Saturday 27 July 2013

Storage Crisis Solved - Cheap Storage Solution from Sally 4th

Hello all,
I have more lead than I know how to store. and I guess most of us have. The following post addresses what to do with the horde of Zombies from Zombicide, but I expect to order a similar set, only for Warmaster units in the near future and thus I thought this post might be an appropriate introduction to the storage chests from Sally 4th:

So, the lucky bastards who were part of the Kickstarter Season One for Zombicide got app. 200 miniatures out of the deal. Now, this is actually something of a mixed blessing - 200 miniatures, the majority of which are zombies, is a lot of minis to paint. And then, once you've painted the buggers, it dawns on you that you need to store that bazillion of zombies and the hefty amount of survivors. And with the minis from Season two arriving shortly the problem will only be doubled. 
Now, not to cry about having a massive amount of painted minis, but where and how do you store so many minis? And in a manner wherein you can quickly get them out and not spend the entire evening wrapping them in papertowel or figuring out which one goes where in your expensive styrofoam carrying case?
Well, I believe I've found the answer to this question. Allow me to praise a product made by a British company called Sally 4th.
Not a bad name either :-).
This company produces a fair few things, but the thing that caught my eye was their line of Figure Storage Chests. This is a line of laser cut wooden 'chests' that come in a variety of sizes and heights. And the best thing is that they also produce inserts, tailored to just about every basing system out there.
So I went and did the only reasonable thing - I bought a few samples just to test them out and this is the result:

Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe

With room for 48 models in their 25mm round insert cutouts, all the survivors and zombivores will fit within one chest, and have room to practice their Zombie-slaying-tricks as well.
I've bought the 75mm heigh version and have opted for the magnetic inlay as well. this works perfect for the plastic minis, but for metal minis I would go easy on the travelling. Meaning they will stay in place while travelling, but if someone turns them upside down, they will fall down half the time.
A few examples of the zombie horde tucked away in their chests:

Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe

A ton of Walkers, ready to party.

Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe

And, in another chest, a hefty group of fatties and some runners for support.
As you can see, three chests will fit more than the basic set (and even the Abomination pack), and as it only takes a second to stow away a given mini (or pull out a handfull of Runners to ruin everyones day) I do believe this is the currently best answer to how one can stow the Zombicide minis.
And four chests will only take up a small amount of shell space as they are fully stackable:

Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe

Now I did a little bit of modification before I assembled the chests - just to make the sets seem more urbannish:

Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe

A quick grey spray, and the inserts share the 'dark asphalt' look I've used on my Zombicide bases. Makes the entire thing seem more fitting. And I plan to go back and both add a bit of blood splatter and some clutter once I get more time.
 More examples of minis in the Sally 4th storage chests:

Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe


Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe

Now there are a few caveats with this system.
1: The entire thing comes without any instructions and looks quite fragile when you get the set. The mess below are six chests and two lids:

Sally, 4th, forth, Storage, crisis, miniatures, cheap, wood, zombies, zombicide, survivors, safe

Looks a bit daunting. But once you get started the things build themselves and it was a bit like building wooden planes as a child.

2. the smell. Now becuase these are cut by a laser they smell. They smell burnt and they will do so for some time. Mine have been in action for a few weeks and I'll still notice the smell once in a while. But in the beginning the smell is quite noticeable, and the room you store them in will smell like a 'cub scout'-hangout. Very smokey - not like a cigarette, but like burnt wood. Whether this is a significant problem is something you must decide for yourself, but for me it was like reliving my childhood, so I came to enjoy the smell, even though it surprised me.

3. the price. While very fairly priced (I believe each chest, with magnets and inserts) set me back ca. 8£ is by any standard not a lot, it is money not used on miniatures and, again, is a point worth considering. I pondered long and hard (well for a day or so) and finally decided that the convenience they offered was worth it, and the quality of the product is great - well designed and flawless executed.

