15mm Sci Fi - GZG Military Buildings

 I realized the other day that I do not often show or talk about terrain. Terrain is just as important to (well at least to me anyway) as the figures who fight over it.  Luckily, for both 28 and 15mm I have a large selection.  Not as massive/impressive as someone like Robin Fitton, creator of Gruntz, but I am working on it.  

GZG makes some fantastic 15mm scale buildings, for low tech colony worlds and small military/science encampments.  I painted these five some time ago.  Assembly was a bit of a pain, but it was likely just me.  They did require some Woodland Scenic Flex Paste here and there to fill in gaps.  

GZG Military Buildings

I went for a Tamiya Medium Grey, white white grey accents.  Everything in the future will be Medium Grey....just watch Star Trek.  

Buildings by GZG.  Vehicles by Old Crow.  Figures by GZG.

Some folks might wonder why my buildings are not on bases.  I considered basing them many times.  There are several ways of doing this: MDF, foam board, old CDs, ect.  All of these are good and sound methods.  However, I prefer to keep my buildings as modular (aka virgin) as possible.  Quite often, games have different rules between them concerning buildings and their use.  Zone Alpha & Gruntz (which treat building as fixed emplacements) play very differently than say Alien Squad Leader (which treat buildings as Area Terrain, repositionable just like trees within a defined area) .  For this reason, I keep buildings and vehicles un-based, usable in  any game without limiting my choices.  At least that is why I tell myself.   This is probably just crap and an excuse for laziness. 

Solar Panel by Mad Mecha Guy.

The proper terrain can create an evocative feeling for any game.  My actual gaming time is less and less over the years.  When I do get a chance to play the creating of a feeling/mood is just as important as the actual game.  This is also a good excuse to buy more stuff that I probably don’t need. 

Located in the Outer Veil, Altair 4 is a lonely place for grunts.

Ladar keeps a close watch on the surrounding mountain range.

The only problem I have with terrain is storage.  My inventory is so large that it has become a problem at times.  Perhaps it is a good problem to have?

15mm Sci Fi - GZG Mercenaries (ESU Special Operations Recon Team in Urban Camo)

 These guys are part 2 of my GZG Christmas Mercenary packs.  Yay!  

Having no real use for these figures (already having over 200 GZG mercs of various types already painted), I did these guys up in an urban camo scheme.  They will work for Zone Alpha games, or any other small unit set as a special operations team.  

The scheme was a variant of my Taiga scheme.  At 15mm, camo (IMO), needs to be bold and cartoonish (same as highlighting as well).  Otherwise, from a distance it will simply look like a blob of color and be relatively indistinguishable.  

• Primed Grey
• Tamiya Light Blue basecoat.  This is a nice color for urban schemes.
• Vallejo Model Air Anthracite Grey
• Vallejo Model Color White Grey
• Vallejo German Camo Beige on sleeping bags
• Vallejo Sea Grey on all weapons and webbing.
• Vallejo Model Color Black on the berets and boots.
• Vallejo Basic Skin Tone on, well the skin.
• Washed in thinned Polyshades Tudor.
• Uniform highlighted with Vallejo Model Color Light Sea Grey.
• Sleeping bags highlighted with Vallejo Model Color Deck Tan.
• Weapons washed in Nuln Oil.
• Skin washed with GW Contrast Guiliman Flesh (thinned to a glaze consistency with Contrast medium)
• Webbing highlighted with Vallejo Model Color Light Grey and Model Air Grey.

ESU forces clear out a partisan holdout, securing stolen nuclear munitions.

Bio-weapons are the preferred tools of the Capitalist Partisans.  

Vigilance!

RPK-80 gunners stand ready.

"Onwards Comrades!"

This completes my mini Zone Alpha Project.  I really did not need these guys, but I enjoy painting small camo units, and honestly, even after thousands of them, I never get tired of painting GZG figures.

