Bugman command

Here is a 'blast from the past', a group of early Games Workshop/Citadel miniatures - Bugman Rangers, including the great brewer himself, his personal standard and a musician.

The figures were painted many years ago and originally individually based on 20mm x 20mm card bases, however some years later I saw a beautifully painted display piece at the Games Workshop store in Merry Hill, Dudley, West Midlands. A group of cossacks on a rock and snow base and after discussing the piece with the manager I wanted to try out the technique.

I cut two GW 40mm x 40mm bases and glued them back together as a single 60mm x 40mm display base. (You need to strengthen the underside of the base or it will warp). The three miniatures were first glued onto small blocks of scrap balsawood, while the groundwork was built up from actual rock and Milliput before being painted and varnished. Later when I was sure the base was fully dry I added the snow - white PVA glue and caster sugar!

When set I added some highlights with pure white acrylic paint and varnished the snow with acrylic varnish. The final step was adding static grass.

I had intended building and painting more dwarf displays using the same technique, but after painting a group of Gripping Beast Dwarves, and mounting them in the same way (painted with black and white uniforms, as featured on the GB website and a red dragon pendent) the urge subsided! The Gripping Beast Dwarves were later sold at a 'bring-and-buy' stand.

I still have very fond memories of actually gaming with these pieces nearly twenty years ago!

Tony

The black background was a test suggested to me by my son. I think it looks OK, but I'll be sticking with my pale blue backdrop in future.

Flash Gordon - chapter three

Flash Gordon chapter three

Dale had been taken prisoner by a group of Ming’s elite troops, who are now making their way to the nearest rocketship launch pad. Dale has been treated well but now notices that the soldier are uneasy and nervous, there doesn’t seem too be anything amiss, everything looks the same - but then the howling starts and in seconds the troops pick up speed and bundle Dale forward towards the West.

This particular chapter is a chase to see who can leave the western edge quicker, Ming’s troops with Dale or………

Board; Using the same 2 foot x 2 foot open terrain board as before but with trees only to the Eastern edge, the troopers and Dale emerge from the tree line and start a dash to the Western table edge, I would expect some cover (stones, shrubs etc, but no trees or heavy cover).

Four to six Ming’s troopers, one officer and Dale. Ming’s troopers are armed with either raygun rifles or raygun pistols. Dale has a hidden hat pin and her feminine charms!

Use which ever monster models you may have (Orcs, zombies, monkeys, Kroot etc) but make them fast and entering from the North and South edges. The monsters are armed as the model (WYSIWYG). Once killed have them enter again, and again, have some sort of negative morale effect on the Troopers as these monster are normally hunted by Ming and this is their opportunity to kill a few of their hated enemy.

A simple race to the table edge. One exception ‘can Dale use the attack as cover for escape?’ Dale will not be targeted by the monsters as they do not recognise her as either their enemy or food!

No encounter markers this time, although there could be a random roll to see if Flash or Dr Zarkov arrive in time to have an effect or Hawkmen arrive to help the troopers. I would envisage this particular chapter to be a perfect example of a hunt or chase to the death with the opportunity to ‘chuck on loads of mooks’. If you are still interested, keep a record of the results from all three chapters and see if they have an effect on Chapter four. Coming soon to a cinema near you.

Tony

August Bank Holiday Monday

Work has been busy this month, so the Bank Holiday was a welcome retreat. I am still modelling the Flintloque Large Farm House and would expect to start painting very soon. I have just finished the Lizardman Champion from Lance & Laser and will take photos of the completed miniature soon. The Yussem was painted some time ago, but checking through my old photo album, I saw that I had not posted a picture or comment on this Blog. There are a couple of Flash Gordon figures that still need to be posted and these will need to be done soon.

I have started another 2foot x 2foot themed terrain board - the long awaited Crashed Rocket Ship board. The main reason for starting it this weekend was that I had the time to build the sub-frame, once this is built I find that I can go back and forth to the project when ever I have the time. I am terrible for starting and not finishing projects (but anyone who follows this Blog will know that!)

Next week I will have very little time for modelling or painting, but will hopefully catch up with all my partially finished projects between now an Christmas.

Ideas for future projects include - Hydra Legionnaire Robots, converted to the Flash Gordon animated series robots, more on the Crashed Rocket Ship board, A Flash Gordon Ming lackey figure with gas mask and a set of French Aeronef's.

In addition I seam to have volunteered to build a Flintloque windmill. I've not even thought about how to proceed, but with a short deadline this project may have to take priority.

I'll keep the Blog updated.

Tony

Flash Gordon - Yuzzem

This hairy ape is a Star Wars miniature, Yuzzem (45/60 Fringe 18) bought for less than £2.00 from Wayland Forge, Birmingham. It has been re-based and re-painted, but is pretty much stock. Like many Star Wars CMG figures it is very well sculpted and required little in the way of clean up. I had thought about changing the gun, but in the end left it unchanged.

The miniature is mounted on a 40mm round base and stands 55mm tall. The figure was glued and pinned to a cork 'rock', before the whole miniature (and base) was painted with dilute PVA glue. As the miniature was quite light, I mounted a couple of small coins to the underside of the base - this is something that I regularly do with less weighty models.

In the wargame rules book - 'Fantastic Worlds' by Rattrap Productions there is a race of ape-like creatures called Nazree. I believe that this is a perfect 'stand-in' miniature for the Nazree.

Tony

Flash Gordon chapter two

Flash Gordon chapter two

Dale had been taken prisoner by a group of Ming’s elite troops, who are now making their way to the nearest rocketship launch pad. Dr. Zarkov and a squad of Mongo soldiers have been tracking the group through an infested marsh/wooded area.

