tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43725932717917068542024-02-21T06:46:13.436+00:00Funny Little Wars - MolateroBeing the Ethereal Embassy for the Kingdom of Molatero and it's participation in the Funny Little WarsMilgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-82093521872025924672021-06-19T11:18:00.001+01:002021-06-19T11:18:03.073+01:00Juggling Jobs! June 2021<p> Yes, I've been amiss with my posting. This is due to a flurry of numerous diverse projects I've been trying to complete - mainly household jobs - over the past month.</p><p>At the top of the list is the tidying up and reorganisation of my man-cave in the attic. I've been busily clearing out junk and eBaying a LOT of stuff that I do not need or have time for any more. I had no idea that eBay was so time consuming, it's a hobby on it's own!</p><p>Anyway, modelling has ground to a near halt because of this and I'm having to put what time I do have into my Christmas gifts schedule, as this *cannot* fall behind as I am making ALL my family presents myself this year. Sadly, personal projects - like peg soldiers - has suffered as a result.</p><p>Still, it might interest you to see the completion photos of my 'Olde Worlde Christmas Shoppe' prototype as the building process will have will have an impact on future military projects for this blog...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51255882122_2a5e45b7ba_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="727" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51255882122_2a5e45b7ba_c.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><p>This is roughly 1/72 in scale I reckon and would have been a terrific learning experience for when I was doing WW2 military wargame models (but I have knocked this hobby on the head). It is, however, giving me lots of ideas for toy soldier projects in larger scales (28mm and 50mm), the first of which is quite simple - a sentry box model for my peg soldiers.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/beaty/51255880342/in/photostream/" title="Xmas Shoppe Prototype - Complete"><img alt="Xmas Shoppe Prototype - Complete" height="500" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/51255880342_f8f1773e93.jpg" width="281" /></a></p><p>So...Onward and upwards...</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-63586600161614863572021-06-08T14:03:00.006+01:002021-06-08T14:03:28.796+01:00Back from Holiday - June 2021<p> Yay! I'm back! (Well, that should be <i>'booo'</i> I suppose as it's back to early morning rises for work!) π©</p><p>Anyway, let's have a quick refresher as to what's on the workbench so I can crack back on with the ongoing projects. The first thing is 'Invasion Mars, 1899' and my first Steampunk 'regiment'...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51230705237_16a80e35ec_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="640" height="361" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51230705237_16a80e35ec_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Looking OK, about 75% done I'd say. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed with the quality of these models, they are a little shoddy. The body of these figures were printed out in one piece, not in separate component parts as I have done previously.</p><p>The reason I tried this was to see just how much I could get away with, obviously printing a model in one part makes thing quicker and easier as there are no subsequent assembly required. But the downside is the hit that the quality takes. Printing separate parts means that you can chose the best way to print out each individual part to maximise it's quality - print orientation has a big impact on different shapes of objects - so printing one object vertically might not be the best way to print another, which might be most effectively printed horizontally.</p><p>And so, as I said, these one-piece prints are a mixed bag for quality, but the experiment was worth a try as it gives me a bottom line for what I can expect to work. You live and learn.</p><p>Anyway, there's not much left to paint on the body, I just have to clean up the arms that I printed and then paint them. At the same time, I'm also painting the prototype model for my Steampunk light infantry unit. This is pretty far on as well...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51232179199_1f03d2ef3d_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51232179199_1f03d2ef3d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Moving on...<br /></b></i></span>Aside from this unit of soldiers I was also working on some Christmas gifts (yes, I'm starting extra early) and I think it's interesting to highlight the current project as it might have some influence on future toy soldier ideas. I've been making some festive mantlepiece ornaments based on Victorian Olde Worlde Shops!</p><p>What's relevant to this blog is that these little buildings are roughly in 28mm scale, which makes them handy for wargaming related projects. I haven't had much experience in printing 3D wargaming terrain and while this project is overly decorative it's also being very useful in teaching me some of the techniques for making battlefield scenery...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51225620250_19ea1f491c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51225620250_19ea1f491c_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51232959335_81f212bf1f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51232959335_81f212bf1f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>There are a few other bits and pieces going on but I'll wait until they are a bit more advanced before revealing those. But I've plenty to be getting on with in the meantime!</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-85330971458405132432021-05-29T10:32:00.002+01:002021-05-29T10:32:20.116+01:00What's Going On - May 2021<p> Yep, doing a unit of figures (even a small one) is taking time, so I reckon it will still take something like another week of spare time to finish my first 'Invasion Mars, 1899' unit. Sorry, I'm a slow painter.</p><p>I <i>have</i> made some progress on the fiddly steampunk gun models that I had designs - I think I overstretched my design ability here - and I got them to print out OK. I just have to remove the supporting sprues and clean them up...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51193830773_2653d45c73_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="639" height="290" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51193830773_2653d45c73_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So, what am I also working on that might be mildly interesting to talk about in the mean time?</p><p>Well, my youngest daughter and I have been making a start on our DIY Christmas gifts and one of the ideas we had was based on some little wooden mantlepiece ornaments that we found... (Bear with me)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51197934849_0c652dbeb1_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="626" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51197934849_0c652dbeb1_z.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><p>What we wanted to do was build our own slightly more detailed versions of these Christmassy ornaments and put some lights in them to decorate out front rooms. So I came up with a prototype of my own...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51205431693_0f62e0b5bb_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="535" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51205431693_0f62e0b5bb_z.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51207074338_4b5dcb828f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="596" height="358" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51207074338_4b5dcb828f_z.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><p>NOW... What has this to do with toy soldiers? Well, at some point I did want to war game with my soldiers and this would entail making some battlefield terrain and furnishings - like buildings and what-not.</p><p>So, this festive novelty is actually an interesting experiment in what I can archive if I want to build some scale buildings. And it's been an interesting exercise.</p><p>Scale-wise I reckon that this prototype is around either 20mm or 28mm or somewhere in between. While I might struggle to make something in 50/54mm - my printer having a smaller print area - I think I could do something for my peg figures if I print the models out in parts.</p><p>I was very pleased by the level of detail and textures I could get out of my printer and I can imagine some of the possibilities for various types of battlefield accessories...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51206872246_8903f88dcb_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="640" height="303" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51206872246_8903f88dcb_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Anyway, it's a intriguing idea.</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-68347816605558132672021-05-18T20:47:00.006+01:002021-05-18T20:47:49.268+01:00Steampunk British Infantry - 18/05/21 Update<p> I've given up on 'part numbers' for these posts as I'm working on a couple of related 'regiments' at the same time!π</p><p>So, the story so far...</p><p>After getting my recent creative diversions out of the way I have returned to my <b><i><span style="color: #990000;">'Invasion Mars, 1899'</span></i></b> project by starting to paint my first 'regiment' of British for the campaign. These are my heavy assault infantry - Grenadier Guards - with the Mk. 1 (diving suit) space clobber!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51188138049_067ba61181_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="640" height="286" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51188138049_067ba61181_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It's nice to see a unit of my peg soldiers in progress, it reminds me of why I started this blog in the first place (even if they are not Molatarian infantry)!</p><p>The scarlet I am using for the suits is Vallajo's 'Gory Red', crimson was a bit to bright for my liking and this more muted red is more to my liking <i>though</i> it's a bit of a pain to paint with and needs a couple of coats to get good coverage. Still, it's worth it.</p><p>I'm gone for a coppery brass for the diving helmets and again - just my luck - this paint is a bit of a pain to use as well...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51188428165_89c317349f_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51188428165_89c317349f_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It's going to be a bit of a slow slog to work my way through these five figures in order to complete the unit AND I haven't even completed the 3D printing of the arms yet! The delay here was due to my fancy-nancy 'space rifle' design which is turning out to be a pain to print properly. I think I got a bit over-ambitious for the scale and should have stuck to my super simplified design ethos of my earlier peg soldiers' weapons. </p><p>Anyway, in the end I managed to get a passable print, though it still needs some cleaning up...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51188139629_3a1ba28d62_z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="640" height="389" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51188139629_3a1ba28d62_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: Hard to tell what's going on when all the print supports are<br />on but hopefully it will do the job once it's cleaned-up!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><i><b>And in the meantime...<br /></b></i></span>While scratching my head over my Grenadiers' guns I cracked on with the prototype for my second British unit - a Light Infantry trooper in a Mk. 2 suit...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51187363116_0e31b0bc71_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51187363116_0e31b0bc71_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>You can get an idea from the above pick how the space rifles should turn out as I have primed the arms for this little chap. And while I had my red paint out I made a start on painting his uniform.</p><p>In all I hope to make three British infantry units (of six soldiers each), the Grenadiers, a Light Foot and a Marine detachment. I'm going for six in a unit as in this 50mm scale and using a version of the Portable Wargame rules for a small table 'battlefield' this will keep the overall numbers manageable for a game.