GETTING A LITTLE SPACEY - PAINTED ALTERNATIVE ARMIES 28MM SCIFI MINIS

 

A while back, I was gifted these three cool scifi minis from the Alternative Armies "Alternate Stars" range. From left to right they are AS008 Fomor Space Raider with Laser Rifle, AS003 CPU4016 Cyborg Enslaver, and AS011 Uhul Warrior with Laser Cannon (40mm Tall). I am mparticularly fond of AS011 as it is inspired by some of my very first miniatures sculpts, a fantasy race of owl men called the Uhul. Gavin told me that he had to have one in this range which is quite the honor for me to have created such a memorable race of imaginary creatures. the entire Alternate Stars range is a wonderful collection of scifi characters that all have the perfect balance of detail and simplicity that make for great game pieces. 

I have painted them using a combination of speed paints and regular acrylic miniatures paint with simple color schemes and not too much work. I tend to paint to a tabletop standard. For the Fomor Space Raider, I went with a red so as to break away from a more gobliny look. The Uhul is purple because I felt like doing something different than a regular owl color scheme.

 

Ganesha Games "Star Eagles" Update - Playtest Components Revealed

A recent post on the Star Eagles Facebook Page revealed a set of ships and game components planned for use in an upcoming playtest game. While they revealed nothing about the game rules these simple components say much about the intentions for this game.

Pre-measured sticks are a staple of the Ganesha games but new to the panoply of  play elements. Damon Richardson, did say that the maneuver sticks will allow movement options with great maneuverability in mind. It was also revealed that 3D missile markers for each of the missile types in the game will be a thing. This all suggests a very dynamic game with missiles tracking around and fighters juking and jinking around .

If you want to keep up on developments, show support, or communicate directly with the creators, head over to the Star Eagles Facebook group - HERE. 

Sometimes Art Just Works

Every so often when I am sculpting, I mix up more putty than I need for what I am working on. Most of the time, I have another sculpt that I can put it to but every so often I am in a place where there is nothing that can be done on any of my existing projects or I do not have them around. Depending on how much putty I have left over I'll usually do little bits and what I call "doodle" sculpts. This time, however, I had a substantial amount of green stuff left. So, I decided to grab a stray wire frame and try my hand at making a truly alien alien.




The initial results were pretty satisfying and what I ended up with is something I like to think of as a land mollusk gone intelligent species. I made it tripodal so as to enforce the alien appearance. I also decided against any obvious limbs and a face, giving it a fourth appendage that is a sort of combination of sensory and feeding apparatus - a "head". The initial sculpt was simple but relatively undefined and the putty didn't go far enough to fill in all the gaps.

I had my start and what was a random push of putty with some leftovers now gave me the foundation to start to work on something fun and new.

Deciding that the shell lacked texture and that the silhouette was a bit soft, I mixed up some procreate and started shaping a couple of striated shells spires ad flared out the bottom edge of the shell. This was textured with some ridging to make it look more like the barnacles I have seen at the beaches. I also added a bit of shell around the neck hole.

Looking over the legs they seemed to need some bulking up and some more texture. So I fleshed them out with some wrinkly tissue, trying to avoid any hardly defined limbs. I was going for a sort of fluid musculature like we see with some invertebrate life.

Again I mixed too much putty and so I shaped it into the first of the two weapon systems (see above).

I started with the basics of some sort of heavy weapon and a missile pod. These were designed with a sort of biotech style. I didn't want to go with the whole weaponized organism style that are popular with many biological weapons, but more the idea that these were still machines but built with biological components. Of course, if they had weapons they now needed a way to weld them in battle.

While a single manipulating limb might allow them to work together to develop technology and of course that technology would lead to other technologies to aid in their existence, battle requires the ability to manipulate a weapon in a useful and effective manner. Enter manipulator harnesses.

These aliens would have developed artificial manipulators to help them with technical and military applications. I constructed the manipulator arm with a ball at the end and all the weapons have a universal cup to mate up with the ball. The base of the arm will also have a ball on it that will fit into a socket in the part of the harness system that will be sculpted on the body. This will allow the finished model to allow some variation in the configuration of the weapon.

