Four episodes in and War Council is finally finding it's rhythm.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Light Em' Up! Photographing your Miniatures 101
Painting miniatures can be a rewarding experience, but how do you showcase your work in the best possible light. Here are 5 easy tips to improve your lighting studio set up to make photographing your minis that much easier!
Monday, August 12, 2013
White Metal Games launches War Council . . . a 40k podcast from two definately non-competitive players
Greetings fellow wargamers!
Well, we did it. We jumped on board the podcasting band wagon. You can find our first three podcasts here
Every podcast has their thing. Some are more narrative driven, some are more tournament play driven or competitive in nature.
I like to think of our podcast as a dialogue between two wargamers who are keenly interested in wargaming culture, trends, balanced play, rumors, and getting a better grasp on the rules.
We don't spend a lot of time focused on game mechanics or strategy, we spend much more time focused on the passion of wargaming, what drives us to pursue it, understanding the wargaming mentality, and the like. It's the perfect engine for me to talk about recent commission, kit bashes, upcoming releases, and its the perfect venue for Justin to combine his academic vernacular with his unabashedly encyclopedic knowledge of the 40k Fluffiverse.
So if you're a wargamer like us, a beer and pretzels style gamer that just likes to have fun, this might be the podcast for you. We share some similarities to the Screaming Heretic Podcast, another podcast that is just a bunch of good friends have a few laughs.
All of the podcasts are uploaded on our website but we will also be uploading them to itunes soon.
While your on the site, be sure to peruse our gallery of almost 10,000 images of custom kit bashed miniatures, painted samples, full armies, terrain, and more!
You can also check us out on facebook and follow our updates, respond to queries we post on the show, etc.
So . . . have a listen, take us for a spin, comment on the facebook page and let us know what you think, and until then .. .
PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!
Caleb, WMG
Well, we did it. We jumped on board the podcasting band wagon. You can find our first three podcasts here
Every podcast has their thing. Some are more narrative driven, some are more tournament play driven or competitive in nature.
I like to think of our podcast as a dialogue between two wargamers who are keenly interested in wargaming culture, trends, balanced play, rumors, and getting a better grasp on the rules.
We don't spend a lot of time focused on game mechanics or strategy, we spend much more time focused on the passion of wargaming, what drives us to pursue it, understanding the wargaming mentality, and the like. It's the perfect engine for me to talk about recent commission, kit bashes, upcoming releases, and its the perfect venue for Justin to combine his academic vernacular with his unabashedly encyclopedic knowledge of the 40k Fluffiverse.
So if you're a wargamer like us, a beer and pretzels style gamer that just likes to have fun, this might be the podcast for you. We share some similarities to the Screaming Heretic Podcast, another podcast that is just a bunch of good friends have a few laughs.
All of the podcasts are uploaded on our website but we will also be uploading them to itunes soon.
While your on the site, be sure to peruse our gallery of almost 10,000 images of custom kit bashed miniatures, painted samples, full armies, terrain, and more!
You can also check us out on facebook and follow our updates, respond to queries we post on the show, etc.
So . . . have a listen, take us for a spin, comment on the facebook page and let us know what you think, and until then .. .
PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!
Caleb, WMG
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Still in Bitsness? Bits-World continues to thrive despite GW's smackdown
Greetings fellow wargamers:
I was recently contacted by a repeat client who wants a customer squad of 'The Eight' created. The Eight are the members of Ta Commander Farsights personal bodyguard, consisting of a handful of crisis suits, a broadside, and a riptide!
Needless to say I was overjoyed at the prospect of building this squad, not only because it just came out ( the Tau Farsight Enclave) but because its so rare that I get to kit bash me some Tau. Tau just aren't one of those armies that get modified that often. Not at least in the same way that Nids, Chaos daemons/marines, or Orks do.
Since I don't have the supplement yet, I was a little confused on what sorts of bits I'd need to do this. I read something about Fusion blades, sort of a lightsaber for Tau, and heard you need twin linked fusion guns to do it. So I immediately tried to find some.
I found these from the Riptide kit and bought up a bunch right away.
However, in doing a little more research only ONE of the Commanders carries a TL fusion gun and thus has access to the fusion blade. So I was stuck with all these extra bits! While I could have hoarded them for future work, I felt it would be better, for both me and community, to turn them back over to the vendor and release them back to the 2nd hard bits market.
I emailed the vendor, explained my situation, and waited to hear back from them. In hours the situation had been resolved amicably and the purchase was refunded.
This is a complete 180 from a situation that happened to me a few years ago regarding Hoard O'Bits, a bits provider.
Now with Spikey Bits no longer offering bits sales, the bits market is getting harder and harder to work through. If a client wants a specific model modeled up, it can be a challenge to get all the bits you need. My situation with the Looming Horror model a few days ago was no exception to this.
