Blood on the Sands: Size comparison

 Size comparison between the Blood on the Sands Gladiators and William Killian and an Oathmark Human Heavy Infantry figure.

Planetfall - Contact!

 The third introductory scenario involves your Troopers facing off with a number of creatures.

Continuing the Anvil sourced figures, the Zone Lurkers make an interesting creature for the scenario (and for subsequent hostiles).

There are only two poses, which is a limitation, but some Gamer's Grass Gnarled Branches make the bases different.

They were undercoated with Army Painter Angel Green spray, which turned out a bit shiny. A coat of Army painter Angel Green paint flattened it off.The mouth was Citadel  Mephiston Red and the eyes Citadel Averland Sunset.

The initial drybrush was with Citadel Nurgling Green with Citadel Terminatus Stone on the quills and teeth. 

Two Scouts defend themselves.

All six figures.

North Star Bohemian Knights with Hand Weapons

 North Star have started a new range of multi-part plastic figures for the Hussite Wars 1419 - 1436.

The first release are Bohemian Knights.

The box is similar in proprtions to the Frostgrave Knights and Wizards boxes.

The box contains two infantry sprues and one Command sprue. This builds a total of 18 figures.

The Infantry sprue:

The bodies have torsos and legs (the heads are integrated into the torso except for one of the optional command torsos).

The Command Sprue:

Note that there are not a full set of shields for all figures. At this point in armour design, the shield was becoming of less use as the plate armour covered more of the body.

Planetfall - Hab Pod

 The initial colony buildings on UVS-1534 are built from modules brought with the colony ship.

This is the Family size pod - designed to provide accommodation for a family or group of workers.

Anya Fulstrom stands outside the first pod deployed on UVS-1534.

There are two optional, large windows front and back once the security of the colony is assured. Initially protective doors provide security.

There is a 

The building is currently sold by Sarissa Precision as a Zone Theta - Hab Pod.

This particular example was bought at Salute a long time ago. So long ago I have forgotten, but there is a reference to a Sarissa Hab Pod from 2012 (though I was talking about the Warmill Portable Utility Pod and comparing the materials), so possibly Salute 2012 or 2011?

Planetfall - Troopers and Scientists

 Here are two Troopers and two Scientists for the team being deployed to UVS-1534.

The Troopers are Anvil Female Drop Troopers (in moulded resin). The Scientists are Anvil Alliance Away Team (one male, one female).

There are two more Troopers assembled, and all are in the process of being painted.

Warhammer Tone Pro Test piece

 Games Workshop are about to release their new concept paints (as Warhammer not Citadel).

The Pro Tone range comprises 30 groups of five tones (similar to the Triad system).

At my local shop, they had some of the paints and some figures to try them on.

I got to try them out on a Primaris Space Marine (with a flamer).

The paint coverage was good, the colour appearing bright with just one coat.

The paints also work well as dry brush colours. 

The yellow is a bit weak because I did not start with a dry brush (having washed the blue off).

Once the time was up, you got to keep the figure (this is the only Primaris figure I own, the introduction of this upscaled figures superseding the original ones being one of the reasons I stopped buying GW).

This is the first GW figure I have applied paint to for a long time, and I have no idea if it will progress from here.

Planetfall - Beacons

 The first introductory scenario involves your scouts deploying beacons on your new colony.

So I needed some suitable models.

Anvil have a Drone Sensor Turret that looked suitable. On its own it might look silly, so the Reinforced Tripod gave it the look of something that could have been dropped on the battlefield.

The mounting point of the tripod is about 2.4mm diameter which conveniently I have a supply of Evergreen tube in that size. A 1.6mm hole in the base of the turret took a piece of 1.6mm plastic rod, opening out the tube with a 1.6mm drill completed the transition.

Again, the basic colour was Citadel The Fang, drybrushed with Citadel Terminatus Stone  and shaded with Citadel Drakenhof Nightshade.

The aerial is Vallejo Black Grey.

Two of the beacons.

All three beacons.

Deployed with one of the scouts.

Planetfall - Scouts

In Five Parsecs From Home: Planetfall you are in charge of a colonisation project. You have eight specialist slots - you can select from Scouts, Scientists and Troopers with a minimum of one of each.

There are three introductory scenarios which introduce various aspects of the tactical game.

The first one involves your scout team deploying beacons. There are only minor threats - strange vortices that move randomly over the battlefield.

Scouts are equipped with jump packs which allow them to move over impassible terrain and safely reach high and low areas.

So what could I use for the figures?

Anvil Industries have High Tech Recon Drop Troops which have a jump pack option.

I ordered the Female High Tech Recon Drop Troop squad with integrated Vektor carbines.

As with the Colonial Administrator, the basic colour was Citadel The Fang.

I had hoped that Colour Forge Wolfkin Grey would be a suitable match to The Fang., but unfortunately not.

The rifle and belt packs are Citadel Mechanicum Standard Grey. The visor is Citadel Mephiston Red.

The figure was drybrushed with Citadel Terminatus Stone.

The body was shaded with Citadel Drakenhof Nightshade, the rifle and pack shaded with Citadel Nuln Oil.

The main body of the jet pack was Citadel Mechanicum Standard Grey. The vents under the pack were painted with Army Painter Stone Golem followed by Warpaints Plasma Coil Glow.

Pillage Starter Set

Victrix has just released an introductory set for Pillage, their early middle ages skirmish game. 

It comes in a particularly tall box, partly because Victrix figure sprues are larger than the industry standard (which explains why they do not supply their figure sets in boxes).

The 48 page full colour book covers the basic rules in the form of four scenarios, adding rules as it goes along. There are instructions on how to build the six Irish and eight Viking figures from the options, plus the building, fences and loot. The basics of painting are also covered very briefly.

The Irish sprue, slightly complicated construction with separate legs and cloaks.

It is the same infantry sprue that is in the Irish and Dogs set.

Similarly, the Viking sprue is the Warrior sprue from the Viking set.

The wattle fence sprue.

The loot sprue.

Victrix branded bases.

The two sprues for the house.

One or two door options with optional lean-to.

Counters, dice and rulers.

Double sided paper mat and a full width print of the cover, slightly spoilt as there are pressure marks on it from the sprues.