iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 6h

Thank you! Theme completely unintentional, but I’m enjoying the red/silver combo.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 8h

Three fire engines, three scales: Airfix 1/43 Land Rover and 1/32 Dennis, alongside Ace’s 1/72 Unimog.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Obligatory model and box photo. Great old kit - go and get yourself one on eBay. #HistScaleModels

Airfix 1914 Dennis Fire Engine kit and box (c. 1979)

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Embarking on my next WW1 build - this time in 1/72 scale, with a Roden Type B bus. I’ve also got various Airfix figures I hope I can adapt for the driver and passengers.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Excellent. Glad you’ve enjoyed the ride.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Good thought. Would have to be a Ford Capri.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Cheers! Considering the age of the kit it came out much better than I expected.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My two #Airfix fire engines together - 1/32 scale Dennis and 1/43 scale Series 1 Land Rover - both with light and sound effects provided by @pimoroni.com Tiny FX.

2 Airfix fire engine kits with illuminated lights

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Thank you so much. I was a little sceptical about how good the kit would be, but apart from a couple of slightly stiff postures of the crew it’s an excellent kit, worthy of re-issuing.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My fire engine again, with the remotely controlled lighting and sound effects in action (sound on). You can find out all about the tech in my latest video if anyone wants to give something similar a go: youtu.be/DxHClpoQMJc

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My vintage Airfix Dennis fire engine is finished - complete with lights and sound effects provided by the Tiny FX controller in the back. 1970s kit with 2026 tech. #HistScaleModels

Airfix 1914 Dennis Fire Engine kit with illuminated headlights

Rear 3/4 view of Airfix 1914 Dennis Fire Engine kit

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Patiently waited overnight for the clear epoxy to dry in my 3D printed sidelights. Now they can be fitted along with the final details.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Already thinking about my next @pimoroni.com Tiny FX application, and I’ve got an idea for the model railway, but need some of the bits from the old layout that have been languishing in the shed. Quite a lot of repairs needed to my old Metcalfe buildings and faded home-printed surfaces.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

For some reason, the number plates aren’t on the decal sheet, but printed as part of the instructions to cut out and glue on. As well as being too faded to use, I thought LF 1914 was a bit suspect as a real plate, so I’ve made my own, with a little nod to the Tiny FX’s #RaspberryPi processor.

Airfix fire engine instruction sheet with number plates

Vintage Airfix fire engine kit with “RP 2040” number plates

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Nearly finished, with just a few details outstanding. Would be nice to get it done by the weekend, but I’m definitely not going to rush it at this stage. #HistScaleModels

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

That’s now in everyone of a certain age’s head!

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Figure painting in progress. Lots of brass and facial hair!

Painted firemen for vintage scale model kit

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Made a start on my fire crew. Trying to keep the shading and highlights really subtle. The blue should look great against the brass.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Still a little way to go, but I've added a bit of light weathering on my Airfix WWI fire engine - and I've finally finished the video for the remotely controlled lighting and sound effects: youtu.be/DxHClpoQMJc

Airfix WWI fire engine with working headlights and IR remote control

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Cheers! The ancient Airfix kit is a joy to build.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Still quite a bit to do - especially painting and adding the crew - but first assembly is looking good.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

1914 Dennis fire engine nearly ready for assembly, progress slowed somewhat whilst sorting an ongoing family crisis. What it has reminded me is that the calming certainties of modelling can be a real balm during situations like this.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Lining the fenders has been something of a task, but worth it.

Red fire engine fenders, lined with brass

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Horn sound effect now added to the @pimoroni.com Tiny FX and headlight brightness adjusted. Not too daunting a bit of code for a relative novice like myself - mostly just rewritten from one of the supplied examples.

Model fire engine kit and Tiny FX with remote control

Micropython code for turning the functions on and off

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Popped into the Warhammer in Bath yesterday to pick up some paints for the firemen. Not quite the usual gruesome names, but ‘Stormfiend’ does still sound a bit worrying.

Model WWI fire fighters with blue paint tubs

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It be #TalkLikeaPirateDay, and appropriately I’ve managed to swap the plug wires over to switch the polarity of a shorter JST cable for my @pimoroni.com Aye Arr remote control.

Pimoroni Tiny FX with IR remote control.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Shiver me timbers, it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. 🏴‍☠️

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Excellent work. We need more fire engine models, always good fun.

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I’d forgotten the fire engine had a horn as well as the bell. I’m going to have to find a suitable honking sound effect for that too. #HistScaleModels

Airfix fire engine kit parts and instructions

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

First headlight test. LEDs on about half power, which is probably about right.

Scale model vintage fire engine with illuminated headlights

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Headlights done. Tiny FX LED dots fitted and epoxy resin glazed lenses attached.

Small headlight assemblies for scale model fire engine

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Headlights ready for assembly, with two-part clear epoxy resin having been carefully added to the insides of my 3D printed rims, and left flat to cure overnight.

Brass painted headlight parts for vintage fire engine kit

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Today's focus has been on packing the electrics under the bodywork of the Airfix fire engine, so I've designed a mounting plate, with battery holder and recess for the IR receiver stick. The Tiny FX going on the ledge at the end.

CAD for battery holder and mounting plate

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Pater Practicus @paterpracticus.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Cheers! Just the grey primer for now. Need to be slightly careful as I want the ladder sections to slide.

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