As promised and delivered!

Kansu
25ly Spinward of Friesland
October, TW 339

Senior Lieutenant Chang was weary. Another day facing the rebel siege of Firebase Autumn Wind. It had been ten long hellish days for the defenders, holding off hordes of Association guerrillas, they'd been outgunned from the start, a short company of kids just out of depot training managing somehow to hold off a guerrilla regiment backed up by combat engineers and ancestor knew how many mortars.

To make matters worse, all manner of consumables were running low. Division had promised that the new mercenaries were coming to help. But Chang didn't believe such things anymore. He'd already made his peace two days ago, having written letters home, assuming the guerrillas didn't destroy them. His father's disapproving countenance danced in his mind's eye. A noble son of the House of Jade, dying in some dirt poor outpost at the hands of the lesser scum that made up the Association? The shame of the family would be too great.

He heard a low, throaty cough reverberate through the hills surrounding the firebase, Mortars, his mind reported. The firebase's last Calliope had run out of ammunition holding off the last human wave assault on the eastern end of the perimeter. Chang had tried to bluff it out, but the Rebels hadn't fallen for it. They shelled the firebase seemingly at will now. Chang shrugged as the sound continued to travel. What was the point of taking cover? They were all dead anyhow.

It was with a measure of surprise that a cyan bolt snatched several of the shells out of the sky like the hands of an angry god. More blinding bolts began to land amongst the rebel positions to the hills...the fire coming from the western pass. But how? The mercenaries had only been hired some eighteen hours before according to press reports...when Chang could receive them.

Chang turned his viewfinder to the west and focused them on the grey specks throwing up roostertails of dust and gravel feet into the air..spitting out cyan fingers of death with staccato timing. Each burst triggered the anti-blinding measures on his autonoculars.

His headset crackled to life...it was clear, clear as a bell without any of the squealing and popping from Association jamming. "Blossom Six, this is Golf One-Six, sorry we're a touch late, but we're here. The Colonel sends his regards, now, sit back and watch how we Slammers fight. You might learn something. One-Six out!" Chang shook his head in disgust...he hoped they were as competent as they were arrogant.

New Hammers Slammers Book review.

Well,
The Crucible arrived. And from first glance, it was gorgeous. Nice full color photos, glossy pages, hard cover sewn in binding...my only complaint is that some of my pages near the spine stuck together and there was some tearing getting them apart, but no real damage.

So, as for bang for your buck? It depends. If you're:

a) a rabid Hammer's Slammers Fan
b) need dozens of painting ideas.
c) liked the rules from the first two books
d) would like everything in one place.

Then it's worth it if three or more reasons applied. As a art book with rules, I think it admirably serves it's purpose. I was happy to see some mention of 15mm, even if the book is mainly geared to 25mm...and I really am hoping we get 15mm Molts before too long (Down in front GZG!!). But it's a decent product for the price if your interests lie that way. All of the vehicles one sees in 25mm are available for the most part in 15mm, with the exception of a few vehicles, and figures can be substituted when required. All in all I was pretty impressed.

Other than the minor quibbles I mentioned, and the fact I wish they had put the play cards separate. (PDF's better than nothing however), I was pretty happily surprised with the level of production and the new items in the book (Most of it being an amalgam of previous WI articles and stuff from the two old books), which in of itself, is very welcome. Is it pricy, yes. But for the production value, it's better than some of the stuff I see coming out of RPG companies of late.

All in all, I give it 3.5 out of four stars, solid product and worth the money.

Not too much to report, but progress is being made.

Started the third squad of Slammers. I'm about halfway through on basecoats, so I should be done tonight. I figure with some effort, I may FINALLY get the Slammers done next weekend. Hey, I did have things to do this Memorial Day! ;-)

In other news, I got a bunch of vehicles put together, including all my Caffertas and another of my PP Pickup Trucks. I made this one with some Plasticard armor over the windows and an an armored "box" for the truck bed. I think it's going to look great when I paint it! So. I guess I did get some work done.

I took a bunch of stuff down off of the Spring Cleaning thread, and traded them off to Noble Knight, along with a bunch of old XTR ziplock games I am never going to play again. In any event, I am rather happy with the store credit offer I am getting and I do plan to put it to the best use I can, including getting the D8s I really do need. I might finally have enough of them, dagnabit!

I am rather happy with the pace of my 15mm Sci-fi, sure it's slow, but when your eyesight is like mine, I'd rather take my time and save my sight then either rush it or push too hard. I am sure many gamers are in the same boat, and yes, I use A TON of light. I just got a foldup workspace light I really do enjoy. Gets the job done, and it's small and powerful..very recommended and got it for a good price at Utrecht.

I am glad to see AAG's making a lot of progress with Osprey. I am rather ecstatic to see this happen for the crew, good people are hard to find and Shawn and company qualify. Their progress puts many larger companies to shame. And they really do subscribe to the "no game before it's time". Quality shows.

I procured some Rebel Minis Riot Police and the Post-Apoc Survivalists. Both were the usual high quality one can expect from Rebel. The Post Apoc guys were an answer to my prayers especially, as one of them looks a lot like a certain female cyborg for my terminator army....And there's another figure that will do well for John. Yep, the more I can procure, the better. And the Scene's new cyborg line will do well for the older model cyborgs one sees in Terminator Salvation (The rest of the movie, ehh. But, I liked the Machines, with the singular exception of the Mototerminators).

