Ben's Bits n Bobs

[Ben_S]

Thanks for the various suggestions. I'd considered all these options, just hadn't decided what would be best.

I was thinking I'd try sanding, to see how that works (I can still cover it up later). But sticking something on would help to add texture to what's currently a fairly flat surface. It might be tricky to make it look straight and uniform though.

Edit: I wonder whether (the end of) a shim would work.

 

[Ardavion]

The annoying thing is there's a bunch of writing on them. I'll need to find some way to cover or remove that, but not sure of the best approach yet.

If you've got any UV resin, you could pour a small amount over the words and let it cure? Not sure how the plastic would interact with resin, though.

 

[Ben_S]

I wasn't really feeling enthusiasm for the Stargrave scavengers (shown on previous page), so I shelved that for now and decided to make some more scavvies. (I've made at least 3 or 4 incomplete scavvy gangs before...)

Afraid the pics are a bit dark, but here they are:

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In case it's not obvious, there are only six (not eight). It seemed my camera couldn't really get all six in a line, so I took pictures of each end, with the middle ones in both shots.

You may also notice these are pairs of three different bodies. I decided to assemble duplicate pairs, so I could make sure that I posed them differently.

 

[Stoof]

I spy a Hama bead - I've spent a chunk of the weekend making Mario power-ups out of them with the kids. Never thought of using them for pipes!

Spoiler: Let's-a-go!

 

[Faleentheelf]

Those look real good, those are stargrave miniatures right? Really makes me consider getting some for my own necromunda uses, looks like a lot of really good and suitable minis and bits.

 

[=][=SW1=][=]

Those look real good, those are stargrave miniatures right? Really makes me consider getting some for my own necromunda uses, looks like a lot of really good and suitable minis and bits.

Those look like mainly stargrave and frostgrave arms but the bodies might be some other kit? I've got or had most of the offerings from the kits and struggling to work out where the bodies are from.

 

[Ben_S]

Those look real good, those are stargrave miniatures right?

Bodies and heads are from Frostgrave cultists II. Most of the arms and all of the guns from Stargrave.

If you want to dig through my thread/album, I have several Necro gangs made this way (Cawdor, Ratskins, Van Saar).

I spy a Hama bead - I've spent a chunk of the weekend making Mario power-ups out of them with the kids.

I don't think it is actually. I think it's an offcut of some kind of toy part.* But you certainly could use beads for this.

*I've got in the habit of keeping various offcuts and broken bits (sweepings from my cutting mat) in a jar for use as basing material. So, not 100% sure where it came from, but the end was definitely cut.

 

[=][=SW1=][=]

Ooo ... Cults 2 is one of the few I've not dabbled with yet. Gonna have a closer look at them now.

 

[Ben_S]

Cultists III is now up for pre-order. I definitely want those, just trying to decide whether to get them on their own or one of the bundle deals (which all involve kits I already have).

I actually think III looks better than II, though I say that without having seen it in person yet.

 

[Ben_S]

I pre-ordered the Cultists III box, which is apparently in the mail right now, so I figured I'd wait for that to arrive before continuing the scavvies.

I haven't done much in the meantime, but thought I might have a go at YakComp59. No idea whether I'll finish an entry, but I've started one.

'Before' shot of bits:

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And here's a Wyrd:

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[Ben_S]

My pre-ordered Cultists III box turned up this morning, along with a few other bits I'd added to the order. I've been out most of the day, so haven't had chance to play with them yet. I was surprised to see this though:

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It reminds me of the old space marine powerfist. I always understood it was due to a worn or damaged mold, but that seems surprising on a brand new kit.

 

[MusingWarboss]

Do you mean the lines on his bum?

I think that’s down to the liquid plastic not being quite hot enough when it met and didn’t fuse fully.

Maybe an early cast?

You do occasionally see that on things, usually it’s just a surface defect and hasn’t impacted the rest of it.

