iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Another Mini of the Month? Why not. Tyrannid. Great fun trying odd colours but making the carapace fit the environment… Milliput base.

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Reposted by Rob <=> Orb

Red Five Scale Models @redfivemodels.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

WEDNESDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER All welcome. Come along and discuss all things model making and generally waffle as you build. Ask questions of the hive mind or show us your work in progress. Open to all no matter their experience with the hobby. us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A Warhammer Mini of the Month. Cryptguard. Not a subject I’d normally go for but it was free, and loved painting it!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Ripley 75mm Finally finished!!! Mostly painted in front of a live studio audience! (For Models for Heroes - it’s all on YouTube) Made the rash decision to paint 2 light sources and I think I got away with it!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

More progress on this 75mm Ripley for Models for Heroes YouTube. It was mostly about painting the jumpsuit, lighting one side and keeping the other darker . The end is getting closer.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Wow. Andy’s HHQ likes big boxes (and I cannot lie) Ok…there are two complete kits in it, and it does look very, very good. M3 Halftrack still one of my faves thanks to Tamiya and my teenage years.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Went urban sketching today with the beds urban sketchers in Ampthill. I have been lazy (actually, I’ve been doing parkrun) and haven’t been for 3 years. And the group has expanded with over 28 people coming out on a glorious Saturday morning. #art #urbansketch #pencil #pencildrawing #sketch

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

WIP of 75mm Ripley! Episode 7 of this Paint Along series is now up on YouTube. Here, amongst other things, I paint the number 42 onto a 1.2mm square! youtu.be/Jy6LOmSnK_I?...

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Yesterday I was chatting to some friends about the forthcoming Rogue Trooper movie and this gorgeous graphic novel came up by @manmademoon.bsky.social Strange and surprised to hear Madi mentioned on @mrjamesob.bsky.social today!!! So you can all have a photo of this monster book!

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Reposted by Rob <=> Orb

The Modelling News @themodellingnews.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

A new set of 35th scale US Infantry 29th Infantry Division Set (single or 2 figures) from Alpine Miniatures – the figures, gear & original GIs in our preview... www.themodellingnews.com/2026/04/prev...

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Long time since I finished a 1/35 scale figure. Here is an officer from the 5th Armored Division in Germany 1945, an out of the box Tamiya US Scout figure.

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Reposted by Rob <=> Orb

Lucy Betteridge-Dyson @lmbd1418.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

And by the way, just because he seems ‘like a nice guy’ or ‘has never been horrible to me’ don’t assume he hasn’t hurt others. I cannot stress enough how rare it is for women to make false allegations of violence or abuse. Believe 👏 women 👏.

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Reposted by Rob <=> Orb

Sandy Wainwright @sandywainwright.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

I’m the subject of a @mrjamesob.bsky.social legendary ‘hook and tease’ ™️🫣 Is this better than the Ray Liotta? It could be?!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

When you’re having a conversation on Facebook and a true legend pops into the chat….. Verlinden inspired me as far back as 1978….

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

There is another Space Marine on the way….teeny tiny head! Painted over 90 minutes during a @modelsforheroes.bsky.social session last week.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Ohhh Space Wolf!! Another Warhammer Mini of the Month from 2025. Really enjoyed painting a Space Marine again, must do more!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Goremonger A Warhammer 40000 figure. This one grew on me, but with many details became quite a painting task! Really pleased with how he came out.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Details! Goremonger. A mini of the month from Warhammer. Lots of little details on this guy. Standing about 35mm tall.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

1/35 British Tanker, 1944 Full sculpt, Aves Apoxie Sculpt Inspired by this photo of Trooper George Knight, Military Medal recipient, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry. He’s finished for now. Need to leave him for a bit and review in a week or so. Very chuffed with how he’s turned out.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Getting close to the end now. I repositioned the head, and added a shirt collar. Lots of details left now to do, and refining parts and sharpening folds. 1/35 sculpted from scratch.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

1/35 Scratch built British tanker 1944/45 So this guy progresses nicely. Getting to the point where I need to add details, and I’ll adjust the head angle before sculpting hair and his beret. Want to refine some folds as well.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Delivery of second hand books from Oxfam. Two broad overview classic Osprey books, and an absolute classic nerd tome on British Army uniforms. The German uniform book by Brian L. Davis was the first reference book I ever bought.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

6 months on and I have another update on this dude. Still early days, sculpting wise, and trying some slightly different approaches. So far, I’m liking how he’s looking.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

I’m slowly working my way through the Warhammer Miniature of the Month freebies I’ve acquired. This is the Aeldari Fire Dragon. These are great for trying out colours you’d not usually use if doing historical subjects.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

I’m back on here again, and need to post more stuff. Which is true everywhere! Little Wing, Jicarilla Apache. 1/12 scale.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Sculpting again…. 1/35 Apoxie Sculpt (new to me, but the putty I have is close to 20 years old!!!)

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Got myself a little turntable so made a video of a piece I painted for Models for Heroes.

