79thPA | 03 Jan 2017 6:52 p.m. PST |
I really don't like to paint, but the last two times I have knocked out a fair amount of troops I have been staying in a hotel for a couple of nights. This is assuming I don't have a heavy schedule, as most of the time I don't take any figures or paints, but when I know I will have the time, I take them along. Anyway, I painted 20 25mm WWII French infantry, and made it through the first half (120 pages) of a book on my reading list. I leave the computer at home, barely turn the TV on, and go into painting mode. How about you? |
VonTed | 03 Jan 2017 7:01 p.m. PST |
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Rich Bliss | 03 Jan 2017 7:02 p.m. PST |
I have done this and had excellent results. I travel pretty light these days, so don't do it as much as I used to. |
BTCTerrainman | 03 Jan 2017 7:11 p.m. PST |
Between 1991 and 1996 I traveled a ton for work (before being relocated by my then employer to my current home), staying 2-3 nights weekly at the same hotel. I developed a painting kit and routine and turned out a ton of figures during that time frame. Later I learned to paint buildings on hotel stays. I used to have an old EMS/Tackle type box that fit my paints, figures, covering (for the desk) and all of my other needed supplies. I do not do much in hotels today as my vision without very good lighting is not the best. Besides, my schedule is busier and I often get to my hotels late and then still have to catch dinner. The point being that hotel downtime can be great for painting if you are driving and carry your kit. |
ecaminis | 03 Jan 2017 7:48 p.m. PST |
I try to do this on every vacation or trip to my daughters house. Unfortunately I seem to forget something half the time. Last trip I left the whole box on my painting desk. But it is a good way to get some painting done. |
Private Matter | 03 Jan 2017 7:56 p.m. PST |
I tried to do this a couple of times but each time TSA took away my vallajho paints. It was maddening. If my trips were by car I would most certainly do it. |
Grelber | 03 Jan 2017 10:07 p.m. PST |
I've never tried painting while staying at a hotel. I do, however, bring along figures to clean up mold lines and do conversion work on. This does require good lighting, and as BTC Terrainman noted, lighting in hotels isn't always the best, and they aren't keen on their guests moving lights around. So, cleaning figures in a hotel frequently involves sitting on the floor in the best lit part of the room. I still manage to get quite a bit of work done, though. Knives, figures and files all travel in my checked luggage, so little trouble with TSA. Grelber |
COL Scott ret | 03 Jan 2017 11:42 p.m. PST |
In my last few years in the service I took lots of trips to visit units in multiple states. I started taking figures and a few paints anytime I thought I might have some unoccupied time at night. It allowed me to block in the big colors and save time for the details at home. I haven't been as productive since the trips stopped. |
Green Tiger | 04 Jan 2017 2:12 a.m. PST |
I worked away for about six months a few years ago and tried this but the light was never good enough in the hotel and carrying all the kit around was a bit of pain – did make the evenings go quicker when I did it though… |
Rogues1 | 04 Jan 2017 9:31 a.m. PST |
I have done this as well for both work and Reserve TDY's, and have gotten a variety of things painted. I even tried to take paints on the plane with me, but that was a bit more dicey in checked luggage. In some places I try to find the few remaining game shops (and there are fewer and fewer these days) and either just walk around in them or get in a game if I can. |
bc1745 | 04 Jan 2017 9:33 a.m. PST |
Light can be an issue in the winter but I do rake figures and paints away when staying in hotels for work. If it is a hotel where I know the lighting won't be great I will take figures to prep or plastics to put together…… Chris |
Dale Hurtt | 04 Jan 2017 1:44 p.m. PST |
I make my own figures (wood and hot glue), so I can usually crank out a fair number while in a hotel. My only problem is that I often need to cut stuff, so I usually end up buy a cheap X-acto blade and then throwing away the blade before a flight. So I have a lot of spare handles lying around. I like to listen to audio books while painting or modeling. That helps get me in the zone too. No visual distractions. |
14Bore | 04 Jan 2017 2:43 p.m. PST |
Tried once during a vacation but didn't get far. |
Waco Joe | 04 Jan 2017 4:11 p.m. PST |
I really want to schedule a week in the Texas Hill Country this spring to just relax and paint. |