So, this happened on Friday night while working on some new hills with cardboard and a utility knife (aka box cutter):
Remember kids, cut away from yourself.
The biggest issue is this is my fretting hand, which means playing guitar with just three fingers. And I have lessons to teach. Not impossible to work around, but annoying.
Anyway, I wanted to do something with my toys, so I got out some old friends to bring them up to snuff for my current gaming preferences.
Here is how they started (1/72 plastics definitely not glued to US pennies):
They were painted some 17 or 18 years ago - the very first "proper" wargames figures I painted and sentimental (along with those homemade Adventures in Jimland counters I mentioned the other day).
Craft paints were all I had and that flesh color leaves a LOT to be desired. They look so sickly!The flock? is also from the craft store - its like chunks of sponge.
I may touch them up at some point - some paint flaking but also that flesh color - along with overhauling my Pacific figures.
In any case, here they are based for squad-based rules like Crossfire, Hammer of Democracy, or even Morschauser's modern rules.
Try adding a small drop of red or red brown to your flesh mix. I often mix colors until I am happy with the mix.
ReplyDeleteWith the cut on his hand, I imagine there is already a bit of red or red/brown in the mix...
DeleteJonathan, I definitely laughed out loud at that!
DeleteWorking with a modelling knife in the 1980s, ended up going to the hospital for a few stitches, still got the scar.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Pretty sure I'll have a scar when this is healed. My stitches have been coming out on their own!
DeleteWar gamers have their own take on the 'sharp end'.
ReplyDeleteHa! I wonder if i should put in for a purple heart.
DeleteGood God! Be careful. Been there, done that. Have the scars to prove it.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part is, just before it happened I was thinking that I should stop because the blade was starting to snag the cardboard. Sure enough, the extra effort to free it the last time led to my wound.
DeleteOw. Take care of the hand and let that heal up. Good to provide yourself some distration with minis and games. They look pretty good for having painted them years ago; I find the more pliable plastics eventually start shedding paint, especially on arms and weapons. Sounds like you have some great plans for them on the tabletop. Take care!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could remember how I painted them - I think i base-coated with either white glue or gesso, I know there was a LOT of drybrushing which might account for why the paint has held up? I don't know if I have anything special planned for them, other than to get them on the table more often.
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ReplyDeleteOuch John! Those box cutters can be dangerous for sure! I think that your figs are quite good for your first try! It's great that you still have them as is! I still have my first painted Mini-Figs 15mm Napoleonics and they are really bad! But they are special to me!
ReplyDeleteWell, to be fair, they aren't the first figures I *ever* painted. When I was 10-12 or so, I painted some fantasy figures that looked like you'd expect. However, those disappeared when my parents moved after I had grown and gone out on my own. I *still* search their basement looking for that cookie tin I stored the figures in, just in case it survived their moves! I would love to have my Lawful Evil Cleric and Lizard Man Champion figures back, badly painted or not!
DeleteOh- that looks nasty - it'll be good to have the stitches out. My problem is cracking on my hands - very painful and annoying when trying to do modelling- I've been using 'Hydrosol' cream rubbed in several times a day which over a number of days heals the open cracking. Nice work on the WW2 Germans and British- painted up very well. Regards. KEV.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely the worst wound I can recall suffering as an adult - at least in terms of bloodshed. It's the first time I ever almost passed out from seeing my own injury, too! Thanks for the compliment on the figures - I don't plan on it currently, but I admit I have a growing desire to maybe expand both sides. The same figures are still in production.
DeleteOuch! Hope you're gaming and guitaring are not too impeded John
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maudlin Jack! Gaming hasn't been impacted, but guitar playing definitely has. I can play most things with three fingers, but there are some chords that I need a fourth. Fortunately, none of my students are at a point where they need me to demo those at the moment!
DeleteWargames with real injuries? You're taking this too far! Get well soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tim! I believe the kids call it "immersion".
DeleteYup. There was an old mantra "never cut towards your thumb, always cut towards your chum". I still have to repeat it to myself when cutting stuff.
ReplyDelete"All you had"? Craft acrylic paints are ALL I've used for 4 decades or more! :)
As mentioned above, mixing a bit of burnt sienna or similar helps with flesh but an over wash of the flesh areas of burnt sienna , not too thick or too thin instead of, or as well as mixing some in, can work wonders.
That is going to by my new mantra!
DeleteI should have qualified my craft paint statement with, all I had and could find in my local shop was "doll's flesh" craft paint or something like that. It was deathly pale, at least as I applied it. I didn't stumble onto tanned flesh or AC flesh (just now I looked up what AC stands for, acrylic color apparently) or slightly more realistic craft shades until later.
I hope you are ok?
ReplyDeleteI did something similar once trying to remove a 3D-printed wargaming piece from the printer's baseplate. I ended up with a deep cut and 3 stiches. How do you tell thedoctor you got such an injury??
Get well soon!
Thanks, Roger! I'm much better now. The stitches fell out prematurely but the finger is at least usable for typing now! When they asked me how I got my injury, I was honest and said "stupidity" :D !
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