More vehicles for Harad WIP

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I am still continuing work on building up forces for the Harad project. The vehicles getting undercoated with primer are some Airfix Attack Force Centurions, an Airfix Model Centurion, an Airfix Model Chieftain, and a Matchbox Battle King 155mm SPG.

Three Airfix Attack Force Centurions with added plastic card, with Airfix Chieftain.

Attack force Centurion, Battle King SPG, and Airfix Model Centurion.

 The Airfix model Centurion, and Cheiftain, are amongst the most traveled models in my collection. My wife purchased them on Norfolk Island in 2008, gave them to me as part of a Christmas gift in Pennsylvania, I assembled them in Lower Hutt, in 2009, and am finally painting them in Christchurch in early 2012. This is fairly typical timeline of model construction for me!

Airfix Chieftain kit. Soon to be painted!

Airfix Chieftain. Missing a hatch from its long travels.

Look, more plastic card! 155mm SPG lurks in the background.

At some stage the barrel broke and was replaced by sprue.

More information on the Battle King 155mm SPG is available in this earlier post. This particular example is one of my childhood toys, which has lost its original tracks and had its gun broken in the distant past. It was rebuilt for use as a M107 SPG for a wargame that I ran as part of my high school History Class. The crudely painted British artillery tactical sign was done in imitation of the original sticker markings supplied on the diecast. Very odd given it's a French vehicle.

And undercoated ....lightly as the can ran out of paint!

Guess these need more undercoat!

 So more painting and posting to happen soon. Currently I am rereading 3rd edition Harpoon rules and thinking about what cruel fate awaits the Imperial Haradian Navy.

Star Wars Figures: Gungans and Ewoks

Of all the races in Star Wars, these tend to be the least popular. I personally have always found the Ewoks to be quite vile - primarily due to their quaint cultural tradition of eating other sentient races. Gungans, I am more tolerant of, as they did exile Jar Jar Binks from their society.

The Gungan Mob - Not quite a Grand Army.

The Gungans were released in an 8 figure set, a change from the traditional 9 figure set. Other figures were available from various playsets which were produced - including one of the head of Jar Jar Binks. Alas, the Episode One releases marked the end of the Micro Machine line. The other figure sets released were the Trade Federation Battle Droids, and the Naboo Security set. To the best of my knowledge, the Naboo Security weren't released in NZ.

Boss Nass. What a great figure for a command stand.

Jar Jar Binks.

 The Gungans have a few appealing factors as a wargaming force, firstly is their usage of animals that adds quite a bit of character to the force. I would like to get hold of more Kaadu and Fambaa for them. The second is that they are in CD terms, primarily a force that will rely on getting into close assault to achieve success. This will make them very challenging to play. The final factor is that of their energy shields, finding a fair usable mechanic for this will be fun. My current thoughts are that I should adapt the approach taken in GW's 'Space Marine'. Essentially viewing the shields as being ablative in  nature, but with the ability to slowly recharge.

An underscale Fambaa Shield Generator. Fambaas stand around 9 metres tall at the shoulder.

Kaadu Cavalry in need of basing. The figure is swimming, and is from the Jar Jar Binks head playset.

 And from Naboo, we go to Endor, home of the nastiest teddy bears in the galaxy. Vile furry little buggers, that were released in the usual format of a nine figure set, with other figures available in various playsets.

Always choose the vegetarian option at an Ewok function.

Figures are from the 9 figure set, the Endor playset, and the Chewbacca head.

Stone weapons a good CA factor make...

A closer view. The glider needs mounting on a flying stand.

 An Ewok CD army would be interesting to play. Hidden movement in forest terrain, and a few other scenario special rules, make make an Endor game almost as good as Hoth.

Yet More Imperial Star Wars Stuff

Last post I put up pictures of AT-ATs and Stormtroopers, but not of Snowtroopers and AT-ATs. The below picture solves that problem. Using CD terms, an AT-AT stand is able to carry four stands. If I use CD, rather than Striker, I then only get to field one AT-AT, as only four are used. And of those four, two get destroyed.

Remember: Single Figure command stands ride for free!

Of course, the film doesn't show what Lord Vader is bringing down in the next wave.... Which could be even more AT-ATs! And now for another picture I should of posted last time, two Imperial Probe Droids, and an Action Fleet Wampa beast. The reason I should have posted this picture last time is that the Probe Droids, like the Scout Troopers, are a useful recon element.

But is my Wampa too big?

Of course, every force needs leadership. Micro Machines made a set of Imperial Officers, in addition to the various command figures available from various playsets.  Unlike the Scout Trooper, and  to a certain extent Stormtrooper sets, the Imperial Officer set can still be picked up at a reasonable price.

