15mm Sci Fi - Alternative Armies Laserburn Imperial Assault Group

 This week seems to be Parade Week.  These boys do not see a lot of action, but they are hungry: the 9th Armored Tactical Squadron of the Imperial Guard, 130 men and 4 battle droids, models from Alternative Armies Laserburn range. 

A "typical" Imperial Assault group consists of:

1 Command Detachment

2 Infantry Platoons (25 men each)

1 Heavy Weapons Detachment

1 Blackguard Platoon (3 squads, 15 men total)

1 Power Armor Platoon (4 sqauds, 20 men strong)

1 Dreadnought Platoon (2 squads, 10 men strong)

The group is actually much stronger than a normal one.

  

Alternative Armies Laserburn Imperial Troopers

Imperial troopers are normally a tan color.  However, their parade colors are a glorious red, fitting of such baroque armor.  The scheme was simple, but a bit of a pain to do:

1. Tamiya Royal Light Grey basecoat.
2. Gloss Coat.
3. GW Contrast Blood Angles Red.
4. Vallejo Dark Panzer Grey for jet packs, washed with Army Painter Dark Tone.  
5. Reaper Afterburner Grey for all weapons, washed with Army Painter Dark Tone wash then highlighted with Reaper Cloudy Grey.
6. Highlighting was done with Vallejo Vermillion, Reaper Phoenix Red and Vallejo Orange Red.  Some dry brushing was done, but most of the highlighting was done with traditional layering.  
7. Laser Pistols were done with Vallejo Steel as were the swords (then given a coat of GW Contrast paint Aethermatic Blue)
8. Pouches were done with grey primer then with GW Contrast Aggoros Dunes.
9. Golds and other colors were used to pick out bits.

There is a lot of details on these models, especially trim.  However, they are quite small compared to newer sculpts and I did not have the patience to do gold trim on arms and legs for 100 guys.  

Normally you are not supposed to highlight contrast paints.  However, I really didn’t like the effect I was able to achieve with them alone.  Perhaps I am too picky.  Funny enough (or just to spite me) the pictures don’t show the level of highlighting done, but it is visible with the MK 1 Eyeball. 

Command Squad, lead my Major Tiberius.

Laserburn Imperial Troopers - 1st Platoon, 25 men strong: two officers, 3 NCOs, 4 grenade launchers, 4 heavy bolters and 12 troopers.

NCOs have white stripes on their helmets.  Officers are armed with laser pistols and force swords.

Blackguard Platoon

Heavy Weapons Detachment, officer with 2 conversion beamers and 2 support bolters for long range firepower

Conversion beamers are incredibly powerful, with their strength increasing the farther the beam travels.  

Power Armor Platoon

Power Armor troopers are equipped with dual laser rifles on each arm along with a flamer and power fist.  Support troops carry plasma cannons and dual barrel heavy bolters.

Imperial Battle Droids provide supporting fire in dangerous situations.

Dreadnought Platoon

Dreadnoughts are equipped with a double barrel heavy bolter, a left arm heavy laser, power fist and triple barrel missile launcher.  The armor itself is resistant to all but the most powerful weapons.  

2nd Platoon, 25 men strong.

I would certainly never use all of these fellows in a Laserburn game.  However, Stargrunt, Tomorrows War and Alien Squad Leader games might see the whole group deploy for a mission (with armour support).