Tools
A friend just pointed out the following Model Distributor who offers a nice service casting custom models for people who supply an original master. They say “Send us your scratchbuilt master model and we will make an RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) rubber mold of your model. We can then make approximately 75-100 copies of the master before the mold begins to deteriorate.” With a cost of as little as US$8 for each subsequent resin casting of the mould this could well be a fine option for those people wanting to churn out several dozen copies of an original figure or model – although the initial mould creation does cost around US$175. Check it out at the Fidelis Models Website…
Try out the suggestion from the “Nice Manners For A Thief” blog’s “How to save your dipped models from the dreaded Dullcote Frost“. Frosting (or that whitish build-up on model s0 is usually caused by a combination of poorly mixed and/or old varnish and temperature – varnish is quite fussy about the latter and if it’s too cold to too hot when you spray or brush on the varnish in will ‘frost up’… HSHP’s article specifically deals with the issue occurring when using the dipping technique, but the general rule applies for all varnish jobs gone bad… Well with keeping this little tip in the memory banks.

Dremel 300 Kit
Some recent discussion on the Auckland Wargaming Club group about dips and washes referenced the Tabletop Terrain blog (another New Zealand wargaming website), and while I’d past by occasionally, I hadn’t had a particularly thorough look around – when I did I came across an interesting reference to Dremel Tools being available locally here in Auckland, NZ, for a reasonable price. Previously I was unaware of them being available for reasonable money – I have seen them occassionally in the Hardware chain stores, but up to NZ$300-NZ$400 for a basic tool with no attacehmnts! So if you really wanted one it paid to import them from the US or Australia but still worked out fairly costly. Anyway needless to say I visited the Test ‘N’ Tools Website (they are located here in Auckland), and found them available (as Stu at Tabletop Terrain had said) for much more sensible prices, so I promptly ordered the Dremel 300 pack (essentially a starter pack with the Dremel Tool in a case and a small selection of attachments).
If you are like me then Super Glue is one of those things that’s a bit of a two edged sword – you need it but it’s messy to use and never seems to last! Sometime ago I came across the tip to always store your open super glue tube (or bottle) in the fridge, as the cold helps to preserve the glue and stop the methyl/ethyl/propyl alpha-cyanoacrylate from aging or whatever.
However just recently a consumer affairs show on New Zealand Television had a couple of further tips about super glue.


14 May 2012, 10:04 pm UTC Rorkes Drift Arrives! Hi Mike - I got them from WG in the 'pre-release' special promo direct from the UK pre-Christmas. As John has commented on in this thread they usua...
14 May 2012, 10:02 pm UTC The Hundred Days Continues... Thanks James - appreciate your kind comments. I tried to be fairly smart and cunning about labelling while also getting the maximum info on and cle...
14 May 2012, 10:01 pm UTC Hundred Days British Thanks Glenn. :-)
14 May 2012, 9:58 pm UTC WSS Here I Come - Well Almost! Hi Jim, As I understand it the WF one however isn't the common type, but in fact closest to the "Grenadiers à Cheval de la Maison du Roi" ...
5 May 2012, 4:38 am UTC I take a foray into Vac-U-Form Plastics Great review of our products, thanks so much! We really value all the feedback and take note. Lots of new products on way, do have a look at our we...
18 Apr 2012, 2:40 pm UTC Rorkes Drift Arrives! Also, happy to participate in the enormous multi-player you are planning for when they are painted!