Swabians

 

What a piece of junk!

 I have had a 3D printer for some time now but have not really used it that much.  When I first got it I was printing a few things but I was still trying to learn how to use it.  The main problem was where to store it.  My wife was humoring me by letting me keep it on the kitchen counter, but I knew that was not going to last for long.  I was able to get an old cabinet that is very sturdy and does not shake much which can ruin a print.  It has been sitting on this cabinet for about a year now without me using it.  After spit balling ideas around with my wife about reorganizing my hobby area, she asked if I needed to keep the 3D printer in the room as it takes up some space.  I told her yes but I then realized that I have not used it for a while.  I decided to change that. 

I had previously bought some STL files from 2nd Dynasty for some spaceships to be used for Star Wars, now was the time to put those to use and get back into the swing of things.  After a few trial and error attempts, I was back in business!  While it is not an exact copy of any Star Wars fighter, It has the right vibe, and that is all that matters with me.  This was  the first time I painted any 3D print so there were mistakes that were made.  I really should not have dry brushed the model.  I might go back and paint the ship in a lighter grey color.  

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....

  I have always loved Star Wars.  I have fond memories as a child watching the "original" trilogy on VHS.  Not 3 VHS tapes, all three on just one tape.  I don't know how my mom did it, I sense the dark side influence, but she managed to copy all three movies onto one tape.  The quality was crap, but I watched those movies, along with Indiana Jones, over and over, and I loved it!  I even remember watching the Ewok movies eating my C-3PO cereal.  When Episodes IV-VI came out on video again, I bought them and could not believe all the things I was missing on my original copy!  I watched all the other movies when they came out, liked some, didn't like others. Played most if not all the computer/console games that were released and was a diehard fan of the Dark Horse comics.  Then Rouge One came out.  I loved the feel of that movie.  It also reminded me that I have always wanted to game Star Wars.  I have some of the old West End Games 25mm figures that I made an aborted attempt to paint. I even have the rules, but I never gamed with them.  

When Wizards of the Coast released their plastic figures I was super excited, until I saw some of them.  Super deformed, less than good paintjobs, and random packages.  They were not my thing at the time.  After watching The Clone Wars, Rebels, Solo, and the Mandalorian, I wanted to game Star Wars more than ever.  But the real question was what time period?  The Clone Wars? The Empire/Rebels? The First Order/Resistance?  I looked at the Imperial Assault game.  I wasn't interested in the rules but the figures looked awesome, but the Stormtroopers were monopose.  Then there was Legion.  Awesome figures but the wrong scale for me.  I mainly paint 28mm.  I eventually went with Legion.  Not too keen on the rules but the figures are super nice, plus all the after market resin figures!  

While I was looking at some resin figures I saw some for a time period that I forgot about, the time of the "Old" Republic.  I loved the RPG The Knights of the Old Republic and The Old Republic.  The Idea of a bunch of Sith knights fighting Jedi had always appealed to me.  I just love these pictures. 

Fast forward to Stargrave being released.  I liked Frostgrave and thought I would give these new rules a shot.  I then saw the plastic figures and immediately though of Star Wars.  they have that "classic" look to them.  I bought the rules, all three box sets and the metal figures.  While I wanted to use these for a Star Wars setting, Stormtroopers are very iconic and there were no close options on the plastic sprues.  That is when I decided to game during the Old Republic.  I can use my figures and still have the Star Wars feel!

I then went onto a buying spree and bought some alien figures from the Wizard of the Coast line, some of them did grow on me.  I also bought some sprues from Into the Maelstrom, these with provide me with some more aliens and also some rebels/planetary troops.  I also bought some Algoryn troops from Beyond the Gates of Antares.

Wow, that is a lot of words, now onto the pictures!

I of course assembled the Sith first :)

A Sith Lord and his followers

I tried to go for a Darth Nihilus look for his mask.  Something to strike fear into his enemies.  I just drilled out the right hand of a Stargrave miniature and put in a lightsaber that I built.  I like that he looks like he is force choking someone.  

This was a bendy plastic Darth Vader figure that I bought off of Ebay.  I don't know the manufacturer but he stands a little bit taller than the plastic Stargrave figures.  I replaced the lightsaber blade and head.  The head is a GW space marine that I drastically shaved the neck down so it would fit.

