GHQ Models Forums

We haven't kicked off a fun topic on this forum in a long while. So the question before you is: What is your most favorite and least favorite part of micro armor?

Example:
I hate putting the Machine guns and ordinance on these tiny miniatures. My old eyes and fat fingerrs just don't cooperate.

I enjoy being able to bring out full units vs showing off a model. I don't due point systems and when my boxes are open and ther is an entire 1:1 regiment inside or all the Airpower you know the game has started with the look of shock and awe on your opponenet.

Good Topic!

I hate biting off more than I can chew. I buy micros in large orders and can't find the time to paint them. I am always struggling to keep my painted to unpainted ratio above 1:1.

I love completing a unit. Opening a container and having a battalions worth of painted armor is very satisfying.

I have owned Micro armor since 1980. I have a brazillion pieces. I love this stuff. The thing I hate most about micro armor is small pieces ending up glued to my fingers. The best part of Micro armor is fulfilling my dream of world domination without actually having to kill anyone except bruizing a few egos every now and then.

Carl

Least favorite part: painting aircraft -- I suck at it. For whatever reason, I just keep buying them, though -- and have about 40 unpainted right now (and that's probably a significant underestimation).

Favorite part: completing a unit, particularly if it is for an obscure army (such as my reserve Greek infantry in Halftracks)

Pat Callahan

Favorite part is the large selection and detail. Also the fact GHQ does not delete items and is always adding new items.

The thing I hate is trying to straighten out the barrles on the AK 47's on the third world warriors. What a pain!!!! The assault rifles on the WW2 late war German Infantry are much better.

My least favourite bit of Micro Armour is well ... the Micro Armour. I like the ACW figures. As far as I'm concerned everything else is a waste of good lead (that includes the ships and don't even get me started on Wehrmacht '47)

I do not have any hates that I can think of, although I do find painting aircraft harder as I get older.

I do love it when a new person who thinks that just because he has gotten his collection over 3 or 4 hundred, its time to challange me to a box battle on 1:1, and I then pull out my German brigrade to include a full battalion of armored grenadiers. Watching his eyes grow to the size of our combined ego is priceless.

That borders on having a new thread "what is your favorite head game"
I have a similar unit with my Soviet tank regiment. 94 T80BV, 31 BMP, 18 12mm SPA, 2 ZSU 23-4 & SA 9 plus the Recon Company. This does not include the T72 and 62 Battalions that can be in support.
I get one of 2 reactions either an opponent either they feel they have lost before the game begins or they think “Hey they are Russiansâ€￾ and believe it’s a shooting gallery. Both are wrong assumptions to make.

Volt, that is a shooting gallery. I like to show up with two US Armored divisions in 1:1 scale with M1A2 and M1A2 supported with M2A2 and M2, along with Cav rgmt. of M3.

If that is not allowed. Show up with 250 Leopard 2A4 and 150 Leopard 2A6, and 44 Leopard 2A5, with Marders, M113s, etc.

When I let people know what I have in a box battle, and don't believe me...we can then have more fun in a game. Usually it is a downsized game that is balanced. Usually, that is more fun, then beat them with your skill and technique, and if need be get some luck....

Painting tires, treads, vision slots are some of my least favorite tasks.

chrisswim wrote:Painting tires, treads, vision slots are some of my least favorite tasks.

I HATE PAINTING TRACKS AND TIRES!

There, I've gone and said it. I feel much better now.

I hate it. But I love the results.

I need therapy.

Also, I HATE my "to do" box. Or rather, boxes. I now have three. Not including the work-in-process box, which has some items I started on more than 3 years ago and still haven't finished. But I feel stressed every time I look at how much stuff I have that I have not painted up yet.

I need therapy.

But I just LOVE finishing up a unit. Any unit. When I have finished a unit up (and sometimes I go back 3, 4 or 5 times doing "just one more detailing" before I finally decide the unit is done), I wind up leaving it out on a platter in view in my game room for a few days, because every time I walk by I want to pick up the unit, hold it up to the light, and admire it. Oh, I just love finishing a unit.