I have to admit that this sculpt that started as a whimsical jaunt with some spare putty has captured my imagination and really inspired me to try new things and a complex design. It'll be fun to see where it goes.

-Eli

Marine Tactical Unit - 15mm Scale Miniatures

Painted pics from White Dragon Miniatures new Kickstarter 

Mark Stone of White Dragon Miniatures posted this pic of a painted version of one of his Marine Tactical Unit infantry alongside the massive, amazing Proteus Frontline Battle Mech. The render images of these were incredible enough, but this superbly painted example of the machine really shows it as the business.

This mecha, along with the MTU troops and their support Armadillo Support bot are part of a run away Kickstarter that promises some delightful stretch goals including an alternate Proteus with a railgun.

For more information or to join in on this awesome Kickstarter, head over - HERE.

Sculpting the Mutant Future

I have always been a big fan of fantastic apocalyptic futures. From Gamma World, to Aftermath, to Fallout I love the concepts of the wholly unrealistic blasted futures with their mutants and warlords and gangs. Be it Road Warrior or Metal Storm, you cannot go wrong with spikes, freaky critters and mohawks. It is in this spirit that I have started sculpting a new range of miniatures.

A recently got back some test casts of the first two sets I finished and put some paint to them ASAP. This is saying something as I am well known for hating to paint. 

The first pack is a collections of five relatively mundane mutants (is that a thing?). While they are twisted and deformed, they are not too out there. I painted one in my most hated of mutations to randomly roll for a character - Brightly Colored Skin! This pack depicts a sort of wasteland shamaness and several mutant fighters.

The second set is made up of more strange denizens of the mutant wastelands. Two freakish brutes equipped with cybernetics along with a poor fellow with crustacean or insectoid mutations and a big-headed, dwarfed, perhaps psionic fellow complete this set. 

These should be out later in 2015 through my partnership with 15mm.co.uk.. I'll make an announcement when the actual release happens for those who are interested in picking them up for their games.

-Eli

The Invasion Continues - Yan'drassi Invasion Kickstarter Update

Hey folks,

I wanted to post an update on my Kickstarter and all the amazing work being done by the sculptor, Sean Bullough and concept artist Todd Ulrich. These two guys have been doing a great job of bringing my vision to life and ultimately to gaming tables.

Sean's latest WIP of the Neeks, Tavshar, and Horgosi along with their weapons shows just how diverse and cool this project is. 

HORGOSI BUILD UPS

TAVSHAR BUILD UPS

NEEK BUILD UPS

Todd Ulrich, the pen behind the original concept art for the Yan'drassi as well as the coor art at the top of this post has always been faithful in bringing my rougher drawings, written descriptions and frantic emails into professional concepts that can be translated into miniatures. Below is the concept he came up with for the Tavshar Gun Skimmer, the second stretch goal for the Kickstarter.

Loud Ninja Games - Yan'drassi Invasion Kickstarter

I realize things have been a bit quiet on the ol' ISLP blog of late. One of the reasons is my budding miniatures company - Loud Ninja Games. We just launched our second 15mm science fiction Kickstarter project.

Click image to go to the Kickstarter

Loud Ninja Games Available and Going to Salute 2014

Hey folks, so my miniatures range is life and available - HERE.. The full range of Chuhuac "Space Raptors" can be found there including all 15mm infantry, support and vehicle codes along with the 28mm infantry squad.

There are also unit deals available such as RAP004P Chuhuac Herd. There are also deals for smaller units, grav bikes, APCs and battlesuits.

Also, I am thrilled to announce that Loud Ninja Games will be going with 15mm.co.uk to it's first convention ever. It's a big one too! Those of you in the UK or other attending SALUTE 2014, come see us at the 15mm.co.uk stand (TF07). The entire range will be on hand there and you can look and buy our nifty space lizards to terrify your tabletop opponents.

