Berman Blog: The Kader Machesky Part II (Bezpin Campaign)

I've now had my first opportunity to do a bit of building for the year. While my daughter entertained some of her friends, I was able to duck in-and-out of my shed and slowly start layering the Kader Machesky.

What did I use? Lots of stuff. Mainly bits of plastic that I've collected in my "Useful Box", be them bits broken off toys, nozzles, packing - I've got all manner of stuff magpied away 'just in case'...

So let's have a look at some photos huh?

First of all, here's two shots, of the ship's sides. Those white nozzles on the bottom are intended to be some sort of stabilizers or something

The back of the Kader needed some big thrusters, so with some card, two roll-on deodorant parts (c.1996, I kid you not!), a part from some kids nerf gun (that round transparent thing with all the small tubes) and a bit of a torch that broke over Christmas, I think I achieved just that.

I got as far as I needed to next to apply some rattlecan sprays. I find doing so helps tie the elements together and provides a better feel for how the model is progressing.

Doing two contrasting colours - once from the top and then from the bottom
is a great way of making the detail pop.

A cherry red and bemuda blue ad we're in business. Yep, feeling good. next step, a dusting with white - I kind of liken it to drybrushing with a spray can...

Some careful painting, maybe some more gubbins and this will look the biz.

Nice huh? I like it.

Okay, NOW it's looking the business 👍

Not enough time to do any more than that today, but I thought I'd throw a 28mm mini into the shot to provide a sense of scale. Also, I've previously made a whole lot of papercraft crates - I regularly use them in my dioramas) - and you'll notice that they fit snugly into the top of the ship.

Next step will be to get my airbrush out and start painting this baby up. I'm unsure of the exact palette just yet... it's going to be a true voyuge of discovery. Also I'll be making an insert or two, allowing me to put some superstructure, cargo and even weapons onto the ship - I'm thinking simply affairs, just built up onto a strip of card and taking it from there.

But that's not all... last year one of our wedding presents finally gave up the ghost. A vacum cleaner has lots of bits and only today my wife found some in the back of one of our cupboards. While I was waiting for the Kader's paint to dry, I smashed together the beginnings of a flatbed cargo hauler...