15mm Sci Fi - GZG Eurasian Solar Union Spetsnaz in Taiga Camo

 While sorting through my bits box I found several packs of GZG Mercenaries, care of GZG's annual Christmas Special.  Not having any better ideas, I split the packs into two 15 man teams: one to join my Eurasian Solar Union (ESU) force as a small Spetsnaz force, and the other as an independent security force, done in urban camo.  This created a very compact force idea for Zone Alpha games.  I finished these in about 3 hours or so, with the camo being the only tedious part.  Once you get going though, its not really difficult.

GZG Mercenaries

The camo pattern was described on my blog last year.  It is a very simple scheme to execute.  The packs contained male and female sculpts.  I still need to add some RPG launchers to really round it out well.

When the Motherland is threatened, ESU Spetsnaz are only a Dropship away.

I had several GZG Gun Drones which were unused.  They joined the force as a small robotic weapon team.

GZG Gun Drones with 14.5mm KVP Machineguns

This force is suitable for small skirmish games like Zone Alpha and Tomorrows War or with the USEME system from Alternative Armies.  They will likely make an appearance in Alien Squad Leader as well, likely joining a Colonial Defense Force.  

15mm Sci Fi - Terror Troops, from Khurasan Miniatures

Yesterday I finished another small project: 28 Terror Troops from Khurasan miniatures.  I got these guys on a whim, thinking they would go well as special troops for any number of sci fi armies.  Sadly, there are only two packs and the poses are somewhat limited.

The figures are smaller than I anticipated: more in line with older 1:100 scale figures from ranges like Laserburn than the larger figures that GZG is putting out these days.  There is nothing wrong with this of course.  Size is a matter of taste.  

Terror Troops, by Khurasan Miniatures

Greys and blacks normally look horrible at 1:100 scale.  They need to be highlighted drastically to look anything other than dark blobs at a distance.  I decided to go down the middle of the road: a Vallejo Dark Sea Grey, highlighted up towards a lighter blue grey.  I added dots of Vallejo Off-White at various points to simulate light striking an edge point.  This draws the eye around the figure and adds detail to an otherwise boring paint job.

I added yellow and green hose lines to represent various combat drugs being employed by the Terror Troops.  

The scheme was simple:

• Vallejo Black primer
• Vallejo Model air Dark Sea Grey
• Vallejo Model Air Sea Grey
• Vallejo Model Air Pale Blue Grey
• Vallejo Model Air Black Steel on the backpacks.  Highlighted wi Th Vallejo Steel. 
• Vallejo Model Air Gun Metal on all weapons. Highlighted so Th Vallejo Steel
• Vallejo Red, Vermillion, Bright Orange and White on the visors.   
• Washed in Polyshades Tudor (thinned)
• Re highlighted Sea Grey and Vallejo model color Blue Pale Grey and Light Grey. 

I have another bannerman that I might convert into something else.

Even the mighty Terror Troops of the Galactic Emperor are no match for Catzilla!

The limited number of poses precludes this range from becoming the mainstay of any 1:100 scale army.  They work well as special operations troops, or in small skirmish games as elite shock troops of some merciless ruler.  For larger games, like Alien Squad Leader they could serve as the core of Command Squads or as Power Armor Infantry.

15mm Sci Fi - Khurasan Miniatures Gutter Gophers & Skunkeater

I love painting monsters.  Especially strange abominations.  Khurasan's Gutter Gophers & Skunkeater fits that bill.  These guys can be found in their Post-Apocalyptic range.  

Gutter Gophers & Skunkeater, by Khurasan Miniatures

The Gutter Gophers remind me of something out of TSR's Gamma World RPG.  They are truly bizarre.  The paint scheme was super simple.

• Vallejo Ivory Primer
• Vallejo Game Air Dead Flesh basecoat
• The skin was painted with the Reaper Master Series Bright Skin Triad.  This is one of my favorite skin-tones for mutants and aliens.
• Skin was given black spots along the back and arms/legs.  All aliens look good in spots.

Gutter Gophers, by Khurasan Miniatures

The Skunkeater was something I got for fun.  Not sure what I will end up doing with him.  

