Time to build a railway...but where?

[Peter Butler]

Thanks guys, the paints I use are Citadel acrylics as used by wargamers and available from Games Workshop and some model shops.  Also available on line (I think).
 I read a good tip somewhere to use plastic solvent on the figures to smooth out the lines from the printing method.  It works well and disguises any slight issues without causing damage.
I use a grey acrylic spray primer fist before painting although wargamers always recommend black as a base coat.

[ge_rik]

The 'Black Friday' discount offer on 3D printed figures has resulted in this.....



Some of these were bought previously so I knew they were well worth the special offer.

They've painted up well, Peter. I too took advantage of the Black Friday deal and have half a dozen awaiting painting. I was expecting the striations of the printing process to show through but they look fine. Did you prime them first?



Rik

EDIT: Ooops just read your previous post and see that you do prime them first.

[Peter Butler]

I use a grey acrylic spray primer fist before painting although wargamers always recommend black as a base coat.

[Peter Butler]

At this time of year we attend a local Toy and Train Fair to promote our Modeller's Club. We have made a number of friends and helpful contacts amongst the traders there and one gave me a bag of figures (some with missing limbs) to transform into characters for use on my railway.
Although starting out as Sci-fi figures (unknown to me!) they are suitable in scale and are able to be posed into useful stances. They are clad in capes etc. and carry various firearms.... they won't need those any more!



A fair amount of cutting and filing makes them less menacing and when the Milliput come out to play, transformation is assured.



I think they will end up as workmen and general staff, rather than passengers or drivers, and they can be placed around the harbour scene performing some useless task, or doing nothing at all!

[LNR]

Brilliant work Peter, did you find it relaxing? I think it's the free form aspect that does it for me.
Grant.

[Peter Butler]

Hmmmmmm..... relaxing!!!!!..... no, not really. I do like the creative way of making something different, and the thought process of how to do it, but the physical process is a bit hit-and -miss and out of my comfort zone as it is a bit 'Arty' for me.
The 3D printed figures are so good and available in so many variations there is little need to go to this much effort, but I've started, so I'll finish!

[Peter Butler]

Further progress today.... some of the figures which I showed earlier have now had a grey primer and acrylic paint. First though, a size comparison with one of the 3D printed figures (centre) to show how well they fit in with the scale.



The heads are particularly well modelled, although the flared sleeves and jack-boots can be a problem, but with some 'careful' trimming (through a band-saw) and finishing with a file and filler, acceptable bodies can be produced......





It is a lot of work when such good alternatives are available, and I am only doing this as an experiment because they were a gift, I doubt I will be buying more, but who knows?

[ge_rik]

Looks to be well worth the effort, Peter. Those poses look very realistic. I like the way you've kitted them out to look at home on the quayside. One looks like he's coiling rope.

Rik

[Peter Butler]

I mentioned earlier that some of these figures were missing limbs, which is the reason they were given in the first place. A few swaps managed to complete one or two but once exhausted new solutions had to be found. Amongst my stock items I discovered a sleeveless left arm, whereas I needed a sleeved right arm!
I think this is the point where I realised the effort was more than it was worth when I found myself amputating a 1:19th scale left thumb and grafting it onto the same hand to alter its appearance to a right hand. The arm had to be drilled and pinned onto the right arm stump and a Milliput sleeve applied.....



Combined with new clothing there is now more filler than plastic, so the time has come to say I doubt I will be doing many more people conversions, although these will find a home on the railway and I think they have turned out better than I expected and bare little resemblance to their origins.

[Peter Butler]

I have found some useful activities for a couple of the figures now and placed them in potential permanent sites accordingly.
The group of eight have been fully painted now and look like this...



The few completed ones are.....

Fisherman hauling anchor from the harbour to the quay-side for some maintenance (thanks to Rik for the rope idea)....



Engineer pushing oxy-acetaline cutting equipment towards the engine shed for some major repair work....





This is made from brass rod to form the truck, metal road wheels with '0' ring tyres, one cylinder from a Tamiya or Italeri kit (?) the other scratch-built, hose of twin electric cable, some painting and weathering and there you have it! What you can't see is the missing right hand of the figure (see original pre-conversion photo below) which is disguised by the cable. I had to think of a way to cover it as I had no intention of making a new hand.



Just a few more items to construct to make the rest look as though they are working

[Soar Valley Light]

Great stuff Peter. I love the poses, they are simply superb.

Andrew

[Peter Butler]

Another one off the list of useful activities... this lad is moving a pallet ready for a load, although what it might be is still undecided....



Sorry, but I have tried to orientate this four times and failed!

[LNR]

[quote] " I had no intention of making a new hand."
Two boots and a head will prove interesting!!!
The shop window perhaps advertising shoes and hats.
Grant.

[Peter Butler]

 Two boots and a head will prove interesting!!!
The shop window perhaps advertising shoes and hats.
Grant.

I had thought of putting the boots in the shop window but they are both moulded at an acute angle as though the wearer was climbing a steep hill sideways! I think they are surplus to requirements.

Today, a trip to one of the many charity shops turned up a toy semi-inflatable hull which is perfect for my harbour....



The scale is just right and basic work necessary to make it look good.

[ge_rik]

Brilliant finishing touches, Peter. I must say, the way you have painted the faces is really good - very subtle. Some of my figures look as if they have applied far too much cheap make-up (and that's just the blokes). Mind you, now you can see their facial expressions, some of them are a bit intimidating. I wouldn't want to meet them down a dark alley after closing time......

Rik

[Peter Butler]

These figures are meant to look intimidating by design, youngsters seem to appreciate that I think! The modifications I have managed to apply have made them look less so but they are still quite strong characters.

The boat purchase has turned out well I think and will make a welcome addition to the quayside.....

[philipy]

You have been busy whilst I was away over Christmas and N. Year, Peter. All looks good, as usual. I do like the boat, in particular.
I just wish we had charity shops like yours around here, I've never found anything worth buying in ours.

[Peter Butler]

Hi Philip, Happy New Year to you and welcome back after your Christmas break.
Carmarthen is certainly a centre for charity shops, plus the fact that some interesting and valuable items are often found there. I went to one shop with the intention of searching for a boat hull, and found one!
So soon after Christmas there were so many items handed in a notice had been put up to deter further donations.
I also picked up 2 CD's with the hull and was asked for only £1 for the lot.... naturally I gave more.

[Soar Valley Light]

A remarkable transformation Peter. I had to double check the pictures to be sure that it was the same item! The paint job is very well executed.

Andrew

[Big Jim]

Spare boots.
Bury them upside down somewhere or stick them, just poking out under a car.