Reminisce

there's this thing that I have never quite been able to shake off. It started about 12-15 years ago when I found a strange blister of miniatures at my FLGS. It was what looked like a giant robot. Oh cool. Fun. I hadn't been interested in anime robots in years. Back when we played Robotech the roleplaying game all the time in my early teens. I had gotten the GW bug 5 years before, and by this time was starting my love aaffair with Napoleonics and Historicals in general.

Anyway, the mini was heavy and chunky, but really looked like a lot of good design had gone in to the actual mechanics of the robot. OH look there are two factions. One has squared armor, one has rounded. Simple but effective at showing different styling and sides of a conflict. Just look at the difference between the US M1 and the Russian T-80. OK I like where this is going. And there is ARMOR! At this scale? and theres infantry!!! OK so now I know how big these guys are. And they are big, but not Johnny Socko big.

I spent about an hour looking at the blisters. I had no money at the time(well a little) so I only bought about 6 blisters 2 each side and 1 infantry each side. I love a ground pounder, even when there's robots.

I checked out and our FLGS Owner, ever helpful to sell product, directed me to the other isle and showed me the complete line of RPG material, and the then super thick Miniatures Rules. OK so I purt a little more on my credit card. I was so curious I wanted to devour the psuedo-history and background of this game (I was an avid GW guy for a while so fluff meant everything at the time). I bought the RPG game. I also bought the Miniatures Rules.

Care to guess?





Well it was Heavy Gear, and the Minis were the RAFM big scale (1/87) minis and the first editions of the RPG and the Mini rules. I devoured this game. Read everything. I was painting and gaming other stuff at the time, but behind the scenes of reading Chandler, Haithornthwaite, and Ospreys by the truckload, I was reading this stuff. I bided my time and soon the RAFM and DP9 thing fell apart. I had gotten about 10 gears at this point, but soon the RAFM stuff went on clearance everywhere. And then they went into my storage boxes. I got some crazy deals on stuff on ebay, and cleared everyone out here. As it sits now I have about a 100-150 of the Rafm ones, almost all makes(someday I'll actually look for the one's I am missing), including unopened boxes of tanks, apc's, striders, etc. I love the look and style of them and even thought RAFM quality control was spotty on a few models, overall they are fantastic. They look great with 15mm as huge walkers, they look even better with 28mm as walkers and heavy power armor.

I have so far only repurposed them for other stuff, cause as good as the designs and figs are, the rules are horrible and unplayable. It always broke my heart. How could a cinematic game of such speed and destruction be so slow, plodding and not-fun? I still look for the perfect set of rules to use for these guys. I thought a Crossfire! variant would work because of its dynamic initiative system, but after several plays I am not so sure. Scott Pyle's Robofire system(which we(the BAsement Generals) are playtesting) has nmuch promise to fill the role. I hope so.

fin

Oh wait, no I'm not. Since I was so heavily invested in the Rafm scale figs, I resisted for many years the new scale. I bought the orignal new scale rules boxed set, which came with a cople of new minis, I continued to buy army kists and background, but never bought the minis. Then on a whim I saw a box in the clearance bin of my FLGS and picked it up. Sculpts were better, figs had some movement, they were better metal, detail was crisp. Pricey, but nice. I continue to pick up stuff when I see it on clearance, building my forces randomly. I have about 50-60 of the current scale. I use them for 15mm walkers and they are perfect. You can see a couple below. 15mm GZG Alien Mercs and their Commander's Power Suit. And CMG Scouts with Robot support units. But I still yearn for a game where I can use the figs as gears.

What brought all this nostalgia up? See the next post...

Memorial Day - A Little Progress and a Tangent

So on Memorial Day, I got to do several things that I love. I got to paint, watch movies, and be with my boys.

Painting-Well some progress there. I got my GZG High Mobility Force base painted and washed. Snapped a wheel off one of my MBT's , but I will rig it so it stays.

