Gasbag (zepelin 2)

Yes I know my work bench needs a tidy.

It takes a while and it goes a long time through what I call "The NASTY stage". By that I mean a time of construction where you think it will not get better and it is worth scrapping it! BUT rest assured I shall continue.

At present I am only working on the gas bag. Yes it is not historically accurate. It is a model for wargames and not for a museum. So Who cares?

the basic shape

At this stage I have given it 3 layers of paint/glue and tissue to build up the skin. It is too big to paint in one go for It has to be done in layers.  At present I am repainting with a mixture of paint an glue not settled on a colour just yet but I am hoping/planning a dirty beige!

All I care about at this stage is the look and while I realise a 3 year old would destroy it in second I am hopeful (but only just) that it will be strong enough for wargamers.  I plan for it to have 2 or preferably 3 more coats of paint and glue. By which time it may be strong enough. Which of course mean not even close to strong enough.

Rear end (so far)

The read is always awkward. And being as it has 5 lumps maybe doubly so. Fins, rudder and ailerons need to be added at the next stage and will be discussed then. So at this stage not really to much more to say mostly it is do 15 mins work and return the following day. With luck I should have more to talk about next Zeppelin update.

Until then paint  and blog if you can and I shall get more out next time..

All the best Clint

Spiders don't bite! 8 Legged freak!

I had to have a few days off blogging. It's funny nothing gets finished then everything gets done at once.

Firstly here is an ALIEN Male ARACHNID from WTW (Wargames Terrain Workshop LINK ). It currently retails for £10 and to be honest with you is pretty hard to put together as I have, but worth the effort in the end... although the air was blue with profanities at one point!) All I shall say is it does SHATTER if dropped onto concrete from a height of 3 or more feet! So do not try that at home!


I know there is nothing to show scale in the first pic so I Have rectified that in the next! The figure is a 28mm Perrys miniature. To be fair at this stage the money is on the spider!

Needless to say you can (and most Probably shall) paint this any colour you choose. But I wanted it dark and menacing and able to scare a few people I know. (Maybe in the future I may grow up..... No plans though). And I do know at least 2 people who would freak if it actually moved. (Muhahahahaha!)

So here is a 15mm GZG figure. (This is my intention). Why in Sci fi or fantasy games do we need to stick to the proscribed scale. On an alien planet maybe this is the norm. Now that would scare me witless. I am aware that in Australia they would think of this as a baby no matter what the scale or true size.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that WTW do make a bigger version for £15 if for some reason this is not big enough! Personally I think it is.

I do have several ideas for it raning from Straight sci fi wargaming, through 7TV "Land of the giants" and even Home brew "Creature that ate Cheboygan!". (An old SPI game) . Yes I am that weird and yes I am that sick! Therefore I think all the ideas are great. Although I shall admit I purchased it originally for 15mm Sci Fi games.

What else has or is happening behind the scenes?

I have found an old template. Ok it's only a hexagon. BUT this template will allow me to work on my desert in 300th scale and thus get my "Crimson Skies" game underway. Yes I could have used the paper printed maps in the box. But seriously If you know me that was far to easy and simple and convenient and the kind of thing everyone would do. So As there is a harder way I shall go with that! So expect that in a few weeks time. (fingers crossed)

In 2 days I HOPE to have the next unit finished for "Lion Rampant" It's mostly done at the moment but needs finishing off!

Additionally I am thinking of what to build for 7TV. Currently thinking of a St Serle's board but trying to come up with a better idea. I shall chatit over with the Crooked Dice team and see what they think!

That's it for today. Thanks for looking and chat soon if possible.
All the best Clint.

A new lease of life!

Project B

OK I  struggled yesterday with all hobby related items. I do have a game report to put on HOPEFULLY tomorrow!

On the other hand, totally unglamorous and also totally important. It also take up a fair amount of time. But it does mean I can attempt to crack on today!

Project B
 I have made the bases for 4 boards to be my "Pulp Alley" LOST valley. Firstly let me say it has noting to do with the TV series Lost, which I have never seen. I assure you any similarities are purely coincidental and probably just revolve about the name.

