"Germans Mister Rico! Zillions of 'em!"

   I've been working on a lot of stuff for the last few days. Strangely, a lot of it is Germans, in two different scales and in two different genres. There's also one other thing at the end. But no spoilers. You want to know what it is, you have to work your way down. All part of my sinister plan. Muah ha ha!

   Let's start with my very first base of FoG Renaissance troops. It is a command stand of Thirty Years War Catholic Germans. I'll let him be Johann Tserclaes, Count Tilly when I am using a Catholic League army, and the Tilly's Veterans regiments that come with them. Figures are 15mm Old Glory. I used GW's Devlan Mud wash for shading. Very happy with the results.

Banner is from warflag.com - an excellent resource

    This next batch is all of the 15mm Imperial German line infantry I have right now. I plan to get another twenty in the future, but this, plus the twenty Aetherbattalion (Seebattalion) I already have. In the background is a stone outcropping I have set up for the jungles of Venus.

 Figures are Black Hat Prussian Line Infantry

   A stealthy assault rises up in the midst of a strong fortification! 6mm VSF German tunneling vehicle which can carry a company of infantry (1 base). The wily Hun attacks from below! I only have one for now, but I want more (three more would be great so that I can transport a full battalion).

Figure is GW Epic 40K

   Finally, what you have all been waiting for: the secret surprise! My as-yet-incomplete Martian two-man skiff. Again, 15mm. The crew are about half-done. The motor needs to be finished as well. I have it mounted on a short brass rod and then into a base I built from three steel washers and some putty.

Skiff by Black Hat Miniatures

End of Month Progress Report [ooc]

So, here's the progress on projects this month.

Deathray cavalry: Have received all figures. Three additional lancers, a musician and the unit leader are painted and assembled, just waiting to be mounted on the rays. After these, I have five more to finish, and the units will be done. I say units because I have two. One is the Prince himself, with standard, musician and four guards. I am considering adding three more gun-armed men to this unit to round it out to a full ten. The other unit consists of a captain, musician and eight lancers.

Martian Personalities: I have painted the Incomparable Dejah Thoris, John Carter, a Martian priest, and a Martian king/hero. The butler/assassin is primed, but hardly painted.

Martian swordsmen: Little progress.

Bombardment Sentinel: Purchased Whirlwind for conversion of rockets to Sentinel. Awaiting arrival.

Gunship, 28mm: Received guns, assembled and primed. Currently on painting table. Trying to decide on magnetic attachment option or permanent fixture.

Gunship, 15mm: Main deck cut out. Primary lower hull section built. Mast section assembled but not cut to final length yet. Re-working cabin section design. Forward lower hull needs final desing and assembly. Guns not ordered; considering ERM fittings. Help with 15mm guns would be appreciated.

Parrotman Huts: Prototype finished. Adjustments still to be made for remaining three huts. Back-burner project.

15mm Papal Troops: Two 90% painted as prototypes.

Mordian/German Special Weapons: About 70% painted on lieutenant, sergeant, grenadier, and three riflemen, plus two mortarmen and melta-gunner.

Gex/Gaters: Decided to send to be painted, as I am never going to get around to them. Looking for painting service in US.

That's pretty much everything that's even remotely active for right now. I am hoping to get some projects finished in March, letting me get back to some older projects that have been on hold for a while.

Second battle of Ghola coming up Soon!

Yes, friends, it seems that the small Martian village of Ghola shall once again be split asunder by modern warfare.

Martian agents recovered the Sacred Orb from British hands and returned it to the Shrine at Ghola. The British are sending an expeditionary force to recover their trophy and punish the natives, and the French have come to stick their noses into Her Majesty's affairs yet again. These continued incursions into territory which clearly falls into the British Martian Crown Colony's control by the French may provoke a wider conflict.

The native Gholani are again assisted by units of 'volunteers' from the Galforrian Empire. Those devils never learn.

Battle will no doubt be joined this Saturday morning, and should last until early afternoon at the latest. It is hoped that this time there shall be a proper report after the action.

Rules used are GASLIGHT. Figures come from both Stone Mountain (for the French and the British) and Black Hat (for all Martians, including the sepoys). The steam-powered war machines of the French and British started life as MageKnights and D&D Miniatures figures, by WizKids and Wizards of the Coast, respectively.

Reinforcements Have Arrived!

Thanks to Mark over at Scale Creep (check them out at http://www.scalecreep.com/ - great to do business with) for dispatching reinforcements so rapidly. An additional unit of regular Martian infantry, armed with swords (Black Hat's 18mm Imperial Martians with Swords) and their command, complete with standard, horn and drum, shall soon assist the Emerald Legion. Being regulars, they are unarmored, but just as eager for a fight, and much lighter on their feet.

For Her Majesty's forces, a Prince Royal-class Heavy Steam Landship has been assembled. Once it's ordnance is mounted and it receives a protective coating of paint, it will be ready for battle! (Again, a Black Hat product, the heavy tank with the wheel kit)

Photostats shall be disseminated in a timely manner, I assure you.

31 January 2008

Good day sirs!

A simple update post tonight. I am keeping to the Pledge, even though I ordered some additional miniatures last night via difference engine. The good folks at Scale Creep have already informed me that my order has been placed in the post. I ordered Black Hat's Imperial Martians with Swords and Imperial Martian Command, totalling 32 figures. I probably should have gone ahead and ordered a fourth pack of the swordsmen. Oh well, an additional order will be forthcoming soon, I have little doubt.

Back to the Pledge. If you have never heard of this oath, it is a common enough thing on The Miniatures Page, a telephonic exchange board you can find here: www.theminiaturespage.com. The Pledge is simply this: I will not purchase more miniatures than I paint in 2008. The idea is to reduce the mountain of bare lead figures that haunt my gameroom.

The tally for this year so far is 40 15mm miniatures painted, including what I have done of the Emerald Legion so far. I have an additional 30 miniatures almost done, lacking only basing or basing and Magic Dip and a quick dust of matte clear coat. These are Stone Mountain Pathans, additional pavises, and some Old Glory British artillery crew. Need to finish their gun as well, so that I'll be ready to fire shrapnel at the Johnnies, what?

Well, until next month (ha!), I bid you a bloody war or a sickly season!

Martian Gun Photostat

Gentlemen,

Below, is a photostat of a typical Martian native gun team (Black Hat Miniatures). Although their guns are primitive, and the crew is next to naked, do not discount their potential. The guns are breechloading, with cartridges. The purpose of the 'rammer' crewman is unknown, although it is thought that his function is to swab the barrel from the breech. Also, as the carriage is capable of hovering above the ground, it is a highly mobile gun, capable of maintiaining a march pace with crewmen pulling it in relays.
Additional photostats of this weapon and other Martian natives can be found at the following telephonic difference web location:
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t225/jwomack94/VSF%20-%2015mm/Martian/

Enjoy, and beware.