Pic is a little dark, but they are ready for wet brushing then highlighting and detailing.

I also got a squad of Power Armor for my NAC Tropers cleaned and put on paint sticks. They are Blue Moon Orion Power Armor guys. A little Pulpy, but not out of place for the NAC guys.

Next, since I was Memorial Day, and I like to paint something related (at least somewhat related) I decided to build and prime my GRindhouse Games, Incurion American APE suit guys. Great Box Set. 6 guys, tons of character. Made me feel like I did when I put together my box of Classic GW metal Terminators. Really wel sculptaed and easy to put together. No flash. I am very pleased. They were a gift from the wife for xmas this year and I am glad I finally got them built and primed.

 You can see the squad base and primed, ready for a base coat. In the background you may notice a couple of walkers. Well they are AT-43 walkers. Everyone I have seen paints these as german walkers, but I kinday liked them to go with my americans, so I did a little work, and voila, american WWWII walkers.

 Here's a small one that will be a Scout Walker. I am going to add a .50 cal mount somewhere and a fixed light cannon.

 Here is a Heavy Tank Destroyer Walker. A long gun and sheild added from a Tamiya M-41 Walker Bulldog Kit, along with a .50 call on a swivel mount and a couple of gas cans. Tarps, and netting to be added too I think. I kept the 2 rocket pods. I think it takes the tech level down to an acceptable level.

APE suits included to see size comparison. I am excited about painting these because Agis has just released Victory Decision WWII rules, and since he is a big fan of WWWII, I just bet a supplement is coming for WWWII somtime in the future. And just add a couple of super heroes, and you got a wild and woolly WWWII game. And it gives me a chance to use my painted 28mm WWII guys and paint some of unpainted hordes of WWII guys I have.

I will paint these guys up as an aside then get back to my GZG Armor.

Movies - Well, I watched the whole box set of Band Of Brothers. One of my all time favorites.

Boys - While the 2 oldest were off doing their thing, the youngest hung out with Dad a little bit. We built a Snap Tite kit of an A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog). It was one of the prepainted on the sprue kits. I cut off the peieces, he assembled them. It was great. Growing up I was a model junkie, so I was glad to see it. I pulled out another snap tite kit to try (a skill level 7 Master Grade Mobile Suit Gundam 1/100 scale) but it was crazy. And the boy couldn't really do any of it. It took me an hours to assemble the arms. HE got bored. So I said maybe later and he ran off to play with his friends. The Warthog was fun. I will get him some more kits to try. I have about a hundred or so mixed plane and armor and figure kits, but they are all glue kits, and he's not quite ready for that he said. 

Thanks for looking.

Another two hours...

Another two hours and this...

I got my entire GZG Grav force built last night. 2 MBT's, 4 MICV's, 4 Gun Sleds(LT Tank/scouts), 2 Remote support platforms(1 Gatling, 1 Guided Missle). This is a main force type of army. I need to add mechs (Heavy Gears of some kind, probably Northern, or the new Valkrye mechs that have been getting some play are nice too), and a few Heavy Power Armor Guys as well. I will be using the GZG NAC troops for the Main Force Infantry.

2 stands of CMG Light Recon are shown for scale.

Here is the completely built GZG Hi -Mobility force, adding the last MBT. They have fewer units than the Grav Sled Group, but the infantry will be better armored and trained as a quick reactionary force.  (CMG Light Recon Troops) 

Here is the GZG NAC Infantry in there little plastic homes. Should be getting these out and organized and on painting sticks for priming tonite. about 16 bags of assorted infantry, comm, specialists, and hvy weapons. And Jon threw in a RAM mortar and a set of the new trikes for me as well on my last order. Great guy, that!

Here's a couple of Mules for the High Mobility QRF, even though they have NAC uniforms. A driver/rat patrol version, and a remote controlled version.

Hope to begin the priming by the end of the week, painting as possible over the weekend. Hope to be done with the Hi-Mobility force in 2 weeks. I would love to have the Main Force done by the end of June.

