Hobby Tips: Hobby Tools

Pardon me, for this will be a bit of a public service announcement.  I don't know how much of this blog's traffic is new gamers/modelers, but I'll be trying to add some minor advice bits in here and there.

In this blog post:

Getting Started: Tools

I discuss the basic tools every modeler/gamer will likely need (or you'll end up with them eventually).  However, I didn't mention the vast variety and disparity you can find when searching for these hobby tools.

A common mistake amongst new modelers/gamers is that they frequently buy hobby tools from the manufacturer of their chosen game(s).  This is frequently a HUGE mistake.  It's normally because the newer gamer isn't aware of the market.

General rule: Do not buy branded hobby supplies from the manufacturer of your chosen game. 

Let's look at the Games Workshop hobby knife.

A quick glance and the casual gamer will say "Hmmm, looks an awful lot like a run-of-the-mill X-acto knife."  It even uses X-acto branded blades.

X-Acto is "the" name in craft knives.  Has been for decades.  They're nothing special, but they're reliable and they work.

X-Acto Knife Cost: $3.40-$5.20 (depending on retailer)

Games Workshop Knife Cost: $32

Yep, you read that right.  $32.00 USD.  For an X-Acto knife which is available for almost 10% of the cost.  X-Actos can be purchased in large sets with numerous handles and dozens of blades for $20-25.00.

How about the pin-vice drill --- a common tool which uses various bits to allow you to hand drill small holes into models (for all types of purposes).

The Games Workshop branded drill?  $26 USD.  Available from other retails, all day long (yep, on Amazon) for between $7-12 dollars.

Games Workshop "PVA Glue"?  News for ya...it's Elmer's Glue (and is not quite as good as something like Elmer's Wood Glue Max - my preferred glue).  Pay $8 USD for 4 oz. from GW or $12-13 for a gallon from Elmers.

In closing, if you're new to the hobby, do not pay extra for something just because it has a brand name on the label.  This is the usual retail trickery and you get nothing better for your money.  This is an easy way to throw out a lot of money for no reason.  I picked on Games Workshop here because they're one of the most egregious practictioners - but you'll find the same stuff from many companies.  Skip all that nonsense, find the type of product you need and do a little research.  Your hobby tools will last you 10-15 years if treated well, so just look a bit harder before you  plunk down the cash!

Chaos Dice Gods, hear me!

So, hot on the trail of my custom Eldar dice (which have rolled...mediocre so far!) my customized Chessex dice showed up for my Chaos army.  Sadly no colours in their line-up really properly match my army, but these look Chaos-y(?) enough.

A steal of a Falcon!

After years of not having a proper Falcon (I don't know that I've ever owned one which wasn't converted into a Wave Serpent) I landed on a NIB one for a steal on eBay.  Snatched it up and painted it today.

Eldar Pirate Support (Vyper)

Decided to do up some of my future vehicles, weapon platforms and Eldar to go with the Pirate scheme I did on some of my figures earlier.  This will be a webway portal based force, so no heavy tanks or dreadnoughts.  It'll also give me a small side-force to use for story and narrative purposes - and the models will allow me to go into narrative games line Inquisimunda and I'll probably use them for Shadow War Armageddon if I get back into that at any point.

Warhammer 40K 8th Edition: Blank Data Slates (and Rending Pony)

Cleaning up some templates for creating your own units/vehicles in Warhammer 40K 8th ed.

These icons are used to delineate battlefield roles for the unit - PNG file w/ no background for easy placement. 

Best suited for larger squads with some weapon options.

Suitable for a large vehicle or creature which degrades when wounded.

 Useful for a small single-type unit or squad.

Useful for a simpler character data slate.

After making some templates someone asked for this...so here ya go.

Games! Warhammer 40K 2nd Edition

Had the great pleasure of rolling up to Charlotte this past weekend to see a friend of mine and get some games in.  We played Warhammer 40K, 2nd Edition.  We're still in the process of revising/editing some of the rules for stream-lining and increased playability.

I'll have a bunch more pictures ready when my friend sends me her stash.  I only snapped a few before the two games.  In both cases my Yderis Eldar faced off with the Tyranids.

The first game is set up!

 

A Shining Spear aims for the Hive Tyrant (failing miserably!)

 

 Having failed the first game, the Yderis Eldar set up to defend a trio of Farseers and Warlocks inside the main structure - busy trying to break through the null cloud of the Tyranids swarm --- hoping to get a message through to the Craftworld ships in the system.

 

Maugan Ra leads the defense in aid to the Craftworld.

 

Dire Avengers and Dark Reapers dig in for the waves of the Tyranid assault.

 

Fire Dragons prepare to repel the Tyranid horde.

 

Wayward Eldar Pirates return to aid in their moment of need.  Guardian grav batteries prepare for combat.

 

 Turn five of seven, the Tyranids break into the ritual, attacking the Warlocks and Farseer

As the Eldar defense crumbles, Dire Avengers run into the aid the Farseer as the Warlocks are consumed.

 

I lost my first game handily.  The second game came down to the very last activation on turn seven, where I managed to avoid being blasted into cinders by the Carnifex's bio-plasma (my opponent rolled a '1' sparing me!).  It was a "victory" but the Farseer would have been consumed shortly after - the message finally sent!

A different sort of plague...

I ended up with an odd white based scheme for my plague marines (kit-bashed from various parts).  Not overly pleased with them, but I'll cope.

Gladiator Dice

Just posting this up so I can link the photo to a forum - some custom dice I made for playtesting a buddy's rather excellent Gladiator game.