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  • Scale75 Color Forge Paint Set SSE-063 Review

    Spanish company Scale75 have a box set called the Color Forge, which combines a number of their other paint sets into one product. Is it worth it? Let’s take a look at what’s inside.

    The box is a lot smaller than you would expect for the cost! The contents are listed on the back:

    As you can see, the following sets are included along with an aluminium holder:

    SSE-009 Steel Series Metal ‘n Alchemy

    SSE-010 Gold Series Metal ‘n Alchemy

    SSE-021 Copper Series Metal ‘n Alchemy

    SSE-011 Inktensity Acrylic Ink Set

    SSE-062 Inktensity2 Acrylic Ink Set

    SSE-052 FX Fluor Experience

    Forty-eight paints all up.

    The side:

    The Color Forge set itself is part number SSE-063. Once you take the glossy cover off there’s a plain white cardboard box on the inside:

    Pull out a paint on either side and lift the tray out and you can see the paint set and stand:

    The tray is very functional – watch out, though, as the folded down sides (where the rivets go through) have a sharp edge at the bottom on mine – it may scratch a table if put down and slid. The holder works well in a drawer – and doesn’t add much to the height of the paint bottles. I find it helps to put a drop of the paint on the top of each cap so locating individual colours from above is easier.

    I’ll discuss the qualities of the Scale75 paints as compared to other ranges separately – for now, how does this set focus to buying the individual components one at a time? The price of this one at the local hobby shop is $439AUD, and the individual sets are $70AUD – so buying them separately would put you at $420, which means you’re paying $19 for the aluminium stand and the convenience of getting the paints all in the one box.

    Domestic online prices are a bit different – $319-334 on eBay AU (ebay links are affiliate links) at the time of writing, where the individual sets are closer to $60 per unit – putting the Color Forge set as being a cheaper option by about $30-40.

    If the holder is something you can use with your setup I think $19 is not a bad price for it, as you probably won’t find a half decent MDF or 3D printed equivalent holder for much less.

    The spread of colour options is not enough to paint most forces in their entirety – you don’t get a lot of run of the mill colours outside of the inks, but you do get some gorgeous metallics and vibrant fluorescents to go along with the broader range of ink colours. If you haven’t used inks before, don’t expect them to behave like your regular acrylic GW/Army Painter/etc. paints, so this set is more complimentary to an existing paint set (if you want to stay within Scale 75 for that, the Artist set compliments it nicely).

    Overall I think that you have to weigh up how much the individual items are going to cost you either locally or online to see whether this set is good value for you. For me it worked out cheaper than buying the sets individually as I had intended on buying the lot of them. If you don’t ever have any intention of using a sub-portion of the set – e.g. fluorescents or inks – then it makes much more sense to buy the individual sets.

  • Web Exclusive Space Marine Sergeant with Power Fist – Metal

    Found this guy for my nostalgia force – he’s a bit more ornate than the Captain with Terminator Honours, though, which may necessitate a re-think as to who’s who. We’ll see. Painting to come…

    This guy was released alongside Games Workshop’s new website back in 2008, as far as I’m aware.

    Always feels weird opening a box from years ago – like you’re doing something you shouldn’t be.

  • Vintage Citadel Metal Warhammer 40K Callidus Assassin

    I found this Imperial Agent Calidus Assassin still new in blister – I honestly don’t recall whether they were called Callidus or Calidus back in the day, but it seems to have two Ls in it now. The model was starting to go a bit green in the blister but nothing too dramatic. Part number 010800203.

     

     

    The foam was largely a powder. 5 quid – not half bad!

     

     

    The back, for anyone curious:

     

    Out of the blister:

     

    Looks alright!

     

     

    The back, however:

     

     

    First crack at painting her:

    Second attempt three years and 30 miniatures later:

    Paints used in the second go:

    • Undercoat: Vallejo Mecha Black
    • Red: Kimera Toluidine Red, then Pro Acryl Bold Pyrrole Red, shaded with Pro Acryl Burnt Red mixed progressively with Art Black. Highlighted with a mix of Pyrrole Red and Pro Acryl Orange, further highlighted with pro Acryl Orange mixed with Pro Acryl Titanium White.
    • White: Scale75 Artic Blue then Art White, shaded with Nuln oil. Highlight of Pro Acryl Titanium White.
    • Bone: Pro Acryl Ivory, highlighted with Pro Acryl Titanium White. Shaded with Targor Rageshade. Highlighted with Pro Acryl Ivory.
    • Leather: Kimera Toluidine Red mixed with Art Black, shaded with Sigvald Burgundy contrast. Decided that the warm brown was no good for this particular model and re-did it with a mix of Pro Acryl Titanium White and Art Black, highlighted with a blend of the same leaning more towards white. Shaded with a mix of Nuln and Black Legion Contrast.
    • Gun: Sap Green, highlighted with Turquoise Blue, highlighted with Art White, glazed with Cobalt Blue. Tried again with Emerald Green followed by a mix of Emerald/Spring Green then highlighted with Titanium White. The latter three used for the sword too.
    • Silver: Vallejo Metal Color Steel, then Black Metal/Thrash Metal/Speed Metal/White Alchemy. Washed with Nuln.
    • Copper: Decayed Metal, then Old Copper, then Amber Alchemy, then White Alchemy.
    • Black: Art Black, highlighted with a mix of Pro Acryl Titanium White and Art Black.
    • Base: Goblin Green then a drybrush of Sunburst Yellow.

