Ricks' Ramblings

[NARSES2]

Yeah. this 'Life' thing keeps intruding... ah well. 

I'm assured it's better than the alternative

[zenrat]

Yeah. this 'Life' thing keeps intruding... ah well. 

I'm assured it's better than the alternative

Who by?  Do they have extensive first hand experience of both?   

[Rick Lowe]

Yeah. this 'Life' thing keeps intruding... ah well. 

I'm assured it's better than the alternative

It all depends on your view (or lack of) the Afterlife... 

[Rick Lowe]

Steampunk Pistol

I saw an illustration of this in an advert for a graphic novel about an Anamorphic, Victorian-era Crime Solving Badger (No; I don't know why, either...).
It looked pretty neat, and at the time I was helping a friend out with his Steampunk displays/stalls, so I thought it would be a cool accessory for my costume.

I based it on a water pistol .357 Magnum, but had to cut the thing about a bit.

The bar on top of the barrel went first, and the frame above the cylinder, then the barrel was lengthened; but the join had a bit of a step so I slid a sleeve of tubing over it, with the muzzle being reduced in bore with more, thicker tubing.

The quarter-spheres behind the cylinder on each side were made from 2-part Builders' epoxy putty.
I used a measuring spoon to get the shape even and to ensure it was smooth as well.
I cut them to what I needed while the putty was set enough to retain its' shape and be worked, but before it hardened into the granite-like finished state.

Then the details under the barrel were built from various bits and bobs: dowel and tubing, a toy car road wheel, 1/76 tank roadwheels for the large screws and shaped sprue for the smaller.

Undercoated in spraycan Black, then spraycan Brass, and the grips with off-white enamel for an Ivory effect (Not too PC these days, but it's of that era, ok? Don't judge me. Please.)

I couldn't find anything I was happy with for the lanyard ring under the grip so I left it off, as no-one would know it's missing unless I tell them... oh, right - oops...
After (quite) a while thinking about it, I figured a ring from the middle of a kit part tree would suffice, with a scratch mounting; it's just detail, not structural.
So that's exactly how I did it.

A quick blackish/brownish wash to age it up a bit and it was done.

And having read the debate here about the "Steampunk Fad" for Brass, and it being a softer metal than Steel I've decided to utilize Kit's Second Rule and say that the Armourer knew this, made the weapon from Weapon-grade Steel, and applied a Plated Brass finish.

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[Rick Lowe]

And the completed pics

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[zenrat]

Steampunk Pistol

I saw an illustration of this in an advert for a graphic novel about an Anamorphic, Victorian-era Crime Solving Badger (No; I don't know why, either...).
It looked pretty neat, and at the time I was helping a friend out with his Steampunk displays/stalls, so I thought it would be a cool accessory for my costume...

Badgers are naturally curious and possess remarkably precise analytical minds.  They make excellent detectives.  Rabbits on the other hand are too flighty and nervous while Weasels can't be trusted.
Hares are eccentric and prone to ignore the rules when it suits them but if they can have their attention focussed they can achieve results.
A Badger/Hare pair would make a marvelous team.  Just don't let the Hare drive.

Gun looks good.   

[NARSES2]

Badgers are naturally curious and possess remarkably precise analytical minds.  They make excellent detectives.  Rabbits on the other hand are too flighty and nervous while Weasels can't be trusted.
Hares are eccentric and prone to ignore the rules when it suits them but if they can have their attention focussed they can achieve results.
A Badger/Hare pair would make a marvelous team.  Just don't let the Hare drive.

Gun looks good.   

No comment  , other than to say, yes the gun does look good   

[Old Wombat]

Good job on the revolver! 


My preference is for framed side-loaders but there are some good break-action revolvers out there of various vintages.   

[scooter]

My preference is for framed side-loaders but there are some good break-action revolvers out there of various vintages.   

I'm particularly fond of Schofields, but I have one each Colt Peacemaker side loader and break action Schofield Denix replicas.

[Rheged]

Steampunk Pistol

I saw an illustration of this in an advert for a graphic novel about an Anamorphic, Victorian-era Crime Solving Badger (No; I don't know why, either...).
It looked pretty neat, and at the time I was helping a friend out with his Steampunk displays/stalls, so I thought it would be a cool accessory for my costume...

Badgers are naturally curious and possess remarkably precise analytical minds.  They make excellent detectives.  Rabbits on the other hand are too flighty and nervous while Weasels can't be trusted.
Hares are eccentric and prone to ignore the rules when it suits them but if they can have their attention focussed they can achieve results.
A Badger/Hare pair would make a marvelous team.  Just don't let the Hare drive.

Gun looks good.   

Readers of Wind in the Willows will add..."  Don't under any circumstances let TOAD  anywhere near the car"

[Rick Lowe]

Thanks, guys. 

Yes, I prefer a side-loader or something like a Webley that has a part that closes over and secures the cylinder*, but that's how it was drawn. *shrug*

*Especially after hearing about the problems encountered with the Smith and Wesson Russians... catastrophic failure and the thing exploding in your hand... not helpful at the best of times, let alone in a gunfight... 

And an interesting analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of various anamorphs, Fred - but how do we account for Officer Hopps?
Though maybe as she's the only Bunny in the ZPD, I've answered my own question...

What about Otters and Hedgehogs?    (IYK,YK)

[Rick Lowe]

1/72 Lavochkin La-5FN **Real World**

A Mid-Late WW2 development of the LaGG-1 and -3 series, but the inline engine changed for a radial and improvements made to the structure.
I've liked this aircraft for a while, so when there was a collection being sold off at the local model shop, I picked this kit up.
I'm pretty sure it's the Italeri/Zvezda kit, though it was bagged and mostly off the runners so that's not confirmed.

IIRC it was one I assembled during a Covid Lockdown, but I'm not sure which one.

Assembled straight, and it was a pretty easy build; I made a basic cockpit interior and that was about it.
I've heard the canopy is a bit squashed in profile, but I wasn't going to buy a whole Falcon set for one canopy; especially as I likely wouldn't need any of the others.

I finally got my act together and finished it last weekend – only needing to unmask the canopy, and add the undercarriage and small details to finish, so pretty quick.

I think it's painted in Humbrol for the upper surfaces, and I suspect the underside colour may have been Gunze. (I didn't note down what I used and it was a wee while ago).
Yellow nose is likely Games Workshop.

Markings from spares, the Aircraft numbers are from the Tamiya 1/35 251 kit.

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[Rick Lowe]

And the one that was just too much to post in one hit... 

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[kerick]

Good job on the firearm!
The latest pics didn't show up. Maybe I'll try again later.

[Old Wombat]

The La-5 is a brutish looking plane but not unattractive.