In many cases it might actually be cheaper for modellers like myself to buy up several kits, use the bits we need, and then keep the spares on hand for other projects. But this isn't always the best solution, sometimes you just need that ONE BIT. And without the second hand market to make that happen, it's getting harder and harder to provide that service to clients.
So I'd like to make two points.
Firstly, I'd like to publicly praise Bits World for their outstanding customer service.
Secondly, I'm curious how companies like Bits World continue to stay in business with the recent shift in GW policy regarding the second hand bits market.
Are bits providers like Bits World a dying breed, hunted to extinction, and if so, what's a miniature studio to do when clients have custom orders to fill?
I've requested an interview with the owners of Bits World to let us see the men (or women) behind the mask. Stay tuned for details . . .
And until then . . PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!
Caleb, WMG
I was recently contacted by a repeat client who wants a customer squad of 'The Eight' created. The Eight are the members of Ta Commander Farsights personal bodyguard, consisting of a handful of crisis suits, a broadside, and a riptide!
Needless to say I was overjoyed at the prospect of building this squad, not only because it just came out ( the Tau Farsight Enclave) but because its so rare that I get to kit bash me some Tau. Tau just aren't one of those armies that get modified that often. Not at least in the same way that Nids, Chaos daemons/marines, or Orks do.
Since I don't have the supplement yet, I was a little confused on what sorts of bits I'd need to do this. I read something about Fusion blades, sort of a lightsaber for Tau, and heard you need twin linked fusion guns to do it. So I immediately tried to find some.
I found these from the Riptide kit and bought up a bunch right away.
However, in doing a little more research only ONE of the Commanders carries a TL fusion gun and thus has access to the fusion blade. So I was stuck with all these extra bits! While I could have hoarded them for future work, I felt it would be better, for both me and community, to turn them back over to the vendor and release them back to the 2nd hard bits market.
I emailed the vendor, explained my situation, and waited to hear back from them. In hours the situation had been resolved amicably and the purchase was refunded.
This is a complete 180 from a situation that happened to me a few years ago regarding Hoard O'Bits, a bits provider.
Now with Spikey Bits no longer offering bits sales, the bits market is getting harder and harder to work through. If a client wants a specific model modeled up, it can be a challenge to get all the bits you need. My situation with the Looming Horror model a few days ago was no exception to this.
In many cases it might actually be cheaper for modellers like myself to buy up several kits, use the bits we need, and then keep the spares on hand for other projects. But this isn't always the best solution, sometimes you just need that ONE BIT. And without the second hand market to make that happen, it's getting harder and harder to provide that service to clients.
So I'd like to make two points.
Firstly, I'd like to publicly praise Bits World for their outstanding customer service.
Secondly, I'm curious how companies like Bits World continue to stay in business with the recent shift in GW policy regarding the second hand bits market.
Are bits providers like Bits World a dying breed, hunted to extinction, and if so, what's a miniature studio to do when clients have custom orders to fill?
I've requested an interview with the owners of Bits World to let us see the men (or women) behind the mask. Stay tuned for details . . .
And until then . . PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!
Caleb, WMG
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
X-Bits . . . Days of Conversions Past OR How GW's new BITS polcies have impacted my business model
See this model? This one below . . .I used to build these all the time. It was a hallmark piece of mine, a cornerstone of my business model. Custom miniatures are what sets one clients army apart from any other clients (that and a great paint job)
A client recently contacted me regarding the above model. "I just want an aesthetically pleasing, awesome looking model, without breaking my wallet, lol."
It's the LOL that really made me grin. I mean . . . don't we all want that? But we can't have our cake and eat it too, at least, not anymore. In the past, I'd charge as much as $45 for the model above, or when I needed to move inventory, as little as $25.
Compare this to a service like Blue Table Painting's Doom of Malantai Conversion , which is a nice enough model, don't be me wrong. Nothing fancy. But nice. They charge $72 bucks for that guy. $72! And I thought they were insane, who would pay such a thing . . .
Then a client emailed me about the above model, and I quoted them $60. I hated to do it, but I couldn't figure out a way to quote the model for anything less, and even at $60 . . . I'm worried I'll take a loss.
Finally, I understand where BTP was coming from asking so much for their Doom. I got it.
Here's the problem . . . bits are a commodity. A few months ago, I could contact Rob over at Spikey Bitz and custom order some of the bits. Even the bits he didn't have in stock, he'd sell me a kit for 20% off. So okay, I have leftovers for all my little future conversions. Maybe I break even in the mean time, but make a profit down the road. Not the worst outcome.
But the problem is now, with GW cracking down on the bits market I CAN'T do that anymore. Finding a Hive Tyrant tail? There's only one place selling them, Hoard of Bits, and I don't do business with them anymore. Long story, but let's just say customer service is not their strong suit.
