Sunday 10 June 2012

Ainsty Castings Derelict School Bus

A couple of months ago I ordered three 28mm scale resin cast model vehicles from Ainsty Castings. The jewel in the crown was this model - set 8054 Derelict School Bus from their Streetwise: Car Park range.
I have always wanted an iconic American yellow school bus to add to my collection of vehicles. They are almost impossible to find here in the U.K. so when I saw that Ainsty Castings had one in their catalogue I knew I had to have it. I waited a long time to buy. If Ainsty hadn't announced a sale with 20% off the price of all their models I might still be waiting now. Anyway, I ordered it and now I'm a proud owner of it.
I know it is a wreck and not roadworthy, but that doesn't bother me too much. Also, I know that WWG have a school bus in their Mayhem Vehicles set but I really don't like that version. It looks fine from the back but from every other angle you can see it is not the same as this model. It is just the WWG coach with a new skin. The shape is all wrong.
Here's Vampifan showing off as he stands on the roof. "Look at me, ma. Top of the world!" The model came with three wooden platforms to fix to the roof and three sets of wooden barricades for fixing to some of the windows. I deliberately left them off as I have other plans for them. As you can see, other wooden planks have already been sculpted onto the model.
This side view of the bus shows just how big the model is, as Vampifan stands next to it. The base measures 9" (23cm) long by 3" (8cm) wide and the bus is 2" (5cm) tall. It is not solid resin as the inside has been hollowed out to help keep the weight down.
I used a Rotring technical drawing pen to write in the word "School Bus," the registration plate and the "1974" date, rather than trying to paint them. The windows were painted black and given a coat of gloss varnish for that glassy look.
I primed the model with Foundry black paint, as I do with almost all of my figures and models. I had to give the bus five coats of yellow paint to get it looking as good as it does now. I know that if I'd used Games Workshop's foundation paints I'd have got away with just two coats but I no longer use GW paints. To be honest, I didn't consider it a chore. It was just something that had to be done and I got on with it.
The detailing on this model is of a very high standard. This is a great model for use in a zombie apocalypse game. It could be the centre-piece of numerous scenarios. A small group of survivors could be holed up inside it and in dire need of rescuing. Or it could be the source of a plague of zombie kids. Or just use it as an awesome piece of cover.
If you want one, I have some good news for you. Ainsty have reduced the price of it from £20.00 to £16.00. Yes, it is still expensive, but look at the size of it. It is a fantastic model and I'm looking forward to using it in my ATZ campaign. Next time I'll show you the other two Ainsty vehicles I bought.

31 comments:

  1. 1974 was the year of my birth!

    Yellow is mostly a pain to do, this is reaaaally good Bryan!!!

    An excellent roadblock, I am a bit surprised that you did not put any graffitti on it!

    "Vampifan was here"

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    1. Thanks, Johnny. The idea of daubing it with grafitti never crossed my mind but it is a good idea. Hmmm, I wonder...

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  2. Wow, that bus looks great. You did a beautiful job on it. Good model school buses are very hard to find. If I find one that looks good it's the wrong, scale, if the scale is okay, it looks crappy. This one is definitely a keeper.

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    1. I thought that in America they'd be a lot easier to come by. Obviously that's not the case. You're right about this one, Joe, it is definitely a keeper.

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  3. £16.00 is a good price for such a nice centre piece. I know what you mean about painting yellow it takes many coats to get it nice.

    Look forward to seeing this in a future batrep

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    1. It's nice to see that Ainsty have reduced the price of this way beyond the duration of their sale. Painting yellow over a black base coat is never easy. Perhaps I should have given it a white basecoat.

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    2. I'd of gone with a brown one My yellows tend to go scorched brown base, Bronzed flesh, then bronzed flesh and sunburst yellow then yellow on its own

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    3. That's an interesting alternative, Simon, but I see you're still painting on five coats just to get a good yellow.

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  4. Oh I say, it doesn't get much more iconic than the yellow school bus and hats off to you for pulling off the yellow. I love Lord Siwoc's idea of graffiti on the side of it.

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    1. As a Brit I regard the yellow school bus as one of the most iconic American vehicles. Seeing as my ATZ campaign is set in America I really wanted one of these - wrecked or not. I must admit, Michael, that I am warming to the idea of adding grafitti to it.

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  5. I have to agree, it is wonderful. And the yelow school bus is one of the most iconic american "products". I have to agree with Brummie, sure 16 pounds for 1 model is much per se, but that is a price for small resin vehicles in 1/60 (see, I didn't say 28mm scale :P).

    I must say again how impressed I am at your work. Every time you paint something, you do it simple, but the end result is just fabolous. Great job!

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    1. Thank you very much, Mathyoo. That's quite a compliment!

      I can see you've been reading Zabadak's blog about 28mm scale not being a scale but a height. Good man!

      By the way, I like your new avatar/profile picture.

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    2. Hah, thank you! I figured it is time I put an actual survivor on, now that I have one!

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    3. Yeah, I recognised him as your own Mini-me. Good choice, Mathyoo.

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  6. That is a lovely model and so well presented. Spot on.

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    1. It certainly is a lovely model, Irqan. As for the presentation - well, that just comes with practice and knowing a bit about photography.

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    2. But my friend you have those skills in spades.

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  7. I agree with people above, £16 is pretty decent for something that size. Cool model :)

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    1. £16.00 is how much I paid for mine and I thought it was money well spent, Carl.

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  8. DRAT. I have been Talking to Andy at Ainsty Castings this afternoon. I wish I'd known about this item It would be a deffinite purchase! THanks mate, looks real nice wish I'd known. Curses.

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    1. That's a real bummer, Clint. There's always the mail order option, though.

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  9. No lift-off roof, no interior detail. Ok who are you and what have you done with the real Vampifan ?

    Seriously though, that is a great model and you've done a good job on it. it looks spot on and will makea great centre-piece for a game.

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    1. Hey, it's only my buildings that have lift off roofs and interior detail, you cheeky monkey! Hee, hee, thanks for the comments, Joe.

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    2. Hey you could always model a remote interior, no one would know! Hmm INTERESTING feel a project coming on. I'd lay money I don't finish it.

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    1. Thanks, Lead Legion. I'm very pleased with it.

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  11. Nice work Bryan, its come up nice, it certinly will be a centrepiece, that thing looks huge.

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    1. It is a very big model, TE, and will certainly demand attention when placed on a gaming board.

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