Sunday 24 December 2017

VSF - Preparing for the Mars Invasion




Re-basing my Victorian Science Fiction Collection.



I have been meaning to re-base my Victorian Science Fiction stuff for a while now and been putting it off on a regular basis.

However I am pleased to say that I have finally finished procrastinating over it and made some progress.

Originally my models were all bases on metal 1p sized bases.  Which was okay for a while and served a purpose.  Ultimately though I changed my mind and decided I wanted to play more games on Mars.  This would allow me to go to town with Alien races and architecture.  It would also have a few other benefits, including;

  • It would provide a standard base size that would be easy to replicate.
  • Plastic bases were slightly larger and would allow the bigger figures to fit on better.
  • Desert themed bases would make the blue of the Prussians stand out more.
  • I could attach magnets underneath the plastic bases making them easier to store and transport.
So I set about cutting the figures from the metal bases, trimming away the cast on bases around the models feet and pinning them to Plastic bases painted to match my Desert themed table and terrain.

Once pinned to their new bases I repainted the boots to hide any marks I had made with the clippers.

I added some grass tufts to some of the bases but left the majority as just sand.

You may be wondering why I did not add red foliage considering these figures are destined for Mars, well the answer is that I wanted to also have the option to have these figure fight on Earth in Egypt where our story-line indicates one of the missing 'Keys of Power' is believed to be.

The new and old style basing together.

Its taken a while but once you get going its not to bad and I am really happy with how its starting to look.  The basing colour seems to work really well and its a good colour match to both my terrain and mat.


So far I have most of my Prussian Force done including a horde of 50 Termians.  I will do a feature on the Native races in our campaign in due course.  

So far my little Prussian army consists of;

60 Riflemen
30 Grenadiers
30 Navy
50 Termians
9 Lancers
5 Helicopter Shock Troupes
10 Clanks
2 Armour Cars
1 Armoured Penifarthing
1 Tank
and a collection of Officers and hangers on. 









I still have more figures to re-base and I found some Prussians I still have to paint.

Its been fun getting the VSF buzz going again and after I move house I will be looking towards getting the rest of the models re-based and probably finishing off some of the painting I have to do.





Tuesday 5 December 2017

Slaughterloo - The End of the Ferach Empire, or is it...




Final models.

All up its taken about 18 months to paint my Ferach Empire army for Slaughterloo but the end is finally in sight.

 Just a handful of Toad casualty markers, Elf artillery crew and a few Elf characters to go.
These are, I believe, the last of my unpainted Ferach Empire figures.  It's a nice feeling knowing that this labour of love of mine is almost complete.  Its a huge Army of over 700 models.  Sure its not the biggest army out there but it is without doubt the biggest army I have ever painted and finished, or at least it will be.

The Toads, my favourite race in Valon, are done.  I love these little characters and their simple charm.

Next is working through the artillery crew.  Just my simple cartoony style of blocking the colours in much like a 3D paint by numbers.


Nothing fancy, but the end result just seems to work for me.  Sure they look a little rugged until they are finished but when seen in a mass, the effect looks quite nice in my mind.

Anyway, back to the painting table to get these finished and based. 



A little update to say.  They're  finished !


Tonight I'm heading out to play a little game of Slaughterloo.  I think we will just be using simple Divisions that you can buy as bundles from Alternative Armies.

If I remember I shall take some photographs with the intent of writing a simple battle report.

Next on the 'to-do' pile is a re-basing of my Victorian Science Fiction Prussians and maybe the odd new unit added as they prepare for the full scale invasion of Mars in 2018.

Cheers.

Saturday 2 December 2017

Slaughterloo - The Ferach Empire




The Elves of Amorica.

The leaders of the Ferach Empire, these fine soldiers form the core of all troops under their Tyrant Emperor Mordred.  Some of the fastest and most motivated troops of the Napoleonique Wars of Valon.

The Commander of all the Ferach Empire.  The Emperor Mordred.

 Officers, both mounted and on foot ensure that the Emperors orders are carried out.


