'Mauler' Class Ripper Suit - Deadzone Marauders, Mantic Games

This is the chum of the 'Rainmaker' Class Ripper Suit that can be seen (here). As with the previous figure this model was relatively simple to paint. 

'Mauler' Class Ripper Suit

The base detail is made up of plastic card and sprue. I wanted to give the impression that the orc had ripped off the sign with his chain sword after putting a few lasers holes through it.

'Mauler' Class Ripper Suit
Rear View

I think I got a bit carried away applying the rust powders though, once I started I kept on painting on more and more.

'Mauler' Class Ripper Suit

'Rainmaker' Class Ripper Suit - Deadzone Marauders, Mantic Games

And now for something completely different this week...I have somehow managed to accrue a backlog of posts that I have painted other the previous months but have not posted online. These include a number of Deadzone pieces. Regular readers may remember that I initially started making Deadzone figures around a year ago. As part of my commitment to purchase as few figures as possible for the foreseeable future (I'm trying to be lead/plastic neutral) I'm attempting to paint up as many of my previous purchases as I can.

'Rainmaker' Class Ripper Suit

This figure is not part of the original Deadzone box set (they were all 'police' and 'plague mutants' types) but these come from a supplemental set called the Marauders. All the figures had all been glued together and even primed but had been sitting there more or less forgotten until I was clearing up some space to work in.

This big ugly brute is officially equipped with a Marauder “Rainmaker” Class Ripper Suit. The figure is from the Deadzone boxset and represents Mantic's take on sci-fi orcs.

'Rainmaker' Class Ripper Suit
Rear View

I've mentioned previously that the material used to make these figures (Resnic) caused me a few problems, (i.e. it's an absolute bugger to clean up) but the design of the figure is still quite attractive (in an industrial orc way). I was tempted to chop and change the model but decided against this because of the material. From reading blogs and forums I know a few people had magnetised their models so they could change the weapons with the similar 'Mauler' version but the stats card provided with the figures are specific to particular models.

Anyways the paint job on this model was quite simple. The entire figure was painted using Citadel's Bolt Gun metal (now replaced by their Leadbelcher). Once dry a black wash was applied to the grooves and recesses, then highlights using Chainmail (now Ironbreaker) and Mithril Silver (now called Runefang) were used to bring out the details. The spent casings around the feet of the figure are simply short pieces of plastic rod, cut to a uniform length, glued to the base and painted to look metallic.

It's always worth studying a model to see what little details the sculptor added. With this model there are all sorts of details such as grenades, wiring, missiles etc. which all add to the overall 'armed to the teeth' look of piece and are easy to paint.

New Lion Rampant forum

Just in case you missed it, a new site has recently been set up that is dedicated to all things Dux Bellorum and Lion Rampant. It's called, appropriately enough, the Dux Rampant forum (Rampant Dux may have attracted the wrong type of visitor).

The forum can be found here: The Dux Rampant Forum

The Lion Rampant rules, written by Dan Mersey, continue to make a growing impact on the gaming scene. Dan has already made  regular comments on the site so if you have any questions or suggestions (or have anything to share like reports, lists, references etc.) that you'd like to make take a look at the site. This forum will obviously mainly focus on the Dux Bellorum and Lion Rampant rules but there is a general wargaming/modelling section as well.

The site has been set up by a nice chap called Kurtus (Forge and brush blogspot) so if you experience any technical issues leave him a message. 

A bit late but...Happy New Year!

Blimey is it 2015 already? The old cliché that the years fly by as you get older seems surprisingly true as I look back other the previous year.

I somehow managed to produce fifty nine posts for 2014, although I did cheat by posting several videos straight from YouTube, and some were not were not even gaming model related. I decided a number of years ago that I wouldn't create multiple blogs ("that way madness lies") as I have enough trouble maintaining this one. Speaking of which, this blog very nearly didn't it through to 2015 as I ran out steam in terms of time and effort towards the hobby and blogging. I didn't have much time to read other blogs which is a great pity because the quality and quantity is creasing all the time.

2014 turned out to be quite odd for me personally. Due to personal circumstances (which I may go into more detail later in the year - but that will be in the aid of charity) in hobby terms I somehow managed to lose around three months when I had neither the time or inclination to make, paint or much less play with miniature figures. When a hobby becomes hard work it isn't a hobby any more. However to counter all these negative vibes (to recall Oddball from Kelly's Heroes), this blog has enabled my to interact and meet numerous very nice people and has lead to me accepting some commission work, something I haven't done for a number of years.

It was probably the release of Lion Rampant, the medieval skirmish game from Osprey, that helped my regain my focus of painting and gaming last year. It really is a great game if you're interested in a fun, social and deceptively simple skirmish game based on knocking seven shades out of your medieval armies.

So what fun and japes have I got planned for this year? Well I'm writing the following aims more as an aide-mémoire rather than a personal challenge.

