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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Mike1879 on November 25, 2021, 07:46:10 PM

Title: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Mike1879 on November 25, 2021, 07:46:10 PM
Purchased two sets of these beautifully sculpted Empresses Miniatures Anglo Zulu War limber teams. This one is depicted pulling a 7pdr RML field gun. A pleasure to paint and well worth the wait for its long awaited release.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Paul Hicks on November 25, 2021, 11:27:36 PM
Excellent work there!
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Ranthony on November 26, 2021, 12:18:02 AM
These are delightful.

There is still a quite active discussion amongst Zulu war enthusiasts as to the fate of the limbers/carriages at Isandlwana, probably due to the very graphic nature of their demise and the accounts relating the desperate struggle in the press.
By most accounts, a full carriage, with the remains of men and horses, having fought to escape the field, was suspended over a deep ravine, witnessed months later by Archibald Forbes I believe and there is, in 'Zulu rising'' something said on this.
The heart skips a beat thinking of these terrifying last moments.

I am very happy that Empress have put the effort into producing these and happier still to see you bringing them to fruition.

Thanks for sharing your work here, it is a source of inspiration.



Cheers

Ry

Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: jambo1 on November 26, 2021, 05:31:51 AM
Cracking work, really lovely work. A very impressive looking kit, what you expect from Empress, they really do produce some lovely stuff. :)
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: MaleGriffin on November 26, 2021, 04:00:07 PM
Fantastic job! I can't wait to get mine!
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Captain Blood on November 26, 2021, 04:09:31 PM
Splendid Mike  :-*
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Isasi on November 28, 2021, 07:44:26 AM
Great job.
 :-*
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Ash on November 28, 2021, 11:25:17 AM
Beautifully painted and based.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Mike1879 on November 29, 2021, 10:44:19 PM
Thanks guys for all the kind comments. Much appreciated  :)
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Paul @ Empress Miniatures on December 01, 2021, 09:43:31 AM
Brilliant job  :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: JBaumal on January 01, 2022, 03:00:05 PM
Awesome brush work and basing!!!! Very motivating. I must finish my limbers.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Sterling Moose on January 01, 2022, 06:34:37 PM
Lovely brushwork.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Atheling on June 03, 2022, 12:15:36 PM
Mike,

May I ask, what size base did you use for the limber, what material and how thick was the base please?

asking for a friend who has had upsetting warping experiences ;) :)
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Mike1879 on June 03, 2022, 06:59:56 PM
Atheling, the bases used for my limbers are from Warbases.
They are 200mm (8”) long x 50 mm (2”) wide. Thickness is 2mm.
I have attached a photo of the base.
I cut some criss cross grooves on the one side using a craft knife to assist the texturing adhere to the base.
I use Warbases for most of my basing particularly cavalry models.

Hope this helps.
Mike
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Atheling on June 03, 2022, 08:10:41 PM
Atheling, the bases used for my limbers are from Warbases.
They are 200mm (8”) long x 50 mm (2”) wide. Thickness is 2mm.
I have attached a photo of the base.
I cut some criss cross grooves on the one side using a craft knife to assist the texturing adhere to the base.
I use Warbases for most of my basing particularly cavalry models.

Hope this helps.
Mike

Given the length of time since the thread was last added to, thanks for the (very) prompt reply Mike  8)

May i squeeze in another cheeky question please?

What do you use to texture the base please?

I've been using filler/spackling then PVA with sand added which might account for the warpage I am sometimes getting on large bases   ??? :? :?
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Mike1879 on June 03, 2022, 09:57:33 PM
Atheling I just use simple polyfilla powder mixed with water to the required consistency and then spread it onto the base. I let it dry overnight and then sprinkle a sand and grit mix on top over a slightly watered down PVA.
When dry I lightly sand away any rough edges.
I’m not sure why your bases warp as I’ve never had that problem myself.
Hopefully if you try the Warbases bases it might help. They are laser cut and quite strong. Worth using the craft knife to cut some criss cross grooves on larger bases as it helps stop warping and the filler sticks to the smooth surface better.
Don’t use cheap PVA. I get mine from B&M bargains in a yellow bottle. Lasts me ages.
Your more than welcome to ask any questions and glad to help if I can.
Let me know of this method works for you if/when you try it

Mike
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Atheling on June 04, 2022, 09:21:37 AM
Atheling I just use simple polyfilla powder mixed with water to the required consistency and then spread it onto the base. I let it dry overnight and then sprinkle a sand and grit mix on top over a slightly watered down PVA.

Ah, I don't use the PVA watered down as I have had more warping issues if I do add water  ???  o_o ???
I’m not sure why your bases warp as I’ve never had that problem myself.

I'm beginning to think that it just be the filler/spackle. It must shrink. I definitely use a very high quality PVA.

Hopefully if you try the Warbases bases it might help. They are laser cut and quite strong. Worth using the craft knife to cut some criss cross grooves on larger bases as it helps stop warping and the filler sticks to the smooth surface better.

Which is what I also do! This is getting very odd- I must be going wrong somewhere but I cannot for the life of me figure out what it might be!!??

A mate did suggest using something called Modge Podge glue that is water soluble so I might try that without any filler/spackling at all.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Jack Jones on June 04, 2022, 11:17:01 AM
I have had minor warping with some 30mm x 180mm bases, which I used for thorn bush barricades. I thought that I should have primed them, which I will try with the next batch.

https://sandsofsoudan.blogspot.com/2021/10/thornbush-for-zaribas-and-some-tall.html (https://sandsofsoudan.blogspot.com/2021/10/thornbush-for-zaribas-and-some-tall.html)

I use Minibits / Pendragon for my laser cut MDF bases.

Cheers
JJ
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Atheling on June 04, 2022, 11:37:01 AM
I have had minor warping with some 30mm x 180mm bases, which I used for thorn bush barricades. I thought that I should have primed them, which I will try with the next batch.

https://sandsofsoudan.blogspot.com/2021/10/thornbush-for-zaribas-and-some-tall.html (https://sandsofsoudan.blogspot.com/2021/10/thornbush-for-zaribas-and-some-tall.html)

I use Minibits / Pendragon for my laser cut MDF bases.

Cheers
JJ

I might just bit the bullet and go for 3mm thick bases when basing anything large and see if that helps. Not my favoured method as you can really see the difference between 2mm and 3mm thick bases.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Jack Jones on June 04, 2022, 11:58:16 AM
I should have said, I’m using 2mm bases, with 0.8mm magnetic sheet for troops, but no magnetic sheet for scenic pieces.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Atheling on June 04, 2022, 12:25:16 PM
I should have said, I’m using 2mm bases, with 0.8mm magnetic sheet for troops, but no magnetic sheet for scenic pieces.

Ah.... that reminds me of a long forgotten technique. I used to superglue the magnetic sheets to the bases which seemed to counter some of the warping.

I used a very cheap superglue and if I remember it was a little messy.
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Jack Jones on June 04, 2022, 12:47:06 PM
I guess you know that these are available as self-adhesive sheets?
Title: Re: Empress Miniatures AZW limber team
Post by: Atheling on June 04, 2022, 03:28:06 PM
I guess you know that these are available as self-adhesive sheets?

Yes, I superglued them anyway to get a stronger bond to avoid as much warping. I'm trying to find the models/stand I used to take a pic or two.