The Pocket Challenge: Building with Limited Resources

[MonAtArms]

Hi everyone, fellow members.

This time I'm doing some experiments with alternative materials for small scenic items. In this case, stakes for archers, made from flexible plastic recycled from a container.

The method that works best so far is to cut a kind of vertical "comb" with a hobby knife, then sharpen the tips and lightly rough them up, so they don't look too regular. Now it's time to see how they behave once painted, but for the moment the volume and texture look promising.

On the other hand, I've prepared several test pieces for tools and weapons using different materials: thin plastic sheet (the same I use for swords), metal filed down from the base itself, and also flexible plastic cut and shaped to represent axe heads. The idea is to see which material gives the best definition, durability, and visual readability once painted, especially at 10 mm scale.

In addition, I'm considering making a set of tools in very high relief, specifically designed to create molds and then reproduce them more easily, while keeping good volume and clarity at this small scale.




In this image you can see the process broken down into stages:

1. Original miniature and cut-down version.
Here I mark the cutting lines, and with double lines the cuts made with clippers. The aim is to achieve a more dynamic pose, breaking away from the stiffness of the original figure.

2. Pose adjustments.
You can see how I eventually cut the arm to allow a better rotation and slightly hunch the figure, so it sits closer to the horse when riding. I also file the contact area with the saddle to further adjust the pose and enhance the sense of movement.

3. Overall layout with a first layer of putty.
At this stage the full scheme is in place with a first layer of putty applied. I'm still undecided between axes, maces, or flails for the weapons.
The barding tassels are something I learned while doing my first 10 mm conversion, the Green Knight from GW. The final tassels will be trimmed once the putty is fully cured, as this gives them much more dynamism.





Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the project so far... I'm sure I'll mess it up once I start painting 😄

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Looking good

[fred.]

Great work!

Perhaps you should have a chat with Leon to see if some of these could be put into production? That new knight pose is very dynamic, much more suited to the horse than the original upright pose.