Weathering powder

Roughly 10 years ago I was looking at a way to simulate dirt,mud and rust that did not just look like  a glop of paint.  Inspired by some anime models that I saw on the web I looked for weathering powder and I found Tamiya had a product line of powder and sticks so i look for other products that i might be able to get for a little less cash and came up with  some of my own powders

ok so there are three thing you need to do this if you want to make your own.
1:  A cheap small strainer don’t use your mom’s or your wife's it will damage it.
2: Something to  to hold and store the powder.
3: the medium that you are using.

First I use compressed pastels for the powder make sure it is not oil based as it will be more of a paste.

Second one is a compressed charcoal stick.

to make the powder is pretty much straight forward.
Take the strainer put it on top of your storage container (less loss this way)
and rub the stick over the strainer keeping it close to the center and watch some TV took me about 20 min each stick.
When you are done you should have a powder of the color you just did.

There are a good assortment of of colors available and you can blend you own colors from the powders you make have fun and be creative

Bagronk’s boy'z

I am looking at picking up some Ork’s

Kommandos

Storm Boy’z

Ork War Biker Mob

Any suggestions  which one i should get next?
leave a comment or Email me at HowardVaux@yahoo.com

Windows Live Writer

I have started using Windows live writer and it is great . Live writer feel and acts like MS word in a smaller package,you don’t have the copy and paste html error you got from word  and it  will publish to your blog .

I would recommend this to any blogger  out there

Not really 40K or war gaming related but thought i would throw this  out there

Painting Tip

I read this priming tip over at Berks Warhammer 40K: 40K Tips: Drink Lots of Water (and save the bottles) I tried Inquisitor Lord Aki tip it was nice idea .
It worked nice I did not get paint on my hands when spraying. When  I tried to paint with a brush the bottle was to big to hold  and the cap was a little small for me to hold comfortably. 
I was  on  the hunt to to find the replacement to the water bottle and I found it
right in my medicine cabinet there where a few pill bottles that where about to be thrown out so I saved them. here they are in action. 

Now do not take you mom,dad,grandma’s or any one medication and remove it from the bottle  just so you can use it wait until it is empty.
by all means do not  take medicine that is not prescribed to you. I am throwing that one in there just in case

Edit:2-25-2010
I added a little sand to the bottom of each on to give a little weight just so it felt nice in my hand
I have shaky hands if i am holding  some that is light or nothing at all

storage and transport

How do you store and transport your minis?

 I have seen figure cases that look great and look like they would work like a charm but for 90 plus dollars come on that is a bit much even for me. I have bought and looked around my house for things I could use here are some things to use.

This is what I came up with
1. Small tool box 6$
2. Large tool box 10$
3. Large tackle box that was around the house.

 

  

  

 

What do you use? leave a comment

Cheap and quick spray booth

I had a little free time on my hands today and with the weather I have not been able to spray primer my models. I took this opportunity to create a quick spray booth for when the weather warms up above freezing.

I took a cardboard box and cut the top flaps off.

I then flipped it on its long side down I cut down each edge of the new top so it acts as

A flap.

With the two long original flaps I cut off for the top I cut them into two angular pieces
to create a rise in the new top.

Then I glued and taped it together.

Here are some picture of the booth:

Model basing for the first time

The other day I went to the local train(hobby) store not much in general hobby supplies.
I did pick up a few things to try out for basing materials cork and some woodland scenic flock and grass

.

I like how the cork shapes. . I used some balsa wood for the little sign, I used some woodland scenic flock and some of their wild grass .

 

  

  

 

This is my first real go at doing a detailed base.

More Snow

Yet more snow (loving this the first time in my life I have snow out my door) the city take a while to plow so I will have a whole day where i can take more time and work on my workshop.
I am thinking about cleaning out the barn for this summer so i can build some tables an have a gaming area but one big project at a time..

Next Project-Cleaning out the old sewing room

I have started cleaning out the old sewing room so I can use it as my work shop.
It is going to be much better then having all my stuff in the living room.

Ork assembly finished

I have just finished my Ork  models.
Now they are off to the cleaning station and then the paint booth for primer then painting