Three little (well big actually) robot walkers

I have waited for the Salute hubbub to die down. It will not be out of everyone's minds yet, nor would I wish
 
it to be. Personally I am in a wargames limbo at the moment  with lots started and little finished and absolutely NO desire to paint at all.

So I selected 2 old models and painted them for my 15mm sci fi Alien force. While 3 are in the pics the one on the left was already painted and has been seen on the blog before.

These are Brigade Models (LINK) old 15mm figures. So old They no longer have them on the web site. Yeah well forget that as I have some! And am determined to paint them.  So I have 3 of these now and they are actually an easy paint! (Yippee!)

Elsewhere on the painting table I have some 28mm "Wild west" figures. Which I really do need to get done. AND some 15mm US cavalry that I really do need to get done. So those 2 projects are in the works! I shall most likely do the 28mm Wild west next as they are most of the way done. But be warned I may just skip back to 15mm Sci Fi, It's the kind of logic I have at the moment! Or just to be perverse some 1980's 6mm figs that I am umming and ahrring about. You are warned.

Until then all the best  Clint

Sci fi heavy weapons 15mm

Just a quick post of the Astragar heavy weapons. They are of course 15mm Critical Mass Games . At present I have just 1 of these my dilemma (although dilemma is far to dramatic word) is Do I a] have one with each squad or b] have them as separate things. I do have enough APCs to do either so that is not an issue.  It is just that I have an option in the "gruntz" rules and have no idea what will be best. Squad support or a weapons Squad. There are advantages to both approaches. and also drawbacks. Finally I could do both! Doing both seems wrong but I just do not know at this stage.

If you play "Gruntz" and actually know what plays best I would be delighted to know. If you don't play "Gruntz!" (probably most of you still feel free to comment and I shall take it from their.

Finally started some more 15mm vehicles so with luck the next post will be on Sunday.


Until then take care and paint if you get the chance. All the Best Clint

The Hills are alive!

Firstly a repaint. If I knew  what I was doing a re-paint would not be nessercary as I would have bought the right thing to begin with!

Back in February I purchased these 2 hills from "the Scene" in a desert colour! Why desert well I was going to do western desert PBI (by Peter Pig). All that has gone out of the window so these have now been re-painted. They will still remain for PBI but now I am concentrating on the Pacific! (Both 14th (forgotten) army as well as Japanese and American.) As the Pacific islands tend to have "shallow" hills and not steep ones (yes I know there are exceptions) re-painting seemed to be an obvious step.

So now 2 re-purposed hills ready for action. Which is all good as far as I am concerned.




Ok now for the pre-salute orders.  Firstly the Crooked Dice kickstarter has finished. So with luck I shall have those before the end of the year. This is very likely and I can start the new year with some "!Pulp" shenanigans! At this stage I am most keen on the monkey idol scenery piece! I am already looking to use that 2 years hence so the chances are we will all have forgotten about it by then.

Elsewhere my Alternative armies Order has arrived so I can sort out my Peter Pig cavalry army for "Wild west!" As mentioned  previously I am doing 9th or 10th Cavalry AKA Buffalo Soldiers. I really think this would be a grand Ammerican TV series as they fought bravely and are often (at least in the UK) overlooked.

Not going to Salute

Yep that's right I am not going to "Salute" show this year. It is just TOO big and TOO expensive. As has become my practice I have made 2 (so far) "NOT GOING TO SALUTE!" orders over the weekend.


Order 1 :

Yes I caved! I caved in and succumbed! Yes I am weak and I have pledged to this Kickstarter. ( LINK ) I only went for the "Heroes" option. as I have more of a use for them. I did look at the Villains very closely but as there was only 3 I would (at this point) use I dismissed it. MAybe in the future I will get the 3 I want from these selection. maybe I will  not.

Most importantly I am also going to get the "stretch goals!"  So for the price of £22 (plus postage) I should get the Heroes and the stretch goals. And to be honest the stretch goals are more to my liking at present than the figures.

Yes I am an awkward cuss!" At present the Ark of the covenant is not in the stretch goals but maybe by the time it closes it will be. (Fingers Crossed).  We  all like a few stretch goals!



