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.

We all have our quiet times and blogs can go silent for long times. That's what everyone else blogs are for; getting the modelling fix when you are not modelling.

While it's not possible to do much without paint and glue, and free alternatives for those are not really possible. Everything else in the hobby can be found very cheap or even free.

Check what your household throws away. There's a lot of viable modelling material there.

And there is always sprue.

I came to DDakka because I had a similar problem to the making stuff for the sake of it. I could build a large Airfix kit in under a week and would then need another one. But those models were just built from the instructions.
After all the things I've learnt from here, and pushing each model to be better than the one before, I can make tiny models last much longer (it's the building of a model that's the fun part) and is therefore more cost efficient. I spent 8 months building one tank (all right I did paint quite a few commission models during that time), it kept me busy, didn't require me to buy any new kits, and brought regular updates for my blog. Win win.

So, I would say push yourself to make the best models you can. Take your time over every stage and become a better modeller at the same time.

I feel your pain my friend. I absolutely have hobby adhd, and can end up all over the place. And am not exactly flush either! (though stuff will be heading your way once I get my act together ) Do what you want, you don't have to justify yourself to anyone!

'Mon the (magos)Biff!

I often have the same quandry as yourself- I start out with a plan and a sense of purpose and more often than not the purpose gets shifted. My Marines started as an exercise in airbrushing and to be quickly done so as to use them in games. Now it appears that I'm more concerned with doing them really, really well for almost display purposes.

So keep at it: you're one of the more focussed members of this forum and I'm confident you can get the job done.

Like Khârn. He gets shizz done.

Hey all!

Thanks so much for all of your responses... once again the Dakka / LoER community really shows its quality!

I am going to take on board all of the comments and really focus and push each of my creations to surpass the last!

Thanks again all.. I am definitely taking a more positive attitude back to the forge!

Hey all.... 3 weeks to go so it was a wee bit of time on the LoER comp tonight.... PVA glue & some wee balls of sculpy to try and replicate a bubbling ooze at the exit pipe of the pumping station...... thamks Klausfor the ttechnique tip! Hopefully with some colour on it it will be convincing!

Cheers all,

Hey all,

Managed to get a can of grey primer this morning so I got my LoER piece primed and got stuck in with a base coat of rust/damage and weathering.... then it was a first coat of coffee and a second coat of PVA glue for the ooze!

Lots more details to add.... but well on the way to finish

Thanks all,

Hey all,

I hope all is well,

I am thinking perhaps a green for the OOze... at the rear of the piece.... something to really stand out from the grey / brown / red of the rest of the piece... will leave that till last..... next up is the fencing and groundcover.... then the fun detailing! ..

Still plenty of time......

rust is looking awesome! and i agree some nice spot colour like green would be a cool touch!

Thanks Vik for the comment!... Yeah I definitely think a green would work well... going for a light coloured ground on this one with a concrete / base / plinth so the green would look nice.... that will be the final touches though!

Oh.. on another note.... I just had a message from "Mrs Biff" saying she has bought me something hobby related and it is waiting at home.... she also says it is "Stompy" ...... oooo what could it be! hehe!

Will post a pic later!

Cheers All,

°° wow... well... sometimes it´s measuring up to get home,eh?

Looking good Biff! You're a lucky chap if Mrs. Biff ventured into a GW store on her own- she deserves a cup of tea and a foot-rub at the very least!

I can't abide the places anymore...

Anyway, the terrain is looking great! Can't wait to see it finished. To hop to it!

 Elnibbus wrote:
Looking good Biff! You're a lucky chap if Mrs. Biff ventured into a GW store on her own- she deserves a cup of tea and a foot-rub at the very least!

I can't abide the places anymore...

Anyway, the terrain is looking great! Can't wait to see it finished. To hop to it!

Haha... thanks mate! I would be greatly surprised if she did indeed go into store.... so I am intrigued as to what it is... but I do agree a wee cuppa and maybe a biscuit are in order!

Thanks for looking in buddy.... hopefully get a bit more done on the terrain tonight... want to get the ground cover done and finished...

That is looking nice piece! the rust and wear and tear makes it!

Hey Shas,

Thanks for looking in mate!

Well... Mrs Biff got a large... hug this evening.... as waiting for me when I got home was "Luther" Medium Panzer Walker from Dust Tactics!!!! Over the moon! I actually got outbid on one of these on eBay so I can't believe she got me one!
Im not sure if anyone has any of these models... but from first look they are incredible quality and design!
Dry fitted him tonight to get a full idea of it.... got a few wee conversion ideas for him....

Also got the metal fencing for the LoER comp rusted up... so they are drying now..... next is the base.....

Cheers all,

I have the old first starter game, comes with the walkers and some soldiers, plus a all close combat/worker version, I also have some soviet stuff, so they are excellent minis.

Good on the wife! Hmmm, I wonder.......maybe she outbid you for that surprise when you got home and smiled?

^that would be something that is kinda bittersweet... getting outbid by your own wife

stompy looks cool... the look of this miniature range always appealed to me... diesel punk...just one era ahead of steampunk...

