Misc: Wish List & Reference Resources

It's quite normal for me to have a plethora of pages open in my browsers simultaneously. This can make moving back and forth between the few most active pages hard work, as I scroll past lots of pages I'm really not using. I know this is what the 'bookmark' function is for. But I only really use that for a certain core of oft-visited sites. So I've decided to compile some of these links, or rather those related to my mini-military hobbies, on a post or a page here.

First is a list of useful reference type links. I'm starting with a few on casting in resin, or similar. As that's something I'm about to have my first go at.

REFERENCE / RESOURCES

Casting resin parts

Resin casting tutorial - David Damek.
Sylmasta - casting & mould-making - tutorial by the people I got my resin casting kit from.

BJB, Moulding vid #2 - not directly miniatures related, but filled with useful moulding and casting info.

Blue Stuff (new to me!)
Blue Stuff mould-making tutorial - David Damek.

Vacuum Chamber (for removing air-bubbles from silicone, etc) & Vac-Forming
DIY Vacuum Chamber - how to construct your own vacuum-chamber for getting air our of silicone, etc.
Mini vac-form set-up - could be useful in getting set up to vac form small parts for kit conversions and scratch-building?

And then here's a somewhat larger list of stuff I lust after (hence the Tex Avery pic, atop this post)...

WISH LIST

1/72 WWII German 

Ace Models - Citroen Avant staff car

Ace Models - SdKfz 10 w 37mm flak

Ace Models - 3-ton softskin truck

IBG Models - Own brand 1\72 home page, loads of great stuff, inc. Universal Carriers, etc.

IBG Models - Roden Opel-Blitz Omnibus Stabswagen, €8.50!!!

IBG Models - Roden SdKfz 4/1 w raketenwerfer, €8.50!!!

Mac Distribution - Steyer 1500A

modelhobbies.co.uk - Mac Distribution, Mercedes Benz G3 Ambulance, c. £20

Modelling tools and equipment

Amazon UK - 2 x Xacto style craft knives, +100 blades, £10.70 (free shipping)

San Diego Model Railway Museum, on TV

Watching telly last night, I saw this... (apologies for the crappy pics of my TV screen)

Did you spot the oversized head, on the horizon?

Visitors give a sense of scale.

It was only a brief and passing segment, but it was nice to see some model railways on TV. I think what I like best about them, perhaps a bit perversely, are the landscapes. As a wargamer I want my landscapes, if/when I finally get that far with any of my various projects, to have the wow factor these set ups have.

Cool beans!

Portillo enthuses about the impressive layouts.

It was on Michael Portillo's final episode of Great American Railway Journeys, when he visits the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. The models and layouts are maintained by volunteers, and they've been continuously worked on for 35 years, and are valued, according to Mikey P, at $3,000,000!

One of the team of volunteers who maintain the exhibits.

It's on an impressive scale.

Watch it on iPlayer, when it's uploaded.

I emailed the museum, asking for some pictures, or permission to use some from their website. They kindly sent me the following images:

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Kind of unrelated, but also seen and enjoyed today: