Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: tereydavi on March 27, 2025, 11:42:47 AM
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In this post we are going to put all those bargain pieces that we sometimes find on AliExpress for a really low price and that work perfectly for miniature wargames.
(https://i.ibb.co/LDGLcWK6/aliexpress-copia.jpg)
We will mainly focus on products useful as terrain in our gaming boards, and many of these products may have been seen in my fear of the dark and frontline heroes gaming boards (ww2 of modern).
I am sure that you have also found some similar products on AliExpress that have been useful on your game tables, so do not hesitate to share them in the comments and I will add them to this very same post.
This is the link to the blog post:
https://sukiwargames.blogspot.com/2025/03/aliexpress-finds.html
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Temu as well?
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Yes, sure!
Any lowcost product useful as terrain for miniature wargaming.
Temu, AliExpress, Alibaba... Everything helps
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A while ago I browsed Aliexpress for the first time, becuase I was looking for really niche stuff, and found it. Almost was tempted to buy from there too, as a test, but didn't pull the trigger.
I mean Temu especially is a pretty bad place and there's several good reasons it's under investigation by the EU. Maybe they manage to clean their act up, but otherwise I'd prefer to see that webstore sued into the ground.
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I just refuse to order to from Temu/Aliexpress. Flat out. Maybe there are some good finds - but I?ll never know ?
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In Spain, AliExpress has a refund policy in case any problem happens. The customer gets a full refund and usually keeps the product.
The main problem is to get the right product, as many times the description is wrong. I got a boat model kits advertised as 1:48 scale, and as It arrived It was clear It was quite smaller (1:72 or even smaller).
That's the reason of this post, to make a list of products that have been purchased and verified by the customers.
Many of the products listed are right now bought by online shops and sold five times more expensive.
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I've bought things like brushes on AliExpress. I don't like paying huge amounts for them and honestly don't think that more expensive ones would make much of a difference. That, and mine never last very long anyways.
Aside from that, I've bought things like trees there as well. I'd say they were okay.
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I've bought things like brushes on AliExpress. I don't like paying huge amounts for them and honestly don't think that more expensive ones would make much of a difference. That, and mine never last very long anyways.
It's true that my brushes Don't last long either. Usually the tip starts to warp.
Do you have a link of those brushes? I could use a few.
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well I got a couple of orange trees (standard railway sort) from Temu, not very pretty but literal pence and tarted up ok...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/63/1462-250824212344.jpeg)
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A while ago I browsed Aliexpress for the first time, becuase I was looking for really niche stuff, and found it. Almost was tempted to buy from there too, as a test, but didn't pull the trigger.
I mean Temu especially is a pretty bad place and there's several good reasons it's under investigation by the EU. Maybe they manage to clean their act up, but otherwise I'd prefer to see that webstore sued into the ground.
Yeah...Ali, Temu, Shein...so much wrong with their products and services. I sometimes see interesting stuff, but I refuse to buy and support this business model.
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Yeah...Ali, Temu, Shein...so much wrong with their products and services. I sometimes see interesting stuff, but I refuse to buy and support this business model.
This. I will pay for real things.
A brush? With no level of toxic awareness? Hard pass.
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I agree with being responsible with our gaming funds. For example, I try to buy direct from the company selling the game or product -- not someone like Amazon. As an example, for a $20 rulebook sold on Amazon, I as the rules author receive less than $4. Yet on Lulu, we get much closer to the value (mid to high teens).
I try not to buy anything made in China, if possible. Nor Russia, for that matter -- but I may be getting political here... :D lol
Mike Demana
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I also frequently buy on Aliexpress and never had any problems. I always pay with Paypal as back-up for possible problems.
While I avoid buying from Russia, I still buy from China as otherwise you just buy the same item with a significant price increase.
I would want to avoid buying from there too but much of production is based in China especially for toys and cheaper items.
I buy everything from brushes to trees and from toy cars to hobby tools and materials.
As mentionned above I avoid putting those brushes in my mouth you never know. :? Think they were like 10 cent per brush.
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Utterly loathsome as I find Peter Thiel and unwilling as I am to support him or any other white South African neo-fascist, the advice to use Paypal or some other intermediary payment service is sensible when dealing with the Sheins, Temus and Ali Expresses of this world.
My daughter recently had some fraudulent charges put against her card. When I contacted the bank, who refunded her dosh, the lady on the phone said that she had noticed a number of purchases made with Shein and Temu. She noted that they had been associated with high volumes of card fraud as their data security was negligble and advised that if purchasing with them to use Paypal.
