Yesterday I had a requirement to go to Southport. (Don't judge me, it's written into my contract.) Our office there is right opposite the North Sefton branch of Games Workshop - and that is the only reason I did what I did.
I remembered my need for a pot of matt varnish. I'm painting some 28mm C14 and obviously want the nice armour to be a bit sparkly (Yes, I know there are probably 14 better ways to do it, but I am where I am.) but want the tabards and surcoats to be nice and matt.
Well, I girded my loins for a visit to GW, which I eschew as a priest avoids a whorehouse ... no, hang on that's probably go there weekly ... (and come back weakly) ... I avoid GW as a vegan avoids a full English breakfast, on principle even though it's quite tempting. So, loins girded, I marched up to the door to find a hand scrawled sign crudely tacked to the door. It read, in what can only be described as a jagged hand that the sole denizen and keeper was off being trained, and consequently the premises were closed, unless you had a level 6 unlock spell.
Slightly miffed, but at the same time relieved, I caught the train back to Liverpool Central. Scupper me, if there isn't a GW right outside Central. Once again, I girded my loins (I think I may have pulled something that time) and chin high, marched in. As soon as I entered through the Fission Security Grid, I was accosted by an obviously senior member of staff. I could tell he was senior as he had been through puberty and possibly had once had a girlfriend who allowed her to touch her once. ("Touch her what, Percy?") He greeted me in a cheery way.
I searched dubiously among the pots of paint ... goblin excrement purple, dragon buboes blue, dwarf pustule orange etc, and wondered is shed-snakeskin could possibly be a matt varnish. "I seek a pot of matt varnish." I said, in my best GW voice. He scratched the place where a beard presumably would be one day if he ate his elf underwear greens, and looked a little crestfallen. "We don't do pots of matt varnish ... only gloss." He brightened. "But we do have tins of silk."
Only when I had exited the Portico of Reason Disestablishment did it strike me as odd that GW who have a large range of rather good quality paints don't make a pot of matt varnish.
You couldn't make it up!
I can only hope you showered immediately when you got home? The dark lord can smell the puberty from that shop, and he will be displeased and cast the curse of the ever bending rifle barrel onto you if he finds out!
When are you going to assemble your Land Raider?
You may have gone in for 'x', but you usually come out with a bag full of 'y'.
To be honest, the only thing I normally buy from GW are their paints. Although this January, I rather inexplicably had a handful of GW 'Vouchers' (given by bemused relatives during the festive season), which I spent on some high priced plastic terrain. Its still in the box, but will come in handy someday.
Daley-Rowney Soluble Matt Varnish (enamel base) has been my choice for the last ten years and it last for ages. 75ml jar and dries matter than...anything matt you can think of. Never had any problems whatsoever. Would recommend it all day long and is available from nearly all artists shops and WHS.
Many years ago, I painted some West End Games Star Wars stormtroopers. Lovely and white they were. I gloss varnished them, and slowly over the next couple of weeks they turn a deep yellow/brown colour. I've never varnished a miniature since.
Could you not have matt varnished them, then go back over the armour with a pot of gloss?
Or am I over thinking things...
Either way, good luck without coming out with something "useful" ;)
I walked past a GW store in Toulouse yesterday (on the last day of our week's holiday/family visit) - being Monday it was closed. I pointed out to my wife that even had it been open I wouldn't have gone in!
I had been roundly ignored by the family for talking about 1814 battlefields, wondering aloud which French military units various armed patrols on the streets were from etc.
Edward
Heh, I never bother going in my local GW anymore - and I'm mates with the manager. ;D
By the way, that matt varnish always goes on top of a coat of enamel gloss.
Continue walking past GW and exit the station onto Bold Street. Turn left and walk up Bold Street until you come to the Art shop on your left (it's quite a long way up, but I can't remember its name). Enter and purchase a pot of Windsor and Newton Galleria matt varnish. Can be thinned with water and never dries cloudy. There's so much more to hobby paint than GW. If feeling adventurous, take a bus down to Allerton and get off at Penny Lane (the Beatles had a song about it). There you will find Hatton's, a world renowned model railway shop. They have a comprehensive range of Vallejo paints, including all three types of acrylic varnish.
Quote from: fsn on 08 September 2015, 07:31:42 AM
he had been through puberty and possibly had once had a girlfriend who allowed her to touch her once.