Two Revel Officers/Pilots from the shuttle kit. These guys were a gift from Glenn. In the background lurk some senior Imperial Officers.

The set also includes a figure who could be used as a trooper in the Imperial Army. Unfortunately, it is the only suitable Micro Machine figure for that I have seen. Although, I have been tempted to convert some other suitable figures from the MM Military range.

A better equipped officer - weapon and armour.

One of my favourite Micro Machine poses.

Left to right: Grand Adm. Thrawn, Admiral Daala, Grand Moff Tarkin, and unknown.

More Imperial Officers.

And some more.

Group shot. Everyone say Cheese!

 Micro Machines also released a set of Imperial Naval Troopers. These are quite nice figures and I applaud their use of the MG08/15! According to some sources these figures could also be used as Imperial Army Troopers, although in my opinion your mileage will vary...

Group shot of all nine figures in the set.

Yes, I know it's not a MG08/15, but it is bulky looking.

Ninja? or Death Star Gunner?

The top of the Chain of Command. The Emperor and Guards. I was given a third recently by Glenn.

Emperor/Sith figure.

....There are always two....

Darth Vader figures.... loads of them....

A close up of some...

And then the rest...

 Micro Machines also made figures for use as Imperial Pilots. A pair of sparring trainees were included in one playset.

Sparring Trainees. Imperial Flight School is more than just TIE Fighters.

 They also made a set of Imperial Pilots containing the usual nine figures. These are very nice figures, and such they are such small scale could probably be paint converted as AT-AT crew.

Imperial Pilots. Two sets are shown here.

They are very nice figures. The one on the left has all his paperwork.

Some more pilots.

 In other news work on Harad continues. I will post some more Harad stuff soon, but Star wars is always good filler.

Star Wars Decision Units - Imperial Stormtroopers.

Currently I am working away producing paperwork for the Harad campaign, I have quite a bit organised but still have quite a bit left to do. I thought that I really should make a post, given all the great stuff being produced by other people, and as the Star Wars stuff seems to be popular I thought I would do some of that.

Micro Machines Stormtroopers, and two Ertl AT-ATs.

Two Revell Stormtroopers from the Shuttle model kit,  I was given these two guys are from Glenn.

Dead Stormtroopers. These figures were part of the Imperial Forces gift set.

The AT-ATs need to have their paint jobs finished, so far it has only taken 14 or so years to get them to this point. I have opted to use a smaller scale AT-AT as a 1/72 scale one would be huge. Wizards of the Coast produced one for their 28mm figures that was fairly close in size and it's huge! The Stormtroopers were used without basing when I played  Star Wars Miniature Battles by West End Games. A nice system, but not quite what I wanted.

Revell Stormtroopers. I have a plan for these figures...

One of these guys seems a little short to be Stormtrooper!

 The plan is now to base up the Stormtroopers and finish painting the AT-ATs. I have always thought Stormtroopers looked cool so I snapped them up whenever I had the opportunity to do so. The Micro Machines range of Star Wars figures is simply brilliant.

Micro Machine Stormtroopers with Heavy Blasters.

A group shot with AT-ATs in the back.

Underscale but still quite large.

Of course, every force needs a Reconnaissance element, and for the Stormtroopers is is carried out by the aptly named Scout Troopers. While a set of Scout Troopers were produced as part of the Micro Machine Range, they never made to NZ, and when they turn up on internet auction sites they tend to be quite expensive, as are sets of the Rebel Endor Commandos, and Naboo Security. Fortunately, Scout Troopers on Jet Bikes were made as part of one of the vehicle sets, and a single foot figure was produced as part of the Mini Head range.

Jet Bikes! Best not used in forests.

The Jet Bikes are a bit like technicals - Fast and Fragile!

A Group Shot. Foot Figures will be based as Patrol Stands.

Since it seemed a little more practical, and they were readily available, I obtained a couple of the Action Fleet AT-STs, as they seemed to be more in scale with the Micro machine figures I am using. Of course, if I am playing a game which has AT-ATs and AT-STs on the board at once, I use a smaller AT-ST models that are in scale to the AT-ATs.

Behold, the chicken walker legs!

No Wookies in here!

AT-ST officer figures. According to some sources, these guys often dismount to help direct fire.

And according to other sources, Stormtrooper officers wear black.

I really like the Micro Machines figures, but have generally been quite slack with finishing off projects with them. This year I will change that, even if it is to just post pictures of them. More Star Wars Micro Machines figures to follow.