Update, and Free Minis I Managed to Get for You All!

Hi guys! 

So I've been hard at work this week, which I'll get to in a minute because I know some of you want the shiny toys first 😀

I've been talking to a bunch of STL creators to find a way to gain support for the channel from them without doing sponsorships that restrict what minis I can use in videos (and make them less high quality in the process - creative freedom is important!)

I've managed to arrange a deal with a few STL creators and intend to expand it to many more. Each of them gets a link on the equipment list, and in return offers my patrons a small selection of taster minis each month! 😁

The first batch this month are from Labyrinth Models, who made these awesome Elven citizens, perfect for using with city tiles: LINK 

These freebies will ONLY be available to download within the month of august, and future releases equally will be timed releases, so get them before they disappear! In future once the website is up I'll be able to keep permanent links for those who were active in said month, patreon just doesn't have that function built in 😕

You can check out the creators currently recommended HERE. I intend to contact far more in the near future, it's just fairly email-intensive as a process, not to mention setting up their spot on the equipment list (did I mention I hate Wix?) 😂

There will be more from other creators coming, I just thought this was a great way to leverage the channel to gain extra perks for you guys, which hopefully leads to even less reliance on sponsors and such, and more patrons in our awesome community! Which means I can afford more perks for you... you see where I'm going with this 🙂

RIGHT, as I was saying! The start of this week I've had a lot on my plate. I've fully installed the ventilation system in the workshop (screwed to the wall, ducting in place to poke out the window when needed)

The window bit is mainly because at some point I live in hope of having more than a shoebox of space to craft in (I'm aiming to convert the garage), at which point drilling a hole through the wall will have been an expensive mistake 😂

I've also been hard at work getting the next batch of STLs designed with Fabio and test printed, and I am LOVING the results! This upcoming batch will be a full set of cages, gibbets and bannerpoles in 3 completely different styles (medieval, brutal and tribal), and in both floor and wall mounted variants (for banners and gibbets at least!). Cages will also be in multiple sizes for medium/large minis respectively...gotta cage those ogres!

There's also several experimental pieces, some of which will aid crafting directly,  which I'll fill you in more on...if they work 😅

The 'Brutal' designs are based on rough iron spikes and bars - think Dol Guldur in The Hobbit, Mordor in LOTR or Duregar...

The medieval and tribal designs are...exactly what they sound like 😄

On top of this, I've been experimenting on the new bonus video system of magnetic Templeblocks, which seem to work perfectly! its a similar system to the new mountainblocks in terms of rotating magnets, but a little weaker as it needs texture between the magnets, so more distance. Perfectly good for stacking though! just don't make an overhang and sit a hill giant on it...

I did have a setback with these when I found my 4d foam was thinner than usual, the first time I've had this problem! I managed to complain for a half refund (it's still half usable as 1/2" tiles...) but a day of cutting blocks and cutting in brick lines with a wire was wasted. LUCKILY, Faye was doing that for me, so I was able to keep plodding on with...

Arranging more discounts for you guys with various providers! Hopefully, if it all works out... This took a while, but given I have this channel leverage I'm trying to make the most of it to get the best stuff I can for you guys 🙂 I'll be able to say more once I receive their test products and I'm sure I'm happy with their quality.

Finally, I bought a test sheet of foam from The underfloor heating store which somebody kindly linked to me and recommended.

Initially I was a bit disappointed, as it arrived PINK! (the picture is grey, like mine). This put me off for a while, and I didn't come back to it until the 4D foam failed me miserably. Because the pink foam is 30mm, so I can trim it to be perfect. and I needed a new foam supplier. Maybe the grey is being phased in?

So I tried slicing an edge off and texturing. GOOD LORD it is amazing! So rigid! Such texture! Many impress! It is ROCK hard, even squeezing hard it's not easy to indent (perfect for durability), and the texture it left was SO detailed! The cut SO smooth! 

I've been in touch with the company to inquire about the grey colour but haven't heard back. currently plan is build some test blocks with the pink to double check it works properly with the hot wire, and more importantly, works with the new experimental crafting STL we're cooking up...

Lots more to talk about next time!

Matt