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I Never had any kind of issue buying from AliExpress, and you may even use PayPal as It is safer.
You may not buy from AliExpress for ethical/political or whateever reason you may have, but that is not the point of this thread.
Those very same products are sold in online shops in your own country, but they price is Up to 10 times more expensive.
I have seen the streets lamps in a well know spanish online shop, but they cost 10? for 10 streets lamps... And the planes model.kits are sold for 10? each by local retailers.
And THAT is the point of this post. I want to.help every wargamer so that they Don't waste their money, and get the most from It.
That's the reason I would love to make a long list of lowcost wargame products.
(https://i.ibb.co/3930j4vy/Screenshot-2025-03-28-21-53-43-160-com-wallapop-edit.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/FLhCL1fJ/IMG-20250328-214903.jpg)
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Shouldn't that go under commercial, what with promoting a specific company?
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Shouldn't that go under commercial, what with promoting a specific company?
How is this any different to the "Things found in Poundland" thread?
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A comparison picture of the green army men truck:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu-QDmvaCKIVzhiHZjvsh02MPjBs9n8Mu-yAVoTBl6RHAb8HiBpO_T41JaZ0-8V9ChXu73wHEpiViLQc7saTMpmY35ICTSjYQGXhjLA5NBZkqUB-SibBaR1EhwHRXVfOeOpeSKFvkiWqiAKGXcoQyzfe4oxrpbsij8hRWj_IrGJ42pamf7RNcm3NsL8HG/s1663/IMG_7540.JPG)
and one of the reasons it is cheap:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGF_gG7GwRj2wj10bpfJ0k_gIHw19CX23lG0N10EOoG4z8B5Pf1vFKvnWJFBmaKl7IYL9ow4B4TgeBqEFBIG-QcviPXq_i6tSthl0RSzSJJci8HqFtUkiZrfrzA3bWNON0BLhEVwAbgeou6C1T3tGiTNXgNqvI9Ji6vDD8mMtDbN_006d5-cvNVb4cTRPt/s1203/IMG_7542.JPG)
T
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The trucks has a really por quality, but they price is outstanding.
With a Paint job, the trucks change completely.
Remember not even 20 cents each...
(https://i.ibb.co/VW65HsRn/IMG-20250330-224818.jpg)
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Things you can buy there:
-model train scenics (grass tufts and other plants)
-diecast cars. I had problem with the scale only once. Look for the same product in several stores if you have doubts. Having it in the dream scale in only one place who sell it in the Hobby section together with MLP stuff and ripoff Lego while specialized diecast car stores all have it only in a different scale is more than suspicious.
-sculpting tools: all of these stuff is basically made by China, not buying from there is just paying extra for the middle man. This applies to most other things in this list too.
-RC toy car electronical and mechanical components (they basically sell every toy car Made in China piece by piece)
-decor gubbins: I once bought a set of decoration cogs- great for AdMech bases
-magnets (!)
-bases (!!)
Things better not buy there
-chemical stuff (different safety and quality regulations, etc)
-brushes (here quality maters and it never comes at a bargain price)
-non-sculpting tools: again, quality matters, and while expensive&sh*t exists, cheap&good does not.
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A comparison picture of the green army men truck:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu-QDmvaCKIVzhiHZjvsh02MPjBs9n8Mu-yAVoTBl6RHAb8HiBpO_T41JaZ0-8V9ChXu73wHEpiViLQc7saTMpmY35ICTSjYQGXhjLA5NBZkqUB-SibBaR1EhwHRXVfOeOpeSKFvkiWqiAKGXcoQyzfe4oxrpbsij8hRWj_IrGJ42pamf7RNcm3NsL8HG/s1663/IMG_7540.JPG)
and one of the reasons it is cheap:
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGF_gG7GwRj2wj10bpfJ0k_gIHw19CX23lG0N10EOoG4z8B5Pf1vFKvnWJFBmaKl7IYL9ow4B4TgeBqEFBIG-QcviPXq_i6tSthl0RSzSJJci8HqFtUkiZrfrzA3bWNON0BLhEVwAbgeou6C1T3tGiTNXgNqvI9Ji6vDD8mMtDbN_006d5-cvNVb4cTRPt/s1203/IMG_7542.JPG)
T
Those are modelled on the Chinese CA30 (Zil-157 knockoff) . Fill the back of the tires with putty, give them a bamboo frame and cover them with foliage and they will look just right for their natural environment..... the Ho Chi Minh trail. A whole convoy for your MACV-SOG teams to find and destroy.
