apology for the delay in sending out some other kits ... more of those later eventually.

However, I seem to have another model building addict in the family.   I had the youngest grandchildren to stay over the weekend, and settled down after the two youngest had gone to bed to build this ..... well their older 12 year old sister saw me get it out and asked if she could help.      Yes .... well .... I put the hanging frame together, and she built the lanterns!  (I did get to do part of one!)  She loved doing it and wants some of her own kits to build (this could become costly on my part - lol!)

Eventually I will get to paint it (at least I hope I will and she doesn't want to do it - lol!) when we have decided the colours as it is going to be for her Dad.   (Maybe I will treat her to another one so she can make it for her Mum).

A Cute House

Had fun today  (well sort of, as my arm was refusing to play nicely, so had to do most of the painting with my left hand!) painting one of the little Clever Cut houses I bought from Create and Craft.  No idea how I wanted to paint it.  Just went with the flow.  A bit of texture was added with stencils and Pebeo Sand Texture.

Clever Cut recommend building before painting, but I think next time I will paint as I am building it (making sure I avoid painting the "notches" as wet paint can make the MDF swell)  as it was a tad tricky to paint some bits.

another view

back view

Work in progress building the house

 I have another one to do for a friend, and he wants Tudor style - so watch this space.