Specialist and and Scout Mechs

I have acquired a decent selections of Mechs in a number of different scales most of these are from Japan and are primarily from the Robotech & Dougram television series. I needed a break from the projects that I have been working on so I decided to do some old-fashioned modeling beginning with my Fang of the Sun Dougram Mini Figures I do not know the scale of these figures but I used to use some of these when I played Battletech years ago and they seemed the same scale. These figures came pre-assemble so all I had to do is mount them on the poker chips that I use for all my specialist teams and huge infantry. For now I plan to use them as is until I can budget in time to repaint them for the factions they will be assigned to,there are two reasons for this first I am not sure of which armies to assignment to & am going to" playtest them with the armies prior to making this decision. The second reason is I do not have the time to paint additional figures that already tabletop usable so I will be using as is. I may be doing a couple more posts on Mecha as I plan to put together the other models and mini figures that have been sitting in a storage box for last couple of months. I've been slow with putting together any Mechs as I have always had a problem with giant Mechs fighting alongside infantry, but I have recently read a few after action reports where the used Mechs alongside infantry and it was not a game breaker.  After seeing some other peoples armies where they use Mechs alongside infantry my views have changed and I think of them just as another support aspect just like tanks or other vehicles.

Below are pictures of my Fang of the Sun Dougram Mini Figures which will be used as either specialists units or as scout Mechs using the Gruntz 1.1 system. I may be adding more variety of scales to the blog, but primarily it will stay 15 mm with the possible exception of some Battletech or Mech Warrior posts due to the fact that many of the models can be used alongside to 15 mm figures, in addition to the fact I always liked Mech battles, but I'm not rushing out to purchase a bunch of stuff in any other scale.  I apologize to anyone who takes offense to this but I do not have the time or energy to multiple blogs for each scale I play.  The blog will remain exclusively  science-fiction.

After the  Fang of the Sun Dougram Mini Figures I have some Comparison Pics with them mixed in with some of the other models I use as Specialist & Scout Mech that are made by various 15mm Manufactures as well as a few Star Wars Miniature from Wizards of the Coast.  Hopefully this gives a good idea of scale compared to the other units that are used for the same purpose.

Gruntz Cards for Federal Army Armored core Force

Here are the cards for my Federal Army.  I play with modified Squad sizes between 4 & 10 Troops including Squad Attachments.  In addition all the Gruntz Specialist Weapons Teams must be attached to Gruntz Squads or form squads of there own of 2 to 4 weapons teams.The stats are very High as they are Elite troops augmented by  Technology.  The core force is 1350 point.

Federal Army Armored Planetary Assault Force (core)

 I have finished up most of the core units for My Federal Army Armored Planetary Assault Force.  It contains 2 Heavy Tanks, 2 Heavy Missile Tanks Painted but still have to build the Missile Turrets, 5 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicles to transport  2 x 5 Man Recon Teams 4 Riflemen & 1 SAW gunner, 3 x 4 man Assault Teams 2 Riflemen & 2 SAW gunner, 3 Fire Support Teams 4 Riflemen & a 2 Man Heavy Machine Gun, 3 Tank Hunter Teams  3 Riflemen, 1 SAW gunner, & a 2 Man Portable Missile Launcher Team & will Contain 4 Command Figures only 1 Shown.  I Still Have 1 Heavy Tank, 1 Heavy Missile Tank, 1 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle for the core force to be finished & 6 Scout Walked & 4 Super Heavy Power Armor models to complete the entire force.

Control Battalion

I am using the Control Battalion from Khurasan Miniatures for My Crimson Guard force.  The Crimson Guard are Partially converted Cyborg Troops.  They are a Medium Tech Force that can use Either Lasers or Projectile Weapons.  I just received the Paints & Inks I Ordered about 2 weeks ago, when I made the order I Got all the Paints  & Inks I would need to Hopefully complete Many of the forces I have.   I had completely ran out of metallic colors so was stuck unable to finish anything.  The Paint Job on the Crimson Guard is very simple with only 3 colors of Paints & 2 Inks being used to compliment the Paint job.  I Painted up 3 x 6 Man Squads  1 Command Figure & 1 APC (a M114 from Roco with no modifications to the vehicle) as the starting force.  I Hope you like them.  

