6mm Sci Fi Infantry part 1

I finally got around to photographing my painted 6mm infantry. I am really pleased with how they came out. It took me 2 hours to paint 15 of them. I have another 15 primed and waiting to be finished. You can see I attempted to make squad leaders identifiable by their shoulder pads, but from the distance I will be looking at them from, they can't be seen. As such, some of my primed troops are based on pennies, making them easily visible from wargaming distance.

Sci Fi Dwellings rolling off the bench.

Work has begun on my 6mm sci fi project. I have found the time this week to have three modelling sessions. This post will showcase some of the fruits of those sessions.

Below are three dwellings. I was inspired by the Lars homestead on Tatooine, but did not want to commit to a desert planet. The buildings are just the screw caps of baby food pouches, separated and made to look like living quarters and a chimney of some kind. I think the chimney will actually be a kind of solar power generator or something. Also to keep things generic I based them on grey rock. I feel like they need more details, like doors and such, but that can come later. I would happily put these on a table as they are.

My aquarium plants are giant trees. I am basing them on various bases that I got in my Reaper Bones kickstarter. I can probably use these with other scales too. You can also just see some of my infantry. Unfortunately my camera ran out of battery before I could take pictures of them. I will charge it tonight and take some shots tomorrow.

Painted Reaper Miniatures

Here are a couple of pictures of a few Reaper Miniatures that I have almost finished. They need to be sprayed matt and flocked, but that will have to wait, I imagine as the spray would probably do my daughter some serious damage.

The barbarian looks a lot like my barbarian in Diablo III, whereas the ranger looks like my old Skyrim character.

Here I have a tavern wench and a blacksmith, ready to populate any village I may use in any fantasy skirmish/RPG setting.

Ground Zero Games Infantry Review of sorts...

Point 1: Sorry for the photo quality. It is night time, I am half watching the apprentice and the ladies are in bed, exhausted, and I don't want to disturb them by setting up a daylight lamp.

As mentioned last post, I purchased a set of UNSC Marines, NAC (I think) infantry and a set of Predator/Aliens. The descriptions of the infantry were something along the lines of "30+ infantry in various poses, including heavy weapons". I ordered them on Monday night, I think, and they arrived Wednesday. So delivery was amazing. 

Below are the UNSC Marines. There are 57 of them, which is somewhat more than I would expect from a pack of "30+" infantry. You can see some flash, but at this scale, that should be easily removable by even a craft knife.

Below are the firing/heavy weapons poses. Above, on the left are troops standing, unfortunately all in the same pose. This is one tiny gripe, that can easily be forgiven considering the price, promptness, and quality of the figures.

This next set are the aliens. There were suppost to be 10 of each, I think, and I have 13 of each. The aliens are my favourite. The predators are okay, but I am not too hot on their pose. That won't stop them tearing my commandos to shreds though.

Everything being said, and my general level of pleasedness being considered, it was the NAC infantry who blew my mind. I began counting them out, and my "30+" packet contained somewhere around 85 miniatures in four different poses. There were three grunt weapons and then a rocket launcher. I am amazed at how

I cannot wait to paint these guys up. The bonus being, I can prime them black, paint them another colour, then paint their guns, and visors. I am looking forward to some very quick painting sessions.

The only problem with the miniatures was that some of them were malformed. By some, I mean maybe three or four. I seem to have a set of legs, and a headless rocket man. But when you consider that I have almost 90 of them (which must surely be a packaging mistake) then what is a few casualties before hitting the painting tray?

In conclusion, I would give these miniatures a high score. I don't score things right now, and don't want to set the bar too high, so will wait until my other infantry arrive from another company. I think they are "Solar Empire" Marines or something, but I paid in dollars, so they are likely coming from the USA.

Speaking of Sci-Fi

For the past few days I have been saving these from going in the bin. They are the screw tops for small pouches of baby food. Every time I feed my baby, I think about what I can use them for. 

