Muster First Patrol - Part One

These two stands of 15mm "The Ion Age" miniatures are from a combination of Prydian Army models found within IAF021 Muster First Patrol Command and IAF022 Muster First Patrol. They've been based on a couple of small bases by "Battlefront Miniatures" in order to indicate that the first contains a Sergeant (i.e. a wildcard for the "Science-Fiction Companion" setting for the "Savage Worlds" core rules system) and the other a heavy weapon.

 

In order to try and tie these infantrymen in with the "Rogue Trader" feel of my previously painted Prydian Retained Knights, I've sought inspiration from the old "Warhammer 40K" Imperial Guard; back when they were metal miniatures sculpted by Mark Copplestone and came with separate plastic arms and weapon sprues.

 

    As a result the Guardsmen were all undercoated with "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey, washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil and then had their shoulder pads, boots, and chest armour painted with "Coat D'Arms" Black. Any leg pouches and backpacks were painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Quickshade Strong Tone. All the weapons were coated with "Citadel" Boltgun Metal and then washed with Nuln Oil. In line with the old Imperial Guard colour scheme, I painted the Sergeant's chest plate, helmet insignia and shoulder pad epaulettes with "Vallejo" Gold and more Quickshade Strong Tone by "The Army Painter".

I've still quite a few more of these 15mm Prydian Army models from "The Ion Age" left to paint. But am currently 'cracking on' and concentrating on five (more) 25mm "Judge Dredd" miniatures by "Mongoose Publishing". The Mobster Blitzer figure is proving a joy to paint, whilst his Judge Dredd (sold as JD20001 Judge Dredd 1 by "Warlord Games") counterpart has so many of the miscast and poor sculpting issues that have so frustrated me with previous 'Mongoose Matt' miniatures from this range.

Painting Challenge: Week Four - 28mm Judge Dredd Minatures

The subject of Week Four of my painting challenge consists of five 28mm models, and as a result I'm going to spend the next seven days finishing off the "Mongoose Publishing" "Judge Dredd" Street Judge 'gang' I've been slowly painting and putting together over the past couple of months.

I've already got a couple of the range's 'older' models half-started, so have added two more Judge models from Matthew Sprange's September 2012 Kickstarter to my painting queue. This will allow me to 'field' a few Wildcard heroes along with my Extras when using the "Science Fiction Companion" setting for "Savage Worlds".

In addition I also plan to get started on painting the first of my Street Judge's criminal opposition, and the Mobster Blitzer (as sold by "Warlord Games") seems a good place to begin.

"I Gotta Stop This Lawbreaker!"

I've painted another of my old "Mongoose Publishing" Street Judge models and, to be honest, it's proved the most challenging of their "Judge Dredd" range I've yet encountered. Certainly it's the first where I've found it necessary to get creative with green stuff and actually 'sculpt' some straps onto one of the model's knee and elbow pads. Perhaps that explains why the sculpt for the Female Street Judge on both the "Mongoose Publishing" and "Warlord Games" websites would now appear to be a completely different model to this one? Is it already out of production, as I have a spare?

As with my previous Judge models I simply painted the majority of her uniform with "Coat D'Arms" Black, and then used the combinations of "Vallejo" Heavy Grey with "Citadel" Thrakka Green for her knee pads, boots, gloves, belt and elbow pads, and "Vallejo" Gold with "Citadel" Devlan Mid for her belt buckle, badge and chain, should pad and shoulder eagle.

Having taken a brief evening's break away from painting, though not the painting table, I've based up some possible opposition for my growing Judge force, and settled upon these models as potential criminal 'wild cards' for the "Savage Worlds" "Science Fiction Companion" setting I plan to use them for. Strangely, I think one of the Punks with a heavy weapon (not the one with the heavy spit gun) has now also been replaced by "Mongoose Publishing" for a slimmer model carrying a missile launcher?

