WizKids Deep Cuts Unpainted Miniatures: Wave 7: Pack Mule

The The 1st Madras Pioneers with supplies on the Northwest Frontier.

 Most gamers hate logistics in a game; but, the reality is that logistics are an important (ESSENTIAL!) part of warfare. As an exercise, I use to have my cadets calculate how much water is needed for an average US Army Mechanized Infantry battalion - and water is heavy. If I use logistics in a game, I like simplified rules such as knowing how many shots I have before running out of ammunition or a random roll. Having said that, you can have fun with logistics through escort missions of just having nice scatter pieces to be on the table. Having said that, these ridiculously overloaded mules from WizKids Deep Cuts Unpainted Miniatures are inexpensive and a quick way to get the logistics train rolling.

Bombay Sappers and Miners in China, 1900.

The mules come 2 to a pack, are semi-hard pre-primed resin. Essentially I just used GW Citadel Contrast paints to knock them out in about 2 days.

Not bad for (except the drunk mule that I need to straighten out) for approximately $11 USD.

The Search for Charlie Episode 1.10: The Batman Gets a Base Upgrade

I was goofing around and discovered and new (at least to me) scenic company that had some really great accessories to include a variety of pre-painted bases in many sizes and types (urban, desert, forest, spaceship corridors, etc.). The company is called Gamers Grass and in addition to bases they have great looking tufts, laser cut vegetation, basing bits - well, quite a lot that a lazy gamer like me does not like to build.

Though a little bit on the pricey side at $19.99 USD, the ten 28mm bases look great and I wanted to rebase some of my Pulp genre figures instead of making my own urban bases.

Since my Pulp Batman figures is a converted HeroClix plastic figure glued to a wood Litko base with white glue, I knew it would come off the base easily. I carefully used my hobby knife to get the figure off the old base, and with a little super glue, added it to the new base.

A bad picture of the original base and figure as a WIP.

Dang! Until I took these pictures I did not realize that The Batman's mouth and mask need to be fixed!

But the base looks good!

"I am the night."

Pashtun Field Force for the 1897-1898 Frontier Uprising

 

Over the last few years I've been building a Pashtun Frontier Force to use with my favorite set of Colonial rules The Men Who Would be Kings. Of course these can easily be converted to other rule sets. For my infantry I have more "shooters" than the "hand to gland" forces you might see in the 2nd Afghan War. By the end of the 19th Century the Pashtun tribes were better armed; but interestingly, the mass attack tactics were still commonly used.

This is a standard 24 point force though the Pashtuns, according to my research during the uprisings, did not have any artillery. But I have to use the BFG!

Three units of Irregular Infantry:

Irregular Infantry per the recommended point values are 4 points and 12 figures strong. I've made them poorly armed for - 1 point but have given them Fieldcraft option for + 1 point for a total of 4 points per unit.

I've built two units of Tribal Infantry which are 16 figures strong and their base cost is 3 points. I have given each unit the Fierce option at +1 point for a total of 4 points.

As I mentioned earlier, I had to give my Pashtuns the BFG! It will be a Poorly Drilled Crewed Weapon at 4 points.

To recap, here is my core force:

3 x Irregular Infantry = 12 points

2 x Tribal Infantry = 8 points

1 x Poorly Drilled Crewed Weapon = 4 points

Total: 24 points

On the Workbench

 

Another wonderful Movember figure for Men's Health from Pulp Figures.

Whew! I have forgotten that painting individual figures that are different takes a bit longer than doing the assembly line for a uniformed unit - but I'm not complaining! I'm making progress for the Pulp campaign that will be done later this year and soon I'll be heading on to other projects.

Stahl Mask in his stepping out clothes. Very chic and fashionable.

Pre-primed plastic mules from WizKids.

Of course we need more Villains!

The Search for Charlie Episode 1.7: The Batman

"They think I am hiding in the night. But I am the night."

From Sam's Journal: "The world is getting screwier. I served in the Great War . . . and since the war, things have just changed. For the worst. We were honest detectives, and Charlie and I saw some unexplained events. But Charlies gone and there's gangs, and Nazis and a rumored megalomaniac scientist and a psychopathic clown making headlines - and some urban legend of an avenging angel dressed as a devil or a bat . . . "

After I came up with the brilliant idea (I thought it was brilliant) to paint a figure as the Joker for our 1930's Pulp campaing "The Search for Charlie" I knew I had to come up with a 1930's figure for The Batman. 

