Crusader Ailthean light tractor - basic colour

 

So the Aithean has been base painted.

The track units and the body were undercoated separately. Inverted, they were sprayed with Citadel Chaos Black. The right way up they were undercoated with Citadel Mechanicus Standard Grey.

The treads were painted with a mixture of Vallejo Black, Vallejo Black Grey and Army Painter Chaotic Red from a wet palette. A redder mix was used for the exhaust.

Literally facing off against a Coftyran Chyweethl.

Konflict '47 Axis Stahltruppen

 With the latest issue of Wargames Illustrated there was a sprue of the latest plastics for the revised version of Konflict '47 - Warlord Games' Weird War Two game based on Bolt Action.

There were two sets of sprues, US jump Infantry or Axis Stahltruppen, I searched out the latter.

Here are the sprues.

There are parts to build three Stahltruppen (powered suits).

There are three right arms with twin-linked assault rifles (there is a loose twin linked assault rifle as well). 

There are three MG42 right arms and what I am guessing is a squeeze bore light cannon for anti-suit work.

There are also Panzerfausts for full anti-tank use.

There are an assortment of heads and ammunition, plus what looks like a grenade launcher and some scary looking knives.

Tales of the City: Sentry Duty

Being in the army is not just about the comfort of ceremonial duties in the capital, or the bright lights and temptations of The City. Sometimes it is sentry duty. In the rain. In the jungle.

Besides being the last line defending the rest of the country from the less salubrious denizens of the City, the army is responsible for guarding the borders, and (for suitable considerations) protecting operations and installations around the country.

Units are assigned to border regions for three months rotation, depending on the size and the level of the perceived threat there can be between three and five platoons at any one base. At any one time there is one platoon coming to the end of their assignment and one just beginning.

When protecting commercial installations, normally a single platoon is assigned. There is normally a two week overlap between the current and the next platoon so the new platoon can be shown the ropes.

Three months is viewed by High Command as being long enough to gain useful knowledge of the locality and locals but short enough that the opportunities for corruption are limited. As previously mentioned the army has a very low tolerance for corruption, and the penalties are strict.

The figure is from the Gringo's 40 Early Vietnam GI in poncho range and is the GI defending figure.

The trousers are Citadel Snot Womble Green, the poncho Citadel Death World Forest. Boots are Citadel Steel Legion Drab. The helmet is Citadel Death Korps Drab. Camo is Steel Legion Drab, Snot Womble Green and Death Korps Drab.

The furniture on the M14 is the latest Citadel Mournfang Brown. Metal work is Vallejo Black highlighted with Citadel Mechanicus Standard Grey.

Hummer - 3D print

At Colours 2025 there was a stand selling 3D prints. According to the floor plan it was Modular Worlds, but there is only an Etsy link, so I cannot confirm that.

It has very similar proportions to the Empress HMMWV model.

It is likely to end up as State operated vehicle.

They also had an XR3i model.

This does look as though it has been flattened a bit.

Wargames Atlantic - Operators

 Wargames Atlantic have recently released their next box of modern image figures -Operators.

The box contains four identical sprues that build five figures (one of which is kneeling)

There are an assortment of long arms of different types.

There are two squad automatic weapons, one is a FN Minimi type, the other a Soviet style one. There is one bullpup rifle and a G36 type.

There are two pistols and one LAW. There is also one scoped rifle.

Crusader Ailthean light tractor work in progress

 Work in progress on the Crusader Aithean tractor.

There is an issue with the front of the turret/body, there appears to be a large depression, not sure if it is a moulding issue or a mould issue. It looks like a giant thoumbprint.

It has been filled with Milliput, but needs some further smoothing.

The join in the tread units is rather obvious and has needed a lot of filing and filling.

Coftyran Chyweethl Tractor - base painted

 So the Chyweethl tractor has received its base colours.

It was given an base paint of Citadel Macragge Blue (no Chaos Black undercoat).

The treads (peds?) are Vallejo Black.

Joins between the tracks, gun barrel, bearing surfaces and the bolt heads on the individual 'feet' are Vallejo Black Grey, as was the base colour of the exhaust pipe.

The glass in the view ports is Citadel Warpstone Glow.

The underside, which will give an opportunity to test some pinwash techniques.

Though this will be an Out of the Box paintjob, there will be some weathering.

I have the second kit, which will be a more weathered and battle weary one.

North Star Cultists III for Frostgrave

 The latest addition to the North Star range of plastic figures for Frostgrave is Cultists III. This adds another selection of cultist figures, lighter armoured than Cultists I and Cultists II.

Standard North Star box (though it feels a bit more flimsy).

The box contains four sprues, each of which builds five figures.

There are heads and hands to build undead out of the figures as well.

There is one particular weapon of note, a chainsaw!

That will be an entertaining add on.

Without the chainsaw, these are going to supply some lighter troops for my Necromancer's army, and possibly some melee troops for my Converted one as well.

Recent Rule books

 So I have bought a number of rules in the last fortnight (all from North Star).

First up: Five Leagues from the Borderlands Compendium.

Lots of new stuff for Five leagues from the Borderlands. Like the Five Parsecs from Home compendium, it contains a stand alone game Deep Below. In this case it is a dungeon delver game, with additional species to be part of your party.

The second is Forgotten Ruin, again based on Five Leagues, and is another stand alone game pitting modern infantry against fantasy critters.

The most recent purchase is the second edition of Dragon Rampant.

The original was an Osprey Blue Book. This edition is a hardback.

The core rules incorporate the updated rules from Lion Rampant second edition, and are generally compatible.

There are example warbands and lots of nice photographs.

Still more to read.

Wargames Atlantic: Survivors 1

The Wargames Atlantic Civilians and Survivors set 1 builds 24 male figures. There are sufficient parts for all of them to be running unarmed or armed with an assortment of weapons ranging from swords and bats (Cricket and Rounders) to assault rifles via pistols, revolvers and submachine guns. 

There are four of the main sprues that build mainly unarmed or armed with bats or poles figures.

There are three of the weapon sprues.