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Miniatures Adventure => Call of Cthulhu => Strange Aeons => Topic started by: superflytnt on January 02, 2013, 05:42:40 PM

Title: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 02, 2013, 05:42:40 PM
OMFG.

Talk about a disappointment. But allow me to detail my pain:

I got this..
(http://images.frpgames.org/products/product_62422.jpg)

...and I was so happy when it showed up on Monday. Right up until I opened it.

There was so much flashing on it that I had to get a dremel out just to get to a STARTING point. Then, when I really started looking at it, the triangular sections were so badly cast that I will now have to either run it over a planer or dremel it to death to get the back flattened so it will even fit. The triangles are so over-cast that the thickness of the assemblies is almost one and a half times the thickness that they're supposed to be. It's ridiculous. It's going to take me several days of work, plus a crapload of green stuff to get it to look right.

I've gotten other S/G stuff before and it's pretty good, but seriously, this is pure shite.

/end rant.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: traveller on January 02, 2013, 06:02:59 PM
I share your pain. i got a similar piece of resin crap from a trader recently but he gave me a refund so I got over it. I suggest you inform him of your experience and demand a refund.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 02, 2013, 06:10:36 PM
I'm going to send some pictures to Scotia Grendel. I figure I'm already screwed so I might as well help their QC department pull their heads out of their arses. I do a fair bit of casting and MY work is far superior to this pile of crap.

And I'm a rote amateur at best.  It's sloppy work, no more, no less.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Bergh on January 03, 2013, 01:09:04 AM
From what you are telling me, contacting Scotia grendel with a complain seems fair.

I've have had too many problems myself with the recent resin products I have purchased, gladly until now I have come to an agreement with the traders of partial refunds or they send me a new piece.

Just irritating when you have to wait additional time for replacements to arrive.

What I see is that they aren't good enough to replace worn out moulds or using unskilled labours. What ever the reason, its just not a good customer experience to see something really nice in there web-shop, and when it arrives it looks like crap and/or you have to use several hours grinding on moulding lines or making the parts fit together.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Malebolgia on January 03, 2013, 12:05:08 PM
Too bad, because it's a lovely pyramid. It's one of those things I still want: a good looking big pyramid. Hard to find!
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Tas on January 03, 2013, 01:09:44 PM
I totally love the resin sculpt I got from Fenris Games and it had no flash at all - highly recommended!

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=47707.60 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=47707.60)
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: smokezombie on January 03, 2013, 01:13:45 PM
Too bad, because it's a lovely pyramid. It's one of those things I still want: a good looking big pyramid. Hard to find!

+1 . I like it too.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 03, 2013, 03:16:06 PM
Look up "Hirst Arts Kit" on Ebay. Or, if you're ballsier, you can get the molds for egyptian pyramids and whatnot and some Smoothcast 300 and make them yourself. Really cracking stuff. I'm a huge fan of it and I asked my wife for the stuff for Christmas, which, of course, she ignored. ;)

72$
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EGYPTIAN-PYRAMID-KIT-WITH-INTERIOR-TOMB-10-HIRST-ARTS-/250877848071?pt=Educational_Toys_US&hash=item3a697c2a07

(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/EGYPTIAN-PYRAMID-KIT-WITH-INTERIOR-TOMB-10-HIRST-ARTS-/00/$(KGrHqZ,!ioE4rqM6QsGBOUCi6YZug~~48_35.JPG)

40$ (and I ~so~ want it)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EGYPTIAN-PYLON-TEMPLE-KIT-HIRST-ARTS-28MM-/251191017469?pt=Games_US&hash=item3a7c26bffd
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/EGYPTIAN-PYLON-TEMPLE-KIT-HIRST-ARTS-28MM-/00/s/MjcyWDQ5MA==/$T2eC16dHJF8E9nnC8I!cBQtDEpll!w~~60_12.JPG)

OR....

35$ a mold, plus 20$ for Smoothcast 300, plus 5$ for universal mold release
http://www.hirstarts.com/molds/moldsegypt.html
(http://www.hirstarts.com/molds/p90.jpg)

(http://www.hirstarts.com/molds/egypt124.jpg)

I kid you not, making that hirst stuff is REALLY easy.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: smokezombie on January 03, 2013, 03:55:53 PM
The second kit looks fun... Truth be told I just can't be bothered.. I prefer seeing what others can do with the stuff..


