Monday 22 August 2016

Miniature transport

Hi all

One of the standout gifts I gratefully received  at last week's anniversary celebration last week was this wooden box.


The box was handcrafted by a couple of artisans who were visiting the next town over for a Folk festival - Broadstairs Folk Week. The festival is a massive boon to the Islands local economies and more importantly adds a lot of colour and energy to Thanet in general (the Isle of Thanet being a collection of towns and villages on the South East of England....ah look it up....) I love it, loads of music, loads of ale and loads of "fringe" artisans displaying their cottage industry wares. No mass produced commercial rubbish, just interesting one off pieces produced by true artists, working in wood, leather, metal, ceramic - awesome. 

There were several boxes of similar sizes and smaller, even a couple of chests (they were amazing but hugely expensive) all of them hand decorated with a Hotwire to burn in a design. I casually remarked how clever they were and how great they looked and walked away to the next stall, meanwhile missus Gobbo was thinking about our upcoming milestone with a thoughtful expression on her face.  So while I was drooling over the handmade fudge stall, she was chatting away with the artists and sorting out this


Now I know I showed this picture last week in my Loot post but I have to say what a clever, delightful design it is, personalised to me and so thoughtful that I think it deserves a second showing. Anyway missus Gobbo filled it with lots of hobby shiny and said I could use it to store models or modelling supplies in it but that seemed like a shame to keep it in da Grotto and not show what the box off in all its glory. I wanted to take it out of da Grotto, on the road with the Nerd Herd and getting some use.....Lightbulb moment! I'll use it to transport my miniatures around.

So the following day I went out and bought some supplies from hobbycraft and set about making a troop transporter! now I didn't want to mess with the box itself as its a piece of art, so i needed to be a little respectful and add a removable interior (which also gives me more flexibility) which wouldn't detract from the original work.  With this in mind I took some basswood, which is sturdier than balsa but thinner than plywood and with a lot of cutting and cursing made up some inter-lockable dividers.  most of them were 40mm divisions to accomodate the 30mm bases of my Bushido figs, there are some larger spaces for 40mm+ bases, cards, rulers and suchlike. because there was enough depth to the box I added a clear perspex sheet that can be popped over the dividers to create another layer but still allow me to check that the models are ok.



my new Prefecture of Ryu  take up residence in the new transport while they wait for some paint.
that's it for today.

hope you enjoy
dGG






16 comments:

  1. love it, it’s absolutely perfect isn't it... made more special because it was so thoughtfully given by your lovely woman. I like this pyrography art and have a dice box with “DM`s Box” written on the front lid.... but nothing as grand as your magnificent one.

    I love crafts REAL crafts, you know, not the mass produced stuff posing as real crafts. I was a glass engraver and stained glass worker for over 20 years when I lived in the UK (I had a studio at a Craft Center called “Wroxham Barns” when I lived in Norfolk, and a workshop at “The Wheel Craft Workshops” when I lived in Devon. In Ireland I had a Craft Shop in main street in Kenmare (Co. Kerry) for many years, until I finally stopped altogether and decided exclusively pursued my other duel abilities... music and writing. Herself is still massively keen into crafts and makes so many things, I tell her she should start a website.

    But the point I`m making is, you can’t beat real cottage industry and real hand crafted items can you. They give you that warm feeling , just owning such lovely things. Your box is absolutely amazing :-)

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    1. It's truly lovely Steve the whole stall was, loads of different size boxes, different designs, blank boxes just waiting for someone to come along and get their own unique stamp put on - just brilliant! Even better "she who must be obeyed" was the one to sort it out...love it, I must admit missus Gobbo has a good eye for the hobby and I often get her opinion on projects I'm working on, just a shame the hobby itself doesn't interest her...

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    2. Being able to ask her advice is a nice bonus (I`d be lost without Hil`s advice), but sorry you don`t get the gaming partner bit. I know I`m one of the very very VERY lucky few. But meh, you got EVERYTHING ELSE so (as the Beatles would sing) `you`re a rich man too.`

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    3. I'm not that worried about it dude as you say I got everything else. Its also nice to have separate interests and go off and do different things, I do manage on a few occasions get her to play a board game or two though;-)

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  2. Lovely gift and good upgrade into an army transport. The handcraft is something missing down here in HK where the market is flooded by cheap replica of whatever there is.

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    1. What a shame Cedric, its just not the same. This whole cheap throw away culture doesn't encourage manufacturers to produce quality goods anymore

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  3. Great use of your pressy, I wish Iwas as skilful as you obviously are.

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    1. Thanks Joe, it wasn't too hard and I think it will be spot on for what I need it for

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  4. Great box for transporting your minis!

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  5. That is absolutely superb, the gift that keeps on giving! Cracking woodworking skills.

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  6. That really is a beautiful present, one which I'd be very proud to own. You're a lucky man, Andy.

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    1. Thank you Bryan, I consider myself very lucky

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  7. Dovetail joints on the corners. Sweet.

    A fine gift with some nifty additions by you.

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    1. It's a lovely gift Finch, looks really good

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