Review Review & Step by Step on making a base for models and figures - Michigan Toy Soldier Blog

[CondeJulian]

Hello,

I just did a step by step review on how to make a base for our models, using the latest products from AK Interactive and The Scenic Factory vegetation. They are amazing.
I've used my vignette of a real photo reference to make a Simca 5 and a Figure, but these tips goes all the way for us, the figure guys also.
Check out at the Michigan Toy Soldier Store Blog, and let me know your thoughts !

Complete Step By Step Review

Thanks, and hope you like it

Julian

www.michtoy.com

 

[EPHISTOIRE]

Very nice... i do also some of 'em on my side... and have sold some on eBay my brand is ep's DIOCENIX.

 

[franck edet]

it's nice of you for the review.
But once again : don't get fooled by so called dedicated products, all the AK products are nothing more than various acrylic gel mediums, rebranded and reboxed to be sold at 10 times their standard price.
I personally compared those products to various gels i have here and it's exactly the same, down to the smell. reacts the same, dries the same, etc. all the textures are yet available in any arts store.
and even better :
they are sold without any color so you can basically do whatever type of ground you need to just by adding acrylic paint in your mix.

 

[CondeJulian]

Franck,

after 20 plus years of modelling, I sure don't get fooled by any brand. I have Similar mediums from Liquitex, Van Gogh, Vallejo and so on, And they all are just one thing : options.
Sometimes it's easier to get one kind of product over another. I got these in for review, and they actually work and are good to use as many others. This SBS is just my 2 cents on the products at hand.

Best
Julian

 

[chailey]

Horses for courses isn't it?
If you have the time and inclination to try out the multitude of possible artists mediums to see what does what, then that's great...on the other hand if someone markets a product that guarantees a result that the modeller is looking for, then that's great too, if they make a little mark up on it why not?

Nice little SBS by the way Julian...

Steve

 

[CondeJulian]

Could not agree more Steve. Thanks.

 

[Michael D]

I found the review very interesting.....

Re: Steve & "Horses for courses isn't it" ?

Some forget "those NEW on the scene" .....

I can't see the point in buying 'twigs' even Town & City dweller's must be able to pick them up !

When You'z Noo, you have to start somewhere and then "proceed forward (or backward's) " once
you've "got the idea" of where to go & how to do it.

This is a good example ! "But once again : don't get fooled by so called dedicated products, all the AK products are nothing more than various acrylic gel mediums, rebranded and reboxed to be sold at 10 times their standard price.
I personally compared those products to various gels i have here and it's exactly the same, down to the smell. reacts the same, dries the same, etc. all the textures are yet available in any arts store".

Errrrrr ? But what are they ?

I'd probably end up paying 10 x to find the right item's so AK Product's etc will save me 10 x TIME finding the right thing to use !!!!

Thank's for the review....

I FOUND IT VERY HELPFUL.

Michael.

 

[CondeJulian]

Michael, Thank you for your feedback.

I agree with you. Even after 20 years of modelling, I find that the "right"product is worth a higher price if gets you there faster.
This hobby is time consuming (down to frustration sometimes), and in modern days we don't have enough time, that's why it's loosing space to Playstation and Apps.
I wish I had more time. Even tough I got to test products for Michigan Toy soldier on reviews, I give my sincere words on the review, and I would buy this kind of products over "similar almost equal" everytime.
The same goes for the vegetation Scenic Factory stuff, these are the best I've ever seen, and no one from now one would make me believe it's good to make your own from real vegetation, from photoetched, printed paper and so on because this is the best product there is in the category, and the balance between cost and result is far above good. This is my opinion based on everything I've seen and tested along these years.
I wish I had these when I started.

Best buddy,

Julian

 

[southpier]

convenience goes a long way, too. a single order with the understanding that everything compatible, can give a hobbyist the confidence to branch out. for me, a proprietary product in a small quantity suits my building style (very low, slow, & sporadic, production) and my physical confines (workbench & office desk are one in the same).

