(OK, CONSTRUCTING MODELS)

1. Have all your stuff together in one place, laid out, BEFORE you get started.

2. Use scissors for the large cuts--it goes faster.

3. Use a sharp, new blade in your exacto knife, and get a METAL ruler as a cutting striaght edge and QUALITY cutting board to make your cuts, and go slow and be careful.

4. Use a color laser printer if at all possible (good detail and it doesn't soak into the paper like inkjet.

5. If you MUST print using inkjet, get an unchipped inkjet printer that lets you buy aftermakret replacement ink (eg., Canon inkjet cart: $24.95; off-brand replacement cartridge $4.95). Consider refill kits only as a last resort, and only if you are patient and have a steady hand. They are usually little more than a big mess. CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR INKJET IS UNCHIPPED BEFORE YOU BUY IT!

6. Always edge. Do it lightly and minimally and carefully. But dont spend all day, it should go quick

7. Build your set at least the night before a game, not the day of. The day of should be spent getting the scenario ready and putting on last minute touches, and letting the glue and in dry. ESP if you are using inkjet, playing too soon means everyone leaves the table with blue/black inked hands.

8. Use as little glue as possible, and low moisture glue to minimize warping.

9. Buy the brightest paper or cardstock you can possibly find. The brighter the paper, the less dark and washed out your models will look. Model made from paper look brighter than models built on cardstock. photo paper is best of all, but is susceptible to scratches and is also cost-prohibitive.

10. Ok, so whats YOUR advice, hotshot?[/b]

get a rope!

On the subject of scissors, I always try to work with blades instead... until it came to assembling that pesky tree from Dinas Ffordd. I challenge you to cut that out with just a blade... I certainly couldn't do it. I had to shamefully resort to scissors and will now feel too ashamed to ever use the piece of terrain

Just kidding, it'll get lots of use.

The checklist here is pretty good. I usually build models a little bit at a time... like my Mayhem Warehouse which took about a week total to get the shell done, and I'm doing insides a little bit at a time. Laying out what you plan to use is always good, but you don't need the entire project before you.

One thing I always try to do is load up the instructions on my PC. I refer to it a lot, though I still make silly mistakes. My PC isn't too far from my hobby desk.

Arabin

Arabin

I always use scissors when cutting out round things (the roof for the huts in Skull Cove for example). Always have probs with circles and a knife.

Mr Blackhammer

I had to resort to scissors when cutting out the tree from Dinas Fford. I tried initially with my blade and it would have ended up as a jagged Christmas tree instead...

For me, circles definitely need scissors.

Arabin