More of My Aliens Released by 15mm.co.uk

I while back I previewed some metal masters of figures that I had submitted to 15mm.co.uk's SHM miniatures line. Well it looks like they came out and I somehow missed it. So, here are the painted catalog pics from their site to show off these four new aliens.

Again, these are alien civilians intended to populate you star ports and offer objectives for your scenarios. Most of them are designed to allow you a wide breadth of use, with each figure representing a number of possible characters.

You can find these - HERE

Going Rogue! - New Stuff for Rogue Space

Skeevs

Archetypes: Scoundrel

Abilities: +2 Acquiring

Toe Claws: Skeevs packs a wicked claw on each of their feet. These are used as weapons in their native fighting style. These claws do L type damage. 

Description: Skeevs are a diminutive species of humanoids with a withered, stringy physique. Dry, drawn skin covers there body, spotted with warts and blemishes. Their long faces have prominent overbites with jagged, jutting teeth. Their posture is stooped and balanced on legs that are disproportionately long for their bodies each ending in a club-like foot with two claws, one being cooked and sharp. Skeevs come in a number of skin colors ranging from yellows, to oranges and reds.

Planet

Nobody knows where Skeevs come from. If they have a planet it is either well hidden, remote, or long gone, possibly a mixture of any of these. Instead, Skeevs travel the stars in massive barques - ramshackle ships, festooned with scavenged equipment, components and weapons. 

Technology

Skeev tech is a combination of rigged components stolen and scavenged from those upon whom they prey. Skeevs are not picky and will make use of anything, regardless of tech level. Any weapon can kill and the alien with the most weapons usually wins. On occasion, Skeevs may be in possession of incredible technology. In many cases they are often using such tech to less than its full potential, either not understanding it entirely or lacking associated components necessary to utilize them to full capability. 

Culture and Laws

Skeevs live by a simple law of "big stick, best idea". Skeev culture is predicated on scrambling to get one up on those around you. While they may often band together and form alliances, these are units of convenience or necessity and only as solid and steadfast as long as those needs persist. Skeevs do not form strong family bonds and even their young (born by the dozen) prey on one another in a interplay of treachery, deceit and one-upmanship.

The laws of these creatures are usually centered around the proper way to deal with those who cross them. Barque captains often maintain some sort of ship's code that is supposed to bind all those sheltering aboard his vessel. This does not stop Skeevs from engaging in their usual larceny but it does slow them down. Plans are often hatched on board the barques, but generally held off until the Skeevs away to carry out.

Weaponry

Skeevs are most commonly seen using slug throwers and other projectile weapons. Rockets and grenades are often popular as well. Higher tech weapons are not unheard of, but are often the gear of more successful and powerful Skeevs. Blades of all kinds are also popular.

Ships

As stated above, Skeevs live their live in massive ships called barques. No two barques are alike and each is home to dozens, sometimes hundreds of smaller small attack ships, the Skeevs call "cutlasses". Each cutlass is either the personal property and project of its crew (usually 2-5) or, in cases of less fortunate Skeevs, a patron or benefactor, often the captain of the barque on which they are based. 

Relations to Humanity

Humans and Skeevs are not good company. Skeevs see humanity as easy pickings, seeing them as soft-skinned, luxury-minded, and easy going. Humans see Skeevs as vermin. Human authorities often give Skeevs little quarter, often taking on a fire first and never bother asking question attitude. Skeevs do love human technology, finding that it integrates nicely with all manner of technology.

Using them in Rogue Space

Skeevs are perfect encounters in any adventure. Skeevs can easily be inserted as a random encounter both in space and planetside. Skeevs also make good plot devices, being a source of crime and larceny throughout known space.

Another Blast(er) From the Past

Star Slammers is a great book from 1983. In this graphic novel, Walt Simonson brings us a story of interstellar mercenaries fighting for their honor and their lives against all odds.

This is another one of those great bits of 80's Space Opera where big guns, bright colors and ultra-fancy tech really shine. I cannot help but feel there are some similarities between the basic concept here and the Hammer's Slammers but then again, one could draw comparison to the Seven Samurai, even if there are only three Slammers.

