Geeking Out – Hellish portals, reasonably priced, courtesy of AWAKEN REALMS!
Oooooohhh, pretty.
Whether it be for collectors or gamers, many different companies have for some time looked at resin as an alternative to traditional casting or modelling materials.
Relatively cheap and offering extremely crisp detail, it has enjoyed something of a resurgence through the recent rise in 3D modelling. Through Kickstarter (and other crowd-funding sites), many smaller companies are now producing affordable, unusual pieces to suit a wide a range of gaming needs.
For all its benefits, resin can be an intimidating substance to work with however, so I’ll be giving some tips whilst looking at a prime example from the lovely folk over at Awaken Realms.
Whether it’s a spot of mad science, arcane mystery or daemonic incantation, Awaken Realms’ AWAKENING Kickstarter has some truly exciting, interesting pieces on offer. Fully funded with over fortnight to go, some great stretch goals have been unlocked also, with LED crystals and sci-fi sets meaning even painting isn’t required!
Now like a lot of people, I have been stung by KS before, but these guys have a proven track record and to help spread the word, the goods are already out there with the reviewers – oh wait, that would be me!
You can WIN me!
Now sadly you can’t get this lovely metal tin from the Kickstarter, but you can win it by liking, retweeting, sharing and commenting on this here Geeking Out. One winner will be chosen at random on the 12th of March, just over two weeks from today (and also the day the Awaken Realms Kickstarter comes to an end). Oh, and to make it even sweeter, I’m going to throw in a “hellish grasping portal”, pre-prepped by me. Who says we’re not good to you guys?
Anyway, back to the preparation of these here resin pieces;
Firstly, you’ll need to clean off flash (aaah-aaaaah!) excess casting material, with a very sharp hobby knife. Do be aware the resin is toxic if inhaled or ingested, so make sure to do so away from pets and children. This is even more important if you decide to cut the resin (e.g. those crystals might need dividing amongst my frosty minions!)
Once you’ve done this, soak in warm soapy water. This is to get rid of the release agent from the mold, which will otherwise prevent paint from adhering properly. It can also be worth giving it a scrub with a toothbrush. Don’t use water that’s boiling as this cash warp the resin (equally, if you do have bent resin, this is how you fix it).
Once you’re done, you should be left with something like this!
If you aren’t one for painting, Awaken Realms will even do that for you as part of your pledge. How great is that?
Hopefully this has given you a little taste of what one company has on offer, and how best to work with their product. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates, and do remember to do the usual social media trumpeting for a chance to win the tin and portal above.
Also, massive congrats to Paradigm for winning the last contest. Your Knight Models Damian Wayne will be on his way soon!
The Writer of this piece was: Sam Graven
Article Archive: Geeking Out
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Love the look of these pieces and thanks for the tips on prepping. Have taken a look at the Kickstarter thanks to your review and am very excited about the sci-fi terrain. Cheers!
Hey, glad to hear it!