And I just love bringing a unit out onto the game board for the first time. Particularly if I can show it off to anyone who appreciates nicely done micro-armor. Just a single "ooh" or "aah" will do. Or even just having the models picked up and inspected closely. Very satisfying.

But my biggest pleasure from this hobby, in terms of total enjoyment, comes from dreaming. Just the way my mind can wander during time that would otherwise be dead time. When I'm driving on a long trip, or sitting in a restaurant waiting for a table, or wherever, my mind will wander to a game scenario I'd like to play, or a unit I'd like to build, or some models I'd like to buy and paint up. Did I just say buy? As in buy more? Did I mention the size of my to-do box(es)?

Like I said, I need therapy.

Ummm, therapy...

It's really hard to paint micro armor when the guys in the nice white doctor's coats have me all tied up in one of those straight-jacket-thingies...



Regards,
Tom Stockton

I have a stress free solution to painting up micro armor. It has worked for me and it helps to solve that what to do box problem.

Step one - Prime vehicle in black
Step two - dry brush base colors , lighted as you go along
Step three - use a flesh wash from citidel paints or other brands. Highlight some key details hit the tracks with a dry brush of rust. Quick brush a silver type color to bring out some detail and done.

I have painted up whole battalions this way in a fraction of the time and no detail is sacrificed and they look great on the gaming table.

People ask me how did you do that. I tell them with the biggest brush I can find and as little paint as possible -- REMEMBER- "more is less and less is more." One thing I can't stand is someone who has painted up micro armor like they are frosting a cake. All that beautiful detail hidden. such a shame.

Carl

Volt, that is a shooting gallery

A division at 1:1?!!! I remembe some WW2 gamers doing that but a tank division wasn't all that large. So guess the next question is, how big is your table?

With my Soviets I have gotten no small amount of despair for not simply running down the middle of the table to be the targets in the shooting gallery.

Mk 1 wrote:

chrisswim wrote:Painting tires, treads, vision slots are some of my least favorite tasks.

I HATE PAINTING TRACKS AND TIRES!

There, I've gone and said it. I feel much better now.

I hate it. But I love the results.

I need therapy.

Also, I HATE my "to do" box. Or rather, boxes. I now have three. Not including the work-in-process box, which has some items I started on more than 3 years ago and still haven't finished. But I feel stressed every time I look at how much stuff I have that I have not painted up yet.

I need therapy.

But I just LOVE finishing up a unit. Any unit. When I have finished a unit up (and sometimes I go back 3, 4 or 5 times doing "just one more detailing" before I finally decide the unit is done), I wind up leaving it out on a platter in view in my game room for a few days, because every time I walk by I want to pick up the unit, hold it up to the light, and admire it. Oh, I just love finishing a unit.

And I just love bringing a unit out onto the game board for the first time. Particularly if I can show it off to anyone who appreciates nicely done micro-armor. Just a single "ooh" or "aah" will do. Or even just having the models picked up and inspected closely. Very satisfying.

But my biggest pleasure from this hobby, in terms of total enjoyment, comes from dreaming. Just the way my mind can wander during time that would otherwise be dead time. When I'm driving on a long trip, or sitting in a restaurant waiting for a table, or wherever, my mind will wander to a game scenario I'd like to play, or a unit I'd like to build, or some models I'd like to buy and paint up. Did I just say buy? As in buy more? Did I mention the size of my to-do box(es)?

Like I said, I need therapy.

I agree with you, hate the task, like the look. The ahhs are nice. It is good to know that others like me are out there. I showed my wife some of the photos on here this weekend...well, she was more scared in a certain way...but also then understood that some of us like the hobby, gaming and creating and seeing the final result.

1:1 division in M1s is about 368 or so, as I recall. Many of you, I am sure, have that. I may need to field a the division without all the support trucks, trailers, etc. I do have a few of them. Probably 100+ painted trucks for the US, including tires.

My board is 5 X 14. So not able to fit all on my board. Did run a game at a con years ago on 6 X 32 table. Yugoslavia was he environment. Had 6 or so different sides. Everyone was against everyone else.

My favorite figs are the ones in three tone NATO: spray medium green, apply Military Brown and Black. Black'en the tires and vision slots, machine guns, apply anntena. I really like that look.