Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Humorously enough, I've done far more miniatures gaming since I got rid of my figs than I did in the 25 years beforehand. GaryCon has been great for that for me.

And I'm glad my figures wound up in good hands. For those playing at home, from left to right it's a Ral Partha knight painted up as a Teutonic Knight, a Lamming knight painted as Sir Polidor Haraldson from the armed with shield and falchon, and another Lamming knight painted up as Sir John Chandos of the Order of the Garter.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Humorously enough, I've done far more miniatures gaming since I got rid of my figs than I did in the 25 years beforehand. GaryCon has been great for that for me.

And I'm glad my figures wound up in good hands. For those playing at home, from left to right it's a Ral Partha knight painted up as a Teutonic Knight, a Lamming knight painted as Sir Polidor Haraldson from the armed with shield and falchon, and another Lamming knight painted up as Sir John Chandos of the Order of the Garter.

A few of your figures came my way, from somebody who got them from somebody else; I don't know the exact chain involved. Your standard-bearer from your mediums came my way as well, and he's now in the tray with the rest of the legion on the shelves. I kinda liked the connection, from our time out at Phil's to the basement; there's a sense of continuity and history to it.

No idea what ever happened to my historicals after I sold them; the guy who bought them has dropped off the face of the earth. Perfect Mikie got the SF collection, and all that's left are the Tekumel figures. Such has always been that way; throughout my life, the Tekumel collection has always been the one thing that's been saved despite fire, flood, famine, and moves.

The new chariots look darn good, if I say so myself. I can now primer indoors in the winter, thanks to the extraction fan I have set up in the laundry room; I've had a very happy afternoon painting and building a little transportation for Lord Meren. One of the 'new' chariots is a TAG 'Children of the Nile" set that never got taken out of the blister pack until now - it's kinda nice to finally have it painted and based after all these years.

Yeah, there's a lot of nostalgia there. I'm finally unpacking all that stuff I bought fur our games decades ago, and never had the chance to do anything with. Moral of the story - once you become a publisher, your hobbies go right out the window...

I gave away a good chunk of my old collection when I got into Warhammer back in the mid nineties. Oh I'd owned Warhammer first edition back in the early eighties but who had 20 miniatures to make a regiment with when they were 12? But I broke down and got into it when a local store started carrying it. So, looking at the market place, and realizing that even Ral Partha had moved on to 28mm and feeling that many of the lines I wanted were gone for good, I broke my collection in three and gave it to friends. Then I started collecting 28s.

I've been sculpting in 54mm of late and thinking of getting back into trying to do casting. I've got half a dozen wizard school students in an RTV mould that has barely set up on the first half after a month. I think it's getting there but it's very slow. I'll have to buy some new RTV the stuff I've got's really old. I also sculpted half a dozen pirates, and I'm working on some cyber punkers, and there's maybe two dozen unfinished fantasy models in a box somewhere. I'm great at starting projects!

But as I tie all that up, I want to do a small range of 25mm fantasy and science fiction figures to go with my games. They'll all have separate heads and one separate hand with a weapon. Just enough to put some variety into groups. I might pay RAFM to produce them. I have no luck at all with casting.

Originally Posted by David Johansen

I gave away a good chunk of my old collection when I got into Warhammer back in the mid nineties. Oh I'd owned Warhammer first edition back in the early eighties but who had 20 miniatures to make a regiment with when they were 12? But I broke down and got into it when a local store started carrying it. So, looking at the market place, and realizing that even Ral Partha had moved on to 28mm and feeling that many of the lines I wanted were gone for good, I broke my collection in three and gave it to friends. Then I started collecting 28s.

I've been sculpting in 54mm of late and thinking of getting back into trying to do casting. I've got half a dozen wizard school students in an RTV mould that has barely set up on the first half after a month. I think it's getting there but it's very slow. I'll have to buy some new RTV the stuff I've got's really old. I also sculpted half a dozen pirates, and I'm working on some cyber punkers, and there's maybe two dozen unfinished fantasy models in a box somewhere. I'm great at starting projects!