• Vallejo Black Primer
• MIG-053 PROTECTIVE NC 1200 as a skin basecoat
• Fur highlighted with Reaper Master Series Highland Moss, Pale Lichen and Vallejo Model Color Grey Green.
• Teeth done in Vallejo Model Color Pale Sand & Ivory, washed with GW Fleshtone.
• Tongue finished off with Vallejo Model Color Brown Rose & Old Rose.

Skunkeater, by Khurasan Miniatures

Skunkeater, by Khurasan Miniatures

This was another set of miniatures that I really should have added more models to.  Another pack of each would not be out of the question.  

15mm Sci Fi - Khurasan Miniatures Apocalypse 666 range

For years I have wanted to paint up Khurasan's Apocalypse 666 miniature range.  Well, this week I was finally able to make that happen; in one fell swoop I painted the whole range in under a week.

The range consists of

• The False Prophet, the Beast from the Earth
• Cercopyths
• The Flayed
• Lurkers in Dark Places
• Foul Spirits, winged demons

As a whole, the range was not difficult to paint.  Undead rarely are, and as for monsters, I enjoy painting them more so than regular humanoid troops.  These make great additions for any game really.  Sci Fi, modern, whatever.  Just use your imagination.  Its hard to go wrong with the devil from another universe and his minions, especially if you combine with with some of Khurasan's other great monster figures.

The False Prophet was quite a simple scheme:

• Vallejo Sand Primer
• Tamiya Flat Earth basecoat
• Vallejo Model Air Ivory Sand head and horns (airbrushed on.....very carefully).
• Valleo Model Color Pale Sand & Ivory for horns, hoofs, teeth, spines and for the top of the head
• Vallejo Model Color Old Rose for the tongue and gummy bits.
• Washed in GW Earthshade (with a drop of Future Floor Polish to break surface tension)
• Fur washed in Army Painter Dark Tone
• Teeth and fleshy bits washed in GW Reikshade Fleshtone
• Skin highlighted in Vallejo Model Color German Camo Pale Brown

Khurasan Miniatures The False Prophet

Cercopyths were an experiment: I wanted to see how well GW Contrast Paints airbrushed on.  I decided to avoid the "Demon Monkey" scheme: I did not want to paint multiple colors on such small areas.  

• Vallejo Sand Primer
• GW Contrast Paint Darkoath Fleshtone, airbrushed on.
• Skin washed lightly with GW Sepia wash.
• Vallejo Model Color Pale Sand & Ivory for teeth and claws.  Mouth washed with GW Fleshtone.
• Fur washed in Army Painter Strong Tone. Drybrushed with Vallejo Model Color Light Brown
• Skin highlighted in Vallejo Model Color Light Brown & Vallejo Model Color Dark Flesh
• Eyes done with Vallejo Model Color Lemon Yellow

Cercopyths, by Khurasan Miniatures

The Flayed were already featured in another blog post.  I will not repeat the scheme here.

The Flayed, by Khurasan Miniatures

Lurkers in Dark Places were another simple zombie-type scheme.

• Vallejo Ivory Primer
• Vallejo Game Air Dead Flesh basecoat, washed with GW Athonian Camoshade & GW Yellow wash, letting them mix together.
• Skin highlighted with Vallejo Model Color Pale Sand 
• Teeth and claws done with Pale Sand & Ivory.

Lurkers in Dark Places, by Khurasan Miniatures

Finally, the Foul Spirits were a variation of the Lurkers

• Vallejo Ivory Primer
• Vallejo Game Air Dead Flesh basecoat, washed with GW Sepia wash.
• Inner wings washed with Army Painter Green Tone Wash & GW Fleshtone
• Skin highlighted with Vallejo Model Color Pale Sand
• Teeth and horns done with Pale Sand & Ivory, washed with GW Fleshtone ink.

