Tom
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writer77.bsky.social
Tom
@writer77.bsky.social
640 followers 570 following 2.4K posts
I'm here for:
scale models, hobbies, board games, cartoons, books (sci-fi, fantasy, mil history), photography, gardening, running/cycling (Tom M on Strava), philately, die-cast cars, coffee, dogs - specifically: pugs.

No fascists.
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writer77.bsky.social
Chieftain has got camo. I planned a few more stripes, but the putty was going soft and I started to panic - I got up at 6 to try and beat the heat 😅

I like how it looks. I'm 50:50 on whether to add some more, but I don't want to tinker. Any strong opinions either way?
#HistScaleModels #scalemodels
Image one of two: side view of a plastic scale model of a tank on a white background. The tank does not yet have wheels or tracks. The hull, side skirts, and turret have been painted green with a few broad black camouflage stripes. Image two of two: side view of a plastic scale model of a tank on a white background. The tank does not yet have wheels or tracks. The hull, side skirts, and turret have been painted green with a few broad black camouflage stripes.
December 7, 2025 at 4:25 AM
writer77.bsky.social
I simultaneously love and hate camo putty.
#scalemodels
A plastic scale model of a tank, covered in blue masking putty and yellow masking tape. The exposed parts have been sprayed black. Some of the blue putty is going soft in the heat and is dripping down in a long drip.
December 7, 2025 at 3:25 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Follow me for more masking screw-ups 👍
#scalemodels
A plastic scale model of a tank on a green cutting mat, partially covered with blue masking putty and yellow masking tape. Part of the tank are exposed and will be painted to result in a green and black camouflage pattern. To be honest, it looks a mess.
December 7, 2025 at 2:16 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Cheers! 👍 love seeing the moon in the daytime 😄
December 6, 2025 at 5:16 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Here, right Stephen? 👍
December 6, 2025 at 2:20 AM
writer77.bsky.social
My long lens is bust, so this is the best I could do - this morning at 7am.
#FullMoon
The full moon in the early morning sky, no clouds.
December 6, 2025 at 1:58 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Just for posterity, this is my musical heartland. Real 80s and synthetic 80s 😄
My music summary from Apple Music showing the artists I listened to most in 2025: The Alarm, The Midnight, The Jam, Timecop1983, Waveshaper, Bruce Springsteen, GUNSHIP, Miami Nights 1984, FM-84, Futurecop!
December 4, 2025 at 11:54 AM
writer77.bsky.social
The wind has picked up and cleared the smog. Quite a difference from yesterday (top) to today (bottom).
Two images of the same view, one above the other, showing the smoggy conditions yesterday compared to the clear conditions today. The view is along a beach to some condos and hills in the background. In the smoggy picture, the sky is yellow at the horizon and the condos and hills are barely visible.
December 4, 2025 at 2:11 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Back on the bike this morning. I have stopped saying "ow, ow, ow" whenever I walk 😄 A bit smoggy this morning, agricultural burning season is hitting its stride. Beach pontoons are out again 👍
An orange plastic pontoon on a beach in the early morning, clear sky, calm sea. A view down the coastline, normally clear, is now shrouded in smog and the far details are not visible. The sky is clear and the sea is calm, but the air is smoggy. A view down the coastline, a narrow beach backed by palm trees stretches away to a white condo building in the distance. There are jet skis and banana boats in the foreground, waiting for tourists. The sky is clear and the sea is calm, but the air is smoggy. A classic Thai "sala" or pavilion, with white columns and white edges to its ornate dark blue roof, which is pointed in classic Thai style. The sky beyond is clear and blue.
December 3, 2025 at 3:17 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Cheers Mark!👍 Yep, the atmosphere is electric, it's the reason I go in for these things (I'm not really a natural runner). The last kilometer was agony, but looking at my splits, it was my fastest 😄 If only I'd started a bit faster!
Stats for my 10K race, showing pace splits for each kilometer. First two kilometers were slow, then steady pace until a burst of speed in the last kilometer.
November 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
writer77.bsky.social
I went through the stash and picked my build for #FestiveTankChallenge2025 - Tamiya 1:48 M4A1 - one of the die-cast chassis jobs 👍
#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels
A plastic scale model kit of a Sherman tank showing the box art and the sprues inside the box, along with the instructions and the transfers. Not yet built, all as new.
November 30, 2025 at 8:14 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Final shot of the 10K race in Bangkok. Runners go past the Grand Palace in the early morning sun.
Runners at the Bangkok marathon go past the Grand Palace as the early morning sun casts long shadows.
November 30, 2025 at 4:42 AM
writer77.bsky.social
There was a drone lightshow to celebrate the marathon in Bangkok. I’ve never seen one before. It was great 👍
Drone lightshow at the marathon before sunrise. The drones have spelled out “Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2025”. Drone lightshow at the marathon before sunrise. The drones have spelled out “Amazing Thailand” in the shape of the logo (this is a long-running tourism marketing logo). Drone lightshow at the marathon before sunrise. The drones have created an image of an elephant, one of the national symbols of Thailand. Drone lightshow at the marathon before sunrise. The drones have created an image of the map of Thailand in the colours of the Thai flag, red, white and blue.
November 30, 2025 at 4:38 AM
writer77.bsky.social