Finding out what Batman looked like in the 1930's is easy; finding a figure is not. Then I saw a HeroClix Batman and Superman that were made for the Batman vs. Superman movie and the figure for the caped crusader was pretty close so it's conversion time!

Mmmm . . . the Caped Crusader is tall. Of course he is! He's The Batman! Next to the HeroClix figure is a 28mm figure from Pulp figure on two bases. How to remove the base? I love the internet. Put the figure in the freezer for one hour. The base and the smaller base that the figure are on are hard plastic and it was easy to pry the small base from the bigger base and then I used by sharp hobby knife to remove the figure from the smaller base.

A one hour trip to the Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic.

Handy dandy hobby knife.

Okay that is much better. The figure is still noticeably taller - BUT HE'S THE BATMAN!

Okay we are making progress. Did I mention that I got the HeroClix figures from a Used Book Store for $2.50 USD? Since the figure was already painted (yes I check the internet for ideas!) I decided no priming was needed; but, I wanted the black parts to have some texture and I needed to give the figure the classic under wear look. I used Vallejo flat white to paint the cowl, the cape, the utility belt and to give him some underwear since I was going to use Citadel Contrast Black Templar. I accidentally painted his face so his face will be repainted too.

As I memtioned the cape and cowl were painted with CC Black Templar. I painted the face with CC Darkoath Flesh and the utility belt with CC Iyanden Yellow. The eyes I used Vallejo Flat white.  I wanted the main costume lighter so I did a light dry brush with Vallejo Neutral Grey. After looking at this picture I went back and cleaned up some spots. I used part of the old base on the stand to use as concrete.

Just a touch of clean up on the cowl and we are ready to terrorize criminal elements.

"Fear is a tool. When that light hits the sky, it’s not just a call. It’s a warning. For them."

Another Old Favorite gets a Makeover

"Hey Colonel! How come Sam gets a makeover and I don't. You have had me employed longer than Sam (though technically I was a bad guy but changed my evil ways - honest!)

Yu Niu is considered by many to be the finest swordsman of China (the other also mentioned is the man known simply as the Black Dragon). For many years she was the "tip of the spear" for a secret element of the Imperial Chinese Army under the command of General Ronglu that was not always scrupulous. 

General Ronglu and his unconventional elements of the Chinese Imperial Army.

She became disillusioned with the life she was leading after the forces under General were tricked into a fight to the death with the Martial Monks of Justice. Yu Niu was the only survivor of the encounter and is convinced an evil, monovalent force was behind the slaughter. She is currently in seclusion with "The Lady in White" at an old Buddhist shrine . . . 

Another one of my favorite and oldest figures for Skirmish gaming also comes from Copplestone Castings and can be found in the Back of Beyond range as BC21 - Chinese Bandit Chiefs.

Once again I was attempting to repaint a figure that was already on a base so I would not have to rebase. I carefully repainted the places I wanted to redo with Vallejo Flat White.

I used GW Contrast Darkoath (BWAH HAH HAH!) Flesh on her hat but I was not crazy about how it looked after it dry. Too much of a red tint.

For the jacket I applied a coat of Contrast Nazdreg Yellow (whatever the heck is a Nazdreg?) and also used the Contrast Yellow on the hat to try and tone down the red tint. The belt and holster is my old standby Contrast Snakebite Leather - one of the few GW paints that do not change names!

 

The trousers were done with Contrast Ultra Marine (For the Emperor!) Blue.

Oh. Also the scarf she is wearing was done with Contrast Ultra Marine Blue.

One of the disadvantages of GW Contrast paint, and I am sure similar products, is that lighter colors will not paint over darker colors. Also some of the darker colors just don't look right when painted over a lighter color. I decided to stick with the previous paint skim when I did the first painting so to do the cuffs with Contrast Blood Angel Red, I first painted those areas again with Vallejo Flat White.

Somewhere along the way I repainted the hat with Vallejo Flat Brown and then dry brushed with Vallejo Ochre Yellow. I like the look of the Contrast Blood Angel Red but I forgot to paint the other parts of the tunic so you can see the white. I also painted the pistol Contrast Basilicanum Grey and painted the belt buckle white.

The rest of the trim has been finished with Contrast Blood Angels Red and I did the buttons and Belt buckles with Vallejo Gold.

A little touch up and shading on the face.

Tah Dah! All done and I think it looks great. I left the sword alone because, well, I liked it!

The temple where Yu Niu is in seclusion. Will anyone journey to find her?

Yu Niu and the mysterious "Lady in White."