St. Michael's Basilica by Anker

 The Basilica 

I have waited a while to get this model from Anker.  If I understand correctly, the people at Anker intend to produce stone models of historical buildings in the future with this being the first.

The stones inside

The blocks come in the usual wooden box measuring 7 1/4 inches square and contain in this case 74 stones. This represents what seems to be a new approach in marketing as the packaging is quite attractive.  Inside the box, you will find a booklet describing the Basilica in German and English. At the end of the booklet are the building diagrams which are done in the 3D style as well as the flat plan style. Also on the rear cover is the box layout instead of it being glued to the underside of the box lid. My model came from the ToyHouse, which is now owned by Jon Stolz and a thanks for getting to me by my birthday.
Once unpacked and inspected, building the model took about 15 minutes and although not something one will want to build over and over again, it would make a nice diversion for your grand kids to play with.  Or you might just incorporate the stones into your collection, as their seems to be a few new stones that I don't have in my collection such as stones 1557 (small 1/4 round) or stones 1558 (small cone).

About half built

Finished model with booklet in the background

An Unknown Anker Set

I came across this set and two other sets
while browsing the Anker Home Web site.  I found them listed under the title Frӧbelgaben on the left side of the page.  I do not know the purpose these were designed, but they are cute and one can always use more stones no matter what size.  I was surprised to find they were available practically in my own back yard.
This set came from the "Red Hen" Books and Toys:  http://store.redhentoys.com/storefront.aspx                   in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  As I live very near Lake St. Clair in Michigan; Grand Rapids in on the other side of the State about a 3 hour drive from my home.
Frӧbelgabe Nr. 3 contains eight 25 x 25 x 25 mm size stones. or in Anker language stone number 1.

A cross

Simple design

 Using pictures supplied on Anker's web page; these two models were made using all eight stones for each model.  Although I may never used theses stones for stand alone models in the future, I certainly will be adding them to my over all collection.  Eight additional stones are always welcome.

A Section of the Great China Wall

From Paper Toys :http//www.papertoys.com  comes this free paper model of a section of the great wall of China.  This model as with the previous posted model was reduced to fit on a 4 x 6 piece of card stock.  The Model consist of only tens parts and was completed in about an hour.  Just a little something while we wait for Santa to arrive tomorrow.  Christmas Eve dinner is ready and we are thawing out our roast for Christmas Day dinner.  As the poem goes; 'the stockings were by the chimney with care, in hopes St. Nick would soon be there.'

So I wish each and every one a very Merry Holiday and a Joyous New Year.

Micromodels

Assembling the first tower

Micromodels are miniature card models from England.  They go back many years, in fact all the way back to the 1930's.  Mr. Geoffrey Heighway was the chief designer of small card models while employed at a company named Modelcarft Ltd.  He left that company in 1947 to form his own company, naming it Micromodels.
For nine years, Geoffrey produced many different types of Micromodels among them such models as Shakespear's Globe Theatre, The U.S. Capitol Building, The Cutty Sark, Wright Bros and Bieriot aeroplanes plus many more different types including several train engines.  Each model was printed on card stock similar to the thickness of an average business card.  Each model contained several cards approximately 3 x 5 inches wrapped in a paper wrapper.  On each card, small sketches gave hints and details of some of the assemblies.  On the outside wrapper was a in most cases a colored drawing of the model it was to make; on the inside was a little history and more modeling tips on how to make certain parts.
With Geoffrey's death, the company disappeared and although there were hundreds of his model available around the World, sources begin to dry up quickly.
I purchased my first Micromodels in the early 1960's from a hobby shop Called "Models" here in the Detroit Suburbs.  I had about ten or twelve different un-built models before I lost them when our basement was flooded many years ago.  Most of my entire stock of card models was also lost.
In recent years, an American Company has begun producing Micromodels.  Some are new designs while others are reproductions of the original models by Geoffery.  Just recently, they have started selling originals.
Please check them them out at: http://micromodelsusa.com/

The completed model

This brings me to todays subject.  An Architectual Model of London's East Gate "The Aldgate".  I came across this kit at a paper show I attended in one of the local malls. The wrapper was mostly missing having only a bit left.  With the aid of my computer and scanning equipment, I was able to enlarge the model by approximately 10%   Still very small, the larger size has made it a lot easier for these tired seventy years plus years eyes to see and work on.
Assembling the model is straight forward with simple towers, square and rectangle buildings. The post leading up to the gates entrance came from a small section of a straw broom. Each post measuring 1/4 inch and glued into the base. The base of the model is 4 inches by 1 7/8 inches. Height 2 1/4 inches.  I don't know if all the sheets were included in the this kit as I was left with an extra roof piece and short one crown for one of the roofs.  No reference was available due to the missing wrapper.  From a picture I found, there appears to be no roof on the Gate itself.  So I assume this extra roof was included in case one chose to build it that way.
I plan on ordering some Micromodels from the new Web Site in the near future.

At Last a good 1/144 Scale Spitfire

If your a collector of 1/144 scale models, then you know the only half decent Spitfire was from 21st Century War Birds of a few years ago.  Now thanks to "F-Toys", they have three Spitfires.
all three are Mark Vb's.  One in the Polish Squadron, one U.S. Army Air Force and a Clipped wing with Invasion Strips.  I don't know if they did a Special or not.

The Spitfire you see here is a Vb in a Polish Squadron.  The model comes pre-painted and is a jewel to put together.  I built it in about an hour without adding any additional detail.  They should still be available from your favorite Japanese or Hong Kong dealer.

Fortress Gate for set 8A

Having just finished a Balsa wood and tissue paper model airplane; the first, in probably 60 years give or take a year, I found I suddenly had nothing to do.  Cleaned up work bench, gave model a test flight and it flew quite well. I returned home with nothing to do.  Scanning around the room I saw my faithful Anker Stone sets waiting to be played with.
Time to pick them up and built a model before company arrives.  My cousin always gets a kick out of seeing what design I may have come up with.  I had about three hours before they arrived and it gave me just enough time to built this fortress photograph it and publish it here in my Blog.

Enjoy

So I made a Diorama

So not knowing what I am doing when it comes to making a diorama, I made this up using some items from Woodland Scenics I bought at a local garage sale some time back. 
The tree is from a bush in our yard.  I applied white glue and put grass and some items I guess should be for trees.
I made this just to show how the laser cut tank model might look if used in a diorama setting.  I would suspect a few 1/144 scale German Soldiers might enhance the over-all appearance.
Any suggestions offered will be appreciated!