</p><p>Aside from the infantry there will also be a section of 'cavalry' (steam mechs) and a artillery section (one gun). The mechs will pose quite a challenge as they will be quite big.</p><p>And that's all for today, it's just banging on with these figures in a little painting production line!</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-49618671658544721202021-05-14T16:43:00.002+01:002021-05-14T16:43:27.132+01:00The Curse of Being 'Creative'!<p> I'm gone a bit 'off-piste' over the past week or so (not by choice really). I have had to comply to a few friend & family requests and this has cut into my valuable toy soldier making schedule.</p><p>However, you have to look on the bright side and think of these unrelated project as 'opportunities for good practice' (I say that through gritted teeth). π</p><p>So, what have I been up to? And here, I'm not going to try and fool you into believing they were all relatable to my toy soldier hobby...</p><p>First of all, I was given a stone garden ornament that the mother-in-law wanted painting up to look like their pet dog. Somehow because I 'paint models' that means I am an expert in doing anything vaguely <i>'creative'</i>...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163134345_1b809698f2_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51163134345_1b809698f2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I could not conceive of any part of this 'project' that could positively impact on my peg model making <i>except</i> that by doing the wife a 'favour' (order) she would cut me some slack for a while. And that's about it, so I did it. <p></p><p>The second little job was - at least - my idea. I wanted to make a little gift for my work colleague (we are both NHS operating theatre domestics) as she has been very supportive as we have worked throughout this pandemic.</p><p>She happens to have a couple of donkeys on her bit of land and when she saw the 3D models I had been making she mentioned she would love to have a 'little donkey'! I was happy to do this as she has really mad a bit of a stressful 12 months bearable and has got me through the times when my own health issues have plagued me at work. So, I made her a little Eeyore (from 'Winnie the Pooh')...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51168467938_c9764a98c2_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51168467938_c9764a98c2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51168467573_3764eec1e7_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51168467573_3764eec1e7_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>This was <i>definitely</i> worth taking the time away from toy soldiers to do, especially when she was so pleased when I presented it to her! π</p><p>And finally...</p><p>Now, this was very useful! I've been wanting to have a go at 3D modelling slightly more feature detailed figures which would involve some slightly more complicated 3D modelling using the TINKERCAD software I have been using lately.</p><p>Along-side my super simple 'pegs' I wanted to experiment with the possibility of making larger one-off display models of historic soldiers <i>but </i>which would still be modelled in a cartoon format. Trouble is that I needed some sort of initial project idea to spur me on to trying out the idea...</p><p>As it happened, another work colleague asked me whether I could 'make one of these' and showed me a blurry photo of his football team's mascot! He supports Barnsley FC and they have a mascot called 'Tony Tyke' (really) and so after doing a bit of research I had a play with TinkerCad and knocked up a rough approximation of Toby!</p><p>I decided to start with the head as that was the most identifiable part of the mascot and feature rich element of a model...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51143614632_5dcd158340_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="640" height="336" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51143614632_5dcd158340_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It took a while but I managed to put together something that looked a little like Toby, well dog-like anyway! My friend was very happy with this design so I forged on with the rest of the body...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51149765255_71ee9cc412_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51149765255_71ee9cc412_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Getting the right pose was a bit fiddly as this was the first time I had tried anything like this, but after several iterations and modifications I managed to come up with a pose I was happy with...</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151057424_7a9a31e964_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="640" height="386" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151057424_7a9a31e964_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Now, how does this relate to toy soldiers? Well, having worked out a fairly OK anatomy of a cartoon figure - albeit a footballer, in this case - I could now see how I might further modify this into any other figure that I might like. I reckon it might be an easy project to alter this into a uniformed mascot, varying the head into something appropriate for a particular regiment - a bulldog for a US Marine, for example, or a French Bulldog for a Foreign Legionnaire!</p><p>You see where I'm going?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51179183790_f3fdf824ae_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51179183790_f3fdf824ae_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Again, I apologise that this post seems a little left field BUT these distractions - particularly Toby - have given me some ideas for future toy soldier projects that I think will be very interesting indeed!</p></div>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-85226260633128491072021-05-02T11:14:00.002+01:002021-05-02T15:50:24.455+01:00Invasion Mars - 2nd British Infantry (Pt. 1)<p>As mentioned in the previous post, I am well on the way to making my first British unit for my 'Invasion Mars, 1899' project. This unit is a 'heavy' infantry Grenadier unit - an elite with special weapons - so I next wanted to start on my more basic 'light' infantry.</p><p>I had in mind something along the lines of the idea of 'Zulu on Mars' when it came to designing the light infantry figures, using the 1879 pattern of uniform worn by the British at the Battle of Rorke's Drift. Taking this as a basis I would then modify the original design to give it a more Steampunk look!</p><p>Luckily for me this is already a pretty popular theme and there is a reasonable amount of reference and ideas knocking about on the internet and in print and even in popular media...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51153171250_a18c6499fb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="302" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51153171250_a18c6499fb.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">British infantry on Mars! Doctor Who, series 36, episode nine β Empress of Mars</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />For me the most iconic bit of the uniform has to be the British Army's 'Foreign Service pith helmet, so I wanted this to be at the heart of my design. But unlike some early science fiction I did not want to endow Mars with a earth-like atmosphere, so this helmet would have to be modified into some sort of environmental protection.<br /><p>Using TINKERCAD as my 3D modelling software of choice (at the moment, until I can get to grips with something more sophisticated) I quickly mucked about with some shapes until I got something approximating my idea. I won't lie, the helmet was a bit of a bitch to do and it took me a while to get something that I was happy with...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/beaty/51142017743/in/photostream/" title="Steampunk Soldier - 'Invasion Mars, 1899'"><img alt="Steampunk Soldier - 'Invasion Mars, 1899'" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/51142017743_79636de468_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>There was then a lot of tinkering around with sizes. I always tend to over-size things when I free-hand my designs and the first attempt at the helmet was way too big in proportion to the body and when compared to the Grenadiers I did...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51153214355_548323d7ed_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="571" height="260" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51153214355_548323d7ed_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Back to the drawing board and I rescaled the helmet a couple of times until I think I hit the 'Goldilocks' zone. Yes, it still is a little over-sized but that's part of my cartoon style and also so that it works as a 'space helmet'...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51142800056_068c800c0b_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="500" height="423" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51142800056_068c800c0b_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The next issue was the design of the 'space gun', again I didn't want to do what some game miniature designers have done and simply make a Martini-Henry rifle (as used in 'Zulu') for a science-fiction figure. I don't know about the effects of ballistics in space or what effects a different gravity has on projectiles but I'm sure a 'one gun suits all' (space and differing gravities) would mean some special considerations...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uYEteSfnObc" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></p><p>So, I went for a fanciful Steampunk design with an unspecified firing mechanism - could be a rail gun, could be a ray gun sorta thingy that would suit all situations! π </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51143881835_de93874a88_z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="500" height="290" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51143881835_de93874a88_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Sorry this is upside-down, but the above picture show how I orientate my<br />objects for 3D printing for the best quality.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>Design Done - The Printing Begins!<br /></b></span>Now the nerve wracking bit, although I am starting t gain a little confidence with my 3D printing workflow. The primary concern is print quality and how to orientate designs on the print bed to get the best print I can. </p><p>There is actually two concerns, orientation and whether to add supports. In the above picture of my space gun I orientate the arm and gun component in such a wat that I get the smoothest print quality on the main straight line (the upper arm). There were several options but I decided this offered the most advantages. Others might disagree.</p><p>Supports are the second - but related - consideration. I might orientate my model so that I can minimise the use of supports (supports being scaffolding that supports over-hanging elements of the model). So it turns into a bit of a puzzle working out which way to place the component to get the best quality with the least support! π΅</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51143881825_91abbc75d0_z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="640" height="383" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51143881825_91abbc75d0_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Here I have orientated the body & legs in the vertical BUT I have, then, had<br />to add a lot of tree-like supports to aid in the printing of the helmet over-hang.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Yes, it's all a bit crazy, but after a time it becomes second nature and you eventually just 'know' instinctively what's going to cause problems in a particular model. Er, <i>mostly</i>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51142683236_655e99c92a_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="640" height="304" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51142683236_655e99c92a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Print done I then carefully compare it to the other model I have made in the series, my Grenadier. As mentioned above, my first attempt at my new helmet resulted in it being obviously over-large when compared to my Grenadier's 'diving helmet'. But this latest print turned out to be proportionally correct (I think)...