Filling the skies of Mars

The Martian VSF has been quiet of late but is still happening.

The next tranche of Aeronef are ready to take to the skies with their cargoes of plucky explorers.

First off is the second of the flyers that will be used for the Empire of the Blazing Sun.

It's a nifty little version of the bigger one with an oversized rocket engine for that additional turn of speed.

Urn has got a force for The Covenant of Antarctica so they need some aeronef as well. I went for a flying wing design as it felt a bit more progressive in keeping with their heavy leaning towards innovation and technology.

And a smaller one to run the troops around.

Just the Prussian ones to go now and they are well under-way. oh...and I really should paint some of the figures!

TTFN

Plugging away...

...Still.

I am determined to get these done before the end of July. Then I can get on and make the lava areas for the board.

After these bits there are only a few bits left to do but they are sizable pieces so will take a couple of days each.

TTFN

A brief distraction

I’ve been working away at the walkways for ages and decided to give myself a quick hobby break. I have a great many started projects in my study so I’m keeping up with my resolve to get things done and finished instead of starting anything new.


Wark backed the Drop Fleet Commander Kickstarter a number of years ago and very kindly handled me a fleet when it delivered. Well It struck me that I really should paint these up especially as I will be able to use them for Full Thrust as well.

Two tones of sprayed red, some washes and a couple of details picked out and they were done.


They really are nifty models and I really quite like the Hawk interface widgets. Handy solution to the basing issue with Space models at this scale.

This also made me dig out several old Full Thrust forces which I've had for...literally decades.

ESU - Eurasian Solar Union - that's space Russians to you.

 Kra'Vak - Rail gunny aliens. No. Not the Tau!

UNSC - United Nations Star Command - Yeah...Star fleet wannabes!


These might find themselves getting done shortly too!

Painted YTD: 202

Mustafar progress 2

Chipping away at the different pieces for the walkway set. There's still a long away to go but I'm getting there!

All pieces are made now and a couple need their last spray to cover the exposed wood on the edges.

I'm generally happy with how the colour scheme is going. I suspect that I will find the three coats of red to be quite tedious in the end but at the moment I'm still nicely motivated.

I need to start thinking about the lava sections as well. I've got some 3mm foamed PVC ready as the base and some pink foam for the craggy bits soI think I'm all good to go on that part. I'll need to take over the dining room table for a few evenings so I have space enough to work on those bits.

TTFN!

Jakku finished!

I gave myself a kick up the bum over the weekend and finished the last two pieces for the crashed starship scenery set. There wasn't much to do, just some basing on the pod and weathering on the nose section.

Good to get this done and satisfying as it was the first set that I designed.

Wrecked ship nose

Pod front

Pod side

Jakku!!

Table is only 5x3 so it is a bit squished together. It'll look better on a 6x4. Needs some rocks as well and I'm tempted to buy a desert scenery mat as well.

YTD 179!

TTFN

Mustafar progress 1

Now that I'm happy with my colour scheme I've started on the rest of the set. I decided to have a crack at some of the slot in accessories first. All the interface points on the kits are identical so these parts of the kits can be added to wherever there is a lift out rail section.

Ladders and sensor pods

I do like painting screens!

All popped together.

TTFN

Project: Mustafar

I've got my mitts on the kits I need for my Mustafar/Mars scenery set now thanks to the excellent folks at Blotz!

Loads to do but I needed to pin down my colour scheme before getting stuck in. I'd painted the Blotz demo ones white but I wanted to go dark with my set to fit in with dark volcanic look for the table.

So I started with a black under coat. I usually spray them whilst they are still on the flat sprue and then again after construction. This avoids any difficulties getting the spray into nooks and crannies after putting the kits together.

After undercoating I gave the center of the platform a dry brush of medium grey as I wanted to break up the black and give the panels alternative contrasts. The main body was very dark so I picked out the detail on the leg panels and painted the platform edges and rail supports.

After that I tinkered with colours until settling on the ones shown. I want to pick out a couple of details with gold but this is essentially it now.

Right! Just a ton more to paint.

TTFN