 

[CondeJulian]

Southpier, Agree also.
There's a important point on these products some call "repackaged"....they are now under a specific modeling company.
This means that these guys tested all there is to test and made a similar product but they now know what works for us, scale model builders.
This goes a long way. They are working for us, we all benefit from modeling exclusive products.
I had posted a review here at PF some weeks ago about the VMS paper shaper, a product system that turns actual paper on to canvas, tarps, flags, etc, almost resin like parts. The system is amazing, and the results very easy to achieve and predictable.
Of course we can make similar with white glue and water, but we reach the same crossroad... one way we could get some household glue and dilute and apply for trial and error (too much water soaks the paper and rips apart) and on the other hand we have a hobby exclsuive product that achieves the perfect dilution every time, making our time really worthwhile.
I have the skills to make a tarp from tissue paper and white glue, have done a lot over these years, but now, with a product made for this, no way i'm going "back".

 

[Michael D]

Julian, I could of wrote my 'piece' on that review too. (Probably same critics) !

I can't wait to buy that product.....

I wouldn't have a clue as to how to make (flags for me) out of tissue paper & glue.

Was really good this weekend and didn't take up their offer.... Won't have time to do it before Xmas and if I'd bought it, wouldn't have time for what I MUST do before Xmas.....

A Question about the VMS paper shaper..... Will I be able to print {Laser or Inkjet} the paper and then use the paper shaper ?

I model 1/32 (Scalextric - slot car) figure's and want to make some realistic flag's with spectator's holding them... Ferrari etc.

Keep posting your review's......

Many thank's.

Michael.

 

[CondeJulian]

Michael, thanks ! Please share your work, they have a section here for ongoing projects ! Sometimes even the bad critics are for our own good.

About the paper shaper, I was able to work on a Verlinden small printed map, and they use a really thick paper. It took some time to soften but it got to shape up, but I noticed the print itself was almost coming off, since it's a chemical product and at some point will damage the ink, if there is someting printed.
But working with soft brushes and being gentle it went to shape without any problems, just take care and be delicate like handling decals.
So you can try and print on both mediums (ink and laser) and do some shaping, one of those will stand up the method for sure, since the verlinden road map could take up to some point.
One thing you will not be able to do is to remove the printed paper after dry, like the clean slate product works.
This is a hard solvent and will affect the printed area. I got to remove the map prior to painting just because it was a thick paper, and I used a blade to do it. The clean slate will remove paint (it's designed as a paint remover), also the remain paper shaper liquid from the model without damaging the piece you just made, but for sure ink will not endure the clean slate process for removal.
This product is very useful in many ways (We are trying on tissue paper and fabrics now, and works ! and Gauze for camouflage nets) so we are yet to test it's limits. Even VMS owner, Chris, said to me He did not think about road maps, and it was a new way we can use that product. I released the review as it was, with the test I could make up to that point, but will have a second part with even more ways to use it. On the blog, Michtoy just posted a new mini review of a guy who makes toy soldiers, and he did some flags and new stuff with Paper Shaper. Check it out later on...

Let me know any more questions,

Best
Julian

 

[Michael D]

Nearly 10 year's ago I wrote a Slot-Car mag 'how-too' for beginner figure painter's....

I'd been at it for a year or two !

I started the article by stating "Only a beginner can really advise beginner's 'how to paint' because 'expert's' can only explain how to paint well" ! They either have forgotten what it was like being 'useless' or more probably, never were 'useless'.

Basically my 'advise' was; Give it a try, if it's awful, only YOU will know.... You WILL get better but the only way to improve is to start !

I think too many good / excellent modeller's forget there's an awful lot who either don't give a damn or {like me} will never be THAT good but enjoy it anyway....

As long as YOU get enjoyment from your hobby, what's it matter?

 

[CondeJulian]

Of course. The modeling always test out limits, but the threshold has increased a lot with these modeling products. We now have mud in a jar, rust in a jar, terrain in a jar, texture in a jar, etc. I spent hundred$ in Liquitex acrylics over the years for washes, and now, no one can take me away from the vallejo washes. They are a lot cheaper and a lot better result.

Best
Julian