Order 2:
As "alternative Armies" was having a sale I splurged and ordered some figures.  ( LINK ) Not a huge order but (I hope) enough 15mm US cavalry to finish an army! We both know that I will still buy some more at a later date. But this should be enough for my 9th or 10th US CAVALRY "Buffalo soldiers!" yes I could have done 7th Cavalry as seen as famous in the films but these are more interesting.

END NOTE
Sorry it is only talking today. I have had a step back and rethink on a project. Enough of a re-think to make me start again but using some existing items.

Ad a special thanks to Ray for getting me back in touch with an old friend. Not that they are old but we had lost touch over the last 23 years. So thanks again Ray I appreciate it!

If 5 are good surely 10 is better?

Year it's a long way of saying I have made 5 more smoke clods. Bringing the total to 10. This I think is enough for now.

4 may be used in PBI if an off board strike is called for either in a 2x2 block or in a row of 4 (NO DIAGONALS) wither as a row or as a column. Then a roll for deviation of each piece. They tend not to move much. But expect 1 in 4 to move. (Roughly).

If being used by on board guns (or tanks) a single square is affected. That being the case you can only have 1 off board asset a turn and on board gun (or tanks) tend to use HE in our games as they would tend to cause the most casualties!
Yeah we tend to be bloodthirsty!

Therefore 10 I think is the right number as they do tend to disappear over time. So that for now is job done on the cloud markers.

All the best Clint

Smoke gets in your eyes. (and WIP)

Ok these were made for Peter Pigs PBI rules. That said  there is no reason not to think they could and will not be used for other rules. However I wanted something a little "better" than cotton wool. I know most of you will use cotton wool without issue But I wanted something different.

Therefore I created 5 smoke clouds. (5 more are started and 10 should be enough for me!). They were simple to do just "clump foliage" then sprayed white (3 coats) and then the bases painted and they are good to go. I must  say I am very happy with them. You only need 1 in a PBI square to represent the whole square being filled with smoke so they are indicators only and not realistically modelled terrain. I am  sure you shall do better on your own with a little thought.

 Aztec farm (2) WIP

 As you can see I have started the second part of my sci fi farm. So I HOPE  to get that finished in the week. More details when I do. Please don't try to hold your breathe it is still several days away at the very earliest.

Donner vehicle ! WIP

Yes more WIP, and this is a while off so really don't try to hold your breath (that would be a very bad idea! Continuing my dieselpunk obsession I wave started a donner vehicle. All I have done so far is break things up. Ok saw things but you get the idea! On this model (thanks eBay) I need to rebuild the radiator and the headlights. remove (that's done) the side wheels and rebuild the running boards. And then either rebuild the rain cover or rebuild the back seat not sure yet and add some MGs and some other bits and bobs, like maybe a new hood ornament.

So expect this to take weeks and not days to do. The chances are I  shall get bored and throw it away before I finish so PLEASE don't suggest anything to do with this car. But at the very least you know it is a live project.

That's all for now folks have a good Sunday and try not to get too much done or I shall be disappointed in myself.

All the best Clint.

2nd squad

 Yes here are my 2nd squad of Snake-men. (AKA Atragar) The vehicle comes from Brigade Games but is currently not available (unless you talk VERY nicely to the guys at a show! Bringing Cake helps!!!) While the Snake men are from Critical Mass and are actually "Astragar" should you  go looking for them.

As mentioned this is my 2nd squad and 2nd Vehicle (I have 1 more to do) so expect them next month most likely. But do not hold your breathe!

I have yet to sort out stats for them and the vehicles as I have been busy. I do have a heavy weapon team as well (currently undercoated but no further) I am tring to decide if they belong at squad level or as a separate support section. I'll let you know when (if ever) I decide. IF I decide on squad level I shall need to buy 2 more.

Elsewhere I am working on a couple of things which I hope to show next week. Some historical and some (like part 2 of Aztec Fram) sci fi!

As you see slowly I am getting it all done. (OK very slowly)

Until next time take car, have fun and paint if you can. All the best Clint

Skirmish battle

At the skirmish show we were asked to put on a Sudan game. Everything was left up to Tim. He supplied the figures and the terrain and using the "Men who would be Kings rules by Osprey. I happened to notice they were used by some other clubs as well.

