Exclusive Painting And Scenics Design Service

By Howard Whitehouse

TVAG is now thrilled and privileged to showcase the talents of master modeler, painter, wargame rules writer, and children's book author, Howard Whitehouse.

Now, in his own words, let us hear from the Artist himself!

Figures: "I paint to what I think of as a B+ standard (i.e. there are some great, great painters who spend 3 hours on a figure, with spectacular results, but I am not one of them). I paint "good" figures in 1/2 an hour! Actually, I paint 20 "good" figures in 10 hrs, which amounts to the same thing.

In most cases the customer sends me his figures and I return them painted, although I have been known to deliver--when my customers are in the immediate neighborhood, or coming to the same convention I am. It never hurts to ask!

Customers buying figures from TVAG (e.g. "B'hoys!" or subsequent lines) may do so without paying the usual postage. This will be absorbed by TVAG as these figures are sent to me for painting.  The only time customers pay return postage is when I've finished and they're on their way to you. How's that for fair?

TERRAIN: I build custom scenery of almost any type, and my work has been featured in Wargames Illustrated, the Courier and Historical Miniatures Gamer.  I specialize in rock formations, with caves and waterfalls as desired, but I’ll have a go at almost anything smaller than Blenheim Palace--actually, I prefer scruffy peasant dwellings to the great houses of the world, but I’ve built Country Manors and Chinese temples."  

Prices, Terms, Details... Stuff

"I charge $7.50 per single 28mm figure, $15.00 per horse and rider, based and varnished any way you like, less for clearly simple items, a bit more for things that have complex assembly (Artillery, Vehicles of all kinds, etc) or, say, Elven heroes or Marshal Murat.  Smaller scale prices are: 20mm are $4.00/$8.00 each, 15mm are $3.00/$6.00, and 10mm $1.50/$3.00. I’d have to think about smaller figures! I paint soft plastic (a la old Airfix, Revell, Atlantic, etc) and resin at the same rates. 

If you have 54mm figures (metal, plastic, or whatever), let's talk before I make you a promise!

I base my custom Terrain work prices on the cost of materials, plus $15 an hour; This means, effectively, that a painted Arab house may run $30, a half-timbered Elizabethan $50, though quite a big rock butte may only be $20-25.  Talk to me about other terrain pieces.

Shipping charges are based on actual cost at the mid-grade rate, with insurance; there's a cheaper rate, but I've had problems with parcels getting squashed, kicked about, etc, at that rate, and I don't want that.  If you need something faster, you may certainly pay for that, too!"

Making Contact

Write to Howard and address any questions you have about painting projects or custom terrain or set pieces via TVAG (note the E-mail Link on the left!) and he will get back in touch with you directly.  Together you can work out prices and shipping terms before actually sending anything to him. He believes in charging only the actual shipping and insurance costs, and will work with you regarding the oddities posed by, for instance, Australian customs regulations.

When your deal is made, make payment via personal check or money order made payable to "Patrick R. Wilson" (I know, but if you send it to Howard he'll just waste it on food and shelter).  The fastest means of payment, of course, is via PayPal using the TVAG@att.net account.  Please be sure to provide a shipping address and contact information (at least a daytime phone number or--best of all--an E-mail address) in case Howard has any questions or news you need to know.

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