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-diecast cars. I had problem with the scale only once. Look for the same product in several stores if you have doubts. Having it in the dream scale in only one place who sell it in the Hobby section together with MLP stuff and ripoff Lego while specialized diecast car stores all have it only in a different scale is more than suspicious.
I.bought a couple diecast cars from AliExpress and they were ok. The size was as expected. Nevertheless I usually buy diecast cars in second hand apps, and they are sold in lots really cheap.
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I.bought a couple diecast cars from AliExpress and they were ok. The size was as expected. Nevertheless I usually buy diecast cars in second hand apps, and they are sold in lots really cheap.
Yes, second hand is the best option especially that wargamers usually do not need mint condition cars.
My speciality is that I look for cars for my 1/35 projects, so I am more into the rarer ranges of 1/32-37. As these are rare, they are more prone to mess up the scale in market places (not just ali).
95% of diecast cars are either Matchbox scale (1/64-H0) or 1/43 (perfect for 28mm wargaming). The chance of bad scale info is maybe smaller for these.
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Some useful bits on Temu. Modern Houses, super cheap
https://www.temu.com/goods.html?_bg_fs=1&goods_id=601099596242774&sku_id=17592517582043&_x_sessn_id=rkblpmpbjb&refer_page_name=bgt_order_detail&refer_page_id=10045_1743597434475_6sv945tuz9&refer_page_sn=10045
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Some useful bits on Temu. Modern Houses, super cheap
Those houses seen ok for 28mm miniatures. Did you.buy them?
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I have three of the following vehicles for my 28mm scifi force. Bought both the vehicle and top mounted gun for less than 5 euro in total. Also used one of those cheap silver pens to add some chipping to the gun and vehicle. Cheap and easy option.
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Those houses seen ok for 28mm miniatures. Did you.buy them?
Ordered them. Just waiting for them to arrive.
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Ordered them. Just waiting for them to arrive.
Keep us updated! They may be perfect for a Pulp Alley table I want to build.
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Will do. Looking forward to dressing them up.
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We are all expecting those pics as they arrive. I could use a couple of them for my games if they are the right scale.
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I'll take a snap or two of them in their naked state. With all such ply, basswood and MDF structures, I tend to do quite a bit of work resurfacing and detailing them. I use the models as dollies , so might be a while before you see the finished item.
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I’m interested to see how they scale up. Looking forward to what you do with them fella.
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So the Temu Houses arrived today. No problems removing the parts from the sheets. It's a sort of thin ply. I've built similar Chinese manufactured kits before and had one or two arrive with parts incompletely etched and parts requiring cutting to remove. These were fault free. The good thing, at least from my point of view, is that the surface detail is so light it will definitely disappear once primed and painted. I like my MDF/ply models to be a blank canvas to detail.
Instructions are, like most of these things, a but rudimentary but better than many and it's not that hard to work things out.
Scale wise, well I'll let you be the judge but overall they seem pretty much perfect for 28mm. The entrances are too small, more 20mm than 28mm but that's easy to fix and I intend to replace the doors anyway.
I did a quick dry fit to test size. I need to find some more roofing material so these are way back in the queue behind some resin buildings I also had delivered this week as well as another Temu offering see below.
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One of the other items received in my bag of goodies from Temu was a subway entrance. I've already scratchbuilt a couple of U-Bahn entrances for my model West Berlin but hey a third was welcome and the price was right. This one will be the main Sesamstraße entrance with some added signage.
It's a great little bit of kit basically a glueless kit and scaled well enough for 28mm.
Picked up some park benches and trees as well. Almost bought a bus shelter but as I have a couple of my own creation, I thought a third was a bit redundant.
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The first thing to do is make sure your ordering the right thing, Aliexpress sellers love to show you a thing an then sell you the cheaper version of it, often a smaller or more basic thing i.e. a drill but you only order the bits.
As a rule there ok for consumable, brass wire, cheap brushs, flock, bases, saw blades etc.
Here's some stuuf i've bought, likey a lower price then its posted now an with free shipping.
if you order a goody list you can likey get them to offer to a deal on the same items from other venders, it'll be £8 minim for free shipping or 3 items for free shipping, something like that.
The cheap Organizer Boxs, there £1 or less but you can fit a whole 28mm arm an weapon in them, get the largers ones an some spears can fit.
