I really should not watch films like THE PRISONER OF ZENDA on Saturday morning TV before going shopping ... and then I wouldn't buy things like this:
I saw it on the shelves of the aquarium section of a pet store and thought 'That would look be useful for wargaming if it was repainted' ... so I bought it. Luckily it was quite inexpensive, and since I got it home it has been sitting on my worktable and I have been staring at it wondering what on earth I thought I was doing.
I do intend to paint it, and one day I hope to use it in a wargame; I'm just not sure how and when that will be!
I saw it on the shelves of the aquarium section of a pet store and thought 'That would look be useful for wargaming if it was repainted' ... so I bought it. Luckily it was quite inexpensive, and since I got it home it has been sitting on my worktable and I have been staring at it wondering what on earth I thought I was doing.
I do intend to paint it, and one day I hope to use it in a wargame; I'm just not sure how and when that will be!
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Spray the thing grey... that way, every time you look at it you are more likely to think 'possible wargames' than 'what the...'
ReplyDeleteRob Young,
DeleteI think that I'll have to ... if only to stop the colours glaring at me from across the table!
All the best,
Bob
I think Rob Young has the right of it. Shove some undercoat - grey, black or white - and it will start to look like something useful. I know that the 'my little pony' look would be off-putting.
DeleteIt can represent a castle, chateau or even a walled town gate (or the gatehouse of a town no longer walled).
Archduke Piccolo,
DeleteI am sure that when it has been repainted - or even just undercoated or primed - it will look a lot better than it does now. Once done I think that it will pass for any number of different important buildings.
All the best,
Bob
Unless you are thinking of getting into fantasy, I'd go with Rob's suggestion. Give it a shot of spray primer so you can see it for itself.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteI'm certainly not going down the fantasy route ... so a coat of grey primer it is!
All the best,
Bob
I must admit that I struggle to see wargames potential in objects designed for other purposes. It's a blind spot of mine. However I cannot imagine how clear sighted I would need to have been to have bought this! I really don't see it. It appears to have two or three towers/spires too many for a start.
ReplyDeleteSo please keep us updated as to how you progress. If you succeed in making anything of it...well without radical alteration to the point where its basic shape has changed...I will be pleasantly astounded.
Good luck
Cheers
Andrew
Rumblestrip (Andrew),
DeleteI did think of sawing the turrets off and using what was left as a set of gates for a fortress or as a Victorian-era barracks ... but that looks like it might be a bit on the difficult side to do without damaging the rest of the resin casting.
I'll see what a simple paint job will do for it ... and I hope that the result will astound both of us!
All the best,
Bob
As it happens I have just purchased an aquarium ornament and am in the process of re-painting. See "Advancing in a Different direction" blog for details.
ReplyDeleteNil desperandum!
Twmas Morgan,
DeleteIts good to read that I am not the only person to do something like this!
All the best,
Bob
Perfect for My Little Pony!! :)
ReplyDeleteAlastair,
DeleteI am hoping for something a bit more like 'My Little Cavalry Brigade' by the time it is repainted!
All the best,
Bob
The bin I think even gray spray wouldn't hide its nonsense. Mind you I did a similar thing with some daft toy cannon once and I once bought some 28mm plastic s- they went in the bin as well.
ReplyDeleteBig Andy,
DeleteYou never know; it might look half presentable after a bit of work. (I might - of course - be kidding myself, but after working solidly on my latest book for several weeks, I needed a simple and rather silly project to lighten my mood.)
Sorry about your experience with the toy cannon.
All the best,
Bob
I can see Rupert of Hentzau sneaking out the back as we speak.
ReplyDeleteConrad Kinch,
DeleteThat was exactly my thinking as well ... although I suspect that he could just walk out the front door as any potential enemies would be just plain dazzled by the present colour scheme and wouldn't see him!
All the best,
Bob
It's fine as is. It'd be a talking point in a game.
ReplyDeleteTim Gow,
DeleteI assume you mean talking point in the sense of 'What f**king idiot put that on the tabletop?'
All the best,
Bob
15mm or 25mm scale ? , sort of thing you see perched on mountains in the Rhine valley - built by that German Prince I can't think the name of , Tony
ReplyDeleteThe Good Soldier Svjek,
DeleteIts doors are the right height for 15mm figures, but it will work well enough with larger figures as long as one isn't too picky.
It is very similar to the style of castles built by 'Mad' King Ludwig of Bavaria, and therefore ideal for a wargame set somewhere in central Europe.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteQuick - get it painted before IT multiplies!
Seriously- once the tacky colors are gone - there is a pretty good Castle there. Have fun! KEV.
Kev Robertson,
DeleteI am going to glue the casting to a base before painting it. I will then paint it using a simple colour scheme.
All the best,
Bob
Very amusing, Bob. I must confess to having made a couple of similar purchases!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Aaron
Prufrock (Aaron),
DeleteI am glad that someone else recognises this model's potential ... and has made similar purchases!
All the best,
Bob
It might look better with that highest tower in the middle lopped off (along with painting the whole structure, of course). You could probably add something to cover up the area (flat roof, trapdoor, inverted V roof, etc.). Looks to me like the type of castle that would be situated on/surrounded by a body of water. Another option could be to build it so that you could swap it out on different bases, to sit on a hilltop or on a body of water.
ReplyDeleteFitz-Badger,
DeleteI looked at the possibility of removing the central tower, but I don't want to risk breaking the casting in the process. If I ever see another one, I might try replacing the central tower with a roof.
I am planning to glue the casting to a Hexon II template base. This will enable me to place figures on the base, and to be able to place the whole thing atop some of my sea hexes, thus creating an island fortress/castle.
All the best,
Bob
Well, one could get an aquarium and some fish...
ReplyDeleteEd M,
DeleteI don't know if fish are colour blind ... but with the original colour scheme this model was produced in, they'd have to be!
All the best,
Bob
At least you didn't come away with the wreck of the Bismark they sell in our local tropical fish emporium!
ReplyDeleteArthur Harman,
DeleteFunny that you should make that comment but ...
... I resisted the temptation to do so!
All the best,
Bob
A most interesting building full of potential.I do look forward to seeing it in a wargame.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Tradgardmastare (Alan),
DeleteIt struck me as being similar to some of the buildings that I think that you used in some of your games a few years ago.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteNo need to paint it; just drop some LSD and it will look great to you.
Helpfully yours,
Chris
Chris,
DeleteLSD? Wasn't that the old pre-decimal currency? I certainly dropped plenty of that in my time ... usually down the back of the sofa!
All the best,
Bob
I had the same thought about cutting off the centre tower, as I think that is what gives it the really 'fairy tale' look. Assuming the model is resin, if you use a fine hacksaw or razor saw it should not break. The end result would (once re-painted!) not be too dissimilar to some Peel Towers that I have seen pictures of
ReplyDeleteIan Dury,
DeleteI looked at the possibility of doing as you suggest, but couldn't work out how to remove the central turret without damaging other parts of the casting.
If I ever find another casting - or something similar - I might risk removing the central turret.
All the best,
Bob