What was the first miniature you converted?

[getagrip]

HATE enamel paint!

[Hertsblue]

Takes me back.  I glossed most of my German infantry and couldn't work out why they looked stupid (paint job aside that is).

Anyone remember these?  I inherited my dad's old paints in Airfix glass bottles:

Yes, me too. After a few times of using you'd need a plumber's wrench to get the tops off. And the tins.... don't get me started on the tins!

[getagrip]

Tins...

The tin on the right shows "exactly" why they were cr@p!  Gunk, which meant it never closed properly, which meant it dried out or took on the consistency of paint porridge!

[FierceKitty]

Wasn't cheap, either.

[getagrip]

Wasn't cheap, either.

Flaming well wasn't; which was why, as a young teen, I ended trying to paint with gritty enamels.

I reckon they probably cost (early 80's) the same as they do now, which, when you consider inflation, was outrageous.

[Leman]

I bless the day I discovered acrylics. It was some time in the mid-70s. My first acrylics were Colour Party, bought at a show in Leeds.

[Subedai]

Using Airfix magazine articles on WW I Germans to convert the US Cavalry into lancers and the ACW artillery limber crew into Germans sitting on the front of a converted ACW gun into a 7.7 field gun. I used to heat up a darning needle over a candle and weld the horses hooves to the bases because no glue would work. Still got the needle, clears Vallejo bottle nozzle blockages now.

[Leman]

Gosh! I remember doing exactly the same thing.

[getagrip]

Using Airfix magazine articles on WW I Germans to convert the US Cavalry into lancers and the ACW artillery limber crew into Germans sitting on the front of a converted ACW gun into a 7.7 field gun. I used to heat up a darning needle over a candle and weld the horses hooves to the bases because no glue would work. Still got the needle, clears Vallejo bottle nozzle blockages now.

You're right about those plastics; always had a weird greasy feel and nothing would stick!

[FierceKitty]

Baaaaad old days!

[getagrip]

Baaaaad old days!

Yep!

[Subedai]

I wouldn't go as far as to say they were bad. They were different in that if you wanted something, most of the time you had to do it yourself so in one respect it was an achievement and thus more rewarding. From my point of view, I read about wargaming in the early 60's and think those times were hard and I've no doubt that wargamers today, as in many other walks of like, think the same thing of the 70's and 80's. I think this is why I prefer to make my own terrain wherever possible because it adds another level to the whole hobby as opposed to just buying a model and painting it. That's just my thoughts on the matter.

[Hertsblue]

Using Airfix magazine articles on WW I Germans to convert the US Cavalry into lancers and the ACW artillery limber crew into Germans sitting on the front of a converted ACW gun into a 7.7 field gun. I used to heat up a darning needle over a candle and weld the horses hooves to the bases because no glue would work. Still got the needle, clears Vallejo bottle nozzle blockages now.

I had a miniature electric soldering iron that did the job very quickly. Too quickly in some cases and went straight through the base.

[getagrip]

I had a miniature electric soldering iron that did the job very quickly. Too quickly in some cases and went straight through the base.

Yep,  got that t-shirt 

[cbr3d.com]

Been thinking what could have possibly been the first conversion 'I attempted'.  The first one I seem to recall doing at the moment was some British Commandos, each box had ladders with commandos supposed to be scaling them, the only problem was the figures couldn't grip the uprights, so hey presto I melted the hands to go around the ladder uprights, remember I got into a bit of bother over it, I used my Dad's matches so as to melt them. 

I think I must have been about 4 at the time - so understandable my parents reaction when they found out what I had done!