Games Workshops new Airbrush Paint range...

The rumors where true, Games Workshop is releasing a range of 51 airbrush paints... in their stupid flip top pots. WORST MOVE EVER!

Who in there right mind made this decision? Dropper bottles are a (well almost it seems) a no brainer when it comes to airbrushing. Controlling the amount of paint in the brush is essential. 

It seems increasingly odd coupled to the new marketing approach (with AoS) alienating all the existing older fan base, essentially the ones who would own or use an airbrush. I can't imagine many 14 year olds. Must be aimed at 40k tanks...

And it seems according to the blurb the paints are "great for base coating" your models. The wastage that will be seen from using pipettes is obviously the plus side for GW, as they will sell more. Marketing genius! 

We recently seen Forgeworld go down the same route introducing an airbrush paint range aimed at their 30k line, once again in flip top pots. I have actually purchased a few of the clear paints to cover some gaps in my selection, but promptly put them into dropper bottles.

With such a huge range of airbrush paint available already in dropper bottles aimed specifically at the scifi/fantasy gaming community such as Vallejo Game Air and Badger Minitaire ranges, which are developed by airbrush professionals, the market appears saturated.

Not to mention the even larger range of 'true colours' aimed more at historical gamer's, model kit builders and dioramas from industry specialists such as Vallejo Model Air, AK Interactive and MIG productions. 

All these well established brands make excellent paints. I have tried all of the mentioned ranges and can recommend any of them for quality, consistency and price (it works out about half the price for the same volume). The Vallejo Model Air metallics are some of the best in the market, and I use much of the paints I have for brush work as well as air.

Vallejo also do an extensive primer and auxiliary range in sizes from 18ml to 200ml containers, including polyurethane primers, airbrush cleaners, acrylic thinners, flow aids, masks, varnishes etc

And guess what, all of them are in dropper bottles...

Games Workshops new range will need to be a cut above the rest to make up for the shortfall of not being in dropper bottles, not to mention double the price...

Taking Stock - Tomb Kings

I spent some time over the weekend sorting through my Tomb Kings army with what I have and what I still have to actually build. I did not realize how much I have actually amassed so far! Ive split them into three catagories: Painted, for those models who are at least at tabletop standard and based; Assembled, for those that have been cleaned and built; and the biggest pile: Unassembled....

Painted
100 Skeleton Archers
2 Warsphinx
1 Necrosphinx
6 Necropolis Knights
2 Casket of Souls
2 Screaming Skull Catapults
2 Liche Priests
1 Tomb King
1 Khalida
40 Tomb Guard with Sword and Shield
15 Horse Archers
8 Ushabti with Great Bows

Assembled
1 Warsphinx
1 Necrosphinx
3 Sepultural Stalkers
4 Necropolis Knights
6 Chariots
1 Tomb Scorpion
1 Carrion
3 Ushabti with Great Weapons
10 Tomb Guard with Sword and Shield
2 Tomb Kings
5 Horse Archers

Unassembled
21 Chariots
3 Sepultural Stalkers
2 Necropolis Knights
5 Carrion
1 Ushabti with Great Bow
3 Ushabti with Great Weapons
120 Skeleton Warriors with Scimitars
120 Skeleton Warriors with Spears
100 Skeleton Archers
50 Tomb Guard with Halberds
3 Tomb Kings
3 Liche Priests
10 Horse Archers
18 Skeleton Horsemen

And then there is the want list:
6 Necropolis Knights
3 carrion
2 Tomb Scorpions
1 Arkan on Chariot 
1 Settra on Chariot
1 Ramhotep
1 Apophis
1 Khatep
7 Ushabti with Great bows
12 Ushabti with Great Weapons
2 Colossus
2 Hierotitans
3 Necrotechs
1 Icon Bearer

All in all approximation 15,000 points of Tomb Kings before magic items. no doubt the list may grow a little as well....
I'm not addicted, no. I can stop any time! Now to plan the next army....

Review - The Rack

Of late I had been following Back 2 Base-ix on facebook as they built up for the launch of their new hobby desk organising system, The Rack. Its safe to say I was suitably impressed by the previews to purchase a small set on launch.