Do their staff use some bizarre sex-change spells? If so, please buy me as many as you can. I'll be able to name my price in this country!
Hi Leman, art shop is Rennies, been there a long long time.
Opposite is Forbidden Planet as well
I will be visiting both on my next pilgrimage up to the 'pool.
Quote from: Leman on 08 September 2015, 03:31:28 PM
..... Windsor and Newton Galleria matt varnish. Can be thinned with water and never dries cloudy. ........
Thats what I use, and very good it is too. It is availbable in Leicester fron Gadsby's (art shop), in the market place.
:)
Windsor and Newton for mine too.
Thank you gentlemen. I'm off up that end of town to Rennie's this afternoon. Will certainly get some W&N.
Hmmm - I think GW gets too much grief. I don't buy much stuff there, but they are at least there and in the absence of other figure / paint / hobby shops, that is at least something. Youngsters are in there painting and playing - again that is at least something.
Many of the GW stores (southport included) have gone to a new model of 1 staff member who shuts the shop for lunch and takes Monday / Tuesday off as their day off. I suppose if they do staff training they are running classes of say 20 and that will mean 20 shops will close and there is not enough cover to keep them open.
I am not a fan, I do buy some stuff, so not fighting their corner, just trying to bring a bit of balance. Agree that the Winsor & Newton varnish is the way to go, but be careful when applying not to lift ink off the figure and contaminate the varnish bottle - probably best to decant a small amount of varnish out for the job.
It strikes me that this GW high street model of business is just about letting them hang on to a high street presence. Any worsening position would likely lead to closure, like them or not, the loss of them from the high street is a loss as the premises will probably be replaced by a charity shop of coffee shop.
I love a nice cup of coffee.
On a positive note, plans are in motion for a 'proper;' wargames shop in Southport - on Lord Street, next to Nero. Good news for those who want both coffee and wargames.
They do not promote painting anymore in their shops.
A one man shop-manager cannot do it anyway.
I loathe GW for what they have become.
Quote from: Norm on 09 September 2015, 07:30:36 AM
Hmmm - I think GW gets too much grief.
Not possible, there is not enough opprobrium in the entire universe to heap it in sufficient quantities on the heads of those who have turned GW into what it now is :(
I'd sooner the shops were a Starbucks or a charity shop than that people should be lead to believe the GWs current offerings are wargaming.
Another vote for the Winsor and Newton Matt Varnish. I like it so much I even blogged about it :)
http://www.the-ancients.com/gemigabok/excellent-matt-varnish/
I don't have any opinions about Games Workshop. Last time I actually bought something from them was in late 80s when they still had a shop near Hammersmith in London. I bought a copy the Avalon Hill game Flight Leader. Those were the days. Umm... come to think I did actually translate quite a lot of GW rulesets into Finnish for a local publisher 25 years ago. Blood bowl, Space Hulk, etc. So I am probably responsible for corrupting quite a few young minds :d
Cheers,
Aksu
Quote from: Norm on 09 September 2015, 08:04:16 AM
On a positive note, plans are in motion for a 'proper;' wargames shop in Southport - on Lord Street, next to Nero. Good news for those who want both coffee and wargames.
Sounds good - hope they can get enough trade, as the rent on Lord Street must be very high.
... but everyone in Southport is a old, barmy and living in the 1940's ...
Oh. Probably a good choice then.
Windsor and Newton Galleria matt varnish for me too.
I always have a spare pot as my local art shop does not carry much in stock, so I buy it when I see it.
Is the best matt i have ever found.
While typing the above recommendation a strange thought struck me, not very hard or I would havev said "OWCH" in a loud voice.
Can you use Matt varnish for varnishing those with the forename of Matthew? :-\.
Indeed has anyone with the forename of Matthew ever been varnished.
What do you use if you want your Matthew to have a gloss finish?
I think I will now go and lay down in a quiet,darkened room after taking one of the purple and orange pills FSN kindly sent me .
And don't mention silk varnish...
I'm starting to think this whole thread needs glossing over......
Quote from: Tawa on 09 September 2015, 02:38:01 PM
I'm starting to think this whole thread needs glossing over......
Go and fetch your own coat....I can't be bothered. :P
Cheers - Phil
Idle b*****d.......