All totally embryonic at this stage and very likely to change. BUT given we only need a 3' square and that I have until February I am good and on target with this. I have gone thought a LOT of different options and as they could well change I am better just doing it than telling you what I have planned. But think Victorian Science Fiction show game using Pulp alley rules. Although it could as easily be 7TV. (Or many other sets of rules)









Project A
Yes return of the moon boards.  2 more boards each 2' square. As I am now in contact with Jon whom I went to university with I shall get my 15mm sci fi going again. I know it has been a few years and I find it easy to start projects and hard to finish them. But Jon has made me feel as if I am NOT banging my head against the wall continually with this.

Following a chat with him I shall be rebasing my SCI FI French! (That's Federal States Europa for all the GZG purists.) All I have to really do is put them all together and repaint the bases so that wil be done quite sharply.

The Two new boards will have a sci fi farm......on one board. Buts as demountable terrain. The other board I have yet to decide on I keep going from small settlement to building site to hilly and back again. So your guess is as good as mine at this stage BUT I have the boards carcassed out now and when I go shopping (Maybe tomorrow) I can start on one or both of them. I shall probably keep the second board fairly open as well and add the terrain as separate pieces.

I know long on promises and short on action.  A Game AAR tomorrow and then get back to what ever normal is. (As long as I am not watching movies at 3am again as I can't sleep!)

Right get some breakfast and up te shed workshop  again fast.

Have a great Day Clint

Couple of little bits

Ok back on the 6mm Sci fi. Here are the last of the heavy tanks. Before anyone says I have not finished yet. (APCs, Infantry and "Jeeps" to go on this faction).

They are Brigade Models (LINK ) and incredibly easy to paint. basically 3 colours and 2 on the base. A general tan a wash or dark tan and black on the hover skirts. Very quick and easy and done in a couple of hors including drying.

I do need to build up a second force AND find some rules I like but for now that can wait. The second force will be CDSU for those familiar with their universe. (Or Chinese if you do not know their universe!).

Quick simple and now done.

I am still  pondering my options in 15mm Sci fi. Current thinking is that I will use Kra Vak INFANTRY but no vehicles.  I could go into details but as I am likely to order them this week I can wait for their arrival before I do.












Elsewhere on the painting table. I have been painting Aeronef..

These are all British ships and belong to MATT. I have to paint them propped up on pencils as he attaches a gizmo underneath to allow them to go on flying stands.

Needless to say this does cause as many issues as it solves in the painting.

Thee are both british battleships and should cause so in game head-aches. As they are quite formidable.

Again by Brigade models  and of all  the things I am likely to paint the things I like least.


That's it  for today. More coming soon or at least soonish!

I plan to make terrain up the shed tomorrow but enough of that in a later post. (terrain for 15mm Sci Fi!

 Have a good weekend and more when I egt things finished.

All the best Clint

Heavies.

Sorry I had a couple of days off!  Actually I am not sorry it was a break I needed after the weather being over 33 oC I have felt like a hostage to the weather for the last 2-3 months. But now the weather has "Broken" back down to normal for tis time of year I feel as if I want to get on with things.

 Lets start with some Si-fi tanks These are heavy laser heavy tanks. Only 2 of which but as I like them I suspect I may get more. Maybe even 1 in 15mm for a few games. After all very little says sci fi like a laser!

At the end of this section I shall show a pic so you may judge scale. I am aware that last time with it missing there was nothing to judge size by.

 2 Twin barrel Heavy tanks. 2 of these I think should be enough at least for now. It is possible I shall change my mind in the future but for now 2 is enough!

For those counting that makes 6 heavy tanks in all. I know they are not massive additions but they should bulk out the force considerably. I do have an infantry platoon alomg with 3 Hover jeeps and 6 additional heavy tanks (Standard turret) so this project is not finished juts yet!

After that I need to get the other force done. And to be honest I am still thing about that!







The last pic shows a size comparison which should allow you to see the magnitude of the heavy tanks to the medium tanks with 6mm infantry on the far right. So we have 2 Heavy tanks , one medium tank and a stand of infantry. As mentioned previously



Aeronef.

