This blog ...


"We're playing a wargame not making a documentary." 26/1/'14
The Cardinal's 3rd paradox of wargaming .

Please feel free to contact me via email through the profile page..

Sunday 19 December 2010

The Cardinal's Secrets to priming and varnishing.

People are always asking on forums about undercoating and varnishing and I always mention my preferences, now I will have a spot I can link to..huzzah!!!
For priming, and in the case of my cheaper paint jobs  undercoating I use these sprays, .I purchase them from Bunnings or Magnet  Mart or anywhere I come across them.  They are around $11AUD each. .These are superior  to other purely  hobby branded spray cans , being much more robust in their finish  and only half the price. The Primer ,I have been told is an acrylic lacquer, and  dries quite  hard, goes on easily and covers well. From that point I either spray them with  the Matte black or undercoat in Tamiya flat brown through the airbrush.Always allow 24 hours for the Primer to dry. It dries dead flat..if you have shaken it up well. The black, on the other hand being only Matte has an annoying sheen.
 When the miniature is finish I then coat it with the above, with a thick big brush..and allow to dry. If you are going to use  Testors dullcote then I find this to be a crucial process.this being a Matte, not a flat, dries with a bit of an annoying sheen..but..



then comes the final varnishing ..I am just beginning to use Dullcote again..I used it all the time when I painted in oils and enamels.. but I found Acrylics a bit delicate . It is usually safe if you have sealed your mini with the Jo Sonja's Matte..if not it can eat you acrylics right off to the metal.
But my favourite is  seen in the last picture .Gunze H20 flat clear..if you have let the Matte varnish dry completely, and conditions are  perfect, or near perfect, then I run it through the airbrush, mixed well in my paint shaker  for about 2 minutes,  with about  1:5  ratio of Windex window cleaner/Varnish  and spray away .
People don't take seriously the paint shaker..bad luck for them I say. An absolute must in my opinion. especially using tear dropper acrylics. I routinely  shake all my new dropper bottles before first  use., and it is a boon in "recovering" paint that has dehydrated to some extent..a small amount of Window cleaner and a five minute shake and you can usually bring  dieing GW paint back to complete a useful life.
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/rob/rob411.htm
http://www.robart.com/store/hobby-tools/paint-shakers


Saturday 4 December 2010

General Stahl, the Undefeated ... a WIP part 2

amazing what a spray and a pic can do..found all the little annoying webs and wisps  etc not obvious to the naked eye..
when finished he will be  Friedrich  Phillip-Emmanuel Kristian  von GansPflücken, Baron Stahl, Count of Sontar , Proprietor of Ir10., von Sontar, of the Pangaean Reichs Armee Stahldof Kreis ,Member of the Order of St Daffyd, (The Order of the Black Duck), in the fetching General's version  of the  uniform of his Regiment " The Ducal Sontarans"



General Stahl, the Undefeated ... a WIP part 1

A WIP; green stuff , a bit of fuse wire and a small piece of plastic-card modification of a Foundry civilian.Work on the original..he had been started but I am very very annoyed with the lack of hats on figures outdoors..NOTE Manufacturers I am ANNOYED





Monday 22 November 2010

Friday 5 November 2010

Italian Wars

Foundry..dogs not sure ..
French commander
Papal commander

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Painting Service Details




TThe Prices quoted below are effective from November, 2013


Need your armies painted quickly ? Finished to a more than an acceptable standard? Then A Corporal's Guard painting service is for you!



Need more convincing? Then look through the postings of this blog and see the many of His Eminence's works hung there by his loyal minion, Conrad Hawkwood, in an indication of the calibre of the Cardinal's work.




All commissioned work is completed using acrylic paints. All miniatures are primed, base coated and varnished upon completion.  
Things such as  basing, and attaching flags   , is also undertaken upon request and its costing is separate from the cost of the painted figure .As a rules of thumb 12.5% of the painted price..

All periods and all scales are happily attempted...

The following prices are as follows and are for unbased miniatures..


10mm: infantry $3.40, cavalry $5.30


15mm: infantry $6.00

Cavalry, $11.50.


20mm: infantry $7.00,cavalry $13.00.


25/28mm: infantry: $11

25/28mmCavalry $17

I am withdrawing the more expensive 25/28 painting level . It will be available only  upon request and the price will be dependent upon difficulty  . I can paint two or  more  $10.50  paint jobs in the time it takes to paint one of the more expensive  version. It is no longer viable to paint these  more complicated types.

