Railroad stop done. I've put it online in our webshop Papierenbouwplaten, for now only in h0 (1:87) model railroad scale, I'll gradually add more scales over time.

To make the outhouses a bit more versatile, I added three more alternative fronts.

Besides the international but modern pictograms there now are a modern D (Dutch: dames, German: Damen) and H (Dutch: heren, German: Herrn) and a classical German Frakturschrift of the same, and Old West "Ladies" and "Gentlemen".

I think I fixed all the last details, so it can go to the printer's.

After changing some details of the railroad stop shelter, I wanted to see if things still fitted properly.

They did.

A few more minor things and some more tabs and it will be done.

I also decided on adding some extra fronts to the facilities, for different periods.

Rural railroad stop - next step

Worked a bit more on the railroad stop shelter.

There was a lot of blank space left over on the sheet, so I added some facilities.

In the meantime I also did most of the added details of the shelter itself.

Some more tweeking, and adding tabs, and it will be ready for the printers.

Rural railroad stop

For the first time after injuring my shoulder, nearly two months ago, I dared to do some modelling again.

Last night I drew what must be the smallest possible railroad station: just a waiting space and a service room.

I think it will be finished as green planks, lighter green interior, corrugated roof.

After this, I hope to be able to rekindle some of my bigger unfinished projects.

German railway station - paper model WIP

Started working on a new paper building.

This one claims it wants to be a German railway station eventually.

I see the bottom floor in brick, the two top floors as half timbered.

Designing the roof will be fun. Not sure if it will be slate covered, or traditional German "beaver tail" roof tiles. First, the shape has to be right, then I'll worry about that. With four gables it's not going to be the easiest build ever, but the challenge is half the fun.

There will also be an extension, perhaps two, and an outbuilding.

Doll house wallpaper

Whenever the mood hits me I design some doll house stuff. Today I added the first of several planned nursery wall papers to our webshops.

Basic terrain board

I've made several terrain boards for miniature gaming already, though not enough by far.

They are really quite simple:

A piece if chipboard on a wooden frame.

Since I wanted a relatively dust free and easy to clean surface I went with sand and paint. First I painted the roads, where applicable, and sprinkled fine grain sand in the still wet paint. After it dried, it got a brown wash.
The grassy peaces were done the same was, but with coarse sand, and a green enamel finish.

I also did some special boards, like rivers, more about those at a later time.

Polish armoured train

Another project that's been on hold for a while, because of poor health, but will be revitalized in due time, is the 1939 Polish armored train PP-52 in 1:25 scale.

As a template, I use an (also Polish) paper model in the proper scale.

Some things have bee slightly altered so the monster can run on my G-scale 45mm tracks.

The template:

The first to be built was the engine, complete with tender with commander's cupola, and radio aerial wires.

Next in line was the first of two artillery cars:

Followed by what is described as the "infantry assault car," again with aerial wires (not shown in this pic). 

Next will be two flat cars, to run om both ends of the train, with as their main function the detection of mines etc. This is as far as I got:

Yes, I know it's possible to buy complete bogies, but what's the fun in that?

The final bit, whenever I get to it, will be the second artillery car - but that is still a few thousand hand cut rivets down the road...

Detached house B - paper model

Latest paper building, to be added to our webshops tomorrow: detached house B.

As the pic shows it may be built with either of the two alternate fronts.

Loosely based on a few houses in my home town, Veendam.

This one is in h0 gauge, 1:87, more scales will follow in due time.

in h0 this model will cost a whopping €1,00.

Dutch WWII pub - paper model

This Dutch café is the first building I did with WWII wargames in mind, it was originally done in 1:56 / 28mm. I designed it in 2007.

Originally it had some rather complex gutters - too complex I felt for the average modeler.

Sadly, it didn't sell at all, at least not till I started offering it in h0 (1:87) and other model railroad scales.

We still offer it in a variety of scales in our webshop Papierenbouwplaten .

ACW artillery

ACW in 1/72 plastics is a bit on the back burner at the moment, but I haven't forgotten about it yet.

This is an example of a piece I did in 2006: CSA artillerie.

The base plus accessories are from an Italeri battlefield accessories set, done in my usual way on a CD.

No idea what make the gun and crew are, I tend to mix and match stuff.

Right now I have some 500 figures, infantry, artillery and cavalry, all waiting to be organised and painted.

