"Six things you might find in a fantasy circus" Topic

DA BUG….

Denoting unbuttoned at 1/144 scale in an unobtrusive way has eluded me. However a suggestion from Wolfhag may be the answer. Today 2mm diameter magnets arrived. A quick test shows that at least a 3/16 inch ball bearing sticks fast enough to the magnet to withstand a modest shake while upside down. Painted black (suggested by a friend using a spirit based pan as less likely to chip) a ball bearing does seem an option, cheap replaceable and unobtrusive. Tomorrow perhaps I will install the first magnet in one of my LUCHS. Thanks Wolfhag for the suggestion.

I don't game at 1/144 so take this with that grain of salt. If you are going with a magnet and marker could you not use a magnet and two "figures" for your commander's copula, one a closed hatch and the other a guy half way out? Or at this scale is that too fiddly?

They sell black magnets too.

I'd go with a tiny piece of sheet metal cut to size, as a flat-to-flat surface holds a lot better, plus you don't have to drill holes for b-b's. And it can still be painted to blend in… ;-)

If it works, cool.

Here is what the magnet setup looks like on a 1/144 JgPz IV using K&J Magnetics disc 3/16" x 1/32" magnet.

The ball bearings are spray painted black (no polarity problems). The magnet is fastened with a spot of white Elmer's glue and can be removed easily and does not harm the model. The ball bearing is easy to attach even with big clumsy fingers. If you drop the model on the table it will not pop off nor will it fall off when moving the model. Even if you bump it accidentally with your finger it will stay and pop back into place.

Wolfhag

Wouldn't a crew figure look better than a big black ball in the turret?

I get those for Sci-Fi, since they can represent lots of things, in the far future, but can't really see it on a WWII tank.

Drill a hole and put a small magnet, or piece of metal in the tank mini. Glue a magnet onto the bottom of a 1/2 man figure (torso and head), and attach/remove, as desired.

Some models, like the 1/144th scale, Tiger I special, with zimmerit, from Takara, actually come with a removable crew figure. You just put him into place, or remove, as desired. There's a hole for him to fit snugly in place.

Of course, a crew figure would look much better. I'm lazy and not into model building and painting (the tank is pre-painted), just writing rules and playing.

On the playing surface in a game, it works well. The figures are small and kind of blend in with the vehicle making it a little harder to determine if unbuttoned.

Wolfhag