Spartan Space Marines

A blast from the past! These are some Games Workshop Space Marines that I painted up for my son, over ten years ago. The bulk of the miniatures are plastic Space Marines with a few metal components. All are customised or converted in some form or another.

The idea for Spartans came from a single image in an out of print magazine called Fantasy which showed a single 90mm Spartan Hoplite in Red, Gold and Black colours.

Last month, I was contacted by my Uncle Ray, who was looking after his grandson, William. William wanted to talk to me about his own plans for a Space Marine/Imperial Guard force and after some time chatting to him on the phone. I decided that I would send him this small group of 16 Space Marines and a couple of pieces of terrain.

The force is split into three main factions - Snake motif.

The Officers or command squad - the Omega Squad.

And the Spartans, which in turn have two sets of shoulder pad designs - an Inverted 'V' and a stylised 'S'.

At the time these were the very first gold painted Space Marines that I had ever come across, but today the Spartan themed uniforms are quite common.

As a painted squad they were intended for gaming and not display, however they have weathered years tucked away in a dusty cupboard quite well.

This scratch-built Dreadnought was intended to be a Cyclops dreadnought and also painted in the Gold colour scheme; I just never got around to it. I did, however build two Scratch Built and wheeled Rhinos, which I sold at some bring-and-buy.

Tony

The Pledge for April 2013.

The Pledge or On-Line Build for April 2013 is an Olive Press. The model is based on this images which I have taken from the Internet, a simple donkey worked stone Olive Press which I believe is situated in a cave in Bethlehem. 

I have wanted to include this tutorial for some time and was prompted into doing so by a similar article published in Battlegames, in fact the last Battlegames prior to being amalgamated into the new Miniature Wargames/Battlegames due later this month.

It is not a new model, the construction having been completed well over a year ago. However I had never got around to painting it and this will be a step-by-step construction and painting tutorial.

For anyone not familiar with 'The Pledge'. This was my attempt to get through some of my Lead Mountain by painting up some miniatures, a group or model per month. For more details see this link. In 2013, I have tried to continue this promise and so far have completed;

• January - Aqua Vitae 
• February - Flash Gordon in a Power Suit
• March - Tarragin for Flash Gordon

See earlier posts.

I find this simple mechanic a great way of reporting progress on my projects every month and would recommend it as a way to reduce your own Lead Mountain and keep a journal of your work.

More to follow and very soon.

Tony

WMMS 2013 Alumwell Wargame Show - part four

Part four is a 'miss-match' of images from the West Midlands Military Show 2013 and some images from earlier shows that I have not yet included in a photo report. 

Sit back and enjoy - Happy Easter.

Tony

Tarragin for Flash Gordon - part five

The Pledge for March 2013 is finished. A single Tarragin or Sharkman armed with a wicked raygun. 

The model has been matt varnished with Galleria Matt Varnish (a water based varnish to which I add some Tamiya X21 Flat Base). Once the varnish is fully dry, I have added both static grass and some foam clumps.

Once again, I have included a 40mm Graven Images Cliff Hanger figure for scale. One of Emperor Ming's evil cronies.

The miniature is a Tarragin with Blaster and Bone Knife (SCPSKU312) for full details go to this link.

Although it is only one figure, I am pleased with this On-Line Build. Next month something a little larger.

Tony

Tarragin for Flash Gordon - part four

A short update. Yesterday I gloss varnished the miniature. I used Ronseal Hardglaze. 

The figure is safely housed in the garage as I wait for the varnish to harden, the cold weather has certainly hampered any attempts at finishing off this single figure but with a promise of more sun over the Easter break, maybe I'll get it finished before the end of March. I have to, I already know what my April pledge is going to be.

In terms of 'The Pledge', this has been a simple challenge, a single mini and a whole month to complete, but March in the West Midlands, has felt more like November in Iceland. I for one will be glad when we can start to venture out without a scarf and gloves.

More to come, but not too much as it is very nearly finished.

Tony

Miniature Wargames 360.....

Two posts in one day and both labelled Miniature Wargames! 

It is not a mistake. Earlier today Sue and I decided that we would visit Stratford-on-Avon as the weather although cold (and still having snow on the ground) was sunny and more importantly dry! We had a great time window shopping and as I had some vouchers for WHSmiths, I called in to check out the latest modelling/wargaming magazines on offer.

Imagine my surprise when leafing through the latest edition of Miniature Wargames (issue 360, April 2013) I saw an article written by me. Bish, Bash, Boche; Pages 72 - 74, showing how I constructed some Halfling Roundhouses for the game S.P.Q.Orc - Pax Bochemannica from Maveryc Games.

It is fair to say that with all the uncertainty surrounding the availability of this newly launched game, I had expected this article to have been put on hold. For those not familiar with the game, search Pax Bochemannica in the labels section of this Blog. or go to this link.

The three page article details how I built three Halfling Roundhouses for use in the Pax Bochemannica demonstration games, planned for earlier this year. This illustration shows the medium size house. Each of the buildings, although unique (they would have to be - they are Halfling Boche Roundhouses) are based on a variety of Google image searches and readily available or existing resin roundhouses.

The same techniques could be used to build more 'historically accurate' Roundhouses or even Saxon structures. Check out the magazine and tell me what you think. From the next issue Miniature Wargames has a new editor; Henry Hyde and the publication now incorporated Battlegames, see this earlier post.

Tony

Miniature Wargames 361

I came across this open letter from Henry Hyde (editor of BattleGames and soon to be editor of Miniature Wargames/Incorporating Battlegames) over on the SFSFW Yahoo Group in which Henry gives his views on  Non-Historical Content in MW.

I found the comments to be very interesting and informative. I had already decided that I would be picking up this newly formatted magazine, even before I read that an article by me was to be featured in the magazine! Here is a clue as to the content.

In the past I have had correspondence with Andrew Hubback (previous editor of MW), who has kindly included two modelling articles written by me in recent issues. Andrew is moving on to new challenges and Henry is taking over the reins at the new magazine. I wish them both the very best of luck in their new ventures.

The new look Miniature Wargames issue 361 is due on the shelves in early April. I shall be searching it out to see how the revised format works.

Tony