Look at what I found at Hobby Lobby...

So... I stopped at Hobby Lobby the other day - just to putz around and see what kind of cool stuff they might have that could be transformed into some sort of SciFi terrain. Then as I walked away from the HO Scale Model Railroad display - I stumbled on to these...

Woodland Scenics - Scene Setters - Alternative Energy Set


Woodland Scenics - Scene Setters - Alternative Energy Set - Front


Woodland Scenics - Scene Setters - Alternative Energy Set - Back


Woodland Scenics - Scene Setters - Alternative Energy Set - Comparison 1


Woodland Scenics - Scene Setters - Alternative Energy Set - Comparison 2


Woodland Scenics - Scene Setters - Alternative Energy Set - Comparison 3


Woodland Scenics - Scene Setters - Alternative Energy Set - Comparison 4


At $10.99 for four pre-painted terrain pieces - this is a great value! But you can find it at Hobbylinc.com for $7.29!!!
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/woo/woosp4348.htm


For those interested - the wind generators are about 5 3/4" tall - a full HO Scale wind generator is about 17 5/8" tall and sells for $35.28! I think I can live with several smaller wind generators and solar panels for that cost...
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/kib/kib8532.htm

I received my BLMA Models order from Hobbylinc.com...

I received my BLMA Models order from Hobbylinc.com. I have ordered from Hobbylinc.com several times now - none with any incident. I ordered both the BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers and the Concrete Car Stops. Being injection molded plastic - clean up was pretty easy - the Car Stops were the tougher of the two - as they are pretty small and required a bit more attention than the Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers. At most a minute per part - if that. Pics follow - I used my Eureka German Stormtroopers to show scale. The last two pics with the BLMA Models Porta-Potties are for my friend Matt - as he wants to use them for a rally point for his 15mm SciFi army...

BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers and Concrete Car Stops Packages


BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers Package


BLMA Models Concrete Car Stops Package


BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers Size Comparison 1


BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers Size Comparison 2


BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers Size Comparison 3


BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers Size Comparison 1 - For Matt


BLMA Models Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers Size Comparison 2 - For Matt


The clean up was easy - the price was right - and they really do not need to be painted. The Concrete 'K-Rail' Barriers are hollow - so making damaged versions would be a little trickier than if you were using the solid barriers from Antenocitis Workshop or Rebel Minis, but not difficult.

Stay tuned as I left a teaser of the next article in the first pic. Have a Happy and Safe New Year folks...

It is all a matter of scale...

This is a follow up to my last post about using HO scale (1/87) terrain and accessories with 15mm (1/100) miniatures. I took the time to put the following chart together (click on it to make it bigger) to show the relative differences between scales - both miniature and model railroad scales:


As you can see HO scale (1/87) is about 15% bigger than terrain and accessories scaled for 15mm (1/100) - frankly at this size though - it is not appreciably noticeable. Also look at my previous post at the measurements of items like K-Rails or Jersey Barriers - even though some are HO scale and others are 15mm - the measurements are pretty damn close.

You can download the chart above as a PDF or XLSX below:

It is all a matter of scale - PDF
It is all a matter of scale - XLSX

I also located both of the BLMA items; the Concrete "K-Rail" Barriers and Concrete Car Stops over on Hobbylinc.com and have updated the cost analysis for both to reflect if you purchased them from Hobbylinc.com:

BLMA Models
4107 - Concrete 'K-Rail' Barrier (8 per pack) (69.60mm length x 7.11mm width x 8.89mm height) or (2.74" length x .28" width x .35" height)
Material: Injection Mold Plastic
Cost: $6.25
Cost per Unit: $.78
Overall Combined Length: 556.8mm or 21.92"
Cost per Millimeter: $.011
Cost per Inch: $.285
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/blm/blm4107.htm

BLMA Models
4108 - Concrete Car Stops (20 per pack) (20.83mm length x 2.02mm width x 1.78mm height) or (.82" length x .08" width x .07" height)
Material: Injection Mold Plastic
Cost: $4.99
Cost per Unit: $.25
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/blm/blm4108.htm

15mm Terrain - Jersey Barriers/K-Rails

So I have been poking around looking at materials to start detailing the 15mm terrain I have (a bunch of 15mm MBA stuff and other 15mm WWII terrain). I also read an interesting thread or two on TMP regarding using HO (1/87) scale terrain with 15mm (1/100). My thoughts on this are - go for it!