My feelings at the moment tell me they would make good exhaust ports or ventilation fans. I worry about painting them, as they are very shiny, but hopefully I can do it. With infantry on the way, I need to quickly put together some things for them to fight over, so these might be good representing an underground base.

Does anyone else have any ideas about this too? Anything obvious I have not thought about?

I took the plunge!

I did it. I opted for  Ground Zero Games 6mm miniatures for my foray into Sci Fi miniature wargaming. Having looked extensively at their 15mm range, and having decided to build up a force of NAC and USMC infantry, I just plumped for the 6mm versions of these guys. It cost me £12 to order a 30 odd NAC infantry, 30 odd USMC infantry and 20 aliens that are meant to be Xenomorphs and possibly Predators too.

A purchase was also made of a bunch of 15mm diameter MDF circular bases, as I want these guys on individual bases for now. That might change, if my rule set preference changes.

I hope to be able to bash these guys out by Christmas so that I can start a wargaming/boardgaming after school club. The only unfortunate thing about that may be the safeguarding implications of posting AARs on this here blog.

More to come.

Clash on the Fringe, first thoughts.

Clash on the Fringe is a PDF Sci Fi rule set that is more of a space adventure game like Star Wars, than hard core wargaming.

I picked up the PDF and have been slowly working my way through it. I don't, however, have any 15mm miniatures, so that is probably what I will start collecting. I would love to do fights on other planets, and have found Khurasan Miniatures who will provide me with my xenomorphs and colonial marines. Time is all I need. Time and money that is.

I haven't touched a miniature since school began, which saddens me greatly. We do, however, have half term this next week, and I intend to paint up a few knights and possibly orcs. I want to get back into my hobby. Last winter, I started building a Normandy house that I never finished, and probably won't finish any time soon, but that project gives me hope that I will be able to spend a few Saturday evenings over the winter painting.

100th Post!

I am not sure how I envisioned my 100th post. Was it goingto be special? Was it just going to come and go unnoticed with pictures of various projects? I don't know. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this blog, and all those who have inspired me to post and create my own.

This summer, after qualifying as a languages teacher, I was able to relax. I thought I would have time to dust off some projects and get some painting done. I have a bunch of Reaper Minis half done, and also picked up a box of Perry Miniatures 1450-1480 Foot Knights to give myself some generic armoured men to play with. Other events, however, have taken over and I have managed to one quick painting session with my young brother in law (hoping to convert him) and put together one sprue of Foot Knights who remain unpainted.

Do I have photos of this? No.

I also do not see myself getting much else done before term starts in a week and a half. I find this unfortunate as I miss painting. Doubly unfortunate because I have been browsing Ground Zero Games 15mm sci fi miniatures. I feel myself being drawn to them more and more, but again don't have anyone to play with. I have a vision to start a club at school, but don't know how viable that is in terms of trusting them with my miniatures and being able to provide enough terrain.

And so goes my 100th post. The hobby is alive in my heart, but not alive in my actions.

Bones 3: The Search for Mr Bones Kickstarter!!!

Click here to find the newest Reaper Bones kickstarter. For us Brits there is usually an extra $50 for shipping, and then £20 for customs tax, but I have found it to be worth it the first two times.

Funds are low this year, with Mathilde going on Maternity leave, and then us having a beautiful baby to take care of. I have 17 days to decide and get Mathilde on board if possible. Just not sure about it. I will watch it carefully.

I cannot recommend this enough though. The miniatures are decent quality and can be used in all kinds of settings. My Song of Blades and Heroes project is being made mostly with these guys.

Dad time.

With the end of my teacher training in sight, I am getting more and more excited for the summer, in which I should be able to find time to finish a few projects. That, of course, is all dependant upon how well my new daughter is sleeping, and letting me sleep.

That is right, my half term holiday painting plans have been dashed by the wonderful arrival of my beautiful daughter, Adelaide. I find myself getting lost in her eyes, and just watching her, not achieving anything.

Well, here is my new family;