The depictions of future combat in here are just so wonderfully over the top as to ring on a truly heroic level. Three heroes clad in what seems like power armor with big guns and even some gimmicky weapons (sling grenades!) take on an enemy much greater than themselves, laying low the forced of tyranny.

I can't help but think my friends and I tried playing this as an RPG when we were kids. If not, we at least borrowed content and inspiration for our sci fi games. 

-Eli

Childhood Memories at the Speed of Light

Hey all,

Been a while since I have posted anything about a purchase but I had to share this one.

When I was a kid, around junior high, I was really into games like Star Frontiers and just about anything Space Opera. Being of the Star Wars generation, strange and wondrous futures were in my blood. "Lightrunner" is a graphic novel that captures that same laser-slinging, faster than light fantasy anyone from that time will appreciate.

I had owned this graphic novel as a kid and was originally drawn to it by the cool art, space babes and aliens. But the story is pretty cool, involving a plot built around a spaceship that defies the conventions of its universe and is central to a political scheme that entangles the heroes who come to take possession of the titular vessel.

After losing it when I moved out on my own, I had forgotten about the book for years until recently I found myself in the grips of a sort of self-induced Space Opera revival. I found myself going back to titles like Alien Legion and some of my old Heavy Metal comics and then I remembered this one. I figured it was obscure enough that it would be impossible to track down, much like many of the oddball one-offs I found as a kid (e.g. Space Infantry RPG). Boy was I thrilled to see several copies on Ebay, including the one I picked up that cost me around $6 after shipping. It isn't perfect, but it's in better condition than the one I owned, though I think my cpy had a green cover, but that could just be a trick of memory - perhaps confusing it one of the Elfquest Graphic Novels.

I recommend Lightrunner to anyone looking for a nicely illustrated, space adventure.

I mean, come on, they don't make space henchmen wearing leather boots with fringe anymore!

-Eli

More Sculpting Teasers

Hey folks!

A lot of times, I am at work while sculpting and snap a few pics of the WIP. Now, these are all done with a Galaxy III camera phone under office lights, so no complaints about pictures quality...

Mutant with insectoid features

New Prang?

Tiny, big-headed psi-mutant

"The Judge", a mutant brute who looks like he belongs in 2000 AD

A piggy-backed brute mutant

Tall, skinny, visible brain features? Must be a psi-mutant

"Neurovore" psi-mutant with a various serious condition

"The Reaper" another brute mutant

I told you he was tiny. 

That's a converted Astro Minis crew fig which stands a very good 15mm tall from foot to eye.

I Cannot Lie....

I like building Terrain

Here are some pics of the landing pad I am working on.

This is another junk build. As you can see it is based on an old board game board. These make excellent alternatives to MDF. The platform itself is a cake stand, purchased at a local craft store. I used my mototool to grind off the logos and lettering, making sure to add in some added distress with the grinder to make sure it looked like damage from use and not where i ground the lettering off.

The risers are made from plastic hair curlers, slipped inside small prescription pill bottles. The central base is a plastic jar for some product.

Here you can see the landing pad after I started adding some of the associated structures. A storage tank on the left is a vitamin bottle resting on a paper gift box purchased at the craft store. The structure in the fore ground is a drink mix container. We have a lot of these around the house and I have used them for making improvised habitats. This one is a crude tool shed, workshop used by the colony's maintenance crews. The boxy structure on the right is another paper box from the craft store and will have resin windows and doors added. This will likely be marked as a sort of security station or something.

I even added some graffiti. Even a space colony has to have a hangout.

Dropship Kitbash Revisited

Ages ago, I started this little gem...

That's right, a batmobile from the new movies converted into some mammoth of a dropship. it was intended to be the sort of dropship that gets you to the planet and then drops you on it, sticking around to help you finish the job. Well it sat around for a while....

Three years later, I am now getting back to work on it. I've decided that this mercenary rig needed some savage warpaint and as I started painting stripes and lines on some of the raised pieces of the hull, a pattern started taking shape. Holy crap it had a skull on it!

So I went with it and now how a scrubby, white-washed and weathered skull pannel painted over the base OD green color....