I buy more greens than a pint of milk and drink a lot of Milky Cuppas. Epoxy is my sculpting putty of choice for Warhammer and other miniatures, especially things like cloaks, cables, and fleshy things. If you want sharp edges, use Milliput instead (or a mix of the two), but I prefer Green Stuff. But my trusty putty might be in danger.
The world's only true Green Stuff manufacturer has closed. The name Polymeric Systems Inc. may not ring any bells with you, but the factory closure could affect your hobby in more ways than you might think.
hello green stuff
Green Stuff is actually the non-technical name for a putty called kneadatite. The yellow filler is mixed with the blue hardener to create a green mixture that hardens into a solid mass. Originally conceived as a plumbing tool, wargamers soon realized it was perfect for carving. Kneadatite was produced for many years by a company called Polymeric Systems Inc. until PSI was acquired by PPG Industries.
This wasn't a problem. PPG allowed the PSI plant in Pennsylvania to continue producing and selling nidatite, but only with a different logo on the packaging. If you bought Green Stuff from Games Workshop, you probably wouldn't have noticed the company's change because they put their own packaging on the putty. And just for good measure, it adds a few pounds more to the price.
However, local news reports that PPG has closed its Pennsylvania plant, the PSI plant that produces Green Stuff. Therefore, it seems unlikely that Green Stuff will continue to be produced. PPG is a giant company specializing in paints and coatings. Kneadatite is a drop in the acrylic sea of \u200b\u200bprofit. Management probably doesn't even realize that they supply key carving materials to hobbyists around the world. Even if we continue to produce kneading stones, it is unlikely to be the same as before.
If you're not a hobbyist, why are you reading this in the first place? Second, this would be like KFC closing 11 of its herbs and spice factories, leaving only a mediocre alternative to your local chicken joint.
You may have noticed that I said earlier that PSI is the only true manufacturer of Green Stuff. That's because there are other companies that make kneadatite a poor mockery. However, if you have ever used a Green Stuff World knockoff product, you will know that it is no different from the real product. It mixes poorly, cures faster, and does not have the same properties as real PSI Green Stuff. I like that it's separate so the center doesn't start to cure before I use it, but you can prevent this by freezing the PSI version anyway.
With PPG's Elverson plant closing, what options are we left with? The quality of Games Workshop Green Stuff will decline faster than Grot under the mighty boots of Ghazghkull Thraka, and other brands are no better.
The best eco-friendly material alternative
Professional miniature sculptors Satyr Art Studio believe it will take about six months until the original PPG dough is completely gone or transferred to a new, lower quality recipe from another manufacturing plant. So we have plenty of time to stock up. Before carving something, remember to freeze it to prevent it from hardening.
For this I usually buy Green Stuff from Sylcreate. However, you never know when the original product will run out of stock, so get yours now before it's too late. But as a sculptor with 22 years of experience, I have several alternatives.
If you want my credentials my second miniature was a MESBG Orc with a broken spear point. When he was nine I took him to a local games workshop in Liverpool. They handed me the Green Stuff and helped me carve the flames from there in return. Now I carve dozens of demon eyes onto Tzeentchian abominations and create biblically accurate Daemon Primarchs just for fun.
As mentioned earlier, Milliput is gaining popularity in the field of miniature sculpture. It's better than Green Stuff at carving sharp edges rather than natural (or unnatural) shapes, and generally does a very good job at miniature scale. It feels a little chalkier than Green Stuff and takes some getting used to, but you can also mix the two together and use it to make your current Green Stuff stock last longer. Start with 50/50, then try different ratios to see what works for you.
If ProCreate also goes out of business, there will be few other options. I've heard rumors that there is an expensive alternative called Beesputty, but since it's polymer clay and not epoxy putty, it will have different properties, and it costs 8 euros for 100g plus shipping, so it's an expensive option. It's also produced by one person in Germany, so large orders will likely increase production to unmanageable levels.
Tamiya makes high quality hobby supplies, so I'll likely give their quick epoxy a try, and I have a tin of Apoxie in my toolbox waiting to be tested, so I'll get back to you on whether either is a suitable alternative. Meanwhile, throw away any leftover goulash, stock up your freezer with the original PSI formula Green Stuff, mix it with Milliput and store it for as long as possible. I think I already have enough to get me through a year or two, but I don't want to risk it with a big hobby project that falls outside of that timetable. I might need another meter…
