31 January 2010

Did I have a productive weekend!

I got a lot done on the 15mm front this weekend, the TFL are almost done. I think we will see pics next weekend as all I need to do is flock the figures, decal the vehicles and seal the lot, and then, we have a completed TFL force. I am really enjoying seeing these figures come together. The Wombats from GZG are a simple pleasure to paint and they complement the infantry well.

Right now, the figures are based on pennies and I am doing the wet Liquitex, then sand over the figures. It's not meant to be complicated and since most of Aurore is desert, that base seems to work. I wish someone made blue-green clump foliage. It would complement the sand well, but c'est'la vie.

In any case, stay tuned for a really neat looking army.

Also printed out my copy of Ambush Valley. I'm torn about doing Vietnam...I'd probably do it in 20mm and I gave it a run in HS, but it never seemed to get off the ground. I have the figures for the US troops as I was intending on using them for 2nd line types for Twilight 2000. However, the boat rules are darn useful...and the "improved guerrillas" rules...they're perfect for insurgent armies like the VC who were pretty hardly little fellows. I'm thinking certain sci-fi projects would benefit...like the Sahadeen perhaps?

24 January 2010

WIP TFL 15mm Sci-Fi

Well,
I'm not QUITE done, but I have made some real progress. I am working on as you all know, a Ramrod Platoon of the Tanstaffl Free Legion.

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The original color plate from the Aurore Sourcebook, included for comparison purposes only and not intended as a copyright challenge.

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A Roo analogue, it's a Wombat II from Ground Zero Games 15mm Line...the resemblance is uncanny.

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Figures are by Force XXI Miniatures, they're not bad and look good beside miniatures from other lines.

The methods to paint were simple, a method I found in the tutorial section of the Guild Wargamers website.

Comments?

22 January 2010

Not much going on, but expect more soon!

Well, due to the fact I need new spectacles (and am getting them Tuesday), my painting schedule has taken a bit of a hiatus. But, I have made some forward progress on the 15mm Tanstaffl Free Legion I've been working on in 15mm, and I am rather happy with the lads, as soon as that's done, I plan on working on some other armies, probably some USCM types for Aliens...now if only somebody could tell me where I can get a decent 15mm analogue for the M577 APC? I'd be happy.

On the CBT front, I need to do finishing touches on the last of my 4th Donegal Guards company, then finish up a ELH company, and then? I dunno, there's a couple of lance and single sized units I'd like to build up, but for some reason, working on a generic Marik Company also sounds appealing. I think I have some interesting stuff to fill that out with.

Not much going on in 20mm right now, I barely have enough time to paint as it is...but I think things will improve shortly.

I also expect to post some reviews of some product I've managed to procure recently from Rebel, Top Gun and QRF.

A note to all who have supported this blog and my endeavors...THANKS!

08 January 2010

Wow, I guess we can call this a sucess!

More from Jon from yesterday!

OK, many thanks to all who have applied so far, can I please ask you now to STOP sending further applications until I have the chance to sort through the ones we have received already?!
We've had a positive deluge of replies in less than 24 hours, and I think that I've now got more than enough to choose from for the first round of this project. I'm going to whittle it down to a shortlist (partly by style/quality and partly by the BF you have asked for, so if you've chosen one of the less popular ones then you may have a better chance!) and then choose the final ones by random draw.
Thanks again to EVERYONE who has applied, there are too many of you for me to reply individually to all your emails but I'll let you know within a few days if you have been successful. The sets will go out to the successful applicants sometime in the next couple of weeks, I hope, once we are completely caught up after the holiday break (paid-for orders must come first!).
I will update everyone on the project soon.
Best,

Jon (GZG)

07 January 2010

One of the coolest Sci-Fi deals EVER!

From Jon at GZG!

Hi all, hope 2010 is being good to you so far!

I want to put to you all an idea that came about from a conversation I had this morning with Paul Owen (our esteemed Web admin); we were discussing the fact that while we are now trying to ensure we get photos for the webstore of all the individual new codes we release, we have none showing the special pack deals that we offer.
We'd like to have some good quality pics that really show off the pack deals to best advantage, and there is simply no way I will ever get round to having the time to do this myself - so we're asking if some of you would like to do it.


