New release: "Wizard's Tower" September 14, 2015 11:09

New Releases: Smoke Markers and Roof Tiles September 7, 2015 11:59

Having played a recent game of Bolt Action and been hampered by smoke from a 2" mortar all game; I realised how I had previously underestimated how powerful smoke can be on the table top.

I have made 2 kits: 3" & 4" Smoke Markers. Each set contains 5 x 2mm MDF discs and sufficient new polyester fibre to make up five smoke markers. It is recommented that a contact or general purpose adhesive is used to glue the polyester to the MDF discs.

Wargames Soldiers & Strategy: Review September 4, 2015 12:36

Yes! My issue of Wargames Soldiers & Strategy arrived yesterday (no 80) and I was delighted to see that Charlie Foxtrot Models "L'Ecole" has been reviewed. I am so pleased with Guy Bower's (editor WS&S) positive comments.

It seems like a lot has happened since "L'Ecole" was a new release. The stables, shop back yards, 3 x 20mm buildings, the Bank de France and the Eastern Front collection were all released after "L'Ecole". I guess the lead-in time for a bi-monthly publication causes inevitable delays in getting news out. I would much rather recieve the magazine monthly!

On second thoughts, I would prefer to wait and have high quality content rather than "fluff" and more photos.

Buyers beware, this kit has a very large footprint and is really imposing on the table!

Bolt Action Tournament Exeter 30.8.15 August 31, 2015 14:14

A few pictures from yesterdays Bolt Action tournament in Exeter run by Kirton Games. (Thanks for putting on a well organised event guys). www.charliefoxtrotmodels.com had scenery on 5 tables. Thanks to the Kirton games chaps for allowing me to showcase my designs. A great day out, rolled dice, pushed the toys around and had 3 enjoyable games with 3 people I had not played before......good atmosphere and good time had by all. It was good to see old friends and manke new friends too. Just don't ask me how well I did. ......I only wish it was a doubles tournament so I could blame someone. I did not win the wooden spoon wich was a pity as I could have made that  into something!

Tutorial: Painting Wood Effects August 26, 2015 14:42

After the release of my first batch of Eastern Front, Eastern European / Russian buildings which are predominately natural wood, I recieved a number of requests on how I achieved the painting effect.

Please note......ENSURE EACH LAYER OF PAINT / WASH IS FULLY DRY before going onto the next step. This will avoid dragging up foundation layers of paint and "muddying" the colours.

In this brief tutorial I will take you through step-by-step on how I completed painting the prepared  "Hunter's Lodge" in just one hour.

Step 1: Assemble the kit according to the supplied instructions.

Step 2: Glue the waney edged cardboard tiles (supplied with the kit) to the roof. start at the bottom and work up towards the top. After each "plank" is glued coat with full strength PVA on the top to seal the cardboard. As you coat the PVA, it will start to dry, drag this along the length of the planks and this will provide grain texture when fully dry. Trim excess card with a craft knife when each side is dry.

Step 3: Using car primer, spray grey then overspray with Halfords Khaki matt paint.

Step 4: The hour's painting starts here! Using a wide brush, drybrush UPHILL at first to pick out the timber edges then along the planks with a light scrubbing motion (use an old brush for this). I used cheap Tan coloured acrylic from the Hobby shop called "Crafters Acrylic". Apply a lighter drybrush of Crafters Acrylic Bleached Sand (Bleached Bone would work just as well). At this stage the model will look too light and chalky.

Step 5: Apply a wash (I used Games Workshop Agrax Earthshade) to selected random wall planks, using the engraved lines as a guide. On the roof apply the wash towards the top of each plank to emphasise the depth of the planking. When applying washes in this manner, apply quickly and wipe any excess with a finger to blend. At this stage, it all looks too stark and stripey. This needs to be toned down to bring the colours together.

Step 6: With a very watery mix of medium brown acrylic (I used P3 Formula Bloodtracker Brown) liberally coat the whole model exept the light edges to the windows to retain their definition. As the paint drys, rub excess away with a finger, this action will reveal the lighter colours underneath. This rich brown wash unifies the colour and reduces the contrast yet provides depth.

Step 7: I watered down a very dark brown acrylic( in this example, I used Vallejo Charred Brown) to a milky consistency and selectively applied around the lower planks of the model, under the eaves, under the door hinges and window cills. A small amout of wash was also between the roof planks to give a little extra depth. I then used a pale blue to pick out the skylight frame followed by black on the door hinges and latch. A watery mix of medium green (in this case Vallejo Luftwaffe Green) was applied to areas to represent algae growing on shaded sections of the roof.

This mode l was complete in one hour. I did use a hairdryer to speed things up. For the other Eastern Front wooden buildings I painted them like a unit of troops and applied each process to each model in turn, when I got back to the first model it was dry enough to go onto the next stage.

Please do try this method on your Charlie Foxtrot Models builings. If you keep the paint thin and it does go wrong, it will be easy to overpaint and try again. Good luck.