Now if I was making a dungeon table....
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 03, 2013, 04:16:14 PM
Here's what I sent Grendel
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Sangennaru on January 03, 2013, 04:44:10 PM
I've a friend who riecieved some grendel pieces as well... and they are crappy casted too! Said from an amatorial caster like me (well, i sell my own products so i'm a little more than amatorial), this casting level is... Level Zero. (just quoting Kung Fu Panda)
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: The Dozing Dragon on January 03, 2013, 05:07:00 PM
I have 2 sat unopened but from years ago........hopefully they will be before quality died......
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Hitman on January 03, 2013, 05:56:02 PM
Just an FYI, Scotia Grendel is run by Robbie Ferguson. He is a one-man show operator  (at least the last I heard) out of a small castle in Scotland. He is a decent guy, but unfortunately he is running on very old molds that probably should have been replaced years if not decades earlier. The pieces will not get any better so ordering or expecting a better quality cast will probably not happen. I have that piece, and had my dad run it on his belt sander. It only takes a couple of minutes and it was fine. A little bit of green stuff, and the piece was finished. Forget the dremel...it will take forever. I also soaked mine in extremely hot water to help soften the resin first and used heavy duty rubber gloves and an extremely sharp knife to pare away the excess flashing on the sides where I did not want my dad to sand as the surface texture would have been sanded away. Hope this helps with your project and good luck.
Regards,
Hitman
 8)
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 03, 2013, 06:02:39 PM
Thanks for the heads-up. Over my lunch break I used that dremel and sorted it out. Turns out that one of the pieces isn't flat, too! So, one side will be slightly bowed. LMAO I guess the slaves that built it had the last laugh!

I really love the Scotia models. I have a couple of other pieces that came in blister packs and they're really well done, which is why this was such a shock to me.

I let them (him?) know about it, sent some pictures, and that's that. I figure that for the price I got it (16.00 US?) at the superduper clearance sale at FRPGames.com I really couldn't complain much. So, I ranted, vented, and now I'm all done. The only complaint I have now is that I smell burning plastic and will all day long. Terrible smell...ugh
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Malebolgia on January 09, 2013, 02:00:07 PM
Found this one on the interweb:
http://www.stonehouseminiatures.com/resinfigures1/item.nhtml?profile=resinfigures1&UID=117

Anyone familiar with this one? Looks promising for the price!
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 09, 2013, 04:14:58 PM
You can make one very cheaply with pink stuff (insulation board) and a bread knife.

At Home Depot you can get a sheet of it for 10$
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100320356/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=pink+insulation&storeId=10051#.UO2XqG_AeSo

and make all kinds of terrain with it. Very simple to do.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: HerbyF on January 11, 2013, 11:54:08 PM
I have some Stone mountain stuff and have been quite pleased with the items I have gotten.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Ramshackle_Curtis on January 13, 2013, 10:03:48 AM
Turns out that one of the pieces isn't flat, too! So, one side will be slightly bowed. LMAO I guess the slaves that built it had the last laugh!


As hitman says, you can probably heat and bend it.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 13, 2013, 02:12:26 PM
I did what I could with epoxy putty and paintwork. It turned out OK. Not great, nothing to be super-proud of, but enough that I'm OK killing a Lurker in it's shadow. :)
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Legion1963 on January 13, 2013, 02:21:33 PM
Dependding on where you are and how much you want to spent on postage and such, tabletop-building.com has a very extensive range of Egyptian buildings, dungeon, temples and a pyramid/mastaba. I have seen and handled this stuff personally and it is extremely durable and very detailed.
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: The Dozing Dragon on January 24, 2013, 06:43:37 PM
Hi Legion, can't find them on that link? There is a .nl site but too far to consider for postage etc. If that is the site, and it looks very interesting, then is continually off line as well  >:(
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: smokezombie on January 24, 2013, 11:26:37 PM
Did you finish this thingie then superflytnt?
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Malebolgia on January 25, 2013, 12:18:20 PM
Hi Legion, can't find them on that link? There is a .nl site but too far to consider for postage etc. If that is the site, and it looks very interesting, then is continually off line as well  >:(

http://www.tabletop-buildings.com/
He's renewing the website. The Egyptian stuff will be uploaded soon.

I know this, because my order will be shipped today ;)
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: superflytnt on January 25, 2013, 03:24:12 PM
Holy crap.

This guy is selling Hirst kits for 1/5 of what other guys are. I couldn't even buy the molds and Excalibur stone to make this stuff for as cheap.

My wife is going to hate you for this! :)
Title: Re: Rant: Scotia Grendel Nubian Pyramid
Post by: Hitman on January 27, 2013, 05:19:38 AM
Malebolgia;
Stone House Miniatures is very nice as long as you don't let it sit in the sun as it melts..... :'(
Regards,
Hitman
 8)