Sunspoke Security and Rebasing

I have some updates.

The Sunspoke Mining Company has a system where it transplants an entire semi self-sustaining colony onto a planet in order to save costs with having to deliver as many supplies across the vast expanse. Sometimes, however, the venture can prove unsuccessful and the company pulls out, taking with it as many people as want to go. 

These people are members of Sunspoke security, or were until the company pulled off this rock. They decided to remain to help provide law enforcement to the other settlers who decided to remain. Many of those settlers were farmers, who provided the nourishment element of the self sustaining colony. 

Below are other miniatures who I have spent the weekend re-basing. I used a cheap craft paint from The Works, I guess it is beige. I then used Agrax Earth wash quite heavily and as it stands I am very pleased with them. They are generic enough that they will fit in many settings, and don't just look like I couldn't be bothered to finish painting after texturing the base.

I have re-based every single individually based 6mm Sci Fi miniature that I own, and have also begun painting a lot of civilians, some "jedi" type figures, and some individually based New Vesta Security.

Pleased to be getting back on track.

UCS Marines and NVD Forces flocked and loaded.

What a difference some static grass makes. I love these now and cannot wait to get them to table. Then next challenge will be to base up and paint some individual infantry for use with Starport Scum.

Seven infantry elements of the UCS Marine corps. These guys are the highest trained infantry in the Commonwealth, and possibly in known space.

Painting with the wife.

During the Easter break I managed to put brush to miniature one evening while my wife was scrapbooking. It was nice to be sitting at the table together, talking and doing something creative which we love.

Below are my Horizon Wars elements of the UCS Marines. I have six stands of infantry and one command element. I figures including a command element would be useful for other rule sets too.

Primed and fleshed, here are some planetary militia. I think they will be blue.

Assorted mecha. These are 10mm Battlearmour suits from Iron Wind Miniatures. They need some work, but are getting there.

Colours 2016

I managed to get to Colours 2016 today. This is my first show in a few years, I think Salute 2014 was my last. I went armed with a modest budget and with two goals in mind. I was either going to pick up some spacecraft to begin my dabble into space fleet combat, or I was going to get a couple of starting forces for 6mm World War 2, and a handful of buildings for them to fight over.

After walking around a couple of times, I decided to go with the WW2 in 6mm. I have read a few battle reports of A Sergeant's War, and feel like I could even finally dust off my unused copy of Battlegroup: Overlord. Which miniatures to use, however? I knew that Heroics and Ros were there, as was Baccus 6mm. Well, I couldn't see any WW2 at Baccus, so moved on, spent ages looking at the catalog at H&R, then took away an order form and sat down to munch on my sandwich. I had arrived later than planned due to traffic on the M3 and the rain.

I ordered some US and Panzergrenadiers, some support weapon packs and some vehicles and AT guns. The total came to £17.20, which ain't too shabby for getting two opposing forces. Upon reflection, I probably could have even skipped the £5 I spent on the support weapons, because they might not be totally necessary. Anyhow, the gentleman at H&R said to come back in half an hour, so I wondered around. GZG didn't bring any 6mm, but had some lovely spaceships. Brigade Models was there with some stunning painted spacecraft. I knew I had to keep it cheap though, so removed myself from temptation and went over for a chat at Baccus. Turns out they just didn't have the big packets ready for WW2. He did have some painted figures on display, and let me tell you they were gorgeous. I was sorely tempted to run over to H&R and cancel my order but one thing stopped me: Baccus has no vehicles for sale YET. He had a stunning Sherman prototype. I will, without a shadow of a doubt be purchasing some forces from Baccus as my next purchase (probably with Christmas money). I reckon I will get my Brits from them.

Anyhow, here is my stash:

 I intend to game Normandy onwards on the western front. As such I thought some Panzer IVHs would be useful, as would some StuG IIIs. Inspired by the film Fury, and just generally wanting a monster, I got a Tiger I. Some PaK 40s were also necessary.

 For the US forces I decided that I would need some M10s, some 57mm AT guns and some Shermans. The plan was to get M4A3 Shermans and one Sherman 76, but they all appear to be Sherman 76s. I am not complaining...just means I will need to make some more purchases as time goes on.

 These are the US infantry. I paid £2.50 for 48 infantry, but have ended up with just over 50. They look good, there is some flash in the legs, but they are fine. I would have liked some more firing poses, but I am not too fussy.

 The gentleman threw in a few extra strips of Panzergrenadiers, so I have ended up with something like 70 infantry. They are gorgeous and have plenty of lovely poses. I am very, very pleased with these.

I needed some things to fight over, I can make forest areas, I have hedges and can scale some down, but I have no buildings. 3 packets of buildings for £10 over at Rapier Miniatures was a no brainer. I bought some barns and two sets of farm buildings. They will be good for either having a farm, or making a little village to fight over. I am pleased with them, although they look tiny. They are, however, probably accurate, and if I were to ignore bases, there is plenty of room to move around in inside.




I am glad I went. I felt a little out of place there for some reason, but came away with a new venture for my hobby. I have plenty of Sci Fi miniatures, and have campaigns going on with them, but I like the idea of a march on Berlin. Anyhow, with that I do most of my gaming solo, and went there alone, I just felt like I was very alone. It was strange. I felt like I couldn't watch any games, because who wants someone watching? And as much as I wanted to talk to Tony Francis of Brigade Models, I knew if I did, I would end up blowing my budget on Neo-Soviets.

At last. I have finished some miniatures. Probably my first in two years.

UCS (United Commonwealth of Systems) forces (although I might make the infantry belong to someone else because they are my favourite). These are the government forces. The UCS was originally formed by the Original Colonies to throw off the shackles of old Earth governments. Life on the colonies gave humanity a chance for a fresh start, to put aside their old prejudices and differences be it race, religion, creed. They successfully did this, and the power of Earth diminished, being left behind as a backwards world that while economically important, was not a key player in interstellar politics.

As time went on the UCS grew, and it was decided that their prejudice-free way of doing things should be "encouraged" on all of the colonies. This brought them into conflict with newer colonies who did not want to be under the rule of any interstellar government. It also leads to the occasional clash with the mega-corporations who have their own military wings and often govern clusters of their own colonies.

GZG mechs and infantry. 

Above are the New Charon colonial militia. Equipped with outdated, yet reliable CSMP (Close Support Missile Platform) walkers, they are employed to keep peace and prevent incursion from government or corporate forces. However, if faced with a full scale invasion they would be swept away. New Charon is a colony established and governed by the Freehold, a group of quasi-religious humans who were looking to escape the bureaucracy and in-fighting of the UCS (United Commonwealth of Systems).

Again, these are Quansec Security forces. They are a part of the military wing of the North American mega-corporation who are often sent to pacify colonies and take possession of other economically viable colonies. They are generally well equipped with state of the are body armour and some new highly classified mechs. These mechs are so new and classified that their name is unknown, although their pilots have taken to calling them Jackals.

Hysys GMBH forces. Equipping themselves with large Zweibeinwaffensystem walkers (Zweibeins), their rapid response forces are designed to act as a deterrent against encroachment on Hysys colonies, or other interests.

These large bipedal mechs are designed to punch a large hole in enemy lines. They are, however, very cost prohibitive and you will likely only find them in heavily populated, key systems. These two are Hysys designs, but are painted in the colours of the Collective. The Collective is a large group of systems who are in the process of trying to throw off the rule of the UCS. Unfortunately for the citizens of these colonies, the Collective is run by religious extremists, and as such life is not much better, and depending on the zealousness of the local leaders can be much, much worse than life under the bureaucratic juggernaut of the secular UCS.