First thing if you are going to consider using HO (1/87) scale terrain - go get a Walthers HO Scale Reference Book from your FLHS (friendly local hobby shop). If for some reason you do not have a FLHS or you have a Not So FLHS - order a copy online.


One of things that caught my eye in the HO Scale Reference Guide was Jersey Barriers! There were from BLMA Models - I then poked around the 15mm SciFi/Modern Manufacturer community and found Jersey Barriers/K-Rails from Rebel Minis and from Antenocitis Workshop. I worked up a detail comparison and cost analysis - you can find it below...


Detail Comparison and Cost Analysis - Jersey Barriers/K-Rails


Rebel Minis
5 x Jersey Barriers (40mm length x 8mm width x 10mm height) or (1.57" length x 0.31" width x 0.39" depth)
Material: Resin
Cost: $2.99
Cost per Unit: $0.60
Overall Combined Length: 200mm or 7.87"
Cost per Millimeter: $.015
Cost per Inch: $.379
http://rebelminis.com/15scjeba5.html







BLMA Models
4107 - Concrete 'K-Rail' Barrier (8 per pack) (69.60mm length x 7.11mm width x 8.89mm height) or (2.74" length x .28" width x .35" height)
Material: Injection Mold Plastic
Cost: $7.45
Cost per Unit: $.93
Overall Combined Length: 556.8mm or 21.92"
Cost per Millimeter: $.013
Cost per Inch: $.339
http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=AgUGBQAPBAYCBxQUEBEcHAMAAgEJBw0ECQkTEQAA&t=main.blue.htm&storeid=1&cols=1&categories=01001-00011&&c=detail.blue.htm&t=main.blue.htm&itemid=4107








Antenocitis Workshop
8 x K-Rails (50mm length x 8mm width x 10mm height) or (1.97" length x 0.31" width x 0.39" depth) and 9 x Jersey Barriers (31mm length x 8mm width x 10mm height) or (1.22" length x 0.31" width x 0.39" depth)
Material: Resin
Cost: £4.99p
Cost per Unit: £.29
Overall Combined Length: K-Rails - 400mm or 15.75" and Jersey Barriers - 279mm or 10.98" = Combined - 679mm or 26.73"
Cost per Millimeter: £.007
Cost per Inch: £.186
http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/15mm-concrete-barriers.html







How about a bonus - since I think piles of Concrete Car Stops make great terrain items!


Detail Comparison and Cost Analysis - Concrete Car Stops


BLMA Models
4108 - Concrete Car Stops (20 per pack) (20.83mm length x 2.02mm width x 1.78mm height) or (.82" length x .08" width x .07" height)
Material: Injection Mold Plastic
Cost: $5.95
Cost per Unit: $.30
http://www.blmamodels.com/cgi-bin/webstore/shop.cgi?ud=AgUGBQAPBAYCBxQUEBEcHAMAAgEJBw0ECQkTEQAA&t=main.blue.htm&storeid=1&cols=1&categories=01001-00011&&c=detail.blue.htm&t=main.blue.htm&itemid=4108










I find the Yahoo! Finance Currency Converter to work quite well to figure out what the current British Pound to US Dollar exchange rate is and vice versa:


US Dollars to British Pounds
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter/#from=USD;to=GBP;amt=1


British Pounds to US Dollars
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter/#from=GBP;to=USD;amt=1




I hope you find this first REAL article of value.

15mm SciFi...

So...

My oldest son Ryan and I attended Legends of the Fall. During Legends of the Fall we had an opportunity to both play Tomorrow's War. It was a nice intro level game run by Will Roots (son of Jim Roots). All I have to say is "Damn you Will!!!" - cause now I have the 15mm SciFi bug...

More later...