Andrew's Resurrected 1/72 MiniArt Town House

[adt70hk]

Hi all

So the final set of 'as was' shots before some showing the work I have done on it this past week.

October 2019 it got a coat of Halfords rattle can grey primer for the building and black for the first floor.....and that's where it stayed for the next two and a half years.....

ATB.

Andrew

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[Tim Marlow]

Thanks Tim, it did improve it somewhat didn't it! That said, for a kit now costing £15-£20 It really shouldn't be necessary IMHO.....

Agreed Andrew, however, buildings are not cheap it seems. The armourfast one you built is an exception. I suppose the sales are pretty low compared to tank and aircraft kits. The Airfix church builds up really well for its age, but is closer to 1/87 than 1/76 so looks a little small on the table. I’ve got their garage to build one day as well, thought it might look good as Normandy terrain.

[adt70hk]

Hi all

So the final post for today......

The insides got a coat of paint this week.

I went for a light-ish green (Vallejo IDF/RAF Green 71.126) for no particular reason and then gave it a light mottling with Vallejo Sky Type S 71.302 to break it up a bit and try to create false darker corners and ceiling/roof join areas. I wasn't though going to spend a huge amount of time on it given what it's for. They're actually a bit greener in real life.....

The window frames, stone window surrounds, window ledges and decorative stones got a coat of Vallejo Insignia White 71.279.

As I was giving them the first initial thin coats, I could see the mid-grey primer acting as a sort of preshade on the joins. I therefore went very carefully and lightly so as not to lose the effect.

In doing this I realised that if I was careful, I could allow the grey primer to show through slightly and create a slightly weathered look, rather than have a bright white surround that would then need weathering. I actually think it's worked out pretty well....it is though whiter in real life.

And yes there are injector marks on all the window frames that I missed after the primer coat but they're on the inside so won't be seen much. Plus, as they're consistently in the same place, I can claim that they're a design feature!

All comments welcome as usual.

Andrew

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[adt70hk]

Agreed Andrew, however, buildings are not cheap it seems. The armourfast one you built is an exception. I suppose the sales are pretty low compared to tank and aircraft kits. The Airfix church builds up really well for its age, but is closer to 1/87 than 1/76 so looks a little small on the table. I’ve got their garage to build one day as well, thought it might look good as Normandy terrain.

True - at least for injection moulded kits.

IMHO laser cut MDF kits are a good alternative though and much cheaper for their size given they don't have to worry about creating moulds. Sarissa Precision do a very good range from sub £5 up to £200 for the Alamo kit. I've got their bombed out house for the same price as the Armourfast kit now costs and it's till sub £10.....

https://sarissa-precision.com/collections/20mm/products/bombedouthouse-20mm

[Tim Marlow]

I did their 20mm Farmhouse a while back. I have other MDF stuff, but I can’t remember who by…..a stone barn and a small shop. Got a cafe to build one day as well……only thing I find about MDF buildings is that they can be a little “flat” so need texture adding. The roofs are pretty much throw away as well. I have used mine as a substructure only, replacing the surface with either injection moulded roofing or separate slates made from thin card. If you can find one the old Airfix Waterloo farmhouse has a lot of potential, but only if you can get it cheap enough….. UK outline stuff is easy to source, but continental outline at 20mm is a lot harder….

[adt70hk]

I did their 20mm Farmhouse a while back. I have other MDF stuff, but I can’t remember who by…..a stone barn and a small shop. Got a cafe to build one day as well……only thing I find about MDF buildings is that they can be a little “flat” so need texture adding. The roofs are pretty much throw away as well. I have used mine as a substructure only, replacing the surface with either injection moulded roofing or separate slates made from thin card. If you can find one the old Airfix Waterloo farmhouse has a lot of potential, but only if you can get it cheap enough….. UK outline stuff is easy to source, but continental outline at 20mm is a lot harder….

Just had a look....£80ish for the Airfix kit....not cheap. Agree about a bit 'flat' though.

I still can't get over how bad the Miniart one is given the rest of the kit - especially when you at the Armourfast one that's half the price!

ATB

Andrew

[Jim R]

Hi Andrew
Already looking much better. You're getting there.
Jim

[Tim Marlow]

80ish…good god….I might sell mine, it dates from about 1973 and still has the box :smiling5:

[adt70hk]

80ish…good god….I might sell mine, it dates from about 1973 and still has the box :smiling5:

Have just found it for £45 incl p&p....

[Tim Marlow]

Have just found it for £45 incl p&p....

Might be worth it at half that……

[scottie3158]

Andrew,
Looking good, your additions have made a big difference.

[adt70hk]

Hi Andrew
Already looking much better. You're getting there.
Jim

Andrew,
Looking good, your additions have made a big difference.

Jim, Paul,

Thanks very much. Much appreciated.

ATB.

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Interesting stuff Andrew. I must admit the parts count is ridiculous though. Getting the walls flat and square must be quite hard, and you are left with some horrible joins to eliminate. The roof does look poor, and it will be very hard to get the joints looking good because it’s so visible. I think I’d be tempted to replace it with one of the Wills moulded tile sheets (Injection moulded sort, not basic plastic card. That stuff does have enough texture). Strange really, it isn’t as if the parts are even that big….
Still be good to see what you do with it though. Nice start so far…..

Hi Tim

Is this what you meant re the roof tiles - I have a couple of sheets in the stash.

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

HI all

So the walls have been joined together. I wasn't too worried about this because this is one area the kit is very good - nice 45 degree angles at the corners with good alignment points.

Nevertheless, I used a tower of Lego and clamps to make sure it was a square as possible. It worked pretty well and there's only one corner where there is a slight gap. I still need to work on the join lines between the floors but I have a plan for that.

The rubber bands are just for reassurance as I don't have those nice clamps to help the building stay square.

ACW as usual.

Andrew

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[Tim Marlow]

Hi Tim

Is this what you meant re the roof tiles - I have a couple of sheets in the stash.

ATB

Andrew

That sort of thing, yes. That looks like heat rolled plastic card. The moulded ones (like these https://www.eileensemporium.com/mate...ts-and-fencing ) will have a bit more relief than plastic card if you think it worthwhile.