Hi Everyone
It’s my pleasure to meet a talented US modeller called MARTIN DRAYTON who I noticed on Social Media in his personal blog EMDEE SCALE MODELShttps://www.facebook.com/MartinBuildsModels
A high flying artist in the hobby , very competent in his modelling , enjoys challenges and sharing his please and enjoyment ....more about him below
A little taster of Martins artwork .....
1 Tell us your background and details about you ?
I was born in London in 1960 to West Indian parents. In around 1969 my engineer Dad out of the blue decided to buy a Frog Spitfire and bring it home for us to build. Our second kit was the Airfix 1/24th scale Me109…quite a jump!
In 1975 my love of aircraft then took me to the Air Cadets where I got my glider pilot’s wings, qualified as an RAF Marksman and reached the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer. At 18 I got to visit Buckingham Palace to receive the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, speaking to Philip himself. Not long after that like so many, due to the usual distractions, I stopped building scale models.
I emigrated with my wife and daughter to Utah in 2008 where I teach snowboarding, I just finished my 39th season as an instructor, I also competed up to World Cup level and have won national titles in two countries.
My full time year round job is as a flight attendant with Delta Air Lines for the last 10 years.
2 How long have you been painting or sculpting figures , what got you started into this form of art ?
I actually had a 40+ year gap in my modeling journey and only went back to it in 2020 during the lockdown caused by the pandemic. Initially I started back with 1/72nd scale aircraft, as that was what I knew, but for my birthday that year, my wife bought me the classic vintage Tamiya Panther kit. I discovered that I absolutely loved building armor. However, when I finished it, I thought something was missing…a base and figures.
And so I began figure painting.
3 Who if any artist is the main influence and has motivated you to your current level ?
There are several figure painters that have provided me with inspiration. Some well known, some not. I follow 1/35th scale artists more than fantasy and traditional artists, but I do follow some of them too.
Calvin Tan is probably the best known of my favorites, together with Barry Biedinger, a Grand Master figure painter who lives locally to me, and I’m honored to call a friend.
Gavin Storer is a talented British modeler who has helped me improve. Biberhunter, CW Modelling and of course Nightshift are also big influences.
I still have a very long way to go, but following these talented individuals has accelerated things greatly.
4 Are you a member of any club ?
I actually belong to 3 clubs:
Salt Lake City IPMS
Northern Utah Scale Model Club
Grand Basin AMPS
In addition I belong to both AMPS and the IPMS.
5 Do you have a favourite paint product or medium ?
I haven’t settled on any one brand or product at present. I use Scale Color Acrylics and Tamiya when airbrushing acrylics. For airbrushing lacquers I use AK Real Colors, Tamiya and Mr Hobby, for brush painting I usually choose by color rather than by brand. I recently got some of the new Atom paints but have yet to try them.
6 On average how long to complete a piece ?
As a kid I used to build, paint and complete aircraft really quickly, just a couple of days. As an adult I still work quickly, but for me now, it’s all down to extensive preparation beforehand. I use the notes section of my phone to plan every single step of my builds, the order of the construction and the painting process. I gather reference photos and watch videos on YouTube by people who have built the subject I’ve chosen. So, when I get to the bench there is no wasted time, I know exactly what I need to be doing. Consequently I can usually get an average size diorama built in less than 4 weeks. If it’s a vignette or single vehicle on a base, usually around 2 weeks.
7 Have you a preferred subject and in what scale to work on ie: historical/ fantasy ?
I think due to growing up during the period of epic WW2 movies like Battle of Britain, Battle of the Bulge, Longest Day, Anzio etc, that is my favorite era to model. Of course that means that I build mostly 1/35th scale.
I’ve only built one 1/48th armor piece, but that might be because there aren’t many figures available in that scale.
I have diversified a little, I do build Sci-Fi subjects, civilian scenes and a little fantasy, and I do plan to try more standalone figures.
8 Have you a favourite piece in the display cabinet ?
For a long time my favourite piece was my build of the Tamiya vintage LRDG Chevy truck. But last year I built a diorama of a subject dear to my heart. It is a tribute build to the all-Black 761st Tank Battalion, the ‘Black Panthers’. I first learned of this amazing unit from a book by Kareem Abdul Jabbar called ‘Brothers in Arms’.
