Quote from: Vidgrip on August 01, 2022, 07:49:23 PM
For RPG's I have been switching over to multi-pose plastics. They are lighter and easier to transport compared to the metals I used to use. Almost all of my gaming is human-centric so I can rely on the many fine makers of historical figures in 28mm. Scale creep is evil and I refuse to buy anything in 32mm. I buy from Warlord, Gripping Beast, Fireforge Games, and Victrix. For humanoids and demi-humans, I can get good stuff from North Star's Oathmark range or from Wargames Atlantic. For monsters I can usually get what I need from Reaper's Bones line of plastics. Reaper's casts are a bit bigger than my other 28's but I don't mind it for monsters.

I don't remember who made my paints. My painting sucks no matter who's paints I use.

Greetings!

The miniature brands you mention Vidgrip are all outstanding, too! I like them very much as well.

"Scale Creep is evil". *Laughing* I sympathize, my friend. I have come to appreciate the 32mm scale for the provision of greater detail, visible to myself and players, for example--but also for greater ease in painting the figures.

Yes, I probably am only a modestly skilled painter at best. Much of the fun is after all in the process, if not always in the final result.

Perhaps as I have gotten older, I also appreciate the larger scale details. When I look at some of my older 25mm scale miniatures, I am often gobsmacked by how *tiny* and miniscule the details are. It seems like most of them are terrible, undetailed blobs compared to the 28mm and more so the 32mm scale miniatures.

But I digress. The scale creep is a concern for me a well though. I have seen more and more miniatures being pushed at 36mm and even 40mm scale. It' like, come on! Stop it! *Laughing*

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Just jump to 54mm and get it over with now.

Quote from: David Johansen on August 03, 2022, 10:31:43 PM
Just jump to 54mm and get it over with now.

Greetings!

Crazy, I know.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Quote from: David Johansen on August 03, 2022, 10:31:43 PM
Just jump to 54mm and get it over with now.

As soon as I switch to 54mm, all the miniature companies will start making 60mm miniatures.

For roleplaying games, if it becomes necessary to, I prefer micro machines figs. Compact and pre-colored.

For wargamming, I like 80's cartoon action in a compact package, so I choose Trader's Galaxy's Bot War. For painting, Citadel and Army Painter for pre-thinned air paints that match rattle cans and contrast or quickshades followed up with a wash for color and brush on Army Painter Strong Dip with a hardware store water based satin poly finish.

The Army Painter Speedpaints have got me painting again. It's so easy, prime, single coat of speedpaint in each area, some dry brush highlight, sealer, bam done!

The MODIPHIUS miniatures for use with 'Star Trek' and "Fallout" - do they need to be primed white first? Or are they said to be 'primed' already in the box and I can put colors on them immediately?

- Ed C.

Quote from: Koltar on August 11, 2022, 03:13:56 PM
The MODIPHIUS miniatures for use with 'Star Trek' and "Fallout" - do they need to be primed white first? Or are they said to be 'primed' already in the box and I can put colors on them immediately?

- Ed C.

I am a proponent of priming.  If there are going to be issues with paint adhering, finding out before you do any detail work is best.  Even if they say that it doesn't need priming, I don't think it hurts.  You're of course not limited to white primers - there are a host of different colors.  A lot of people like to prime with the base color if they want to get decent results quickly. 

I recently purchased a couple of airbrushes and I really like the YF youfu Cordless Airbrush Kit ($69.00) from Amazon.  You can replace the airbrush with a higher quality/more expensive version, but it's been working well for me.  I've switched to priming using the airbrush - in the past I used the rattlecan.  For most minis I've been using the Zenithal prime (black first, then spray with white from above).  That helps define where your shadows will be.  There's some debate about whether there's any point to it if you're using opaque paints, but I find it helpful when planning the mini. 

I'm riding with Army Painter Speedpaints. I got the full set. Love them. I also fill in with Warhammer Contrast paints - which are obviously very good, but twice the price. For actual paints, I used to go Vallejo (which I think are still the best) but lately because of how good Army Painter Speedpaint is, I just do highlights and details with Reaper paints.