British Commando Carbine - Part One

This 28mm metal model is the first of four similar-looking models from the "West Wind Productions" blister B-SOTR05 British Commando Carbines. It's actually one of eight such miniatures I've currently got sat on my painting table, an entire British Infantry Section, but to be honest, is probably one of the last "Secrets Of The Third Reich" figures I plan to paint for the foreseeable future as I fear I'm rather worn out gaming "Weird War Two" at present.

KrautScientist has just posted a good article on the Dark Future Games website about such painting blocks; albeit he seems to have completely sold his soul to the chaos gods of the "Warhammer 40K" universe as a result. The post can be found here: http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/cleansing-palate-with-nurgle.html.

In order to try and step away from many of the now 'out of production' "Citadel" Foundation paints I originally used for my British Army colour scheme, I have tried to replace some of the old pots with "Vallejo" alternatives. Essentially though the model was painted using my 'tried and tested' method of "Coat D'Arms" Black undercoat with a combination of "Citadel" Dark Flesh and Devlan Mud wash for the majority of the soldier's uniform. I also still have some Calthan Brown for the bullet proof vest. However for the carbine rifle butt I went with "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and then Heavy brown for the weapon's strap. I've also now settled on "Heavy Grey" for the infantryman's gas mask filter. All of these paints are then washed with "Citadel" Devlan Mud.

 I've now completely turned to the latest "Savage Worlds" setting, the "Science Fiction Companion" and as a result super-glued and based a handful more models from the "Judge Dredd" miniature range by "Mongoose Publishing". I've actually gone with some of the newer models from their Kickstarter as they look far more 'painter-friendly' than the older figures I've recently painted. 

Wargame Model Mods - WIP - Part One

One of my purchases, having attended two Wargaming Events in eight days, has been a bag of 10 Commercial Style Buildings by "Wargame-Model-Mods". These 28mm scale wooden buildings have been a joy to construct and easily slotted together with just a little PVA glue. Indeed I've already ordered a second bag from "Pendraken Miniatures" "Minibits" webstore.

Over the next few weeks, as part of a build-up to "Salute 2014", I plan to construct, paint and base a nice collection of these buildings in order to be able to completely populate my 5' x 3' table.

Despite there being some details etched onto the buildings' tiled floors, the models themselves are rather bare. I've therefore also bought a large pot of "Vallejo" Black Lava. This "heavy paste of natural stone and black pigment" should help create the illusion that my buildings are made of concrete, as opposed to wood; especially once I paint them grey and give them a black wash.

I'm also progressing on another blister of B-SOTR05 British Commando Carbines by "West Wind Productions". These "Secrets Of The Third Reich" 28mm metal miniatures will form half the second section of infantry I want to be able to field to properly game the 'Fall Of France' with "Savage Worlds". 

British Soldier With Piat - Part One

This is one of four models which can be found within the "Secrets Of The Third Reich" blister B-SOTR08 Piat D's. To be honest I'm not sure I'll actually paint any more of the models from the "West Wind Productions" pack for the foreseeable future as I only plan to field one such British Anti-Tank Team for my games of "Weird War Two".

In keeping with my British Army paint scheme I used "Citadel" Doombull Brown for the soldier's uniform and helmet, and Calthan Brown for their bullet-proof vest. I then washed all of these areas with Agrax Earthshade.

Originally I simply painted the Projector Infantry Anti-Tank weapon Boltgun Metal and applied a Nuln Oil wash to it. But from the tabletop this made the tank killer appear little different to the rest of the gunner's section. So I later applied a coat of "Vallejo" Heavy Green and wash of "Citadel" Thrakka Green" all over the weapon, leaving only the spigot bomb itself a dull metallic silver.

In the meantime I've wilted once again and started to paint another of my old "Mongoose Publishing" Street Judges as a little distraction from the sea of British brown and German grey miniatures I currently have parading upon my painting table.

British Soldier With Sten - Part One

I've finished the first of four models from the "Secrets Of The Third Reich" blister B-SOTR04 Sten-B. I actually plan to use these 28mm metal miniatures from "West Wind Productions" as part of my Mid/Late War infantry sections when playing "Savage Worlds" "Weird War Two".