  • Painting Stormcast Annihilators – Gold scheme V2

    This is the third attempt at a colour scheme for a Stormcast Annihilator from the Dominion box and the second gold attempt – I think it’s much better than the first, the gold shading really made a lot of difference.

    Undercoat: Vallejo Mecha Black

    Metal base: Scale75 Necro Gold, Scale75 Viking Gold over that

    Metal shade: Watered down Scale75 Instant Arcane Purple, 7 or so layers at the darkest point

    Highlight with Dwarven Gold

    Highlight that with Elven Gold

    Highlight that with Peridot Alchemy

    Highlight that with Citrine Alchemy

    Silver:

    Black Metal

    Thrash Metal

    Heavy Metal

    Wash in recesses – hold model upside down – with Fairy Blood, followed by Shadow Black

    Leather:

    Mournfang Brown

    Shade with Grizzly Brown

    Red handles:

    Vallejo Heavy Red

    Shade with Grizzly Brown

    Gems:

    Vallejo Heavy Red, shade with Grizzly Brown, highlight Vallejo Model Color Cold White

    Blue: Prussian Blue, shade with Drak, further spot shade with Fairy Blood, highlight with Prussian Blue and some light scratches with same

    Lightning: Dry Skink Blue

    Shield blue: Prussian Blue/Drak/highlight Prussian Blue, 50/50 Prussian+Temple Guard, then straight Temple Guard

  • Warhammer 40K Metal Techmarine from Command Box 1998

    Some oldhammer! Or is this middlehammer? I lose track. This Games Workshop Warhammer 40K Techmarine was released as part of the Company Command box set a month 3rd edition hit, apparently – which would put him at being released in late 1998. Still using the same metal backpack as the older 2nd Ed. Techmarines, his sculpt is a mirror of the Captain with Terminator Honours and various others. It’s a Jes Goodwin sculpt.

    In the 2004 US catalogue this miniature is part number 010110305 with backpack 010107503 and axe/hand 010110306.

    I was painting the metal guys up as a Raven Guard successor when I got him, so he has been stripped for repainting in blue. The RG successor scheme:

    Classic Metal Techmarine Sculpt from Warhammer 40K painted in a Raven Guard Successor Chapter scheme. From 2nd Edition.

    All painted using Scale75 with the exception of some washes and a contrast – in the scheme of a Raven Guard sucessor that is as yet unnamed. Back when I was playing 2nd. Ed I called them the Harbingers, but that name is actually a canon chapter now (perhaps it was then too) so I need to find another.

    Base armour: Scale75 Artrist Green Grey, attempted to shade with SIN-42 Golem Grey but it wasn’t very dramatic

    Base armour highlight: 50/50 Green Grey and Scale75 SART-16 Artist Arctic Blue

    Base armour ultimate highlight: Arctic Blue

    Red base: Scale75 Crimson

    Red highilight: Scale75 Primary Red

    Red wash: Carroburg Crimson

    Metal base: Scale75 Black Metal

    Metal wash: Drakenhof Nightshade

    Metal shade: Scale75 Instant Fairy Blood

    Metal highlight: Black Metal then Thrash Metal and Speed Metal, White Alchemy as ultimate highlight

    Axe glow at the back: Scale75 Art White + Talassar Blue Contrast

    Eye lens: Scale75 Sap Green and Spring Green, dot of Art White

    Cables: Primary Blue, Crimson, Cobalt Blue, Primary Yellow, Dark Violet, Turquoise Blue

    Wash for cog and rack on servo arm: Vallejo Mecha Dark Rust Wash

    Wash for tubes on arm/backpack: Scale75 Instant Love Affair

    Purity Seal: Scale75 Off White, Seraphim Sepia, writing Scale75 Artist Burnt Sienna Umber

    Eye (all black as per RG): Scale75 Artist Art Black

    Battle damage: Sponged on Black Metal

    Prongs on power cords: SC-74 Elven Gold

  • Review: BrokenToad Conditioning Brush Soap

    Apart from making brushes, BrokenToad also have a brush soap. Here’s my short review of it.

