Black Cavalier | 26 Jan 2016 4:02 p.m. PST |
if you include the cost of things you break or destroy in the process of preparing/painting the figure? With that criterion, I now have a figure that will probably cost about $160. USD I'm working on a greater earth elemental for Kings of War & wanted to get a fresh overturned dirt look for the base. I read about taking coffee grounds, drying them out really well in the microwave, & gluing them onto the base. Simple (or so I thought). I put a paper towel on a dinner plate & then dumped some grounds on it. I set the microwave for 10 minutes since what I read said to nuke the hell out of it. & then went upstairs. About 8 minutes in, I heard a loud bang which I thought was the cat crashing into something. Then I started smelling the coffee which I wasn't surprised at. Then I smelled burning. Hmm, so the coffee got roasted a bit, ok so far. Finally my daughter shouted the kitchen had smoke in it. Here is what was left.
The paper towel was gone & there were still a few embers in the coffee. I'm still not sure what exactly happened. I almost want to try it again to watch & see if the plate exploded 1st or if the towel caught on fire. I cleaned it out as best I could, but the soot still stained the inside of the microwave. It seems that the microwave still works, & doesn't produce a smoky smell when used.
Now it's just the cosmetic aspect that's the issue. Which means we'll probably be ending up buying a new microwave. Maybe that's what I should get my wife for a valentines present ;) |
Extra Crispy | 26 Jan 2016 4:15 p.m. PST |
If you buy her a microwave for V day, you'll be going for a ride in it…. |
gamershs | 26 Jan 2016 4:24 p.m. PST |
The microwave works at a frequency which excites water molecules. I suspect your grounds had moisture in it which was vaporized and the vaporized molecules took in more energy and eventually released enough energy to cause the paper to burn and explode the coffee grounds (vapor expanding in the grounds). You might look into fire damage recovery (as in home recovery) to see if there is something to clean soot off of plastic. I once had a cup of noodles (foam cup) with a sliver on metal (from the cover) still on it. Metal heated foam till it started on fire. |
Winston Smith | 26 Jan 2016 4:24 p.m. PST |
Buy her something nice for V day and replace the microwave by itself. |
Extra Crispy | 26 Jan 2016 4:33 p.m. PST |
Here's what really confuses me. Why dry them out? White glue is mostly water anyway, so the glue will just re-moisten them? |
Aladdin | 26 Jan 2016 5:16 p.m. PST |
A few days ago I managed to spill an entire bottle of Windsor and Newton yellow ink all over the carpet. Since absolutely nothing has removed it, adn the carpet will have to be replaced, that probably counts as my most expensive fig. For the record it was a napoleonic French hussar….. On a related note, has anybody ever stuck a cd in the microwave? After about 3 seconds it turns into a little fireworks show. Doesn't smell great though….and you probably shouldn't do it when anybody is watching….or with a brand new microwave….just in case….. |
JSchutt | 26 Jan 2016 6:26 p.m. PST |
It looks like it might be necessary to advise folks it would be a bad idea to paint miniatures while in your Maserati. I gave up on a unit of battle honors French cavalry after all the sword blades snapped off leaving them looking ridiculous. Anatomically accurate….but disappointing in the actually useful department. |
Frederick | 26 Jan 2016 6:27 p.m. PST |
My most expensive figure is the 54 mm custom mounted figure of Baron Larrey my parents had made for me for my university grad My biggest screw-up was mixing up a can of silver spray paint for a matte spray paint varnish – and the ACW regiments I thought I was varnishing |
Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 26 Jan 2016 7:12 p.m. PST |
When you start adding up all the components you buy for a conversion… without tools, paints, glues, or home repairs I am getting ready to sink about $40 USD for two 28mm soldier types… but I think they will be awesome when they are done… |
Ottoathome | 26 Jan 2016 7:25 p.m. PST |
I have a figure in my collection. A 54 mm figure of Napoleon. I don't collect 65mm but it's in a case with other antique figures, mostly dime store clunkies and Mignols. It's not really my figure but it was painted by a young up and coming gamer 30 years ago. He was NOT very good at painting but it was a good effort for a newbie. The group of toxic Napoleonic Gamers I gamed with back then made such fun of the paint job and the efforts of the young newbie that he was deeply chagrined. I tried to urge them to let up but they wouldn't He left the game in tears. I kept the figure for him, but he never came back. It is a constant reminder to me, and extremely expensive in the bad feeling and alienation it caused, and extremely precious as a reminder of what callousness can do. |
The Beast Rampant | 26 Jan 2016 7:55 p.m. PST |
If you buy her a microwave for V day, you'll be going for a ride in it…. My wife praised your wise council. |
galvinm | 26 Jan 2016 8:34 p.m. PST |
Chop a lemon in a bowl and fill with water. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Let the vapor sit in the oven for about 10 minutes. Wipe with a towel. Might work. Works great for other stains in the microwave. Good luck. |
wrgmr1 | 26 Jan 2016 9:54 p.m. PST |
My most expensive figure is a 1/72 scale Albatross DV. I used lozenge pattern decals on the top and bottom. The model cost about $12.00 USD, decals $16.00 USD each set, so approx $48.00 USD. Time to cut all the decals and place, about 4 hours. |
Goober | 27 Jan 2016 3:17 a.m. PST |
My most expensive individual miniature is probably something like the Oathsworn Miniatures Dragon. for my biggest screw-up I'll go with a terrain project rather than miniatures. but I was drilling holes in a stack of large hexes to use as placement for chenille bump trees. Put down a cutting mat but still managed to drill straight through all the hexes and into my hand-sanded, varnished and waxed pine table about 20 times. link
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Ottoathome | 27 Jan 2016 5:37 a.m. PST |
Dear Goober OUCH! I fell for you. I have the same type of table. |
Chuckaroobob | 27 Jan 2016 7:39 a.m. PST |
My most expensive minis are old Armorcast Titans. I bought them back when they were in production, I think the Reavers were about US$120.00 each, Warhounds were $80. USD After the first one, it got easier. |
Darkest Star Games | 27 Jan 2016 8:50 a.m. PST |
I had 5x 15mm sci-fi cars that I designed 3d printed, totalling about $1 USDk usd. Received them and realized I had set the wrong units when making the STL file and they were much larger than intended, the prints scaling out to about 25mm and out of proportion for 15mm. Had them reprinted at the correct scale, no problem (just extra cost) …and so they languish. I don't manufacture 25-28mm so won't put them into production, and I seriously doubt anyone is going to buy them as is so I'll keep them for the "just in case" future where I get hit in the heard and gone batty and slip into making 28mm. |
etotheipi | 27 Jan 2016 9:22 a.m. PST |
SWMBO's figure. The initial outlay was not bad, but mods and maintenance kinda creep up on a guy … |
Militia Pete | 30 Jan 2016 4:58 a.m. PST |
A Perry WOTR's flagman for Warwick with matching mounted herald. Shipping and custom painting put it around $30. USD Anything higher to me is not worth it. |