Organizer Boxs (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006830218955.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.23.9c8d1802rZkMef)
Bases, a slotter or nomal base is just a cheap bit of plastic.
25mm bases (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32613623268.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.43.9c8d1802rZkMef)
display boxs
display box (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006625589333.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.68.9c8d1802rZkMef)
turn tables
fancy but cheap turn tables (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007244986343.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.9c8d1802rZkMef)
brush stand an pot
[urlhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005879868311.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.78.9c8d1802rZkMef]brush stand an pot[/url]
nail art brushs, there fine and cheap
at £1 (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007863165568.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.118.9c8d1802rZkMef)
pin drill bits
buy them to maKe sure that you dont break them (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004383468738.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.143.9c8d1802rZkMef)
brass wire in 10meter rolls
i think it'll last a while... (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006203319769.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.9.221c57e19Z0mcg&aem_p4p_detail=202504232041137912702349454400001469503&algo_pvid=0144342c-ece6-4a94-8f1d-9886f965313d&algo_exp_id=0144342c-ece6-4a94-8f1d-9886f965313d-4&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%22761%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%211.84%211.84%21%21%2117.35%2117.35%21%402103868817454660735154179e6fd3%2112000036254573666%21sea%21UK%214072433452%21X&curPageLogUid=gjeEkjNheiw5&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A&search_p4p_id=202504232041137912702349454400001469503_2)
cheap pendints
he can be 32mm beast man (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006094432656.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.153.9c8d1802rZkMef)
craft knife blades
cheap (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002376163602.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.165.9c8d1802rZkMef)
razor saw
link (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008592282127.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller.3.59ecA0ncA0ncxC&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40196.404796.0&scm_id=1007.40196.404796.0&scm-url=1007.40196.404796.0&pvid=b6c077df-fc20-4418-8142-f8760dd5a53c&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40196.404796.0,pvid:b6c077df-fc20-4418-8142-f8760dd5a53c,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238110%231995&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%227%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%2C%22sceneId%22%3A%2230050%22%7D&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%217.96%213.99%21%21%2174.88%2137.53%21%40210385db17454661823082936e68d7%2112000045864526747%21rec%21UK%214072433452%21XZ&utparam-url=scene%3ApcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller%7Cquery_from%3A)
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New product added- 1:43 scale Humvee
Thanks to Potan's War YouTube Channel I discovered this little gem that fits any existing 28mm miniatures range.
(https://i.ibb.co/C5Sfvngq/Screenshot-2025-04-26-22-41-10-858-com-android-chrome-edit.jpg)
It's a 1:43 scale Humvee for just 5'29€. I know it's not the best quality, but it's the cheapest for sure.
(https://i.ibb.co/Hf5gKxsf/Screenshot-2025-04-26-22-32-57-759-com-android-chrome-edit.jpg)
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Cheers! Been looking for a source for those Maisto Hummers. Hopefully this retailer will actually have them in stock. I ordered a quite expensive bus through AliExpress recently, waited and waited and then was told I was getting a refund as they were out of stock.
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Thanks funkmachine7!!
The display box is a good idea, as the cheap brushes.
Did you say 10 meters brass wire?
It's not expensive at all, and I think you get wire enough for your whole life.
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Some interesting stuff there lads.
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Here's the green plastic truck (Zis-150/ CA-10 knockoff) from page 2 with a little bit of work. Puttied the back of the wheels, added some plastic strips and cut away the spare tyre to orient it in the correct fashion (horizontally stowed).
As the plastic is so easy to slice, I'm going to get a bit more ambitious with these.They're sold in packets of 10 after all. I've realised that a bit of chopping will allow the body to be lengthened and an aditional pair of wheels added to the chassis, making a serviceable Zil-151/ 157 proxy. I'll probably make up a few as North Vietnamese trucks covered in foliage, some generic ComBloc types and maybe even a civilian example. For a few pennies apiece, these are a definite good buy.
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A new product added: Magnifyng glasses.
(https://i.ibb.co/DPZ4djd7/Screenshot-2025-05-11-17-01-42-810-com-android-chrome-edit.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WNLnCRCc)
I friend of mine told me about this product that he had bought and was really Happy with.
As I get older my Sight is not what It used to be, so I thought this glasses would be a good option.
They arrived last week and I have to say that this product is outstanding.
I'm painting again with great detail and quality as they are really confortable.
For me they are awesome, outstanding and I have recovered the joy of painting small details.
