Friday, 2 February 2018

A Glitch In The Matrix

It's been one of those weeks - everything was going so well, busy with work but still managing to get plenty of hobby stuff done, then everything just came to a grinding halt!
"Cat sitting" for our next door neighbour and "camera fixing" for a friend are my convenient excuses, but I fear it was the pain of assembling a dozen plastic horses and riders (with an average of seven parts to each) that knocked me off my stride. I'm beginning to really dislike the time involved with these 28mm multi-part 'kits' - and I've just received my parcel from Warlord Games containing yet more of 'em, after taking advantage of the recent "Three For Two" offer on their website!

So, what did I manage before the glitch, well, after the previous post, I continued to experiment with "Mini Mold" and this time tried simply applying sand, grit and small pebbles to the base (saving all that time sculpting the ground) before pressing the mould, and I used 'standard' Miliput (half the price of the 'fine' variety I used on the previous marker) to see if it would pick out the detail well enough.
Ignore the mini - he's just there as part of the experiment on this test piece, but I'm more than happy with the way this method has turned out and see it as the way ahead.

On the painting table, the ECW project has continued with the addition of a green regiment of foote,
and I've added a few more individuals to the Witchfinder General population, that will also conveniently double as "Reload" markers for the ECW battle games.

The charity shops haven't turned much up of interest recently, but I found a very pink, well playworn "Matchbox Speed Kings Dodge" for 50p. I knew exactly how I wanted this to look, and once the rivets were drilled out, I took the car apart and gave it a coat of black primer,
followed by a stippled 'rust' colour to turn it into a Rat Rod, which shouldn't look out of place in either ATZ:FFO, Blade Runner, or post apocalypse games.





Finally, NOT part of this week's output, and just for Simon, who wanted to see it - here's my one and only (at the moment!) 'Clix mini that I mentioned in a comment over on the Fantorical blog, where there's some fantastic work being done converting these 'toys' into mini's fit to grace the table top.
Please bear in mind that this is a very old "conversion" I did years ago, and it's simply a coat of PVA glue followed by a dip in the sand tub, followed by a quick lick of paint to turn The Hulk into a Hulking Earth Golem for my D&D games!


Before I return to the task of trying to get those two troops of horse finished for next week, thanks again for visiting, and for any comments you might leave - especially if you have words of advice on how you reduce the tedium of assembling units of plastic miniatures!!

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24 comments:

  1. Vagabond2 February 2018 at 15:24

    It's always nice to see people working hard :-) I'm impressed with the trouble you went to with the car, I usually stick masking tape on the windows and spray black undercoat on. That probably explains why you outcome is better than mine.

    The Golem is a brilliant idea, I was thinking of buying a lead one but the cost and the fact I have no use for one put me off. Interestingly I've just made some cacti from DAS and am going to pva sand and paint so the same technique but different subject.
    I find putting together multipart plastic figures to be beyond tedious. I did some feudal infantry but I have stalled for about 3 years on doing the cavalry, only about 1/3 of the way through and only about 20 figures to do.
    just get your head down and get on with it. :-)

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    1. The Wargame Addict3 February 2018 at 01:37

      I'm afraid you're absolutely right John - it feels like "work" because I've set a target date for the end of Feb to get two 'playable' ECW armies done. Skirmish gaming really DOES have its advantages! ;-)
      As for the car, it had a white interior that just wouldn't fit the new look, otherwise I'd have done the same as you.

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  2. Zabadak2 February 2018 at 18:07

    I hate all the 'new' multi-part plastic figures that abound atm, the few I've tried (mostly zeds) have ended up as a mess of glue and bits.
    I'm surprised how good the Matchbox car looks, scale-wise but I wouldn't have the drive for all the work you'e done on it - it does look good.
    The earth golem thing is eminently suitable for a quick conversion for DnD - I'm impressed

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    1. The Wargame Addict3 February 2018 at 01:51

      Thanks Joe, I don't mind doing 'em in small numbers, but just the thought of another 60-80 infantry and 20-30 cavalry is depressing. But yes, I'll be chuffed to bits when they're done! :-)
      The "Speed Kings" are larger than the old 'traditional' Matchbox range, and definitely worth keeping an eye open for.

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  3. Blaxkleric2 February 2018 at 18:46

    Marvellous stuff, Wargame Addict, and many thanks for posting up the hulking earth golem - it looks awesome and somewhat reminiscent of Ben Grimm (aka The Thing). More "ECW" too - what a lot to treat the eyes to in a single posting :-)

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    1. The Wargame Addict3 February 2018 at 01:57

      Cheers Simon, luckily I run the D&D campaign for a group - when they encountered him THEY saw an earth golem, but all I could see was a muddy Hulk ;-) Now I've dug him out for his photo call, I think he's due a bit of a repaint just in case they meet 'another' one at some point!

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  4. Vampifan2 February 2018 at 19:47

    Loads of cool eye candy here, Greg, with the rusty car being my favourite. You've done a first class job on it, especially with the rust effect.

    I actually don't mind making multi-part plastic models. I recently made the House Goliath gangers from the new "Necromunda" game and enjoyed putting them together, although I don't know why GW gave the heads separate hairpieces. They were fiddly to put together. I'm looking forward to making the House Escher gangers next. I guess it's just a matter of attitude, mate. I enjoy all aspects of my hobby.

