As Promised (09/07/2012)

Yesterday I said that I would try to get some photos of pretty much everything I'm currently working on/collecting for the 15mm guys. This is that post!

As a warning, this post is going to be fairly picture intensive. Sorry about that.

First of all, the companies from which i've been buying my models - Since its only fair and just in case people want to buy any for themselves.

Ground Zero Games - Fantastic drones and the awesome supermutant style guys. I'm not 100% sold on their humans as the proportions seem a little weird, but the models are still very good.
Critical Mass Games - Produce a whole bunch of awesome aliens, and are where the Protolene Khanate come from.
Rebel Minis - Produce pretty much everything else I have in this post, from Soldiers to Greys to Civilians. I really love their stuff, but I have a few issues with their mouldings.

so, onto the models.

Flying Drone (GZG)

Drone Decal

Spider Drone (GZG)

Drone Decal

Drone Controller (GZG)

Group Shot

At Salute 2012, I went with the express purpose of picking up models that I was after without having to pay a shipping fee, which is pretty much an additional cost to all of my models due to only a few brands shipping to FLGStores.

The Drone Controller model I figure can use for a variety of different roles - Technician, Drone Controller, Hacker, all sort of things. The model was really simple to paint up and I was quite suprised about it, but essentially its a nice figure.

The Spider Drone is a thing of beauty. Its a very simply model which I saw posted on another blog and went 'Damn! Where can I get THOSE?', They also have this really big round flat plate on top which I got a bit inspired for - Putting Decals on top of each of them to make them a bit more personalised.

The Flying Drone was something I wanted for function rather then appearance. I was a bit bummed out they didn't come with their own stands but as you can see, I made do!

Big Alien Sargeant (GZG)

Big Alien with Cannon (GZG)

Big Alien with Rifle (GZG)

Size Comparison

Group Shot

So these guys were bought because they looked like Supermutants from Fallout 3, or maybe Mutons from X-Com. I am really pleased with these models as they're moulded fantastically and they have a LOT of character to them.

Alien Bug (Rebel Minis)

Grey Alien (Rebel Minis)

Grey Alien with Blaster (Rebel Minis)

Grey Alien Sargeant (Rebel Minis)

Group Shot

I bought the Grey Aliens from Rebel Minis as one of my first purchases. I wanted to have some bad guys for some X-Com action. The Greys with pistols seem to come with their arms dinged up a little from packaging... which is actually a little ok since it gave them some individuality and their arms are positioned differently. The Reaper/Bug is a really nice model, and the size of it is fantastic.

More picures Wednesday, to save on post size!

Model Painting (08/07/2012)

So, with the Holiday Wargaming event nipping at my heels, i've been trying to crack down on getting the models for my part of it undercoated and ready to be painted. I've learnt one serious lesson from this: It doesnt matter how big the model is, undercoating is tedious as all hell, especially when you're doing it by hand.

I beleive i'm roughly halfway through undercoating (hallelujah!) and as a bit of a distraction i've decided to post some decent photos of the models i've painted so far.

Bug Alien

Drone Controller

Spider Drone

Grey Alien

Protolene Battlemech

Human Special Forces

Human Special Forces

Human Special Forces Sargeant

As you might have noticed, I tend towards more of a subdued urban look to my humans then most people probably would. I just really like the colour combinations to be quite honest, and it leaves them looking quite gritty and dirty - Something I personally enjoy the aesthetic of!

The bases are actually plastic pirate coins bought from my local sainsburies, where you get something like 40 coins for £3 or so. Considering that I cut those coins into four squares, thats a pretty decent amount of base.

At 15mm, i'm seriously finding the prices of things very appealing. Sure, they're barely a quarter the size of say, a Games Workshop Imperial Guardsman, but since you get 10 guys for £20 with your average GW purchase compared to 20 or so guys for £5 at 15mm i'm definately loving it.

At some point, I should Photograph each of the styles of model i've bought and what i'm thinking about using them for. Some of the models i've been finding online are seriously awesome and i'm dead chuffed with the mould quality.

I really need to crack on getting more of these guys painted. Once again, human troopers are from the awesome Rebel Minis, while the Protolene Battlemech is from Critical Mass Games.

Holiday Wargaming (28/06/2012)

So, from the 11th of August until the 26th of August, i've booked two weeks off of work.
What do I intend to do during that time period?

A whole bunch of wargaming and roleplaying is what.

Myself and some friends have started hashing out plans for some days of wargaming with miniatures towards the end there and its inspired me to finally get off my bum and start painting up my 15mm stuff to a point where I actually have enough guys for some Tomorrow's War.

The scenario is pretty simple - no story since it'll be a few learning games to get people used to the rules but maybe i'll work out some scenario as well if people enjoy it enough.
A very basic game of Domination - Two teams trying to stand in scoring zones and scoring points based on the amount of time they are held. At the moment, the teams are basically identical:

1 Positive Commander
1 Five Man Squad with Ordinary Rifles
2 Five Man Squads consisting of 4 Ordinary Riflemen and a single Support Weapon
1 Weapons Team

Protolene Khan Sargeant

The Protolene Team

Two Teams Facing Off

The Human Sargeant

The Human Team

Facing off from a Different Angle

I'm planning on having 4 Reinforcement Zones, represented by Coloured Smoke (Which I still need to model) as well as 3 Objective Points (Which may be White Smoke, for now). I'm also going to make some Unit Symbols as well, just because i'm going to be painting most of my stuff in similar colours for now to make them uniform and markers for which unit is which if we want to try something else would be handy.

I also want to make some Action Reminders as well, as those are allways handy in tabletop games for remembering what unit has done what. But rather then just counters on the ground, I really want to make little speech bubbles for my soldiers as it gives them a little more character I think.

I am a nerd and like to doodle my ideas for emphasis

Gonna have to find some cool things for each of the races to say for each order, I think.

Humans are produced by Rebel Miniatures, who I have to admit I am dead chuffed with the models from.
Protolene Khanate are produced by Critical Mass Games, who do make some fine as hell aliens which I am going to be buying a bunch more of at some point.