That's it for now, patience all, the rest of the Slammers are coming!

New Blogs and painting

Two freinds of mine have put up new blogs, I'm going to mention them here because I think they need encouragement and a general welcome to blogland.

The first is Kreiger's Wargaming Records. It's got a clean look and the pictures are good quality. I am really enjoying the work he's putting in with the Cafferta from Khurasan. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

The second is GG's Log of Miniature Wargaming. This is another friend of mine who reminds me of me a bit back when. He's only got one post, but his painting work is darn good and I want to encourage him to share more of it on his blog.

As for my own painting? I got another squad of Slammers done, and I hope to get more done this week. Now that I've found a rhythm for painting them, as well as a color scheme I like...it's pretty easy to get the job done. 15s are fun like that. I think I can probably get the lot done by Wed/Thurs at the worst. And when they are done, look for a TFL-style write up for them...I really had fun with that.

In other news, Rebel Minis has released these nifty PA survivors who I think may get added to my Human Resistance army for Terminator...now I just gotta paint the darn lot up!

Not much else left, other than take a look at the Spring Cleaning list, theres a couple more items that are going up as I remember to put them there, and that which is there is going a bit briskly. Also, for those local, our postponed meeting is THIS weekend.

Taking the day off....and I think it will be good for me.

Well,
I updated a story I have been working on, nothing of interest to wargamers, but perhaps I'll post it here if there's requests? Also, been trying to get back into the painting groove, I think tomorrow and Saturday, I'll get some work done on the Hammers Infantry. Ought to be done by the end of the weekend. Of course, there will be pictures!!

Also, I am going to a 28mm Irish Rebellion game set during the Rising of '16 tomorrow. Never gamed that period before. I am looking forward to the game, and who knows, perhaps I'll meet some people to have over to Victory Comics from time to time? I guess if you put your mind to something, you can do it.

Other than that, I am involved in a Battletech Strategic Game that's helping a guy in Australia come up with the action for an alternate 4th Succession War. Ah, give me the days of Hanse and co! That was Battletech!

I might be offering up some 20mm stuff for trade/sale soon. I've gotten better Japanese sculpts and frankly, the Japanese I have aren't all that great, so out the door they will go. They're primed and based, so I should get something decent for them. There will probably be some Skytrex Modern Russians going with it. But I've got to get some time to go through it all.

So, that's it here, just wanted to make sure the blog don't get stale!

Hammers Slammer's 15mm Test Figure

Well, here's the first of the Hammer's Slammers Platoon and may I say, this was better than I thought it would be.

The Combat Cars are done!

Here they are! Next is the Infantry!

More Work in Progress photos of the Combat Cars and a 15mm Pickup for my Human Resistance forces for Terminator.

I thought I'd take another photo session of my Hammers Slammers Combat Cars, as well as a photo of a project I'm working on with some Peter Pig trucks. All I am awaiting now is the Selpduvian Resistance fellas from Khurasan Miniatures. I am going to mix them with the militia types from GZG and I think we'll have something, that with the right paint work, looks darn close to what we saw on the big and small screens to the human resistance fighters.

Anyhow, here's the pics:

And they say running a blog is easy...Hah! New release from GZG for their 25s line...now if only these were in 15s....

But, knowing GZG, I suspect the 15mm line is well in hand. I really like the look of these guys.



The TMP story can be found here

UPDATE: This just in from GZG when I asked Jon about the prospect of these fellas in 15mm:

No plans at the moment, but it's not impossible......

Jon (GZG)

All I can say is, folks, warm up the email and ask, nicely for them. They look great in 25mm and the Molts were a neat, unique race in the fiction I've read. So Jon, what say you sir? Up to the challenge? I think so, what, with all the really nice 15mm releases thus far!

Combat Cars WIP

They're turning out pretty well thus far. I am liking the way they're looking comparable to the scheme on the tanks, which of course, is the point, correct? I am looking forward to finishing these and getting the infantry done.

Comments gang?

Started on the Combat Cars and got some custom decals

I am proving to be very productive of late. I am working on the Hammers Slammers Combat Cars, and I should finish them by next week at the latest. They are a fast paint job, being monochromatic. Heck, I think the weathering and the stowage add some color to what would be some very drab vehicles otherwise. But, that's the way Drake wrote them, and they seem to work for the unit. But, I gotta say, the next unit I paint is going to be a bit more lively.

I am working on color scheme ideas for both the Caliph's Army, as well as the Emir's. As i got custom decals to go with the flags I worked up. They're roundels that match the flag colors. I am liking the shape and unique scheme of the roundels, they have a sci-fi look to them for sure.

I have also been working on detailed TOEs of late, and I'll post them as soon as I have the time. I promise to keep more coming with Djazlah. It's proven to be a popular idea and I want to game it as soon as I can. I have and am getting the figures for the place. 15mm Sci-fi is proving to be quite the place to be in wargaming these days. That's all for now.

A break from Djazlah, The Hammer's Slammers Tanks are done!

Here they are, they're done and IMO, they look great. I found them easy to paint and receptive to some alteration with green stuff and work with stowage. The Decals Express stuff works well too, and they really bring the Hammers Slammers look together. I hope the Combat Cars turn out as nice.

 

 

 

 

The Slammers are coming

The first of my miniature "meanest bastards who ever wrecked a planet for pay!"