They overcame extreme prejudice from their own countrymen, some of them even being lynched by locals during their training back in the US.
My scene depicts my interpretation of an actual event. Towards the end of the war, a German unit was dug in, in a forest. After a fierce battle against the 761st and their infantry support, they surrendered. As they filed out of the forest they got close enough to see the faces of the tankers. Disgusted that they were surrendering to men they considered ‘subhuman’ they turned around to head back to the forest and continue the fight. The Black Panthers fired a couple of high explosive rounds over their heads, and they soon changed their minds! This is the scene that I built. You can see the Germans turning their heads towards the crew of the Sherman tank.
It has now become my most awarded piece, with multiple challenge coins, two ‘Best diorama’ Awards and two ‘Best Diorama in Show’ Awards all from just two shows. My plan is to now offer it to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History, as they currently don’t have anything referring to these brave men in their military section.
9 Is there a subject you’ve not done yet but want to ?
I have a couple of genres that I haven’t really touched. I would like to learn how to paint busts and large figures well. I have yet to build anything from the Star Wars Universe, mostly because I’m worried that once I start them, I’ll build nothing else! I’m also planning to build a few Gundam kits in the near future.
Also on my list is the giant Italeri German E-boat, I’d love to do that one as part of a dockside scene with lots of figures and vehicles.
10 Is there a favourite manufacturer you’ve worked with ?
For stress-free builds Tamiya is always number one, however I’m far more subject-driven than manufacturer driven. So before I buy a kit, I’ll always check out build reviews online, to make sure that it’s good and doesn’t have any nasty surprises.
11 What’s your favourite model show ?
So far my only experience has been IPMS locals, regionals and nationals. I had plans this year to attend the AMPS Nationals, and various figure shows, but an injury caused while snowboard teaching put paid to those plans. I was victim of a hit and run by an out of control skier and ended up with a fractured spine.
I’m almost fully healed and plan to make up for it next year. I’m thinking of attending some European shows in the future like SMC and Telford, and figure shows here in the US.
12 Any thoughts on the current world of Miniatures ?
I love that modern production methods are allowing artists to let their imaginations run wild. We are seeing increasingly more adventurous designs and characters… I love it.
13 Where do you see the future of the hobby heading ?
I’m hoping that there is more acceptance of the less traditional genres like Gundams and Sci-Fi by the main organizations like IPMS etc. These are the styles of building that are the future of the hobby IMHO. More Gundam kits are sold worldwide than aircraft, armor and ship kits combined, and it is definitely where the younger builders are. If this hobby is not to go the way of the dinosaurs, the mainstream’ organizations need to make more effort to make them feel welcomed.
I see 3D printing pretty much eclipsing photoetch, but I think we’re still a way off it replacing injection molded kits and people buying all their models as STL files.
14 Have you thoughts on 3D compared to traditional sculpting ?
I think it’s really interesting watching the rise of 3D printed figures and computer aided sculpting compared to traditional hand sculpted figures. Tamiya is a good example, going from figures that more resembled a potato, to 3D scanning real people and now rivalling the resin figure producers.
15 Do you much sculpting/ conversion on your figures ?
So far my foray into conversions has been pretty minor, I usually swap out plastic heads with resin ones and I am also happy to use different arms or legs and use putty to fill in the gaps. I would love to learn how to sculpt and will probably take a course at the amazing looking Verko’s Vault facility in Las Vegas.
16 Is there anyone you’d like to see featured in “Meet the Artist” ?
A couple of the people I mentioned above, Calvin Tan, Gavin Storer, and also Grant Mayberry who paints fabulous fantasy figures.
Bruce McCrae is the diorama builder who has helped me progress most. His decades in movie model building have given him more experience than almost anyone else out there. If he’s at a model show, you know he’s going home with a ton of awards!
Any final words .....
Thanks for the invitation to interview, it’s been an honour.
Take care out there folks, build what makes you happy, and build it the way that you want!
A big thank you to Martin for his responses and interesting comments ......enjoy some more from him below
Couple of period style pics ....
