Need some advice.

[loki18g]

Hi there. I've gotten an itch to get my hand into modding. I'm gonna start with repaints and I hope to eventually work my way up to modding. Now, I don't have any materials and after asking the guy at Compleat Strategist (who was no help) I decided to come here for help. I need some advice as to what materials I should get. I'm talking brands, sizes, materials, everything. I have 0 experience in this and would love some advice.

Thanks
Loki.

[WolvieFan9]

Get Citadel paints -- you can get them from the Games Workshop store in your area. Get the colors you need for whatever you are going to repaint.

Get very small brushes -- you can get them from Michael's or a hobby store. I have a very small brush for detail work, like an 18 guage, and then I usually use my X-Acto knife to trim it down even farther. I then have a couple medium brushes for bigger work.

Get a cup with water for cleaning your brushes -- you can figure that one out.

Get a permanent workspace where you can leave your stuff set up -- it makes it easier than having to move your stuff every time you


If you're going to just do repaints for now, that is really all you need. Other things that might come in handy down the road:

Get an X-Acto knife -- you can get one at Michael's, at Ace Hardware, at Wal-Mart, or any kind of place like that.

Get a very small hand drill -- I really like my hand drill from Citadel, which you can get at a Games Workshop store.

Get very fine sandpaper -- Testor's makes sanding film for plastic models that is pretty good, which you can get at Michael's.

Get some kind of plastic glue -- I get Testor's plastic model glue. I also have a small hot glue gun that I use a lot.

[pemvapor]

I've found that my Dremel (a high-speed drill) has been really helpful. I also use it around the house, and it's well worth the money. I have the pistol-shaped one and it's great.

It's also sometimes helpful to have some way to magnify, for the tiny detail work. I use +4.00 or +6.00 reading glasses, which you can get easily at a drugstore or online for a few bucks.

Don't forget a bright light in your work area.

Also, some people like to strip off the original paint. If you do this, you're getting right down to the plastic and instead of putting your coat on top of another, which can diminish fine modeling details, you're putting down the first coat.

[DarkBlueAnt]

Guessing by the fact that you went to Compleat Strategist, you must be in New York. There are some of us who are meeting to play clix in Manhattan sometimes (At Jim Hanleys) and one of them does modding. You might want to come by and talk to him (he's Hellboy here). Also if you're interested in playing, just post in the New York topic in the Regional forum.

[Wyldstaar]

Since you intend to do repaints, at some point you are probably going to want to remake a figure with a particularly bad paintjob where the factory paint has been glooped onto the figure to the point of obscuring the detail underneath. To remedy this, I recommend 100% acetone. This can be found most easily at most grocery stores in the cosmetics section by the nail polish remover. Acetone is highly corrosive. I suggest pouring it as needed into a glass apothacary jar. These can be found at kitchen supply stores like Bed Bath & Beyond. In order to put the figure into the jar, you'll have to remove it from the combat dial. For this, I recommend an X-Acto knife, but use a chisel blade rather than the standard one.

Some prefer to paint without primer, while others never go without it. Some like black primer, some gray, others white. I have always used white automotive primer from an auto supply store.

When you get around to doing mods, there are a number of step-by-step instructions here in the Artisan's Guild. A search will turn them up without too much difficulty.

[loki18g]

Guessing by the fact that you went to Compleat Strategist, you must be in New York. There are some of us who are meeting to play clix in Manhattan sometimes (At Jim Hanleys) and one of them does modding. You might want to come by and talk to him (he's Hellboy here). Also if you're interested in playing, just post in the New York topic in the Regional forum.

When you you guys meet at Jim Hanleys? Is it set days or whenever everyone feels up for game?

Anyone know where there is a Games Workshop in New York?

[Hellboy]

all the items and supplied listed are available at complete strategist. They also have a good number of paints at Him Hanley's Universe too.

We're meeting on Open gaming nights at JHU, but there are no open gaming nights until after NY Comic Com. Open gaming night is monday. We hope to get enough players to petition for a night of our own and encourage the store to get prize support and hold events.

all the above posts are full of good advice. I'd be happy to give on-hand suggestions sometime. I go to Compleat Strategist.

[loki18g]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm considering getting this deluxe package thing that I saw. It comes with a lot of paints and brushes. Can anyone recommend some good books on the subject? My work hours make it tough for me to meet up with people, so I'm gonna have to learn a lot on my own.

[gudda]

Nothing like practice when it comes to painting. I use to paint (and play) GW fantasy. I learned how to paint basically just by doing with my pals around the table getting tips here and there ( helped to be at the knee of a Golden Deamon award winner) I learned alot about how to highlight and the like , but when i started to work on Heroclix figs I noticed (especially in the newer sets ) the paint styles are basic one coats ( with few exceptions) so now more for speed and a desire to have my figs blend in with my non mods i just do a basic paint job. Long story short .. just throw on some paint and see what happens .. dont try to be a pheonix force and try to just be a gudda aka a crappy modder :p

[WolvieFan9]

Can anyone recommend some good books on the subject?

Not that I want to promote the "other miniatures game", but the Games Workshop web site has some good tips for painting.

[Incred-i-boy]

Citadel paints
plumbers goop (glue)
tooth picks & exacto for painting
everything else can be expensive but lots of fun