Most of my available wargaming time this past week was spent getting some painting done and scratch-building simple Sci-Fi terrain. I had prepared and undercoated a 48-figure 20mm plastic Gaul Warband at the start of the week, but in an effort to delay tackling them I decided to first painted a couple of Spider Robots for my Star Wars Legion forces. One was the official kit, which came with some spare legs and guns. This gave me the opportunity to build a second robot using a scratch-built body assembled from whatever suitable parts I could find in the spares box (mostly unused bits from old Warhammer 40K kits).
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| The completed Spider Robots. The closest one uses the spare legs with a scratch-built body. |
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| The Spider Robots from the front. Official kit on the left. |
With the Spider Robots finished, there was no avoiding the Gauls. Once I got started painting them, I quickly found my rhythm and completed the unit over a couple of days. My approach to painting Ancient armies is deliberately simple. Basic block colours over a mid-brown base coat, which helps hide any missed areas. A final coat of PVA glue gives the figures a durable and glossy finish which I like.
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| The complete Gaul Warband made of 4 bases. |
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| A view from the front. The figures are mainly 20mm HAT miniatures with a few Italeri Gauls added in. |
Finally, while tidying up the storage in my wargames room, I came across some plumbing items picked up at the hardware store that I must have bought with scenery in mind. These were quickly mounted onto some MDF offcuts left over from last week's container construction to create a set of vents for my Star Wars terrain. I will use them either as scatter terrain, or added to the roofs of block buildings to make them look like a factory (and a suitable scenario objective to be destroyed).
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| The vents used as scatter terrain. |
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| The vents on a factory building roof. They add a bit of colour to the buildings. |
The Gaulish Warbands are very impressive Peter!
ReplyDeleteThanks. One more warband to paint up.
DeleteLooking forward to seeing your Gauls in action - do you thin and/or colour the final PVA coat for a wash effect?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the semi-scratch-built Spider-bot looks better than the proper kit one, but not being a Star Wars fan I'm not that familiar with the original.
For the figures I do not thin the PVA glue. The only time I thin PVA is to hold the flock on the base after it is glued in place.
DeleteTackling 48 figures in one batch seems a big task especially since they are not all naked. Neat Sci-fi additions.
ReplyDeleteThe next warband is waiting, but may be tackled in two batches.
DeleteVery nice work all round there Peter, especially the scratch built spider bot:).
ReplyDeleteI was very pleased with the second robot. I was lucky to have some suitable spare pieces in the bits box.
DeleteHmm… I particularly like those spider robots. How big are they? (i.e. how “tall” and what size base do they require?)
ReplyDeleteYour Gauls look nice too - certainly giving the impression of a sizeable horde of warriors.
Cheers,
Geoff
The top of the spider robot stands 40mm and the base width is 70mm. They were fun models to make.
DeleteThanks for the clarification Peter 😉
DeleteThat's all very cool Peter. The extra spider looks the part and you did a great job cranking out that unit of Gauls so quickly. Also, the vents for your sci-fi terrain collection are brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThe vents were a useful (and colourful) addition to my sci-fi terrain. Keeping with the look from those old 1950’s sci-fi films and series.
DeleteGreat results on all your work Peter.
ReplyDeleteGauls vs Spider Bots.... that is going to be a tough one 😂
I do like the blue and the red plants you have made for scatter terrain.
The red and blue plans are old seed pods I have collected on my walks and painted.
DeleteGreat looking Gauls, they should look the business on the table. Nice additions to your sci-fi projects the vents and spiders look super.
ReplyDeleteI think I may persist with using 4 base units.
DeleteLoving those spider bots - and even though the end result is great, I also understand the desire to put off doing those Gauls.
ReplyDeleteThe robots were fun to paint, and I was glad to get the Gauls done (eventually).
DeleteThey all look really good. Great additions to various projects and the table.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It always seems easier adding to projects, than starting from scratch.
DeletePETER,
ReplyDeleteI really like what you have done with your terrain for the Sci-Fi Game- looks great. Cheers. KEV.
Thanks Kev. I have been gradually building up the terrain trying to keep to a 1950’s sci-fi film theme.
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