Just Off the Painting Table: Uncharted Seas

I recently completed a few new additions to my Uncharted Seas forces. First is the Dwarven Flagship. I added a few plastic Space Marine bits to the standard model to give it a more individual look. I used superglue to glue on the bits. First, I added the business end of a chain sword to the prow to make a wicked looking ramming weapon. I also added a Space Marine flag to the middle, putting the "flag" in flagship. Finally, I added two big vents, one to each side of the rear hull, to help bulk up the engine room. Making it look like this ship has something a little extra under the hood. I also filed down the generic Dwarf Nation symbols on each side of the hull, and painted on my own made-up runes.
Paint: Prime- Krylon Grey Primer, Hull- Ceramcoat Metallic Pewter, Deck- Foundation Khemri Brown, Cannon- Accent Princely Pewter, Brass bits- Ceramcoat 14K Gold, Blue Shields and Flag- Americana True Blue, Saw and Ram blades- GW Mitril Silver, Wash-Badab Black.

Next up is the Uncharted Seas Giant model . The it is all metal and I assembled it with superglue.
Paint: Prime- Krylon Grey Primer, Skin- GW Tanned Flesh, Clothes- a patchwork of FolkArt Butter Pecan, GW Bleached Bone, and GW Skull White, Shoulder Bag- GW Graveyard Earth on front/top and Accent Mustard Seed on the bottom/rear, Hair- FolkArt Pure Black highlighted with GW Shadow Grey, Staff- Khemri Brown with Kommando Khaki rope, Rock- GW Codex Grey, Figurehead Medallion- GW Burnished Gold, Wash- Winsor & Newton Peat Brown Ink, Water- GW Royal Blue with GW Skull White highlights.

Lastly, are a pair of Belcher Submarines. Shown both in Surface and Submerged variety.
Paint: Prime- Krylon Grey Primer, Hull- Ceramcoat Metallic Pewter, Brass Trimmings- Ceramcoat 14K Gold, Blue markings- Americana True Blue, Water- GW Royal Blue with GW Skull White highlights, Wash- Badab Black.

Historicon Report Part 2: The HAWKs Club Room

Here are some photos of just a few of the many games that were run in the HAWKs room Friday and Saturday at Historicon.

James "Tank" Nickle's "Edson's Ridge" game , using "Look, Sarge, No Charts: WWII" rules. Starting Friday at Noon.

" The BAPS (Beer and Pretzel Skirmish) Extravaganza: The Battle of Hue", using "BAPS" rules. Beginning Friday at 7:00 PM.

Harry Kogelshatz's "LV426" game, using 120mm figures and Home Rules. Starting Saturday at 9:00 AM.





Kate Adams' "Warriors: Forest of Secrets" kids' game, using modified "Blood & Swash" rules. Starting Saturday at Noon.

Jennifer Palmer's "Tales from the Spyglass Tavern" game, using "Blood & Swash" rules. Starting Saturday at 7:00 PM.

Eric Schlegel's "Look, Sarge, It's Fighting Joe Hooker" game. Using "A Union So Tested" rules.
Starting at 7:00 PM Saturday.

Don Hogge's "German Surprise at Ogledow 11-13 Aug 1944" game, using "Battlefront" rules. Starting at 7:00 PM Saturday.

Duncan Adams' "Battle of Chateauguay, 25 Oct 1813" game, using "With McDuff to the Frontier" rules. Starting at 8:00 PM Saturday.

James "Tank" Nickle's "Where Did She Go?" game , using "Blood & Swash" rules. Starting Sunday at 10:00 AM

Historicon Report Part 1: Look, Sarge, It's Mars Game

I had a great time at Historicon. I ran two games and played in one. Jennifer and I arrived Friday morning and toured the convention center, locating where everything was. We checked in around 4:30, then headed down to the HAWKs room to set up my Friday evening game: Look, Sarge, It's Mars.


For the game I used 2mm infantry from Irregular and land ironclads and areonefs from Brigade Models. (See previous articles on this blog for more information on the figures) The rules were A Union So Tested, also called Look, Sarge, No Charts: ACW; modified for the inclusion of the ironclad vehicles. I have posted the stats and added rules I used on the Look, Sarge, No Charts, and on the 2mm Yahoogroups.