It would make a perfect O. Henry story. like The Gift of The Magi

From what I hear the DUST stuff is going cheaply.

LoER poject looks pretty sharp. Adding a few warning signs or whatnot to the fencing?

shasolenzabi wrote:I have the old first starter game, comes with the walkers and some soldiers, plus a all close combat/worker version, I also have some soviet stuff, so they are excellent minis.

Good on the wife! Hmmm, I wonder.......maybe she outbid you for that surprise when you got home and smiled?

OOOoo..... the game itself looks good.... actually something I might see myself getting into one day... if it sorts out all of the issues it has been experiencing recently that is..... I think I will certainly look to have a couple of other pieces in times to come!

haha... you never know.... she may well have... I will quiz her on it later....

Viktor von Domm wrote:^that would be something that is kinda bittersweet... getting outbid by your own wife

stompy looks cool... the look of this miniature range always appealed to me... diesel punk...just one era ahead of steampunk...

cheers Vik, Yeh I think the look of these walkers... especially the Axis & soviets are really nicely done! One step ahead of steam punk.... but just as Rivety!!! Actually I am planning on adding more rivets to Lothar when I get the chance!

Red Harvest wrote:It would make a perfect O. Henry story. like The Gift of The Magi

From what I hear the DUST stuff is going cheaply.

LoER poject looks pretty sharp. Adding a few warning signs or whatnot to the fencing?

Thanks for lookin in Red! Yes indeed I have a load of hazard/warning/propaganda posters that I want to add to the fence and the pumping station to help add some detail.... going to attempt to mix them up and make some old and new to give some contrast.... I think the DUST items are going relatively cheaply.... but seem to be going pretty quickly too... I can see why.. as mentioned above.. they are pretty cool models!


Oh..... one last thing.... Camkierhi is a legend!! As.. I now have paint!!

Cheers all,

Well the starter was part board game, I have yet to get the tabletop rules, but the one I have is fast paced and fun

Hey all,

Had some RL work this evening... how inconsiderate! But I maaged to get the first layer of ground cover on my LoER piece and also added some .... COLOUR?!?!?! .... Yes indeed ... I added some green to the ooze at the outflow pipe and also some green to the 2 main cables around the pump station.
IMHO it really adds a lot to the piece..... I think a bit of blue and red on the pump station and then the colour of the signs and posters should brighten everything up.

Anyway... back to work im affraid...

Take it easy all!

yuck....
looks very life like!

Dude , there's some great work going on there , especially considering the materials used . That Dust walker will look awesome after you've had a go at it !
PM me and we can discuss a trade of bits/ supplies for some rivetting !

That's nice goo

Viktor von Domm wrote:yuck....
looks very life like!

Big H wrote:Dude , there's some great work going on there , especially considering the materials used . That Dust walker will look awesome after you've had a go at it !
PM me and we can discuss a trade of bits/ supplies for some rivetting !

inmygravenimage wrote:That's nice goo

thanks gang for looking in! Always appreciated..... Going to ad some white to the goo bubbles this evening to make them seem like they are rising out and about to pop!

Big H ... PM sent now.... Really appreciate the comments... I am planning on adding some wiring and some spaced armour to the "Lothar" and then some more rivets obviously.... nothing too much as I really like the form it has... and then getting him painted!

The riveting hammers are always at the ready!

Cheers,

Howdy all,

Had a night on Luther this evening... and have made all of the little additions I wanted to.... added some more rivets to the cockpit area.... added some spaced armour to the rocket launchers.... and some wiring to the launchers back to the cockpit... and a couple of calbes from the legs to the torso......

I have also added some spare chain .... but I think it looks more like a gangsters bling.... finally... I have tried to recreate an effect that I saw Klaus try with a rocket being shot from one of the tubes.... using some cable and going to try and recreate the smoke/thrust effect using green stuff... will let you know how I get on..... I just put a primer coat on him now and will try and get some paint and decals on him soon... ,

Love to know what you think...

Cheers all,

Rivets, wires, chain and armor skirting to protect the missile launchers, looking all good there!

That's going to be epic...

cool additions! i agree the chain hints a bit like it is a pimp ride

but everything else is awesome!
if greenstuff won´t work... many peeps use green foliage as one would use for scratch building trees and stuff...

I love the Dust tactics mechs. Your mods look awesome and in keeping with the 1940s tech theme. The pumping station is coming along super awesome, too. I totally understand the zero budget woes. I suffer them myself pretty often. But keep at your hobby. Building and painting keeps me sane and happy. I imagine it does the same for you.

Thanks all! Really appreciate all of the comments! Espdcially from youguys that I look to for my Iimspiration!

Vik... I took your advice but I have used an ordinary kitchen sponge and pulled and shaped it to the shape I wanted.... them tried to add some rocket effect paint..... I think because it is sponge I could have used a lot more paint. ?. Once it dries I will look at maybe adding more but for a first attempt I recon its cool!

Love to hear your comments!

Ps... I realise the rocket fims are slightly too large for the tubes.... but I was thinking they could be spring loaded and they deploy once fired?!

Cheers