Back 2 Base-ix offer the system in Acrylic with a large selection of colours, ranging from solid black and whites to transparent floresent greens and yellows, or in plain MDF for the more price conscious. The coloured options allow you to mix any two colours to make up the components if desired.

I went for the acrylic version, ordering a set with black base and clear shelves, mainly to not obscure any colours on the shelves and to help give a strong contrast to the colours with the black base.

This was not my first purchase from Back 2 Base-ix having used them frequently for their excellent deals on MDF movement trays. I've conveted over most of my forces to the Mag-Flex sets which included flexible metal sheets and magnets for a very reasonable price. Infact these guys seam to go out of their way to please their customers, to the point I made a simple inquiry on facebook and they responded within a day by having a product on their website ready to order.

The package arrived in good time (It only had to come from Adelaide, Australia) and was well sealed costing about $25 for courier. Far more reasonable that the rort we get taxed for American shipping.

Items came all bubble wrapped. The flatmate will be kept well amused...

Each piece is individually sealed with all components 

All the parts laid out. Each piece of acrylic has a protective film on both sides that needs to be pealed off. Pictured here on the right is parts with the film removed, and to the left with the film still on. I found the clear acrylic to be the most difficult, as one side was frosted film and the other clear. It was very difficult to get the clear film started to peal, however once started was easy to get off. I pre assembled all the screw and washer sets and put the magnets aside.

Back 2 Base-ix have made you-tube videos for all the racks assembly, making it very simple to assemble. i watched a few of them before I ordered which helped make my purchase decision, but did not use them for assembly as the process was very straight forward.

Assembly is very straight forward, requiring only a small phillips head screw driver and your fingers. The system uses a series of screws, nuts and washers for assembly. I tried using a spanner to tighten the nuts on the screws at first, however it is to easy to overtighten them and break the plastic. I recommend using fingures to hold the nuts whilest carfully tighteing the screws in place. The system itself is a bit fiddly and would have liked to see some sort of snap lock or clip system.

Pictured here is the first shelf assembled. You need to remove all the protective film first before final assembly or you will be left with bits of film around all the screws and fittings. Each shelf has a set of locator lugs on the frame to keep it in place for the screws. I found all parts lined up perfectly and had no spacing issues.

Below are pictures of each shelf going on. I went bottom up as the screws are partially hidden byt the next shel up as you build.

The top shelf in this section is dedicated to being a paint brush holder. I found the pre-drilled holes to small for the majority of my brushes, only fitting my Raphael Miniture series. This is however resolved on the larger straight section (not pictured) with drawers. I would have liked to see and option to choose hole diameter as not even the GW brushes will fit.

Little rubber feet are supplied which help give clearence to the screws protruding on the bottom and stop the item from slipping around on your desk.

Conclusion:

Customer service: 10
Very fast response times, nothing seams to be a problem. Friendly approach to all. Custom requests are met without issue.
Packaging/Shipping: 9
Well packaged, the pictures say all. Protecive film is a pain to get off when it is clear. Fast delivery time.
Quality: 10
Lasercut acrylic fits perfect every time. All parts supplied. Magnets to join adjacent sections together great idea. Great colour selection (acrylic only)
Assembly: 7
Step by step videos make life simple. Locator lugs on parts make assembly easy. Screw/nut assembly fiddly and prone to cracking the joints if over tightened or miss-aligned. As mentioned a clip system might be more desirable.
Price: 7
Price can add up quickly, especially if you have a large paint selection. Each section is from $30-$50+ each (NZD), and i would expect most people would purchase about 3 sections to meet their needs. Means less plastic krak! MDF gives a more price conceious option however (but not as shiney). Frieght very was reasonable. Would be nice to see a package deal for sets (which I hear they are looking at already).

Overall: 8.6/10
A great product overall, has helped turn my desk from the warzone it was into a organised work factory. Now all I need is more racks to shelve the rest of my paints as I dont even have half of my paints displayed...



The finished product, complete with mess