Showing posts with label 15mm Miniatures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 15mm Miniatures. Show all posts

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Team Tankee - British Chieftain Tanks

More than five years after starting them, I finally painted up and finished my British Chieftain tanks from Battlefront Miniatures.  These guys have seen the battlefield a few times in an unfinished state, but it is nice to have them finally done.

I primed the tanks black for a solid base, then used silly-putty as a masking agent to create a camo pattern. After that, I sprayed a light green base coat over the masked areas.  Five years later, I dry-brushed them with khaki paint to add texture and reduce the sheen of the light green. Finally, I applied a dark tone for depth and weathering in some places.

With these bad boys painted up, I'm ready for some more battles in Team Yankee; these Chieftain tanks are sure to make an impact on the tabletop.  I finished the FV432s at the same time as my Chieftains, and plan on finishing up my British Infantry next, which will complete the army.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Star Trek 15mm Miniatures for Skirmish Gaming

I painted up a few 15mm miniatures (Manufacturer - Model Name) about a year ago for some Star Trek (TOS) skirmish gaming. 

The Federation miniatures (CP Models - SF1528 Starship Crew) include Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura, Nurse Chaple, and a Red Shirt, (or could be Scotty instead).  The Shuttlecraft miniature is just a Hallmark Shuttlecraft Galileo Keepsake Ornament from 1992, which are available on Ebay, etc.

The Klingon miniatures (Ground Zero Games - Kra'Vak) look more like ST:TNG Klingons, but they were the best I could find as a proxy at 15mm.

I hope to paint up some Gorn proxies soon for more Star Trek skirmish possibilities.

Space Weirdos 15mm Star Trek Battle Report - Mission to Giger IV

The USS Enterprise's shuttle, under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, touched down on the unforgiving surface of Giger IV. The away team, comprised of iconic crew such as Mr. Spock, Nurse Chapel, Dr. McCoy, Uhura, and a Red Shirt, disembarked into the harsh desert landscape. Their mission - to investigate the enigmatic energy disturbance emanating from an abandoned mining outpost.

The planet's surface presented formidable challenges with its H-Class classification, characterized by treacherous canyons, steep cliffs, and towering rock formations amidst harsh desert conditions. The presence of strong magnesite interference obstructed long-range scans and complicated transporter usage, compelling the Federation away team to rely on a shuttle for surface transport. The requirement to land a shuttle on Giger IV was complicated by the unique challenges posed by the planet's harsh environment and atmospheric conditions, as there were only a limited number of suitable landing zones available.

The tranquility of the landing was abruptly shattered as blue, furry Fuzzifangs, native creatures of Giger IV, crossed paths with the lurking Klingon forces. The Klingons were cunningly lying in wait to ambush the Federation away team. In the midst of escalating tensions, the Fuzzifangs, known for their peaceful nature, sought to evade the conflict and fulfill their mission—studying the alien invaders through close proximity and the psychic powers of both themselves and their symbiotic plant allies.

Mr. Spock, with his Vulcan telepathic abilities, attempted to establish a mind-meld with the ‘Great Fuzzifang’ twice. The mysterious nature of the alien proved challenging for even Spock's analytical mind, as it resisted the attempt at forming a mental connection.

The deceptive calm orchestrated by the Klingons was shattered when the Red Shirt and Nurse Chapel approached the entrance of the mining facility. To their dismay, they discovered the true nature of the outpost -- it was a hidden Klingon base! The Klingon High Command had formulated the defense of Forward Operating Base Delta on Giger IV, concealing it under the guise of an abandoned mining station.

Recognizing the imminent threat posed by the Federation's interest in the planet, Klingon warriors were instructed to leverage the advantage of surprise to ambush and kill the entire away team, blaming the deaths on the harsh planet environment or its native population. No survivors were to escape, as the Klingon Empire would be implementing feigned diplomatic efforts to delay further investigation into any "missing" Federation personnel.

A subordinate directive from the Klingon Empire underscored the imperative of eradicating the indigenous Fuzzifangs on Giger IV, deeming their presence an affront to Klingon honor. Sensing the mounting danger, the 'Great Fuzzifang' astutely evaded the threat and sought sanctuary in close proximity to the Federation shuttle. Employing strategic concealment, it cleverly eluded the pursuit of Klingon forces, simultaneously evoking a sense of concern among the Federation away team observing the unfolding events.