<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51146842083_4a9623f5a2_z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51146842083_4a9623f5a2_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: Checking mutual proportions, but also notice that I have added<br />my 'magnetisation' system to the bases, steel washers! LOL</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Well, this is all going swimmingly! Er, except.......!</div><div><br /></div><div>On fitting the arms to the body I noticed that the arm holding the gun didn't fit properly due to the splayed feet I had done. It's not noticeable in this photo due to the angle I took it, but believe me that the arms are not fitting the way that they should be...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51144491611_05d5c2af2a_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51144491611_05d5c2af2a_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>...Back to the drawing board <i>again</i>! This is what prototypes figures are for though, working out all the kinks before running off a whole unit of figures. In this case I had to go back into TinkerCad and alter the angle of the feet so there was more space for the gun to sit on the base properly...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151562137_fcc53225f8_z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="577" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51151562137_fcc53225f8_z.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><br /><div>And that's it for now. A very good start I think (?), I'm quite pleased with my design for a Steampunk soldier and I'm really enjoying this series. AND it's actually taking me back to the original idea for this blog which was to do wargame armies (rather than the single figures I have been doing for a long time).</div><div><br /></div><div>I may even get round - eventually - to doing the FLW Molatero army I intended to do in the first place! π<br /><p><b>NEXT: Painting my Infantryman</b>.</p><p></p></div>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-77411630856975722322021-04-29T18:15:00.009+01:002021-04-29T18:15:32.078+01:00Steampunk Grenadiers - Magnetised Bases<p> Having completed printing the remainder of the first unit for my 'Invasion Mars, 1899' project I realised I had made a bit of a boo-boo! But, first of all let's have at the progress so far...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51142733423_037f180418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="500" height="306" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51142733423_037f180418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So far so good - although I am still working on the arms and weapons - and this is when I had a bit of a 'duh-oh' moment. I like to magnetise war game figures so I can easily move units in unit trays, this entails fitting a small magnet into the base of the figure - guess what I HADN'T done! π</p><p>I didn't really want to start drilling or carving out holes in the figures' bases so I could insert magnets, this would be quite messy. SO... Plan B, I decided it would be easier just to glue steel washers to the bottom - then I'll magnetise the unit trays with magnetic sheets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51147578000_5d036dea9f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="463" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51147578000_5d036dea9f.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br /><p>This is a bit of a fudge but it does have one positive effect - it gives my PLA printed figures a little bit of weight - which I prefer. Every cloud has a silver lining!</p><p><b>NEXT: I finish the construction and painting of my Grenadiers.</b>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-33803263773038110262021-04-23T11:14:00.008+01:002021-04-23T11:17:00.479+01:00Innsmouth Bad Boys - Completed<p> These little guys were a bit of an experiment so I'm not 100% happy with them, but they gave me a bit more experience in designing 3D figures. till, they expand my 'Assault on Innsmouth' collection and have given me some ideas for future fantasy projects.</p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><b>'The Snapper Brothers' - Frog Man<br /></b></span>A swivel-gun totting amphibian psychopath - the elder brother of this duo, his toxic bite is as deadly as the bark of his canon-ette !</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131916988_7be5c3e39f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131916988_7be5c3e39f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131916488_8438649432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131916488_8438649432.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><b>'The Snapper Brothers' - Shark Man<br /></b></span>He never sleeps and his search for prey is ceaseless! He'll get you, by tooth or he'll nail you...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131704226_96dc6ce8ea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131704226_96dc6ce8ea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131704881_cc366528ee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131704881_cc366528ee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>These models take me <i>slightly</i> away from my original peg format with their modified bodies. I <i>think</i> I could have made something similar out of wood, but the great advantage of 3D modelling is it allows a lot more latitude for on the fly experimentation which encourages trying new ideas.</p><p>So, that's my monsters and now I'll have to finish off this small series with a few more human cast members. It'll be fun, though, setting these up against 'normal' figures in a skirmish game! π</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131916703_16d83a0b0f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="500" height="319" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51131916703_16d83a0b0f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>Link to all posts in this project series: <a href="https://molatero.blogspot.com/search/label/X-Ref%3A%20Peg%2FInnsmouth%2F0221" target="_blank">Innsmouth Bad Boys/Assault on Innsmouth</a>.</b></p></div><p></p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-46520750257540468092021-04-22T11:31:00.011+01:002021-04-22T11:32:45.713+01:00Innsmouth Bad Boys - Progress<p>While I'm getting there with my 'Innsmouth Bad Boys' I wanted to show the intermediate progress rather than simply going straight to the completion photos (which are about a day away). That would be a bit too much like those frustrating Blue Peter 'and here is one I made earlier' reveals! π</p><p>While most of these figures have been pretty straight forward. I have topped the project with some painting that is a little more involved than usual...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51129674062_bae3be1ea4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="499" height="425" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51129674062_bae3be1ea4.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><p>In particular, my 'frog-man' has been given a facial that is more detailed than my normal cartoonish peg figures, with some graduated tones and textures.</p><p></p><p>The reason for this little departure from my usual super-simplified style is that I wanted to emphasise the monstrousness of these characters as compared to the 'normal' human peg characters in the series.</p><p>They are still - obviously - not 'realistic' by any means, but it was an interesting small departure for my painting style, if only to see what I could do for fun.</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-69358537009403174572021-04-18T14:01:00.002+01:002021-04-18T14:01:21.831+01:00A Sunday Stroll into 28mm Territory<p> Really, while planning and designing my next figures and trying to use up the last of a PLA filament spool, I decided to experiment with scaling down my normal 50mm designs. I was intrigued to know how scaling would effect the detail that I had on my peg sized soldiers - would it disappear or deform beyond recognition? ...One way to find out (I thought)...</p><p>So, I reduced my 3D Steampunk figure using TINKERCAD to what I considered an equivalent of 28mm scale (according to a web search that is 30mm form foot to eye level of the figure)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120827828_6a84d4219b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="489" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120827828_6a84d4219b.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As I said, I made no concession to the effects on detail by shrinking the existing model so I had no idea whether some of the finer detail would simply disappear during printing. Also, I have never printed out a 28mm scale miniature using my Flashforge Adventurer 3 so that was a bit of an unknown too (although I know a lot of gamers regularly print out 28mm miniature using such a 3D printer and are happy with the results).<br /><p>In any event, I was sort of pleasantly surprised by the what was spat out! Bear in mind - because I like to tinker - that I decided to print this small figure out in one-piece (the body anyway) instead of three pieces like I did with his big brother. The arms and the sword I printed the usual way and separately...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/beaty/51122438817/in/dateposted/" title="28mm Version of Normal Peg Model"><img alt="28mm Version of Normal Peg Model" height="390" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/51122438817_1a8041e7a5.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>Not too shoddy eh? (But it did need a clean up.) π</p><p>Here's a comparison photo of the 28mm fig with the original 50mm soldier. I haven't worked out the percentage reduction of this but it looks like it's <i>about</i> a 50% down-scale-ish...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51123007311_e0e9e68f61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51123007311_e0e9e68f61.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As you can see, it's a little rough round the edges of some of the smaller detail I created for the 50mm fig. But it's not too bad and would probably look better once painted. If I'm honest, I've actually had worse plastic soldier figures from commercial companies and not complained! (I'm looking at you Airfix!) π</p><p>So, what have I learned here? Well, I do have to make some concessions to the smaller scale, perhaps by making some of the finer detail a bit chunkier so that it holds itself in the reduction. There has to be a balance in robustness of the design when I think I might be doing both a 50mm and 28mm version of the same figure.</p><p>Useful experiment.</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-62179047072630157552021-04-17T12:00:00.002+01:002021-04-17T12:00:08.534+01:00Invasion of Mars, 1899 - Grenadier OfficerWell, I completed my first prototype figure for my 'Invasion of Mars, 1899' series. It was a bit more involved than my normal 50mm peg soldiers but I did enjoy making it.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120581918_8bc4a51505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120581918_8bc4a51505.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120674206_2155310727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120674206_2155310727.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I can now get on with the rest of this unit (six figures total) with the 'ordinary ranks' carrying heavy rifles with under-slung rockets. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, I didn't take into consideration the magnetising of this unit which would have been handy as the air tanks make it rather top-heavy. I am now wondering if I can modify it with a tiny magnet which I could fit into the shallow base. ???</div><div><br /></div><div>If I can manage to fit a magnet I could then make a unit base with it's own small magnets. Hmmm (today's project).</div><div><div><br /></div></div>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-28103105271348454752021-04-14T16:18:00.001+01:002021-04-17T08:27:57.685+01:00Invasion of Mars, 1899 - Part 1<p> I'm juggling projects at the moment (yet another reason it takes me forever to get a job complete) and I've even started a new one! π</p><p>I've always been a bit of a closet Steampunk fan and particularly like the fantastical yarns by the likes of H.G Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Jules Verne where the conquest of space began - fictionally - in the 19th century! Typical of this type of early science-fiction were stories like 'The First Men in the Moon' (H.G Wells) and the Barsoom Stories (E.R Burroughs) where 19th century adventurers managed - in various ways - to journey to other planets in the Solar System. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116145070_eeb668b8e6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="454" height="204" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116145070_eeb668b8e6.jpg" width="477" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: Bedford (Edward Judd) and Cavel (Lionel Jeffries) land on the moon in 1899.<br />Picture from 1964's British movie 'First Men in the Moon'.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Aside from the fictional stories I have always been tempted by the RPG <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space:_1889" target="_blank">'Space 1889'</a></b>, a tabletop role-playing game of Victorian-era space-faring, created by Frank Chadwick...</p><p><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: verdana;"><i>"The game presented an alternate history in which certain discredited Victorian scientific theories were instead found to be true and have led to the existence of new technologies. In the setting, Thomas Edison invented an "ether propeller" which could propel ships through the "luminiferous aether" (the universal medium that permeates space, based on a now outdated scientific theory)...By the time of the game's setting in 1889, the great powers have used Edison's invention to extend their colonies and interests to the inner planets of the solar system. Venus and Mars have been colonized by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Russia. Belgium has only colonized Mars and Italy has only colonized Venus whilst Japan and the United States maintain economic and scientific enclaves on Mars. ..."[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space:_1889" target="_blank">'Space 1889', Wikipedia.</a>]</i></span></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51115423606_fef5354385_w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="269" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51115423606_fef5354385_w.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>The Invasion of Mars - A Table-Top Skirmish<br /></b></span>When I started my Molatero blog the original idea was to journal my making of a H.G Well's 'Funny Little Wars' army and it's subsequent use in a war-game. This never actually came off as I was repeatedly disappointed in the figures I acquired for this use. Gradually I moved towards the idea of - first - converting figures to my own liking and then - eventually - to actually making my own figures. This has finally ended up where I am today, making my little 'peg figures' - a style of cartoony looking little chaps that suit my less than serious tongue-in-cheek attitude to the hobby.</p><p>However, for a long time now I've been making single stand-alone characters while I perfect my current style of model soldier, so I thought that its a bout time I get back to my original idea - making a little army for use in a table-top game.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51115229984_b43c0b3799_w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="399" height="324" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51115229984_b43c0b3799_w.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: There is plenty of inspiration, reference material and even game rules for a<br />Steampunk/Victorian interplanetary campaign. <a href="https://ospreypublishing.com/store/osprey-adventures/" target="_blank">Osprey Publishing</a> has a few books<br />that provide a great source of ideas.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The idea for 'The Invasion of Mars, 1899' - although still generally a concept which I can attribute to H.G Wells - allows me to work on a limited one-off project, while still gaining some experience of making multiple figures and units which I can then later use to make a full blown FLW war-game.</p><p>I'll be restricting my armies to limited units of three infantry, one artillery and one cavalry on each side, which I deem achievable even at my slow pace of construction! π</p><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>Making a Prototype Soldier</b></span><br />As usual, I start working out a new concept by making a prototype figure. In this case I jumped straight in by making one of the central figures for my Victorian Steampunk army by creating a 1889 Aether-Grenadier for my British expeditionary force...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103861895_40879f934e_w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="396" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51103861895_40879f934e_w.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><p>This design is very much influenced on the models I had just created for my 'Assault on Innsmouth' series, where I had created a larger body so I could mouth an oversized head on a modified 'peg' body.</p><p>I really liked the idea of making a unit based on the Victoria diving suites as worn in 'The First Men in the Moon'. Game-wise, my notion was this would be a 'heavy, elite unit' which is why I am calling them Grenadiers. These would be armed with heavier weaponry and could add some variation to the look of my British forces.</p><p>While this design added a bit more detail than I usually apply to my cartoon-style of pegs, it's still quite simplified and didn't posed much problem to make in TINKERCAD...</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/beaty/51104462962/in/dateposted/" title="Steampunk Spaceman"><img alt="Steampunk Spaceman" height="290" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/51104462962_cd06785144_w.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>Satisfied with the look of this model I 3D printed the component parts out on my Flashforge Adventurer 3 printer. The multipart 'kit' took several individual prints to make as I prefer to try and make print 'jobs' in smaller groups so that I can get the best quality I can (in theory, I could have - perhaps - have printed this model out in one go by using a LOT of print supports, but this could've got quite messy).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51105579258_41cdd8b84d_w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="400" height="357" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51105579258_41cdd8b84d_w.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><p>This would be a officer figure, so I created a little 'ray gun' but - as a nod to the Victorian Steampunk style - also gave him a sword. π</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107826215_306dbd0b0d_w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="400" height="355" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107826215_306dbd0b0d_w.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: My Space Grenadier (left). You can see how my recent Innsmouth mutant<br />inspired this bigger than usual 'peg' design.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Having constructed and primed my 'kit' I noted some things I might change for the rest of the unit but was generally pleased with the way this was going. The rest of my British units would be based on my original, slightly less bulky, peg body design and have different uniforms and equipment - just to mark my grenadiers out as being 'special' (elite).</p><p>I then moved onto the painting. Again, this is a kind of prototyping too as I have to work out the colour palette that I will be using. NOW... I don't usually like showing my painting in progress, mainly because it shows off just what a sloppy painter I really am! BUT... I think it's only fair I should show you my process.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51108648422_0e51276d6b_w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="355" height="484" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51108648422_0e51276d6b_w.jpg" width="431" /></a></div><p>Here (above pic) you can see how I apply blocks of colour working from the back (or bottom) most part of the model and work outwards. At this point you can see how I am a bit slap-dash, going over 'lines' and not exactly being very precise! The idea here is that, as I add each additional layer - working outwards - I gradually work a little more neater and effectively cover over any over-painting I may have done on the previous layers. AND SO... In theory, by the time I get to the outermost - top - layer I should end up with a nicely painted little model! (Sorry to disappoint anyone who thought I was - by nature or skill - a good painter. I'm not!) π</p><p><b>NEXT: I finish off this prototype and start banging out the rest of the unit.</b></p><p><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Edit (17/4/21):</span> </b>The day after I posted the above entry I came across a set of gaming rules that seem absolutely pertinent to my idea of a Steampunk skirmish, these are Osprey's <b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">'In Her Majesty's Name'</span></i></b>, by Craig Cartmell and Charles Murton and published by Osprey...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120552686_20f363f14d_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="420" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51120552686_20f363f14d_o.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><p>Annoyingly, these rules seem to be out of print now (typically) BUT there still seems to be some support and updates for them here: <a href="https://theministryofgentlemanlywarfare.wordpress.com/in-her-majestys-name/#:~:text=In%20Her%20Majesty's%20Name%20is,on%20contemporary%20Victorian%20Science%20Fiction." target="_blank"><b>The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare</b></a></p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-14814312624552332342021-04-10T17:02:00.000+01:002021-04-10T17:02:04.966+01:00Innsmouth Bad Boys - Part 1<p> Moving on from the 'good guys' I made for my <b>'Assault on Innsmouth' </b>scenario (a H.P Lovecraft inspired pulp-horror skirmish game I have in mind), I have designed two of the townsfolk mutants. These are intended to be two of Innsmouth's heavies and will provide artillery support for the town faction.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51106940416_cb059a7b7d_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="633" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51106940416_cb059a7b7d_c.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;"><b>Above:</b> 'The Deep Ones', undersea demons that the the followers of<br />Dagon aspired to interbreed with. Source: <a href="https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Deep_One" target="_blank"><i><b>The H.P. Lovecraft Wiki.</b></i></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>For those that haven't read Lovecraft's story, the inhabitants of Innsmouth displayed a spectrum of mutations culminating in their final change into immortal fish-like humanoids called 'Deep Ones'. In their abdominal worship of the demi-god <b>Dagon</b>, the townsfolk interbreed with the Deep Ones which culminated in a range of aquatic hybrids. </p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><b>Designing a Mutant Peg Figure!</b></span><br />So far I haven't really taken my peg figures into the realms of the horror genre, so what I am doing now is a bit of a jump into the unknown for me. In other words, I am - as I have done in the past - making this all up as I go along, I don't have any templates for these new designs.</p><p>My first attempt to create a mutant creature was simply to modify my usual peg body by adding a hybrid head...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51079402906_425f36ff8e_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="653" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51079402906_425f36ff8e_c.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p>But this first attempt at a 'shark-man' was not satisfactory at all, I needed to create something a little more monstrous - in both look and mass. So, I decided to create a new, slightly larger body and by doing so I would be able to mount a larger head on it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51095031815_ee16b10d9e_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="800" height="341" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51095031815_ee16b10d9e_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: By simply upturning the normal body and enlarging the normal<br />component that I use I was able to create a base for more massive heads!