Questions for Newbies

[gmurie]

For the first time ever I am teaching classes at GenCON, though I've worked as a Paint and Take instructor for years. One of the things that kept coming up while I was instructorating was that people didn't know how to assemble and prep miniatures, or do simple conversions.

I am teaching classes on these subjects, and I've got my handouts mostly done, but as late as this is, I was wondering if there are any questions that people who are uncomfortable with conversions or preparation have that I might not have thought of.

The other issue that's come up is that although I've gotten sponsorship for my assembly and prep classes, I don't have any sponsored minis for my conversions class. Once I started working on the class handout I realized just how open ended that could be, and how futile a specific project for the class the follow along with would be. Are my students going to lynch me if I don't have a project for them to walk away from the class with?

Fire away, and I'll answer here as best I can.

 

[Bloodhowl]

You may already cover these in your Master Lesson File (MLF), if I was learning about this stuff again for the first time, off the top of my head (in no particular order of preference), here is what I would like to know:

1. What tools and materials to use for filling and pinning (and possible substitutes for removing bits if say a jeweler's/razor saw is not handy, plastic putties for general filling, epoxy for minor sculpting/restoring details, paper clips vs. brass rod for pinning, etc..)
3. Were to buy tools & materials (online vs. Home improvement vs. discount tool (Harbor Freight) vs. Hobby Shops)
4. Differences in materials being converted (plastic vs metal vs resin vs Reaper Bones)
5. Resources to find help (online communities, such as CMON, DAKKA DAKKA, WAMP, etc... and also books and other possible "library worthy" books/articles).
6. Physical techniques of how to do it.

 

[gmurie]

You may already cover these in your Master Lesson File (MLF), if I was learning about this stuff again for the first time, off the top of my head (in no particular order of preference), here is what I would like to know:

1. What tools and materials to use for filling and pinning (and possible substitutes for removing bits if say a jeweler's/razor saw is not handy, plastic putties for general filling, epoxy for minor sculpting/restoring details, paper clips vs. brass rod for pinning, etc..)
3. Were to buy tools & materials (online vs. Home improvement vs. discount tool (Harbor Freight) vs. Hobby Shops)
4. Differences in materials being converted (plastic vs metal vs resin vs Reaper Bones)
5. Resources to find help (online communities, such as CMON, DAKKA DAKKA, WAMP, etc... and also books and other possible "library worthy" books/articles).
6. Physical techniques of how to do it.

I'm doing well so far. Already covered most of that, though I suppose I can get more specific about where to buy stuff. Good point, good point...