Boly Mini-Tanks

This is the small selection of  BOLEY "MILITARY " 1:87 SCALE VEHICLES I have got.  Models include 4 M-3 Bradley , 2 Abram, 2 S.P. Tanks, 1 MLRS Tractors, 3 HEMTT Dragon Wagons Oshkosh Cargo Trucks, 1 Bus, 1 Truck, 2 Humvee, & 1 Cheep truck.  I believe all of these except the cheep green truck are Boley but am not 100% sure as I got them in a large lot of vehicles.

Die Cast Vehicle for 15mm

I have only gotten a few die cast models for my 15mm Forces as I found it more cost effective to buy Lots of vehicle of e-Bay & have found most of the lots for Die-Cast are a mixed bag with lots of different vehicles.  As I have tried to get Multiple vehicles of the same Type for gaming use I have very few Die Cast models.  The Bradleys are Matchbox, the Sheridans & M60s are Zylmex Tanks.  The Salidin wheeled armored cars are from Play Art, I don't know who makes the ambulance & the rest are Corgy. 

Roco Mini Tanks

I am going to use these for some of my 15mm forces, I have 63 Mini Tanks all but 3 of them are Roco 1/87 scale models.  This includes 13 jeeps, 8  M114 APCs, 5 M113 APCs including Command Vehicle, 2 Marder APCs, 5 Trucks 2 Types, 1 BTR152 Truck, 2 BTR5O APCs, 1 TPZ 1 APCs, 1 8 wheeled APC, 3 M45 Bridge Layers 2 with Bridges, 3 SPZ-KURTZ Armored Cars including Command Car, 3 M109 S.P. Artillery 2 with howitzers, 2 Sheridan M551 Tanks, 3 Leopard Tanks, 8 M60 Tanks, 1 Rig with fuel tank trailer, 4 trailers 2 fuel tanks, 1 cargo & 1 Toe rig.

Pangalactic Legion

Unknown Alien Race (Technological Base Unknown Energy Matter Conversion/ The Physics of which are Beyond Humanities Highest Theoretical Geniuses Comprehension.)

When I saw these models I had to have them so I didn't Hesitate & ordered over 100 models for this force (3 Infantry packs & 6 Command Packs)  This is actually the first alien force that I had a clear picture of their Combined Arms Reinforced Jump Infantry Company Making them Jump Infantry Eliminated the Need for APCs.  As every Legionnaire is equipped with a Jump Pack they can Easily Keep up with the Attached Armor & other Support Units in the Army.  I already had the basic Vehicles for the Pangalatic Legion prior to getting the miniature.  Their primary vehicles are Combat Walkers.  I am using the 1/144 Die-Cast  Gunners 2 x 6 Legged Desert Scorpion Walkers &  3 x 4 Legged Grab Gunner Walkers from the Dougram series for their Tanks.  Fast Attack Mechs represented by Pieter Zentradi Pods as flankers  in addition 2 Scout Walkers  1/200 Hard Rubber Grab Gunners Walkers.  I have a lot more mechs Available for support. Bellow are Pictures of my First Test Squad for them.

Bellow are Pictures of the First the 5 Man Test Squad with their attached Support Weapon Specialists Team.   The 2 Man Weapons Team's figures are mounted separately as I am still debating the Army TO&E as Gruntz 1.1 should be released Really Soon (Most Likely Within a Week or so).  The Weapons & Equipment are Temporarily Blue but will be Bronze replacing almost all the Blue once my Vallejo Paint order Comes in, Also the Royal Purple Will be washed with a Thinned Purple Ink & Highlighted making it a little darker but smother adding the perfect Effect as their Power Armor is  Energy based.  This Uses the Pinnacle of Advancement in Personal Shield Technology Literally Converting the Energy into Matter forming Physical Power Armor with Almost No Weight which can be shut down when Not In Use.  The Energy Supply for each Suit Will Last Between 2 to 6 Hours Even in the Heaviest Combat Situation & Can Be Recharged from any of their Vehicles within a matter of Minutes or From a Conventional Source in about 1 to 2 Hours.  The First 6 Pictures are Small So they could be fit on the Main Page, but all the other Pictures are Large Click on Post to take a look.