WORK FASTER
IanS
I also use Windsor and Newton
My best mate lives in Southport - I resemble that remark. As a patron of Lord St. Nero my immediate reaction is, well there goes the neighbourhood. Going to have to share the pavement with fat, sweaty, unkempt, Metallica T-shirted saddos now! :d :d :d :d :d :d
So a Batman t-shirt is OK?
Cat Woman would be preferable.
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 09 September 2015, 01:15:47 PM
While typing the above recommendation a strange thought struck me, not very hard or I would havev said "OWCH" in a loud voice.
Can you use Matt varnish for varnishing those with the forename of Matthew? :-\.
Indeed has anyone with the forename of Matthew ever been varnished.
What do you use if you want your Matthew to have a gloss finish?
I think I will now go and lay down in a quiet,darkened room after taking one of the purple and orange pills FSN kindly sent me .
My nephew's name is Matthew. :-\ I feel an experiment coming on!
The purple and orange pills taste of a visit to Grandmother's house. :(
Quote from: fsn on 09 September 2015, 07:48:44 PM
The purple and orange pills taste of a visit to Grandmother's house. :(
Now I know why they tasted of mothballs and urine :-& :-&
Can you still buy mothballs ? :-\
Cheers - Phil
Still - didn't think they'd got that far yet where you are....
BTW - my pills are pale pink and white.
IanS
Quote from: Techno on 10 September 2015, 05:54:21 AM
Can you still buy mothballs ? :-\
Cheers - Phil
Yeah, but I've never hit a moth with one yet.
Joke courtesy of ITMA, 1942 - FSN
Quote from: ianrs54 on 10 September 2015, 06:53:15 AM
Still - didn't think they'd got that far yet where you are....
We don't
get moths here... :^o....It's too damp for them to survive. ;)
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: Techno on 10 September 2015, 05:54:21 AM
Can you still buy mothballs ? :-\
Cheers - Phil
Well
OLD people still seem to manage to get them. I am surprised you didn't know where Phil. ;D
Oh dear X_X......I've just accidentally stamped (very hard) on those tanky things, I found for you, this morning, Mark.
Oh well....It was the thought that counted. :P ;)
Cheers - Phil
Moth balls? Are there uses for any other part of the moth?
Yes....The antennae of certain species of moth make very good, ultra fine, brushes.....Much finer than sable hair bristles.
You read it here, first ! ;) :D
Cheers - Phil.
Report immediately to the RSPCI for prosecution.....
IanS
RSPCI - Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Insects. (If there itn un der shuld be).
I only ever use dead ones. :P
Cheers - Phil (No insects were harmed in the making of this....erm :-\...advice.)
Quote from: Techno on 09 September 2015, 02:48:27 PM
Go and fetch your own coat....I can't be bothered. :P
Cheers - Phil
Slacker! ;D
I use the GW in Enfield regularly to buy paints.
Their old shop was by Enfield Town station, which I use for work, and was only 10 minutes walk away; if I ran out of a colour I could walk to the shop and be back painting in 20 minutes. It was quite a big shop and packed at weekends, but I understand that the landlord got ambitious with the rent and it closed. A couple of years later a new smaller shop opened at the other side of Enfield and buying paints is now a 30-40 minutes round trip. This shop is a one man operation and he told me that it shut on Mondays as that was his "weekend".
I have always found the staff happy to talk about painting methods, particularly if the shop is quiet. I always make the point that I'm a historical gamer, which avoids having boxes of trolls thrust at me, and after establishing what I'm doing they will sometimes suggest possible approaches. One effective technique I was shown was building up layers of gold - darker shades firsts with paler golds layered on top and highlighted with an almost imperceptible thin wash of silver.
I would also agree with posters that W&N Galleria Matt is a very good varnish.
I went into the Darlington Games Workshop today, first time in quite a while. I was after some of what used to be antique Bronze, it is now called something totally different but the member of staff was more than happy to help me get the right colour. Then I spotted a plastic kit of an Ophidian Archway which looks spot on for games of Frostgrave so I bought one of those too. I have to say that the chap who served me was very polite, helpful and did not pressure me into buying anything at all.
Nice to hear.
Bodvoc, I've often been into the Darlo branch and will quite happily sing their praises. In fact, I have, on their Facebook page.
They know I don't do GW and I only go in there for the paints. But the manager and the resident supporting customer (well the gent who's always in there when I pop in) always talk to me about other companies kit and anything other than Games Workshop.
Hope you haven't just put the poor blighter out of a job.
