Imperial Knights

I have always been a fan of mechs, battle suits and knights but while I think that GWs plastic Paladin models were good back in the day they now appear to be a bit static and lacking in something. So last night I took a knife to one and produced the following...

This involved the following items, Knight Paladin, Imperial Guard flamer, Tau Fire Warrior head, Skaven plague monk scroll, High Elf spear. The legs were cut from the waist and at the knee, with some trimming to make it look like it was striding. The toes were trimmed on one foot to lift the back off the ground. I hacked off the head and the Fire Warrior head was trimmed at the back and around the edge to fit the gap, while the battle cannon was cut lose and just had the flamer placed there. The chain sword was cut front and back and the spear placed there instead. Lastly the spear arm was cut and twisted a bit to put inline with the eye piece on the head. This is not as straight as I would have hoped, in part due to using superglue and not polycement. 

I now need to get a few more heads and start to knock up enough for a few units. I think I have around 7 or 8 bodies around so may do a little bit of ebaying too... I have an itch now.

You can also see some buildings in these pictures knocked up from some Hirst Arts blocks. Simple but effective and just about scaling right for 6mm. More on these another day... and I promise it will not be a few weeks away!

Completed Gargant (Very Great)

Well I have managed to complete the building of the gargant and it is a bit of a monster. 

 This really towers over other titans and looks like it will just stomp even on super heavy tanks but I am really happy with it anyway. I have learnt quite a lot about scratch building from this, and the main part is getting the core shapes right and then layering on the texture. Orks are a lot more forgiving than other armies for this but defiantly something that I hope to follow up with a few more vehicles.
For interest the ingredients list for this is card, a matchbox, straws, coffee sticks, old pens, Biro inners (for smaller barrels), some lentils, and a few bits of Hirst Arts. Simples and a lot of fun to make... just to paint it now. 

Quiet few days

Well I have failed to try and keep up to my mental promise of at least two posts as day due to a Game of Thrones marathon, with the first two seasons watched back to back over about a week and a half. All very good but it has dragged me away from painting and getting a bit of time to look at things. 
One thing that has moved forward is my work on an ork Gargant, which has come on from looking at least a little bit sloppy to now looking like it is something that may just look passable. As my first full attempt to scratch build I have made the cardinal mistake of not actually checking any sizes so it is more mega than great in size and dwarfs the other titans I have but once it is finished I think I will be happy with it. 
Just a few more nights to get the armor plating on and then a few bits of details and it will all be ready for some paint. 

Alternative Warmachine

For those who think I only know Brigade Models I came across the following machine on a 15mm site, Critical Mass Games. I have seen their models before but the focus of 6mm in my head at the moment suggests a use of these in this scale too. The base size is reported to be 50mm by 50mm so it is probably a bit bigger than a GW Warhound and would make a better equivalent of a Reaver. There are a range of other machines that would work well as mechs in 6mm so definatly worth a look. 
 

http://www.criticalmassgames.com/

Air Force Minatures

Having a look at Tactical Command today I came across a number of references to 1:350 scale fighter planes. A few searches have come up with a range of models for fighter planes, mainly from WW2 but defiantly open for use in some retro styled armies such as Orks. Now most of the stuff coming up on Google for 1:350 is boats but I am going to poke away and see if there is anything more land based that comes up for this scale. 

One thing to note is that one brand, Trumpeter, seems to be around £5 for 6 models so not really a bad price to introduce some air support to any small scale games. 

GW Litigation... again...

Well there is another news story on the BBC website about GW, and unfortunately it is about the same old ligation issue that seems to bug them on a regular basis. Now I have nothing against them suing and protecting their intellectual property, but it does always seem to bring out the wraith of the net. 

The current issue is around a book called "Spots the Space Marine" (see Space Marine run?) and GW asserting their rights over the term Space Marine (not Spot). The website of the author has a lot of support for her, generally referencing the fact that there are marines in space and space marines in literature right back to the start of the 20th century. There is also reference to some of the other suits that GW have been putting out over the last few years, such as around websites hosting their defunct rules, or sculptors more or less cloning their models. This is all very messy with people on all sides of the arguments, but always something to watch. 

My personal views are that GW are in need of protecting their IP as they have spent a lot of time and money over the last 30 years building up a very distinctive set of worlds, and while they are built from fantasy and sci-fi archetypes they are also rather distinct now and more developed than almost any other fictional world I know. It feels similar to the issues of knock of Transformers which can be detrimental to Takara/Hasbro. However they also need to build some bridges with their public, around the IP issues, pricing and Finecast. For all their faults the nature of GW and their high visibility is good for gaming, at least in the Uk and a decline with them would not really help the gaming world as I suspect it would be the start of a general decline. 

