Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, I'm about to be deployed and I recently started 40k which has quickly consumed my life. I also started working on painting recently (first model I painted is in my gallery page) and really enjoy it on my free time. I will have liberty time where I could sit down and paint, admittedly to the ridicule of my peers, and really get some modeling accomplished. I unfortunatly will have to go in steps because I dont know how much uninterupted free time. I will have to pack up models, hope they dont break, and when they get there paint then I'll have to mail them back to USA. What do you all think? Should I just suck it up and not do my hobby. I'll have a reasonable gym and some books (space wolves omnibus) ((various non 40k but catching up on other series)) I just think I could get alot of painting done.

Im not sure how much free space or time you will have, but a small hard case (small piano pistol case), with all your paints secured should allow you to paint then rapidly store your goods when the time comes. Should probably only bring a tac squad at a time though.

It depends on your MOS. If you're combat arms you may as well just leave it at home, you definitely won't have time to paint. I honestly don't know how the other side lives but I'm pretty sure some MOSs get a fair bit of free time, I always seemed to see the same people just chilling in the MWR playing Call of Duty or whatever at all hours of the day.

That's goes for the Army and I'll go ahead and assume it applies to the Marines. I haven't the slightest idea how the Air Force and Navy work.

Your best bet is to pack them up in clearly labeled boxes, leave them with family (you should get a bit of leave or something before your deployment) or barring that a buddy who is staying on Rear-D that you trust and have them mail it to you if/when you decide you have free time.

Of course, I got out years ago so maybe deployments are different these days but I doubt things would be that different.

I'm a corpsman so I'm working medical. hours arent terribly long (12hrs) but also on call 24/7. That does sound like the best idea, just my basic paints and worst case I'll finish up small details I dont have when I'm back in garrison. one squad shouldnt be too hard to do though

I was going to say the biggest issue you'd run in to (in terms of modelling) is all the gak particles and dust, which might affect your paint(s). Though being medical you might have a slightly more sterile place to work in. I know a lot of guys play overseas, but with unpainted models. That is pretty much the only reason in my books that is acceptable for unpainted models (I'm rather anal about that, haha). In any case, safe tour. Have fun

You may want to try out the KR cases. They look to be pretty sturdy and they use soft foam.

When I was deployed (Mosul) in 2009, I painted my main tau force. I did not have very much room for my entire army.

Here is what I suggest:

Just keep in mind, I have no idea if you have deployed before.

Do not take anything with you to your training area. You will be in bunks and have no room for stuff. And on average, a lot less time there than while in country.

Have your paints and 1-3 squads and 1-2 vehicles at you at any given time. This limits how much space this will take up.

Best thing I would suggest is have everything shipped to you and revolved around. I had a fellow soldier that is also in the hobby swap out my models every 2-4 weeks. I had two small cases that were designed for only 15-20 models. I believe it was made from Reaper. It worked well for it fit in the flat rate 7 dollar shipping box through USPS.

Have two cases, one in transit and one with you. It took about 9 days from Iraq to the states and about 6 days from the states to Iraq. Afganistan or Kuwait can not be too far off of that. Germany or Korea should be shorter.

If you have a fellow soldier/friend that can help you with shipping and care-taking your army, then I would suggest using them. A wife/girlfriend/family, especially if they do not play, does seem to 'forget' about sending and receiving models a bit more. If you dont have anyone, I will gladly help out a fellow soldier, especially if you are lucky and also in/near JBLM.

I hope this helps a bit,
Waffles

Im also getting ready to deploy and have taken my stuff once before. Just get a plastic gun case from wal-mart and put some pick and pull foam in it. What unit are you with and where are you stationed. Im with 2/8 USMC

There will most likely be others deployed with you that will play and paint. Find them and get together. It will help relieve the stress from deployment. Trust me. Thats what did in OIF 1. And there are many others that still do it while on deployment.
Just remember, stay low when off the FOB and keep your wits about to and you will be fine.

(ret) Spc Dan Pieri
3rd Bde, 2nd ID, 296 BSB, 35E

ARROWHEAD!!

Just returning off of deployment I can give you a couple pieces of advice...

Finecast does not hold up to the heat both from shipping and in tranist if you move around as much as we did. The heat will also explode most superglue joints so try and use epoxies as they seemed to hold up well enough. Makesure you seal any items before you ship them...had numerous models paint melt right off during shipping. Depending on how hardcore your wanting to get out of it I did have a guy that found one of the battle foam bags that fit inside one of the green military toughboxes... he drug that everywhere with him and had space for all of his paints and minis and his cloths in the toughbox...we bounced around a lot if your going to be in a cash then you might be good if not then it might be a hard time for you...

Honestly just do what I realize I shoulda done...just keep buying your stuff and ship it to your home address and then we you get home you have tons of hobby you can do...at most don't bring more than 500 points of stuff to work on at a time.

B

Sorry for late reply, they moved our date up so I'm here now. Ended up having one of kmy supply buddies hooked me up with a pelican case. I've got my paints and unsprewed models in there. I primered everything before I left. Brought 5 harliquins and troupe master, 1 drop pod, and a box of de scourges. What did you mean by sealing them though so paint doesn't melt off? Friends back home are trying to send me a bunch of warhammer stuff for christmas but have to get them to understand I don't have the space.

Just make sure you do a clear coat of your choice or make sure you get some sort of paint sealer...I know there are multiple versions all basically do the same thing but it'll keep the paint from trying to just flake or melt off due to the heat. I used the brushed on stuff so that you can work and finish one part and continue on to the next later without risk of damage

Desertwarrior505 wrote:
Just make sure you do a clear coat of your choice or make sure you get some sort of paint sealer...I know there are multiple versions all basically do the same thing but it'll keep the paint from trying to just flake or melt off due to the heat. I used the brushed on stuff so that you can work and finish one part and continue on to the next later without risk of damage

That's a great idea, I'll order some of that. Never know when I'll get to finish a whole model

What he said. I used Reaper's water based gloss coat while I was in Iraq and it worked fine.