Coffee Table Tuesday chatter
Tuesday morning, or for those of a certain age "elevenis's" Coffee break, is always a good "stage" to show one of our more frequent guests like Mr Briggs, some of the products and things we have been working on since we last saw him, over a fine brew with some fine cakes. Where men can freely discuss the finer points of war gaming models, figures and gossip with out fear of interruption.
My good friend John Briggs is what I would call an "expert wargamer", campaign game author and host, top model maker and painter and so on and on. He's been a good friend and war games opponent for many years and I value his views on what we at Early War Miniatures are producing, both from a quality, detail, subject and price perspective. He does sometimes forget to bring the cakes though, a failing I always remind him of when it occurs!
So, what better format then to take pictures of the coffee and Tea table and discuss as we do, but with you, some of the things we are making, thinking of making or about to release? So is born the EWM coffee Table Tuesday chatter. A place where I hope you will find of some interest and insight into some of the projects, models and figures we are working on here at Early War Miniatures.
So, each picture has a conversation in the text field. Feel free to add your own comments or just enjoy what we are up to here. I will try to answer where I can. Lets have a chat, let the discussion begin.
So today, Over coffee I showed John some of the new plastic resin castings I have been making. Big thanks to the boys at Milicast who have been helping me with improving the resin castings EWM now produce. The front truck is the Italian TL37, a single piece casting with Wheels on, next to a highly detailed casting of a Sexton. You will also see an M20 again, wheels cast on the model and a lovely little single cast Dingo AC. There is also the Fiat staff or field car there, again with wheels as part of the casting. An AA turret for a 40mm Bofors AA gun which is part of the next batch of Armour fast conversion sets. I have also remade the A13 hull. These new materials and importantly mold making and casting technique's are producing some excellent results.
This little M20 scout car casting was the first I attempted with wheels on. Its been showed at recent trade shows and will be released soon. I just need to create the label and get it on the Webstore.
Now, my coffee table gets a bit messy when all the "new stuff" comes out. I the box's I was showing John the first of the new range of Italian forces . These are Italians mainly in shorts, ankle boots or sandles with a selection of head gear. Toppee's, helmets, field caps, bersaglieri helmets with feathers, black shirts and colonial troops fez's. Not sure how best to offer these, either cast on or offered in packs with the figures? Some separate weapons as well.
New mold, ready for cutting and pouring. After coffee, I did just that, its come out really well. A new generation of EWM models based on these methods is dawning I feel. This tank, cast with tracks on, just add the turret and crewman, job done.
Table top chatter and clutter – you will see some of the Armour fast stowage and conversion display models in the background. I think so far, and with the great assistance of Paul Yeldon, we have made over 40 Armour fast models. Tracy at Armourfast uses these display models on her trade stand as well, so we need 2 every time we make one for our selves.
Mr Briggs, admiring the Daimler Dingo. This weighs 3 grams, comes ready to go just add crew and more stowage if you want to. I cant wait to get these in production and out there next year. John, Like me is a great fan of the desert war period. I am really looking forward to painting up some of these for myself when they are molded.
So far I have a nice selection of infantry, artillery crews stripped to the waist, a lovely 25mm Brade AA/Atg with crew and today arrived a lovely Moto Guzzi solo motorcycle with 2 crew. Cant wait to get that in the mold. Tom Lobley, original designer of Toms tins, just gets better and better. Im planning to see him in December and over a few beers, I hope to celibrate his selling to me Toms tins 5 years ago. EWM is five years old on January 1st, 2016. Where has the time gone?
The full conversion or chatter is on our Facebook page over at
facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.991933134186988.1073741917.585343228179316&type=3&uploaded=9#!/media/set/?set=a.991933134186988.1073741917.585343228179316&type=3Feel free to post your comments here and there? Its nice to Chat about such things. Coffee has gone cold now so back to work….
Cheers
Paul T@EWM