Aims: 

• To complete my Lion Rampant forces, these are now quite substantial (for me at least). This will be an ongoing project but one I mainly concentrated on throughout 2014. I plan to focus of only a small number of projects each year. This means I can at least make a small dent in the lead/plastic pile. My medieval figures mainly just require painting so this should be achievable. Hopefully we shall be able to record and post a few games on YouTube. 
• Paint Mantic's Deadzone figures. Again, a small number of figures to do. It was a dreadful material to work with but they are decent sculpts and the game itself employs interesting playing mechanic. 
• War of 1812 - Another long term project that I attempt this year. Again, small numbers involved so I plan to get a few units, British and American, complete.
• 6mm Franco-Prussian War. The Joy of Six show (try saying that fast) held in Sheffield last summer helped me realise that I need get more of these tiny little fellas onto the tabletop this year.
• Finally - Play more! I intend to play more Pike & Shotte, Black Powder and Bolt Action games this year. With this in mind I had intended to join the local wargaming club, Warlords of Walsall. I did actually manage to visit them once (they seemed a very friendly bunch) but again personal circumstances prevented me from attending on a regular basis for a couple of months afterwards. 

As soon as I post I know I'm bound to remember something important I've promised to complete this year.

I have a number of terrain pieces that I will post shortly. This is cheating again slightly as they were all made last year but I never seemed to get the opportunity to take photos of them. I have photographs now, they are of an awful standard but I thought it's better than nothing at all. If and when I get the chance I'll replace them but you have been warned.

Drakelow Tunnels - WWII shadow factory & Nuclear Bunker

Usually the vast majority of people associate the Black Country with a grim industrial landscape which is understandable, there has been heavy industrial activity associated with the area practically nonstop since the early 17th century. However drive for a few miles towards the south west and you will find some of the most attractive quintessential countryside of the English midlands. Such a place is the area around Kinver, South Staffordshire which I always associate with happy childhood memories. 

Main Entrance to Drakelow Tunnels

The chosen few - Women, children and fat, bald blokes called Matthew first!

The reason for this is because way back in my youth on a typical Sunday afternoon my older brother and myself were often taken on long country walks by our parents (I now suspect this was to wear us out after we had consumed unhealthy amounts of sweets and fizzy pop over the weekend). Here we would charge with reckless abandon around the remains of the impressive iron age fort and a rundown concrete pillbox creating merry hell, reenacting battle scenes from whichever war film we had recently seen on the telly. Even as a child I often wondered why there was a pillbox, located there for no obvious reason, slap bang right in the middle of the countryside. 

I had no idea that almost literally underneath my feet was a secret WWII factory and a genuine nuclear bunker. Three and half miles of tunnels were dug out the living rock. It was only within the last year or so that I knew of its existence. 

Main access tunnel

After the heavy bombing in 1940 of Coventry and in particular the destruction of a Rover factory that supplied engine parts for the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the Government realised it needed a safer local option to supply factories in Acocks Green and Solihull. It was decided to create a series of tunnels that would be difficult to spot from the air and more importantly would be relatively safe from bombing.

WWII kitchen

WWII kitchen - deep fat fryer (chips!)

WWII graffiti

After the war the site was used as a military storage area. During the Cold War a smaller section of the tunnels were converted into a nuclear bunker that would cover the southern midlands area, complete with communication equipment, several blast doors and decontamination areas. The site was eventually decommissioned by the Government in the early 1990's.

A full history of the site can be found on the following sites: 

Drakelow Ttunnels 

Wiki Drakelow Tunnels 

Wandering around I noticed that several of the walls appeared to have been vandalised by someone with a sledgehammer, however I later read that recently the police had discovered a large illegal drug factory within the tunnels so the damage was probably the result of the police raid. 

The site reminded me of Mimoyecques (the relatively little know V3 cannon site for one of Hilter's planned vengeance weapons which could have obliterated London) and the WWI forts in the Verdun area. The equipment within the structure gives the place a quite eerie atmosphere. 

I certainly wouldn't like to be stuck down there overnight, some of the rooms seemed to have come straight out a horror video game. 

Original site GPO teleprinter

Toilets

Communication equipment

Toilet block

Decontamination area complete with shower.

The intention is to eventually open the tunnels as a museum, until then the volunteers that look after the tunnels hold regular open days, details of which can be found their Facebook page. If you have the opportunity to visit then I would strongly recommend that you do. 

Facebook Save Drakelow

You may notice on the Facebook page my brother managed to get himself onto several photographs. 

Entrance & exit - original blast doors

Retinue of Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Fireforge Games

Retinue of Dafydd ap Gruffydd

These plastic Fireforge figures represent the fictional retinue of Dafydd ap Gruffydd. I will eventually create a post (don't hold your breath) about Dafydd himself that will provide more information about this interesting character who was the last native prince of Wales and the younger brother of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (Llywelyn the Last).

Made to represent a unit of Foot Men-at-Arms (MAA) armed with a variety of hand weapons. These have based individually but arranged in a group of six as stipulated by the Lion Rampant rules. The unit base has been made from 3mm thick MDF to suit this particular group of figures.

A quick search on the internet normally show the arms of Dafydd as being blue and yellow but my brother pointed out a page from the Denbigh Castle guidebook that happened to contain an image, taken from the Lord Marshal's Roll of Arms, that showed a medieval illustration that clearly indicated that the colours were in fact blue and white.

