Need to save hobby dollars? Here are FOUR big tricks I have learned that are cheap and will help you get more out of your models on the table top.
The First Trick
Pennies! A lot of models are top heavy (see pink horrors).
So when you run 30-40 of those, half of them are falling over every time you breathe! Luckily, your old pal Abraham Lincoln is here to save the day. Buy a roll of pennies and simply glue them to the underside of the base with some super glue. This will give the model some heft and really help stabilize them on the battlefield.
You can use larger change pieces for bigger bases if you want, or I have seen some people use magnets or weights (seems expensive) as well. You can also get crafty and work something into the base that will weigh it down and look cool, but for the small and many troops, just go with Honest Abe.
The Second Trick
Involves painting models, I found when I first started painting that my paint would dry on the pallet really fast. At 4 – 5 dollars for a tiny paint pot this upset me as it’s a waste of money. So I started using a wet pallet for most of my miniature painting (not dry brushing and technical paints).
All you need is some sort of container (I use an old tin), some paper towel that you wet and then put in there, and finally some parchment paper on top and there you go you have a wet pallet. This will extend the life of the paint outside the pot, as well as if you want to thin it down a little there is water you can grab from the paper towel.
The Third Trick
involves flyer models. Those plastic flyer bases are expensive (if you got your models second hand you might not have them) and they break easily. So what is a cheap and easy solution to basing a flyer? Well you have a couple of options. first is you run to the dollar store (call ahead to make sure they have them) and buy some plastic wine glasses. Just cut it off where the stem reached the cup and you have a very basic clear plastic base.
Your second option is to get some brass rods and drill them into a standard base, and then into the model. As this involves power tools I tend avoid them, so you can go with a third option which is to work the base into the miniature. Like smoke out of a jetpack, or something that looks like a cloud underneath it. Generally I use option 1 as I break the clear plastic bases a lot but if you can make a sweet base that shows flying do it up.
The Fourth Trick
Finally there is a trick is to create your own carrying case to protect your models while you travel from home and to the store. What I use are old tackle box carrying cases and pad the insides with foam. I get the foam from when I order things off amazon and save it, or another good place is computer stores. A ton of computer parts are shipped with thin foam padding around them that can be cut and molded however you want.
I think put some tissue paper in there to keep the miniatures from moving too much and feel pretty secure on transporting them. For larger pieces I will line a small box like an empty magic the gathering box or baseball card box (just ask nicely for your FLGS to save one for you) with foam and put whatever I am planning on bringing to the table that day in there. Along with tissue to keep them from moving too much.
Checkout more money saving tips for the Hobby
“A penny saved is a penny earned!”
About the Author: Travis Perkins
