Category The Breakers Yard – Nigel Rostance

As I needed an intermission from my current project, I came across some DIY snow globe kits at a local dollar store. These hard plastic spheres are 4″ in diameter and come with a plug and screw on “cap”. Ideas began to flood in, and eventually I settled on an anime theme. Although I also wondered why the globes had to be just for snow. How about a desert version? I took an image from the series “Dougram: Fang of the Sun”, a 75 part mecha series from 1981. (I won’t go into detail here; feel free to research as there are many models still available.) The first episode starts the end; a rusted out hulk in the desert.

I dug up one of my old 1/144 Nitto kits and destroyed it. I tried to duplicate the image as best as possible, which wasn’t easy...

“I Hate You, Ian McQue…”

Once upon a time, (modelling) life was simple. I was content to build kits and scratch build from various Gerry Anderson series, assorted Sci-Fi television and movies, and Japanese anime mechs from the 80’s & 90’s. And then it happened; I stumbled across a posting in “Concept Ships” featuring the work of artist Ian McQue. His color palate and subjects of flying junk boats traversing through the air, defying gravity on some future/past Earth or other planet was inspiring! This was 10 years ago, and from then on he has lived in my head rent free. So for this latest project I decided the best way to “purge” was to build a small fleet of ships to get him out of my system. As usual, the plan failed...

I acquired the model of this condominium from my employer (as I work in architectural building sciences). Sometimes we send “Mini-Models” to our clients after a project is complete, and I get the left overs! I decided to make this 1:1000 scale model (it measures only 8″ x 5″ x 4″) into a green post-apocalyptic diorama. I added a road and monorail to the model, and distressed everything using a roto tool. I painted the basic building in various shades of grey and buff, and finalized with a wash of Vallejo slime green. Foliage was accomplished using various grades of flocking, as well as commercially available trees. I gouged out two areas; one larger for a sinkhole to cause the collapse of the parking garage. After a few coats of dark green I used Woodland Scenics’ Water for the ponds...

This most recent project was inspired by the “flattop” ship (a background rag tag fleet vessel) from the original Battlestar Galactica, as well as the ship from Moebius’s strip “It’s a Small Universe”. I liked the contrast between the flat, smooth surface with the very intricate underside. I began with a perspex plate (traced from the Moebius strip in AutoCAD , lazer cut to 17″ x 8″) and then followed many an evening of arranging and deconstructing many shapes, the traditional Kinder eggs and the newly discovered Zaini eggs, contact lens cases, greeblies, and nurnies. I didn’t have the luxury of an endless supply of parts like the big shops do so I had to be creative. Eventually a suitable configuration was established and painting began...

I may as well introduce myself with my most recent work, the Buzzard. I have attached 10 images in the format as requested (Hope I got it right; my camera is very basic….). As I wrote previously, I am a semi professional model builder at an engineering firm, but of course in this environment, there is no room for creativity or any fancy detail work or weathering! Build right off the plans as those are the parameters of the job! The perks are salvaging many interesting shapes when the company is done with the models and access to a 3D printer and laser cutter!

The Buzzard is a Martin Bower inspired space vehicle from an imagined alternate timeline...