Unfortunately all the other soldiers I've previously completed for my British Army were painted predominantly using either the former "Citadel" Foundation paint range or even older colours. As a result, and in order to try and best match the soldier's uniform to my old paint scheme, I've had to turn to some new "Citadel" and "Vallejo" alternatives.

The model's uniform and tin helmet were therefore painted with "Citadel" Doombull Brown and washed with Agrax Earthshade in order to provide a close approximation to the old Dark Flesh and Devlan Mud combination I once used. Luckily I also found an old usable pot of Calthan Brown, so was able to paint the soldier's bullet-proof vest with exactly the same colour I used for the rest of his section a couple of years ago. Slightly disappointingly though I was unable to find an ideal match for the trooper's green gas mask filter so went with a mix of "Vallejo" Heavy Grey" and "Agrax Earthshade".

Having momentarily set aside the rest of the models I need to paint for a second British Early War infantry section, I'm putting the finishing touches on a German flammenwerfer and finally starting the initial layers on a Panzerabwehrbuchse.

Mustard Gas Breath Zombies - Part Two

I've finished working on another two "West Wind Productions" models from the blister SOV-SOTR18 Soviet Zombie Horde, and as a result finished painting all the 28mm Undead walking corpses I currently plan for my "Savage Worlds" "Weird War Two" setting. I still have a number of other "Secrets Of The Third Reich" models yet to paint before I move onto a new project during March but these soldiers who die from inhaling mustard gas end a six-week run of painting a number of rotting corpses.

 As with their predecessors I replaced the models' Russian zombie heads with those from SHS-SOTR08 Soviet Gas Mask Heads In Helmets and then undercoated them "Coat D'Arms" Black. I painted the majority of their uniforms with "Vallejo" Heavy Brown and then washed them with the "Citadel" Shade Agrax Earthshade. However because the figures appeared to resemble Russian officers or rather Commissars, I painted their trousers with "Vallejo" Heavy Blue and followed this up with a wash of "Citadel" Asurmen Blue. The model wearing a Russian greatcoat had his overcoat painted with an old pot of "Citadel" Dark Flesh and Agrax Earthshade.

I painted both of the soldiers' gas mask hosing with "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey and Nuln Oil, whilst I applied "Vallejo" Heavy Grey and a combination of "Citadel" Thrakka Green and Agrax Earthshade over their filter boxes. The Soviet helmets were painted with "Vallejo" Heavy Green and washed with "Citadel" Thrakka Green.

As I really like the detail and options of the Infantry squads and teams found within the "Bolt Action" Army books, I'm going to try and move away from some of the section listings found within the "Weird War Two" setting book for my next game and try and replicate some of the British and German lists that "Warlord Games" suggest in their rule book. As a result I need to quickly paint up a British NCO equipped with a (Sten) submachine gun and a Heer Veteran Infantry Squad NCO similarly equipped. In addition I would like the chance of the British fielding a Piat launcher as either an attachment to the main Infantry section or as a possible distraction/encounter during the game.

I used these models as an experiment to try out a bottle of "Citadel" Technical I bought from a local Hobby Store yesterday. I was hoping for great things from my pot of Imperial Primer, having found my "Coat D'Arms Black" always required two coats to properly undercoat a model. Unfortunately I was bitterly disappointed with the watery result, and no matter how much I stirred the Technical paint, I ended up returning to my final pot of "Coat D'Arms" Black and giving the models a lavish coat of that before I was satisfied.

Mustard Gas Breath Zombies - Part One

I've finished working on the first two of four models from the "West Wind Productions" blister SOV-SOTR18 Soviet Zombie Horde, which I plan to use in the "Savage Worlds" "Weird War Two" setting as Mustard Gas Breath Zombies. Although these figures are Undead Russian soldiers they'll still be fielded as an element of the Axis Horror Force I'm collecting; their back story being that they're captured defenders of Mother Russia whom the Germans have experimented upon and gassed.

