Taking on the Stormpige....raven

As I switch gears from working on one client's Warhammer Fantasy army to some 40k based stuff, my largest task is to construct and paint one of the new storm budgies.  The friend I am working on this for wants the model to be customizable, so I am working on getting the model magnetized.  As the model develops, I will continue to add pictures.  Right now, I am working on the main body of the ship.  My client would like the model's front hatch to open and for the inside to be painted, so right now, I have the flooring and walls constructed.  I will prime this portion and paint the inside while I construct other portions of the model.  Then when I am done there I will put her all the way together before painting the entire rest of the model.  It should be quite a task.  Here is what it looks like so far.

Here you can see the duct metal plate that I cut and glued into the entries on both sides.  Luckily, the ports are far enough back in the hull that a person looking into the open hatch at the front won't notice them. 

Here is an outside view of the entryways.  You can
see the metal plate is nice and flush.












Here you can see the magnet placement on both the doors and the hurricane sponson.  You have to use some very thin magnets so that the sponsons and doors will stick flushly into their housing.










Here is the magnetized hurricane bolter sponson as it sits in its housing against the hull of the ship.

And the door.  Nice and flush.  Thus, if the hurricane bolter sponson is needed, the pieces can

be easily swapped out. 











The next installment should hopefully show the inside painted and moving on to complete construction of the storm raven. 

Product Review: Simple Green

I do quite a bit of commission work.  One of my regular customers has been in the hobby for about as long as I have been alive.  It is nuts!  That said, he has a ton of old models who look like they have been beaten nearly to death by the ugly paint stick.  This is only partly his fault.  He admits that he isn't a good painter, but he also used what was available at the time and craft store paint just doesn't cut it.

My magic bullet for stripping models is Simple Green.  It isn't perfect, but it works pretty decently.  It really shines on metal models.  First understand that you need to use the concentrated all purpose formula.  With it paint melts off of metal models.  Then it is simply a matter of using a toothbrush and perhaps a hobby knife to scrape away the bits. 

Simple Green doesn't work as well on plastic models.  I am still looking for a cheap, safe way to strip plastic models that doesn't harm the model or me.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to post them.

Simple Green How-to:
This is really like the label says, "Simple".

1) Place models in a container, preferably a sealable one like tupperware.  The aroma of Simple Green can be rather pungent.

2) Pour on the Simple Green and seal the container. Let it set at least over-night.  I sometimes let the models sit for days depending on how fast I can get to them. Not to worry.  Simple Green doesn't harm models.  I have even left plastic models inside a container of simple green for a up to a week with no visible damage. 

3) Remove models and use a soft bristle toothbrush to clean away the paint.  It usually raises from the model and sloughs away in sheets.  You may need a toothpick, sculpting tool, or hobby knife to clean out crevasses and high detail areas.

4) Rinse the model well.  I usually do my stripping under running water (get your mind out of the gutter!).  This gets rid of any residue from the Simple Green and also washes away loose pieces of paint.

5) Dry your model thoroughly. 

6) Prime and paint!

It really is an easy process and take next to no time to do. 

Ultimately, I give Simple Green a B+.  Against metal, it works like a charm, but it struggles to clean off plastic models.  It is cheap coming in at around $4.99 US for a 32 oz bottle that can be used and reused for job after job.  You can find it at most large hardware stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot here in the US.
If you have any ideas for stripping plastic models, please comment and let me know what you have.