Due to bottom/hull detail I need to assemble and paint them on pencils. I mucked up the turrets and Have had to send for some more. With luck they should arrive BY NEXT weekend. 4 teeny tiny turrets to put on ad then the painting can begin. It is a slog but as it was my mistake I have to bite the bullet and get on with it!

In the background is a large British ship (Part painted for Matt) I think it is a Vanguard class Battleship BUT with different turrets. So quite a big ship and yet compared to the German carrier rather small. It will be interesting to position this along side a few other ships and see if it really is as big as I think!

 That's it for today and with luck back to normal in a day or two. All the best Clint

heavy tanks started

Yes some OK 2 6mm Heavy tanks started for my 6mm sci fi.. As with the rest they are Brigade models ( LINK  )

I know there is only 2 of them. And that they are 6mm so quite small. I also realise that there is no indication of size. But you will have to forgive me as it has been another hot day. Far hotter than I am used to! So Painting has not been a huge priority for me.

These are Sohei with Gatling cannon for those that really care. Not the most common of my heavy tanks but painted at least and ready for the table!

I did go to the club yesterday but there were 6 people already playing one game designed for 2! Consequently I left early and came home and watch the swimming!

I do have2 games planned down the club... well mentioned if not planned! Next time will probably be an AK 47 (Peter Pig) game while the one after should be an Aeronef (Imperial skies) game.  As I have an aeronef game planned I think I should get my German aircraft carrier done. Commercial flying bases are just not up to the task so I shall be making my own from BLACK Perspex!
 All the components are laid out and ready so I will do a step by step as I bring this beat to fruition. It is part Resin and part metal (I have to supply the Perspex) and costs £9 from Brigade Models (LINK ). I hope I can do it justice and create a vessel of note.

I know very little done due to the heat but that we are told is coming to an end in 2-3 days time!

Until then paint if you can and game if you are able. All the best Clint

An easy paint

More talking than anything else today. I admit it I got side-tracked into real life. Maybe for a good thing maybe for a bad one! Who knows at this stage!

Here  are probably the easiest things I have ever painted. 2 Elephant tusks, or Mammoth tusks or if you choose really large alien teeth!

They are by Wargames Terrain Workshop WTW (Link) Thanks Dave. I really do like them simple and effective and can be used for almost all 28mm wargames. Maybe they were just loot or maybe they are objective markers of in my Back of Beyond just really large Mammoth tusks. Who knows at this stage.

I am continuing to paint 6mm sci fi vehicles but the seem to be going very slow at the moment, perhaps due to lack of sleep in the heat. But at least they are coming along and I shall have some to show next week. Until then a sneak peek into my mind...... AHHHHHH! Yeah I thought that would be both scary and unpleasant.

Subject changed:

Next year, I know it sneaks up fast! Anyway next year at some local shows I plan to run some "PULP ALLEY" games. At this stage I have 2 plans and here they are!

Option 1;
A Victorian Science fiction game set in a Victorian steam-punk dockyard.  Above is a Picture of Chatham Dockyard so you get an idea of what kind of feel I would be looking for,

here are my initial thumbnail sketches.

 At this stage all is likely to change IF I go down this route. So only take the layout as a rough guide and do not try to find the exact option.

All buildings would and should be enterable and as such all should have fully functioning interiors Which means in warehouses piles of crates,sacks and the like for loads of cover.

You will no doubt note,  as one of my players did the airship and the submarine. These ideas were seized upon and to those members of tHe club became for a very short while the most important parts. Where as I looked upon them as being added extras, there to be finished last so if they were not finished they would not matter.

I already have the figures and am happy to get a few more. So figure choice would not be an big issue.

Option 2:


The idea of a secret valley. Harder I found to sketch! I am deliberately not saying if \I would choose to make an Ice age  Crevice, an African rift or a South American canyon. If this is selected I hope to make that decision with the aid of club members. I do like the idea of an airship somehow being involved for 19th and 20th Century Pulp adventures, as well as a possible Tarzan type character.

