Sometimes a project comes along that just speaks to you. Michael Berglund contacted me recently about an upcoming release in conjunction with Todd Powell of Escape Hatch Hobbies and was kind enough to ask me to paint a sample for them. With their permission, I'll be able to share a few pictures of the work as it progresses. The kit is "Saturday Morning," an absolute blast of nostalgia for anyone who was a "monster kid" in the early 70s.

Consisting of over forty 3D printed parts this beauty will be available in both 1/6 and 1/8 scale. There are even tiny clear paint bottles that you get to add colors! I'm sharing Michael's image of the the full kit along with a some images of the parts and a quick set up of a few primed pieces just to give you an idea of what all is in this masterpiece. Not shown are the included cut-out sheets of cereal boxes, newspapers, and monster mags that will give this beauty its finishing touches.

The set is beautiful as is, but Michael gave me the go ahead to add some lighting to the lamp and TV just for the sheer fun of it. I used to build kits at my grandma's house and the environment was just like this: monster movies on WPIX, TV tray tables, and avocado green shag carpet. This one is going to be a blast!

Work-in-progress post one for "Saturday Morning," available soon from Escape Hatch Hobbies Adding woodgrain takes longest because of the drying time for oils, so I tackled the furniture first.

I shoot a base color and then a highlight from the direction of the lamp in acrylic. When dry, this is covered with a glaze of Liquin (to speed drying an increase transparency) and oil paint. A dry brush is dragged through it to create the grain effect. The colors aren't the best in these pics, but the process is fairly clear.

Working on wiring the lamp next, and beginning the details. This kit is a blast and goes together great with very little cleanup.

That’s awesome. Those shrunken Aurora monsters are spot on too.

Very tempting.

Colin

following with interest. Can you give a heads-up when this will become availabubble?

I’m painting a test print, they are still tweaking a few details. I’m told early/mid August.

Great idea and I recognise both the models on top of tv, following.

Awesomeness has been mentioned and I agree whole heartedly. The concept is inspired and I like the way you're doing the wood grain, I definitely by tagging along with this one.

Cheers Simon

really fun!

That looks like fun, a nice change. Well observed.
Melanie

What a trip down memory lane!

This is going to be good, the mini Frankenstein and Mummy figures are spot on, just how I remember them.
You're going to have a blast painting this.

Malc

Wow, you aren't wasting any time Ruckin on this one, Matt, awesome. I love the wood grain technique, very clever and useful. This is definitly one for the book, flashbacks galore!

Work-in-progress post two for "Saturday Morning." When you get your kit you'll find a nicely designed lamp that goes together well. That said, there's a clear opportunity to make it work, so I went for it. Of course, I was out of the correct color l.e.d.s, so I had to order some, but that didn't stop me from modifying the lamp.
I cut off the base and the decorative top and drilled them out to fit 3/16 brass tube for the base and 1/8 brass tube for the area near the bulb. Icut the tube to match the proportions of the original piece and assembled it. The harp that holds the shade was a bit tougher. I had to solder brass rod into an arc with a stem on top to hold the shade. After assembly and clean-up I primed and painted it with AK Real Metal brass, and gave the translucent shade a mist of yellow ocher to help it create a warmer light. Now we just need to wait for the l.e.d.s to show up!

Work-in-Progress post three for "Saturday Morning." Starting in on details today with base coat by airbrush, and I had some fun painting the details on the Frankenstein mask. Those 70s colors really take me back!
I spent so much time playing on the green shag carpet at my grandmother's house that getting that right is important to me. I airbrushed a variety of greens which were way to vibrant, so I toned it all down with a burnt umber wash, then dry brushed a variety oftones to get it where I want it. Once I get to the point where things can get assembled, I'll be marking out shadows and highlights and then adding those to give it more overall depth and help the piece as a whole feel coherent.
This great kit by Michael Berglund is coming soon from Escape Hatch Hobbies!

Looking great. But I’m not sure I could bring myself to paint the Creature, Mummy and Frankie in gloss Testors colours as mine were. Those monsters were my first ever figures.

Yeah, that’s an issue. To do it right they have to look bad. Not sure how I’ll manage that. The kid also has a good selection of brushes. I only ever had one of those white plastic Testors brushes. I dotted eyes with a toothpick. You all will forgive me when the monsters look like they ought to

I’m sure the result will be pure Norman Rockwell