Thursday 31 October 2013

Tutorial - Painting a 15mm Hell Diver using washes and blocking colors. Part 1

By Harold

 Hi everyone, I wanted to give a quick tutorial on how I go about painting up my miniatures.  I'll be using one my of my Hell Divers, I cleaned it, attached the backpack and glued it onto a US penny.

Then I used superglue to attach RR ballast (fine ballast from woodland scenics, a good value and a nice even size) onto the penny, being careful not to get any on the miniature.  Then I prime the whole figure and paint the base with a khaki color.  This helps to seal the sand in.  Then I highlight with an ivory color.

This is the first part of my tutorial, I'll post the second soon!  Please let me know if you folks have any suggestions!


Figure base coated with a grey primer, and the base painted with a khaki color and highlighted with a lighter color, I then went over the figure to make sure it was a solid grey color.

My favorite wash, Strong Tone by Army Painter, works great.

First step was to water down the wash just a bit so it's not so heavy.

Ion Age - New Top Mounts For Hab Domes

 By Eli


This week the guys at Ion Age have hit us with a double whammy. Following up on their amazing Hab Domes, they are already releasing three cool tops for the structures that transform them from simple dwelling to military installations. Read more below...

IAF015 Top Mounts for Hab Domes!


IAF015A Sentry Gun Turret

Put a Rotary Cannon turret on your Hab Dome and strike out at your enemies on the battlefield. Fitting to the universal circle on the top of the IAF015 Hab Dome this top mount can also be used as a separate scenic item too. As always you can purchase one or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 2.50GBP.



IAF015B Comms Spire Mount
Call in the troops or signal to space with the comms spire for your dome. Fitting to the universal circle on the top of the IAF015 Hab Dome this top mount can also be used as a separate scenic item too. As always you can purchase one or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 2.50GBP.


IAF015C Hurwent Shield Generator
Just like the cities of the Prydian Precinct you can fit your dome with a protective shield generator. Fitting to the universal circle on the top of the IAF015 Hab Dome this top mount can also be used as a separate scenic item too. As always you can purchase one or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 2.50GBP.


IAF015 Hab Dome
Our first 15mm resin building and it gives form to the structures of The Ion Age. Fabricated by the Seorc Guild Hab Domes have many uses and can be found all across Prydian space. The Hab Dome is the starting point for a whole series of resin structure system for The Ion Age in 15mm scale. The Hab Dome is the basic unit for future stackable and adaptable units. It can be used on its own or with other IAF15 series releases. It is a high quality grey tone resin one piece casting which is 65mm wide and 30mm tall with a high degree of external detailing. Suitable for use in any science fiction setting as well as The Ion Age. As always this code can be bought as a pack or as a single or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 7.00GBP.


Information Burst!
It's the last week of October 2013 and you have only TODAY to get your IMP02 Retained Knight Bionic Fist free in any order before its retired permanently. What a month its been for The Ion Age. We hope that you enjoyed both the release of the Hab Dome and also these brand new top mounts for it. We meant what we said, the Hab Dome is the bottom of the mountain for our scenics range. There will be much more for it and beyond. Personally I am going to use my own IAF15C Hurwent Generator mount on its own as a part of my playtesting of Patrol Angis. Here's to the end of a big month for The Ion Age! Remember when you place an order with us you will be promoted to join the loyalty scheme which will earn you Reward Points on all purchases which can, once accumulated, be redeemed for discounts and special miniatures.

Now, as if the hab domes and their tops weren't enough, Ion Age let out a glimpse of the upcoming Havelock Type 57 Battlesuit.


Got to love concept art.  Really got to love it.  Like the concept art above.  Have a click on it and adore the heavy hitter that is the 15mm scale Havelock Battlesuit for the Prydian Army. 
Digitally drawn by our lead designer Sam Croes the Havelock Type 57 is a mobile gun platform for the Muster not only of the Prydian Army but the Marcher Barons too.  Six different weapon systems and a massive Impact Fist.  Piloted by a single Muster trooper. 
So do you like it?  We really do.  Should I tell you that you will have to wait months for this concept to become something solid, something for your gaming table?  I could do that, I could tease you with it....but no. 
I will tell you instead that come first few days of November 2013 we will be doing an Early Support Offer set on this white metal kit miniature which right now, right now...actually exists and will be going into production this week!
Great stuff coming out from Ion Age!

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Interview with Torben from Two Knights Publishing - Publisher of Fireteam Andromeda

By Harold

Here is an interview I did with Torben from Two Knight's Publishing,  publisher of the rules Fireteam Andromeda, available at wargamevault.