Having first replaced the (under-sized) Russian zombie heads which come in the blister with those from SHS-SOTR08 Soviet Gas Mask Heads in Helmets, these "Secrets Of The Third Reich" 28mm metal miniatures were undercoated with my usual Coat D'Arms Black. I then painted the majority of their uniforms with "Vallejo" Heavy Brown before washing them with the "Citadel" Shade Agrax Earthshade. The ribbed hosing for their gas masks was painted using either "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey or "Citadel" Adeptus Battlegrey, depending upon whichever colour was closer to hand at the time, for. These areas were later washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil. The models' filter boxes were painted using "Vallejo" Heavy Grey with a double wash of "Citadel" Thrakka Green and Agrax Earthshade. Finally the Soviet helmets were painted with "Vallejo" Heavy Green and washed with more "Citadel" Thrakka Green.

I'm already quite well progressed on the other two Mustard Gas Breath Zombies, as well as close to completing a certain blue-skinned Genetic Infantryman from Nu Earth by "Mongoose Games".

Ground Zero Games Xenomorphs - Part One

I've finished painting the first figures from several packets of 15mm models I bought from "Ground Zero Games" at the Colours Wargaming Show in 2013. The aliens are all from the six-figure bag SG15-X01 Xenomorphs and I've based them on a (bigger than my usual) 40mm x 60mm base ready for some large scale tabletop battles using the "Science Fiction Companion" setting for "Savage Worlds".

 

They were extremely simple and quick to paint as all I did initially was undercoat them with "Coat D'Arms" water based paint 102 Black before heavily dry-brushing them with "Vallejo" Heavy Bluegrey. I then drenched the models in "Citadel" Nuln Oil to significantly reduce the contrast between the two colours and blend them together.

 

In addition I've assembled one of my latest acquisitions from "Warlord Games", an A11 Matilda Mark I Infantry Tank. This resin and metal model has proved rather difficult to construct due to some slight mis-alignments between the pins on the inside of the metal track castings and their corresponding holes on the resin body. In addition the turret's metal hatch doors have had to be re-positioned (from their more historically accurate pose) in order for them to have any chance of remaining glued to the resin turret during gaming.

German Zombie Horde In Helmets - Part Four

With a sense of some relief I've finished the final two German Undead models I plan to paint during my current obsession with the "Savage Worlds" "Weird War Two" setting. Like all the other models I've painted for my latest Third Reich Undead horde these 28mm metal miniatures are from "West Wind Productions" pack G-SOTR10 - German Zombie Horde In Helmets.

However I do still have enough enthusiasm left regarding the Walking Undead, to paint five models from the blister SOV-SOTR18 Soviet Zombie Horde. Utilising some heads from SHS-SOTR08 Soviet Gas Mask Heads In Helmets I'll be 'fielding' these figures as Axis Mustard Gas Breath Zombies.

In addition, purely as a simple distraction, I've finally started to paint one of the many models to have come from the "Judge Dredd" kickstarter by "Mongoose Publishing", as well as the first of a small batch of 15mm Xenomorphs by "Ground Zero Games".

I'm also trying to finish the lovely Flying Standard 10' "Tilly" Truck, complete with a splendid-looking British Army driver, which recently arrived from "Warlord Games".

Break Out From Belgium

Set somewhere on the French-Belgian border in May 1940, and using the "Savage Worlds" "Weird War Two" rules, our latest battle had a section of British Expeditionary Force Infantry, lead by a Sergeant and Sniper (as Wildcards) encircled by the Wehrmacht and desperate to push west towards the temporary safety of coastal France and the main Allied lines. To represent this situation we actually used the Break Out Mission (for "Flames Of War") that was recently published in the January 2014 issue of "Wargames Illustrated" and simply adapted some of its distances etc to better fit in with "Savage Worlds" and our 3' x 3' table. As a result the British forces would face a German Infantry Squad ahead of them, knowing that from somewhere behind them a horde of German zombies was rapidly approaching.