Nap
It’s my pleasure to meet a talented US modeller called MARTIN DRAYTON who I noticed on Social Media in his personal blog EMDEE SCALE MODELShttps://www.facebook.com/MartinBuildsModels
A high flying artist in the hobby , very competent in his modelling , enjoys challenges and sharing his please and enjoyment ....more about him below
A little taster of Martins artwork .....
1 Tell us your background and details about you ?
I was born in London in 1960 to West Indian parents. In around 1969 my engineer Dad out of the blue decided to buy a Frog Spitfire and bring it home for us to build. Our second kit was the Airfix 1/24th scale Me109…quite a jump!
In 1975 my love of aircraft then took me to the Air Cadets where I got my glider pilot’s wings, qualified as an RAF Marksman and reached the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer. At 18 I got to visit Buckingham Palace to receive the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, speaking to Philip himself. Not long after that like so many, due to the usual distractions, I stopped building scale models.
I emigrated with my wife and daughter to Utah in 2008 where I teach snowboarding, I just finished my 39th season as an instructor, I also competed up to World Cup level and have won national titles in two countries.
My full time year round job is as a flight attendant with Delta Air Lines for the last 10 years.
2 How long have you been painting or sculpting figures , what got you started into this form of art ?
I actually had a 40+ year gap in my modeling journey and only went back to it in 2020 during the lockdown caused by the pandemic. Initially I started back with 1/72nd scale aircraft, as that was what I knew, but for my birthday that year, my wife bought me the classic vintage Tamiya Panther kit. I discovered that I absolutely loved building armor. However, when I finished it, I thought something was missing…a base and figures.
And so I began figure painting.
3 Who if any artist is the main influence and has motivated you to your current level ?
There are several figure painters that have provided me with inspiration. Some well known, some not. I follow 1/35th scale artists more than fantasy and traditional artists, but I do follow some of them too.
Calvin Tan is probably the best known of my favorites, together with Barry Biedinger, a Grand Master figure painter who lives locally to me, and I’m honored to call a friend.
Gavin Storer is a talented British modeler who has helped me improve. Biberhunter, CW Modelling and of course Nightshift are also big influences.
I still have a very long way to go, but following these talented individuals has accelerated things greatly.
4 Are you a member of any club ?
I actually belong to 3 clubs:
Salt Lake City IPMS
Northern Utah Scale Model Club
Grand Basin AMPS
In addition I belong to both AMPS and the IPMS.
5 Do you have a favourite paint product or medium ?
I haven’t settled on any one brand or product at present. I use Scale Color Acrylics and Tamiya when airbrushing acrylics. For airbrushing lacquers I use AK Real Colors, Tamiya and Mr Hobby, for brush painting I usually choose by color rather than by brand. I recently got some of the new Atom paints but have yet to try them.
6 On average how long to complete a piece ?
As a kid I used to build, paint and complete aircraft really quickly, just a couple of days. As an adult I still work quickly, but for me now, it’s all down to extensive preparation beforehand. I use the notes section of my phone to plan every single step of my builds, the order of the construction and the painting process. I gather reference photos and watch videos on YouTube by people who have built the subject I’ve chosen. So, when I get to the bench there is no wasted time, I know exactly what I need to be doing. Consequently I can usually get an average size diorama built in less than 4 weeks. If it’s a vignette or single vehicle on a base, usually around 2 weeks.
7 Have you a preferred subject and in what scale to work on ie: historical/ fantasy ?
I think due to growing up during the period of epic WW2 movies like Battle of Britain, Battle of the Bulge, Longest Day, Anzio etc, that is my favorite era to model. Of course that means that I build mostly 1/35th scale.
I’ve only built one 1/48th armor piece, but that might be because there aren’t many figures available in that scale.
I have diversified a little, I do build Sci-Fi subjects, civilian scenes and a little fantasy, and I do plan to try more standalone figures.
8 Have you a favourite piece in the display cabinet ?
For a long time my favourite piece was my build of the Tamiya vintage LRDG Chevy truck. But last year I built a diorama of a subject dear to my heart. It is a tribute build to the all-Black 761st Tank Battalion, the ‘Black Panthers’. I first learned of this amazing unit from a book by Kareem Abdul Jabbar called ‘Brothers in Arms’.