The battle we fought was a combination of two historic battles. With British against the Egyptians. In History Britain won both battles so could the beefed up Egyptians do any better this time?

Graham and Peter had the Egyptians while Gar and myself had the British. (Well at least 1/2 my troops were Indians from the Indian Division!

All photos were taken from my seat so a very limited point of photo view!

 

The Indian Division close to (my best troops)
 headed down the rail track to try to catch the train.
My Other division was to tackle the redoubts.
Gary was to take the redoubts on the far side of the table.

As Graham moved most of his troops up from the town.
I used  the trees as cover and brought fire on the closest redoubt.
Meanwhile as I looked around the show Another club member took control of my forces.
The result was a wild unsupported charge by my cavalry.
I can't say I would have done very much different as the cavalry did wipe out a unit of Egyptian infantry.
It is the kind of rashness  that left them exposed and pinned down under  the Egyptian Infantry riles.
Needless to say they all died in 3 or so turns.

Unable to pull the cavalry back I advanced with all the infantry.
Despite losses I did take a major redoubt and did force the
Egyptians back into a no mans land.
Gary was likewise doing the same and although he lost some marines
I had lost cavalry so was not in any position to feel smug.

He game ended as a slight British Victory.
We had taken 4 of the 6 Redoubts so we were equal on victory points with the Egyptians.
We had failed to take the train and the Egyptians still held 2 redoubts but were not in a fit stare to carry on.
If time and effort and energy had continued, but the show was packing up,
I have no doubt te British would have had a decisive victory. But time was up and we achieved what we achieved in the time.

Conclusion: Hard to finish a game at a show unless it is a skirmish game. But I suspect "Her majesty" would have approved as no awful reports of a British massacre reached "the times!" To make this a very competitive game though the Egyptians should have been given more Omph or at least more reinforcements. But 20/20 hindsight is a marvellous thing.

Spring Skirmish show

As mentioned yesterday I was at the Spring Skirmish show yesterday. Firstly I did have a good time but the show is mostly about "toy Soldiers" as opposed to wargaming. Yes there were about 15 Traders there but mostly NOT selling what I want and more "Toy Soldier" based than wargaming. But everyone is allowed to like their own thing. For me once you have seen 1 unpainted plastic soldier the appeal of looking at them does diminish.

There was a bring and Buy stall, but nothing for me. Either to buy and as for selling I decided not to. I gave 2 Osprey books away to friends as they were doubles for me bought as a job lot!

None the less here were the games:

Rainham wargames club ( our game)



Skirmish Wargames Club

As above

Milton Hundreds Wargames club
"What a Tanker" participation.

As above

Gravesend (I think)



Medway wargames
Game of thrones game

Old Guard Wargames Club

The Privateers of London Club
Who I think only do Naval engagements!

Maidstone wargames club.

 

Kitt Miniatures
Starship battle.

 

Replica Model Soldiers.
More a display of toy soldiers than a wargames club.



As te theme was Sudan
a display of real artefacts
from the wars/battle

Loot from Skirmish!

Spring Skirmish is over again. Check Big Lees blog for a show report. (LINK ) I shall do my show report tomorrow (I hope). Until then here is my loot (not much) from the show. I would have bought more but there was little I wanted at the show.

Only 2 stalls I spent money at.

Debris of war where I got 2 "Flying stands" This should push my 28mm Dieselpunk idea further.

Colonel Bills. 3 Lewis guns.... I hope to show them in place soon.
2 pots of paint. These shall be used and not detailed, Just a grey and a brown, boring but vital colours.
And just 1 pack of bases. All wargamers need bases and I happened to need large rectangular ones at the moment!


I have FINALLY finished reading these rules. (Last night) Yes I know they are old (very old) but I have a fresh unused copy and I  really do like them. So you  may see them again soon.

Thanks for looking and with luck something better soon. All the best Clint

First troops

Yes the first actual troops for this project as opposed to "vehicles"! This morning  I have finished my first squad of "snake-men" (Astragar as Critical Mass games call them.  Here is a LINK)

I find painting Sci Fi Figures hard. Yes you are right what ever colour you paint them is "right" there really is not a "wrong!!" So for now these will do and do well. There is some tidying up to o..... when is there not? But overall I am happy with their progress and finished look.  They are not perfect but non-the-less I am happy with them.