We set up in the deployment zones as stipulated within the magazine's article, and as both forces were in prepared positions we decided that our units could start the battle Prone if wanted; affording many a model with a -2 penalty (to be hit) as they counted in medium cover. With no sign of the shambling Undead, the British took partial cover within a two-storey house over looking part of the German trenches, and started riddling the earthworks with their Bren Gun. When it came time for the Germans to return fire, we agreed that the double-window (from which the British machine gunner had been firing from) would count as heavy cover, providing a -4 penalty upon the hapless Wehrmacht. 7.92mm bullets pinged around the window with one amazingly killing a British soldier stood beside the Bren Gun.

Elsewhere, the other party of British troops found their Sniper 's trademark weapon, a De Lisle Carbine, wasn't as reliable as thought and actually faulty. This meant the private risked the rifle jamming if he fired, so instead he hurled a No.23 MII grenade at the oncoming Wehrmacht soldiers, trusting to a strong arm (and a Joker). The grenade was right on target and none of the German's were agile enough to throw themselves out of harms way.

Despite both sides exchanging fire and slowly whittling one another down, the situation steadily worsened for the British as the Allied Force first found themselves Lost and disorientated on the battlefield (pushing the game forward a Turn after some failed Navigation rolls), and then under threat from an Air Attack as a German fighter swooped across the table. Having decided everyone outside was going to dive for cover (thus negating the pilot from making an attack) all the British lifted their heads up from the mud to see the Undead finally emerge to their rear from out of a nearby forest. The BEF's only saving grace being that the undergrowth beneath the Zombies counted as difficult ground, so would halve their movement until they left the cover of the trees.

 

A final turn of the British hurling grenades and firing for all their worth left the Wehrmacht lines practically deserted, but none of the King's men were close enough to the Axis side of the table to escape to safety, and the (greatly reduced) German forces were declared the winner. If only the British hadn't got Lost mid-way through the game...

We haven't decided whether to replay this mission for our next game or not, but would certainly like to have some additional forces (and Wild Cards) present during the fight. As a result one of the models I'm busily painting up is my "Bolt Action" Dingo Armoured Scout Car by "Warlord Games". This should give the Allies some much needed speed, so even if their forces do get Lost again, they'll have the opportunity to race to safety. 

Heroclix Howard The Duck

Taken from the Marvel Secret Invasion "Heroclix" range by "Wizkids", I first removed Howard the Duck from his dial base and then from the two poor-looking dustbins the tiny plastic model was actually sculpted standing upon. He then sat on a shelf for several months before I finally painted him up using a selection of "Vallejo" colours, most notably Heavy Red for his jacket, Heavy Sienna for his trousers, Heavy Blue for his hat and tie, Heavy Ochre for his webbed feet and beak and White for his feathers. To try and generate the impression of bird's down, I treated all of Howard's white areas with a mixture of Pale Grey Wash and watered down Heavy Bluegrey, before 'dappling' them with more White. Both the trousers, feet and beak were then washed with "Citadel" Devlan Mud, whilst his hat and tie washed with Asurmen Blue and the jacket with Baal Red.

I'm not actually a fan of this figure as the "funny animal trapped on a human-dominated Earth" I grew up reading about in the late 1970's never wore trousers. However Disney's intervention (as Howard too closely resembled Donald The Duck) eventually resulted in Steve Gerber's creation wearing a pair of trousers; and this model is based on this later incarnation. In addition Howard regularly wore a blue jacket with red tie (whilst this model's attire is the opposite way round) but I was loathe to paint any additional layers on an already quite thickly painted model. 

Stilt-Man is model number 57 from the Marvel Sinister set and was simply super-glued together (as the plastic model comes in three pieces) before I undercoated him with "Citadel" Boltgun Metal and then washed him with Nuln Oil. I painted The Brain, from the DC Collateral Damage range, in a similar manner but picked out the DC Comics super villain's actual brain jar with "Vallejo" Heavy Red and a wash of "Citadel" Baal Red.