As such I have all the figures OR am willing to buy a few more.  Again no reason why in a pulp setting German or Royal Navy could not be involved. Just think of "Doug Mc Clure" films and I am sure you will get the idea. Although at this stage I shall not be going full "Valley of Gwangi!" Unless players really want me to.  I am sure we all remember the T-Rex in Tomb rader though! Still brings a smile to my face

ANYWAY:
if  you have a strong preference let me know. I shall of course pay a lot more attention to my club members as they will have to play it.  Maybe try a few other clubs as well before a show. All depends on how soon I pull my finger out and get on with it!

If neither of those ideas appeal I am happy to listen (BUT it shall be "PULP ALLEY" ) to alternatives. I have learnt in the past though that the more options given the less decisions are made and the more debate is had usually by the people willing to do the least work and try to claim the most credit! So please stick to the above ideas unless you  have a really smashing, bursting to get out never been seen at a show before idea!

Medics (VBCW and more!)

I finally painted these 3 figures. They are Foundry 28mm from the set "Dumping the body!". However I intend to use them as VBCW figures. In fact they are painted as normal VBCW figures (with no particular uniform with the intention that they can be used by any side.  I am not sure why I purchased them originally maybe I was thinking of a grave robbing game (I know that was a plan years ago).  But now they shall function as VBCW medics. No that is not the best way to move a wounded person, before anyone says, but at least it will get them out of the area of firing so they should not be hit AGAIN!

Additionally I found this dead body. so I thought it only right to paint it at the same time. While I do not at this moment have a use for the figure I am sure that in the goodness of time a reason of its painting  will some to mind. I thought it might be best floating in the water as being a little different to just lying on a grassy knoll not least because I had a bottle of unopened GLOSS varnish I was eager to try.
Now all I need is a water filled area, maybe a Victorian docks, in which to leave the stiff!


SECRET PROJECT no 2)

I also needed to make some flying bases. Mostly for Aeronef. Obviously the helicopter is NOT aeronef related so I shall talk more of that another time. To get the 6mm (1/300th scale )Helicopter "right" I shall need to finish the base. I will also need to cut the rotor disc more accurately. But the ideas work fine I just need to execute them better, so expect that to be done soon! When I say soon It all relates to a pre-order I have made with Brigade Models for pick up on Sunday at the Broadside show. I have some pre-orders already in place but most of my spendz will come down to what money I have once I sell a few things. But we can save that for a show report on Monday and a LOOT haul report on (I hope) Sunday night.

Until then take care have fun and paint and game  as much as you are able.

28mm Victorianwarehouse stuff!

OK confession time. I know this is a foundry figure but I do not know from what pack it hails. I bought, you see, a bunch of Victorian foundry figures on eBay.  They arrived all jumbled together in a small box hence I have no idea what exactly they are.

So for me this will be a night watchman. he could equally well be a smuggler or a detective or a C'thulhu investigator. To me it matters not he was just a fun and easy paint. Looking at the first picture I shall address the eye as it seems FAR to big. Consider it done by the time you read this. (yes Done now). he is dressed quite smartly so none of the east end riff raff. I went for Victorian colours and a brown suit seemed to be the best option.  I did consider a black bowler hat as well but my hand just picked up a pot of grey instead so I went grey. I am glad I did , sometimes my hand knows better than my mind!


 For a base I went for just a few shades of brown feeling this would give the best solution. After all with a brown base he could be under a tree in a park on a road (in either a town or a city) or he could be indoors. I shall leave it to you to decide.

For now we shall just say he is the night-watchman of a warehouse in Victorian London, but he could be anywhere.

A nice fun and easy figure to get me back to painting some 28mm stuff.

 Just to support that idea I painted some AINSTY Castings crates that I purchased from Col Bill (AKA Stu.) I tried to vary the browns to give a more random feel such that they may have been made either at different times or at different locations or perhaps both.

There was a resin miss cast section. Rather than try to cut it out I painted it bright acidic green. It is clearly seen in the second photo second stack from the left. I have no idea what substance this is to represent, Nor do I care that way it can just be a box leak and thus easy to identify by the players if I need such a plot device.

Just braking me back into 28mm painting after about 1 month doing other things.

Thanks for looking and as usual another update in a day or two! All the best Clint