I double checked with the excellent Brian Timms website and his modern illustration shows the arms as being 'Quarterly argent and azure four lions passant gardant counterchanged' which can be found (here). Therefore I decided to paint this group in basic livery colours on a blue and white quartered surcoat. In order to made some variation I painted the shields in different patterns and using another base shade of blue. The idea of having different shields patterns but using the same colours isn't an original one from me, the first time I recall seeing it was on this French blogger's site (Perry's Heroes) and since seen it on numerous sites since then.

I'm currently working on a matching group to represent the retinue of Dafydd's brother Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.

Retinue of Dafydd ap Gruffydd

Sir William Marshall & retinue, Curteys Miniatures

This group of figures are shown carrying the arms of Sir William Marshall, 1st Earl of Pembroke. The figures are produced by Curteys Miniatures and are taken from various sets within their medieval range. The majority are from the Crossed Lances range which was created to support a medieval tournament game (details here - Crossed Lances) of the same name. The mounted flag bearer is taken from the Curteys Miniatures Feudal Medieval Western range.

Sir William Marshall & retinue.

For detailed information about the life of the Marshall take a look (here)

Taken from the company website about the set:

'Sir William Marshall – Each set contains 1 mounted knight with lance and shield, 1 mounted knight with handweapon and shield, 1 dismounted knight with hand weapon and shield, HDF bases, and water slide transfers for all the figures.'

Code SKU: CLKSet01

Note that this set (£20 at the time of writing) contains two mounted figures and one on foot not the three mounted and two figures on foot shown here in this post. The 'Squire carrying sword & shield' is available separately (currently £2). The figures were original part of the wider Feudal Medieval Western range. Curteys gave the knight a jousting lance and made an all-you-need bundle which even includes the bases. The only thing you need to do is glue and paint the figures. Eagle eyed viewers may have noticed that the bases are not all the same, this is because the bases supplied in the set didn't match the ones I already had. As I intended to make a specific movement tray for this group I wasn't overly concerned. 

Mounted knight with lance and shield.

Also note that the set is supplied with water slide transfers for all the figures. A leaflet explains that the areas where the transfers will be applied have to painted (or sprayed) white. This is because the transfer is actually transparent and reveals the background colour when in place. I would recommend using a decal softener as the transfers will resist conforming to the curves of the horse barding and the surcoats. The shields have a slight curvature but the transfers adhere to the surface without any major problems.

Mounted knight with lance and shield

Mounted knight with lance and shield

The striped lance effect was achieved by initially painting the lance yellow and once dry wrapping a thin piece of masking tape around the lance as I rotated it in my fingers. Then I painted the lance green ensuring that the paint wasn't too fluid as it tends to seep under the tape. Once this layer was dry the tape was peeled away and any areas was touched up where necessary.

Mounted knight with hand weapon and shield

Dismounted knight with hand weapon and shield - front view

Dismounted knight with hand weapon and shield - rear view

As I had a spare shield transfer I applied it the shield being carried by the 'Squire carrying sword & shield' figure (Code SKU: CLH08) that I had purchased a while ago also from Curteys Miniatures.

Squire carrying sword and shield - front view

Squire carrying sword and shield - rear view

Squire carrying sword and shield - side view

Although this set of figures was initially designed for use with Crossed Lances I will of course be using the them for games of Lion Rampant. In order to maintain a similar look of previously completed units I realised I needed extra mounted figure to give me half (three models) of a Mounted Men-at-Arms unit.

Therefore I raided the lead pile and found an appropriate third mounted figure, this one is from the Curteys ME13 Mounted Knights-sergeants 1 set (lance upright, charging unbarded horses, currently £9). details (here) part of the Feudal Medieval Western range.

Marshall's flagbearer

Marshall's flagbearer

The flag was drawn on a CAD system and once glued into position was painted and highlighted with the usual acrylic paints.

Each of Marshall's five sons inherited the title but unfortunately the male line died out as none of his sons had children. The last son, Walter Marshal, 5th Earl of Pembroke, died in 1245. I mention this because the helmet of the knight design is more appropriate for later 13th century whereas the 1st Earl died in 1219.

The figures are easy to paint up with enough detail to warrant the extra time I spent on them. The heraldic transfers are a quick and easy alternative to painting them yourself. I have another similar set to this, depicting a member of the Beauchamp family, which I will attempt to finish before the end of the year. It is my intention to record the making and painting of these models and eventually post the results on YouTube via the Wargaming For Fun site.

Update

After I mentioned to my brother that all of the sons of William Marshall had died without issue he asked if anyone one else carried these arms. I assumed that they did because they represented the arms of the Marshall of England. After a short bit of research (i.e. Google & Wikipedia) I found out that these became the:

'Arms of "Bigod Modern": Per pale or and vert, a lion rampant gules, adopted by Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk, after 1269 following his inheritance of the office of Marshal of England from the Marshal family, of which these had formerly been the armorials.' (Wikipedia).

Given that the armour, particularly the helmet, is more suitable for the mid to late 13th century this figure is more appropriate to represent Roger Bigot, Earl of Norfolk.