 The final model of this "Heroclix" batch is actually the first of several copies of the Thug from the Marvel Infinity Challenge set I plan to use as Minion Extras with the "Savage Worlds" "Super Powers Companion" explorer's edition. The miniature's vest was originally painted with a disappointingly ineffective "Vallejo" White undercoat and wash of Pale Grey and "Citadel" Ogryn Flesh, but I then repainted him with a combination of Heavy Bluegrey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil. His trousers were painted with an old pot of Shadow Grey I found and washed with Asurmen Blue. 

German Packed Light Machine Gun Crew

I've managed to finish painting the two models which make-up the "West Wind Productions" blister pack G-SOTR33 - German Packed LMG. I had to use some more of my old pots from my (quickly drying-out) collection of "Citadel Foundation" and "Citadel Washes" in order for the figures' colour scheme to match those of my previously painted "Secrets Of The Third Reich" German Mech Grenadiers. As a result each model's uniform was painted using a combination of Adeptus Battlegrey and Badab Black and their body armour using Calthan Brown and Devlan Mud. In order to try and replicate the old 'out of production' "Citadel" combination of Tallarn Flesh undercoat with an Elf Flesh highlight for their hands' skin, an undercoat of "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone was applied before being heavily washed with an old pot of Ogryn Flesh. The fingers were then highlighted with more Heavy Skintone before a second wash of Ogryn Flesh was applied. In addition instead of using the bionic-eyed futuristic head which came in the blister, I fitted the Light machinegun carrying model with another of the standard heads from the pack SHS-SOTR01 German Gas Mask Heads.

 

I have also painted the GWHER 45 Auto Rifle carrier from a second G-SOTR33 blister in order to be able to 'field' a full eleven man pre-1943 Wehrmacht Infantry squad; complete with MG34 carrier, for "Savage Worlds" "Weird War Two". In previous games I've had to use models carrying assault rifles and submachine guns as stand-ins. Now these figures can actually represent the firearms they carry and can be deployed as potential 'straggling' German reserves, such as Fallschirmjager armed with StG44's, who emerge upon the tabletop as a complication/distraction.

In addition I've just one more Mech Grenadier model with a Field Cap and Visor head to replace with a Stahlhelm. However I'm going to leave that particular 'operation' until after the weekend's planned 'big game' and concentrate on painting more German Zombies with Helmets.

Weird War Two - Grenades & Zombie Reserves

One of my New Year Resolutions was to actually play more games, as opposed to paint simply half a dozen models for numerous rule systems and then pack them away in a box never to see the light of day again. As a result I've managed to get in a series of simple "Savage Worlds" games over the past few days, using the "Weird War Two" setting where we've tried to get used to some of the more basic rule mechanics and tested which home rules we like to complement them.

These short scenarios have basically consisted of two British Army Wild Cards (Sergeant and Sniper) alongside an Infantry section, attempting to eliminate either a horror squad of zombies or a pre-1943 Wehrmacht German infantry squad.

Such skirmishes have certainly shown that there needs to be a lot more thought put into the placement of terrain with these rules than simply sticking a load of trenches and barbed wire randomly on the table; albeit the grenade throwing exploits between the two closest opposing earthworks has proved one of the highlights of the gaming sessions.

Grenades in "Weird War Two" certainly seem a little too powerful for my money with a medium range of 10 inches, 3d6 damage and medium burst template. Indeed this has lead to everyone's immediate reaction once an enemy approaches close enough for a volley of No. 23 Mark II grenades to be hurled, and then a similar number of Stielhandgranates to be thrown in response by the survivors. No-one shoots or moves (unless diving for cover) but just stand there exchanging grenades like monkeys pitching bananas at one another.