We got 4 of our 6 players, and with a little rearranging of forces were all set to go. The scenario took place in 1895 on Mars, between German and British forces. The table was cut into four sectors by two intersecting canals, with a city located at the juncture making a fifth sector. The Germans start the game controlling two of the sectors and the city. The British advance from the other two sectors. The winner was determined by who controlled three areas of sectors: either two land sectors and the city sector, or three land sectors.


The Germans began the game with a small force that could be placed anywhere on their side of the table, with the rest starting from one of the short table edges in their area. The British began by setting up in their area, 18 inches from the canal that divided the two areas. There were four bridges (The only place the canal could be crossed) one in the center of the city and one on each leg of the canals. A good time was had by all, and I, as gamemaster, was very pleased with how the modifications to the rules worked.



Now, on to the pictures!
(Remember to click on any photo to view it larger.)

View from the south west. Germans controlled the city in the center, the sector to the south and the sector to the east.

View from the south east.

British Aeronefs prepare to cross into German territory.

On the German left, a cavalry brigade with a battery of horse artillery was tasked with holding the bridge. The artillery does some damage to two squadrons of approaching British Gun Carriers.








Over view of the battle after a few turns, looking north east

A view from the British side, as a British ironclad brigade and cavalry brigade crosses over into German territory and assault a German infantry brigade taking cover in a field
.

Me (in the tan shirt) answering a players question.

British ironclads still trying to dislodge the German infantry from the field on the German right. The British cavalry have turned to face an approaching German light ironclad brigade.

On the German left, a land-train provides covering fire from the edge of a woods as a unit of German contraptions forces its way over the bridge into British territory in the face of fire from two regiments of British Martian allies.

An air battle develops overhead, as British infantry masses on their side
of the city for the final push. The British overwhelming force in the city marked the end for the German defense and the British were declared the winners.

GASLIGHT Historicon Playtest

Last Saturday several of the HAWKs got together to playtest two Historicon games. One of the playtests was for my GASLIGHT game, "The Return of Victoria Hawkes, by GASLIGHT", using our GASLIGHT set of Victorian Science Fiction skirmish level rules.

The scenario has a Union strike force attempting to blow up a Confederate super-weapon. Union forces consist of three infantry units, an Iron Horse cavalry unit, a Steam Spider vehicle, two Impervious Suit conveyances, two Steam-riflemen, the Expedition Commander (mounted) ,and Victoria Hawkes. They also had two bombs which were needed to blow up the super-weapon The Rebels had three infantry units, a Bicycle Dragoon Cavalry unit, two Timberclads, a Steam motorcycle, an Electro-cannon, two Flame-rifles, an the overall Commander (mounted).

The game played well, with the advantage swinging back and forth between the two sides. I don't want to give too much away about the course of the game in case the folks who have signed up for it at the convention read this beforehand. Some highlights include an epic melee between the two cavalry units, one of the bombs accidentally detonating when caught in a cannonball burst radius and wiping out part of a unit, and the nail biting ending as the remaining bomb neared the super-weapon with a climactic change of hands in the last couple turns. Below are some photos for your enjoyment.

Union forces advance.

The Iron Horse Cavalry and the Bicycle Dragoon Lancers charge toward each other as the Union Lady Zouaves advance from the right, and a Rebel Timberclad provides support.

Close-up of the Iron Horse Cavalry. Assembled from Dixon cavalrymen and Mage Knight Galeshi Cavalrymen mounts. (Photo by Rob Dean)

Close up of the Charleston Light Bicycle Dragoons. Figures by Eureka
. (Photo by Rob Dean)

The two units meet in a multi-turn melee.

After dealing with the Iron Horse Cavalry, the Bicycle Dragoons, turn on the Lady Zouaves. An Impervious Suit and a pair of Steam-riflemen stand in support. An Electro- cannon with its crew killed is in the foreground.

A Timberclad advances and tries to knock over an Impervious Suit. (Photo by Rb Dean)

The final turns: a pair of Confederates move to pick up the Union bomb (at the foot of the figure on the right of the weapon platform) as another Union Zouave Unit moves up on the left of the photo and two timberclads try to cut them off.

2mm Ships and Martians for Mars

Here's a few pictures of some new units I've completed for my 2mm "Look, Sarge, Its Mars" Historicon game.
First up are some naval units for both sides. The British are equipped with the Cerberus Monitor from Brigade Models' Land Ironclads range. I painted it in Games Workshop Fortress Gray, washed with black ink and dry brushed with white for the hull; and, GW Dheneb Stone, washed with brown ink, for the decks. The Martian Canal section is made from craft foam sheets, cut in 2 inch strips for the base and .25 inch strips for the sides. The water is painted with tube acrylics to give texture, and given some white highlights. The ship bases are also done this way. In the background is the fallen Colossus of Mars made from an old 25mm fantasy figure broken into a few pieces and mounted on a mini CD.