We've been talking about rules to use, and are going to try out Future War Commander, Dirtside II(a small version), and even a home grown set I have been working on. Robofire would work too, if we can get some more emphasis on Infantry and less on Robos (I know that's not what you intended Scott, but we like the system). Any others we should try? Not sure if Tomorrows War will work because of its focus on individuals, not fire teams or sections(which is how I have based all my infantry), but we shall see. the Ambush Alley guys are coming to Recruits for the big rollout for Tomorrow's War this fall, so I will get a chance to quiz them on it.

Summer Project



Well, the medievals of Sir Percival are complete, just need to flock the bases. Once flocked I will post good pics of them.  So, as promised, I started on my 15mm Sci Fi again, for my summer project. It was a close run thing as I looked at about 10 other projects to decide if I wanted to start them first (28mm ECW, Mech Warrior Click Repaints, 28mm Nappies, 28mm Post Apoc gangs, 28mm Medievals, 15mm Fantasy, 28mm High Elves, etc). 

Two hours later, I had made the decision to go ahead with my 15mm Sci Fi. So I got out my xmas present out, and started building. A little while later, I had all but 1 tank made from my Hi Mobility Wheeled Force  from GZG. 3 APCs, 2 MBTs, 1 Command truck, 2 Scout Cars. Nice little supplemental vehicle force for my CMG Light Recon.  



Overall new force(minus 1 tank) with finished inf.



Ground level shot for scale of MBT, Inf, Scout Cars, and one of the Infantry Walkers



Close up of APC's and infantry



Ground level shot of Inf and APC's with Infantry Walker



15mm Arc Fleet Army - Eurpoean Commonwealth Troops - Painted

Finally some progress. I have for you today my Critical Mass Games 15mm Arc Fleet Recon and Augments troops painted for my European Commonwealth Troops for my space opera universe - Hollow Shell.

First an overall shot:

 Next, the overall commander and his XO. He is in Augment Hvy Power Armor, his elite status is signified by the blue gaunlet. His command status is signified by his light grey right hand guantlet. The Red stripe on the helmet and shoulder pad is Regimental Distinction - The 539th Commonwealth Rapid Reactionary Force.

 Some of the 539th RRF's finest foot sloggers:

 A view of the trops with the Kestrel VTOL Dropship in the background. Directly in from of that is the IWV - Infantry Walker Vehicle for a hvy support and assualt role, especially in built up areas, and the ISV - Infantry Support Vehicle. The ISV provides infantry support with ECM and Jamming capability, and fire support from its rocket cluster pods.

Another shot of the troops:

 Close up of the troops:

 Close up of the Augment troopers:

 Closer shot of the Kestrel, IWV, and ISV support elements:

 Close up of the Paladin Command Vehicle. This mobile commnad vehicle can also transport a squad of troops, and has a 50mm autocannon for support and protection. The Paladin is an older jack of all trades vehicle typical of the colonization and protection role the RRF in its younger days. The vehicle is still prized amongs the more savy leader who understands the value and protection this multirole old workhorse provides:

And a final group shot again:

I just finished these last night. I need to finish the walkers, but everything else is complete. I will be adding the GZG Grav vehicles to this group, and will be painting a phase 2 since CMG just announced the release of the Augment and Recon hvy weapon troops. So I will add those, and a few more troopers and regular augments.

These are enough to play Crossfire! with so I think I can play a small battle with these VS. my Alien Mercs force.

Next up is to finish the Garn support troops, and hope that Santa will bring me my Hi Mobility Wheeled Force from GZG for xmas. They will be used with my GZG NAC troops for the North American Protectorate NAP troops. And after that, the might and bizarre fury of the Aquans - all manner of oceanic humanoids from various publishers  including the Karks, The Orca, The Lamphreys, The Aquan, and their crab support vehicles!!!! Muhahaha!