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General => Announcements and forum stuff => Introductions => Topic started by: Redshank on June 10, 2021, 10:17:54 AM

Title: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Redshank on June 10, 2021, 10:17:54 AM
Hi folks, I joined the board a few weeks ago after some lurking, as I ease myself back into tabletop wargaming.

Anyone remember Mac's Models on the Canongate in Edinburgh? That was the last place I bought any minis.

Fast forward, I am waiting for my local club to reopen; collecting/reading a load of rules; and bouncing around a bunch of potential first projects, I have to say largely influenced by minis I fancy the look of.

My first idea was Wellington (or rather, Wellesley) in India, but there is a bit of shortage of minis as far as I can make out.

I was also keen on AWI using those lovely 40mm Front Rank minis but not sure how much longer they will be available

Still considering Cold War Gone Hot 1980s W Germany NATO vs Warsaw Pact in 10mm, but I got a bit bogged down on choice of ruleset (looking for something bigger-picture say divisional rather than skirmishy); plus the whole scene seems a bit more gearheady than I find interesting

Naval Russo-Japanese War: already picked up some 1:1250 ships with some more on the way; aiming one day to do Battle of Yellow Sea (seems more interesting than Tsushima). Love the Navis Neptune models, although they are pricey. Otherwise mainly WTJ.

Other ideas probably in decreasing order of sensibleness:

American Civil War using Epic Battles

Franco-Prussian using 1871 rules and in 10mm

Mexican-American War, no settled ruleset, 18mm Eureka (love those 40mm gringo40s but can't see myself going there at six quid a figure...)

Victorian SF - big fan of Space 1889, probably 28mm

an 18th century imagi-nation project in 28mm mainly using Crann Tara


So as you can see, monkey brain is whirring away!

I have yet to set brush to figure so that has to be faced up to some time. Luckily the other half is a craft-y person and isn't likely to complain about mess (time is another story). In fact she is getting interested in the table-building/scenery side of it.

So there we have it chaps, I look forward to eventually posting some progress on one or another of these more or less madcap ideas.
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: BeneathALeadMountain on June 10, 2021, 11:03:08 AM
Greetings Redshank,

Welcome to the LAF, a nicer, more helpful groups of hobbyists you couldn’t find on the net. That’s a big list of interests - not so much peering over the edge of the slippery slope as jumping head first, naked, smeared in woad and throwing the Victory sign. I commend you. Also well done on spousal choice, I wish my other half was even slightly interested :(

Stay safe, keep up the motivation
BALM
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: dadlamassu on June 10, 2021, 11:48:20 AM
Anyone remember Mac's Models on the Canongate in Edinburgh? That was the last place I bought any minis.

Oh yes I do.  And Toytub in Raeburn Place.  And Model Hobbies.  Harburn Hobbies on Leith Walk now at Elm Row used to be more model railways. 

Welcome, as has already been said, you will not find a more helpful and pleasant bunch of folk anywhere else on the net.  We may well have met at Claymore or Carronade as we used to put on participation games. 
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Redshank on June 10, 2021, 12:37:39 PM
Oh yes I do.  And Toytub in Raeburn Place.  And Model Hobbies.  Harburn Hobbies on Leith Walk now at Elm Row used to be more model railways. 

Welcome, as has already been said, you will not find a more helpful and pleasant bunch of folk anywhere else on the net.  We may well have met at Claymore or Carronade as we used to put on participation games.

Never been to Claymore or Carronade but hope to rectify that as soon as things get moving again!
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: has.been on June 10, 2021, 03:42:54 PM
Redoubt (available from Grubby Tanks, but text him as that will
get a faster response than e-mails) do a Wellington in India range.
The figures are on the large size of 28mm. Worth a look at least.

A friend is about to sell off his 10mm Franco-Prussian stuff. Painted
with nice buildings. They are excellently painted & based, but I
would say that, as I painted & based them lol
Let me know if you are interested & I'll contact him.
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Westbury on June 10, 2021, 05:28:00 PM
Redshank. If you've got some money I've got 10mm Franco Prussian armies in 10mm painted, based and ready to go as mentioned by has.been. I used the 1870 rules and the armies are MacMahons Army of Alsace and Prince Friedrichs Third Army. Further details at https://wordpress.com/post/westburywargamers.com/2061
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: swiftnick on June 10, 2021, 07:07:46 PM
Hi Redshank,
Yes I used to work in Macs models.
For Wellington in India have you thought about the Minifigs range in 15mm.
Old figures but actually quite nice.
I bought a load of samples but couldn't get anyone interested.
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Shahbahraz on June 10, 2021, 07:38:52 PM
Oh yes I do.  And Toytub in Raeburn Place.  And Model Hobbies.  Harburn Hobbies on Leith Walk now at Elm Row used to be more model railways. 

Welcome, as has already been said, you will not find a more helpful and pleasant bunch of folk anywhere else on the net.  We may well have met at Claymore or Carronade as we used to put on participation games.

