Moon Lander

These are the engines for the Pegasus Moonlander spacecraft.  It's listed as being 1/350th scale, but I think it may be a little larger. I intend to use it for 1/72nd scale because how large is a proposed, but never built space craft anyway?

There are many small parts, but they are flash free and fit perfectly.  Just follow the instructions carefully and they go together with no problem.  Most are designed to be put together only one way, so it makes them more error proof.

The parts are packaged very carefully, the box is extra sturdy, and some of the delicate bits are even packed in foam.  I did not have any warped or broken parts.  Using my Tamiya sprue cutter I got them all off the sprue without any trouble.

The instructions are very good, but mostly pictures.  Pay close attention to subtle differences in the pictures.  Some parts look similar, but they are drawn precisely on the instructions.  Make certain you are using the right part in the right place.

The completed space craft.  This is the manned version.  There is also a supply carrier version that is slightly different.  They planned to build many of these and build a gigantic Moon base.  Too bad we did not.

Strelets American Infantry on the March, American Civil War

Strelets new American Civil War set, #149 US Infantry on the March.

Here they are at Dumont Hill, site of a major ACW Union encampment.

These troops are great, just walking along.  They could be walking towards a battle.

They could be walking around a battlefield, but not in contact with the enemy, nor expecting them right away.

Much of war is just walking from one place to the next.

Many troops walked a thousand miles from their home to go to battle.

Or at least walked to the train station.

Taking Good Photos

Hold the camera close to the ground.  Use the zoom to get in close.  Hold the camera still, even after the click for about one second.

Check the shade, the background, the shadows before you start your photo session.  

Once you get home and download the pictures, crop them to show only the good parts.  Take lots of photos, far more than you intend to use.  It's easy to delete unnecessary photos.  I use about 75% of what I take.

Watch the background.  Sometimes you want it interesting, and sometimes you want only to focus on the figures.

Give the auto focus time to work before you take the picture.  Going too fast can lead to out of focus photos.  Don't be afraid to go outside and take pictures.  The lighting is good and there are plenty of places to take photos.

Firepower

I still had this bag of old troopers to set up.

But it was getting cold and threatening rain, so I left the rest in the bag.  Next time, maybe.

Note the different colors, bright green, a very olive looking green, and various light and dark greens.

Set up like this with all the gun facing forward they make a formidable presence.  

That's a lot of firepower looking at you!