Captain Kirk, displaying quick thinking and leadership, led the remaining members of the away team in maneuvers to regroup and face the sudden aggression from the Klingons. In a surprising turn of events, Dr. McCoy, primarily known for his adept medical expertise, showcased unexpected marksmanship skills. With a well-placed phaser shot, he eliminated a Klingon, providing a brief reprieve for the beleaguered Federation team.

Through careful Federation maneuvers and limited casualties, the resilient plants on Giger IV, assisted by the Fuzzifangs' psychic powers, achieved their objective of studying the invaders. Valuable insights into Federation and Klingon tactics were gained, turning the planetary upheaval into an opportunity for observation and, unexpectedly, moments of amusement.

As the conflict raged on, an unforeseen dust storm swept across the battlefield, obscuring visibility and bringing an abrupt end to the confrontation. The unexpected weather event served as an equalizer, forcing both Federation and Klingon forces to cease hostilities and seek shelter.

Following the tumultuous events on Giger IV, the Fuzzifangs, in harmony with their symbiotic plant allies, emerged triumphant. Their success was revealed through an impressive display of adaptability, an assertive pursuit of knowledge through meticulous study, and assistance from the timely dust storm that ended the planetary mission. In a remarkable twist, the flora and fauna of Giger IV turned the potential for aggression into a profound cosmic understanding of both of the hostile alien factions.

The victory of the Fuzzifangs was not just a conquest over adversaries but a testament to the power of collaboration and resilience in the face of adversity. Hail to the Fuzzifangs!

Friday, December 31, 2021

Team Yankee - Yugoslavian Aérospatiale Gazelles

My Team Yankee JNA (Yugoslavian) force is now complete after recently painting up two Aérospatiale Gazelle attack helicopters, which will join the T-55s, BTR-60s, and infantry that I have already painted.

Soko was a Yugoslav aircraft manufacturer based in Mostar. The company was responsible for the production of many military aircraft for the Yugoslav Air Force. Originally, twenty-one French-built Aérospatiale Gazelle were bought by Yugoslavia, but after that, the Soko factory started serial production. 

I plan to use the Iraqi rules in Oil War for them....



Sunday, October 3, 2021

Team Yankee - Yugoslavian Army Infantry

My quest to make a JNA (Yugoslavian) force for Team Yankee is getting closer to completion.  I recently completed painting up the infantry.  I painted them up quickly, using a dark gray-green spray primer and then dipping them using MinWax PolyShade: Tudor after adding some detail.  These will join the T-55s and BTR-60s I have already painted up.

I ended up using Plastic Soldier Company's 15mm Modern Russians, although they are not the best match historically, at 15mm they were close enough for my purposes.  Originally, I was going to use Battlefront's own East German miniatures as those more closely matched the helmet style used in Yugoslavia at the time.  However, I decided to create a larger force and instead painted those up a blue Cobra force from GI Joe.

I plan to use the Iraqi rules in Oil War for this force when finished, and I hope to get them on the table as soon as I add some Gazelle helicopters to round things out.







Sunday, September 26, 2021

15mm Croatian Infantry

Almost a year ago I painted up some 15mm Polish Paratroopers for a custom game we will be playing, (based on both the One Page Rules and NetEpic rulesets).  To add another faction to the mix, I just finished some 15mm Croatian Infantry.

The 369th Croatian Reinforced Infantry Regiment was a unit of the German Wehrmacht that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II.  The regiment was raised from volunteers drawn from Croatia and was commonly referred to as the Croatian Legion (Hrvatska Legija). They became 369th (Croatian) Infantry Division (Wehrmacht).  They fought Tito until "desertions worsened particularly after the capitulation of Italy in September 1943".

The miniatures were all extras from my stock and are from a mix of various manufacturers, including Forged In Battle, Peter Pig, and Battlefront.  I worked to paint them up relatively quickly.  I based them on pennies, added sand, then primed them with a dark green color, which I then highlighted with a very grayish green.  After a few details, I dipped them using MinWax PolyShade: Tudor, (which is a little darker than my normal Royal Walnut Satin dip).

Unfortunately, I realized only after sealing them that I think I placed the red and white "checkerboard" patch on the wrong shoulder for each of them... but mistakes happen.  I'm looking forward to getting these on the table.  Next up are some 15mm partisans that will be used to either support the Polish Paratroopers, or act as its own force.



