15mm Sci Fi - GZG Free Cal-Tex

Ground Zero Games has a vast miniature range, both in 25mm and 15mm.  Sadly, for this very reason there are often few photos of some of the older miniatures in their collection.  This can result in a consumer passing those products by since they have no idea what they actually look like.  There are some photos scattered across the internet of these older models, but they are few and far between.  The 15mm Free Cal-Tex models fall into this category.

I originally purchased one pack of these some time ago for a trial run.  As usual, I was not disappointed.  There are only two packs in the range at the moment: a full combat squad with support weapons and another pack with kneeling and prone troopers.  The combat squad contains a leader, four riflemen, a sniper, an RPG gunner and a SAW gunner., all sculpted with light/medium armor.  They initially reminded me of old 1990s 40K Cadians and the alien soldiers from the 1980s TV series "V".  Today I painted another two squads, bringing my force up to 24 troops total.  The figures are heavily armed, including side arms and combat knives.  There is a lot of detail on these guys.

These troops were slotted to an unfilled role in my DPRG force: Special Recon Troops.  They looked particularly sinister and I felt they would fill that role nicely.  Special Recon troops carry out Counter Insurgency operations, sabotage and terror operations against the Republic of Arden. Armed with AK-400s and the Brazilian Destruidor-3 Launcher and Raio Gauss Sniper Rifle they can hold their own against intervening American marines.

They were painted in the same colors as the DPRG regulars (done almost 10 years ago now).

1. Tamiya Flat White Primer
2. Vallejo German Uniform (airbrushed on)
3. Reaper Terran Khaki fatigues, highlighted with Reaper Khaki Highlight.
4. Weapons - Reaper Afterburner Grey
5. Belt Pouches - Vallejo German Bright Green Camo
6. Helmet Visor - NATO Black, followed by layering of Reaper Red Brick, Deep Red and then Blood Red as a highlight.
7. Washed in Army Painter Strong Tone Dip
8. Light drybrush of Vallejo German Uniform to bring out the details on the armor and helmet.

Note that I did not paint these chaps in the same style as a do now: with extreme highlighting.  I wanted them to blend into my DPRG force so I used the same technique I did 10 years ago.  Sadly they look better in photos and up close than at gaming distance.  At a distance, 3+ feet, they are just brown blobs (as I knew they would be).  Perhaps it is my poor eyes.

The current range does not have any special troops like heavy weapons or command.  Normally I use the Generic Command models for my armies in and case.  However, I did have some odds and ends lying around, so each squad has some robotic support elements available.  GZG has a plethora of robotic models available so filling out squads with missing weapons is not a problem if you are clever.  The robot medic is a platoon support element.  He was all alone in my WIP pile forever.  Now, he is happy.

In the end, I am pleased with this range.  They would make great generic bad guys or security troops.  They could also be used en-mass as an army in larger miniature games like ASL, assuming you fill out the missing elements with other models.

15mm Sci Fi - GZG Outrim Coalition

My painting marathon continues....over Sunday and Monday I banged off 80+ Outrim Coaltion figures from GZG.  I have been meaning to paint these guys for awhile now but I could not think of a color scheme that inspired me.  So, earlier this year I picked up a pack of 8 riflemen painted them in four separate color schemes: Tamiya Light Blue, JN Grey, Light Royal Grey and Vallejo Pale Blue Grey.  They were all very sci-fi in appearance.  So, I presented them to my standard painting critic: my Wife.  She picked Light Blue.  Problem solved.  JN Grey was my second choice (they all looked good actually) and will probably be used on GZG NI Infantry force.

GZG Outrim Coalition

GZG Outrim Coalition - left to right: Light Blue, Royal Light Grey, Pale Blue Grey, JN Grey

The models required almost no cleanup.  All I did was give the helmet tops a light sand to remove a minor mold line.

The color palette was as follows:

1. Hot glue all infantry to Popsicle sticks.  This is basically step zero, prior to airbrushing.
2. Primed White
3. Tamiya Light Blue basecoat
4. Weapons - Reaper Afterburner Grey
5. Visor - coated with Vallejo Chrome then washed with Tamiya Clear Red.
6. Special weapons were given yellow markings in Tamiya Yellow Green then in Reaper Lantern Yellow.
7. Entire model washed in Army Painter Military Shader.
8. Visor washed in Army Painter Strong tone (to bring it down a bit in shine)
9. Armor highlighted post wash in 3 steps:

• Vallejo Pale Blue
• Vallejo Pale Blue Grey
• Reaper Ghost White for extreme highlights in certain areas.

  I did not bother to paint the belt pouches a separate color, considering the kit would be painted the same as the armor (ala Stormtrooper belts).

GZG Outrim Coalition Special Weapons

GZG Outrim Coalition Heavy Weapon Teams

Power armor teams were done in an identical pattern  Shoulder plates were painted in Ghost White post wash.

GZG Outrim Coalition Power Armor

Overall I cannot complain on how these models turned out.  The light blue fits a space marine force and pops from a distance.  The models are typical of GZG's high quality, particularly the power armor troops.  They are large and quite imposing.  Perfect for a mysterious force from beyond human space.