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Post by easye on Dec 28, 2016 16:52:29 GMT
If you are like me, your gaming eyes are bigger than your wallet. There are just too many cool things on the market right now, and it is hard to decide where to put your hard earned lucre. With all of this choice out there, what are some of your ideas and gimmicks to help save a buck and still get your wargaming fix? I have a few different methods. 1. I learned to do some basic sculpt/crafting skills to support some of my games. i have used them to make my own models for the tabletop including Blood Bowl team members, Aeronautica Imperialis aircraft, and ships. 2. Instead of buying rules, I started making my own. Now, I can afford to buy rules but I haven't stopped making my own yet. Too much fun! 3. Paper, Paper, Paper! I have become a big believer in using paper templates for 2d, stand-ups, and 3d models. Paper is especially useful when deciding if you want to spend more money on a game/genre. You can read more about that at my Blog: bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2016/12/wargaming-on-budget-paper-templates.html4. I build generic terrain that can be used with a variety of game systems instead of system specific terrain boards. So, what about you? What are your best tips for budget wargaming? |
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Post by madmorgan on Dec 28, 2016 18:56:33 GMT
Wasn't sure where to place this, but figured it would catch some attention. First off, I'm a Nam vet with Agent Orange contracted type 2 diabetes. I don't mind this being public knowledge. Which leads me to the some 'strange' bits I've discovered for use with AQ modeling.
1/The lancets used for finger pricking has little round caps that are broken off for discarding. They never have any interaction with blood, as they are just a cap for the lancet. After throwing a number away I discovered they looked oddly familiar. They're 1cm (3/8") in diameter with a thicker middle ring and a small bump where you break them off the lancet needle. In other words, they look like a round hatch cover! I've started saving these, as they really will work well when you want a relocated or new hatch on a vehicle.
2/Also whilst using my new insulin pens (just started after 2 years sigh), I discovered that one of the needle caps that is usually thrown away before using the needle is a perfect 'dragon tooth' looking object. It also never interacts with blood or tissue, its just a cap protecting the needle and user from accidental injury. It is 15mm tall, round with flat top and 1cm at the base. I was thinking the Maritans might develop some sort of 'tank traps' as part of their cyclinder static defense or perhaps other uses are possible.
3/At the Dollar Store my lady picked up some 4' long 'water wings' for her pool exercise class. These are easily cut, being rubberlike foam, and will be the basis of my zeppelin bodies and plastic easter egg shells havles for the end; using Shapeway parts for making the rest of the machine. (1:288 scale).
4/Crystal Lite is a non-sugar water flavor sold here in the states. The container for their packets of product are oblong hard plastic and could be cut in half to make two Quonset huts. Alternatively, they'd make nice hangers for small scale airplanes. They measure 16.3cm (6+3/8") by 5cm tall (2"). Use a cardboard cutout and a door to make the end piece and you're done. Or leave open like a hanger for flivver bay or such. You might even fit some Mk II tanks in there - I need to check on width in that regard. For really small scale figures (6mm or less), the tops to these would work for a oblong pit.
5/I've already mentioned the my use of The Doctor's BrushPicks for antennas. At 275 to a container, this will keep you in nice looking non-whip style antennas.
Okay its strange, its weird, but we're grown folks playing with miniatures of martians, so go with the flow. Besides, these items might someday solve a problem. I can't offer any of the diabetes stuff and wouldn't want anyone to need the supplies mentioned. It goes without saying that I won't be selling you all any either - I only product 2 hatches and 1 cap a day, so supply is limited lol. Have a good evening and never fail to look around common items you often throw away. They might be a 'find' for your hobby and you're recycling in a good way as well. Enjoy!
I did a series of ideas, the above being the longest one under "Strange Bits". I'll add the rest in a second post or just look them up on the general site.
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Post by madmorgan on Dec 28, 2016 19:02:09 GMT
I had a new type of lancet given to me today. These have preformed caps and are translucient rather than solid like the others. The 'tops' measure 8mm diameter x 8mm tall and have a small bump at jutting out from the top thats 2mm long (where the lancet is housed till snapped off). They are hollow in side, about 1mm think all around. Good stuff - I see a small turret on some vehicles or boats with a beltfed BAR. Or a better beltfed Thompson submachinegun. Rng 10" +2Pow RF 2 Spec: Turret. Comment: 45 calibre rounds giving high power. Q-tips are great for non-brush painting and after you've used the cotton tip, cut them off and you have instant gun barrels. Simply trim to the length you want and paint gunmetal grey. Push pins work really well for smokestacks. I'm referring to the map pins that are flat at the top with a barrel shape down to the pin. Paint them up black and you've got instant smokestack for your tanks, simply push into place on any model. This is really handy for 'do-it-yourself' vehicles. The above mentioned Crystal Light container tops work well for oblong foxholes, especially for 6 mm figures, where they're more a trench than foxhole. Hope all above is what you've got in mind & thanks for the tips as well  |
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Post by madmorgan on Dec 28, 2016 19:09:51 GMT
Hey see boxholders new post on 'Red Weed' - another cheap alternative |
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Post by boxholder on Dec 28, 2016 19:32:59 GMT
Styrofoam packaging is a modern marvel. Some of the shapes to protect products are wonderfully suggestive of structures and equipment. A "hot wire cutter" makes it easy to reshape as needed. And there is no shortage of the stuff, especially after Christmas.
One thing about the cutter: Use it where there is plenty of ventilation. The fumes from overheated plastic are not good for you and they aggravate others.
Custom paper structures-
If you find a building front that you like, scan in the photo and print it on label paper. Then stick the page onto poster board. Usually it is not a problem to sketch out the other sides of the building.
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Post by hardlec on Jan 17, 2017 23:58:28 GMT
One of my few criticisms of IG is they're making resin terrain. Why? Paper terrain is so much less expensive, it is much more versatile, DURABLE and TRANSPORTABLE. Every time I tried to take my resin terrain pieces to an event I ended up having to repaint them.
Thing one to save money: Paper Terrain.
Thing two to save money: Paper miniatures. Sometimes they are hard to find, sometimes great minis drop in your "I accidently found this on a google search for something else" lap.
Thing three to save money: Holiday Sales. After Christmas there are sales on items, especially buildings, that can be used on the table. Remember, the size of the doors easily tell the scale of the building.
Thing four to save money: Make it yourself.
Thing five to save money: Go paperless when possible. Some companies sell PDF versions of their rules, which are searchable documents that can be accessed by your phone or tablet at the game table. Some companies have "APP"s that can let you design an army, access virtual hit records, even roll dice. There are a couple of games I play where I do not own paper rules at all.
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