    If you’re just starting out and are wondering what on earth this is for, brush soap is essential for cleaning your brushes after use – it’ll keep the brushes usable (and useful) for far longer than if you never used it. It’s not terribly exciting visually:

    It’s white, has a faint (not unpleasant) smell, is vegetable based and has had no fragrances added. One thing you want – or at least I want – out of a brush soap is the ability to get a good lather going so I can work the soap into the bristles and make sure that I get all of the paint residue out. Happily, this soap lathers easily and seems very effective at getting the old paint out of the bristles without requiring a lot of work.

    In terms of value for money it’s about $14AUD on eBay AU with $9 or so postage at the time of writing, which I think is pretty decent value for 100ml of brush soap. That volume should last you quite a large number of painting sessions, and it ought to save more than $14 of brushes in that time frame.

    Overall – recommended – works well and good value for money! Worth checking out if you need some brush soap, and pretty much everyone who paints miniatures needs some way of cleaning paint from their brushes if they want them to stay pointy.

  • Anycubic Eco UV Resin MSDS safety data sheet

    I couldn’t find a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the Anycubic Eco UV Resin anywhere, so I asked Anycubic for a copy. Within hours they emailed me a copy – attached here for anyone else who was curious and didn’t want to wait for them to send it to them. It seems to be current as of Sep 2021 – if you need an updated version best to get in touch with them!

    Anycubic Eco UV Resin MSDS Material Safety Data SheetDownload

  • Painting a C100 Chainsaw Warrior from 1987

    This guy was released in 1987 with the board game of the same name, and was apparently tied into Warhammer 40K in the 1988 Rogue Trader Part One flyer. You got three for £1.95 – the Chainsaw Warrior with Reaper (heavy weapon), Chainsaw Warrior with Missile Launcher and the guy pictured above – the Chainsaw Warrior with Chainsaw and Blaster.

    The guy behind the sculpt is apparently Bob Naismith – who is still sculpting miniatures to this day!

    The little Griffins bought me some skin paint for Fathers Day, so I thought I’d better have a crack at a miniature with skin on it. The paints used here:

    Undercoat: Vallejo Mecha Black

    Green base: Citadel Caliban Green

    Green highlight #1: Sons of Horus Green

    Green highlight #2: Orruk Flesh

    Brown (Boots/gloves/shoulders/codpiece): Vallejo Game Extra Opaque Heavy Brown

    Wash for that brown: Scale75 Instant Ogre Brown (1 coat overall, 2 coats in recesses)

    Leather straps and holsters/pouches: Mournfang Brown

    Wash for that brown: Scale75 Instant Rage Brown

    Highlights for that brown: Game Extra Opaque Heavy Brown and Mournfang Brown

    Metal base: Scale75 Black Metal

    Metal highlight #1: Scale75 Thrash Metal

    Metal highlight #2: Scale75 Heavy Metal

    Metal highlight #3: Scale75 Speed Metal

    Chainsword yellow: Vallejo Model Color 70.953 Flat Yellow

    Chainsword black: Army Painter Matt Black

    Chainsword wear marks: Black Metal/Heavy Metal inside that

    Skin base: Scale75 Artist Pink Flesh

    Skin highlights: Pink Flesh/Golden Flesh 50/50, straight Golden Flesh, shadow of Golden Flesh/Burnt Skin/Crimson, highlight of Light Skin, shade Burnt Skin + Moss Green 50/50, further shading Crimson/Burnt Skin then a glaze of Golden Flesh/Crimson 50/50 watered down. Final highlight Light Skin (basically followed the Scale75 instructions).

    Eyes: Vallejo Model Color Flat White

    Pupils: Army Painter Matt Black

    Hair: Vallejo Model Color 70.862 Black Grey

    Hair highlight: 50/50 Black Grey with Army Painter Matt White

    Arm ammo belt (assuming that’s what they are – after consulting with Mrs. Griffin who suggested that): Scale75 Decayed Metal

    Update: I spoke with the chap who designed the mini and he said they were mini grenades around the arm.

    Highlight for ammo: Scale75 Victorian Brass

    Bootlaces: Army Painter Matt Black

  • Vallejo Game Extra Opaque Set Review – 72.290

    Today I’m reviewing a set of paints from Vallejo with a difference – this is the extra opaque set, part number 72.290.