The second scenario takes place on the outskirts of a small copse of trees, where the group led by Zarkov sees a group of Ming’s pioneer troops working on a damaged vehicle. After watching the activities from cover for a short time Zarkov has to decide how he proceeds.

The Mongo soldiers are all for attacking the pioneers and taking advantage of the element of surprise. Zarkov must maintain his authority over the group while still continuing with the search for Dale. (I would suggest some sort of random test to check the moral of the Mongo soldiers and Zarkov’s authority to see if they attack or not each turn).

Forces;
Zarkov with one Mongo sergeant and four Mongo soldiers armed with either ray guns or pistols.

Six Ming’s Pioneer Troops, including Morgo, the officer, armed with either ray guns or ray pistols. But one figure is also equipped with an explosives pack to blow up the damaged vehicle. (Identify the figure in some way – a sticker to the base, possibly).

Board;
A 2 foot x 2 foot board with a crippled vehicle in the centre and trees to the East side. Additional trees, bushes or rocks can be added.

Encounters;
13 cards
Ace through three A major clue to the whereabouts of Dale
4 to 6 A false clue dice against BR to see if the character can identify it as a false clue.
7 to 9 The explosive charge has been set and we are now on countdown to the vehicle exploding – throw a D6 at the beginning of the turn after the pack is placed and on a 6 the vehicle will explode – this is to add some doubt to when the explosive charge will go up.
10 A group of Beastmen/Lionmen appear on the board and are hostile to all groups on the table.
Picture cards Tools or equipment needed to repair the damaged vehicle. Any one will repair part of the vehicle any two all of the vehicle.

Please note that the explosive charge is not a huge BANG, just enough to destroy the radio communications and the radar display machine, although if you wanted to have a random generated big BANG – then go ahead. Once the explosive pack is set Ming’s Pioneers will leave the board very quickly!

The scenario idea is that Zarkov can hold back the Mongo soldiers from an all out attack and find the equipment to repair the damaged vehicle (using his knowledge and skills). In addition Zarkov can disarm the explosive pack with ease provided that he is within 1 inch of the pack.

Once the vehicle is repaired – even partially, the whereabouts of Dale (and Flash) will be apparent.

Tony

Flintloque - Large Farm House part twelve

This latest batch of four photos show most of the sculpting work complete, the main structure is finished, I just have to add the doors and some textured groundwork - sand over PVA glue.




In greater detail; The base or groundwork has been built up with 'DAS' modelling clay over white PVA glue. Resin casings have been added and again built into the ground rather than standing on top of it.

Once the 'DAS' was dry I heated up the oven so it was warm, then switched off the heating element (I did not want to have a repeat of earlier mishaps) and placed the whole structure in to the oven and left it for nearly one hour - this was to ensure that the 'DAS' was fully dry before going on to the next stage.

I mixed up a tub of water and PVA glue 50-50 and painted the whole building and base - the warm 'DAS' just 'sucked' up the glue and water mixture which I hope will strengthen the sculpture prior to painting. I am not sure about this technique, but have used it on 'DAS' models before - and it seams to work.

Once this was done, I placed the house back in to the warm oven and allowed the glue and water to dry. I repeated the whole process and once I was certain the model was dry I painted the model with artists acrylic Gesso. 'White Acrylic Gesso', which is why the photos look so bright!

The base has had paving stones or flagstones added - these are 3mm thick plastic card (the softer version) which is cut to shape, sanded and once I am happy with the finished shape I hit the plastic flagstones with a real stone to give additional stone texture. 'DAS' is used to blend everything in.

Tony

Flash Gordon - chapter one

The following ‘Fantastic Worlds’ based scenarios were written as a campaign or simple group of linked scenarios. They draw heavily on the Alex Raymond Flash Gordon cartoon strip and were intended to be used as a 13 part chapter based campaign which should end with Flash Gordon being victorious and Ming overthrown. Any other outcome would have been rejected by the editor!

Flash Gordon chapter one

Dale has been taken prisoner by a group of Ming’s elite troops, who were now making their way to the nearest rocketship launch pad.

Flash, Thun the Lionman and Prince Balin were leading the pursuit, ever mindful that Hawkmen are patrolling the skies under strict orders from Ming, to find Dale.

The first scenario takes place in a small clearing with Flash, Thun and Balin entering from the East. The group take time to rest but Thun is ever watchful and just before they start off again Thun says; something big – over to the right, been tracking us for some time.
Flash; have you’ve seen it?
Thun; no.
Flash; you’ve heard it?
Thun; no,
Flash; then you’ve seen the tracks?
Thun; no.
Balin; so how do you know?
Thun; I’ve felt it.
Balin; that’s bad!

The group of three heroes now need to decide if they make a break for the West side, or continue to track the group of Ming’s troopers and Dale. If the make a dash they could miss clues/encounters, while if they linger – what is it that is tracking them?

Board;
A 2 foot x 2 foot wooded area with a clearing to the centre. Add trees to the outer edges and some rocks.

Encounters;
13 cards
Ace through three; A major clue to the whereabouts of Dale.
Four to six; A false clue (throw a die to see if the group can detect it as a lie – 1-3 seen as true and therefore Dale is lost for at least one additional scenario, 4-6 seen as false and the search goes on).
Seven to eight; Hawkmen attack (three armed Hawkmen swoop down on the group).
Nine; Attacked by a Tree Lizard.
Ten; Encounter a wounded Ming Trooper – who can give additional information on the whereabouts of Dale but if treated will hold up the search.
Picture cards; A major encounter with a huge creature – dinosaur, monster, wild creature, what ever you have available.

The ideal scenario is to pick up some encounter cards as quickly as possible, but hope that the major encounter (a picture card) is not one of the cards picked up.

Tony