Hive Mind (Zerg) Army

I've got all the models for the Zerg force & have added it to the force that I had Painted previously.  So now I have 108 Zerglings, 36 Hydrolisks & 18 Ultralisks + fliers 18 Mutalisks & 36 Scourges  for the models you have seen previously.  In addition to 12 Lurkers, 12 Infested Terrans, & 18 Defilers + fliers 20 Queens, 18 Guardians & 12 Devourers all from the Board Game then add in 68 Zerglings, 34 Hydrolisks & 2 Leaders Figures from the Star Craft Risk Game which I am still mounting to their  Bases & converting the models for use other than the leaders the Zerg from the Risk Game are not in the same class as the other figures in the army but using them will save me  having to get anymore of the Board Game to complete the army.  Finishig the Army took an additional 2 sets of the Fantasy Flight Star Craft the Board Game + 1 more set of the Brood War expansion for a total of 3 of the FF Game & 2 of the Expansions.  Thank goodness the Risk Game was released as this allows me to build armies for the Protoss & Terran Marines using most of the miniatures from the FF Game To augment the infantry from the Risk Game,  What I am not going to use I will be putting up for auction on e Bay if anyone is interested in getting some of the miniatures from the Board Game without having to shell out big Bucks.  Here is the link to the auction  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290805101168  for the Terran Forces.

More Goodies From e Bay

More of my loot from e Bay First of a size comparison Will be done with Khurasan Neo-Arabs or Eurika Sci Fi German Storm Troops.

These are 1/144th Models from F-Toys.  But they will work just fine with 15mm figures as Medium or Heavy Vehicles.  The Tank is going to my Khurasan Felids & the Walker I' not Quite sure ho gets it yet..  They only ran me $11.50 For the Tank & 12.50 for the Walker U.S. including shipping.

Stage 1 of the Terran Colonial Empire Force

I picked up the rest of the 1/2 Tracks that I Need to complete the Forces that I currently have so I have to Paint this army.  this is 2 Short platoons of Infantry with transports but I haven't had time to do the conversions for the support vehicles yet but I just receive some parts of e Bay That should allow me to do the conversions much faster & Easier.

The force consist of  1 Line Company of 2 platoons each with 6 squads of 6 + Command & Heavy Weapons which are attached to squads.  2 Reconnaissance Platoon with 4 Squads of 8 +_ Command & Heavy Weapons Attached to Command compose the Reconnaissance Company.  There will be 24 Support Vehicles once I Convert them & 2 Tracked Tanks.  All Troops are mounted in 1/2 Tracks Total # of Transport 1/2 Tracks is 29.

This is another project Company I have to paint up.

What is to Come / Hobby Report EBay

 I am Planning to do Regular Battle reports on my Blog once I get the full companies for at least 2 off my Factions Finished as well as Back Ground & Progress reports on My Forces, Also I want to do Tutorials On Some of My Modifications & Some Scratch Builds For Vehicles I Have Planned.  The First Posts in this plan have already Begun.  The First Real Project Log That was Not Army related was on My Terrain Project that I am still Working on for My Campaign http://federatin-empire15mmsci-fi.blogspot.com/2012/09/city-fighting-current-terrain-in.html.  My Army Projects Updates Actually Started with the Zerg Unfortunately The Zerg Have Been Put on the Back Burner as I am Waiting to Get More Models For the Army,  So I Posted on the Riek Arriving as I Just Started the Army then I Fully Assembled the rest of the Army & Posted On my Work to Build Forces at the Company Level.  I Will Be Posting The Imperial Army Forces Soon But it will be without there Heavy Weapons Platoons as I have to Pick up Bases for them This will also Include Some Hobby Posts as I Have To Convert 24 Half Tracks From the Zod 2 Tanks.  I Have to get back on working on My Background for the various Factions I Use as the Only Exclusive Post on Back Ground is The Overview of the Terran Colonial Empire & all other Back Ground has been Done in other Posts &Should be Compiled Into An Overview or Back Ground Post.  Additionally I need to get 2 Full Factions Painted Up so I can Start Posting Battle Reports & Once The Campaign is Started Keep a Campaign Log.   I Just Ordered A Bunch of Trees of E-Bay To Allow me to Put Games On  Without Having To Go Out to The East Bay to One of the Houses of the guys in My Gaming Group as all the Trees & Hills are Kept in One Central Location where we usually meet to play.  All I have been able to do with the couple Friends who have been learning to Game with me in the City has been Urban Terrain.  To Solve This problem I Ordered 11 Packs of Trees Ranging in Height from 6cm up to 12cm ( 1 1/2" to 4 3/4")  with a Variety of Types.  In total I Ordered 106 trees & will probably order at least another 15 or 20  to allow ,more coverage with trees for Wooded areas in my games.   One of my friends got a New Bed Last Week & he & I put it together took us ma-bee a 1/2 hour to get the whole thing done,  But Big Packages mean big Packing Material So I ended up with a lot of Styrofoam That he had no use for himself.  So Far I have put together12 or 14 Ground Breaks & Around a Dozen or so Hills.  

