April 13, 2025

I began this workbench week painting my mobile pigeon loft that I repurposed from Vinny’s Tinderbox from the Atlantis the Lost Empire collection.

Several weeks ago, I was at Savers thrift shop and found four trailers/caravans in the toy section for $4 each (I probably got another 20% off because of a coupon).  While they were significantly too big for my 28mm figures, they looked like they had real modification potential if I cut them down.  I decided they could be repurposed into worker dorms for my Aliens-style terraforming project.  Yesterday I did the structural changes to the first of the four trailers.  I cut off what amounted to the lower third of the trailer leaving a door and windows with more appropriate height for 28mm figures.  I scratch-built a roof air conditioner and added flap shutters to the windows using Evergreen plastic Metal Siding… an important addition given the extreme windstorms on the planet in question.  I set the entire structure in a base of Milliput.  I kept the paintjob simple.

I brought the week to an end painting several 28mm figures by Artizan Designs, Wargames Foundry and one by Eureka Miniatures.

April 6, 2025

I completed the basing and painting of the Arkanaut Ironclad and its replacement crew (Crew of the Hesperus… much modified). 

With the Games Workshop airships done, I turned my attention to another small kit.  This one is by Highland Miniatures and offered the option of a large helo blade or a small gas bag.  I went with the gas bag.

I have a 28mm collection that I call the Gordon Institute for Archeology and Paranormal Study.  I have been adding to this collection for years, and I recently decided that the group needed a mobile pigeon loft as another communication option for their many adventures.  For years I have also been repurposing vehicles marketed with the release of Atlantis the Lost Empire to serve as the transport for the Gordon Institute.  I decided to use Vinny’s Tinderbox as the vehicle I would use as the core of my mobile pigeon loft.  I have nearly finished the construction, but I’m tired so the remaining windows (two on each side) will have to wait until tomorrow (next week’s posting).