To offset this we've employed a couple of home rules, most notably any soldier caught in the blast of a medium (or further) thrown grenade has the opportunity to throw themselves out of the way (i.e. Agility test). This has lead to situations more realistic/satisfying where the occupants of a trench will be displaced out into the open by a grenade's explosion (if they're lucky) and then potentially gunned down by the attacking force (particularly if there's a British Bren Gun carrier about). The other home rule is the grenade explodes whilst in the soldier's hand if they roll a Critical failure (i.e. Both the Wild Card's Throwing die and Wild Die come up as a 1). Originally we played where 'snake eyes' simply meant the grenade was a dud, but having 'upped' the ante somewhat we've found we now think twice before hurling a pineapple, and there's a real sense of anticipation around the table when someone does.

 

In our final game we employed the reserves rule found within the "Flames of War" rulebook by "Battlefront Miniatures" to create a sense of impending dread and urgency upon the British side. Essentially at the start of each round we rolled to see whether a terrifyingly full squad of eleven German zombies (including one rigged to explode with dynamite) would appear from the woodland behind the British emplacement. This was an excellent way of trying to force the attackers to press forwards rather than simply sit tight within their trenches. As planned, once the Undead did stumble their way onto the battlefield on Turn Three they caused some serious disruption to the discipline of the British soldiers as a result of the Fear tests they generated.

First Models Of 2014 Finished

This single model from the Snow Trooper Set by "Four A Miniatures" and the fourth (and final) miniature from the blister G-SOTR37 German Zombie Bombs by "West Wind Productions" have become the first models I've actually finished in 2014. This is despite my New Year's Resolution to paint eight (or the equivalent in other scales) 28mm miniatures per month. Indeed I must confess I'm not even off to that a good a start as these sculpts by Adam Gayford and Andy Cooper respectively, only required a little snow/grass flocking to be glued onto their bases, having actually been painted and gloss varnished a few months ago.

I've finally painted up enough models to complete the first of my Zombie Horror squads for "Weird Wars Weird War Two". This setting and campaign book for "Savage Worlds" doesn't seem to actually list the composition rules for such a group, so I've based them upon the numbers of infantrymen (and MG34 machine-gunner) listed for a Wehrmacht Infantry squad pre-1943. That is ten Zombies and one exploding zombie. Ultimately I hope to have painted enough for the three squads required in order to form a full platoon, accompanied by Wehrwolves, Drownlings and Mustard Gas Breath zombies.

A Somewhat Late "Savage Worlds" New Year's Resolution

I've started work on a twelve-month project to try and concentrate exclusively on wargaming, painting and modelling using the "Savage Worlds Deluxe" rule-set by "Pinnacle Entertainment Group". I've made this 2014 Resolution after realizing I've done nothing but purchase a string of unread rule books, unopened board games and unpainted miniatures (predominantly through "Kickstarter.com") over the past few months.

Initially all my attention will be remain directed towards the "Weird Wars: Weird War Two" setting and campaign book I've previously gamed with. Once I've painted enough miniatures for this setting though I plan to expand into other 'Pinnacle Explorer's Editions' such as the "Horror Companion", "Fantasy Companion" and "Super Powers Companion"; as well as other titles such as "Achtung! Cthulhu" by "Modiphius" and the recently published PDF, "Weird Wars Rome" (a successful Shane Hensley kickstarter I backed last year).

First on the painting table are eight 28mm metal models from the "West Wind Productions" blister pack G-SOTR10 - German Zombie Horde In Helmets. These walking Undead from the "Secrets Of The Third Reich" range should provide some additional resilience to my current sixteen-strong Horrors of Weird War Two horde. In addition I'm just assembling four miniatures from the blister SOV-SOTR18 Soviet Zombie Horde to use as Mustard Gas Breath Zombies, and another four German Zombies that I hope to convert using green-stuff to represent Drownlings (waterlogged zombies).  

German Zombie Bombs

These 28mm metal models are two of the four  miniatures found in blister G-SOTR37 German Zombie Bombs by “West Wind Productions”. Sculpted by Andy Cooper I’m a big fan of these miniatures and really like the different explosives ‘strapped’ to the walking corpses. However I am not enamoured with the uncovered head, nor with how it turned out after my application of Vallejo Heavy Kakhi with a Citadel Thrakka Green wash. Indeed having subsequently given the zombie’s detached eyeball and surrounding trauma a wash of Baal Red the facial detail seems to have completely ‘melted away’ into a bloody mess.