Here are some Picture of My E Bay  Some Down loaded as the Item,s have yet to Arrive Loot &I Will Be Posting On My  Hills & Some of the Trees I Got in yesterday Later today or tomorrow.

The Riek Company in progress

The Riek's Military Is Composed of Elite heavy Infantry with Laser Rifles in 5 or 6 man Squads with War Bot Support at the Platoon Level & Cyborgs at the Company Level.  The Company Consist of 2 Platoons with 4 squads of 5 men Each + 2 Missile Launcher Teams, 1 Heavy Laser Cannon, 1 Sniper & a Platoon Commander In addition to 18 War Bots 3 Heavy War Bots 3 Attack Drone Air, & 3 Attack Drones Tracked,  A Command Platoon with 3 Squads of 6 Men + 2 Missile Launcher Teams, 1Heavy Laser Cannon & Company Commander,  in addition to 24 War Bots,  6 Heavy Cyborgs, 6 Air Attack Cyborgs, & Company Transport of 6 APCs.  An additional 6 Super War Bots are available but Not in the Photos.   This is a work in Progress Post & the Figures have Been Primed, Base Coated & Given their First wash.  Will update on Progress as I finish up units.

 

The Riek has arrived

I am planning a Narrative Campaign for the Invasion Of Over-Watch which has been used as a Major Military Staging Area for the Terran Colonial Empire (TCE) in their war with The Riek & others.   I decided to use the Riek as the Planetary Invasion Force as they are a good Contrast to the TCE Being a Human Force Made  up of the Elite Panzer Grenadiers Supported By Combat Robots & Cyborgs. For now I wanted to Post Pictures of the first uits I Painted for the Riek Including 1 Medium APC, 8 Panzer Grenadier Storm Trooper & War Hound Class War Bots.

This is just a Quick Upate

City Fighting Current Terrain in Progress

Here are some pictures of the current terrain Project I am working on it will be a large Area of a Small city that has been heavily shelled & bombed for day or weeks.  I am building this City to represent the city of Over-Watch which is on the edge of the Terran Colonial Empire which has been used as a major staging point for the last 80 years for multiple incursion into neighboring systems in an attempt to conquer them. Details on this campaign will be forth coming in the next few months.

First of this is a factory that is still in the first stages of being put together & still has a lot ow work to be done.  Currently I have only done the external facade of the factory when I get done it will include a fairly detailed control room & automated machinery as well as a top level vehicle storage facility, fully detailed doors from combat Wombat & Proxy models rolling doors that have been increased in both hieght & width to allow access of Mech & Vehicle unitd & 2 sets of  doors for the loading docks.



Here are most of the building I have gotten built for this Campaign  in variouse stages of progress I am planning out a Single fully intact Appartment Building with 4 floor & these are some of the pieces that will go into it.

Recce Platoon now Mechanized

My Imperial Recce Platoon now has 2 Medium Tanks & 4 of the 1/2 tracks ready for battle.  I am finally able to play games with 2 fully integrated forces with no stand in or unfinished models.  Can't wait for Gruntz Version 1.1 to be released so I can start using the new auto fire rules.  Warning this Post is very Pic Heavy.

Reinforcements for The Psi Marine Tanks

Reinforcements for The Psi Marine 2 Reece Tanks Finished.  The smaller Tanks Are Combat Wombat models That I have Increased the Height of & added Hover Skirts to.  + Pictures of the Force thus far.

 

My Venusian Psi Marines

This is a platoon of Venusian Psi Marine Infantry Supported By an Under Strength Platoon Of Shiva MBTs.  At the end are some of the Gruntz cards I have made for my Force.

Combat Wombat Height Conversion How To

How I Did The Combat Wombat Height Conversion

More vehicle Pictures

More Pictures  Of Venusian Psi-Marine Vehicles APCs & the Shiva MBT.  Stats on the APC will be posted later with some better pictures.  Still have 3 APCs, 2 Medium Tanks, & 1 Shiva Tank to paint up & lots of infantry to paint up.