The second ships shown are attached to the German force. They are two of Irregular Miniatures' 2mm Monitors (Item IK04). I painted them in GW Codex Gray and gave them a back ink wash, than dry brushed with GW Fortress Grey. All the bases shown are 3 inches by 1.5 inches which will help give you a sense of scale. In the background is a large stone head that come in a pack of two from Dream Pod 9

The last photo for today is of a base of Martian allies for the British. I used Irregular's code BG33 for the long line of Radium Riflemen in the center, and code BG16 for the swordsmen that make up the rest of the unit. I primed them black than gave a heavy dry brush of GW Tanned Flesh to represent the reddish Martian skin, and then gave them a thin line dry brush of Apple Barrel Lemon Chiffon for their tunics. The base is covered in white glue and then in fine railroad ballast with sand mixed in. When dry the base is painted with Folk Art Barnyard Red, and dry brushed with Americana Burnt Orange, and then GW Vomit Brown. Lastly, some little bits of flocking are added for Martian vegetation

54mm VSF ACW GASLIGHT Vehicles

I was recently going through some old digital photos of GASLIGHT games that I ran in the past to review what troops I had (it was easier than digging out the boxes!) in preparation for putting together my Historicon scenario which I will be playtesting in the weeks ahead. I came across the following photos of a pair of 54mm GASLIGHT vehicle projects I did in '03, but never showed anywhere for lack of a venue. Now that I have this blog, and most of my current time is involved with last minute convention prep, I thought it would be a good opportunity to"dust these projects off" and share them with you all in hope that it offers some inspiration for your VSF projects.




First up is a Confederate landship I built, called the Daisy Cutter. The basis of the hull is a dozen-egg egg carton of the pulp-paper variety. I glued the carton together, then cut out holes for the port and starboard cannons and a front viewport,then I glued balsa strips around the bottom half of the egg carton to form the bottom of the hull. I then glued half inch balsa strips around and on top of the vehicle to form planking, leaving holes where the cannon and the view port would eventually go. I also cut slots underneath to mount wood disc wheels.



Here is a shot of the complete planking. i have included a 54mm soldier in the picture for scale. On top of the landship I have glued a turret made from a thin wood craft box. It is glued upside down so the lid forms the ring for the turret to sit in. I also cut a gun port in this. Underneath I glued eight wood disks to make wheels.




Next I added all the finishing bits. In the front I glued a wide-toothed comb to form a rake to sweep aside Yankee formations. I also mounted all the guns, which were cast in a homecasting artillery mold, and gave them balsa gunshields. The smokestacks were made from plastic tubing from the junk box, and the smokestack finials were made from wood craft bits. On the back I mounted a spar torpedo to deal with any threats from behind. The spar is made from a dowel, and a bit of necklace chain added a nice touch as the lowering cable. I also added balsa hatches and a cardboard viewport. Around the edges I glued heavy paper to finish the edges nicely. Then I added rivets made from very pins stuck through the balsa.




Here's the finished model with paint and weathering applied.



Here is the Daisey Cutter Landship in in its first convention game at Fall-In '03.


Here it is in one of my GASLIGHT games at Origins '04. Note the addition of a dollhouse Victrola on top, to play stirring battle music as the landship rolls into combat!



Next up is a 54mm Union walker I built. It is converted from an old Star Wars AT-ST, or Chicken Walker. This is the kind designed for the large action figures. You can pick them up rather reasonably on eBay, especially if they've been played with hard and are a little As-Is.

I added a homecast Gatling gun where the central lasers were, and trimmed the side ones to make them look a little bit more like cannon. I also glued plastic bases with diagonal slots over the existing front vision slits and a round plastic base, without a slit, on top to form a hatch. Then I glued a hose washer on top also to make a air vent for the cabin.

On the back I cut down, and glued a Li'l Hug drink bottle to make a boiler and a large straw to make a smoke stack. I also glued to Clix bases onto the rear leg joints to give them more of a gear look. The whole thing was then liberally covered in rivets.


Here are some photos of the finished product shown with a 54mm soldier for size comparison.