Now, I really like the products from Sally 4th (including their cheap round bases with magnets, excellent priced) and thus I happily recommend them for solving the problem of storing any minis. I'll be buying a few more chests and inserts for use with my Warmaster 10mm miniatures - four chests should hold vast armies and wills tandardize my storage system (and free up a lot of the wife's kitchen containers...). 

Anyways, thanks for reading - if you found the post interesting then any comments or tips (commercial clicks :-)) are greatly appreciated!
Until the next time; stay safe and prepare to slaughter Zombies!

All the best,
Kasper

Sunday 14 July 2013

Hasslefree Survivors: Maria (c) (HFA109)

Hello all,
Finished another of the excellent Hasslefree miniatures. This it was Maria (c) (HFA109), a very petite girl. Interesting pose, great details and a crisp sculpt made her a pleasure to paint.

 Maria (c) (HFA109) Hasslefree Miniatures painted zombicide survivor
Designer's note:
Maria is back with a new hairstyle and some possible plastic surgery. We haven't yet asked her what it is she constantly thinks is over her shoulder, mainly cos she's always carrying a gun.
Kev White
 Maria (c) (HFA109) Hasslefree Miniatures painted zombicide survivor

 Maria (c) (HFA109) Hasslefree Miniatures painted zombicide survivor

Anyways, thanks for reading - if you found the post interesting then any comments or tips are greatly appreciated!
Until the next time; stay safe and prepare to slaughter Zombies!

All the best,
Kasper



Thursday 11 July 2013

Hasslefree Survivors: Bubba (HFA038)

Hello all,
As mentioned earlier, I recently bought a test sample of Hasslefree's miniatures. Just to check if the quality was really as good as it seemed from the internet pictures. And the quality was perhaps even better. The first chap I got to paint was the Elvis impersonator, Bubba (HFA038).

Hasslefree miniatures Zombicide alternate survivors paint Bubba Elvis
Bubba comes in three parts, probably because of his bulk, with each arm separate. A large man, there are few details on him apart from the ornate details on his chest and legs. An easy paintjob, fun, and a very charismatic mini. I'm actually quite happy with how he turned out - deadly guitar and all.
I didn't add any blood or gore to him as I wanted him to stand out from the Survivor crowd in his Sunday Whites.

Hasslefree miniatures Zombicide alternate survivors paint Bubba Elvis
Hasslefree's note on Bubba:
So is Elvis dead or not? Rumours abound that he didnt die and is making a living as an impersonator! Move over for the Elvis impersonating zombie hunter sporting a deadly guitar (!) and a 357 magnum.
Kev White
Hasslefree miniatures Zombicide alternate survivors paint Bubba Elvis
One should definitely listen to the King's music while painting this chap.

Anyways, thanks for reading - if you found the post interesting then any comments or tips are greatly appreciated!
Until the next time; stay safe and prepare to slaughter Zombies!

All the best,
Kasper


Sunday 7 July 2013

Alternative Survivors: Hasselfree Miniatures

Hello all,
Faced with fifty zombies yet to paint for Zombicide and having run out of Survivors to alleviate the dullness of repainting the same mini over and over again, I decided to treat myself to some fine figures.
I've kept a close watch on the miniatures produced by the company called Hasslefree Miniatures for quite a while now, and decided to try them out. The whole process was indeed free of any hassles - the webpage works very well, the prices are fair, and the shipping was cheap and quick. Thumbs up to the initial phase.
I only bought five figures as these were merely a test, but I promised myself that if they were good quality, I was entitled to some more once the Zombie horde have been completed. This was helped by the 50% discount Wayland games offered on their entire Hasslefree range the other day. This means I've got a ton of Hasslefree minis ready to get some paint :-).

Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide
Group shot!
So, the five miniatures chosen were selected based on 1) their suitability as survivors for Zombicide, and 2) their paintability factor, i.e. how much they made me go - I need to paint that figure! Unfortunately, this meant that quite a few of the Hasslefree miniatures were on my 'must-buy' list.
Kevin White Hasslefree Miniatures Interview
Kevin 'talented' White
 The primary sculptor, Kevin James White, is a bloody talented guy, and based on various interviews on the net (examples can be read here, here, and here) also a quite nice chap. As far as I have been able to deduce, it appears the company is run by his wife while Kev sits and labours, creating minis - primarily shapely women.