Foul Spirits, by Khurasan Miniatures

The range is not extensive, and the model count was modest.  I probably should  have added another pack of Lurkers and Foul Spirits to my inventory.  Oh well.  They are great for small skirmish games, or in Alien Squad Leader as "Primitive" units (Thralls, Fighters, Close Flyers, Beasts).  Anyway, I am pleased with the results and that I finally, after many years, got around to painting this interesting miniature range.

15mm - Khurasan Zombies

 These last two weeks have been very productive: 161 15mm scale model painted.  Re-diving into 15mm Sci Fi has energized me for whatever reason.  It also forced me to start painting up my large box of Khurasan figures that I have had for 8 months.  

The Khurasan Zombies are fantastic figures: big and full of detail, with 7 poses total.  Clothing is mostly absent from them, which is a good thing IMO.

Khurasan Miniatures Zombies

I consider painting zombies relaxing.  The paint schemes are very simple:

1. Prime Vallejo Ivory
2. Base coat in Vallejo Game Air Dead Flesh
3. Open wounds are given a base coat of GW Contrast Blood Angels Red, thinned with Contrast Medium
4. Wash in GM Athonian Camoshade
5. Once dry, begin washing with various washes

• Army Painter Red Tone
• Thinned GW Contrast Blood Angels Red (to a glaze consistency)
• GW Drucchi Purple
• GW Fleshtone
• GW Sepia
• Army Painter Purple Tone
• Once all is done, I highlight some skin areas in Vallejo Game Color Dead Flesh.

There is no "correct" way to do this.  I simply start in one area and dab on a bit of this an that.  I dont wash the whole model in the same color.  I also do not wait for washes to dry.  I let them mix, changing colors as they will.  Once the model is dry I may go back and add some details here and there, like extra washes, bones, ect.  

These are great models for a number of games: Alien Squad Leader (Thralls or Beasts), Tomorrow's War, Gruntz, Zone Alpha.  Every Sci Fi game needs zombies.

Anyway, they were fun little models to paint, as was the Khurasan Apocalypse 666 range (which will be up on here next).

15mm Sci Fi - Old Crow Grav Vehicles, "the 19th Star Dragons"

 Today I finally managed to finish off a small sci fi vehicle pool which I started about a year ago, anti-grav vehicles from Old Crow and some mecha.  It is a small force suitable for Alien Squad Leader, Gruntz or Tomorrow's War (my two go-to games).  Old Crow vehicles are superb: no sanding or cleaning is required and they are very modular.  

The "19th Star Dragons"

I wanted the vehicles to be usable for a variety of forces that I have painted up, so I went with a basic Sci-Fi color: a medium grey, color modulated to lighter shades, complemented by brighter decals and white accents.  

• Primed Vallejo Black
• Base coated in Tamiya Medium Grey
• Highlighted with Vallejo Model Air USAAF Light Grey and Vallejo Model Air Grey White
• Selected areas painted in Vallejo Model Air Medium Sea Grey
• Gloss Coated
• Washed in thinned Minwax Polyshades Tudor.
• Re-highlighted in raised panel areas in Vallejo Model Air Gull Grey
• Mechs were dry brushed in Vallejo Model Color White Grey.
• Mechs had various other areas picked out in Vallejo Model Color Silver Grey and Pale Grey Blue

In Alien Squad Leader the vehicles are Armored Transports & Armored Vehicles, with an air-lifted movement mode, allowing them to make pop-up attacks from behind terrain/friendly units (but suffering from a weaker armor save).  The mecha are also Armored Vehicles, but use the Walker template.  This makes them slower but gives them the "Great Height" special rule, allowing them to see over some terrain and friendly units.  The mecha can also be used as Robotic Battle Mechs in some army lists.  Lastly, the Slingshot could be used as a Mobile Artillery vehicle (or even as Off-Map Artillery in a Human Imperial Army), with either regular artillery rounds or Scatter Missiles.  

Old Crow Slingshot Armored Vehicle (configured in Anti-Tank mode)

Old Crow Trojan Grav APC

Old Crow Gladius Grav Tank

Marauder Battle Mechs

Not sure what is next up on my Sci-Fi list.  I do have more battle mechs to paint though......