Gruntz 15mm - Earth Force APC

I buy a lot of stuff from Rebel Minis.  They are located in the US, so no extortion from the Royal Mail.  They have great service and good sculpts, including my favorites, the Viper mechs.  I've built quite a bit of my 15mm collection out of their models.  They boys both want their own models and due to all of the above factors I ordered theirs from Rebel.

Rhys got his first, which is what drove Owyn's "need" for models of his own.  They both earned infantry right off the bat.  They had to be good at school to get their rewards, and one bad day cancelled the whole week.  Rhys' infantry can be found in this post.  He wanted them to look like clones.

To sweeten the deal I also bought them each a couple of vics.  Just like the infantry I queued up all of the various vehicles on the web site and let them choose what they wanted.  Rhys chose the Earth Force APC.

Turtle Mk 1 tank.

In Her Majesty's Name - Manufacturers updated

I've been studying for a professional certification at work.  The kind where they fire you if you don't get it.  Pretty much all of my free time has been spent on that, oddly, however I did take a couple of minutes to update the links on my Manufacturers page, specifically for the Steam Punk / VSF sellers.

Please check it out, as well as all of the others.  If you have any to add that I have missed I'd be happy to throw them on there.

Bloggers for Charity

For anyone interested in the French and Indian War (FIW) or Queen Anne's war as it was known, this is a chance to pick up some very nice, painted, figures for a reasonable price.  Or, if you are awesome, to pay way too much for said figures as they are for charity.

Please go over to the Bloggers for Charity site and bid on one, (or more) of the lots and make this a success.

Here are some of the pictures on my painting table.

Edit:  Someone has bid 15 quid on my entry.  I'm pleased that they have been that well received.  I wish you well of them.

The XX Legion

I'm currently in the UK for a brief vacation.  We stopped in Bath a couple of days ago and one of the exhibits talked about the XX Legion.  Their symbol was the boar and there is the remains of a carving as well as a re-creation of what it would have looked like when it was created.

An actual boar of the XXth Legion, recovered at Bath.

The Police sketch artist version of the boar.

History - WWI Marine discharge papers

For Christmas my parents got me a discharge certificate for a Marine from WWI.  I just recently got it framed and mounted.

This is hand written, with the personal information added later.  It is signed by the Commandant, Major General George Barnett.

Major General George Barnett

I know nothing about Harry Haffner, other than that he served aboard Parris Island, so did not fight in France.  This is a fascinating piece of history and I'm pleased to have it.  Once the basement gets finished this will hang on one of the walls of the man cave.

Exeter or Bust!

In a week the family and I will be heading back to ol' Blighty for an eight day vacation.  It's hard to believe that we haven't been back in ten years now.  We'll be staying down around Exeter, except for two nights in London on the way home.  If any of my British readers have any "must see's" down in the South West, I'd love to have your recommendations.

Terrain - Country roads

I've been on a roll this weekend, cranking out all kinds of stuff and even finishing some things up.  The big thing is the completion of the first seven dirt road sections.  I started these months ago but finally got back to them.

The Empire's finest walking along a dirt road.

Liebster Award

I'ts been a busy week with more social events than are normal for me.  Spending time with real people meant that I did not spend the usual time with you fine folks.  So imagine my surprise when I went through my blog roll and found that I had been nominated for not just one, but two Liebsters.

Memorial Day

It is Memorial Day in the United States.  It's a three day weekend and Americans traditionally go camping and have BBQs on this day.  It's also the day we honor those who have fought and died for us.  As always today I'll be presenting you with my friend John Maloney.

LotR Battle Report - Harad vs Dol Amroth and Wood Elves

A couple of weeks ago four of us got together to play some Lord of the Rings.  This was not an ordinary gathering.  Keith, who introduced me to the game, and Tim, who used to manage Collectormania were both there.  As well, Steve, a long time denizen of the shop.  This was a special night because Keith has been working out of town for the last two years.  I haven't seen much of Tim or Steve in the same amount of time.  It was great to sit down with three old friends and just play a game.