Point taken.
I'll clarify that we don't actually talk about wargaming, but rather military history that could provide scenario ideas or general painting techniques that can be achieved (it being given that I'll be using GW paints since I go there to buy them - my other paints I buy from Leon at the shows). Or I'll mention the local wargaming shows and clubs in the area.
Not that my five minutes every three months or so will constitute a huge proportion of the stores walk-in trade quota.
I was born in Enfield.
Is that the first line of the blues?
I was born in Enfield ...
When the winter was cold ...
I was born in Enfield ...
an' I jus' won't be told ...
my voice you can't stifle,
'cos just like the rifle
I was born in Enfield
when the winter was cold
*harmonica*
=D>
Ooops...
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/08/games-workshop-fails-weave-christmas-magic?CMP=share_btn_fb (http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/08/games-workshop-fails-weave-christmas-magic?CMP=share_btn_fb)
D'oh!
QuoteThe company has been restructuring, closing its European regional headquarters and shifting to smaller stores. It is rebranding its stores as "Warhammer" – because that is what its customers call it. It also froze staff pay last year to keep down costs.
Well, most people I know call it GW. So that's a fail.
QuoteGames Workshop, which caters mainly for teenage boys and male adults, said it had launched some new products and its new visitor centre performed well. It has appointed a recruitment expert to ensure a constant supply of store managers.
I think the recruitment expert may need to look elsewhere within the company to see which people need replacing/appointing.
I wonder if the people in the decision making positions are actually gamers/hobbyists, or have any experience of the games GW used to make.
Can they even tell the difference between a GW Orc and an Ork?
A constant supply of store managers ?
Do they change them, that often ?
Cheers - Phil
Yeah they do. Apparently their retail employee 'churn' per year is about 30%!!
I loved a spoof news report someone posted on Facebook.
"Today a well-known high street retailer of fantasy and science fiction miniatures announced a £10,000 loss at one of their flagship stores.
Apparently thieves broke in and stole a rule set, two codexes, two starter armies and some paints."
:d :d :d
Quote from: Techno on 08 January 2016, 08:49:35 PM
A constant supply of store managers ?
Do they change them, that often ?
Cheers - Phil
It's not the mileage, it's the wear and tear... #-o
The pay freeze is the most worrying sign. Shows you really value your employees...
Quote from: mad lemmey on 09 January 2016, 07:32:01 AM
The pay freeze is the most worrying sign. Shows you really value your employees...
The Senior Management at GW don't seem to value their customers, so why would they value the staff??
Quote from: Just a few Orcs on 09 January 2016, 09:17:51 AM
The Senior Management at GW don't seem to value their customers, so why would they value the staff??
Same with us. We've not had a proper pay rise in over five years.
Quote from: Ithoriel on 08 January 2016, 11:01:34 PM
I loved a spoof news report someone posted on Facebook.
"Today a well-known high street retailer of fantasy and science fiction miniatures announced a £10,000 loss at one of their flagship stores.
Apparently thieves broke in and stole a rule set, two codexes, two starter armies and some paints."
:d :d :d
Seems legit :D
Gets a Facebook news thingy from GW Darlington telling me that they've got the new army packs in-stock, and that they're great value for money.
I take a look at the photo and see what they're on about. Fair enough, it's company spiel that they have to mutter but, £50 for (in one case) nine (and they're probably plastic!) models.
Nine models!
And that's an army, is it, nowadays?!
"Great value", GW management thinks!
I'm glad I stopped playing GW stuff, 'cos I can't afford that type of outlay.
If anyone's interested, here's the great value products in question. (http://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Warhammer?N=102295+4294965380&Nu=product.repositoryId&qty=12&sorting=rec&view=table&categoryId=cat440002a-flat&_requestid=25315359)
Quote from: RoyWilliamson on 09 January 2016, 01:20:43 PM
I'm glad I stopped playing GW stuff, 'cos I can't afford that type of outlay.
Hopefully all mine will get flogged off at Phalanx. Not that I'll be seeing any of it as I'll probably be cartwheeling straight over to the Pendraken stall with it ;D
To be fair that nine strong is three large, five cavalry and one huge ass war engine thing. Not that I think they're good value either, mind :) If anyone is interested Wayland has them at 20% off. Or you can get twice the figures for half the price from Mantic, or fifty times the figures from Pendraken ;)