Apocalypse Survivors...

Oh well, the Tau are now back on the shelf as I have been distracted by the Wargames Factory Apocalypse Survivors: Men.

The box contains three sprues of ten different bodies (nine adults and one kid) plus a sprue of weapons and accesories. The 25mm bases are on the body sprue and following on from the Zombie Vixens the figures have flat feet with no integral base (something that is a problem with the Studio Miniatures Zombies).

The bodies are a bit odd, some of them  have very limited reuse (one can have a cricket bat, the other a baseball bat, the other can have a baseball bat or a cricket bat). The kid has three different options (pistol, SMG and 'scope rifle). Eventually I will assemble a full set.

The weapons supplied are odd, M16 is understandable (but no M4), lever action rifle/shotgun and AK47. The SMG looks more like the Walther MP, rather than a more usual HK MP5, Uzi or Ingram. The real surprise is the inclusion of the L85/SA80. There are seven separate L85 rifles plus one with arms attached. There is also a rotary magazine shotgun/grenade launcer.

There are no separate arms, so if you want to use the additional weapons then it is out with the Swann and Morton...

So how do they compare in size. Below (left to right) are Factory with AK47, Empress British, Factory with L85, CD William Killan and finally another Factory figure with an AK47.

The guy on the left is at a slight disadvantage, the Empress British infantry man has a base. The two L85s are similar size. William Killan shows they are similar size to the CD figures.

The CAD process does lead to some slightly odd postures, but they are useful to fill out your survivor cast

For the Greater Good... Part Two

So, on Thursday I visited my my local purveyor of plastic and resin and had another chat, mainly about the recently released Space Pixies. However, slightly inspired (and having chatted about painting techniques), I was inspired to revisit the Firewarriors that I undercoated back in April (Glaciers are always rushing around in my opinion).

So, I decided to paint through one figure to come up with a coherent paint scheme that I could complete before all the stars go out.

So I started with an base coat of Humbrol 93 Desert Sand spray, followed by some filling with Humbrol 93 acrylic.

 I then used GW Scorched Brown to paint the under suit, and Vallejo Black for the Tau logo, vent and the handley bit on the bottom of the backpack, face plate and the circular bit on the gun. You may notice that this is a different figure, yes, I forgot to photograph the base coated figure...

 I then dry brushed with Karak Stone followed by Dheneb Stone (a colour that will be sadly missed).

 I then washed the whole figure with GW Flesh Wash (in the old hexagonal bottles, I have some very ancient paints).

 Another drybrush, this time with Humbrol 93. The lenses were then painted whte then Blood Red. The Tau logo was repainted. The base was then given a coat of Wilko Wood Adhesive and then piled Woodland Scenics Ballast Light Grey Fine over the adhesive. It will be painted later (Graveyard Earth or its equivalent).

It is not going to win a Golden Demon, but once the base is painted it will be playable.

So, I now have a plan, but how long will it be until I have an army to fight For The Greater God...

Sarissa Victorian Buildings

At Salute 2013, I ordered a Victorian Gaslight Alley building.

Here is the building unpacked.

The pieces are cleanly cut from MDF and card.

I look forward to assembling it.

Allies?

Sometimes your Flamboyant Agent needs assistance while visiting 'friendly' countries.

Othertimes your opponents might have been equipped directly or indirectly by your 'allies'.

Plus the studio is always looking at ways to cut down on production costs, and those uniforms and weapons they bought on the cheap from a completed war film always come in handy.

So to represent one of these extras is the following figure:

The figure is a Crooked Dice Armed Minion with SMG combined with a Westwind SHS US steel helmet head.

Tweedy investigates, with assistance

Sometimes Department X needs assistance from Her Majesty's Armed Forces. Tweedy attempts to open the locked roller shutter while Private Jones keeps watch.

At Salute I  bought a set of Westwind's Berlin or Bust SHS British Infantry in steel helmets heads. The body is the Crooked Dice armed minion with rifle.

When Crooked Dice released the Armed Minions with rifles I had thought they would make good British Infantry. I had tried some of the Westwind SOTR British Infantry infantry in helmet and gasmask heads and they were a very good match. As you may have seen earlier I have used the same source's heads in beret and gasmask for a UNIT flamethrower.

There will be a squad with bazooka and flamethrower support.

Let us Regroup...

Heresy Miniatures have just released their Sharclon range of High Gravity Low Stature Clone Warriors.

This is my first painted one, together with 7TVs Tweedy Mattison.

New Zombies (2)

Studio Miniatures have recently released a plastic sprue of four multi part zombies.

As you can see from the accompanying photographs, the sprue is made up of four different bodies, eight heads and six pairs of arms. A set of flat Renedra 25mm diameter bases are included in the box.

The figures are well sculpted, the mouldings are clean and with minimum flash. The only downside is the moulded base. As I base my figure on paved surface, I used a razor saw to remove the base.

I bought the bargain bucket option, building sixty zombies, though individual sprues are available from Hasslefree and direct from Studio Miniatures.

Finally, for scale here is a completed zombie giving William Killan a bit of a fright.