Comments for Freedom of Expression http://www.maxahn.com A repository of random thoughts and ramblings by Max Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:48:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on 6mm Spartans Rebased using Baccus Basing System by Kraussian http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/6mm-spartans-rebased-using-baccus-basing-system/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Kraussian Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:48:22 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=186#comment-151 @bevan: I do like the idea of a brown mat, but since I've already invested in green... maybe I'll make a switch sometime in the future :) As for the grass wearing off, I haven't been gaming for long enough to see myself. But what kind of sealant do you use on top of them? If a single Dullcote doesn't do the trick, maybe you could try sealing it down by applying some watered down PVA glue <em>on top</em> of the grass? The thing I noticed about PVA glue is that the way it holds the flocking material is noticeably different depending on how much you water it down. The less water you add, the more the grass will tend to "stand up" and look like patches. If you add more water, the grass tends to flatten out over a more even area. I guess it comes down to which effect you're shooting for, but I think it would be better to use a sealant on top of the grass once you've achieved your desired effect. @bevan: I do like the idea of a brown mat, but since I’ve already invested in green… maybe I’ll make a switch sometime in the future :)

As for the grass wearing off, I haven’t been gaming for long enough to see myself. But what kind of sealant do you use on top of them?

If a single Dullcote doesn’t do the trick, maybe you could try sealing it down by applying some watered down PVA glue on top of the grass?

The thing I noticed about PVA glue is that the way it holds the flocking material is noticeably different depending on how much you water it down. The less water you add, the more the grass will tend to “stand up” and look like patches. If you add more water, the grass tends to flatten out over a more even area.

I guess it comes down to which effect you’re shooting for, but I think it would be better to use a sealant on top of the grass once you’ve achieved your desired effect.

]]> Comment on 6mm Spartans Rebased using Baccus Basing System by bevan http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/6mm-spartans-rebased-using-baccus-basing-system/comment-page-1/#comment-149 bevan Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:06:21 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=186#comment-149 I am very, very lazy when it comes to actually painting the bases: I followed Peter's model exactly, but used the Litko 3mm plywood bases. These are dark-ish brown edge-on, but with a paler strip of wood. But once you "dark wash" the base, I find it darkens up quite nicely without having to actually paint the edges. Also I game on a solid brown background (just gets away from the "Oh my God it's GREEN" effect of my older mat)and you might find your dark green doesn't matter so much on brown brushed linen. One query I had was this: my "summer grass" looks great for about two months, but I notice the grass slowly wears off, and my LotR armies have gone from fighting in Middle Earth to figthing in the Middle East! Do you think straight PVA might be better than watered-down for this? I am very, very lazy when it comes to actually painting the bases: I followed Peter’s model exactly, but used the Litko 3mm plywood bases. These are dark-ish brown edge-on, but with a paler strip of wood. But once you “dark wash” the base, I find it darkens up quite nicely without having to actually paint the edges. Also I game on a solid brown background (just gets away from the “Oh my God it’s GREEN” effect of my older mat)and you might find your dark green doesn’t matter so much on brown brushed linen.

One query I had was this: my “summer grass” looks great for about two months, but I notice the grass slowly wears off, and my LotR armies have gone from fighting in Middle Earth to figthing in the Middle East! Do you think straight PVA might be better than watered-down for this?

]]> Comment on First Attempt at 6mm: Spartan Hoplites! by 6mm Spartans Rebased using Baccus Basing System @ Freedom of Expression http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/first-attempt-at-6mm-spartan-hoplites/comment-page-1/#comment-148 6mm Spartans Rebased using Baccus Basing System @ Freedom of Expression Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:17:43 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=131#comment-148 [...] had introduced my 6mm Spartan hoplites a while [...] [...] had introduced my 6mm Spartan hoplites a while [...]

]]> Comment on Anatomically Correct, My Foot! by Bob http://www.maxahn.com/2009/08/anatomically-correct-my-foot/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Bob Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:33:10 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=18#comment-144 Just a thought on this point, 28mm originally began as 25mm 'Heroic Scale' and was used for fantasy miniatures. They have never been anatomically correct (mainley to make them more robust, as they get handled more than miniatures used for diaramas, etc) Also 28mm I believe is closer to 1/58 scale. Regards, Bob Just a thought on this point, 28mm originally began as 25mm ‘Heroic Scale’ and was used for fantasy miniatures. They have never been anatomically correct (mainley to make them more robust, as they get handled more than miniatures used for diaramas, etc) Also 28mm I believe is closer to 1/58 scale.

