Monkey Paws

What is the world coming to when a man can't go on-line and buy a monkey-paw back scratcher? Why, in the 21st century is this too much to ask?

There are back scratchers available on eBay and some have hand shapes of varying quality carved into them, but not one is a monkey paw. And I don't want one with a shoe horn on the other end. All I want is a scratcher about a foot long, with a monkey paw on the end, hardly an unfulfillable request, one would have thought, but there you go.

Monkey Paws

What is the world coming to when a man can't go on-line and buy a monkey-paw back scratcher? Why, in the 21st century is this too much to ask?

There are back scratchers available on eBay and some have hand shapes of varying quality carved into them, but not one is a monkey paw. And I don't want one with a shoe horn on the other end. All I want is a scratcher about a foot long, with a monkey paw on the end, hardly an unfulfillable request, one would have thought, but there you go.

Unashamed geekishness III

More work completed on the TARDIS - I have added the base coat of paint. There was pretty much just enough supplied with the kit to give the model a single coat. In a couple of places I have had to add a different shade of blue to make it up, as there are several spots I missed and which only became apparent after the paint had dried. I think that I am going to have to add an all-over wash of the alternative paint with a little of yet a third hue before I start adding the paler weathering, or it will not look right.

The roof is not cemented to the rest and nor will it be - there is a battery operated mechanism in there that will hold the door open without the need for a small blue wedge as now, operate the lamp and produce suitable TARDISy noises. I have, however, been slightly let down either by my model-making skills and/or Airfix. I have had to apply a couple of pieces of plastic to the inside of the frame to hold the roof assemble snug when the door is open.

Attached below are a couple of shots showing the model as it is right now:


Basic build complete: door handles and lamp to be painted and attached.

( marginally different view behind cut to save bandwidth )

Once I am happy with the base colour, I shall dry brush a paler blue across the wood grain pattern that is clear on the model, but less so on these pictures. Following that come the decals - along the unpainted panels, "Police Box" and the cover for the telephone panel. The final step on the TARDIS itself will be a number of brown and black washes to give it a slightly grimy appearance. Odd that it is easier achieved on a model by applying paint than leaving out in the rain...

Then, the Doctor and Martha. They will be a challenge.

Unashamed geekishness III

More work completed on the TARDIS - I have added the base coat of paint. There was pretty much just enough supplied with the kit to give the model a single coat. In a couple of places I have had to add a different shade of blue to make it up, as there are several spots I missed and which only became apparent after the paint had dried. I think that I am going to have to add an all-over wash of the alternative paint with a little of yet a third hue before I start adding the paler weathering, or it will not look right.

The roof is not cemented to the rest and nor will it be - there is a battery operated mechanism in there that will hold the door open without the need for a small blue wedge as now, operate the lamp and produce suitable TARDISy noises. I have, however, been slightly let down either by my model-making skills and/or Airfix. I have had to apply a couple of pieces of plastic to the inside of the frame to hold the roof assemble snug when the door is open.

Attached below are a couple of shots showing the model as it is right now:


Basic build complete: door handles and lamp to be painted and attached.

( marginally different view behind cut to save bandwidth )

Once I am happy with the base colour, I shall dry brush a paler blue across the wood grain pattern that is clear on the model, but less so on these pictures. Following that come the decals - along the unpainted panels, "Police Box" and the cover for the telephone panel. The final step on the TARDIS itself will be a number of brown and black washes to give it a slightly grimy appearance. Odd that it is easier achieved on a model by applying paint than leaving out in the rain...

Then, the Doctor and Martha. They will be a challenge.