Delayed Updates

So I should have had some updates on the bases and should have had a couple of models done. Unfortunately, we've had some pretty cold and wet weather here at the moment which has ment that it's taking days for the layers to dry, slowing the whole process right down. As such, I've ordered some resin bases for my Outcasts as I just don't feel like trying to craft their bases from scratch. As for the Outcasts, I have the Viktorias, Taelor, a Student of Conflict, three Ronin, Vanessa and today I got two Convict Gunslingers when I was out getting some Physio (not well at the moment). Hopefully I'll have some stuff up soon, depending on the bases drying and the delivery of the other bases.

I did learn that apparently there is a place in Brisbane where Malifaux is played on Wednesday nights, though it is in a suburb called Annerley, so it means trying to find good public transport there and back. Still, if I can get a few games in and learn enough to confidently play, then that will be worth it.

Base rage madness

This is the second day I've spent working on my Gremlin bases and my tolerance for irritation is reaching it's limits. The cutting and shaping of sticks into wood planks took most of yesterday and today I've been working on getting the painting and the gluing of water grass and planks into place. That should be done by tonight, but this also leaves the problem of the water effects, that problem being getting enough plastic strips of the right size for the holding. Seems getting enough for a 2mm height and still be straight when cutting is proving a lot harder then I thought and my tool options are limited. Am trying a variety of plastics, but so far no real luck.

More Miniatures

So one of my deliveries arrived today. This time I got a Schemes and Stratagies deck, a box of 2 gremlin Slop Haulers, a box of 4 Bayou Gremlins and a box containing Vanessa, Treasure Hunter. I am planning to do a Viktoria crew (which reminds me Australia Post, why do I pay for express delivery when it's only going to arrive the same day as normal delivery. Get it together) and from there I may go to a Von Schill crew, though that all depends on the release dates for those great models being shown at GenCon.

Perhaps I'll just focus on the ones I've ordered first, then take a break and work on finishing other projects until the next batch of releases.

Water effects testing (2nd Attempt)

Day 1: Set up a base, with green stuff, sand and some toothpicks. Painted and let dry. Used a thing plastic covering, but the sticky tape wouldn't stick, so used Blu-tac instead. Mixed ingredients using a paddlepop stick and added a drop or two of green wash to give it a slight green colour (though it isn't really noticeable. Tried heading a stick and move it over the top to see if it worked, but at one point got too close and it touched. I didn't notice any bubbles rising so tried both the breath and straw options, but didn't notice any difference. The bubbles at the top I did try to pop with a pin, but I'm sure it didn't work. That said, I really didn't see many bubbles when using a strong light source over it. Going to let it dry overnight and will see what the effect will be.

Day 2: So either I put one too many drops of green wash in (it didn't look dark) or the base wash of brown wasn't dry like I thought as the water colour dried a dark colour. The surface was a bit foggy, but that may have been a direct result of the accidental burning. After taking some photos I did notice in them that there are, what look like bubbles, but can't be sure as the colour is too dark to see if they are bubbles or something else like dust. I felt the surface didn't have that 'water' feel, so a layered on some GW Water Effects just to give it that shine.

Oh, important fact. The Blu-tac did indeed stop it from leaking, but I moved the epoxy into the corners a bit, which in turn, got it into contact with the Blu-tac on the edge, which stuck to it when it dried. I guess this isn't a problem as it can be avoided in the future and if not, it can be covered up with some flock.

I spent most of today to try and find some polish paste, but no one sells it (a common theme I'm getting from shops in Brisbane) and only one place (a local non-franchise hardware store) chose to help me try and find an alternative. Sadly, even with their help, it seems any altering has to be the whole thing to fix it (so if the sides are too high, you have to cut/sand the top to even point and then try with no guarantee it'll be clear). I'll continue to test with that larger base from the 1st wave I did.

