Salute 2013

Salute 2013 started bright and early. The queues at Excel were long, but good natured.

Unfortunately time was not on my side, so I had set an exit time of 1330

First stop was those awfully nice people from Crooked Dice. I picked up 7th Voyage (stop motion adventure war gaming) and the 7TV Hero Programme guide, plus this month's figure releases. I only had time for a quick look at their quick play games, but the boards looked excellent.

Next up was Hasslefree. This time I had a list to work from, so I think I got everything I was after. I finally managed to get an Oakley figure as the basis for the Dependable Deputy Co-Star for 7everence.

Heresy have just released their Sharclon range of High Gravity Clone Warriors. I also managed to remember to get one of their Arthurius figures that I forgot last year.

Westwind had a few new miniatures, but most of their releases are tied to their Kickstarter process, but they did have their Berlin Or Bust separate heads on sale, so I picked up the British, US and Soviet ones. They will be used with the Crooked Dice armed Minions.

A pleasant surprise was Empress Miniatures, they had a new European Theatre Challenger 2 model (ie no add on armour etc.). I also picked up their new British figures including two aircrew on foot. Still hoping for a CVR(T) Spartan to go along with the Scimitar.

Renedra had their new 28mm Barn model, which will go nicely with the American Farm, Store and Church for 7ombieTV games. Some additional bases will come in handy, their cavalry bases will make useful sub bases for their graveyard set.

The Perrys had their new 8th Army figures and a matching Universal Carrier in resin. They look nice, though perhaps a bit small compared to the Bolt Action figures I am used to to. Comparison shots will be up later. They come with 20mm round bases, I have decided to use 25mm round instead, the same as the Bolt Action figures, even if I never use them together.

Offensive Miniatures had some new Riot figures, including a Police Dog set, a contrast to the Crooked Dice Police dog handler from a gentler age,

I ordered a Victorian SIFI building from Sarissa Precision, hopefully that will arrive next week. They had their new range on display, and it will look good on the table top. Useful for Steampunk and 7TV. Now, will they do a mews set?

Mongoose had sold out of their Sov Judge set, hopefully theywill have some more at the next show. The Judge Dredd miniatures rules looked good but will need some looking at before I buy.

So there I was, halfway across the hall when the exit alarm went off. Frankly I blame the aliens for the lost time.

So I had to quickly run round the rest of the show, Ainsty had their new Valley Forge crew and Astronaut buggies and Warlord their Soviet army book and plastic T34/85. Great Escape supplied an A34 Comet Cruiser Tank (nice moulding though slightly larger than the Warlord Cromwell, again there will be comparisin shots later).

I picked up a pack of two shipping containers from Warmill, together with an Uplink Tower (I love the smell of MDF in the afternoon).

I also noticed that Studio Miniatures were not present, so went back to Hasslefree and picked up the Bumper Box of plastic Zombies. Sixty multipose Zombies (four different bodies).

And then it was well past time to depart.

So, once again a pleasant if hectic Salute, and hopefully I will have more time next year to actually talk to people.

Thanks to all those organising, running and selling at the show.

See you all next year.

Photographs to follow.

For the Greater Good... Part one

Games Workshop's recent release of the third iteration of the Tau and a conversation with Daniel, my local purveyor of plastic and resin, prompted me to have a look at what I have previously purchased.

Inspired by the new Codex, I even started assembling some of my previously purchased items. As you can see, some of the boxes are from the original release all those years ago.

So I now have six assembled Tau Firewarriors and a Fireblade awaiting undercoating, plus I have even started assembling the plastic torso of a Forgeworld XV89 Iridium armoured battlesuit (I had forgotten what a chore that was).

By the way, there are more boxes awaiting assembly, these were the most easily accessed.

Vigilantism Is Illegal

Sometimes someone says, enough is enough and takes the law into their own hands.

Does that make them any better than the criminals they fight?

Hasslefree's Aaron roams the streets of his hometown, attempting to bring justice to criminals.

Reach Out and Touch Them

A while back Crooked Dice brought out a new batch of Minion Specialists, including a two man bazooka team.

The two man team engage heavier targets while defending their temporary HQ.

Both figures use the Fighting Men heads, the loader has an added pack for additional rounds. There is an empty container at his feet while he prepares the next round.

T90

Back in September 2011 I bought a T90 MBT by Imprint Models (available from Empress Miniatures).

The mouldings are very good, there was only some work needed under the turret bustle where a piece of the  feed needed filing away.

With the exception of the combination of overenthusiastic superglue and minor incompetence (the first track unit is placed incorrectly, the resin just loves superglue - forming a bond stronger than the resin - it looks like it has just performed a crash stop), it went together very easily.

I then undercoated it with the traditional Citadel Chaos Black aerosol.

And then I got distracted.

It sat on the top of the computer desk, only receiving some paint when I was painting anything else in Vallejo Russian Uniform Green. Eventually it had its green basecoat.

And then we had the cold weather, meaning no more spray painting, so a reduction in distractions.

A while back I had bought the Main Battle Tank T80 (ISBN(13) 978 0 071 10 3238 5) published by Ian Allan. Though the T90 is derived from the T72 family, I thought that the green-sand-black brown camo pattern shown in a number of the colour pictures would be suitable.

The base green is Vallejo Russian Uniform green, Vallejo Desert Sand provides the sand tone and Vallejo German Cam Black Brown provides the border colour. The material covering of the mantlet was Leather Brown.

 Vision blocks are always  difficult to paint. I tend to use Citadel Mechrite red for my modern British, but decided on Citadel Ice Blue (mainly because of the picture on page 83 of the T80 book showing the Shtora laser detector showed blue lenses - the Osprey modelling guides show a number of different interpretations of vision blocks, some quite garish).

Weathering and mud is a combination of Citadel Stirland Mud, Vallejo Burnt Umber and Leather Brown, lightened with some Vallejo Old wood with a final dry brush of Desert Sand. Citadel washes (two flavours of sepia and one of earthshade) overall plus Citadel Nuln Oil provided exhaust and fume shading.

Overall, it is a very nice and easy to build model.

Now, to finish the BMP3 (and Warrior, and another technical, then to order another Scimitar and convince them to do some more CVR(T) family vehicles).

Jason vs The Argonaut

Private Jason Fleming wished he had not volunteered to test Darius' prototype glue projector...

Ullyses Argo's latest Argonaut advances.

The Argonauts are a signature feature of the evil mastermind Ullyses Argo's appearances in 7TV series such as The Man From 2000 and Department X.

The Argonaut is a Crooked Dice resin figure and is about 45mm tall. It is supplied in four pieces (body, two arms and a head). Crooked Dice make two different bodies and arms allowing a number of combinations to be assembled.

I should have some more completed shortly, together with the towering Talos, Argo's most fearsome creation.

Light My Fire (Two)

Here are two more members of the UNIT.

The Major, armed with his trusty Automatic Pistol directs the 'fire' of the Flamethrower specialist.

Both are Crooked Dice figures, Flame Thrower Specialist Minion and Minion armed with Pistol. They both use the Crooked Dice Fighting Men heads.

At this time, Health and Safety did not require the use of masks when combatting alien threats with flamethrowers...