A day of making templates

[martin goddard]

Is anyone interested in a day of making templates?
Probably a mutually liked Saturday or Sunday in July 2024?

A bit like being at primary school.
ie. there will be a playtime and squash.

Proposal
A group of us get together at PPHQ.
We make a large quantity of 12x 6 or whatever templates for AK 47/other.
We cut out the mdf.
We paint and flock them.
We add flock, rocks and static grass.
Each person goes home with 5-24 templates as wished.

Costs will be:-
1. Paint (probably a tough matt mix from B &Q in agreed colours)
2. MDF sheeting (2mm?)
3. Glue (PVA?)
4. Tufts
5. Rocks
6. Foam for hills.
7. Rocky outcrop
8. Sand
9. Sander, knives (plus plasters?)
10. 1970s pop hits?
11. Sisal string
12. Tetrion
13. Gloss varnish for water features.


This is an initial thought patch.

This can all be done in one sunny day  9 -5. The long time is needed for paint/glue dry etc.

martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

I'm not sure I'd be able to make it in the near future, but that sounds like a fun day, Martin.

Could I suggest that you consider getting the MDF templates cut in advance? It's really nasty for the lungs, and rather safer and overall neater to get it laser cut. Now, if only we collectively knew someone - ideally on the South Coast - with access to a rather large laser cutter who understands exactly what wargamers need for this sort of thing... 

An alternative to MDF is plastic. Miles got me some very useful 2mm (?) white plastic that I used to make my own set of AK47 templates. They cut nicely with a jigsaw and are easy to sand and bevel to get rid of the rough edges. For the current rules, so they're all be wrong soon, of course!

Simon

[Sean Clark]

Warbases would oblige. Judging by their website, it would be around £1.50 per template. I'll investigate amd report back.

[Sean Clark]

Precut is also a good idea so everyone doesn't need to have a saw.

I'd be interested in taking part.

[John Watson]

I'd be interested, depending on the date.
John

[Smiley Miley 66]

I would be very interested in coming along.
Miles.

[Sean Clark]

I've made a gentle enquiry with Warbases. I'd be happy to place a  large order to share. I've also enquired about a little club discount.

Once Martin at Warbases gets back to me I'll let you know and then when we firm up the details we can make a decision on whether to cut our own or order precut.

[Sean Clark]

"Hi Sean,

Thanks for your email.

We have assumed 3mm MDF due to the overall size of the bases, however if you prefer 2mm please let us know, the price will be the same.

Here is your quote:

12" x 6" Pill Shaped Bases (3mm) = £1.75 each

For an order of 30+ of the above bases we can offer a 10% discount.

P&P is dependent on the overall weight of the parcel and for an order of 30 would be £5.00.

If you wish to proceed with an order please confirm the delivery address and telephone number and we will issue an invoice.

Kind regards.

Diane
Warbases Administrator "

How does this sound?                   

[Sean Clark]

Pill shaped bases:



Oval shaped bases:






I think I'll order a few anyway  but if these are suitable, I'm happy to place an order and bring them down and people can pay me on receipt.

Let me know if this is any good to anyone.

[Colonel Kilgore]

If you ask nicely, they might create some other shapes for you too, Sean?

I find ovals, and rectangles with rounded corners, generally work well. Maybe also a "fat 8" one too?

Simon

[Smiley Miley 66]

Fat 8 is good for woods.
Miles

[Smiley Miley 66]

Here are some pictures of what I do to paint and texture the templates.
Miles

[Sean Clark]

What's that mix Miles?

I was thinking of either using exterior textured paint (which is expensive) or mixing my own with some emulsion and sand and adding in some craft paint to colour it. Or, apply sand to the template using PVA and then painting it.

As to some odd shapes, I'm sure that can be arranged.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Experience suggests that painting on a sand mix is a great way to very quickly clog and ruin brushes...

I usually mix up a paint / filler / PVA mix and then sprinkle on sand when wet. Then spray on water to help bed the sand in. Allow to dry well, knock off loose sand and then proceed to use a variety of brown inks (on drops from the bottle, followed by gentle water sprays to spread them around) and layers of dry-brushes in variations on the base colour.

Have I learned all that OK, Miles? 

Simon

[John Watson]

I used to make up my own version of Basetex using PVA, sand and paint, but I found that it didn't give a sufficiently textured finish. Also it ruined brushes. So i switched to applying PVA first, then dipping the wet base in a sand bath. Once the base was thoroughly dry I knocked and brushed off any residue and then painted and dry brushed the base. Much kinder on the brushes and a nicer appearance.
John