Best of the best the Velite Grenadiers de la Garde are the anvil upon which the Armorican Armee sits.  An excellent centre piece for your Elf forces.

There are hundreds of Regiments of Elf Line, Regt de Ligne, armed with Armorican Muskets.


 Supporting the line troops there are the mean and tough Bog Orcs of the Guinalean Legion.   Armed with Armorican Muskets or captured Bessie Muskets and classed as Infantry.   They are led by Elvish Officers.

The Bog Orcs of Guinalea live in a conquered homeland.  While most serve Kyng Gorge and Albion some flee and join the ranks of the Ferach organised Guinalean Legion with dream of an Elvish victory that will free Guinalea.  Tough and ruthless troops the Legion goes toe to toe with the Orcs of Albion in Catalucia.

Lacking the glamour of the Ligne and the professionalism of the Garde, Militia Regiments perform important roles non the less.

Elf Carabiniers.  Elite and veteran Elf skirmishers hardened from battle armed with Armorican Muskets and classed as Light Infantry.

Chasseurs are elite and can be classified as Guard troops.  They skirmish in front of many Elf Regiments


Hundreds of Tiny Kingdoms and Comic Opera Baronies make up the conquered Confederation of Finklestein and Dwarves inhabit many of these small states along with Dogmen and Ogres.  Create your own army within the Confederation.

Commonly referred to as 'Confederation Dwarves' or 'Confederation Dogmen' or 'Hunvarian Ogres' these troops serve alongside Armorican Elves in Catalucia, the Witchlands and elsewhere. 

From the Confederation of Finklestein come huge Finklestein Guard Ogres forming the Old Guarde in Bearskins and armed with mighty Kannonderbuss. 

Artillerie is central to all the nations and client states of the Ferach Empire.

The 2eme Garde Artillerie a'Cheval are veterans and almost unique in the Armorican Armee since they are Horse Artillery.  They take cannon to battle by pulling them with horses meaning they are very agile and feared.  An excellent centre piece for your Elf forces.

The L'Esprit du Garde are veteran Elvish heavy cavalry classed as Cuirassiers armed with straight bladed heavy swords.

The Grenadiers a Cheval du Perdue are know as 'The Lost Souls' veteran heavy cavalry in the Army of Armorica they are the constant foes of the Undead in the Witchlands. Heavy cavalry classed armed with straight bladed heavy swords.

Fighting on horseback the Corps Imperial des Dragoons are elite in every sense of the word. The scorge of the Witchlands and led by the veteran Gui de Carcharoth. These Elite Hunters of the enemies of the Empire will always be found in the thick of it.

The Field Hospital, an unfortunate necessity on the battlefields of Valon.

The Ferach Empire is truly a mighty war machine and even more so when other loyal states flock to the banners.


1 Ferach Elf Commander
7 Ferach Elf Officers
6 units of 20 Ferach Elf Line Infantry
4 units 20 of Ferach Elf Militia
1 Unit of 20 Bog Orc Line Infantry
1 Unit of 20 Ferach Elf Guard Infantry
1 Unit of 20 Orge Old Guard Infantry
3 units of 12 Ferach Elf Light Infantry
6 Ferach Elf Line Artillery
2 Ferach Elf Horse Artillery
1 Ferach Guard Artillery
3 units of 10 Elf Cavalry
1 Ferach Elf Field Hospital
4 units of 24 Toad Militia
1 Unit of 20 Big Toad Guard

1 Dog Commander
4 Dog Officers
7 units of 20 Dog Line Infantry
2 units of 20 Dog Grenadiers
1 unit of 20 Dog Chasseurs
3 units of 12 Dog Light Infantry
4 units of 10 Dog Cavalry
4 Dog Line Artillery

718 figures not including Artillery, Crew, Limbers, Officers or Commanders.




















Thankfully this virtual horde has its own special storage and transport system to keep everything in order.

 Multiple wooden trays with individual sections to keep each and every unit secure whilst transporting. 

Those trays in turn slide into purpose built wooden boxes.
  

Thanks for looking.