foam figure trays

With the figures finally being painted, I made some trays for the cases I had bought. I found these cases at the local surplus store, Princess Auto, and bought them on sale. The foam is from Canadian Tire, and the foam core is from the dollar store.

I cut the foam core to fit inside the cases. The foam is thick enough for three layers. I pinned the pieces together while they dried. I started with 5 trays.



The pluck foam allows me to adjust to the size of the figures. I used contact cement to fix the foam in the foam core trays and I glued ribbons from the dollar store to the trays to make it easier to lift out.



I started with one tray for each for regular figures for the Marvel Universe game, one for DC Universe/Batman Miniature game, and one for other figures. I need to pluck the foam for the other two trays for the larger figures, and make another two trays for regular sized figures. Then I need to make some trays for Blood Bowl figures.

Covid update - July / Grad

When my son graduated, a few years ago, he wasn’t really interested in the ceremonies. He went to the breakfast and the dinner, and the convocation but did not go to the after parties. My daughter, with her graduation this Covid year, had all of her services cancelled.

They did do a simple ceremony, where they scheduled the grads in one at a time. They could bring 4 family members into the gym, they read their quote and could walk across the stage and pick up their diploma. No big procession, no speeches, no official dinner. We did end up going to PF Chang’s for lunch afterwards. Because of her grad, we got a free plate of the lettuce wraps.

They did get to pick up the caps and gowns the week before and were able to take some pictures out and about before they had to return them. They had a few barbeques, and a couple of dinners, and my daughter organized a pancake breakfast in the driveway.

They haven’t been the best at social distancing. Even afterwards, they still get together to go to the beach, and for barbeques, and even the sleepovers are starting up again.


The wife and I are still wearing masks for the few times when we go out into the world. We really only are going out for groceries, and the occasional tank of gas. Plus the comic book store is now open again, and I go to the game store for paint occasionally. We do get take out sometimes but will often rather get delivery. We did go to my brother’s for Canada day for a barbeque but that has been the only social interaction for the wife and I since March.


We’re pretty much caught up on our PVR – we only have about 30 hours taped and now have 300 hours available. We hope to get to the Netflix Marvel shows shortly – we have only seen the first season of Daredevil. We finally picked up Disney Plus, so we will get to the Mandelorian this fall.

The Library finally reopened enough to allow us to return books. At least they automatically renewed them while they were locked out.

Figure Painting Total - June 2020

With the new, new edition of Warhammer 40,000 being announced, I figured that I should probably get the rules from the eighth edition. 

 I ordered a Dark Imperium starter but it was out of stock. By the time they got back to me to let me know it was out of stock, I was unable to get it locally. I did the next best thing to get the rules and models, I bought the rules separately and a Know No Fear starter. 

Bought 

 Batman Miniatures – The Dark Knight starter – 13 (Batman, Bane, Catwoman, Talia, 3 Police, 3 Mercenaries, Alfred, Tumbler, Batpod) 

Unmatched – Jurassic Park – InGen vs Raptors – 4 (Muldoon,3 raptors) 

Warhammer 40K – Know No Fear starter – 31 (1 Primaris Captain, 5 Primaris Intercessors, 3 Primaris Interceptors, 5 Primaris Hellblasters, 1 Death Guard Lord of Contagion, 5 Death Guard Plague Marines, 1 Death Guard Foetid Bloat Drone, 10 Death Guard Poxwalkers) 

DCU - Uncle Dudley 

 Painted 

BM - Suicide Squad - 3 (Captain Boomerang, Diablo, Killer Croc) 

BM - Arkham Knight BM - Talia (painted as Mystique)

DCU - Crime Syndicate - 5 (Johnny Quick, Owlman, Power Ring, Superwoman, and Ultraman)

MU - Black Panther 

MU - Colossus 

MU - Rocket Raccoon 

MU - Sentry 

MU - Starlord 

MU - Starlord (alternate Heroclix model)

June total – figures bought 50, figures painted 15 Running total 2020 – figures bought 75, figures painted 53

40K Army Preferences

I looked at the current list of codices available and sorted them according to the armies that I would probably play, the armies I would like to play, the armies I have some interest in playing, and the armies I have no interest in playing. In these groups, I sorted them again in order of favorites.

