Wednesday 24 June 2015

6mm Sci-Fi/Post Apoc Project (I) - Scenics



Whenever I set out on a project I like it to be a "self-sufficient" project that is I like to build both sides of a particular conflict and have suitable terrain, relevant templates, crib-sheets etc, so that I don't have to worry about anyone forgetting to bring that vital piece of kit.

With that in mind and having recently completed two 6mm Sci-Fi armies, I had a look through my terrain box to see what suitable stuff I had. I don't lack hills, woods and other generic stuff in this scale but wanted some Sci-Fi specific pieces.

Somehow I had managed to keep hold of most of the old GW original cardstock Epic buildings and a few from the later release (the taller buildings), even more surprisingly I still had a few of the GW Epic polystyrene buildings though they were very battered and I didn't have two matching halves anymore.



 As I am sure most of us have, I have a big box of shiny bits, things that I have found lying around, or off cuts from sprues, bottle tops, parts of old models etc in other words a Bitz Box. I had always planned on using some of this junk for a Sci-fi scenery project so in I delved.

My aims were simple; keep it small, make it quick, make it suitable for both Epic and a Post Apocalyptic setting, and with no additional expense.

Thus armed with cheapo Poundland Superglue and Wilco tester pot paints and the aforementioned bottle tops, I knocked together these:












Some of the pieces came from Dark Realm Miniatures  Weapons Platform pack.

I also had a few of the Angel Barracks buildings that I had picked up last year with this project in mind, that I set up as a sort of Post Apoc camp:




 And some Angel Barracks roads (the walls are some bits of packaging suitably painted):



I then took to work on the old GW Epic polystyrene buildings, these had been around the block, a few of them had been sprayed at some point and I had carved battlements in to them many years ago when I planned on turning them into castle of some sort. I was just planning on painting them, but the sheer amount of windows that would have to be painted and the fact that the rear of the building was hollowed out and meant to attach to another half meant I had to get the trusty craft knife to them.

I cut out each window and all the marked doorways. In the hollow rear, I cut out doorways and floors or at least ruined versions of them, a couple of coats of paint and they look loads better than what they did and as a bonus they will also work for my 6mm WW2 stuff:





I also found a Forgeworld bunker in the box of bits, I had sold the Defence line/Bunker set sometime ago but this must have avoided the cull, plus I had an Old Crow miniatures power plant:


Some old Micro-Machines stuff which again just needed a lick of paint:


Plus a few oddly eroded pebbles off the drive:


The whole lot almost fills a 2ftx2ft board:


Finally a mate gave me some little wooden houses with fairy lights in them, they were soon dismantled and re-formed, again this piece will work for WW2 and also my 10mm Fantasy stuff:








Currently I am finishing off the few 6mm Post Apoc cars that I have in anticipation of Microworld Games upcoming range, starting the mammoth task that is my Epic Imperial Guard army, and looking out for my package containing a Microworld 6mm Fantasy Wood Elf army.

Saturday 13 June 2015

An Epic Tale (II) - The Eldar


This is a project I never really intended to do, I already have three decent size Epic armies and had no real need for a fourth. However late last year a very generous chap at the club noticed our little resurgence in interest in Epic and gave us a box of Eldar. Neither of my mates were particularly interested in the Eldar so I took them, I was expecting a box full of old school Guardians and wedge shape Grav-Tanks. I was pleasantly surprised to find they were all the more recent sculpts including various Grav-Tanks, Walkers, Aspect warriors, Warlocks, etc.

The whole lot had been dry-brushed in various shades of grey and looked really nice, they just needed some details picking out and they would be ready to go. Sadly my Space Marine army was in the process of being painted up in ...grey!! So firstly I couldn't have two armies in the same paint scheme and secondly I don't think grey really suits the Eldar. I had always liked the blue and yellow scheme of Alaitoc Craftworld so went with them, besides it looked the easiest!

Colours decided on I looked over the troops I had been gifted to see what sort of force I could make from them. Though it was a great core force, it was mainly infantry and needed rounding out. After raiding my bits box for the last few Eldar I had to help make up a few stands, I tried various Facebook groups and then the dreaded E-Bay. Firstly I needed a Titan, and also some heavy support - Spinners and a Cobra, a few more Aspect warriors and Walkers were soon added and finally some flyers. I spent just under £50 in total, more than I had hoped but for the size of the force (4755 points) I have ended up with I really can't complain.


  The whole army.

 Ranger Troupe

 War Walker Troupe
 
 Engine of Vaul - Cobra
 
 Phantom class Titan
 
 The Avatar
 
 Guardian Warhost 1
 
 Sword of Vaul Troupe 1
 
 Wind Rider Troupe 1

 Aspect Warrior Host 1

 Guardian Warhost 2
 
  Sword of Vaul Troupe 2
 
 Nightwing Troupe
 
 Night Spinner Troupe

 Wind Rider Troupe 2
 
  Sword of Vaul Troupe 3
 
 Aspect Warrior Host 2

  Guardian Warhost 3


Ideally I would like to add a couple more units to the army, mainly in the shape of Super Heavies, but alas funds, priorities etc have seen these put on the wish list rather than the must have at all costs list. Though I should be getting my hands on a scratch-built Wraith Gate soon.

Oh and as a post script to my last Epic Tale I did finally get around to painting the Thunderhawk that nicely finished off my Marine army:


Just about finished off a load of 6mm Sci-Fi/Post-Apoc scenery which I'll post up soon.