Not sure about rules yest, Black Powder looks tempting.

Soviet WWII medics

Another project I've been working on for a few years now is Flames of War in 1/72 plastics.

Though I've bought stuff for other theaters and years, for now I've been concentrating on Early War, starting with German, Soviets and Polish armies for '39, and just for fun a Partisan platoon and some other optional troops.

Luckily, the availability of 1/72 plastics is nearly overwhelming, especially to somebody who grew up with the limited Airfix program as the only thing in the shops.

This is a small but very nice Soviet medics set by Zvezda I was given by a dear friend, a good illustration of the quality of plastics available now.

Only two and a half years later I discovered that Soviet nurses wore blue skirts, contrary to "regular" female troops. So, I corrected it.

DAS clay figures

I'm always looking for affordable figures to go with my long-suffering G-scale train projects, so you can imagine my happiness when son Richard found, about two decades ago, a few simple molds from DAS clay sets.

No matter if they represent skiers and football players, with a simple paint job they'll do as passengers etc.

One of the first molds, later I found a few more in a store with obvious low turnover and corresponding old stock:

And here are some results, as shown at a local model fair in 2005. As you can see, the figures are more or less posable as long as the the clay is still wet. The figures may be carved as desired when they are dry.

Not the best of models, but they will do as a crowd, or as passengers inside a carriage. And let's not forget the two main selling points: cheap and fun to make.

CD-based scenery - introduction and example

For some time now I've been building scenery based on dead CD's.

Here's a simple example from 2006. Not so much a tutorial, more a "howidunnit".

First of all, take a CD. Observe that the shiny side has a raised ring in the middle. This is going to be the top side.

Sand the shiny side so whatever you're going to put on it will stick better. Gluing a bit of plastic card across the hole really prevents stuff falling through.

For the terrain layer I use a mix of  thoroughly dried course sand, and diluted white glue (10% glue, the rest water, is plenty.) Don't use to much glue/water, just enough to give the sand a sand-box texture so you can mold things like the simple hole.

Next step is a dab of black paint to accentuate the hole, and hide the fact it really isn't all that deep.

Some diluted black paint in front suggest the bare earth in front of the entrance:

Green to simulate vegetation. I always paint the surface, even if it's to be flocked afterwards, so you don't look a bare base material should some flock rub off.

Some twigs, flock and suitably dyed Icelandic moss, and a simple but effective piece of scenery done.

Skill level: kindergarten.

Costs: too low to count.

Effectiveness: 4-5 stars.

So why not build a series?

My very first paper model (2007)

I started designing paper models decades ago, first the classical way, with pen and in. Later I discovered NeoPaint, and a whole new world opened for me.

I took part in a few online projects, and after the start of my volunteer work for Stichting Cosmic Fire Foundation I decided to come up with new models for wargamers and fantasy gamers.

The first model was a townhouse in Warhammer scale, originally in several versions, but this is the one which survives up to today in our webshop Papierenbouwplaten. It was done in May, 2007.

I fear the technique isn't quite up to what I would do now, so whenever I find time in between my many activities I'll have to redo it, and probably design it in such a way it can also be done easily in several other scales, like my newer buildings.

Counting everything, I have done well over 700 models now, and RSI allowing I'll add more from the ever growing "ideas list."

Novel translated

Back in 2014 I published my second novel, "Rooksignalen," using the Lakota Sioux reservation of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, as a backdrop.

Since it was based for a big part of our travel impressions from September 2012, I got several request to do an English version besides the Dutch original.

Easier said than done. Since I have a rather unique way of abusing languages I could hardly ask anybody else to do the translating, and I didn't trust my fluency with the English language enough to do it myself.

Till I started doing a (still unfinished) book in English, and I noticed it went easier than I feared.

So, I gave it a try, sent out the manuscript to several U.S. volunteers, and it didn't come back with more red marks than the Dutch ones.

Earlier this month "Smoke Signals" was published, for now it's only available via our own webshop www.nieuw.spullenweb.nl and Lulu.com, but soon also via Amazon and several other mailorder booksellers.

Intro

After a few crashed attempts at creating a php-based blog I figured it was time creating one via a tried method.

Since I do writing, paper modelling, war gaming and model railroading, to name just my main interests, I will discuss upcoming new items, but to create a more complete picture once in a while I'll wander down memory lane and rehash an older subject.