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    1. The Wargame Addict3 February 2018 at 02:09

      Many thanks Bryan, and I really DO enjoy all aspects of my hobby, it's just that churning out these regiments will be MORE enjoyable when I stop and have two core armies that I can add to at leisure ;-)

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  5. Anonymous2 February 2018 at 20:01

    "especially if you have words of advice on how you reduce the tedium of assembling units of plastic miniatures"

    As John says, above, I think you've just got to knuckle down and get through it as painlessly as possible. I suffer from such with painting and I've just have to stick at it, motivating myself with the thought of being able to blog about them once finished and then talk with everyone as a reward.
    While doing the work I slog through the tasks until I get restless or sick of it, probably go on Youtube and watch 20mins or so of people doing stupid things (Fail Army videos, or videos of idiots with guns) then go back to the task for a bit longer.

    I have to say the photo of the finished painted car looks ace. Definitely you've done a good job on it. And the quick conversion to make the D&D Golem looks a treat.

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    1. The Wargame Addict3 February 2018 at 02:23

      Thank you Roy, all of the comments I've received have been a help in 're-setting' my attitude, and I'm "knuckling down" to the task as you advise - but I still wish the plastic mini's weren't in so many bits ;-)

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    2. Anonymous3 February 2018 at 07:52

      Reading your reply to John's (Vagabond) comment:"Skirmish gaming really DOES have its advantages"

      I find it more difficult to be honest. Less figures to paint, obviously. But most skirmish games require more terrain, which always seems to require more construction time and more work than you'd imagine. Least that's my thoughts, based on my own experiences. Due to the terrain requirements (I do admit that I take things to the extreme, lots of houses with furnished interiors) skirmish games cost as much as an army of metal figures and take as much time to make ready for gaming. Something I didn't consider before starting.

      From your reply to Simon (Blaxkleric): "when they encountered him THEY saw an earth golem, but all I could see was a muddy Hulk"

      I know that feeling :)

      I ran a chariot game the other year for the gaming group I was with, complete with DIY Roman racetrack. As far as I know they all thought the hippodrome model looked great, but I was anxious and concerned it didn't look good enough for the purpose, not finished, and I couldn't relax and enjoy running the game.

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    3. The Wargame Addict3 February 2018 at 11:28

      I take your point, and considering all the terrain that will need assembling for the Blade Runner and Old West games I want to play puts things in perspective ;-)
      Again, it's all down to maintaining the right mindset and pace - I guess I've just been impatient!

      As for the standard of our modelling, I think we're ALL our own worse critics - personally, I set myself deliberately low standards but constantly fail to achieve them! ;-)

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    4. Vagabond4 February 2018 at 00:34

      I set myself deliberately low standards but constantly fail to achieve them! ;-)

      Brilliant :-)

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    5. The Wargame Addict4 February 2018 at 11:26

      Sad, but so very true ;-)

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  6. Simon Quinton 3 February 2018 at 11:00

    What a brilliant find. I could do with finding one of them! Fab job dude. I also must paint that figure from my lead pile!

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    1. The Wargame Addict3 February 2018 at 11:31

      Thanks Simon, trawling the charity shops while out doing the shop-pain trips can turn up some surprising finds - but be careful, it can become an obsessive habit ;-)

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  7. Ivor Evans3 February 2018 at 16:02

    Brilliant post Greg! Great stuff on your color choice for the Dodge, looks perfect. What a great idea to use actual sand on the Hulk, I will have to nick that for a future mini :)

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    1. The Wargame Addict4 February 2018 at 11:17

      Many thanks Ivor, when I started the "rust" I had all intentions of going all out and painting several different tones on it - once the first coat was on I decided 'that'll do' and just topped it off with a coat of Soft Tone quickshade.
      Similar mentality with The Hulk, where I might have spent time cutting and carving I took an easy option.
      It's either "Less is more" or "Lazy bodging" depending on your viewpoint ;-)

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  8. Da Gobbo5 February 2018 at 09:04

    I love the casualty markers, I’ll be stealing this particularly the moulds part. The car is amazing btw

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    1. The Wargame Addict5 February 2018 at 12:06

      Cheers Andy, I was really pleased with how easy and well the moulds work, and chuffed with how good the standard Miliput (cheap as chips on ebay) shows the fine detail.

      Hope you had a great weekend mate, and I'm looking forward to hearing about it! :-)

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  9. Dave Stone5 February 2018 at 09:44

    Great work on the base, the ECW is progressing nicely, great work on the car, and a clever idea on turning a Hulk into a golem looks well executed

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    1. The Wargame Addict5 February 2018 at 12:10

      Many thanks Dave, and I realise I've been moaning about the 'negatives' with multipose mini's slowing down the ECW project (probably all down to impatience), but you're right - it's actually coming along OK :-)

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  10. Colgar65 February 2018 at 11:56

    I've done that type of work on Matchbox cars before, though they're really too small to match my 28mm figures. Anyway, your version looks rather better than mine, I think :-) !

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    1. The Wargame Addict6 February 2018 at 00:46

      Thanks C6 :-)
      When I spotted the car on the shelf, it looked about the right size, so I whipped out my little chap ;-) (a 28mm soft plastic mini that I habitually carry about with me for reference) and checked it - It was only afterwards when I flipped it over that I was very surprised to see it was made by Matchbox, because the only other stuff I've got of theirs is used with my 20mm mini's.

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