New Projects…
With the Bonestell model completed, I have moved on to other projects; three of them, actually.
One project is a 1/24 scale model of the WWII-era German V-2 ballistic missile, specifically a representation of the first human-made object to enter space (October 3, 1942). The base model is from Spacemonkey. Generally speaking, rockets and missiles are not very interesting subjects as scale models. So, I decided to build a model of this missile with its innards exposed - engine, pipes, tanks, black boxes, and so forth. Now that should be interesting, and it is a nifty history lesson to boot. The images above are of the combustion chamber and exhaust nozzle with the four film cooling lines. The gloss black is a primer, which will be followed with a few coats of a dark, iron-like metallic color. The fuel and oxidizer lines look to have been a silvery color, so I’m dealing with those separately. Once the combustion chamber and associated fuel lines are completed, I’ll be moving on to the turbopump, which looks to be a major scratchbuilding nightmare!
I have to thank David “Blappy” Guertin for the outstanding 15-part 3D print of this thing (using a virtual model from Thingiverse, as it happens - credit to Ben Buggenhout). As I don’t have a 3D printer, I commissioned David to produce the parts knowing his reputation for scale model excellence and an appreciation for the history and future of spaceflight. I’d also like to thank my friend Ken Davidian for developing prototype 3D prints of this engine, which helped me (pro bono!) in figuring out how I was going to lay out the V-2 interior, among other things.
I’m also building a 1/32 scale model of a P-51D Mustang, more or less at the same time as the V-2. I usually have 2-3 projects going on at once. Okay, three this time.
In addition to the two scale models, I’m going to start painting again after a very long hiatus. My preferred medium is acrylic, but this time I will be painting with oils. The subject? Natural scenes from outer space, likely planetary landscapes. To start things off, I plan to execute several paintings of Earthly landscapes. Then, I will move on to lunar landscapes. The style will be more impressionistic, emotional. We’ll see how it goes!