And for all the "evil" of GW it looks like DC and Marvel are carrying out a similar protection issue on the term Superhero at the moment. Most large corporations will be doing this sort of thing 24/7 without our knowing as the threat is ramped up as the company gets bigger so complaining itself may be cause for more lawyers coming at you.

Any one want to add their views on this one? Please be polite....

Painted Conversions

Well after a couple of lazy days not really doing much I have manged to get the core colours on the conversions. Overall I am happy with these, but after applying two different colour schemes I have found a real preference for one over the other... unfortunately not the one that ties in with the rest of my army...

 Thousand Sons Whirlwind

 Thousand Sons Predator

 World Eaters Vindicator 

 World Eaters Razorback

Full line up. I really like the World Eater colour scheme, with the added interest of the white and blue but have only got a small, Thunderhawk deployed, detachment of assault marines. The majority of the army is Thousand Sons, and I think I will keep it as such but will redo my bikes in the white and blue. 
These all need a bit more detail put onto the sides to just add some interest in the paint scheme but I really think these work as a great way of filling out my marine armor at minimal cost.

Kunitsa Conversions

As promised I have knocked up my planned conversions of the Kunitsa APCs to Space Marine type tanks. I was considering a step by step guide but due to the small number of steps I will make do with just a few words and pictures.

Raw parts - you can see the limited flash on the parts here which only takes a few moments to clear up. You can also see the two turret choices you get with the Brigade models, the missile turrets of a bit plain to me but the machine guns are fine. 

Kunitsa body and  Sherhen AA turret - Razorback. There was limited filing on the top of the APC to remove the door handles, then to angle the barrels down a little bit by removing the fixing under the turret.
 

Kunitsa body and Vikhr Katyusha turret - Whirlwind. This was even less work as it just needed the turret plug removing from underneath and the handles on the top hatches filed. 

Kunitsa body and Volk Assault Gun barrel - Vindicator. The barrel needed a little work to stop it from aiming too high, but this is simply a bit of filing till the angle is right.

 Kunitsa body and Rosomakha  turret - Predator. This was the trickiest to put together, with the sponsons looking a little small and a bit tricky to get lined up. The top turret again just needed the connecting lug underneath removed to make it lie flush on the top. 

These are a dead simple set of conversions and will let me fill out my Marine armored section really easily. I have three 3rd edition Predators in pre-heresy Thousand Sons livery (more on these soon I hope) and I can now put together a big enough section to support the infantry without always resorting to Titans. 

Shiny Package

Well I ordered some parts from Brigade Models the other day and these have arrived this morning. I have to offer my thanks to Tony at Brigade as I asked for a mix of parts to convert up some examples of Space Marine tanks. 
And here we have it - in two little baggies we have four Neo-Soviet Kunitsa APCs and five extra turrets that I orders. I actually should only have ordered four turrets, but made a mistake. 

Casting - 4 of 5
Okay first deviation from the list of rules I put in a few posts below, but it is important to talk about how much work needs to be done on clean up. Overall these are good, with minimal venting flash on two of the APCs which is easily removed. There are slight mould lines along the sides of the APCs but these are quick enough to scrape. 

Sculpt - 4 of 5
The APCs are nice, with enough detail to make them look good up close. They have items such as top and rear hatches with handles, a little windscreen and a front plate for some form if markings. I think the sides could do with some piping or exhausts just to break up the plating, but not a major issue. The turrets feel a bit more functional then detailed, and  do not have any delineation from the front of the multi barrels. 

Variation - 2 of 5
As much as I like the design of the Kunitsa there appears to be only one body design (there is a mortar version but I am counting this separately) with no extra stowage options. This is in line with APCs generally, especially the common or garden plastic Rhino but I would like to see maybe some ablative armor or a mirror version to add a be more detail. 

Atmosphere - 3 of 5
As stated on the over arching line review these give a really good near future sci-fi feel, with a definite evolution from real world vehicles here. I would like to see something that rises it slightly beyond this with some style element running through the line but this is just the GW fan in me I suspect more than anything else.

Value for Money - 5 of 5 
These are the best value APCs I have seen on the net, at 75p each these would go well alongside a plastic Space Marine box set to build up a full battle company for not much. The turrets came in at 20p a piece, totally 95p each for 4 different variant tanks. Not bad at all.

I will post up the conversion guide tomorrow for the Rhino type tank conversions hopefully. I defiantly need to sort out some better pictures as these do not do the models justice but I need both daylight and probably a better camera...

Update on Faust Robots

Looks like I made a mistake on these - I found an unboxing video while looking for the base size to get some idea on the size of these and found out that these are metal models with a resin base, rather than the more typical single casts. So if these do scale well for 6mm games then this is a good source for robots or dreadnought type walkers. 