I guarantee accuracy and precision.. if you have any doubts and can show  me to be at fault I will happily repaint  the  miscreant at my own expense

Shielded types, and camouflaged clothing types ,  15% extra .
No two horses of a lighter colour in any 12 figure unit are the same.A dark horse unit it is difficult to tell, though feel free to look.


25/28 mm Pulp , Fantasy and Sci-Fi individual highlander in kilt and  stockings and camouflaged WWII types  figures start at $15.00.


Buildings , bunkers , larger figures and monsters and terrain prices are subject to negotiation.




Vehicles .
These are the starting prices for the painting thereof.
15mm $27.00ea
20mm $40 ea
28mm $80.00 ea
assembling , crewing , stowing, basing ,decals and foliage extra according to complexity



Artillery
15mm $12.50
28mm $25.00


The 28mm  $11 paint job explained ..
though guns are always a pain and are $25
to get the cheaper price  please read details below  ,If things stray outside the outlines then price becomes negotiable ..Kilts for example ..
1. Lots must be mostly uniform in style  and pose and colour scheme and at least 18 figures strong .. or a gun and 3 crew.
Basing is an extra series of processes  and negotiable upon request
2.As painting is a series of processes  so as to make this viable some things are cut back, no eyes for one thing, Essentially it is a blocked in process  ,then a wash , then reset/highlight technique. There is only one varnishing, in flat acrylic. I can paint   at least  24 figures to this standard in one day .

an example is seen above .This example has the 50c a figure  flocking  and the cost of the ply base ,which came to an extra  $10  to the  total for all 3 bases..
Shields are something of a question here, as everywhere ,like bases subject to negotiation  painful bloody things that they are,,


Basing , as seen on most  pictures in this gallery is approximately 12.5% extra..the actual base often costs extra
more complex by negotiation.


The Cardinal would like to make it known that he isn't much of a modeller and isn't all that good at assembling mildly complicated kits.. and suggest that you assemble and clean things up before you give them to him as he doesn't like doing it and doesn't charge for it and if you don't care he doesn't either..
Plastics..well assembling them is a tedious chore and His Eminence will assemble them for you and charge you $35 an hour for doing it..It is no fun , tedious and complicated..

Shields
The Cardinal does not involve himself with LBM shield decals. He is happy to  attempt any and all waterslide decals but the LBM are deal breakers..he is happy to prepare shields so as some other poor sap can have the pleasure of  working with them. 



The Cardinal understands, from experience , that only so much can be achieved in a particular time , and is looking for a number of regular and trusted patrons. As of now in time his order book has open a number of windows..he does so like to mix his metaphors.


The Ugly Matter of payment..

If the Cardinal knows you, and more importantly , trusts you, then he informs you via email of his commencing your work, thus giving you the chance to quickly reply 'NO" if that is your wish..This warning gives you a number of days in which to prepare for payment. Once started most job are completed withing 2-3 days.You are then are expected to pay very very promptly or you lose the Cardinal's trust, which , of course ,is not advisable..as you don't get any more soldiers painted for you and your name is blackened around the community
If the Cardinal doesn't know you, or worse doesn't trust you ,then its dosh up front chum.
You can pay by cheque, Money Order, direct deposit or pay pal, though the latter attracts a 4% additional cost


Feel free to post a comment or enquiry here for more details or email him at
minden1759@hotmail.com


The Cardinal has been painting miniatures since he was a boy  which is some long time ago now .. and more importantly immersing himself in a truly encyclopedic study of uniforms and other military matters to the point that people have been known to leave the room upon hearing news of his impending approach..
he is also a bit of an arrogant bastard..but essentially fair..

Monday 25 October 2010

Napoleonic Staff, Front Rank and Foundry

I have had these around for a while , all are up for sale if people are interested..please feel free to inquire. Paypal  2% if in Oz, 4% other wise buy 3 or mor and  you may habe a 10% discount!!!!


1.Front Rank Napoleon $30
2.Front Rank Napoleomn and Casualty  $30AUD
3. Wellington ,Front Rank $30
4.Another Wellington $30
5. British cavalry General Front Rank SOLD
6. Foundry General of Brigade  SOLD
7. SOLD
8. Foundry General of Brigade   SOLD
9. Foundry General of division and Aide(on a Front Rank Horse) SOLD
10. sold
Foundry Emperor and Chasseur Sold
11.Front Rank Brirish offcer  SOLD
Feel Free to contact me..