Non-paint items for finishing

[cpagano]

I know of people using decals for shield designs, paper for flags, wire or trimmed nails for weapons, and string, dental floss, embroidery floss or strips of wine bottle lead as horse traces (reins).

I am curious to hear if there are other "non-paint items" that have been useful in finishing figures.

-Chris P.

[Paul A. Hannah]

I like to use toothbrush bristles as arrows in archers' hands, and stuck in shields, in my 15mm armies.

[David Kuijt]

I've used the caps of acorns, carefully carved down and trimmed to shape, as shields in my 15mm LPIA army. You'd never recognize them, but they really come out nice. Don't know what type of oaks they come from -- they grow outside of Chris B's house. I've used the heads of nails (beaten to shape over a teeny anvil) as shields also.

[Stephen Webb]

David...

Do you have photos?

[cpagano]

Originally posted by David Kuijt:
I've used the caps of acorns, carefully carved down and trimmed to shape, as sheilds.... Don't know what type of oaks they come from -- they grow outside of Chris B's house Perhaps Chris should package them and start taking orders. If he keeps secret the type of tree he can corner the market smile.gif


Originally posted by David Kuijt:
I've used the caps of acorns, carefully carved down and trimmed to shape… I've used the heads of nails (beaten to shape over a teeny anvil…. Does anyone else find the image of a grown man slaving over tiny anvils and meticulously carving little acorns a bit comical?

Just kidding, I greatly admire what Dave has achieved with his craft. I do find it a bit comical, but only in the sense that I'm laughing at myself at the same time – I love this sort of stuff!

-Chris P.

[Simon Miller]

I use beads for standards in my Fantasy Lunar army; see

http://gloarmy.free.fr/images/subscription/miller/html/untitled15.htm

(2 beads and greenstuff). There are some excellent finds to be had in specialist bead shops; tiny animals, all sorts...

[Chris Brantley]

Someone mentioned this in another thread (or possibly the mail list), but I am currently on the lookout for Tiki cocktail swizzles, in hopes of finding good tiki heads to add color to a future Hawaiian camp.

[Dave Crowell]

My first ever conversion used a plastic comb tooth carved to shape to replace a missing sword.

I have seen some fantasy players make good use of mouse and rat bones (yuck).

The local bead shop has provided an assortment of jars for various purposes. Also standard toppers, helmet crests etc. Beads come in all sorts of wonderful shapes.

[Gregorius]

Chris,

I have done a fairly extensive search for tiki poles to suit 15mm and came up with nothing. However, all is not lost. I notice that a lot of sites that sell full size tiki poles have coloured images of them. What I intend to do is print off these images and glue them to appropriately sized dowel.

[cpagano]

Originally posted by Chris Brantley:
I am currently on the lookout for Tiki cocktail swizzles. I think I found them:
http://www.islandmadness.com/swizzles1.html

Chris,
May I suggest that you use this "Tiki smell-o-later" as your camp? http://www.islandmadness.com/isle_misc1.html
They also offer those figures you've been looking for. You were saying that you want to make an 800mm army using Don Featherstone's original white plastic figures, well here they are; http://www.flamingomania.com/outdoor1.html
Frankly however, I think you're a bit confused. smile.gif
-Chris P.

[ October 28, 2004, 10:09: Message edited by: cpagano ]

[xeswop]

Chris, what a great site for "island" needs. Lots of Hordes of the Thing creatures, even 6mm cactus.

For tiki needs here are more
http://www.islandmadness.com/tikilounge1.html

[Stephen Webb]

Bob, where did ypou find the HOTT creatures on the site?

[Torvald]

I use the heavy foil off wine bottles (also from the packaging my vet friend gets her scalpels in) for flags. Much nicer than paper....
Sisal rope cut short and frayed makes nice tall grass for bases.
I usually use straight pins for arrows, with a little paper fletching. Can also use plastic model sprue melted and stretched.
On ACW figures I would use little strips of toilet paper, rolled then wetted down and painted when dry for bedrolls, tie em off with fine thread.

[John Loy]

What is "static grass"? I keep seeing this listed for the basing. Is it a specific brand item a la Woodland Scenics or just green flocking?

Thanks

[Torvald]

its different from the foam stuff gamers call flocking. Looks to me like the short fiber stuff that puppet makers call flocking. They use a static charged flocking gun to get it to stand on end in the glue so it resembles fur/hair.

[Simon Miller]

Static grass consists of short fibres (often in a mix of colours) that can be stuch to a base with white plastic glue. It looks great in clumps, against an earth coloured textured background. Experts "charge" the fibres with static electricity before applying; in this case the fibres stand to attention. I've not managed to achieve this yet, but it still looks very good IMHO, way better than flock.

[bigalwams]

I have used the bark off of a Hackberry tree to build a wall for a base camp& Kitty litter for rocks tongue.gif