Regards,
Bob

]]> Comment on Basing Test for 6mm Napoleonics by Kraussian http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/basing-test-for-6mm-napoleonics/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Kraussian Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:51:27 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=150#comment-141 @Andy McMaster: No problem. If only I didn't get so many spammers, I'd turn the moderation option off... Wonder how these people even *know* that such a low-profile & low-volume blog exists? @Andy McMaster: No problem. If only I didn’t get so many spammers, I’d turn the moderation option off… Wonder how these people even *know* that such a low-profile & low-volume blog exists?

]]> Comment on Basing Test for 6mm Napoleonics by Kraussian http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/basing-test-for-6mm-napoleonics/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Kraussian Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:50:24 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=150#comment-140 @Andy McMaster: Yes, it would probably take forever to move dozens of units around the battlefield, if each of them is made up of 8-10 20x20 bases! I agree that 40x20 looks "just right" from a gaming perspective... but 60x30 just looks so good! ;) @Andy McMaster: Yes, it would probably take forever to move dozens of units around the battlefield, if each of them is made up of 8-10 20×20 bases!

I agree that 40×20 looks “just right” from a gaming perspective… but 60×30 just looks so good! ;)

]]> Comment on Basing Test for 6mm Napoleonics by Andy McMaster http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/basing-test-for-6mm-napoleonics/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Andy McMaster Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:32:33 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=150#comment-139 Ooops. Didn't see the moderation bit last time and only now that I've posted again! :) Ignore the extras! :) Ooops. Didn’t see the moderation bit last time and only now that I’ve posted again! :) Ignore the extras! :)

]]> Comment on Basing Test for 6mm Napoleonics by Andy McMaster http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/basing-test-for-6mm-napoleonics/comment-page-1/#comment-138 Andy McMaster Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:31:14 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=150#comment-138 Hi, Could have sworn I left a comment earlier but it seemed to have failed! Anyway, thanks for posting the mock ups. I agree the 20x20s are too small/fiddly (for me anyway). I went for 40x20 as for a 4-6 base unit it looks 'right' to me when in two ranks. 60x30 does look impressive though (as in the Lasalle book) but I think for the 4-6 bases required it is just too big. Look forward to following your progress. Andy Hi,

Could have sworn I left a comment earlier but it seemed to have failed! Anyway, thanks for posting the mock ups. I agree the 20×20s are too small/fiddly (for me anyway). I went for 40×20 as for a 4-6 base unit it looks ‘right’ to me when in two ranks. 60×30 does look impressive though (as in the Lasalle book) but I think for the 4-6 bases required it is just too big.

Look forward to following your progress.

Andy

]]> Comment on Basing Test for 6mm Napoleonics by Andy McMaster http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/basing-test-for-6mm-napoleonics/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Andy McMaster Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:33:44 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=150#comment-137 Hi, Good to see the comparison with the mockups. I had thought of 20x20s but thought they would be too fiddly. The 40x20s I think look just right, especially in line. I agree that the 60x30 look great but 6 of them for big battalions is a little excessive I think. Look forard to seeing your project progress. Andy Hi,

Good to see the comparison with the mockups. I had thought of 20×20s but thought they would be too fiddly. The 40×20s I think look just right, especially in line. I agree that the 60×30 look great but 6 of them for big battalions is a little excessive I think.

Look forard to seeing your project progress.

Andy

]]> Comment on First Attempt at 6mm: Spartan Hoplites! by Kraussian http://www.maxahn.com/2010/02/first-attempt-at-6mm-spartan-hoplites/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Kraussian Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:37:01 +0000 http://www.maxahn.com/?p=131#comment-136 Nigel, Thanks for the very generous offer. But 120 60x30 bases at £27 seems costlier than buying from Baccus! They charge £3.83 for 40 60x30 bases, and shipping is 25% of the total order value (minimum £3). So if I were to order 120 bases from them, it will cost (£3.83 * 3) + (£3.83 * 3 * 25 / 100), which will only be around £15. Although their MDF bases are 2mm thick instead of 3mm, I think 2mm would be more suitable for 6mm figures. Maybe you should be switching your MDF supplier too? ;) 120 bases for £15 (including shipping) is much cheaper than I initially assumed, and I'm seriously contemplating placing an order! Nigel,

Thanks for the very generous offer.

But 120 60×30 bases at £27 seems costlier than buying from Baccus!

They charge £3.83 for 40 60×30 bases, and shipping is 25% of the total order value (minimum £3). So if I were to order 120 bases from them, it will cost (£3.83 * 3) + (£3.83 * 3 * 25 / 100), which will only be around £15.

Although their MDF bases are 2mm thick instead of 3mm, I think 2mm would be more suitable for 6mm figures. Maybe you should be switching your MDF supplier too? ;)

120 bases for £15 (including shipping) is much cheaper than I initially assumed, and I’m seriously contemplating placing an order!

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