I’m still slowly painting several Snow Troopers by “Four A Miniatures” for an Artic ‘Cold War’ scenario using “Savage Worlds”. I’ve had a fair quantity of Drop Troopers subsequently arrive from “Four A Miniatures” and some iceberg resin scenery is waiting in the wings as well.

More German Zombies

These 28mm metal models are the other two miniatures found in blister G-SOTR05 German Zombies (A) by “West Wind Productions”. As with my other “Secrets of the Third Reich” zombies, I used an old Citadel Foundation pot of Adeptus Battlegrey for their undercoat before washing them with Nuln Oil. However, having felt the mixture of Vallejo Heavy Kakhi with Citadel’s Thrakka Green wash produced too green a hue for undead flesh, I instead used Vallejo Warm Grey on these models; producing a far subtler rotting skin effect, especially when coupled with a spattering of Citadel Wash Baal Red.

Our second game of “Weird War Two” using the “Savage Worlds Deluxe” rules by “Pinnacle Entertainment Group” went far quicker than the first, despite the British Line facing twice as many of the walking undead. This was largely due to both the Sergeant (Wild Card) and Bren-Carrier (Extra) keeping their Fear in check this time round and firing a hail of lead into the advancing cadavers. The odd Joker card turning up during Initiative (+2 to all Trait and Damage rolls) as well as a few dice ‘Acing’ made matters even worse for the German Horrors… Time to introduce some Exploding Suicide zombies next.

In the meantime I’m slowly continuing to potter on with these Snow Troopers by “Four A Miniatures”. I’ve since ordered some more of the company’s Drop Troopers (also sculpted by Adam Gayford) to use as Soviet opposition for the Allied Artic expedition.

German Zombies

These 28mm metal models are two of the four miniatures found in blister G-SOTR05 German Zombies (A) by “West Wind Productions”. In order to ‘tie-them in’ with some previously painted “Secrets of the Third Reich” zombies I have, I returned to an old Citadel Foundation pot of Adeptus Battlegrey for their undercoat. I then gave their uniforms a second coat before washing them generously with the Citadel Shade Nuln Oil. For their decaying flesh I tried a new combination of Vallejo Heavy Kakhi with a Citadel Thrakka Green wash. This made the zombies somewhat more gangrenous than I intended, but once I treated some of the more exposed areas to a wash of Baal Red I was happy with the overall effect of putrefaction.

Despite owning the “Secrets of the Third Reich” rulebook and the “Doomsday 1949” supplement, I actually plan to use these models as part of a large Axis Force for the “Savage Worlds” setting “Weird War Two” by “Pinnacle Entertainment Group”. Our first game simply consisted of a (Wild Card) Novice British Sergeant (more or less based upon the “Allied Army & Marines” pre-generated character found here: http://www.peginc.com/freebies/WWSavageWorlds/WWIIPregens.pdf) and a British Section against a small group of four german zombies, which had stumbled upon their dug-outs.

We played with a few house rules such as zombies don’t run unless they’ve been shot at and that the Allies didn’t have to make the (one-off) mandatory Fear Roll casued by their horror at encountering the walking dead unless they were about to either shoot or move towards the zombies; so backing away from the Undead wouldn’t trigger the Fear Roll but looking down the sights of a Lee Enfield No.4 would. The game went simply enough with the Allies winning without loss. This was largely thanks to the Bren gun and its Rate of Fire (3) causing 2d8 damage. However the highlight was undoubtedly ‘British Pluck’ failing to save the Sergeant from gaining ‘The Mark of Fear’. His Section will forever be unnerved by the white streak in his hair from now on…

These Snowtroopers are by “Four A Miniatures” and are part of larger project I’m putting together for a game of “Savage Worlds” set in the Artic during the Cold War.