Most of you are probably familiar with the BATTLEFORCE deals we offer on the 15mm Stargrunt range figures and vehicles - you get a good core force to start your army; the exact composition depends on the pack you choose, but in general you get a combined arms group consisting of a section or platoon of armour, a platoon of mechanised infantry plus (where applicable) a mix of support, recon, command elements etc., with various accessories and extras thrown in as well - over £75.00 worth of minis for a deal price of £60.00.

Now, we want to give some of these BF deal packs away FREE (we'll even send it to you post free)!

The catch is, in return for one of these FREE packs we want you to commit to ASSEMBLING AND PAINTING the minis in a reasonably short timeframe, and sending us some decent photos of them which we can use to illustrate the pack contents on our webstore, in adverts and so on.

Obviously, you get to keep all the minis - all we want are the pictures. You'll be putting in a good few hours of your hobby time, but in return you'll have a finished army that you can use at no financial outlay - so everybody wins! ;-)

We WOULD ask to see a pic or two of previous stuff that you've painted (it doesn't have to be anything of ours, just something to show your style) when you apply, but please don't be put off if you don't think your work is of the highest standard. We are not asking for prizewinning painting levels, though obviously we do want the results to look competent and attractive. Even simple paint jobs (sprayed basecoat and some washing/drybrushing) can look fine, and in many ways these actually show the lines of the minis better than things like complex camo patterns. What we need is a few of you who are prepared to commit the time and effort to actually getting the job done, so please don't respond if you don't have both the enthusiasm and the free time available in the near future.

Just as a final incentive, while I've said that we don't need an incredibly high standard, we WILL give something extra as a PRIZE for the most attractive finished force after we get them all in!

Quantity-wise, we're talking about in the region of ten to a dozen vehicles and forty to fifty infantry figures (which may be single or fireteam-based to your choice) in each BF deal, exact numbers depending on which pack it is.

So, IF you can fulfill all of the following.......

1) you can commit to building, painting and photographing a force of that size in a reasonably fast timeframe (we're looking at ideally around 4 to 6 weeks from you receiving the parcel from us).

2) you have a reasonable standard of painting and modelling skill - sufficient to make the minis look attractive at tabletop viewing distance, we don't need exhibition standard but we don't want splodgy messes either!

3) you have (or have access to) the facilities and equipment to take a number of qood quality, well lit, in-focus shots of the finished minis, in groups and singly, and send the results to us by email.

4) you'd like about £75 worth of completely FREE minis in return for some time and effort....

...then please drop me a line directly, to . Please attach at least one pic of an example of your painting, and please let me know which one(s) of the following forces you would be most interested in doing:

TRACKED force
HOVER (GEV) force
WALKER force
EARLY GRAV force
HI-TECH GRAV force
HI-MOBILITY WHEELED force
KRA'VAK grav vehicle force
8-WHEELER force*
AIRMOBILE (VTOL) force*
ADVANCED GRAV force*

(* these are ones where we haven't yet sorted out BF deals on them, but I want to gauge interest in doing them....).

We will need to get ONE of each force type done, so if you want to give us several options in order of preference then that would make things easier rather than everybody wanting to do one type!
Please note that the INFANTRY nationality supplied with each force will be to OUR choice, because we want to depict a good spread of options, but if you have any particular likes/dislike feel free to mention them and we'll try to take that into account.

IMPORTANT: by replying to this request, you are merely expressing interest - you are NOT actually committing yourself (or us) to anything at this stage - we won't send anything out to anybody until we've confirmed and agreed everything by email. However, by responding you do affirm that you are able to fulfill the criteria mentioned above. Obviously we do reserve the right to make all decisions about which offers we accept and reject.

I'm posting this here on the GZG list first, but will probably follow it up with postings to places like TMP, SFSFW, Dropship Horizon and so on - but all you listers are getting to see it first - so over to you.....

Jon (GZG)

PS: IF we get enough response to this and it actually works out OK, then we might consider extending it to cover the Fleet Deals of FT ships too...... ;-)