They overcame extreme prejudice from their own countrymen, some of them even being lynched by locals during their training back in the US.
My scene depicts my interpretation of an actual event. Towards the end of the war, a German unit was dug in, in a forest. After a fierce battle against the 761st and their infantry support, they surrendered. As they filed out of the forest they got close enough to see the faces of the tankers. Disgusted that they were surrendering to men they considered ‘subhuman’ they turned around to head back to the forest and continue the fight. The Black Panthers fired a couple of high explosive rounds over their heads, and they soon changed their minds! This is the scene that I built. You can see the Germans turning their heads towards the crew of the Sherman tank.
It has now become my most awarded piece, with multiple challenge coins, two ‘Best diorama’ Awards and two ‘Best Diorama in Show’ Awards all from just two shows. My plan is to now offer it to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History, as they currently don’t have anything referring to these brave men in their military section.
9 Is there a subject you’ve not done yet but want to ?
I have a couple of genres that I haven’t really touched. I would like to learn how to paint busts and large figures well. I have yet to build anything from the Star Wars Universe, mostly because I’m worried that once I start them, I’ll build nothing else! I’m also planning to build a few Gundam kits in the near future.
Also on my list is the giant Italeri German E-boat, I’d love to do that one as part of a dockside scene with lots of figures and vehicles.
10 Is there a favourite manufacturer you’ve worked with ?
For stress-free builds Tamiya is always number one, however I’m far more subject-driven than manufacturer driven. So before I buy a kit, I’ll always check out build reviews online, to make sure that it’s good and doesn’t have any nasty surprises.
11 What’s your favourite model show ?
So far my only experience has been IPMS locals, regionals and nationals. I had plans this year to attend the AMPS Nationals, and various figure shows, but an injury caused while snowboard teaching put paid to those plans. I was victim of a hit and run by an out of control skier and ended up with a fractured spine.
I’m almost fully healed and plan to make up for it next year. I’m thinking of attending some European shows in the future like SMC and Telford, and figure shows here in the US.
12 Any thoughts on the current world of Miniatures ?
I love that modern production methods are allowing artists to let their imaginations run wild. We are seeing increasingly more adventurous designs and characters… I love it.
13 Where do you see the future of the hobby heading ?
I’m hoping that there is more acceptance of the less traditional genres like Gundams and Sci-Fi by the main organizations like IPMS etc. These are the styles of building that are the future of the hobby IMHO. More Gundam kits are sold worldwide than aircraft, armor and ship kits combined, and it is definitely where the younger builders are. If this hobby is not to go the way of the dinosaurs, the mainstream’ organizations need to make more effort to make them feel welcomed.
I see 3D printing pretty much eclipsing photoetch, but I think we’re still a way off it replacing injection molded kits and people buying all their models as STL files.
14 Have you thoughts on 3D compared to traditional sculpting ?
I think it’s really interesting watching the rise of 3D printed figures and computer aided sculpting compared to traditional hand sculpted figures. Tamiya is a good example, going from figures that more resembled a potato, to 3D scanning real people and now rivalling the resin figure producers.
15 Do you much sculpting/ conversion on your figures ?
So far my foray into conversions has been pretty minor, I usually swap out plastic heads with resin ones and I am also happy to use different arms or legs and use putty to fill in the gaps. I would love to learn how to sculpt and will probably take a course at the amazing looking Verko’s Vault facility in Las Vegas.
16 Is there anyone you’d like to see featured in “Meet the Artist” ?
A couple of the people I mentioned above, Calvin Tan, Gavin Storer, and also Grant Mayberry who paints fabulous fantasy figures.
Bruce McCrae is the diorama builder who has helped me progress most. His decades in movie model building have given him more experience than almost anyone else out there. If he’s at a model show, you know he’s going home with a ton of awards!
Any final words .....
Thanks for the invitation to interview, it’s been an honour.
Take care out there folks, build what makes you happy, and build it the way that you want!
A big thank you to Martin for his responses and interesting comments ......enjoy some more from him below
Couple of period style pics ....
Nap
