CAV mini assembly

[tabascojunkie]

I just picked up the CAV starter set and was wondering how most of you do your minis. Do you paint the pieces, or maybe some of them, and then assemble? Or is it just put it all together then paint it? I can see some parts on mine that may be difficullt to get to. Curious what kind of success you all have. Thanks in advance.

[ladystorm]

I usually glue it all, including the hex base and then prime & paint.

 

cher

[Super Jag]

I simply assemble it, primer it, then paint it. CAV's are great in the sense that they're easy to paint and you can get as fancy as your creativity will let you if you want more than a simple scheme. As for hard to reach places... I've not found that to be a problem and frankly any of those possible spots are rarely viewable while the model is in play on the table.

 

Of course, you should decide for yourself what you prefer. IMHO the game of CAV lends itself to fun because you the mechanics/rules allow players to focus on playing/tactics instead of which model has which special abilities, etc., etc. No reason to believe it's [simplicity] is any different for assembly and painting.

[ixminis]

I just picked up the CAV starter set and was wondering how most of you do your minis. Do you paint the pieces, or maybe some of them, and then assemble? Or is it just put it all together then paint it? I can see some parts on mine that may be difficullt to get to. Curious what kind of success you all have. Thanks in advance.

Whether or not I put a CAV together before or after painting depends on a few things: How fast do I need it, How well will I paint it, the style of the figure, and How will it be posed?

 

Fast begets putting it together beforehand

 

High Quality begets keeping the legs seperate from the torso and arms

 

Camoflage may need to be fully assembled... Solid colors not so much.

 

The pose of the figure helps seal the decision

 

If you do paint the figure seperately... think about what you will mount the pieces on so you are handling the mounting vs. the actual figure...

 

Hope that helps,

[Wreckmaster]

The last batch of cavs I did were all assembled (minus hex base) spray primed and then dunk painted. I then added a few details and decals. I ended up with a nice looking uniform paint scheem for a unit.

 

I will post pics as soon as I figure out how.

 

Link to post: http://www.reapermini.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10138

Edited September 20, 2004 by Wreckmaster

[Stubbdog]

Well, with CAVs I have noticed that a lot fo them are such that their arms hang low and tight to the torso. So, for this reason, I tend to put together the upper body, and put together lower torso (base and such) but not connect them until after painting.

[SaintRigger]

Most CAV I glue completely together, attach to the hex base - add basing materials and then primer and paint.

 

Some of the bigger ones, or "Curvy" ones, I'll do a top and bottom half... like most recently the Ogre I put together, I painted in a top and bottom and then stuck the two together.

[tabascojunkie]

To add a little bit to this, and to save my potential embarassment, is it considered bad form to show up to a game with partially painted or primed but unpainted CAVs? I know at the Reaper HQ they have a store army someone can use, but I'd like to use my own figs if possible.

[ladystorm]

IMO, no it isn't bad form. I actually kind of like seeing the WIP as they paint them up from week to week with my players.

 

It shows they do an invested commitment to the game.

 

again, this is my opinion, not necessarily the opinion of our Sponsor.

 

cher

[SaintRigger]

I have to second what ladystorm says.

 

Some people, however, do find it "verboten" to play games with unpainted minis... but mostly they are just really uptight. ;)

 

The important thing in my mind is that you are interested in playing. I don't like it when people use proxy models for games though... and let me clarify this. "This elf with a bow represents a crusader witha bow because my crusader models haven't come in yet" is ok. "This coke can is a tank, and these salt packets are machine gun crews" kinda irritates me.

 

It's also definately not bad form if each week you come with in unfinished or unpainted models, but have made progress in them. Ie, you buy a new CAV section and each week you have a new one painted up. I think that is a good thing - because to be honest, sometimes we can't make the time to paint - or some of us paint slower than others. (And everyone paints slower than jesterspeed.... wow!)

 

It would be bad form to show up with unpainted models if you were running a demo, I think - however...

[Stubbdog]

I guess for me on that one depends on the time and situation.

 

For example, for a regular group or game that plays every so often, then that is probably fine. Because everyone works at different paces and has a different sized collection that they have aquired over different periods of time.

 

But, if it is a special game, tourney, or the like, then I'd hope that you would do your best to have them done up. I am going to be hosting a big CAV game in Feb 2005. I have announced it here and elsewhere, with plenty of time (I think 6 months should be enough time) for people to plan, orgnaize, and paint up their force. So far, I have people coming from 4-5 different states to play in the game. So, again, my thought process is, if they are willing to make that kind of a sacrifice and investment to come and participate, I ought to have an atmosphere worth their investment to come, which means people should take a little more pride and having amatching force.

 

This is not to say that I would kick you out for not bringing museum quality stuff, just saying that a situation like that would deem more appropriate for people to put a little effort into it, than your regular weekly or monthly gathering.

[Reaperbryan]

Umm . . . most of my Cavs and much of my Warlord army are "Arctic Camo" (Means primed white -- and that's about it).

 

Nobody ever complained (Although I do get teased about having an arctic Nefsokar force . . . )

 

So bring them unpainted/primed, whatever. Unprimed is fine too, as long as they are assmebled. Just come on downa nd play. It ain't a beauty contest - it's a WAR!

[Super Jag]

I've painted some CAV's in a simple scheme (grey primer, with a darker grey camouflage pattern, silver weapons & cockpit w/ black ink wash). These are great for demo models and frankly have a pretty good urban scheme for what little effort it took to paint them. So, IMO players should be able to do "something" for paint work. However, realistically people just don't have a lot of time. Real life and family priorities make it challenging to find time and energy to paint miniatures. Most of us actually try to work for a living and aren't just sitting at home doing nothing but collecting and painting miniatures.

 

Therefore, we encourage one another (in our area) to get models painted but have patience for those who are "making efforts." I believe it says something to the popularity of a game if players are committed to being fully prepared for their games, which includes a painted force.

 

Of course... I speak on the behalf of "officially supported" events. We aren't overly rigid for casual games though. The important thing is that players are enjoying the game and supporting it (i.e.: supporting the store and Reaper).

 

On a side note... I remember tournaments where the quality of one's painted force was a component of overall scoring. This quite frankly upset the majority of players who were novice painters and/or had limited time to paint because it was always a disadvantage despite their tactical ability in gaming. So, while expecting players to have painted models has it's up side, using it as a determining factor of gameplay results is bad policy. Please be careful not to hold one's limitations against them if anyone is considering enforcing "certain" standards/expectations in painted forces.

[Vinny]

I prefer using the method my bro use.

 

You glue the arms onto the torso (and the missiles,), but you glue the legs to the base separately.

 

After you finish the main torso (it's easier to reach detail when it's separate) and finish the legs, just glue it on! DO the base, varnish, and you got yourself a CAV!