My battleline with Steve's Mumak on the right.

Romano British Levy

I've completed the first six models for my Romano British force for Dux Brit and Hail Caesar.  These are Gripping Beast models, purchased from Too Fat Lardies.  There were a lot of models in that purchase.

The leader of the six levy.

Astounded, Amazed, Awestruck - The tale of an Easter basket

Chris over at Sippin' On Paint Water had an Easter basket giveaway on his blog.  Please check out Chris' blog.  I don't say this because he gave me stuff and I feel obligated.  I say this because his War in Africa posts set the benchmark for building a story, setting a scene and tying it all together.  If we all go and study his methods then our blogs will all be more interesting to read.

It was the end of a very long day when I on his blog and saw my avatar staring back at me.  I have to admit to several moments of confusion.  I actually closed the tab and went back to my blog roll and clicked again.  When I saw the same thing staring back at me it hit me, I'd won.  After squealing like a little girl I set about sending off my address to Chris.  Several weeks later I received a fair sized box in the mail.  This is what was contained therein.

Chuckles was on the top of the basket.  His carrot was broken and he'd lost his head in all of the excitement.  Good as new now.

Gruntz Battle Report - The Battle of Ifs

Lt Al-Tharki's orders were simple, right up his alley.  He was to take his reinforced platoon and clear the village of Ifs.  United Nebular Space Command (UNSC) peace keepers had been spotted moving towards the village and Division didn't want them sticking their noses into this area.  The Meddlers were reported to have a couple of their Paladin tanks, "Peacekeepers my ass", Al-Tharki thought.  Due to the heavy enemy armor, 1st Plt was being reinforced by a single Babylon tank.  Al-Tharki hoped it was enough.

Ariel recon of the approaching UNSC forces.

Mech Factory - The Crusader

I couldn't resist assembling the other mech from the kit.  Have to start with desert, you may not live through dinner.  This is the Crusader, or whatever it's Macross name was.

The 1/100th Macross - Crusader.  (Yes, I understand the irony).

Rhys' 15mm army

Rhys has desperately been wanting his own models.  The problem is that the few he's had he has played with like they were lego or army men, and they've ended up broken and lost.  He has also been known to play with mine, almost always with catastrophic results.

Rhys has been having some behavior issues at school.  They were talking about putting him on a behavior plan, the first step in their kicking him out of school altogether.  We are fairly certain his issues are all to do with his SPET teacher, since he has been fine in the past and is fine when he is not under her care.  Pondering ways to keep him motivated to behave until the old bat retires I decided that it was time for Rhys to start his first army.

Rhys' clone troopers.

A worthy cause

There are many worthy causes in the world.  Some help those in serious need, such as Bloggers for Charity.  Others help to feed intellectual growth, and share the love we all have for this hobby.  This post is about the latter.

Mech Factory - The Warhammer

I've made some progress on assembling the Mech Factory.  I couldn't resist getting the Warhammer put together.  This is one of my all time favorite mechs, so I just had to see it in person.

The Warhammer next to a Medium mech from Rebel minis.

Owyn's first model

Owyn has been playing D&D with his brother.  His first character was a thief.  He got frustrated by the fact that he was squishy and didn't fight very well.  For his second character he decided that he wanted a fighter.

Lips pursed in concentration.

Mech Factory - The Contents

A recent purchase, 30 years in the making, recently arrived.  I couldn't be happier.  John Bear Ross made this find, and shared it on the 15mm Sci/Fi Facebook page.  As soon as I saw it I was taken back to my childhood.  This was something that I had wanted desperately but could not afford.  I'd looked at it in the store for two years before giving up.

A big box of awesome.

Gruntz AAR - Resource Raid

Last week we got in another game of Gruntz.  This was a 1v1 game between the Traveller and I.  Yet again, we really enjoyed the rules, although we are still making some mods.  We both agree that smoke is a must; something I haven't been able to find in the rules.

Drone shot used in pre-mission briefing.