In my Top list of groups, I have Space Marines, Genestealer Cults, Space Wolves, Tyranids, Orks, Sisters of Battle, and Imperial Agents (Inquisition). I have my original Space Marine army, as well as my Tyranid army. I have a lot of figures for more Space Marines, Tyranids, Orks, Space Wolves, and Genestealer Cults.

In the next list of armies, that I would like to play, I have Necrons, Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard), Craftworlds (Eldar), Grey Knights, Harlequins, Deathwatch, T’au Empire, Chaos Demons, Adeptus Mechanicus/Skitari. I have a lot of Imperial Guard but not a lot of tanks, a lot of Eldar but not a lot of Aspect Warriors, a lot of old metal Harlequins, a bit of T’au and Necrons, and the Deathwatch figures from the boxed game.

I do have interest in playing these ones: Chaos Space Marines, Dark Angels, Death Guard, Drukhari (Dark Eldar), Ultramarines, Imperium 1 (Legion of the Damned), Adeptus Custodes, Xenos 1 (Ynnari), and Imperium 2 (Talons of the Empire). I have Chaos Marines, Death Guard, and Dark Eldar from the various edition rules boxes.

I really have no interest in playing Imperial Knights, Thousand Suns, Chaos Knights, Blood Angels, Raven Guard, White Scars, and Iron Hands.

What are your favorites?

Figure Painting Total - May 2020

Not much bought this month. I decided to finally get the DC Universe rules, and picked up the Crime Syndicate and the Talia to use as an alternate for Mystique. The next day, the Batman Miniature game second edition starter went on sale so I ordered that as well. The other two were picked at the comic store when it finally reopened.

Bought
BM – Talia – 1
DCU – Crime Syndicate – 5
WizKids – Barbarians – 2
WizKids – Raptors – 2

Painted
Unmatched – Battle of Legends – 4
BM/DCU - Batgirl
BM/DCU – Harley Quinn
BM/Suicide Squad – 6 (Joker, Grin twins, Pandaman, Goat Priest, Eyeball man)
DCU - Hawkgirl
MU – Ares
MU – Groot
MU – Lady Mastermind
MU – Scarlet Witch (alternative)
Chronoscope – Black Mist – 1
Chronoscope – Sister Marie – 1
Sam (from Trick R Treat) - 1 – 3D printed
Minsc & Boo – 1 – from paint set

May total – figures bought 10, figures painted 21
Running total 2020 – figures bought 25, figures painted 38

New New 40K

They have announced the new 9th edition of Warhammer 40,000. I don’t have much of the army books for the current edition, just the 5 basic index books and the Space Marine, Chaos Marine, and Grey Knights codices.

They do say that the new edition will use the current codices, so we will see. I still need to pick up the hardcover rules. I had gotten the mini rules with the First Strike starter but am looking at snapping a copy of the Dark Imperium starter before they disappear as it includes a copy of the hardcover rules.

Covid - 5

Things are starting to open up again. More stores are re-opening, including our local comic book store. We are both still working from home and have no word on when that might change.

People are encouraged to wear masks when out and about. Shan has bought a few online, and my mom made a set for us. You have to wash them every time that you use them. A lot of people are still not wearing masks – probably less than half.

With the movie theatres still being closed, we have kept our regular movie night, but are instead watching movies On Demand. With the commute being non-existent, and having no social obligations, we have managed to keep up with our PVR. Normally, at this time when the shows are ending their seasons, we are right on the buffer of our PVR. With the extra time, we currently have 100 hours available.
With not much scheduled to come back in the fall, we should be able to keep on top of it. We may even have time to watch all the Netflix Marvel shows that we missed. So far, we have only seen the first season of Daredevil.

With the extra money I have saved, and being inspired by actually getting some figures painted, I placed an order for the DC Universe miniature game, and The Crime Syndicate boxed set. I have the PDF of the first edition rules but have been putting off getting the hardcover until I had a few figures painted so we could actually play. The Crime Syndicate is a complete team of five figures that mirrors the Justice League.
As it would happen, the very next day after placing that order, Miniature Market had their daily deal for the Batman Miniature Game second edition Dark Knight starter for about half price. With more buildings, a Batman and police team, as well as a Bane and mercenary team, plus a Tumbler and Batpod, I snapped it up. Even with the move to third edition, this was too good a deal to pass up. It had been on my list but I could never justify the cost – even with the bundle pricing compared to getting the parts separately.