Bought my first 15mm in Toytub, back in the late 70s IIRC. And yes, some helpful people here. I reckon there must be a dozen or so who I have crossed paths with at Claymore, Carronade or Targe, even if I didn't know it at the time.
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Elk101 on June 10, 2021, 08:36:12 PM
Mac's Models is going back some time! When did that actually shut down?
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: swiftnick on June 10, 2021, 11:42:23 PM
I think maybe sometime in the mid 90s.
Odd that Edinburgh can't seem to sustain a wargames shop in recent years.
Many fond memories of spending my pocket money in Toytub.
Then there was Games gallery on Forrest road.
Then as well as Mac's models, Neil and Colin had a shop on Dalkeith road.
Then John Robertson had Games box in Gilmore place.
All gone!
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: OSHIROmodels on June 11, 2021, 04:51:14 AM
Welcome  :)
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: whiskey priest on June 11, 2021, 05:21:56 AM
I think maybe sometime in the mid 90s.
Odd that Edinburgh can't seem to sustain a wargames shop in recent years.
Many fond memories of spending my pocket money in Toytub.
Then there was Games gallery on Forrest road.
Then as well as Mac's models, Neil and Colin had a shop on Dalkeith road.
Then John Robertson had Games box in Gilmore place.
All gone!

I remember Mac Models, great memories. What was the name of the shop on Dalkeith Road? I used to walk round and browse while my Mum was doing the shopping at Savacentre. Happy Days.
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Emir of Askaristan on June 11, 2021, 05:48:03 AM
Welcome aboard and welcome back to Wargaming.

I'm a bit further up the road from you geographically speaking. But I remember pottering about in Macs too.

Wonderland models has some plastics and is good for paint etc. There is a gaming shop not far from there which also has some plastics - warlord and possibly just bolt action. I can't remember the name though (Six's to Hit???).

Crann Tara are doing some Sepoys and a few other Indian bits - they will be SYW but it might scratch your Indian itch...trust me they are excellent.

Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Redshank on June 11, 2021, 09:26:22 AM
Thanks for all the welcomes and suggestions folks.

Will have a look at those 10mm FPW although some masochistic part of me thinks I should paint my own minis!

I was last in Macs Models in the late 1980s. Bought some 28mm ECW with my birthday money, no idea which manufacturer (or what happened to the figures...)
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: CapnJim on June 11, 2021, 05:11:30 PM
Welcome, and greetings from another (relatively) new guy!

It seems we all like seeing other peoples' stuff.  So post away when you're ready!

My wife and I live in the US, but we were in Scotland for our 10th anniversary (2008).  And we loved Edinburgh.  My 20mm (well, 1/72 really) British modern(ish) troops even came from Wonderland Hobbies there.  So I guess my British troops are really Scottish in particular!
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on June 14, 2021, 04:14:35 PM
Welcome!
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: levied troop on June 14, 2021, 05:13:49 PM
Welcome from Edinburgh :) you’ll find this an excellent place for expanding that list of projects!


Wonderland models has some plastics and is good for paint etc. There is a gaming shop not far from there which also has some plastics - warlord and possibly just bolt action. I can't remember the name though (Six's to Hit???).
There’s Games Hub just around the corner in Lothian Place - a small-ish shop and basement gaming tables, but I’m a relative newcomer so don’t know what any previous names might have been.
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: swiftnick on June 16, 2021, 04:45:05 AM
I remember Mac Models, great memories. What was the name of the shop on Dalkeith Road? I used to walk round and browse while my Mum was doing the shopping at Savacentre. Happy Days.

Was it mercenary miniatures?
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Redshank on June 23, 2021, 07:32:17 PM
Just set brush to miniature for the first time in 30 years (28mm Mex American War Mexicans from 1st Corps).

To totally change the subject, what is the best way to strip the paint off a mini??
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 23, 2021, 07:36:07 PM
To totally change the subject, what is the best way to strip the paint off a mini??

Biostrip! By far and away the best way, and no smells or fumes. It's probably the quickest, too - takes about 20 minutes. You can get a big tub of it on Amazon for about a tenner.

Oh, and welcome! Another with fond memories of Mac's Models here!
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Redshank on June 24, 2021, 07:36:18 AM
Biostrip! By far and away the best way, and no smells or fumes. It's probably the quickest, too - takes about 20 minutes. You can get a big tub of it on Amazon for about a tenner.

Thanks will check it out. I borrowed some of the wife's nail polish remover (acetone free) which worked 95% ish when applied with an old tooth brush...
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: Hobgoblin on June 24, 2021, 08:45:49 AM
With Biostrip, I find that anything in 'shiny' metal (slottabase-era Citadel, for example) or plastic often needs hardly any scrubbing at all; the paint just sloughs off. With the very old, dark and dubious metal of some early-80s castings, a bit more effort can be needed - but I think that's often due to decades-old enamels.
Title: Re: Greetings from Scotland!
Post by: nicknorthstar on June 27, 2021, 10:05:06 AM
I remember Macs Models. Used to sell Mac Alternative Armies then Harlequin Miniatures. Good shop.

Welcome