New Release: Eastern Front "Hunter's Lodge" August 24, 2015 11:37

This unusual dwelling is found in the more remote areas of Central and Eastern Europe, used as a hunters lodge or mountaineers night stop.  The unusual roof design is so arranged to shed snow.

This style building may also be placed in small hamlets and compliments the Rural House 1 & 2 available in this shop.

The "Hunters Lodge" is 28mm 1:56 scale and is suited to Eastern European / Russian / Fantasy settings.

Thanks to Geoff Coe from Wellington for the inspirational images that led to this kit and Paul Buller from Truro for the painted Russian Black Tree models....featured here and instore.

New Release: Eastern Front Rural House 2 August 18, 2015 11:44

Hot on the heel of yesterdays releases comes "Rural House 2", now available in the www.charliefoxtrotmodels.com shop. I designed this model for the Eastern Front collection however it would also suit wild west (Dean man's Hand) or fantasy games too. I can equally see this gracing a waterfront Mordheim scene as well as on the outskirts of a WWII forest.

I was inspired by a photograph of this building which had carts stored underneath residential accommodation.

The model has a unique overhanging roof and supporting beams. The roof lifts off, as does the first floor, while the front facade remains fixed in place for durability. 3 Cart house doors are included two "Z" doors and one plain so you can have open or closed options.

I am now working on another building to add to this growing collection!

New Release x2: "Tool Shed" & "Log Store" August 17, 2015 14:19

Two new releases today.... "Tool Shed" and "Log Store" are both available in store.

I originally designed these with the Eastern Front collection in mind however now they are together I think they would suit a wide range or theatres and times. Both models come with the waney edged card for the roof tops to match last week's release: Eastern Front "Rural House 1".

I did tile one wood store with slate effect cardboard and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. The tiles are available separately in the store and could be a good way uf using up your last few tiles left over from a larger building.

The "Log Store" has been designed to back onto either a house or the "Tool Shed". It does have a "planked" back panel so could also be free standing too.

The last picture gives a glimpse of a larger building for the Eastern Front collection due for release in the next day or two.  Please watch this space or "like" the Charlie Foxtrot Models Facebook page for further details.  

New Release: Modellers Bench Hook August 12, 2015 13:31

I have been using one of the bench hooks I designed for some time and thought other modellers would find this tool useful. For best results, use this tool with a razor saw.

I use this to aid sawing of the plastic pipe for chimneys and plastic strip for capping stones whilst protecting my table.

The bench hook is made from 6mm and 3mm MDF and requires assembly using a woodwork quality PVA.

Calibrated in 5mm steps, the bench hook makes repeat cutting of same length items so much quicker, easier and accurate.

New Release: Eastern Front Rural House 1 August 3, 2015 17:23

I am pleased to release this wooden, planked eastern European / Russian rural house. This model is part of a planned range of buildings to form a small rural village. I would like to thank Geoff Coe for his inspiring images which led me to produce this model. Geoff has kindly furnished me with plenty of resource material for me to really get me teeth into. Please do watch this space and "Like" my Charlie Foxtrot Models facebook page to see my new releases as they happen. I have been working long hours on this model.....is it really "work" when you do not want to stop? I think the best time to produce a model, is on the back of a new release; before I lose the excitement. Rural house 2 is in the sketchbook stage and computer drawings will start this week.

New Release "Banque De France" / office / residential property July 23, 2015 11:32

I am pleased to release my new kit, a 1:56 28mm "Banque De France" / Georgian style bank / office / residential building. This model is packed with period features and details.

This model is suitable for Napoleonic through to present day gaming.

Georgian style buildings are abundant on Normandy for official buildings like banks, police stations, offices and municipal buildings. Equally as popular in the UK; this style building was usually built as a residential dwelling yet became converted for other functions. Solicitors, dentists and accountants often practise in buildings like this.

This model comes with the option for a bank with sineage and grilles for the downstairs windows. Parts are included to assemble the model without the bank sign and barred windows, making an official building or residential property.

Ideally suited to Eastern European WW2 wargaming and UK based games like VBCW.

The kit comes flat packed and unpainted and needs PVA to assemble.

Windows, doors and window grilles are supplied separately. This means you can spray paint them or hand paint as required and glue in once painted. This keeps paint off your walls.

The roof lifts off as does the 1st floor to allow internal access. The roof to the covered doorway is fixed. Chimney pots and capping tiles are included as with all Charlie Foxtrot models.

New release 20mm 1:72 HO/OO "Tabac" July 13, 2015 11:48

During the excellent Bovington show put on by Battlegroup South, I sold a number of 20mm scale buildings. By taking a "straw poll" with customers, it was the "Tabac" that came out on top as my next release. Just like the 28mm model, plastic angle strip and plastic chimney pipe are included in the kit. Shutters are made from plywood and like the windows and doors are supplied separately so they can be painted before they are glued in place with PVA.  For scale size, the 20mm miniature is standing on a 1p coin.

If you are a 28mm gamer, I have lots of new ideas for future releases. I have just started a new 28mm model for the Normandy / VBCW collections......I have a new plastic material which will no doubt please the sci-fi gamers, I cannot wait to experiment with it.........please watch this space.