C is for Chuhuac

CHUHUAC

   The brainchild of a friend of mine, Eli Arndt, the Chuhuac are the first release from his boutique minis company, Loud Ninja Games. Chuhuac are high tech raptors on the newer 'semi-avian' model. The Chuhuac project was an ambitious one, and it took longer than expected (what minis project doesn't?). However, it looks as if most of the people who got in on the Kickstarter that Eli used to finance the project are happy with what they have received. They are also now available for sale at 15mm.co.uk. (Yes, I am plugging them for a friend, but they are really cool).

   One of the things that Eli did that I liked was he tried very hard to do a pretty somprehensive rollout of the figures. That was part of the reason for the Kickstarter. Instead of just offering one or two packs of infantry, he commissioned infantry, special weapons, power armor, APCs and jet bike cavalry, plus leaders, etc., all at one go. So instead of waiting for anything, you can just pick up a pretty complete basic force right away. This is a big plus, and a move that I hope more game companies will move towards.

   So, on to the eye candy. None of these images are mine (haven't got any painted up yet).

Raptor Jet Bikes - possibly my favorite minis of the line

Battlesuits and a Herdmaster

Chuhuac Alpha Troopers

Concept artwork

The APC (no painted pics I could find)

Lead Painters League, Week One

   For those of you who are not familiar with the Lead Painters' League, it is a ten week competition held by Lead Adventure Forum (LAF) every year, starting in the spring. Each week the contestants submit a photograph of a group of painted miniatures, and the team is pitted head to head against a randomly selected opponent. On Sunday morning, the new round is unveiled. Forum members then have a week to vote on each matchup. Points are accumulated for winning a round (30), losing a round (10), or a draw (20), plus bonus points for 'new' teams (10), certain themed rounds (10 or 25), and number of votes garnered (1/50 votes). The highest point total at the end of the ten weeks is declared the winner. This is the 8th 'Season' of LPL, and the first time I have entered.

   As of this writing (I am scheduling this to post after the round ends on Saturday, but writing early Wednesday morning), I am winning my first round matchup with a comfortable lead. The photo above is the team I entered, titled "Bottom of the Dungeon Food Chain." One of the rules is that you can not post photos of an active team, but it is okay to do so afterwards. This is why you haven't seen many photos of newly painted minis lately on Scattergun Gamer - most of my painting time has been devoted to getting teams ready for the LPL! I have already delivered 3 teams, and have two more awaiting photography (Rounds 4 and 6, respectively). My Round 5 team is on order (special bonus theme: Ancients), and my Round 7 team is almost finished on the paint table (no hints).

   Anyway, wish me luck, and go check out the entries. I'm not going to win it all, because while I think I am reasonably skilled, some of the competitors are amazing. But there is a lot of really inspiring work to be seen in the entries. Sign up (it's free, and no spam) and you can vote, too! Wish me luck!

B is for Bugs

BUGS

   "Bugs Mister Rico! Millions of 'em!"

   I don't know if Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers was the first novel to include semi-mindless spacefaring insects as a threat to humanity, but they are the earliest of which I am aware. Since then, of course, bugs have been a fan favorite. They're icky, and dangerous, and scary. I love 'em. I am NOT including intelligent insectoid species in this grouping - just the really buggy bugs.

Rebel Miniatures Terror Mites

Khurasan Miniatures Parasachnid Bugs

   Please note that if I were not trying to limit myself to just 15mm scale miniatures, I would be including the really incredible Starship Troopers Arachnids produced by Mongoose Publishing. Very scary buggies, but way too big for 15mm gaming.

A is for Aliens

ALIENS

   No, not the movie. Even though it was a classic. "I say we go back to the ship and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure." YES!

   Anyway, in a stunning array of forms, ALIENS are one of the things that make science fiction gaming so appealing. All of those non-human races just ooze style and character. While most are anthropomorphic, not everyone makes bipedal aliens. Just look at Khurasan Miniatures' Molch, Vespalids, or Cnidarians! Or the Vergans or the Slurmite from 15mm.co.uk, just to name a few. The Molch are especially 'alien' looking to me.

   Not that I hate bipedal aliens - you can bet that they will be appearing in significant numbers later on through this A to Z! I'll be checking out the various 15mm science fiction manufacturers to highlight some of the products they have to offer. I don't get any kind of financial reward for this - just the fun of pointing out some neat minis. So, that's what you can expect to see in this series, plus some of the concepts of science fiction that make it so interesting to me. 

   I would like to say I will put up a new letter every day, but that just isn't going to happen. So, sit back, grab a beverage, and enjoy. Also, let me know what you think about my choices. Sometimes I am going to be overwhelmed with good choices for a particular letter, and I have to pick just one. If you think of something else, please make a comment!

An Interesting Project

   Norm Smith on TMP began a new project back in January, to create a small scale gaming set for multiple eras. He is chronicling his progress on his blog, Battlefields and Warriors. It's a very interesting project, and his detailed explanations of what he has done and why make for some very interesting reading. This could be a template for anyone else who is considering a major gaming project. Very much worth your time, I believe, and so I have created links to each of the posts to date, below.

Introduction

29 January, 2014

First Month Update

20 February, 2014

Second Month Update 

23 March, 2014

   He has an artistic style at the top of the two monthly updates that I find quite attractive, to be sure. It's a photo of a terrain piece that has been somehow digitally (I assume) transformed into a Van Gogh-esque "painting." Below is the February example, so that you can see what I mean. I don't know how he did it, but I certainly like it.

   At any rate, I believe it is certainly worth the time to pop over and check it out. Encourage him to continue this interesting project in creating small scale gaming for a small scale living space.