</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The massive heads do lend themselves to a cartoonish horror quite nicely, especially as I am trying not to let my monsters look too out of play against my other peg figures. Hopefully, I have maintained a balance here - I can't goo too wild or 'realistic' (relatively speaking).</p><p>First to be designed in TINKERCAD was my 'frog man' cannoneer. It's a bit tongue-in-cheek and a sort of cross between Lovecraft and 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' but it makes me smile...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/beaty/51094304869/in/dateposted/" title="Innsmouth Townsfolk Pegs - Frogman Parts"><img alt="Innsmouth Townsfolk Pegs - Frogman Parts" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/51094304869_3055c942a0.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>Happy with my 3D design I printed out all the various parts in the form of a kit. Every time I make one of these 3D figures they do seem to get a tiny bit more detailed or have more components to them...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51096560673_2d90796845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="500" height="325" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51096560673_2d90796845.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I was particularly please with the cannon and I think I will try to scale this component up to make a proper canon for my normal peg soldiers. That done I moved on to the second of my Innsmouth heavies - my new and improved shark-man (the cocktail sticks are just place-holders until I could fashion better harpoon spears)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51098355746_e61a85eb4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="500" height="399" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51098355746_e61a85eb4e.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I'm quite pleased with how these little monsters turned out. I think I'm starting to get to grips with this 3D figure making malarkey (even for saying that my cartoon style is fairly simple). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107178753_d097d860b9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="500" height="384" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51107178753_d097d860b9.jpg" width="475" /></a></div><p>They are quite intimidating and should give the townsfolk a bit of a chance in their defence against the Federals and their puny human weapons! π</p><p><b>NEXT: Scratching my head over the colour schemes and painting.</b></p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-14806165499932160122021-03-28T15:43:00.005+01:002021-03-28T15:55:07.367+01:00Peg Figures Batch Complete - Mixed Bag<p> Well, I got this little mixed bag of characters completed. Mixed is the key word here, as I have mixed feelings about this latest series of 3D printed 'pegs'. π</p><p>Three out of the four are original prototypes which were early 3D test prints, one of them - the musician - was THE first print and so I'm not altogether happy with them. Still, rather than consign them to the scraps bin I thought they might be interesting practise models for my painting.</p><p>The final figure is a new print that I made for my Lovecraftian 'Assault on Innsmouth' set. He is a salty seadog who is ready to repel boarder! Yar! (Any similarity to one Captain Haddock is purely coincidental! π</p><p>Anyway, here's the finish pics, enjoy...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51078917532_792e60320d_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51078917532_792e60320d_c.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">'Private Toot' - An early prototype, but useful practise for a potential Christmas<br />tree ornament. Hence the Christmas colours!<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51009638410_5393b0b014_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="799" height="247" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51009638410_5393b0b014_c.jpg" width="499" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">'Mr. Clank' - Again, a sort of Christmas ornament inspired figure. I'm trying to decide<br />on what kind of figures to include in a Xmas ornament box set.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51078917492_84af931e16_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="799" height="249" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51078917492_84af931e16_c.jpg" width="501" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">'Winter Soldier' - Yes, this could be another Christmas themed figure. But, I just<br />wanted to get back to doing traditional soldier models again!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51009638450_458e21ec9a_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="800" height="265" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51009638450_458e21ec9a_c.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">And for my Lovecraft series, here's a salty seadog - one of the Innsmouth townsfolks!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As I mentioned in the 'Winter Soldier' caption, I desperately want to get back into making some traditional soldiers again (along side my Lovecratian themed figures). But, as you can see, I am already starting to plan for next Christmas as I hope to make even more of the family presents myself this year.</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-91680535188863210872021-03-23T10:02:00.001+00:002021-03-23T10:02:11.949+00:00A Mixed Bag of Character Models<p> Just when I think I've done with prototype figures I think of another issue - 'but what if I...?' π</p><p>So this week I am doing a bit of house cleaning as I am finishing off a couple of my early 3D printed prototypes, trying out adding another new bit of detail on another figure AND adding a bit of a bonus fun figure just for the hell of it! π</p><p>I've decided that I'm going to make it a habit to make a random bonus figure each week that's nothing to do with any of the themes I'm involved with, just so I don't get bored ( a nasty habit of mine). This week I decided to make a simple little robot figure...Because I like retro robots!</p><p>(This kinda backfired on me already as one of you little rascally readers saw a snap of my robot parts in a pic and said 'you could easily do a knight using those parts'! Du-oh! Now I'm thinking 'ooooo, there's an idea! Drat!)</p><p>Anyway, here's a pic of this week's batch of 'peg' characters primed and ready to paint...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51061169513_87cec786ee_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="799" height="395" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51061169513_87cec786ee_c.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-16757108034844293262021-03-16T16:56:00.006+00:002021-03-16T16:56:45.442+00:00Latest Pegs - Lovecraftian Heroes Plus One<p> It's been a busy week at work and as I come up to my annual leave I am suffering from that pre-holiday fatigue where I'm finding it very hard to be motivated and just want to veg in front of the TV with my feet up! π΄</p><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>The Good Guys...</b></span><br />Still, I did manage to finish off a small batch of my 3D printed 'peg' characters, all of which are 'Call of Cthulhu' pulp horror RPG themed. For my<b> 'Assault on Innsmouth' </b>series I managed to complete a couple of 'heroes' in the form of a US Navy shore party seaman and a Federal Agent...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51031781608_60cf18d7de_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="800" height="353" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51031781608_60cf18d7de_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51030137682_b3b28505a3_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="800" height="341" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51030137682_b3b28505a3_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>And the Wise Guy!<br /></b></span>This is a bit of a bonus figure! Someone commented - after seeing my detective - that they would love to see a mobster version of him with a Tommy Gun. This intrigued me as it was a chance to try out my idea of my 3D printed 'pegs' being multipart kits - so just changing a couple of arms and the gun should easily give me the basis for a gangster...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51032933751_24c8fd9feb_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="800" height="353" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51032933751_24c8fd9feb_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Well, I'm kinda Lovecrafted out at the moment - really I will have to sit down a doodle some designs for the next batch in the series as they might be a little more tricky! So, next I think I will get back to my roots and make some peg soldiers!</p><p>I still have a couple of my 3D printed prototypes to paint, both 'toy soldiers' in Napoleon-esque type uniforms. So we'll see how they turn out. π</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-58086782984115861432021-03-13T10:50:00.005+00:002021-03-13T10:51:19.718+00:00Priming Time - Readying Pegs for Painting<p> Priming is one of those necessary but often overlooked stages in the model making process. It's not a 'biggy', but there again it's am important foundation for a successful painting job so I thought I'd just quickly talk about it...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51016999227_da24a9ed13_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="800" height="326" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51016999227_da24a9ed13_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: Un-primed models can sometimes be made up of several materials, of<br />different textures or colours. Priming can serve to unify these materials.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I prime my models for a couple of reasons, firstly to provide a stable surface for the adhesion of the paint and secondly as a means of checking the quality of that surface before I start painting. Often priming can highlight potential problems that may be exacerbated later during painting - defects in the base surface that you didn't notice during construction and issues that were hard to see if the base material was a light colour.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51019788991_0bf012b681_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="800" height="361" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51019788991_0bf012b681_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: Preparing models for priming. I mount my figures to plastic shot glasses<br />using BluTack and any extras - like arms - to the side ready for spraying. I have<br />also 'capped' any parts I do not want spraying so that they can be glued.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Priming prepares your painting 'canvas', but one of the reasons I like to prime using grey is that flattens light and dark areas of the model in which problem spots can lurk. It gives you one last chance - hopefully - to correct construction issues, things like gaps in joints, etc. (I have tried priming in white and black in the past but I eventually settled on grey.)</p><p>Priming with grey also gives you a happy neutral medium for the successful application of colours as you imagined they might look. Both white and black primers can subtly change colours and how they go on to the model, white can make colours brighter than expected and black can dull colours and their propensity to show through coast means that you might have to add additional layers to get a opaque top coat.</p><p>Priming paint can also help smooth out the canvas to differing degrees, this was particularly noticeable for me when I work with wooden peg figures as the natural grain of the wood can sometimes cause unwanted patterns. In these cases you can either repair particularly bad surfaces by adding some filler and re-priming or sometimes just an additional or thicker coat of primer with cover the problem.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51019059553_3d5b06d106_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51019059553_3d5b06d106_c.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: Models primed, I give the models a quick once over<br />to check that for any issues that might need fixing.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>In fact, there are several types of priming paint specifically to help you in this, graded from 'fine' to 'thick'.