    It has sixteen 17ml bottles in it – the colours and individual part numbers are:

    72.140 Heavy Skin Tone
    72.141 Heavy Red
    72.142 Heavy Violet
    72.143 Heavy Blue
    72.144 Heavy Blue Grey
    72.145 Heavy Grey
    72.146 Heavy Green
    72.147 Heavy Black Green
    72.148 Heavy Warm Grey
    72.149 Heavy Khaki
    72.150 Heavy Ochre
    72.151 Heavy Gold Brown
    72.152 Heavy Salmon Orange
    72.153 Heavy Brown
    72.154 Heavy Sienna
    72.155 Heavy Charcoal

    First up – they’re thick. If you haven’t got agitator beads chuck a couple in each bottle before you start shaking them as it’ll really help. As an example, the heavy grey looks like this out of the box:

    The green component of it has well and truly separated and requires a fair bit of solid shaking to blend it all back together. I use a Four E’s vortex mixer (can be found on eBay) to help shake them and it certainly does help with these paints. The exception so far seems to be the Heavy Blue Grey which is a lot thinner than the other paints in the set, though still not exactly thin by normal standards.

    So what are the colours like?

    Overall they’re flat, muted tones with a matte finish when on the model. The big appeal, however, is that with one coat – even slightly watered down – you should get full coverage as a base coat. The colour range is reasonable – though there’s no yellow in this range at the time of writing – but otherwise there’s a pretty good spread for base colours.

    The Extra Opaque Charcoal is a shade darker than the Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey, which I usually paint Raven Guard with. The charcoal combines nicely with Army Painter Matt Black for adding shadows/depth and your choice of lighter grey for edge highlighting.

    The most impressive coverage has so far come from the blue, which is good because it’s also a very nice blue! The charcoal would be a close second. In contrast to those two a couple of the colours have been disappointing as far as outright coverage over black undercoat goes, even after an extended shaking session – the ochre/tan colours take about three coats to achieve the same coverage as just one of the blue. Still better than your average non-heavy paint of an equivalent colour, though.

    At the end of the day, would I recommend the set? I think it’s a good set overall and for those who don’t like putting on multiple coats to get even coverage some of the colours will be exactly what you’re after. They definitely require a LOT of shaking – in the same vein as Scale75 paints do to get the best out of them – but if you can manage that and are looking for paints with very good coverage to use as base paints I think it’s worth a look. Paying for the set is much more cost effective than buying them individually – the set retails for about $60AUD (eBay AU, eBay UK, eBay US, affiliate links) where individual paints are about $6ea, so to buy this set individually would set you back $96.

    This won’t be the only paint set you’ll ever need but it definitely has a place for those who like a good, fast base coat!

    Update: Colours I would buy again due to having excellent coverage:

    Heavy Blue 72.143

    Heavy Sienna 72.154

    Heavy Charcoal 72.155

  • BrokenToad Fugazi Mark III Imitation Sable Brush Set Review

    BrokenToad are a UK based company who make (amongst other things) a variety of styles of paintbrushes aimed at miniature painters. Their synthetic line is called Fugazi, and today I’m reviewing the full set of brushes from that line.

    The box I have is the Mark III, as you can see from the picture. The brushes were packed well and had protective plastic sheaths to prevent the tips being damaged:

    There are four brushes in the set – 2, 1, 0 and 000 (aka 3/0).

    There is a brush care slip with the brushes:

    In the listings online there’s also a statement about the tip curling after some use, and how to fix it by dipping it in hot water and straightening it. I’ve only been using these for a week so it’s probably early days for that to be happening, but I’ve seen no sign of it. Update: A month later, still no issues.

    The brush handles have a distinct patterning which makes them easily identifiable amongst your other brushes.

    So, what are they like in use?

    I’m impressed by how sharp the tip is on the brushes and how well they retain that tip throughout use. Compared to the Citadel STC range I was trying out last month these brushes are night and day different – the Layer brushes don’t hold their points for nearly as long without cleaning.

    I was practicing working on eye lenses and tried doing the lenses of this Questoris Knight with the #1 Fugazi and was pleased with how easy it was – I’d normally reach for my 2/0 Raphael or Winsor Newton to do so but it was no harder using the #1.

    I wanted some good synthetic brushes to complement my sable brushes, which I’m not keen on using with metallic paints in an effort to extend their life and keep them pointy. So far the BrokenToad Fugazi brushes have exceeded my expectations substantially, and are very good brushes in their own right.

    You should be able to grab your own set of Fugazi brushes from eBay US, eBay AU or eBay UK (affiliate links) or check out the official stockist list.

    2 week update: I find that I am primarily using the 2, 1 and to some extent the 0 size – the first two especailly are nice and springy and have a consistent paint flow. The 3/0 after a few sessions has proven to be a little long and less stiff than I would prefer so it’s fallen out of favour, but the other brushes are solid and are currently my primary brushes for metallics.

    1 month update: I have come to favour the 2 and 1 strongly – the 3/0 bends too easily for my liking and the 0 is much the same. The 2 and 1 are definitely my favourite synthetic brushes in those sizes and are still holding a point very nicely – they’re my go-to for metallics.