More tips on working with metal miniatures - Assembling Loki from Knight Models

Working with metal miniatures can throw you challenges that seem insurmountable at first. But most of the time, any problems that arise can be easily solved using basic hobby tools such as (a) green putty (otherwise known as the sculptors epoxy putty), (b) a mini hand drill and (c) a pure baking soda-super glue combination that increases bonding strength.  

Knight Models Loki, assembled and ready for priming

Loki comes in both resin (throne) and metal parts (Loki himself). For an unboxing video of the Knight Models Loki and his step brother Thor, please click here.

Individual parts of Loki prior to assembly

In some cases, it's better to create more surface area for the separate parts to bond together with. This can be accomplished by using a mini hobby hand drill. For example, the drill can deepen a hole for the accompanying part to fit better as in Loki's horns to his helmet as well as the three pronged blade to the staff. The drill can also help in creating an indentation (which increases surface area) onto which a small part can be glued on e.g. Loki's ponytail to the back of his head. And for very small parts with equally small surface areas such as the pony tail, a special gluing combination will also help. 

Using a mini hand drill to deepen the hole in which the horns will slot into

Mini hand drill at work again, this time on the tip of Loki's staff

Making an indentation with the drill can also help small parts stick better e.g. Loki's ponytail to his head

On occasion - as it is for Loki - there are a lot of small parts which would be difficult to glue together using just super glue. In such situations, the use of a pure baking soda-super glue combination can result in a stronger bond between the parts. Before reading further, please click here first for more information on how to use this combination safely. The photos below show some examples of the combination in use to create much stronger bonds.

Using a Pure Baking Soda - Super Glue combination for stronger bonds

Using the Pure Baking Soda-Super Glue combo on areas with minimal surface contact for stronger bonds

Super glue and pure baking soda combo creates a strong bond between Loki's pony tail and his helmet

Gluing a piece of plastic sprue to the base to increase stability

With metal miniatures, sometimes you encounter parts leaving small gaps after being glued/joined together. This can be easily corrected using Green Stuff which is an epoxy putty that usually come in two separate stripes of blue and yellow (but not necessarily as a different brand might come in different colours). Use a hobby knife to cut out the required amount, and mix the two separate stripes together and knead until it turns a uniform green. You will then have roughly an hour or more to sculpt the resulting mixture before it hardens.   

Green stuff, or sculptors epoxy putty

As mentioned, Green Stuff is useful for plugging small gaps. It also can be used to sculpt stuff e.g. in Loki's case - an extension of the rocky throne for Loki's foot to rest on (see photo below). Much more detailed information on how to use Green Stuff can be easily accessed online by just Googling for 'Introduction to Green Stuff'.

Sculpting green stuff to resemble a foot rest carved out of rock on the throne

Small gaps in between the arm joints were filled with sculpted green stuff

A different angle of the green stuff used to plug the gaps in between the arm joints

Well, that's it for this brief tutorial on working with metal miniatures. For more on Loki and other 1/28th scale Marvel figures from Knight Models, please click on the ad banner below.

Catch the new Avengers movie and get a hankering for some old school Marvel miniatures

A long holiday weekend is upon us so make sure you take this opportunity to catch the latest Marvel Avengers movies blockbuster The Age of Ultron. In this latest installment, some of our superheroes get new uniform and armour upgrades while others remain fairly unchanged. While the new stuff does look good, you can't beat the 'old school classics'.

To satisfy any carvings of the Marvel uniforms and/or armour of yesteryear, look no further than the Knight Models 1/28th scale Marvel miniatures. Comprising either white metal alloy or high quality resin, the photos shown below are of fully painted miniatures. However, the miniatures on sale in Shire Works are supplied unpainted and will require assembly. 

Captain America (White metal model kit)

Iron Man Special Edition (White metal model kit)

Thor (White metal model kit)

The Hulk with 3 head options (Resin model kit)

Loki (White metal model kit)

For more details and prices on the 1/28th scale miniatures above (and many other superheroes from the Marvel universe), please click on the blog ad banner below.

Work-in-Progress shots [March 2015]

Below are work-in-progress photographs of some of the miniatures available from the Shire Works blogshop. It runs the gamut of all the product lines currently carried by us i.e. Knight Models, Nocturna Models and Ax Faction. All the miniatures are being painted by Shire Works's own in-house painter Kuan Hua aka FourEyedMonster whose personal hobby blog can be accessed through this link => foureyed-monster.blogspot.com. Each composite picture below can be clicked on to reveal a much detailed and larger version for better viewing.

Knight Models The Hulk [1/28th scale], work-in-progress

First up is the Knight Models The Hulk resin miniature with work done mainly on his skin tone and pants. The Hulk's pants painted to simulate a denim texture while work on is skin was the result of many hours of wet blending and layering in order to achieve a relatively smooth transition between the shadows and highlights. A 31-mm paperclip and the smallest coin in the Malaysian currency five sen coin is placed next to it for size comparison. 

Nocturna Models Akelarre Enchantment [1/28th scale], work-in-progress

Next is the Nocturna Models Akelarre Enchantment resin miniature whose paint job is inspired by the Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen. Progress to date has seen her clothes painted in light pastel colours while the dragon perched on her arm is in greenish hues. A lot of work lies ahead including but not limited to her skin tone, clothing accessories as well as more paint-hours to improve the contrast on her lightly coloured clothes.