This was a Reaper Bones figure that I got in a KS.  I was never going to paint him until he fell out of a bag that I was moving while looking for Star Wars figures.  I cut off the weapons and added lightsabers. I tried to go for bone/antler handles,  I'm not sure they came across as that.

This is a plastic Stargrave body with Frostgrave wizard arms, scratch built lightsaber, and a GW space marine head.  I like the way he is force pushing someone.   

This is another Reaper Miniature.  I removed the axe she was holding and added a lightsaber.

Here is a Frostgrave Cultist  with a GW Chaos space marine head.  Defiantly giving off a Darth Maul vibe. I resisted the urge to give him a double bladed lightsaber.  I saw someone do something similar on the web and that was the inspiration for this figure. 

This is a Wizard of the Coast bendy figure with a Perry Mahdist head and a cloak added.

This is a Frostgrave Gnoll with a scratch built double lightsaber, just had to have one :)  I like the way he looks like he is taunting his next victim.

This was originally a Reaper Miniature goblin.  I was a little hesitant about him being covered in armor plates, but I justified it as ancient Sith armor.

This Sith warrior is made up of a Frostgrave Cultist body, wizard arms, a GW space marine head, and a cloak from Wargames Atlantic...I think.  I'm really happy with his eyes glowing in the shadow of his hood.

Finally, here is another Wizard f the Coast figure.  He will be an ambassador that  needs protecting in games. 

I have already build some Sith troops, a few Jedi, and some bounty hunters.  Just now need to find some more time to paint! Hope you enjoy my long winded post :)

Justin

Cultist

 Every hero needs a good villain to fight against.  Meet Conan's nemesis, Nakhtem, a dark sorcerer from ancient Acheron, a disciple of the slumbering Set, and an antagonist to all things good.  

Nakhtem and the two assassins are metal Reaper Miniatures.  The non-hooded followers are Wargames Atalantic Persians.  The hooded followers are old Wargames Factory Persian bodies with Frostgrave cultists arms.  I have some sorceress and some snake men/women basecoated and waiting to be summoned.  

Here is Nakhtem with his two most trusted assassins

Next up are some generic bandits, Turanian caravan guards, and a small group of Afghulis.  

The 116th Light cavalry

These are for my small Battletech forces.  They are more a proof of concept to see if I like the colors.  These will be for my mercenary force, a dedicated light cavalry tank unit.  They are old Kenner Mega Force tanks.  I got these when I was a kid back in 1989 and kept them.  I did paint, if you want to call it that, them back in the day to fight with my Epic Space Marines against some Orks.  They have been refurbished again with a new lick of paint and a nice base.  I'm a bit proud of the bases, they are metal washers with some oven baked clay on top.  I pressed the tracks into the bases to get the indentation.  

They ere very quick to paint up, only one day from start to finish.

 

Goblins and their "pet"

So what happens when the hero can not rescue the fair princess from the forces of evil?  It is a question few ask and even fewer want to answer.  I had some old Black Tree Design goblins kicking around for a while in my "I'll get to it eventually" box next to my painting desk.  After I finished a group of figures, I just reached into the box and was going to paint the first thing I picked up.  And they say the rest is history....

Painting them up as night goblins did not fit the aesthetic of my other orcs and goblins.  So while they were primed and waiting, I was looking for medieval princesses.  I just happened to look down and laugh thinking they looked like goblin princesses.  That's when a light bulb went off, goblins like nice and shiny things and what's nicer than a princess dress?  

That's when these nasty gobbos were born.  When a hero fails to rescue the fair princess, do people think that the goblins just lock her up and feed/clothe her until she is rescued? No, they probably feed her to their "pet" troll, the real reason the hero fails their mission.  The goblins then get the pretty dress.  It's a win win  for them.  

 

Ancient walls

I made these to fit in with my building Hyborian Age figures.  I wanted to have an ancient city for my figures to fight over.  I wanted something cyclopean in nature, like it was build long before the time of Conan.  I was trying for something similar to the ruins in Mycenae.  These are two test pieces, a wall and a column.  It wasn't until I finished painting the wall that I realized I forgot to make one side ruined!  Oh well, they are after all test pieces...

They are made with a core of styrofoam with polystyrene bricks glued on the outside.  I saw this done on Leadadventure forum but I can not seem to find the original poster to give credit.  I plan on making more ruins to fill up my ancient city.