Enter the the Squids!

This evening's efforts has yielded a squad of Decapodian infantry(15mm Alternative Armies Octopoids), with a converted leader figure (not shown).


Not sure I like the effect, but they look okay for a somewhat comical sci-fi race.

What's that looming behind them?

Musings on Multi-basing

Holiday spending has put a moratorium on new figure purchases, at least for the time being, so now it's time to paint up those vast piles of lead I've accumulated. Today I'll probably knock together that squad of Alternative Armies Octopoids I purchased back when they were giving away packs of Sci-fi/Fantasy figures.

Anyways, having been forced to actually paint what I have, I'm contemplating what basing system to use in the future. The Spartans are all based to ASQL standards on 50x50 and 50x100mm stands and my Coalition forces are each mounted on 15mm Litko bases with magnetic bottoms. Frankly, I'm finding the single-based figures to be too fiddly to manipulate in games involving more than 10-15 figures to a side. As for the ASQL basing, it's nice and it looks good, but 50x50 bases are huge and not easily accommodated by commercially available terrain. This has lead me to consider FoW/Critical Mass-style bases of 3-man fire teams and 2-man specialist groups, with the occasional single-based character figure. I still plan on basing my Alien Imperial force to ASQL standards, but other than characters (Free Trader Crew) and Coalition forces, multi-basing is the way to go.

Spartan Imperial Strike Force

Finally as promised, my Spartan Imperial Strike force for ASQL 2.0! All figures are 100% GZG New Israelis apart from the remote cannon on the Warthog (the barrel broke off, so it was replaced with a Battletech tribarrel cannon). The Spartans themselves were painted using Master Chef's "300 second Spartan" technique as posted on Dropship Horizon. The figures and Warthog were based on www.15mm.co.uk's Alien Squad Leader plastic bases, using spackle, kitty litter, and sand. The bases were then hand-painted black, and featured a progressive drybrush of Apple Barrel Burnt Umber, Ceramcoat Territorial Beige, and a 50/50 mix of Territorial Beige and Jo-Ann's Au Naturale.

Enjoy!

Spartan Imperial Strike Force

Spartan Command Group

Spartan Squad

Spartans with Assault Weapons

Spartan Heavy Weapons Squad

Warthog with Navy crew

Another view of the bulk of the force.

No Spartans... just yet...

I just finished putting the first two coats on my Spartans' bases, so unfortunately they are unfinished at present, but I'll try to get some pics up this evening.

For the record, using quick-dry spackle is unwise (too many nooks and crannies, spent a half-hour basecoating my vehicle base).

So good luck for this evening...

Litko Corridor system... in 15mm!

The Litko corridor system is a treat, and while I've yet to paint up any sections or do much of anything with them, I anticipate that I will have fun with my new Sea Hulk project. Khurasan just needs to make sure that their Orca troops are out in a month or so...

A view of the contents of the master set.

A Rebel Miniatures 'borg with flamer walks down the corridor.

Finally, something new...

Later today I'll be putting up a few interesting posts. For now, suffice it to to say that I had a very merry Xmas...

New acquisitions for the new year:
GZG New Israelis
Custom 15mm version of Litko's fabulous Space Corridor system.
Litko Acrylic counter set for Crossfire
Four Felt terrain mats painted by my lovely wife (arctic, desert, urban, and forest)
Two Toobs of Trees, netting 19 fairly decent looking PVC trees of varying sorts

So for later today, some musings on Sea Hulk, my new Spartan Imperial Strike Force.

Happy New Year!