Castings!
Figures in their raw form – this is what comes out of the mold. The web of excess lead is the result of overenthusiastic venting, but there is a major improvement to problems areas of the figure since air can escape rather than form pockets.
Details which sit deep in a side of the mold, such as the sword and turnbacks, are the hardest to vent. At times you can do little to improve the quality of the casting once everything has been done: the lead has been sufficiently heated, the inside of the mold has been dusted with powder (to allow air to vent) and not too much pressure put on the molds while pouring – usually one or two rubber bands is sufficient.
All the flashing is reused, as well as miscasts. There have been very few. Once warmed, the molds are quite consistent.
It’s easy to lose track of time while casting ‑ creating a figure out of unformed lead is incredibly satisfying. Knowing I’m casting figures for a fraction of the price of retail figures is only part of it.
I could buy painted figures, probably painted ten times faster than I do. If my only interest was gaming, it would make sense. I could buy whole armies, ready-based, on eBay or from some Indonesian painter and it’d probably be more time efficient. But I don’t, because a hobby is a lot about process. My figures are all painted by me and I take pride in that and I enjoy that. These figures are a step beyond ‑ they are painted and molded by my own hand.
In a culture overwhelmed with ready-made amusements, the hobby of molding, researching, painting, basing and gaming ultimately appeals to our humanity, our innate desire to order and create.
Maybe someday I’ll try sculpting my own figures…
