Will McCammon's Minis (Formerly: My wallet hates me, but...)

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:53 pm

Another suggestion, for those who like to avoid the really toxic crud that can be used to remove old paint:

Since many of the safer solvents don't have the stripping power of... ummmm, let's say 5-gallons of Metyl-Ethyl Ketone - some scrubbing / cleansing of the old paint residue is usually requires. Like most of us, I use an old toothbrush (or at least I did) to remove the paint residue. Then, on day while shopping with my wife (OK, she was shopping - I was carrying packages) we went to Big Lots [a discount liquidator]. I found a battery-operated, rotating toothbrush with 4 brush re-fills for $4.99. For less than the cost of a single miniature I now have a spinning brush to help clean off old miniatures.

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:24 am

I finally finished assembling my Juggernaut kit (the 5.5-in one).
PICTURE 1

I'm modifying mine to include engine nacelles (which I'm fabricating from styrene plastic bar stock).
PICTURE 2

I also finished work on my restored Klingons, including the chop-job to reduce the length of the engines on my old lead D-5.
PICTURE 3

Here it is in-company with some other Klingon minis for comparison.
L-R: modern Starline 2400 pewter D-7 Battlecruiser, my restored old lead D-7, the modified lead D-5, and a modern (pewter) D-5.
PICTURE 4

Finally, here's the fruits of some labor I put in at my local Kinkos:
PICTURE 5
Six new laminated ship cards for Federation Commander (none of which are in the game yet - all from the Communique newsletter). These are added to my custom ship card I brewed up of the Federation Fast Destroyer.

[EDIT 10/15/09: moved pictures to PhotoBucket]

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:42 am

Those pics show that you have been very busy!

Is there anything on the backs of your ship cards?

I have taken to putting all the appropriate firing charts (done in Excel with color, printview, screen capture, edited in LViewPro) on the left half of a 11"x8.5" template and the actual ship diagram on the right half. The paper is folded in half, effectively putting the ship diagram on one side and the charts on the other. Then it is slipped into a 5.5"x8.5" plastic holder from Staples. I've done all the ships from Communique that are relevant to our group and have even experimented with others. It has worked pretty well.

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:03 pm

I actually tack the Squadron Scale and Fleet Scale cards that I laserprint back-to-back, trim them even, and then laminate them. The end result isn't as nice as the real ones from ADB, but they're pretty close.

The only exception was the station, as it was a unique Fleet-scale only card.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:05 am

We recently used the Fleet scale Battle Station in a scenario and it was very interesting. It is weaker than the traditional base station, but had enough firepower to worry about.

By the way, is there a traditional base station card in any of the FC products?

junior · Post by **junior** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:21 am

Yes, there is a base station card. Though I don't remember off the top of my head which product it's in.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:59 am

I believe its in Tholian Attack.

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:00 am

Yup, it's in Tholian Attack.

You can always check the Master Ship Chart (in the Commander's Circle) to see if a card is in a game product and which one.

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:18 am

Today, I finished everything on my big build-up of minis except prime & paint. It's taken months to get to this point.

I've gone from this
Bunch of metal in boxes
To this
Bunch of much toiled-over metal in boxes

All assembled, filed, seams-filled, etc., and fitted into foam protection in Wall Mart craft cases.

More Pics:
FEDERATION FLEET in prior-to-primer parade formation.
KLINGON FLEET in prior-to-primer parade formation.
GENERAL UNITS in prior-to-primer parade formation.

Federation Fast Squadron (DNL, CF, NCF, DDF).

Juggernaut , with it's new engine nacelles attached and puttied-in.

[EDIT 10/10/09 - moved pictures to PhotoBucket]

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:57 pm

djdood wrote:...I've gone from this
Bunch of metal in boxes
To this
Bunch of much toiled-over metal in boxes

All assembled, filed, seams-filled, etc., and fitted into foam protection in Wall Mart craft cases.

I love the cases. Great idea!

Good job on the minis. I can't wait to see them painted up. I need to find time to upload the photos of my newest efforts to my page... but some many things... so little time.

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:29 pm

I do believe I got the idea for the cases from one of your posts. Thanks!

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:56 pm

I thought those cases looked familiar. I've raided the local Wally-World for cases so many times that the sporting Goods clerk don't even bat an eyelash any longer when I come in and pick-up a dozen tackle organizers and then ask them if they have any more in the back.

That's one of the signs that you play too much SFB, isn't it?

You have more tackle boxes than Bill Dance - and you don't even fish!

djdood · Post by **djdood** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 9:20 pm

Heh.

I ended up in their Sports and Shootin' section a few weeks ago and picked up two of those shallow tackle boxes with the removable dividers.

They were too shallow for minis, but ended up perfect for counters.

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:53 am

Don't get me started on counters and trays...
2 of the aforementioned tackle boxes for FC
22 for Federation and Empire
21 for SFB (one for each race - one for generics - one for ealy years - one for simulator races - 4 for Omega, etc...)
a couple dozen for other games
14 for SFB minis
1 for 'Clix
8 for DND miniatures
3 for Formula De' race cars
2 for Car Wars cars
2 for Race Day
2 for Pirates...
and the list goes on and on - not including the ones purchased for my kids and their games / miniatures / 'clix / etc.

That's why my local Wally-World loves me...

and my wallet hates me...

Scoutdad · Post by **Scoutdad** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:02 am

Just to show y'all what's up, I thought I'd post a couple of new photos... excuse the quality, I just grabbed the camera and snapped - I didn't bother so much with lighting and presentation)

Scoutdad's Workbench as of 8/20/2007
As you can see - Hydrans are currently at bat, with a few Lyran and Klingons on deck - followed by the last of the assembled Feds
Scoutdad's Box'O Minis - ebay specials and factory seconds) as of 8/20/2007
Lots of everything, jus waiting for filling, sanding, cleaning, priming, etc...
Scoutdad's Minis to do pegboard as of 8/20/2007
Then, when I get around to it, lots more still in the blister packs!

Federation Commander

Will McCammon's Minis (Formerly: My wallet hates me, but...)

"I'm The Juggernaut B"

Done, except not...

Re: Done, except not...