 

[Ben_S]

Yes, that line. Like I say, I have seen it on things before, but thought it was more likely on old kits rather than new ones. At least it's on the back, so won't be too obvious even if it does show after painting.

 

[Ben_S]

I started on another batch of scavvies, made out of the Cultists III box:

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They don't have heads yet, because I need to fill some gaps at the shoulders first and heads would get in the way. But they're coming together. (The one on the right, with head and basing material, is one of the previous batch - Cultists II - for comparison.)

I thought the point of making a new Cultists III box was that they would be more in the style of Cultists II. There certainly are some common elements, but they're chunkier and some of the arms and weapons remind me more of the original Soldiers I kit (whereas the original Cultists I were always pretty skinny). It's not so obvious here, because I've only used the bodies not the arms.

 

[Ben_S]

Not a lot of progress in the last week and a half, but I did get heads and basing on those Cultist/Scavvy models in time to prime them last week (before it turned very wet).

The picture shows a mix of Cultists 3 and Cultists 2, for scale comparison:

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I also made a couple of ghouls:

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I had thought about using the Oathmark goblin slaves (light infantry) before, but they have manacles round their wrists, which seemed a bit out of place. The Cultist boxes have some undead (zombie) style arms though and those from Cultists 2 seemed a fairly good fit.

Also, a cat and rat from Frostgrave wizard sprues, just because. (They're on 20mm bases, because I have some - even thought I'd previously based similar models on 25mm.)

 

[Ben_S]

I'd been looking for some Blood Bowl spares (specifically vampire team heads) with a conversion in mind. I didn't have much luck on bitz sites but, serendipitously, stumbled on an eBay lot that included what I wanted. I did have to buy a bunch of other stuff that I didn't want too, so it was probably a bit over priced really, but it arrived today.

There were three of these sprues - missing most of the actual players, but I think there's two throwers and two thralls, plus lots of spare heads. I'd seen those at 50p for thrall heads and £1 for vampire heads on the bitz sites, if they even had the stock. Based on those prices, these must be worth about half of what I paid (£25 for the lot).

There won't be any progress with the conversion that I had in mind before new year - not least because I don't actually have the other bits that I wanted to use these on yet - but I may get round to doing something with them then...

 

[Pagumb]

Seen a cool brat conversion made from a BB vampire thralll plus Delaque head and Escher hair recently. gshowitt on Instagram.

 

[Ben_S]

I don't like the thralls much. I now have two, but didn't have plans for them. I was thinking of selling them, now linemen are generally in demand, but I'm not sure that applies to thralls. (The vampire team comes with eight, rather than only six like many teams.)

 

[Ben_S]

Ok, time for another shopping update. (Because buying stuff seems more of a hobby than doing things with it...)

My local Poundland is closing down, so I was able to pick up this set reduced from £5 to £4.25.

As you can see, three cars included. They're a cheap make, but compatible with Matchbox/Hot Wheels, so could be used for Gaslands or similar.

There are also a whole bunch of traffic signs and other accessories. Not really in scale, but could be useful bits for something.

The main thing I wanted is the 'garage' itself. That's a reasonable size for Necromunda terrain.

It's pretty much exactly 4" tall. The platforms are slightly under 6" square, or about 7" diagonally across.

It's only a floor plus one higher level, but modular so additional sets would build taller towers (but only one extra level per set, because only four pillars).

It is a bit cheap. I'm not sure if you can see here, but those pillars are hollow and open at the back (inside). But I think this could be a good base structure, with some added detailing (like people do with MDF kits). I'm not sure about the connection tabs though.

One final bonus: hazard stripe stickers! Obviously made with Necromunda in mind...

So, good buy or not?

I haven't had chance to convert it yet, so don't know whether that will go smoothly or not. But I'm tempted to pick up a few more sets if I still can...

 

[Stoof]

Looks decent enough. I think I'd stick the legs to the upper platform and make new legs for the lower platform so rather than having a floor level plate, you get two (stackable) raised areas.

The signs would work well as general scatter if they're painted up grungy.