Monday 17 April 2017

"They Live Throughout The Wilderness Of Antarean Space..."

"...In regions inhospitable and void of habitation."
This 28mm metal model of a Ganger is produced by "Warlord Games" and is the second of three miniatures which can be found inside the Boromites' Overseer Squad blister pack. Protected by his reflex armour, and carrying a plasma carbine, the model was predominantly painted similarly to the first of my Overseer's bodyguards.

However, this particular figure did have a couple of additional details which made him stand out from my Scouting Force Commander's other 'close protection' Ganger, such as some delicately sculpted wires leading from the soldier's right shoulder-pad onto a small disc-shaped 'heart-monitor'. All of these 'leads' were 'picked out' using "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and washed with "Citadel" Drakenhof Nightshade.
Freeborn WIPs - The Feral Fighters have been based and undercoated
Sticking with "Beyond The Gates Of Antares" I have slowly been prepping and priming some miniatures from an alternative faction, the Freeborn, in order to break up the monotony of my Boromites and their "Vallejo" Heavy Ochre and Heavy Bluegrey palette. The first of these 'distractions' are from the Mhagris Feral Squad boxed set, and features a Feral Leader, holding a mag gun, and two similarly armed Feral Fighters.

For now, I'm simply busying assembling a 500 point force of the "great merchants", so I can see just how formidable a painting project they will be. The Feral Squad are apparently "typical of these war-like savages" by being "armed with relatively simple and cheaply made mag weapons that spray splinters of metal at their target", and appear predominantly blue in colour, with some tan brown accessories...
Ballista WIPs - The Engineer's captain is slowly having all his gears, pouches, tools and equipment painted
Finally, I have once again been slowly 'chipping away' at the last of my 30mm "Guild Ball" Engineer miniatures by “Steamforged Games Ltd”. Team captain Ballista has proven to be an incredibly cumbersome sculpt to progress due to his unbelievably complicated detail, and resultantly has taken an eternity to progress.

However, knowing that once he is completed I'll have the makings of a 'match-fit' amateur side to face-off against my Union squad, is buoying me along. I've even gone so far as to purchase a couple of extra players for both sides in order to help bolster their future rosters and allow me to play the rule-set's larger "mob football" matches.

28 comments:

  1. Just down the road from me... a pleasant drive in the car away, just outside the small market town of Macroom in County Cork (close to where Ireland hosts the Eurovision Song Contest – at Mill Street), is an old and long established miniatures `factory` company called Prince August. They are known for their DIY moulds, lead, and equipment for making your own miniatures, but they are also equally famous having the official original rights to Middle Earth`s "Mithril Miniatures." 28mm range of fantasy models.

    I go there a lot as its just down the road and I enjoy the one on one rapport with the staff and owners. I also wrote and gave a series of talks for their Waterloo exhibition (They have the biggest Battle of Waterloo miniatures exhibition in Europe, with over 25000 miniatures on a table that fills an entire audience hall).

    Anyway, the point is, before Christmas they had a mass sale on for Gates of Antares. I have no idea why, I can remember at the time thinking “that`s odd, why they selling these?” (I was there buying other stuff, a load of much needed paints and brushes and really didn’t pay it much attention). But I do remember being ever-so-nearly enticed into looking further at the thing, but was drawn way for a coffee by the owner “Lars” and when that chat was over I had forgotten all about Antares. But I DO remember clearly, Prince August had literally an entire centre stand, in the main shop... and all the racks and the spiral table underneath was packed full of the stuff, and all of it was %50 sale/special offer.

    Mug here never picked up any of it. I have regretted that ever since. As they had a starter box, and what looked like literally everything other boxed set for it as well. To this day I have absolutely nooooo idea why they were selling the stuff. Must have been a deal with Warlord is all I can think. They seem to have a similar thing going on with Perry Miniatures I notice, but those are normal price (last I looked). Anyway, all the Antares stuff went within the month... wonder why *chuckles*

    I love how your done yours Simon. Very attractive figures and nicely executed too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Steve. What a corking story, and certainly more entertaining than my posting!! I've have been clearing that stand out of its 50% blisters within moments - "BtGoA" has really captured my imagination, and I'm hoping to be playing many a game once my initial Boromite Scouting Force has been completed.

      I was especially interested in your story as I tend to buy "Warlord Games" minis direct from them, rather than order them from other suppliers, and therefore pay full-price for my minis. The reason I do this is because, in my experience at least, the E-stores I usually buy from really seem to struggle to get any of "Warlord Games" models in, and usually I'll find a delivery badly delayed simply because I included one of their ranges in my order and its taken the retailer an eternity to get in stock. I wonder whether Prince August discovered just how difficult it seemingly is to get the models from "Warlord Games" after initially buying a large consignment..?

      Delete
    2. hmmm I`m unsure a mate. I`ll ask Sarah or Lorenzo next time I`m talking to the guys over at WG(actually that reminds me, I need to check with Sarah about the book I send her anyway). You are right about independents finding it hard to keep up supplies of anything like a full stock, and you can wait an age for (like you say) a single piece of an order to come in stock. I know Prince August have/had an entente with WG through to one of their sculptors: hmmm that may be the deal there.

      Delete
    3. An entente certainly sounds like a possible explanation, Steve. Such a shame you missed out on a corking deal.

      Delete
  2. Another great looking Borite Simon, the feral squad look interesting and should certainly break up the monotony of the Boromites. Great to see you finishing off your guild ball minis

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dave. The Boromites are a bit tiring, so I'm trying to keep the painting mojo going but tapping into my vast partially-painted back-catalogue :-)

      Delete
  3. Very tasty mate, damn you with the temptations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Chico. Glad you're enjoying the Boromites.

      Delete
  4. Ballista has spent an age in the queue Simon, time to finish him off as he looks terrific

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm trying Andy, but damn he's complicated to paint!!

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. Cheers Gordon - still a long way to go though, and I'm well behind schedule...

      Delete
  6. Very nice work on the latest Broromite Simon. :)

    By the way, are you attending Salute?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Leon. Yes, I will be there and at the Blogger's 1300 hours at the area near the painting competition displays :-)

      Delete
  7. Good work on the Boromite. The feral fighters appeal more to me, but I won't be collecting them. I simply have too much else on my plate. As Andy said, it's about time you finished Ballista. Make a push and finish him!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Bryan. I've a few more Feral Fighters to prep and post, so perhaps I'll tempt you yet, and Ballista should be finished soon - fingers crossed.

      Delete
  8. Good work. I like the wild fighters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Clint. The Freeborn have some corking minis in their range which I hope to showcase over the next few months.

      Delete
  9. OK, I'm sold on the Boromites, they do look very good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Joe. I certainly like them, even if they are a pain to paint :-)

      Delete
  10. Boromite looks excellent! A whole force of these pebble-dashed fellows is going to be a striking image on your game table.

    I really like those Feral sculpts. Yet another one I need to look up. (And not purchase, darn you.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers Dai. Still a lot more Boromites to go before my scouting force is finished, but I agree they should look good once done. The yellow/grey really works imho.

      Me tempt you into a purchase? Never ;-)

      Delete
  11. The Freeborn look like cracking miniatures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are certainly tempting me to paint them rather than the Boromites, Simon. I must stay strong...

      Delete