1) How long have you been involved with miniatures and war gaming?

I started wargaming back when I was around 10 or 11, so that would mean around 19-20 years now.

2) What first piqued your interest in miniatures/wargaming?

A friend of mine’s big brother had gotten his hands on this here “Warhammer 40.000” game, and already being a huge fan of Star Wars and – by natural extension thereof – anything science fiction I was sold almost instantly. The thing is, however, that we never actually played the game itself but rather made our own hodgepodge version of it; saying that we played Warhammer 40.000 is a bit of a stretch as we didn’t really follow the rules that closely and when we did we made up a lot of things on our own. But the idea of painting up your own forces, inventing a background and scenario and then having some rules to play out the battle with instantly clicked something on inside of my brain and before long I was starting to amass a lead mountain!

Friday 25 October 2013

New Ion Age - Female Retained

By Eli



Ion Age has released another cool set of figs this month. This time is Female Retained Knights and it brings ten poses of ladies with big guns and attitude. The set includes ten different poses and comes with heavy weapons and leaders. This  is a great addition to any Ion Age force as a stand-alone or to mix into your other units.


For those of you who like a little scifi art to support your fandom, Ion Age has also released this amazing poster of one of the female retained. The poster is A3 (300mm x 420mm) ready for the wall of your gaming room or above your painting table.

Some good stuff from the folds at The Ion Age.

-Eli

Monday 21 October 2013

ClearHorizon Miniatures Releases the 15mm SpecOps unit, the "Hell Divers"

By Harold

Disclaimer:  Yes, this is a news posting about my own company, but they're cool miniatures, I swear!

ClearHorizon Miniatures releases the Hell Divers SpecOps teams!

Federal Special Forces
5th Orbital Activities Division - Hel/Div


Each Operational Detachment - Alpha Squad Includes:
(2) Command Figures
(2) High Energy Plasma SAW Weapons
(8) Plasma Riflemen
[12 Unique Sculpts for only $10.99]


Each Operational Detachment - Bravo Squad Includes:
(1) Sniper Team (Spotter and Sniper)
(2) AT Teams (AT Trooper and Loader)
[4 Unique Sculpts and (2) Riflemen for only $4.99]

Direct Impact Vehicle - Drop Pods
and Taskforce Packs also available
The Hell Divers

Squad A and B, Bare Metal and inked

Squad A, Bare Metal and inked

Squad A, Bare Metal and inked

Squad B, the Sniper and AT teams, bare metal inked.

Available now from:

Thursday 10 October 2013

Ion Age - Hab Dome Early Supporter Bundles

By Eli


A responsive Shopify theme

Hey all!

The guys at The Ion Age keep chugging along, rolling out some fun stuff. This time around it's a cool piece of scenery in the form of a Hab Dome.

Perfect for colony dwelling or military encampments these structures have been called "something that can be placed on nearly any scifi game table." I have to agree as they look like the sort of structure used to get folks a roof over their heads quick. I could even see these being dropped in or landed into place.




To kick off their release the Ion Age is offering...


This is a great way to drop some incredible buildings on your table and scoop up a couple of great minis. 

Here is a plan sketch from the Ion Age site. that shows some cool ideas and potential for these structures - 


Check it out and enjoy!

-Eli

INTERVIEW with Jim from Lone Gunman Games

By Harold

Hi Everyone,

After Jim from Lone Gunman Games ran a 15mm sci-fi sculpting contest, I figured it'd be great to know a little bit more about him and his miniatures business.

http://www.lonegunmangames.com/
Right now he has some 15mm sci-fi miniatures that resemble a certain alien from the Fifth Element:

Available under the Lords of Fantasy range.

He also has a great selection of 15mm fantasy figures and 28mm modern figures.

Without further adieu, here is the interview!

1) How long have you been involved with miniatures and war gaming?


Well there is two answers to this question really. Gaming started for me at age 10 Playing D&D/AD&D 1st edition. My first Wargame experience was Car Wars, and then later Mage Knight when it came out.


Tuesday 1 October 2013

Ion Age - October's Free Miniature


After last month's cool kneeling Retained Knight, the folks at Ion Age are releasing another free miniature. This one is particularly nifty for me, because I sculpted the conversion on it. 

Sporting his mighty bionic arm, this Retained Knight character will be included FREE with any order made on the Ion Age until the October 31st 2013. There is a limit of one per order but no limit per customer, so if you place a few orders in the month you can gather up a couple of these gents. After the month of this figure will no longer be available. While it may appear in photos for the line, it will never return to retail.

More details at the Ion Age site!

Thanks,

-Eli