But as I tie all that up, I want to do a small range of 25mm fantasy and science fiction figures to go with my games. They'll all have separate heads and one separate hand with a weapon. Just enough to put some variety into groups. I might pay RAFM to produce them. I have no luck at all with casting.

Yep; I can understand this.

Yes, the RTV does sound old - the catalyst can 'go off' with age. About all you can do is wait; keep the mold at room temperature, and be patient.

Casting is also an art; both Gronan and I can tell you lots of horror stories about life with the casting process...

Well, I've got a lead burn scar or two on my face and hands from the first couple experiments with plaster moulds. Do you know that a plasticine master will seal moisture into the mould for months and even years if it isn't removed? Five foot jet on my first attempt!

Originally Posted by David Johansen

Well, I've got a lead burn scar or two on my face and hands from the first couple experiments with plaster moulds. Do you know that a plasticine master will seal moisture into the mould for months and even years if it isn't removed? Five foot jet on my first attempt!

Ah, steam explosions... What fun, eh?

I'm just glad you're still around to tell us about it!

Between stray moisture, impure metals (HINT: Do NOT I say again NOT buy your casting metal from a scrapyard), and the tendency of at least one of the machines to throw its top plate off at speed, I sometimes wonder how the hell we survived.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Between stray moisture, impure metals (HINT: Do NOT I say again NOT buy your casting metal from a scrapyard), and the tendency of at least one of the machines to throw its top plate off at speed, I sometimes wonder how the hell we survived.

We were young, ignorant, and damn lucky. That's how we survived.

Had a look at those Rocketships again; they were from Denny's, not Target. Have a look, if you would...

http://addictedtopewter.blogspot.com...ket-ships.html

I've got space on the Workbench...

Off to bed; see you all in the morning on my AM check-in. The new chariots look good, if I do say so myself...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Ah, steam explosions... What fun, eh?

I'm just glad you're still around to tell us about it!

heh, well, I was pouring the lead and it started to pop and bubble back out of the hole and I thought, "that doesn't look good", so I took a step back about a tenth of a second before the metal sprayed right back out.

Then there was the first attempt at a home made spin caster throwing lead around like a sprinkler. Fortunately I ducked around a corner until it ran out.

And people say I have boring hobbies.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Understood; it's like some British friends, who were amazed at my going through an ironmonger's shop in Cirencester and buying up all the small hammers on offer. They had grown up being told that one can get anything in the US, and the Missus had to explain that the kind of tools that I was looking for usually had to be imported from the UK...

No, you're right. The more 'due diligence' we did on these people, the more unsavory business practices we found going on. Between that the the pair we had in almost a year ago, we're a lot more careful who we deal with.

There was no destruction at all; it was a very nice night, but with a cool breeze in off the lake. How that breeze was dealt with was what terrified me.

Yeah, exactly like those guys.

Well, sorry to hear that. It's good they made an obvious mistake and alerted you.

...and the plot thickens.

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

I could be a grumpy old sourpuss and gripe that Tekumel is the very worst example of 'cultural appropriation' in gaming, but it's a nice morning hereabouts, I'm having a good breakfast, and I've got miniatures to paint and stories to write...

I either don't even understand what "cultural appropriation" is supposed to be, or if I do understand it, I don't get why it's a bad thing...so I'd vote for "writing stories".

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

But the characters would know all this. So somebody might be interested in finding out who this clown is that claims to be from Striding Incantation.

Still, that's not like being involved with the clan. And I assume such clowns don't live long without the need for adventurers.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

Between stray moisture, impure metals (HINT: Do NOT I say again NOT buy your casting metal from a scrapyard), and the tendency of at least one of the machines to throw its top plate off at speed, I sometimes wonder how the hell we survived.

I can only commend your reflexes, and your Save vs Breath.

Originally Posted by David Johansen

heh, well, I was pouring the lead and it started to pop and bubble back out of the hole and I thought, "that doesn't look good", so I took a step back about a tenth of a second before the metal sprayed right back out.

Then there was the first attempt at a home made spin caster throwing lead around like a sprinkler. Fortunately I ducked around a corner until it ran out.

And people say I have boring hobbies.

Oh, the irony!