The link for this awesome and essential product is in the blog post.
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I have the exact same pair of magnifying glasses (headset/goggles?) as the ones in your picture, for about the same price, but bought off ebay. I was so impressed with them that I bought a set for my dad.
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I have the exact same pair of magnifying glasses (headset/goggles?) as the ones in your picture, for about the same price, but bought off ebay. I was so impressed with them that I bought a set for my dad.
Impressed is the exact feeling when I first used them. I had a lamp with magnifying glass but.many times It was difficult to Focus on small details. These glasses are top!
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Polystyrene buildings in a variety of scales. I bought a lot of these years ago for a 10mm city table and they're great to work with, if a bit of a blank canvas. They come in pristine and battle damaged variants too and there's a very good selection of different ones available.
Be careful; they're offered in 1/87, 1/150, 1/300 and even 1/500, so check the scales before you buy. Most buildings go for about €15,- per set when looking at HO- or N-scale ones.
Search for '1:150 Railway model' for instance. Once you've found one, the site will suggest a plethora of similar offerings, so you'll be in your own scale building bubble ;)
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Of course, you still have the issue of the retailer sending you the wrong size.
For a more comprehensive look at what's available and more scale options, like 1/72 and 1/64, yo can always go to the source for these buildings: https://outlandmodels.com
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...For a more comprehensive look at what's available and more scale options, like 1/72 and 1/64, yo can always go to the source for these buildings: https://outlandmodels.com
Nice. Most offerings on AE are the same and I always suspected there was a single/common source for those products. They seem to 3D print a lot of their products, and I really dislike layer lines, but the polystyrene stuff they do is pretty good...
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I update this post with the last find!
I happened to spot these shipping containers, and even though I had no references, the listed dimensions made them look like a great fit for 28 mm miniatures and terrain.
(https://i.ibb.co/3mdqvK3F/IMG-20250725-183836.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/ymgpMKys/IMG-20250725-183903.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/VppTnXyG/IMG-20250725-184520.jpg)
I ordered four, and the result is completely satisfying as terrain for a port or an industrial area. They match the miniatures perfectly (the ones in the photos are 32 mm minis) and came exactly as you see them, already weathered right out of the package.
Several different models are available at €2.59 per container.
The link for these little gems is in the post of the blog:
https://sukiwargames.blogspot.com/2025/03/aliexpress-finds.html
And let's not forget they're boxes, so we can also use them to store terrain pieces.
(https://i.ibb.co/Q30FQ6nC/IMG-20250725-184652.jpg)
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Have bought those containers too, mine were €2.00 a piece during a sale when you can use their promo codes. Especially like the pre-weathered ones.
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Nice find, I really like those containers!
Not that it really matters, but these containers have international standard sizes: 2.4m width, 2.6m height and their length either 20 or 40 feet, everyone can calculate into his favourite scale.
"Would you like to know more?" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_container (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_container)
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Oh I love the look of those! Great find.
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Oh, nice.
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Nice find, I really like those containers!
Not that it really matters, but these containers have international standard sizes: 2.4m width, 2.6m height and their length either 20 or 40 feet, everyone can calculate into his favourite scale.
"Would you like to know more?" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_container (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_container)
The AliExpress ones are smaller than real ones, but they are ok for wargames.
"Would you like to know more?" Made me laugh, Sounds like Starship Troopers 🤣
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Great find!
Ordered several!
T.
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MS108 Flat Bottom Hole Drilling Digging Tool (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007516954392.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.102.1e911802f5LQpx)
About £5 and you can likey get some magnets to reach the £8 free shipping.
Great for makeing magnet holes in plastic, it does metal albeit slowly.
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well those funky hole drills got me interested, but god Ali Express is a horrible search experience, so much knock off Lego, sorting by price only works for one page...
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MS108 Flat Bottom Hole Drilling Digging Tool (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007516954392.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.102.1e911802f5LQpx)
About £5 and you can likey get some magnets to reach the £8 free shipping.
Great for makeing magnet holes in plastic, it does metal albeit slowly.
I already have a modelling drill and drill bits for doing that. More versatile.
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MS108 Flat Bottom Hole Drilling Digging Tool (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007516954392.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.102.1e911802f5LQpx)
About £5 and you can likey get some magnets to reach the £8 free shipping.
Great for makeing magnet holes in plastic, it does metal albeit slowly.
I wish I had this tool when I tried to make a technical vehicles with a renovable zu23 ....