The vehicle is an APC or Battle -bus by Brigade games (see previous blog posts for a link and know that they are no longer easily available). It is an organic breed in a tank "Vehicle!" As such  factories might well be very different from our assembly plants. They might be so different that it might be easier to transport to a new world. (something to think about!)

This APC seems to fit well with my concept of the race and how they are. As such I shall say no more about them I have yet to stat them for the Grurntz rules so perhaps my initial thoughts might change. At present I have 3 of the APCs so that limits me to the size of the force. (Just 3 squads.... what ever I decide a Snake-men squad is.

This picture shows what I have painted so far in the vehicle range by Brigade  Models But I have 3 more varieties of vehicle yet to paint before I get sidetracked. (And I shall soon like it or not! I know what I am like)

The last pic just shows me that I have at least 2 more squads to paint (possibly more) and I have at least 9 more "vehicles" to go (Not pictured). Therefore I have enough 15mm sci fi to keep me going for a bit.

With luck I shall do the next lot quicker as NO decisions or re-paints need happen (although I bet they shall as MY typically hap-hazard way of doing things unfolds)>

Until next time take care, have fun and get some painting done!

All the best Clint

AZTEC FARM

A scratch built 15mm sci fi farm. No this is not a farm for growing Aztecs! Nor is a farm built by the ancient Aztecs. It is just the name I was using as I built this.  Nor is it complete. as it would require several further tunnels to finish it. But it will do for now!
Below is a step by step guide on how it was made.

Firstly I needed a concept. It needed to be easily built and cheaply. So I used only Items I could either scrounge or had already I am sure there are beter options and I look forward to seeing them.

This was actually the hardest part. Using "Grey board" (extra thick cardboard) I cut out some semi circles. I cut them the wrong size. Feel free to laugh andI am sure many of you will. This is actually quite gruelling and requires some effort. So Rather than re cut them to the right size I went with it. Not Ideal but what in wargaming or I life is!

I used  some spare 6mm MDF to make a base board. This was easy and straight forward and I was able to use power tools so little effort bu some time was required. For the actual tunnel I decided on an old "Pepsi" bottle. Feel free to use something else. I nearly used "7UP" as the bottled were lime green in colour and I thought (and still do) that might make them more sci fi in appearance. But I had a pepsi bottle so that was pressed into service.
There are molding lines and I used these as a guide to get some pieces hemispherical and using the molding lines was accurate enough.

I did a dry assembly first and then once I was "Happy" (BTW I am never happy) first stick the end pieces in place and then set about making the interior. The interior was first painted then dry-brushed and then commercial "Tufts" were added to reflect crops.  Again |I used what I had and the next version will probably be cheaper! Yeah I am a skin flint!


When ready (and left over night) I used a cheap (Bought from the 99p store) Uhu glue To hold in all in place. It is not perfect but did the job I required cheaply and efficiently.The interior was painted black on the walls and any other colour would have been acceptable, Personal choice and what, in this instance, I had to hand. Thick card board (actually Mounting board) was used on the sides. Again UHU was used but feel free to use any other general glue.



At this stage all the inside was done and a coat of grey paint was applied to the appropriate areas. As I had not been super neat (such s my way) I used thin strips of "Plasticard" as a junction between the "clear"  and the grey walls. Yes I split glue more than a few time and If working commercially would have taken more care. Superglue was used to hold the plasicard in placeas my "Mekpak" had all dried up and superglue was all I had handy! Again more care should have been taken but it was not and I have learnt not to beat-my-self-up about it.

Finally I painted to finish ad blogged it. I added a solar panel from the "Blotz" company (LINK) and a figure for scale. The solar panel and the figure are separate and can (and will) be used for other things!

Yes lots to get "right" in the future, but at least my sc fi 15mm people shall not starve straight away.  Yes I need to build a few more (and in different sizes) or supporting life will not be easy and shall be expensive. But not a bad place to start.

Below are some more finished pics just do you an see all the mistakes. Don't bother pointing them out I am already aware of them and all it does is make you look stupid!

Thanks for looking and no doubt see you soon. All the best Clint