Day 3: It's dry and the water looks more shiny. Again, the darkness of the water means I'm not sure what to make of it. As it stands though, I do plan to use this style for my Bayou bases as it seems to look the best. Hopefully a bigger batch mixed with a drop or two less of green or blue ink will mean a lighter, but still coloured water.


(pictures coming soon)

Upcoming Malifaux Releases

News Page Link

So a bunch of new miniatures will be released in the next few months and I'm getting very excited about it. As a now converted Gremlins supporter, these guys will get a bunch of packs. I'm looking forward to the Lucky Effigy, The Bushwhackers (Mah Tucker is a melee beast) and Explosive Solutions (mostly for Mancha Roja).

I'll also be looking at getting the Crossroads 7 due to the theme of the seven deadly sins, that and the idea of a bad ass band is always a plus. Since my brother may be going with an Arcanist Ramos themed force, Envy would be an excellent addition to the look of it.

Water effects results (1st Attempt)

So two bases were done, one set at level and one raised. These were done with a 2-part epoxy and may have been not have been measured exactly (still trying to get a measuring cup, so was done with spoons and best guessing).

Lighting in photography makes a difference

The level base (the second base in the shot) has only one problem and that if you paint the bottom of it in a dark colour, you really can't see into it and that anything that you placed in it is also difficult to see unless you view it from a particular angle. The resin didn't dry flat but rather raised and considering the raised version had a slight dip, I think I may have done something to it during the bubble removal phase to shape it, but what that was I still don't know.

The raised one had a different set of problems to go with it. Firstly, trying to produce a circular container to surround the base and then trying to ensure it wouldn't leak. Unfortunately, some of it did and trying to remove it from the base is rather difficult. The substance is sort of rubbery (though whether this is because I mixed it wrong I don't know) and so removing it was a bit of a hassle. This is only more complicated by the removal of the casing and seeing it dip in the center and that the outside edges need to be removed to even it out. I'm trying to find ways to do that cause as it stands, removing just with a knife is not only difficult (rubber effect from earlier), but that it also damages the product. I have heard that you may need to sand it down in various layers, going from coarse to fine and follow it up by a polishing with a polishing paste. Will look into that.

Another big problem is the bubbles. See with the leveled one I just ran an flame from a lighter over it to drag the bubbles to the surface and used a pin to remove those that didn't pop. However, the casing was made of a thin plastic, so when I ran the flame over that it started to melt the casing and nearly damaged it's holding. As such, I was unable to remove the bubbles from this one and as you can see, that's a problem and the melting would be the first issue as I plan for wood to be used and that would burn too. I've seen a few new ways to remove it, but I'll have to do some more test bases before I start working on  actual ones and I'll do that once I've gotten a better casing set up, some sand paper (or perhaps some finer filing tools) and measuring cups.


Update: After some thinking, I've come up with a few ideas. The first is that raised does look better and to do it well I would need a short casing so the epoxy reached the top and thus remove the dipping problem. I've been informed that using things like paddle pop sticks and fold instead of stir in the mixing process helps reduce bubbles. I also have some wooded skewers and I want to see if lighting one, blow it out and then use the heated stick, moving it over quickly and seeing if the heat from it will bring the bubbles up or even try using an iron's steam option from a distance (though that last one may be clutching at straws as an option). Will test these out on a second batch, cause I really want to get to work on these models and the bases need to be done first for me to continue.

Water effects testing

So it's very hard to find local sources to get the products for testing, but I did manage to find on special a product in an art supply shop from a brand called Smart Craft. Called Liquid Gloss, it's a 2-part epoxy that claims to give a 'clear glass-like pour-on finish', so hopefully I'll be able to create a test base or two by this afternoon and pour it in so it can dry overnight (cause it gives no indication how long it takes to dry). Given the current cold temperature where having at the moment, I may have to leave it till the weekend since I feel it may not dry as fast.

Regardless, I'm hoping that this will give the effect I desire and I can start making my bases.