So without further ado, here are the beauties I bought from Hasslefree (and stay tuned - most are already painted, so once the sun starts shining again, I'll begin uploading painted miniatures again):


Mad-Dog (HFA013)
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Mad-Dog
Mad-Dog is a suave and sophisticated Zombie hunter who unfortunately got caught 'with his trousers down'. We aren't implying that he was 'up to no good' but merely that when the thrill of the hunt calls, there are obviously more important things to think about than putting on your trousers! At least he remembered his fire-axe and his protective helmet although i am not sure what use they would be with a bunch of zombies approaching. He is approximately 28mm to eye level.
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Mad-Dog
Temporary Verdict: A supreme Sculpt. Also the happies chap I've ever had the pleasure to paint :-).



Renato Ramirez, from the Legends of Golo range (HFGGL1)
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Renato Ramirez
In the dark near future of the zombie apocalypse some people thrive, others go a little crazy, but every now and again someone grows a Hitler moustache and throws on long johns and a tutu and starts shotgunning things!
A crazy little sculpt by the ridiculously talented Tom Meier.


Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Renato Ramirez

Temporary Verdict: Well done to Tom Meier! This guy is a psycho, without all the usual melodrama. He just likes to wear his little tutu. The sculpt is excellent, and how often do you get to paint a ballerina-Hitler in long johns?


 Bubba (HFA038)
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Bubba
So is Elvis dead or not? Rumours abound that he didnt die and is making a living as an impersonator! Move over for the Elvis impersonating zombie hunter sporting a deadly guitar (!) and a 357 magnum.
Kev White
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Bubba
Temporary Verdict: An Elvis impersonator? Whats not to like? Not a fan of the multi-parts but as Bubba is a hefty guy (plenty of peanut-banana sandwiches...) I guess it couldn't be helped. Excellent details, and this might be the first 28mm guitar I've ever painted.

Bunny Boiler Alice (HFA028)
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Bunny Boiler Alice
Always think of Alice and the White rabbit as a cute fairy tale experience? Not this version....more bunny-boiler than bunny-loving. There are two variants of this figure, this is a slight conversion of the Fu-uk winner to having high heels rather than combat boots.
Kev White
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Bunny Boiler Alice
Temporary Verdict: A beautiful, and disturbing, woman. The dress and face are brilliant - the shoes are a bit too 'hidden' for my taste. And the whole 'I shot my stuffed bunny' theme is brilliant :-), Wonder how Kev thought of that detail :-).


Maria (c) (HFA109)
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Maria
Maria is back with a new hairstyle and some possible plastic surgery. We haven't yet asked her what it is she constantly thinks is over her shoulder, mainly cos she's always carrying a gun.
Kev White
Hasslefree Miniatures Survivors Alternative Zombicide Maria
Temporary Verdict: As with Bunny Alice, Maria is a petite, well-shaped woman. An interesting stance, great motion to the pose, great face. Brilliant mini.

So, what do I think of Hasslefree Miniatures now that I've had a chance to look more closely at them? Well, they are as brilliant as they look on the net. Great details, crisp castigns (little to no cleanup and nearly no mold lines), interesting elements, and great faces on all of them.
So far I cannot recommend them enough. I only regret not having bought some ages ago, and these will definetely not be my last Hasslefree purchases. I need them all!

Anyways, thanks for reading - if you found the post interesting then any comments or tips are greatly appreciated!
Until the next time; stay safe and remember to have fun!

All the best,
Kasper

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Hasslefree Miniatures half price, today only!

Howdy people,
I do not normally advertise for companies in this way. Yet, having recently discovered the brilliancy that is Hasslefree Miniatures, I was happy to see that Wayland Games are offering a 50% discount on all their Hassle free miniatures, today only.


They do not stock the entire range, but they have a fair selection and I know I have just bought more minis than I should, but hey, they were half price :-).
Link:

All the best,
Kasper

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