I was telling people I was going to take it easy on this 10K, last one of the year, I’m not in form I had planned to be in by now, conceded that I wasn’t going to hit my goal of sub-60 minutes. Then I was sat in the runners’ expo before the race, the atmos was great, and I thought… C’MON LET’S GO 😅
Printout of my personal bests in the 10K I just ran, with my time for 10K at 59:59. My finisher’s medal with my race bib. The colour theme is blue and black. The medal itself is black with white text, I think this is to commemorate the recent passing of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.
November 30, 2025 at 4:20 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Made it to the start line, which I’m counting as a win. Marathon is in progress, half marathon runners are crossing the finish line now 👍👍
#Bangkok #marathon #WorldCapitalMarathon
Spectators’ park at the Bangkok marathon, it’s still dark in the early morning and the Grand Palace is lit up in the background. Half marathon runners approaching the finish line. Jumbotrons showing the runners at the finish line.
November 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
writer77.bsky.social
Some detail on my down payment for Tamiya Premium Club membership 👍 I hope these paint markers work.
A boxed plastic scale model of a Challenger tank from Tamiya with some paint markers, purchased today. Inside the box of the tank model kit. Close-up of the paint markers, they look like thick marker pens, but have Tamiya “paint” inside.
November 29, 2025 at 9:56 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Fuelling up for tomorrow’s 10K in Bangkok 👍
A hot plate meal in a restaurant with my race shirt and bib on the table next to the dish.
November 29, 2025 at 6:40 AM
writer77.bsky.social
There has been a minor financial event.
Me holding up a Tamiya Premium Club “pre member” card outside the Tamiya Premium Center.
November 29, 2025 at 4:00 AM
writer77.bsky.social
I guess it is not the same car, but Steve's Mustang had these. Can't get cooler than Steve 🙂👍
Steve McQueen in his iconic green Mustang with rear wheels spinning and smoking. Steve is looking out and to the rear from the driver's seat.
November 28, 2025 at 4:05 AM
writer77.bsky.social
I'm enjoying The Witcher s4, although I miss Cavill in the role. The costume change in this series makes Hemsworth look like a biker. Nothing wrong with looking like a biker, but it's not the witcher. However, very happy to see this legend join the cast. Laurence Fishburne: what a career 👍
A movie still of Laurence Fishburne as a young patrol boat crewman in Apocalypse Now. He is on the boat in the river, wearing a green t-short, sunglasses, and a headband. A movie still of Laurence Fishburne in The Witcher. He is wearing worn leather robes and gloves and has a distinguished grey streak through his hair.
November 25, 2025 at 4:48 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Chieftain in various states of primer and base coat (TS-2 rattle can). It is now back to almost exactly the same shade of dark green as the original plastic - well played Tamiya 😄👍 I totally forgot about the side skirts, so they are a step behind. Even the gun looks ok with a lick of paint.
A plastic scale model of a Chieftain tank, slightly angled side-on view on a white background. The model is in various stages of painting, the hull is dark green, the gun and the road wheels are black, and the side skirts, drive wheels, and idler wheels are grey.
November 24, 2025 at 5:44 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Chieftain in progress 👍
#scalemodels
The lower hull of a plastic scale model tank is in a spray booth, held inverted on a Tamiya spraying stand. It has been sprayed with Tamiya Surface Primer (grey) - the spray can is also in the shot, showing the familiar Tamiya red and blue stars. The constituent parts of a plastic scale model tank are suspended from clips and various other stands while the primer that they have just been sprayed with dries. They sit on a green cutting mat with bits and pieces of the scale modelling hobby scattered around.
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Took a walk up this fella today: Khao Chalak, two kilometers up, two kilometers down, not quite Currahee, but still a good workout 👍 Looking down on the town of Sri Racha and the Gulf of Thailand.
#Thailand #Chonburi #KhaoChalak
A view of Khao Chalak from the road leading into the town of Bang Phra. Khao Chalak is a green, tree covered peak (305 metres). The sky is blue with high clouds that are not blocking the sun. The photo is taken next to PTT gas station, visible on the left side. An elevation chart of Khao Chalak over the distance of the walk to the peak. It goes pretty much straight up at an angle, then back down again, forming a triangle. A satellite map of Khao Chalak with the route of the path to the peak marked as an orange line. The route has a couple of switchbacks as it rises to the top. Khao Chalak appears green and covered in trees. A view from the top of Khao Chalak. The sun is setting in the Gulf of Thailand in a cloudy sky which is blue high up, changing to yellow and then orange near the horizon. A town sits in shadow by the water, with tall buildings and jetties and piers silhouetted against the last light of the sun. There is foliage framing the view from the top of the hill.
November 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
writer77.bsky.social
Might have over-exerted this afternoon 😮‍💨
November 22, 2025 at 9:34 AM
writer77.bsky.social
Saturday usually means a trip to my third favourite place:
1) home
2) any hobby shop
3) MegaHome
4) any local restaurant
5) Sunrise Tacos

Buying 1:35 scale tow ropes, thanks for the tip Stef! 👍 This particular stuff is quite stiff. I'll give it a go and then look online when it goes wrong.
Exterior view of a large hardware store called MegaHome, which is basically just a huge green warehouse. There are cars parked in front with a huge store sign towering in the car park. All under a clear blue sky. An unpainted plastic scale model of a tank in dark green plastic sits on a green cutting mat, with a loop of picture hanging wire in front of it. The wire will be used to make tow ropes for the model.
November 22, 2025 at 7:40 AM