Ax Faction Zombie Hunter [32-mm scale], work-in-progress

Last but not least is the smallest miniature of the bunch i.e. the Ax Faction Zombie Hunter. Work on his unique base has been completed while work is ongoing on the hunter's skin tone and bottom half of his torso. That leaves his billowing cloak, hair, eyes and weapon (double axe) as the main components yet to be painted. As with the other two work-in-progress miniatures, a paperclip and five sen coin is used to convey a sense of scale. 

Meanwhile, you can click on the blog ads above to reach the respective product line pages for info on stuff available to painters and collectors in Malaysia. If you wish to check out the ordering process to obtain a miniature of your own from Shire Works, please click here.

Latest Arrivals: Nocturna Models Malefic Time - Lilith, Luna's Soldier and Luz, Tokio

Nocturna Models's gals from its Malefic Time series is now available for purchase from Shire Works. Lilith, Luna's Soldier and Luz Tokio are all highly detailed 70-mm or 1/28th scale resin miniature kits. They come packaged in a sturdy tin box with each individual resin part encased between two soft sponges for added protection.

Resin miniature kits from the Nocturna Models Malefic Time series

As with other resin miniature kits in the Nocturna Models range, the Malefic Time gals are supplied unpainted and will require assembly.

Malefic Time Apocalypse - Lilith, unboxed

Individual resin parts of the Nocturna Models Lilith

Malefic Time 110 Katanas - Luna's Soldier, unboxed

Individual resin parts of the Nocturna Models Luna's Soldier

Malefic Time 110 Katanas - Luz Tokio, unboxed

Individual resin parts of the Nocturna Models Necrospace Luz, Tokio

For the latest prices on these miniatures based on the artistic works of Luis Royo, please check out the following link => http://shireworks.blogspot.com/p/nocturna.html or just click here. Other Nocturna Models miniatures based on the Malefic Time universe are also available from Shire Works such as Luz New York, Soum 13 Moons and Enchantment.

Coming Soon: Lilith, Luna's Soldier and Luz Tokio

All three female characters from the Malefic Time fantasy universe will soon be available from the Shire Works blogshop. Lilith is a character from the first installment (Malefic Time: Apocalypse) of a joint project by artists Luis Royo and Romulo Royo while both Luna's Soldier and Luz Tokio are from the second installment (Malefic Time: 110 Katanas).

Malefic Time's main story/adventure occurs in three books i.e. Apocalypse, 110 Katanas and Akelarre (not yet published). First two books in this project are in Spanish. Miniatures shown below are in 70-mm or 1:24 scale, are supplied unpainted and will require assembly.

Malefic Time: Apocalypse - Lilith

Malefic Time: 110 Katanas - Luna's Soldier

Malefic Time: 110 Katanas - Luz Tokio

Some Nocturna Models miniatures based on the Malefic Time universe are already available from Shire Works such as Luz New York, Soum 13 Moons and Enchantment. For more info on their scale and prices, please click on the Nocturna Models product tab above this blog post or click on the following link - http://shireworks.blogspot.com/p/nocturna.html  

Knight Models Spider-Man, a comic book-inspired paint job exclusive to Shire Works

A Knight Models piece whose Shire Works exclusive paint job was largely inspired by comic book cover art, Spider-Man is a 1/28th scale resin/metal miniature that captures the dynamism and agility of this popular Marvel superhero.  

Acrylic paint colours were blended to portray a comic book feel to the miniature which comprises a base that is a cut-off of a New York City cab and Spider-Man himself. 

Although shown fully painted above, the Knight Models miniature is actually sold unpainted and will require assembly. Spider-Man comes in a cardboard box packaging comprising both resin as well as metal parts. Tips on assembling Spider-Man are available by clicking here.

Spider-Man is available in the Shire Works blog shop. To check out Spider-Man and other Marvel characters from the Knight Models miniature line, please click on the ad below.

Latest Arrival: Ax Faction Urban Monster Hunter

Ax Faction's Urban Monster Hunter is finally here. She is a new 32-mm scale miniature that comes in the usual artisan, hand-stamped boxed as well as an A5-sized art card of an illustration by Nate Van Dyke (please see photo below).

Urban Monster Hunter comes with an A5 art card

An ideal piece for beginners and experts alike, this beautiful miniature comprises the Urban Monster Hunter herself sitting atop a fallen monster which also serves as the base, and a sword. As such minimal prep work is required as there are only two parts to work with.

Ax Faction Urban Monster Hunter (Front view)

Ax Faction Urban Monster Hunter (Back view)

Moreover, the Ax Faction Urban Monster is sold at a very attractive price of RM57 only. Shown below is a size comparison between the miniature and a Malaysian five sens coin.

Top view of the Urban Monster Hunter as compared to a Malaysian 5 sens coin

Check out the Urban Monster Hunter now at the appropriate Shire Works product page (http://shireworks.blogspot.com/p/ax-faction.html) where you can also take a look at other Ax Faction miniatures available for painters and collectors in Malaysia.