It is also worth taking a look at Sparta Studios, a spin off set of games. This has some 10mm sci-fi sets based on Firestorm Armada for more of the high-tech feel and also includes some walkers in the two factions so far. Unfortunately the walkers are not currently available outside of the starter sets so it may be a little harder to get hold of these. 

Dystopian Wars

A very quick post of thoughts around Dystopian Wars. I have yet to see any of these in the resin but there are some good comparison pics floating around the net on 6mm themed forums and it they do look like they can pass muster for 6mm, especially the medium tanks. 

Now I have looked at these models in their own right since their release but am wary of another scale to model for. So using these for Epic or similar might give me the chance to have a good look at the models with an actual chance of using them. 

But looking at the shop I have noticed the Prussian Scandinavia Faust Class Robot, which I suspect may work very well for either Adeptus Mechanicus robots, or fit in quite well as Space Marine dreadnoughts. They would need to be removed from the bases which could be tricky but does fill a bit of a gap. Big question is how they scale but I am tempted enough to maybe make an order once I have my bits from Brigade through. 

There is also the Covenant of Antarctica Atticus Class Medium Walker which have a good, if a bit to clean, look for Defilers. Now I currently do not plan on making a Chaos army as there is nothing I have come across to fill in for Chaos Marines with the exception of the Steel Crown Edenite Jump Infantry Squad to fill in for World Eaters. 

Of course if anyone has any ideas for alternatives make a comment and I can try and pull things together. 

Line Review – Brigade Models Neo-Soviets

Right up for the first review is the Neo-Soviet line from Brigade Models. This is an overarching review before I get onto the models which I have, however I think it is important for the line as a whole to be talked about.

Now I was initially looking for vehicles and infantry to fill out an Imperial Guard section of my Horus Heresy era Thousand Sons force. This is the one area where really anything goes in terms of substitute miniatures but I was looking for something which was still a bit standard and love the look of the solid Neo-Soviets.

So let’s try and stick with my own guidelines and go through the scoring areas:

• Atmosphere: 3

Here I have to put something on the table – I think skulls, arches and general gothicyness are nice. So this makes atmosphere tricky to judge when you have the lashings on offer from Games Workshop or Privateer Press. However I feel that this line, and the whole Iron Cow influenced set of lines, do have a good clean modern sci-fi feel to them. They look like something that has evolved from the 21^st century naturally and that works well in my mind.

But I do like skulls…

• Sculpt: 4

These are solid sculpts in this line, with a very current feel yet enough of a future vibe to make sure they do not feel like they are out of place with the other more sci-fi hover vehicles of the Brigade Models stable. They are 6mm models so do not really need to be over sculpted anyway, but I do feel that I would like to see a little bit more in terms of baggage and detailing around the rockets/missiles.

• Variation: 4

Currently there are 21 models in the line, covering small, medium and large tanks, artillery, anti-air and transports with a few extra vehicles and two boats. These tend to have a feel of heavy vehicles across the line but fit together nicely as a whole. There are enough types of tank to really have a mix of units, with standard, close support and tank hunter classes if the game model you use supports such a mix. What surprised me, and is not clear on the website, is the mix within the individual models, with there being significant variation for the Bizon tanks especially. More on this when I review the individual models.

• Value for Money: 5

Now to me this is where the whole of the Brigade Models lines do really well, with most tanks coming in around a pound (£1) each, and less for some. This really makes it possible to build up a large force without too much of a hit in your pocket, or splash out and get a lot on the table at once. Now I do not want to draw comparisons between companies as I think that most offer something for someone but this is probably the best balance between quality and cost I have seen around.

This is a really good line, and covers all the gaps in the 3rd edition Imperial Guard army list if you are interested in this system (guess what I play...). I hope that over the next week some detail will emerge around a number of the models, but knowing me and my ease of shiny things (read data mining software at the moment) to distract me it may take a few days longer for all to appear on here.

Rules of Reveiw

I was planning on posting up first review tonight but instead had a thought about making sure I set myself some rules around reviewing to help cover some of the issues I have had looking around for miniatures. As such I hope to try and use the following as some rules to help people out there.

Standard reference model – it is always hard to see if models will scale up with others in your collection and as such am going to utilise the plastic Space Marine Rhino and plastic Space Marine infantry in mark 6 armour. These are quite common due to being a staple from the 2^nd edition Space Marine boxed set which was packed full of both.

Dimensions – I will provide length/width/height measurements for vehicles and height for infantry, alongside the same details for the Rhino and Space Marine as listed above. 

Photos – pictures should cover both painted and unpainted models, and cover an unassembled shot or two for those looking for bits.