My minis are not for display, but for use. So while I want them to look good, I'm also cognizant that I have a lot of minis to paint and I need to get them done and don't want to spend a month on one. Speedpaints have been a godsend, I can technically do 90% of my painting with them, but a little highlight work over the speed and contrast paints really makes a big difference.

Currently Reaper miniatures for fantasy.  The newer Bones USA and Bones black lines are big improvements over the older bones miniatures.   The former is from a thermoplastic called siocast, and the latter is some sort of resin.  Both are a pain to clean, but take primer and paint very well. I would like to get some Otherworld minis someday.   Are links permitted?  Eh, just search for it then,  and the images alone will be explanation enough for why an Oldster like me would appreciate them.

For paints, a combination of Vallejo game color and model color, Reaper paints, and a few 'craft paints' from Delta Ceramcoat.  For thinners, matte medium and distilled water.

Use good lighting, at least 2 sources and have some sort of easy magnification handy, like a pair of +3.00 reading glasses.  Things are easier to paint when you can see them clearly.  A neat trick is to take a photo of the mini with a macro setting, then zoom in to see what you've done. 

Greetings!

Do various miniatures inspire creatures, environments, and adventures for your campaign?

I recently bought a dozen Giant Fly miniatures. For a standard sized Human, these Giant Flies are probably the size of a large medicine ball. I'm guessing about 50 to 100 pounds in weight. They are like 22mm scale, sized for 32mm scale, so that seems about the approximate dimensions. Maybe the size of a Medium-sized dog, but of course, being FLIES. *Laughing* Anyhow, each of them comes mounted on a clear plastic "Flying Stand" with a clear base. They are fucking very cool looking.

It has definitely inspired me to write up some stats and a profile for them, and to include them as creatures in my campaign world.

The girls are going to shriek over these things for sure! *Laughing*

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Quote from: SHARK on August 13, 2022, 12:49:36 AM
Greetings!

Do various miniatures inspire creatures, environments, and adventures for your campaign?

I recently bought a dozen Giant Fly miniatures. For a standard sized Human, these Giant Flies are probably the size of a large medicine ball. I'm guessing about 50 to 100 pounds in weight. They are like 22mm scale, sized for 32mm scale, so that seems about the approximate dimensions. Maybe the size of a Medium-sized dog, but of course, being FLIES. *Laughing* Anyhow, each of them comes mounted on a clear plastic "Flying Stand" with a clear base. They are fucking very cool looking.

It has definitely inspired me to write up some stats and a profile for them, and to include them as creatures in my campaign world.

The girls are going to shriek over these things for sure! *Laughing*

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Yes. Even now, with my game moved semi-permanently to VTT.

Glue, adhesive...

Which 'glue' works best when attaching arms, legs, piecing together plastic or 'resin' miniatures.

Yep, I am still on the verge of putting together and painting those MODIPHIUS "Fallout" and "Star Trek" miniatures...

- Ed C.

Quote from: Koltar on August 13, 2022, 07:53:21 AM
Glue, adhesive...

Which 'glue' works best when attaching arms, legs, piecing together plastic or 'resin' miniatures.

Yep, I am still on the verge of putting together and painting those MODIPHIUS "Fallout" and "Star Trek" miniatures...

- Ed C.

It depends.

For small minis I try to get by with using super-glue gel. Sometimes I will have to use pin to give the joint sufficient shear resistance. If that doesn't work, then I use green-stuff epoxy.

For large minis I go with pinning and green-stuff epoxy. Five-minute JB-Weld could also be an option.

YMMV.

I'm looking to get back into painting minis after I found out about zenithal priming and contrast paints. Looks so dead simple with great results. Just need to pick up an airbrush now!

For minis, outside of official D&D material, what other sources are you all using for minis? I'm really looking the Song of Ice and Fire miniatures for all my human type needs. Conquest has some great looking Orc figures. The Hate boardgame has awesome looking models for like barbarian and savage type enemies. Only issue is that their bases aren't all 20mm like D&D miniatures. But I'm likely abandoning using one inch squares and just going to measure for movement so I don't think the mixed base scales will be that big of an issue.

Any other great sources for minis that may not be super obvious?