Sunday, September 12, 2021

Flames of War 'Nam - Hot LZ

Due to Covid, it's been almost two years since playing a miniature wargame on the tabletop.  And, it's been almost five years since our last Flames of War Vietnam game, (back from before even the 'Nam book was released).  In 2016, we played the Fair Fight scenario, with Strom playing the Local Forces.  This time, it was my turn to take my (now fully painted) VC Local Forces army into battle for the first time.

We decided on the Hot LZ scenario, with Strom playing his US Air Mobile force.  My 50 point Vietcong force included:

  • Two (maxed-out) Local Forces Infantry Companies (with rifles),
  • One Anti-Air Platoon,
  • Front Artillery Unit (with six guns),
  • A Front Artillery Observer,
  • Six Local Resistance Teams,
  • Three Machine Gun Bunkers, and
  • Five Booby Traps.


For the Hot LZ scenario we each placed one objective, and the winner was the player to capture the opponent's objective.  Strom placed his objective near the road and I placed mine in the village.  Some of the US forces started on the table (defending their objective), while the remaining units would come onto the board as reserves, delivered by helicopters.  The VC forces would enter the game, randomly, using Guerrilla Reserves.

 
 

My first Local Forces Infantry Company entered the table in the dense jungle, and engaged the US forces near their objective.  The forces traded fire, and each side took casualties.  The US forces called in artillery, and the strength of my force was slowly winnowed down over the course of the game.  Later, they would launch a futile assault on the objective. 

 
Meanwhile, my other Local Forces Infantry Company entered the table and secured my objective within the village.  
 



They were attacked by two US helicopters - a Huey and a Loach.  They took a few casualties before finally digging in.  They were later joined by the Anti-Air Platoon, which scored a victory by taking down the Huey with anti-aircraft fire.



The US touched down three transport helicopters, which soon landed a sizable US force outside the village.  It was a short slog into the village, and the VC forces would do their best to delay their movement toward my secured objective.  The village was now also occupied by Local Resistance (villagers), with questionable loyalties....
 
 
 
 

With the villagers observing for the VC artillery, fire rained down on the US forces as they marched toward the village.  We traded artillery fire back and forth, and both forces slowly took casualties.  The Loach avenged the destroyed Huey by eliminating my artillery observer unit, (which had unwisely tried to get a better view at the advancing US forces).



Booby traps delayed the US force's attempted march into the village, and then the VC machine gun bunkers entered the game....  The machine guns further complicated the US's efforts to attack.  My opponent's Navy SEALS would attempt to neutralize one of the bunkers, silently advancing in the jungle flanking around its firing arc.

Finally, my Local Forces Infantry Company which attempted to overtake the US objective after a failed assault finally failed its morale roll, and was destroyed.  It failed its roll to recycle and re-enter the game.


With both forces now well dug in around their own objectives and only limited ability on both sides to formulate any competent attack, the game could have lasted many more turns just trading artillery strikes until one force had the advantage.  But instead, we called it a draw, as dusk fell over the battlefield....

All in all, it was a fun game, and helped us become re-accustomed to the rules.  Unfortunately, we found the 'Nam rulebook to be not very well organized, but we soon had most of the special rules for our forces memorized.  Many of the rules questions we had were addressed in the official "Our Man in Saigon" FAQ document.  Although we will likely play Team Yankee ("World War 3") for our next Flames of War game, we are looking forward to future 'Nam games.

Friday, May 21, 2021

Blackstone Fortress Spindle Drones

A few months ago I finished painting up eight Spindle Drones, found in Games Workshop's Blackstone Fortress game.  These metallic-organic arachnids help defend Blackstone Fortress from intruders.  I primed these robotic war machines in metallic silver, then washed them with a purple Army Painter wash.  I finished up their bases simply, with some crackle media and flock.

I may have a few uses for them - they could be used for 15mm "tri-pod" aliens (a la War of the Worlds) in a superhero game, for One Page Rules: Grimdark Firefight as proxies for Snipers (Rebel Guerrillas faction), or for an additional small unit add-on in a game of Warhammer 40,000. 


Saturday, April 24, 2021

15mm G.I. Joe Cobra Infantry (and H.I.S.S.)