So to get a tail I have to buy the entire tyrant kit. Even at 20% off, with shipping it's still almost $50 bucks! Yikes . . .
Now you could argue that I'll have the Tyrant left over and I can sell them. That's true . . but I can only sell the walking variant. And Brother . . . since Flyers hit in sixth edition you just don't see too many walking tyrants anymore.
What's the moral of this story?
I'm not sure there is one. Maybe that GW really shot us in the foot with their new policies regarding bits. Thanks GW.
It's hard to be a gangsta and it's equally hard to kit bash a model on a budget these days. At least if you want specific bits. If the client had asked for a ravener tail THOSE I have . . . but the question is can the client get exactly what they want for a price that is reasonable?
It's looking less likely these days.
I hate to end on a sour note, so let me say this . . .. at White Metal Games we specialize in creating custom models, but we have limits to what we can do, and that limit is YOUR budget. So when you commission a model, ask yourself reasonably in all fairness what YOU could do it for, if you had to do it. Then compare that to what we're asking for, consider our time and our experience, and ask if it's worth it to you?
For a one of a kind centerpiece model, is $60 really too much to ask? I don't think so. After all your paying for a one of a kind bit of hobby goodness.
If you allow us a little wiggle room, I'm sure we can find a good alternative. Check out of gallery of over 9000 images for examples of our outside the box thinking.
But if its still too much, then let me sweeten the pot.
The first client to commission a 2000 point army with WMG after this post is published can pick either one Doom of Malantai kit bash (as per BTP's model) or the above Parasite kit bash and get it FOR FREE! How's that for having your cake and eating it too!
PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!
Caleb
WMG
A client recently contacted me regarding the above model. "I just want an aesthetically pleasing, awesome looking model, without breaking my wallet, lol."
It's the LOL that really made me grin. I mean . . . don't we all want that? But we can't have our cake and eat it too, at least, not anymore. In the past, I'd charge as much as $45 for the model above, or when I needed to move inventory, as little as $25.
Compare this to a service like Blue Table Painting's Doom of Malantai Conversion , which is a nice enough model, don't be me wrong. Nothing fancy. But nice. They charge $72 bucks for that guy. $72! And I thought they were insane, who would pay such a thing . . .
Then a client emailed me about the above model, and I quoted them $60. I hated to do it, but I couldn't figure out a way to quote the model for anything less, and even at $60 . . . I'm worried I'll take a loss.
Finally, I understand where BTP was coming from asking so much for their Doom. I got it.
Here's the problem . . . bits are a commodity. A few months ago, I could contact Rob over at Spikey Bitz and custom order some of the bits. Even the bits he didn't have in stock, he'd sell me a kit for 20% off. So okay, I have leftovers for all my little future conversions. Maybe I break even in the mean time, but make a profit down the road. Not the worst outcome.
But the problem is now, with GW cracking down on the bits market I CAN'T do that anymore. Finding a Hive Tyrant tail? There's only one place selling them, Hoard of Bits, and I don't do business with them anymore. Long story, but let's just say customer service is not their strong suit.
So to get a tail I have to buy the entire tyrant kit. Even at 20% off, with shipping it's still almost $50 bucks! Yikes . . .
Now you could argue that I'll have the Tyrant left over and I can sell them. That's true . . but I can only sell the walking variant. And Brother . . . since Flyers hit in sixth edition you just don't see too many walking tyrants anymore.
What's the moral of this story?
I'm not sure there is one. Maybe that GW really shot us in the foot with their new policies regarding bits. Thanks GW.
It's hard to be a gangsta and it's equally hard to kit bash a model on a budget these days. At least if you want specific bits. If the client had asked for a ravener tail THOSE I have . . . but the question is can the client get exactly what they want for a price that is reasonable?
It's looking less likely these days.
I hate to end on a sour note, so let me say this . . .. at White Metal Games we specialize in creating custom models, but we have limits to what we can do, and that limit is YOUR budget. So when you commission a model, ask yourself reasonably in all fairness what YOU could do it for, if you had to do it. Then compare that to what we're asking for, consider our time and our experience, and ask if it's worth it to you?
For a one of a kind centerpiece model, is $60 really too much to ask? I don't think so. After all your paying for a one of a kind bit of hobby goodness.
If you allow us a little wiggle room, I'm sure we can find a good alternative. Check out of gallery of over 9000 images for examples of our outside the box thinking.
But if its still too much, then let me sweeten the pot.
The first client to commission a 2000 point army with WMG after this post is published can pick either one Doom of Malantai kit bash (as per BTP's model) or the above Parasite kit bash and get it FOR FREE! How's that for having your cake and eating it too!
PUT YOUR MINIS WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!
Caleb
WMG
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