Grading – going from 0 to 5 and covering the following areas:

• Sculpt
• Variation
• Value for Money
• Atmosphere

I know that the grading criteria will not cover everything but should give a good feel. I suspect that these will change as I review things but I will aim to stay consistent as possible with these. 

Brigade Models

I have added a new link on the rather empty links page, taking you direct to Brigade Models. This is in anticipation of a few posts I have planned in my little head around their models, covering reviews and some conversions. So while I am getting some words and pictures together please head over there and take a look at their miniatures.

Update on How to...

Today we have a few pictures on the Hawk Wargames buildings. Hopefully this will help keep this blog vibrant and colourful. 

I hope to do three or four more of these but I am still awaiting some fresh blades from E-Bay to make the cutting out a bit better. One thing I have noticed is that the parapet at the top of the page can be a bit of a pain to fold due to the small size and I strongly recommend trying to score on both sides. 

I also do not recommend using Pritt stick... while it keeps the card from warping when you stick a print out to the card but does not have the hold needed for the main flaps.
Once I get into these I hope to put together a few more interesting shapes and varied heights.

Now a few points on these...

• Card matters - these are stuck to old folder dividers that were kicking about work and are a bit to thin. As such they are a bit curved at the base. This can be sorted with some thicker card for reinforcement around the base. The taller the building the worse this will get
• Edging matters - worth going around the edges with an appropriate coloured pen or crayon (if the kids let you). You can see the yellow on the shorter building and the white around the corners.
• Glue matters - the taller building, made 6 months ago, has the parapet coming apart and needs to be stuck back down really. 

Overall I am very happy with these as I can, if I really want to, sit down in front of a good zombie film and knock out a whole urban areas of 8 to 10 in an evening. What takes the time is the waiting for the glue so do this the night before and leave a lot of heavy books on top. It just gets a bit fiddly with the parapets but if you keep some pegs to hand they are not too bad.

Not Much Here...

Well I am not in the mood to get the camera out and take some pictures tonight, as the snow is just setting in and cutting out all communication to the world at large. However I will get myself in gear to get a few pictures up tomorrow on the growing Imperial Guard army.

I also have a few musings to post around a couple of things that have occurred over the past few years which, if anyone is actually reading this, might cause some debate. 

Anyway a night of coins and glue for me tonight to get a few more units ready for painting. 

...And after an hour of dull TV I now have 7 stands ready for use. Some pictures tomorrow and the first review I hope. 

Thoughts on Space Marne Alternatives

Now as will be come apparent I have a fondness of Games Workshop and their worlds, but to be honest I have spent no more than £50 with them in the last year or two. And with 6mm miniatures from their Epic line I feel a bit worried at spending £3 a tank when there are alternatives out there.

So one option to get some Space Marine tanks out for less is to look at the Brigade Models Neo-Soviet Kunitsa APC which has a remarkable similarity to the ubiquitous Rhino. 


Not quite the same in style and a little undersized when you compare against the old plastic Rhinos but not a bad base for transport and tanks. 

Few ideas for these 

• Sponsons can be made from the pintle mounts - you get two with most models in the Neo line, one machine gun and one missile launcher so just save up the machine guns. 
• Smaller turrets for a Predator can be found on the Wombat APC Hybrid
• Short bore cannons for a Vindicator can come from the Volk
• Missile launchers for Whirlwinds from the Vikhr 

Now the detail level is lower on the Brigade Models but at around £2 in total per model, with parts left over, it is not a bad source. 

Day Two... How To Number One

Well day two and there is one update on here - How to turn the Hawk Wargames scenery to 6mm/Epic scale. Not a complicated process but I hope someone finds it useful.

I still need to get my head around the best layout for this - I was lazy and used the first blogger that Google offered (what a surprise it was there own) but have yet to work out the best way of setting up a few static pages to hold onto some useful areas such as armies, guides and all that.

Any way on to the first real post -

How to....

Convert Hawk Wargames Scenery to Epic Scale

Hawk Wargames produce a line of models, Dropzone Commander, in a scale termed 10mm. Alongside the physical armies and buildings they also have a good range of PDF files for download and these offer a very swift way to get some good looking buildings on the table with a quick bit of re-scaling. 

1. Go to the website and take a good look around
2. Navigate to Scenery and then scroll down to "try our wide range of downloadable buildings"
3. Open a few of the files (right click and open in a new window or tab)
4. Save what you like - I tend to pick on the A3 ones 
5. Print on A4 (sorry UK paper here!) and scale to fit

Nothing complicated here but hopefully this will show you a few nice miniatures, and get you a good looking city on the table in no time. 

First post...

Well this is the first post here - not much to see but something to be getting on with. Hopefully I will start to fill with my views, ideas and work in the world of 6mm wargaming.