Once I changed my mind about which miniatures I wanted use for my 15mm Team Yankee Yugoslavian infantry force, I had a few extra metal East German miniatures that I didn't know what to do with.  I decided to prime them blue and then quickly paint them up as Cobra infantry  I didn't dip these models, but instead used Army Painted washes as there were so few bases.

These miniatures may come in handy as a small group of generic bad guys for 15mm Superhero gaming, as NPCs in a game of 15mm "What A Tanker!", or as something else I haven't yet considered.   The H.I.S.S. Tank is out of scale, but close enough for my needs - it was produced by Running Press and released back in 2014.


Sunday, January 3, 2021

15mm Superhero Gaming - Nevermore Character Sheet

Nevermore the cyber-raven is Blue Raven's new sidekick and loyal companion.  Released from evildoers during a dangerous mission, the cyber-raven's programming was reset.  He now obeys, protects, transports, and accompanies Blue Raven on all her operations.  Nevermore can lift her to normally unreachable heights, or transport her quickly across any theater of engagement.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

15mm Superhero Gaming - A Christmas Crisis Session Report

I ran a holiday-themed 15mm Superhero gaming session for my daughters, nieces, and nephews last year.  It had been many months since since the last of our most recent three sessions - Rise of the Dead, Desert Rescue, and When Aliens Attack.  Below are the details for this holiday adventure....

A Christmas Crisis

At the North Pole, the mistletoe was hung, the elves were busy... and trouble was brewing.... Herr Kürbiskopf's hatred of Christmas - only exceeded by his love for Halloween - threatens the holiday itself. His dastardly plan - kidnap Santa and destroy his North Pole workshop so that Halloween will be the most popular holiday. The Repulsers superhero team has been called in to safeguard Santa, protect his workshop... and save Christmas.


Superheroes:
*America Girl
*Ice Princess (with Snowflake, her ice golem)
*Star Flare
*Blue Raven
*Major Blasto

NPCs:
*Santa Claus
*Santa's Elves

Villains:
*Herr Kürbiskopf
*Zombies

Aboard the Quinjet, the team (led by America Girl) discussed the mission and formulated a plan to inform Santa about the threat.  They will prepare his elves to mount a defense of the workshop and then engage and eliminate Herr Kürbiskopf along with his zombie horde.

Ice Princess warns Santa and his elves, who are very worried and consider abandoning the North Pole.  America Girl promises to protect them and and starts mounting a defense perimeter.  Meanwhile, Blue Raven eliminates the first few zombies encountered around the defensive perimeter.  Ice Princess, Star Flare, and Major Blasto engage the zombie horde, fighting their way to Herr Kürbiskopf.  They know if they can defeat Herr Kürbiskopf's and stop his sinister magic, the zombies will all cease their macabre walk toward the workshop.  After heavy fighting, America Girl engages Herr Kürbiskopf, defeating him and the zombie threat.

Christmas is saved and Santa is safe, along with his elves and his workshop. As a reward, Santa provides a gift to each of the superheros:
  • America Girl is presented a single pulse glove, providing her with a new "Pulse Glove" ranged attack,
  • Major Blasto is gifted a new transport shuttle, providing future air/space transportation for the team in future missions,
  • Blue Raven is provided a new companion - a cyber-raven named Evermore,
  • Ice Princess is granted karate lessons, allowing her to perform a new melee attack called "Frost Strike", and  
  • Star Flare is handed the keys to a fighter jet, allowing her to provide in-air protection for Major Blasto's transport shuttle, give close ground support in ground engagements, and arrive quickly to future battlefields.
Best Moments:

*America Girl demonstrates her leadership skills by rallying Santa's elves to hold the line against the zombies.
*Snowflake the ice golem, no longer suffering from the effects of his "Melting" special rule, crushes zombies left and right.
*Major Blasto lures some the zombies to the center of a frozen lake, at which point Star Flare uses her magical flame powers on the lake surface, melting the ice. The zombies fall into the lake and then are trapped beneath the surface by the surface ice, which was quickly re-frozen by Ice Princess.

Ice Princess warns Santa and his elves about the imminent danger!

America Girl holds the line against the zombies....

The zombies march toward Santa's workshop...

Snowflake - in his element - crushes the zombie invaders!

Santa provides gifts for saving his elves, his workshop... and Christmas!