</p><p>I uses aerosol spray paints for priming as I was never a 'display presentation modeller' even when I did plastic scale models. As a 'war-game' and toy-making modeller absolutely pristine levels of surface perfection hasn't been my main priority, but I do have a can of <b>Tamiya's excellent fine grey primer</b> knocking about somewhere! π (This product is generally accepted as one of the best aerosol primers outside of airbrushing.)</p><p>Tamiya spray adds a gossamer thin and flat primer surface to a model and is not intended to hide or fill any defects to a top quality model - you should have done all this post-construction using proper fillers!</p><p>So, my go to primer is bog-standard (and cheap) automotive or furniture priming spray which has a slightly thicker consistency and can help smooth out slight surface defects, particularly if applied in multiple coats where required. I source mine from Wilkos or Halfords!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51020373167_05b103ffc7_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="800" height="377" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51020373167_05b103ffc7_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: When I say that priming creates a canvas onto which I apply my painting<br />I mean this literally, I sketch out my character's features using pencil.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>However, lately I have been experimenting with a third type of primer - the 'filler/primer', also known as <b><i>putty primer</i></b>. Now this is quite thick and gloopy - like a liquidised putty. It can also be what is known as <b>'self-levelling'</b> which is a primer that is formulated to level out evenly over a surface as it dries, providing a smooth finish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51031939232_c03322e57b_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="279" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51031939232_c03322e57b_c.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><p>This is great for covering both the aggressive wood grain I sometime get with the cheap wooden pegs I use AND can be useful for helping alleviate the 3D printing texture I get when making my 3D printed peg figures.</p><p>This sound great BUT, a word of warning, this stuff - by definition - is extra thick! Being heavy handed or too close to your model when spraying can result is over-coverage which can easily cover details that you actually want to be seen! In this case you end up having to sand back the excess primer to uncover lost detail.</p><p>So, there you having it. Priming. Not rocket science but there are some considerations you should be aware of. I love this stage and I even like the look of my primed models, it's great when I get to this stage as it marks the start of the FUN!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51026917246_19c8e7c356_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51026917246_19c8e7c356_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: verdana;">Above: And the painting begins!</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-85750254548158014772021-03-07T20:12:00.004+00:002021-03-07T20:13:02.605+00:001920s Peg Detective - Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51012883837_802df87f9c_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="799" height="217" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51012883837_802df87f9c_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Another in my 'Assault on Innsmouth' series, this character is a Federal agent. It's been a while since I read <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_over_Innsmouth" target="_blank"><i>'Shadow Over Innsmouth'</i></a> but as far as I remember Lovecraft relates that Innsmouth was eventually assaulted by Federal forces to clear out the degenerate elements which was mis-reported by the press as a 'prohibition liquor raid'. While this is - as far as I remember - fairly unspecific later narratives in the 'Call of Cthulhu' RPG mythology intimate US Marines, US Navy and government agencies like the FBI being involved.</p><p>Now the 'Federal' agencies may have been one of any number, like The Bureau of Internal Revenue, The Federal Bureau of Investigation or even - as pictured above - <a href="https://coffeeordie.com/us-postal-inspection-service/" target="_blank">The US Postal Inspection Service</a>, all of which - despite the mundane titles of some of these services - had a hand at dealing with the gangsters and miscreants of the time.</p><p>So, as I cannot be exact as to which department might have had a hand in the raid, my agent is a generic government agent (though I had in mind the 1987 movie <b><i>'Untouchables'</i></b> when I made him).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51013366267_09739fe7a8_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51013366267_09739fe7a8_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote><p><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">βArm your agents, and not just with revolvers. If these gangsters want to use machine guns, then give your special agents machine guns, shot guns, tear gas, everything else! This is war!β</span><span style="color: #bf9000;"> </span><span style="color: #999999;">Bruce J. Gregory (Addison Richards), 'G'Man', 1935. </span></i></b></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>The Makings of a 'G' Man...</b></span><br />As is usual with my peg figures I start by planning the hat - a hat is one of the most identifiable characteristics of my cartoon figures. The hat most associated with a detective from the 1920s and 30s was the fedora so that's where I started...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51007965378_5c81d7dccc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="575" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51007965378_5c81d7dccc_c.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p>Obviously, to match the look of my cartoon figures I simplified the design of the hat by using basic geometric shapes to create something which looked roughly like the real thing (very roughly)! π</p><p>I also extended the 'body' of my peg figure to give it the look of having a long coat, another characteristic of the hardboiled detective - where would the gumshoe be without his trench coat?</p><p>And finally, as an active member of a armed raid I decided to give my man a pump shotgun - again very much influenced by the movie 'Untouchables'...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51012643981_3784aa9d34_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="773" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51012643981_3784aa9d34_c.jpg" width="387" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: My completed 3D 'kit' for my peg detective.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Quite a lot of the final detail will be affected during the painting process - such as the shirt, tie and the coat lapels. But, in the meantime, here's the assembled 'kit'...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51011929098_47e7e87411_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51011929098_47e7e87411_c.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><br /><div>As usual I did have a bit of a quandary over how to create a acceptable pose with a weapon. My way of making the peg figures does have certain limitations when it comes to modelling 'realistic' poses, particularly when it comes to the arms. So, I have to take a bit of 'artistic licence'... π</div><div><br /></div><div>In this case, as you can see, I have my G Man holding his pump shotgun one handed, it's a bit iffy BUT is in keeping with some Hollywood movies!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>NEXT: What colour is a dirty Macintosh?</b> π</div>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-57282419112635603722021-03-04T20:32:00.012+00:002021-03-06T08:47:19.892+00:00US Navy Shore Party Seaman - Part 1<p> Onward and upwards with my <b><i>'Assault on Innsmouth'</i></b> characters! Today I've been working on the second of my six 'good guys', this time a sailor with a honking great BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle)!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51002673533_8903cf692a_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="628" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51002673533_8903cf692a_o.jpg" width="361" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: My reference source for this figure, illustrations of 1920s era<br />USN Shore Party members from the China campaign.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I've kinda split my investigative team into two types of members - three are the traditional action hero types there to deal with the physical adversaries and traditional dangers, while the other three are paranormal specialists who are adepts in arcane knowledge. (Though in common with D&D conventions each individual will have their own specialist attributes.)</p><p>My seaman will be my 'tank', a very physically strong character who possesses heavy firepower and can soak up punishment. His BAR light machine gun will provide the investigative team with protection from waves of aggressors.</p><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>Hello Sailor!</b></span><br />I started with my stardard 3D peg figure, though I have now tried to incorporate a belt so as to make painting a little easier (gluing on a belt - plasticard strip - to the printed body proved a little fiddly and messy in previous figures).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003377596_2a0000d1d9_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="800" height="280" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003377596_2a0000d1d9_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: My 3D model file was created using TINKERCAD and I am slowly<br />creating a collection of interchangeable standard parts.</span></b><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I was thinking about what other items I could add, but in keeping with my simplified cartoon style of my peg characters I decided 'less was more' and that other details were better just painted on.<br /><p>So, the main new feature of this particular character would be the sailor's Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) which the US military used as a light machine gun. I wanted a roughly identifiable silhouette though it would still be designed to compliment my simplified 'toy' style. I began by laying down some simple blocky shapes in TINKERCAD (using my standard rifle model as a template for size)...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003377556_2532ae65fb_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="800" height="262" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003377556_2532ae65fb_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: You can see how TINKERCAD uses simple 'primitive' shapes to<br />build up your model designs. I wanted to create a rough overall shape that<br />was analogous to the real BAR but which fitted my 'cartoon' characters.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It actually took a couple of attempts before I came up with a design I was happy with, and I noticed that for these figures that I have sorta over-scaled the guns, I suppose in keeping with the chunky cartoon aesthetic. </p><p>The gun done I printed out all the individual parts to make my peg figure 'kit'...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003971087_7b61fb04e3_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="800" height="384" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51003971087_7b61fb04e3_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The only thing that was missing rom this set of components is the connecting rod which acts as the arm attachment 'shoulders'. This I would make out of 4mm wooden dowel (I tried out 3D printing this part but - in my opinion - it was a bit of a waste of time and material when a bit of dowel was perfectly adequate).</p><p><b>NEXT: In part two of this project I'll come up with my paint palette for this little seaman (and I am quite pleased with myself for getting right through this post without making any puns about seaman).</b></p>
Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-30851276764191590462021-03-02T11:31:00.005+00:002021-03-02T11:31:56.865+00:001927 US Marine with Tommy Gun<p> First of my 'good guys' for my Assault on Innsmouth' series, 'Sarge' is the lynch-pin of my little RPG team. Hopefully, you will be somewhat familiar with the mythos of H. P. Lovecraft but if not think of a darker version of Scooby-Doo with lots of tentacles involved! (LOL - I simplify a lot here!) π</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50996236482_7c15c2b07c_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="707" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50996236482_7c15c2b07c_c.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><p>Anyway, I simplified the 1920s era USMC uniform a bit but I think it's been done in the right spirit. I'm really quite interested in this Inter-War period of the 1920 & 30s as it has a lot of potential for Pulp/Steampunk sci-fi and horror tabletop game scenarios.</p><p>I quite like this figure, he has a lot of character and it did tempt me to make a whole squad made up of marines turning a Lovecraftian scenario into a sort of retro 'Aliens' bug hunt! π But, in the end, I'm sticking to my original idea of making a more diverse investigative team.</p><p>Starting to get a small army of peg figures - going to have to start looking at getting a display cabinet of some type.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50995425333_f0a4779349_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="707" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50995425333_f0a4779349_c.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50996118766_64c2ab828c_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="707" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50996118766_64c2ab828c_c.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><p>Glad I decided to add the cigar!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50996250422_c3da6d2d28_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="800" height="378" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50996250422_c3da6d2d28_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-30540831858886020312021-02-28T12:18:00.005+00:002021-02-28T12:18:50.703+00:00New Project - 'Assault on Innsmouth' Intro<p> Just a very quick introduction to my new figure set project (now I've finally gotten my mojo back after my furious Christmas flurry). π</p><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>Introduction to Innsmouth</b></span><br />For those of you unfamiliar with the Mythos works by H. P . Lovecraft here's a very brief account of the scenario which my new project is based upon:</p><blockquote><p><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The Esoteric Order of Dagon was the primary religion in Innsmouth after Marsh returned from the South Seas with the dark religion circa 1838. It quickly took root due to its promises of expensive gold artifacts and fish, which were desired by the primarily-fishing town.</span></p><p><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The central beings worshipped by the Order were the Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, and, to a lesser extent, Cthulhu. Dagon and Hydra were seen largely as intermediaries between the various gods rather than as gods themselves. Even so, the cultists sacrificed various locals to the Deep Ones at specific times in exchange for a limitless supply of gold and fish. When they ran out of locals, they would go to other places to kidnap people to be sacrificed. Eventually, things became so bad that the US government sent the police force to apprehend Marsh and his cult. [<a href="http://Wikipedia." target="_blank">Wikipedia.</a>]</span></p></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50988799217_d9c93e7f10_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="800" height="270" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50988799217_d9c93e7f10_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: The raid on Inssmouth from Osprey Publishing's 'The Cthulhu Wars'.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>My figure set will include two groups of six figures, one set made up of the 'Federal Forces' who made the assault on Innsmouth and the other representing the citizens of Innsmouth. I hope to use the figures in a tabletop RPG mini-scenario pitting one force against the other.</p><p><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: medium;"><b>On With the Good Guys!</b></span><br />As usual there will be figures which might be considered 'the good guys' and those some might consider 'the bad guys'. I leave the matter for others to argue over but for ease let's start with how I intend to make up the 'good guys'!</p><p>The first thing to consider is the 'historical' period we are talking about - in the Lovecraft mythology the raid on Innsmouth is said to have been taken place in 1927. This is a rather interesting as I have always wanted to do an 'Inter-War' years project based on H. G. Wells 'Funny Little Wars' rules intermixing historic military with a Science fiction/horror cross-over.</p><p>So, all the figures will be of this late 20s pulp style...</p><p><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">The Federal Assualt Team:</span></b><br />- USMC Sergeant armed with a Tommy Gun.<br />- USN Landing Team seaman armed with a B.A.R.<br />- FBI/Treasury Agent armed with pump shotgun.<br />- Photographer/Journalist with camera to record event.<br />- 'Priest' - though I am still a bit uncertain about this character.<br />- Lead Investigator - Some sort of professor, again a bit undecided.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50988624667_24ce497854_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50988624667_24ce497854_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>For sources from which I can make my scenario I am using Osprey's 'Cthulhu Wars' for background and am trying to local a copy of 1992 Chaosim's 'The Raid on Innsmouth' for hints on how to run the game. But this is a work in progress.</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-72184704001011811422021-02-27T19:48:00.001+00:002021-02-28T07:59:04.160+00:00Lovecraftian Pegs - Good Guy, Bad Guy<p>Completed my latest peg duo, a couple of Pulp Lovecraftian RPG figures. </p><p>I'm still working on low and middle level NPC characters - I'll leave the scary high level Mythos creatures until last - so here's a couple of more figures that can add some spice to the narrative but are easily disposable early to mid game (pre-boss level if you like).</p><p>'Mr. Mustafa' is a rather nasty middleman, a collector (and sometimes fence) of rare ancient artefacts. He is loosely based of the Hollywood actor <b><i>Peter Lorre</i></b> (with a bit of Sydney Greenstreet from 'The Maltese Falcon' and the character Beni Gabor from 'The Mummy' thrown in)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50986444887_23319149c2_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50986444887_23319149c2_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The second figure is - I would imagine - quite a useful but not vital character, a policeman. In this case he is a New York police sergeant (a nice counterpart to the British Bobby I did last year) and I guess you might consider him as being a 'ambiguous' entity as he might be good but also - dependant on the storyline - he could be belligerent character.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50986442997_8a62daf287_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50986442997_8a62daf287_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>These are the first of my new 3D printed peg characters and as such they include a few new ways of doing things that make them slightly different from my original wooden pegs. I've also departed from my original gloss finish of my peg soldiers, I've applied a satin varnish finish which seems more fitting for these gaming figures.</p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-38608459235227820482021-02-22T11:13:00.007+00:002021-02-22T11:23:08.363+00:00Back in the Saddle with Peg Figures<p>Although I've not posted much since Christmas I've not been idle. I've actually been quite busy figuring out (excuse the pun) how best to utilise my new 3D printer for helping me with my peg figure building.</p><p>Well, I've actually managed to complete some 3D printed peg characters who I am quite happy with and think I've come up with a design that works with the printer and works for me too! (I've had to modify the way I build my figures a little.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50942646813_c918d500f8_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="800" height="321" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50942646813_c918d500f8_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The above screenshot shows the sort of 3D design work I've been working on, exploring new ways of making parts for my figures and ways of including accessories that are easy to print. One of my frustration with my 'traditional' wooden peg figures was how limited I felt I was with poses and also how fiddly hats were to make (particularly if I wanted multiple copies of the same design). π</p><p>I had originally considered resin casting to make copies of components that I'd want to use again and again, but my new 3D printer is a terrific way of prototyping and is a lot less messy that dealing with resin and moulds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50942609733_0c44f911c8_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="735" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50942609733_0c44f911c8_c.jpg" width="368" /></a></div><p>I can now experiment unhindered and quickly in a way that wasn't so easy to do with wood. Being able to plan and design components virtually in software took a lot of the guesswork out of making new ideas. Working in wood was a little more convoluted as most times I would never really know if a design would work until I actually carved it, and that could be a lot of wasted time if it wasn't right (as well as a waste of material).</p><p>Working with software designs I can be pretty certain something is 'in the ball park' before committing it to print. This saves time and money and materials.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893888042_60490efc62_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="800" height="281" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50893888042_60490efc62_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: Experimenting with arm poses and ways to attach accessories<br />to them in software means I can try out endless ideas and combinations.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>That's not to say I am abandoning wood, just that I now have the best of both worlds as I can mix mediums to get the figure design that I want (often with wood I made some compromises and had to settle for less dynamic looking or overly simplistic components or poses).</p><p>Anyway, after a lot of tinkering about and prototype parts I ended up making a few wholly 3D printed peg figures which I intend to paint. I am please with some of my new ways of doing things - like the rod attachment for arms - and the improved designs - like the semi-rounded arms instead of the old flat ones.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968395093_a56f977935_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="800" height="380" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968395093_a56f977935_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50895156131_6881a8036e_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="799" height="394" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50895156131_6881a8036e_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Some of the new features of my 3D peg figures were totally unexpected but fortuitous discoveries. Like the ability to incorporate facial features into a one-piece head and that my PLA prints are a lot lighter than my wooden characters, which will be great come next Christmas as they will be great for hanging on the tree!</p><p>Are there any downsides? Well, it has been remarked that being plastic instead of wood kinda detracts from this home-crafted charms a bit (according to some people). But that's a point of view, personally I always thought the 'charm' came from the design and finished painted figure as much as what it was made from. (Though I repeat, I won't be ditching wooden pegs, it will all depend on what I am making the figures for.)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/do9UUPQY8WU" width="490"></iframe></p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-57625318138039261252021-01-29T17:35:00.002+00:002021-01-29T17:35:12.622+00:00Poor man's 4.7 Naval Gun Part 6<p> Now here's a blast from the past! The continuation of a long 'dead' project, reanimated due to my new 3D printer acquisition...