Thursday 13 June 2013

Variag Technicals.

Variag Technicals.
Khand is home to many peoples, one of which are the Variag. The Variag are a semi nomadic people with a strong cavalry ethos, who were famous in ancient times for using a mixture of war chariots and light cavalry in their war hosts. This practice gave them the name of  Wainriders amongst the nations of the West.

The Variag also have a reputation for innovation, so it unsurprising to see that many Variag clans have produced a wide array of  fast moving and hard hitting technicals for use in the many battles that have occurred throughout conflict torn Khand. The Variag also have a strong tradition of hiring out as mercenaries , a practise that has enriched many individual clan lords.

Two of the base diecasts.

The base vehicles for the technicals are three very cheap and nasty diecasts that were sold at The Warehouse a couple of years back. They did come with a roll bar in the back that had been removed some time back. The first step was to create a tray out of plastic card in the back so that a) the wire axle could be hidden, and b) the weapon mount had a level place to sit.

So cheap that you can see the wire axle...

A bit of GW sprue to provide a level base for the plastic card.

A crude plastic card tray is added.

The next step was to raid the bits box and find a few weapons, and some odd bits of plastic and sprue to make the weapons mounts. The white cross grid. plastic is actually pieces of a plastic frame used to mount cross stitch and also makes great windows and fencing.

Bits and pieces ready to make the weapons mounts.
 I deccided the weapons mix for these would be two 20mm Oerlikon guns (from the Airfix Buffalo kit) and a generic ATGM made out of a piece of aircraft undercarriage. The ATGM is quite large but I like it as it suggests a ATGM rather the accurately modelling a particular type.


The vehices before being sprayed black.
 I then sprayed them black with cheap matt spray paint, badly drybrushed the vehicle bodies white and the weapons olive drab, and the gave them a light brown wash.

Variag Technicals - potential friends or foes, given one's ability to pay.
Edit - this should have been the photo used above!

Occasionally amongst the Variag Clan leaders, one arises to prominence  above all others and becomes Khan of all the Clans. Rumour currently has it that one clan leader is currently well on his way to achieving this goal. Stories of this so called  "Diesela Khan" are currently viewed with interest throughout the region....




14 comments:

  1. Very nice work here Brian and a good use for the 20mm guns.

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    1. Thanks Paul! I have a large stockpile of them so I figured that it was about time I used a couple!

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  2. Good work on those cars!I like the story too.

    and you don't have a "clean" paint to do on them !!!

    Well done !

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    1. Thanks Sam! I think they turned out well too!

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  3. Great conversions, very cool!

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    1. Thanks Al! I enjoy making technicals as I think that they are a neat unit type for moderns games.

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  4. Nice looking converted vehicles!

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  5. 'Diesela Khan'... I've heard of him before...
    I quite liked those technicals still in their 'American Star' livery. You're a ruthless and hard man, Brian. Mind you, 'el cheapo' vehicles deserve to have their paint jobs scratched, oxidized by the sun and overcoated in sand...

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    1. Hi Ion, - yes I'm sure you have heard of that fellah before, and I'm fairly certain your paths may cross again....

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  6. nice conversions Brian I wish I had retained more of my die casts. I sold most but then again I did not have many pick-ups. which of course are the most useful type for games and conversions.

    nice addition and its very interesting to see what became of the wainridders!

    been a while since I read some Tolkien but who needs to when the modern chapter is being played out. interesting to see if the on the rise Khan will become leader over all the Variag and then to see what his next moves are.

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    1. Thanks Gowan,
      If you want ideas for conversions with diecasts, then Google 'Dark future cars" and you should get ideas for making technicals that use a wide range of vehicle types.

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  7. Good output on the technicals. Keep em coming.

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    1. Hi Sean,
      While my wife is on holiday, I am trying to make and paint as much stuff as possible!

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