Out Of The Box: Ork Flier Kitbash Donors

"Out of the Box" is a new feature focusing on out of the box thinking when it comes to hobbying. It looks at different ways to do things, like converting models, or using other non-standard items as part of your games.

In this Out of the Box video, we look at several model kits of fighter jets which can be used as conversion donors to build your own kit bashed Ork Fighter, for Warhammer 40K. Each of these models were purchased for less than $30 from my local hobby store.

To purchase similar model kits, do a quick internet search to find purchasing options online, or local to you.

Links:

Artisan Studios
Games Workshop

Quick Tip - Get the Most Out of Your Plastic Sprues

Welcome to the Quick Tip series. Each article is a quick hit showing a quick tip to help improve your hobby skills, organisation, modelling, etc. In the first of this series, we look at one way to have less impact to your environment by reusing the plastic sprues that come with your Games Workshop models.

So, you have just finished building a kit for your Warhammer or Warhammer 40K army. You've clipped off all the extra bits and sorted and stored them away in your little bits organizer, or just dumped them into a bits box to rummage through when the need for inspiration strikes. But what do you do with all the extra sprue plastic?

Robotech RPG Tactics Kickstart and Battlepod Miniature Sneak Peak

If you haven't been living under a rock like I have, and even if you have, you probably have heard about the Robotech RPG Tactics game and Kickstarter being done by Palladium Books. This game is designed to be both a stand alone miniatures based battle game, but can also be used as a supplement to their Robotech RPG game.

Well, the Kickstarter is winding down and now in its last 24 hours, and if you haven't heard about it and it's piqued your curiosity, you should definitely check it out and perhaps even pledge for some cool awards. Even if you are not a miniatures wargamer, there are plenty of different pledge levels that could appeal, ranging from art prints, and kickstart only models. If you are a Robotech/Macross collector or modeller, then there are plenty of things here to suit you as well.

Miniatures and game design is being done by Ninja Division, a subdivision of Soda Pop Miniatures, and looks extremely well.

Here's a sneak peak of a Zentraedi battle pod model which I picked up at Adepticon 2013.

Links:
Robotech RPG Tactics Kickstarter
Palladium Books
Ninja Division
Soda Pop Miniatures

Getting Basic Part 2 - Painting a Flying Stand

In Getting Basic Part 1, we discussed the construction and detailing of a flying stand suitable for a fairly large Forge World model, the Tau Tigershark. This flying stand can be used for any number of the Forge World flying models, though I would suggest if you use these techniques for a Thunderhawk to consider slightly larger raw materials to handle the weight.

In part 2, we will have a look at how this flying stand was painted, describing the colours and basic techniques used, and including lots of photos of the finished product. All of these images are clickable to view in close up so you can see some of the details more clearly. Unless otherwise stated, we are using the name equivalents of the recently replaced Games Workshop paint line if you wish to duplicate this scheme. With the recent Games Workshop paint range name changes, I recommend getting a copy of their colour equivalency chart. The new colours are not perfect matches for the old colours, but close enough that you can get similar results.

Getting Basic Part 1 - Building a Flying Stand

Some of you may wonder what I've been up to, as I haven't been updating my painting progress hereabouts for a while. Well, it doesn't mean I haven't been painting. Just haven't had much time to write about it.

So I decided I'd treat you with one of the projects I have been working on this past month.

This is a flying stand that I made for a friend for his Forge World Tau Tigershark. He had a fairly simple requirement that it just "look better than the chunky block of wood and steel pin" he was already using, and he wanted it in time for Adepticon 2012. So I decided to treat him with something a little nicer.