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Reposted by Rob <=> Orb

Red Five Scale Models @redfivemodels.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

AND ITS LIVE!As seen on last night's live stream,you can donate to #kitoff4victory via the link. If you donate £10 or more before June 6th you'll be entered into a draw to win this hand made sign, perfect for any bookshelf or desk. @almurray.bsky.social www.justgiving.com/page/simon-e...

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Bead work on the cape. This is based on an actual museum piece. Took a while to work out how to approach it - you can see how it began on the unfinished other arm. Also tried to make a colourful reflective look in the abalone shell necklace, with pastel colours.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Further progress on my 120mm (1/16) Jicarilla Apache woman. Happy with the flesh now and added some actual eyes! Also added “interest” to the deerskin yellow cape. Enjoying this one - a challenge and a very different subject!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

More working on the 120mm Jicarilla Apache Woman - Little Wing I wasn’t happy with the orangeness of the face, so added just a small amount of ScaleColor Pink Flesh SC21 to the orange brown and to my eyes, made her seem more human again. Added base colour for the beading and sketched in the belt.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

120mm Jicarilla Apache 1890 This is the “sketching” phase. Broad brush strokes. No blending. Are the colours working. This is terrifying me. Big unforgiving figure, subject out of my comfort zone

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

I’m about to start on a Native American figure and was researching skin stones. And up pops Erik Swinson doing a feedback video with exactly that subject as the thumbnail. Lots of other useful stuff and shows how useful the Procreate app is. youtu.be/NHS36Ak1-80?...

youtu.be

Feedback Friday: Critiquing My Viewers Figures

YouTube video by Erik Swinson

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

After the single “money shot”, here are more photos of my 75mm AWI Militiaman in the round. Hopefully you can see where I pushed the contrast and how the back is overall darker. Particularly proud of the powder horn. It’s often the little things….

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Militia at the Battle of Trenton, December 1776. 75mm TFB Miniatures Sculpted by John Rosengrant. Really chuffed how he came out. Wanted more of a strong contrast look on his upper body, but have him looking cold but defiant.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

75mm resin figure by TFB Miniatures. Militia at the Battle of Trenton 1776.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

I finally got some work published! In the November 2024 issue (349) of Tamiya Model Magazine. Odd, but also cool to see your work in print. Also pretty impressive seeing your own 1/35 scale figures blown up to a double page spread!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Visiting my folks in Lowestoft and ran the Adnams 10K in Southwold. Obviously Storm Bert made it tough going but the rain stayed away and was milder than yesterday’s parkrun! And the goody bag was perfect - Ghost Ship is my fave beer.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Spencer is here! You’ll know his work. Well worth a follow!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

A very simple 1/16 bust of an early war Soviet Officer. First time I’d tried any strong lightning techniques and desaturation.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Really enjoyed this 28mm Perry Miniature. Going a little OTT on a plastic war gaming figure is great fun. Planning on doing more, maybe even some small vignettes.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Absolutely the best all round scale modelling and hobby news blog. Always useful background info to help start your research journey, and great quality build articles. Give them a follow!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

One of my beloved whippets knocked my German Infantry vignette on the floor and it needed….repairing. So I’ve taken the opportunity to add extra moss/green in “damp” areas and oil drips between the tracks! It will end up better than before!!!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

US 82nd Airborne Division 1944 Gecko 1/35 plastic figure, with a Hornet head replacement and resculpted hands. Also resculpted the laces on the Corcoran shoots because they were so soft in detail.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

A great podcast and a very worthwhile listen.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

I also run. Yesterday I ran the St Neots Half Marathon. 1:36:00 chip time, not too shabby for an old boy. Kind of the other extreme of sitting painting and sculpting. Keeping life in balance. It’s also so good running with friends.

Race to the line with James from Bedford Harriers.

Some of my friends from Bedford Harriers.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

A few years ago I made a good old Tamiya Jeep. I detailed it a little, including sculpting a windshield canvas cover. The figures are from Alpine and the snow chains wheels are from DEF. Set in the Hürtgen Forest, 1944.

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

A blast from the past. Shiateki - a 32mm figure from a now defunct French company. It’s not all camouflage and khaki

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

52nd Lowland Division, Germany 1945 - 1/35 Sculpted by myself. This would never have been made without the inspiration of folk at the We Have Ways podcast community and especially Andy Aitcheson @andyaitch.bsky.social

I made an armature from brass wire and used Magic Sculpt epoxy putty to flesh out the main body elements before posing.
The rifle and helmet are plastic parts from Miniart

As the pose gets formed up, clothing is added in stages, again using Magic Sculpt.

The final sculpt. I ended up sculpting my own ammo pouches as I could get them to “sit” better.
The helmet was replaced with a better proportion one from a Hornet head.
The hands are sculpted on the rifle and are removable to help painting.
The head was sculpted using a polymer clay, BeesPutty.

The final painted figures.
When painting I became of many little flaws in my sculpting, but overall I’m pretty happy with how he looks!

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Rob <=> Orb @orbness.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Love this. A lovely interpretation of this piece! A very different subject but very beautiful

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