Tuesday 2 October 2018

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "The Ion Age" October 2018

"The Ion Age" WIPs - An Adder Combat Lifer, Muster First Patroller and an Adder Combat Car
This month's randomly themed attempt to try and reduce my ever-increasing collection of metal, plastic and resin miniatures will heavily focus upon several of the incredibly detailed 15mm scale science fiction models produced by "The Ion Age". I've not actually painted any of the figures or vehicles from this genre for a couple of years now despite owning a sizeable number of their seemingly "Rogue Trader" influenced sculpts, so my plan is to 'flesh out' both my previously pigmented Prydian Army and Muster First Patrol with some additional infantrymen and resin vehicles. 

In the past I've used a palette similar to that of the Adeptus Astartes chapter known as the Crimson Fists for my Prydians, and the original light grey uniform worn by the Imperial Guard for my Muster men. As a result I intend to paint their corresponding vehicles in similar colour schemes, possibly 'touch-up' a few of my older miniatures, and then hopefully re-fight one of my earliest Battle Reports against H. R. Giger's Xenomorphs (as manufactured by "Pendraken Miniatures").
"Dungeon Saga" WIPs - Three re-based Skeleton Warriors at various painting stages
Of course, that doesn't mean I've given up working on several "Dungeon Saga" figures by "Mantic Games". This project momentarily stalled following my decision to re-base all the plastic models from "The Dwarf King's Quest" starter set onto the somewhat smaller square stands needed to play the company's mass combat rule-set "Kings Of War".

With hindsight I really should have done this at the start of "Saga'Tember" as I was never happy with the large stone-paved bases which the skeletons, ghosts and heroes came on. But with them now re-based my flagging enthusiasm for these classic dungeon crawlers has been significantly rekindled, and I have even gone so far as to make some additional purchases to add to my future Undead Forces...
"Necromunda" WIPS - Three House Goliath gangers assembled, based and primed "Vallejo" Black
Lastly, I have finished assembling my seven-figure Goliath gang for "Necromunda" by "Games Workshop". These multi-part miniatures have proved somewhat more time-consuming than I anticipated as I actually tried 'kit-bashing' a couple of my members instead of simply following the 'load-outs' in the boxed game's instruction manual.

Fortunately, I didn't do any lasting damage to any of the figures and have subsequently been able to weaponise them as per the Nottingham-based company's suggestions. These three final figures will simply be the grunts of my force, and, as with my other "hulking brutes", will be painted up so as to  loosely represent the Harkonnens from Frank Herbert's "Dune" universe.

16 comments:

  1. Some excellent looking minis and quite an eclectic mix Simon, and thanks for introducing me to the "Iron Age" 15mm stuff - I'd not heard of them before and they look VERY tempting :-)

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    1. Thanks very much Greig. You're welcome about "The Ion Age", one of my fave sci-fi ranges tbh, hence my desire to give them some publicity this month :-)

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  2. Quite a bit from ion age myself, a bit of a flawed range at times!

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    1. The only flaw I've found with "Ion Age" is just how many tempting minis they keep making me buy, Fran :-)

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  3. Seeing your "Ion Age" figures brings back so many happy memories for me. I have almost their complete range of 28mm scale figures, many of whom saw action in my old GURPS Space campaign in the 1990s. Do you have any yourself, or are you only collecting their 15mm stuff?
    The skellies look good, and if you feel happier with them being rebased, then that was time well spent.
    Nice to see more Goliath figures on your painting table. All in all, I found this a most enjoyable post, Simon.

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    1. Many thanks indeed, Bryan. I have two of their 28mm Space Knights, which I actually plan to use as Primarchs for some Horus Heresy battles at some point - one I've converted so as to have wings. They're a little big obviously, but very nice imho.

      The "Mantic Games" stuff looks a lot better on the smaller bases and can now obviously be slipped into a regiment of Undead or two for "Kings Of War". And I really hope to knuckle down with the "Necromunda" postings over the next few weeks if I can.

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  4. Lots of cool minis being worked on then. I won't ever go the 15mm route I don't think. I do like the Ion age range especially the knight type walkers and some of the heavy tanks.

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    1. Cheers Simon. The robots, scenery and heavy tanks look awesome, but I figured I needed infantry first and foremost.

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  5. You've got a lot going on, I doubt I've have the will to have several project on the go. The re-emergence of Necromunda (and Malifaux) must be a great prod for many to get out their old figures and dust them down etc. (I feel the same every time I see renewed interest in genres I've been a fan of in the past.
    Really love seeing your Dungeon Saga figures, the skeletons do look good.

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    1. Thanks very much Joe. I'll be doing a few "Necromunda" and "DUngeon Saga" postings over the next few weeks, so hopefully you'll enjoy them.

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  6. Great stuff there Simon! Really liking those Dungeon Saga figures 🙂

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    1. Cheers Ivor. I've some "Dungeon Saga" ghosts ready for the next postings :-)

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  7. Another interesting mix of goodies and an enjoyable read. Keep soldiering on old bean as I love reading your hobby blog as I find it inspiring when my painting mojo is low!Great stuff!

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    1. Thanks Undercoat. The batteries are well on the way to being recharged, thanks to finishing some "Ion Age" stuff quickly.

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  8. An eclectic mix! Ion Age never grabbed my attention, but I fully approve of your colour schemes being a firm fan of the Rogue Trader era of GW's offerings.

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    1. Cheers Dai. There should be plenty of "Rogue Trader" feel to my subsequent "Ion Age" postings as I lean towards the Horus Heresy too.

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