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/3765/33068099680_f3a35c3447_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="267" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3765/33068099680_f3a35c3447_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>It all began way back in <b><i>2013</i></b>, when I was first beginning to dip my toe in the murky waters of scratch-building model conversions. My intension was simple - I could not initially afford to buy the classic <b>Britain's 4.7inch Naval Gun</b> model as the prices were stupidly high on eBay, so I decided to see if I could make a cheaper 'look-a-likely' artillery piece for my Funny Little Wars collection.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/8264/8613193062_f4b76141d7_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/8264/8613193062_f4b76141d7_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: Britains' 4.7 Naval Gun model the classic FLW artillery<br />piece. Now out of production and limited in supply, this die-cast<br />model much sought-after and prices can be astronomical!</span></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>You can read all about the project and how it initially progressed by following this link (opens in new window):<a href="https://molatero.blogspot.com/search/label/Project%201" target="_blank"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><b> Poor man's 4.7 Naval Gun Project Series</b></span></a></p><p>Anyway, to cut to the chase, a couple of things happened that put this project into moth balls, so to speak. First of all, my reach out exceeded my grasp as back then my scratch building skills were pretty basic and I got stuck when it came to the - for me - trickier building. And secondly, a change in my personal finances meant that affording the real Britains 4.2 gun model became less of an issue (in fact, I ended up buying two and so my need for a fake copy became somewhat redundant)...</p><p><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Fast Forward Eight Years! >></span></b><br />First of all, I can't believe I started this project eight yeas ago! But having dusted off this old job (literally) I now feel a lot more confident that I can actually complete the thing - thanks mainly to my new 3D printer!</p><p>What makes the difference is being able to model design ideas in virtually before committing to a build. Whereas before my scratch constructions were very much 'suck it and see' affairs I can now - thanks to the TINKERCAD software - experiment with objects and components to see if they are viable...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50880907546_fe20a2004a_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50880907546_fe20a2004a_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Above: The result of a short session in TinkerCad, playing about with<br />shapes and ways to connect shapes together... No cut fingers here!</span></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As the name suggests, I can tinker away to my hearts content - never worrying about spoiling a laboriously crafted wooden or plastic component and then having to start all over again! I soon had a collection of small parts which solved the quandary I originally had with my faux-Naval gun - how to attach the modified plating to the die-cast model.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50881421056_e3869a5af1_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" height="290" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50881421056_e3869a5af1_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Yes, I could have probably - eventually after lots of trial and error - have produced exactly the same components the traditional way with pieces of styrene cut to shape, but being able to model these shapes and alter them on the fly in the software meant I ended up with a more accurate end product in a fraction of the time.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50881525222_5485f365b6_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50881525222_5485f365b6_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>Everything fitted together exactly how I wanted them and if something was slightly wrong it was ridiculously easy to tweak the dimensions and run off another component. This also solved another of traditional modelling's great bug-bears - 3D printing kinda kills the 'carpet monster'! I no longer have to worry about losing some small component as I can simply print off another. π</p><p><b>NEXT: Parts now assembled it's time to strip off the old paint!</b></p>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4372593271791706854.post-32629952486683301752021-01-24T18:25:00.007+00:002021-01-24T18:25:35.605+00:00Wood versus Plastic! Crafting Versus Printing.<p> Ok, so a bit of a talking point came up after I posted up my intension to 3D print some of my toy soldiers rather than my 'usual' technique of crafting the peg soldiers out of wooden dolly pegs. Some people were clearly not entirely happy about the idea! π</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50847919833_45e76ebc8c_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="268" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50847919833_45e76ebc8c_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">A couple of my early 3D printed prototypes, one of<br />my 'nutcracker' full-sized peg bodies and one of my<br />'50mm' half-sized bodies.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Typical of the comments was something along the lines of "...but if you 3D print them instead of crafting them out of real wood they will lose their charm!"</p><p>I was a bit taken aback, I didn't realise my toy soldiers were a thing that had 'charm'. I thought they were just daft little fun toys! But apparently, to some people, I'm somewhat spoiling part of the attraction of my peg soldiers. π¦</p><p>...My first though was along the lines of 'I didn't realise I had an obligation to others to maintain some sort of standards'! I thought I was just making these things to amuse myself. But, that's a bit ingenuous as I do get a kick from other peoples appreciation of what I do - that's why I post pictures on social media after all.</p><p><i><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>[Edit: Just read this back and it sounds like a bit of a moan! LOL But it's not, really. I like to hear other peoples' point of view.]</b></span></i></p><p>So, after pondering the issue I realised that some of these people had missed the point - I had never said I was replacing my original wood crafting technique of making peg soldiers with plastic 3D versions. I simply said that I would be investigating the possibilities that 3D might afford me for making prototyping easier PLUS I am thinking of making a range of easily duplicated plastic soldiers for war gaming where laborious wood crafting would be a bit of a hinderance.</p><p><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">I will still be making my wood crafted soldiers - but mainly for gifts, display and commissions! DON'T PANIC!</span></i></b></p><p>Phew! Anyway, I have begun my experimentation which involves learning how to 3D design the models, prepare them for printing and then learning how best to print them. This is not at all straight for ward as just pushing a 'PRINT' button and out would pop a finished model! π</p><p>I've certainly had a few minor print disasters! Luckily my printer allows me to monitor the printing remotely - via it's built-in camera - so I am able to hit the brakes if the print goes pear-shaped...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50846245932_1e253bcb33_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="319" height="300" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50846245932_1e253bcb33_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So, there's a learning curve which has to be overcome with 3D printing - it isn't such a hands-on 'build it and it will work out' experience that crafting with wood can be. But once this initial technical mechanics of building models in 3D and then printing them is understood - at least the basics - I should be able to do what I like to do best, tinker! π</p><p>In fact, this uneducated messing about started in earnest from day one of getting the printer, but now I am trying to get myself on a rather more methodical and formalised track, starting with the software.</p><p>I am starting with an easily accessible piece of software called (suitably enough) TINKERCAD, which is perfectly suited to my simple geometrically shaped figures...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50849499952_c757789669_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="800" height="305" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50849499952_c757789669_c.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>At this stage I am just trying to understand how to combine primitive shapes - spheres, cubes, cones, tubes, etc - to recreate my 50mm wooden peg figure design.<div><br /></div><div>Additionally, and perhaps a little more tricky, is my experiments in making multipart accessories and components that I can then add to the basic body to create different types of characters. I am finding the making of arms a bit of a challenge...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50848684468_c491035507_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="800" height="272" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50848684468_c491035507_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The main problem that I am encountering is that some of the shapes I used in my wooden figures simple do not translate well into a 3D printed model version. Due to the way my 3d printer works - which is to build up a model layer by layer - I have to reassess the way I construct components. In effect, I have to change my whole way of thinking.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of the changes I am having to make in the shape of my original component designs I am actually ending up with a slightly new style. Some small or thin parts - like the flat arm designs pictured above - have had to be made a little chunkier in order to work the way I want them to. Frustrating at times but also very interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851491193_0fcbf26daf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="800" height="344" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851491193_0fcbf26daf_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>This has all given me an insight into why other small toy figure - like those made by Lego and Playmobile - look the way they look. It isn't all stylistic choices, some of the 'look' is led by the actual manufacturing process itself!</div><div><br /></div><div>My arm designs changes from the old flat design into - first of all - tubes and then, eventually, half-tube shaped components...</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50871009526_77e0a9cf6a_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="760" height="297" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50871009526_77e0a9cf6a_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Similarly, hats had to become a little chunkier and like my arms I had to come up with a way of easily attaching the component to the body...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50871039586_4fee6851bf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="800" height="298" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50871039586_4fee6851bf_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>However, little design quandaries aside, 3D modelling has - as I had hoped - made it easier for my to work out my design ideas and quickly prototype my doodles on paper into fully formed 3D models.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's been an evolutionary process with minor adjustments here, amending dimensions there and tweaking things I wasn't quite happy with, but I feel I got there eventually and have produced a little character shape that I am happy with. though, this has left me with a little army of test pieces...</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50870349168_2fb72985ec_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="800" height="306" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50870349168_2fb72985ec_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>NEXT: It's time to see what my 3D figures paint up like and how they compare to my wooden versions!</b></p></div>Milgeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08791475027247097256noreply@blogger.com2