The Wandering Salesman - Colony 87 Trader

Shady dealings for dodgy goods.

 

Back in July 2014, I started making plans for the first Kickstarter of my Colony 87 miniatures. The very first idea I wanted to make reality was for a nomadic human trader, reminiscent of many human cultures across the world. The very brief description I sent across to Will Beck, who drew the concepts for the Colony 87 range, was this:

 

Human trader - lots of visual cues from nomadic trader types (big hats, baggy, layered clothing, staff). Heavily laden with lots of trade goods.

 

Will immediately grasped the concept, and drew me an almost note-perfect early concept for the figure:

 

'Human Trader' - Colony 87 early concept by Will Beck.

Scatter Terrain - Warsenal Construction Pallets

You may have noticed I've been trying to build up a stock of scatter terrain over the last 18 months or so - crates, barrels, barricades and so on are invaluable for in game cover and reinforcing the 'realness' of a table set up.

At some point in the distant past, I also bought myself some Warsenal Construction Pallets - handy little laser-cut kits:

I had stored them away in my space under my desk and forgotten about them, until the other week my daughter knocked the box they were in over. I put them in the pending pile, and devoted a couple of evenings to assembling and painting them.

Project Homework - A Japanese Garden Diorama

I dread it when the kids require help with their homework: "Research the Ancient Egyptians and present it in an interesting 3D way", or "Write a rap song to help you remember long division". These are actual real life examples, in case you think I'm kidding. But sometimes, it can be fun - we once shot a film about superheroes in the garden.

A week or so back, my eldest daughter (aged 10) was set homework which required her to "Make a 3D Japanese-themed diorama." That sounded more up my street!

I sat down with my daughter and asked her what she wanted to make a diorama of. She wanted to make a Japanese garden, with cherry blossom, a lake and a bridge. So we did some research and settled on two photographs for inspiration:

Starport Lockup - Micro Art Studio Barracks

Every so often I'll pick up something cheap because it's useful.  At some point last year, I bought one of Micro Art Studio's hardfoam barracks blocks second hand from ebay cheaply. The barracks set includes a pair of hardfoam buildings with resin doors, plus an MDF watchtower. What I bought was one of these:



Battlefield Hardfoam Barracks building from Micro Art Studio.

I figure it would represent a range of different things - a small industrial unit or warehouse; a bunker; a secure lockup; a garage...

'Pops' Dwight checks the manifest before the scheduled departure of the Lysa.

The Big Lad - Sarjent Blas Gaspar

As any noble is aware, a loyal bodyguard is pretty much a pre-requisite. Yes, you certainly need a number of anonymous household troops to lay down firepower and march around noisily. Yes, you also need the slim, quiet dangerous retainer - the one with mis-matching eyes, a penchant for blades, and numerous advanced skills for removing unwanted people. But what you really need, is the kind of statement bodyguard that shows everyone who is boss. The big, heavily muscled brute who can crush skulls with his bare hands. The man-mountain who can absorb firepower without armour, and still keep on coming.

A bodyguard like Sarjent Blas Gaspar, in fact.

 

Space Craft and Pilots

At the back end of last year, I was lucky enough to win a converted land pilot courtesy of Scotia Grendel. The model was a very nice conversion by Elton Waters of an Urban War figure.

 

I painted her up as a pilot or crew member for my Orange Star Line corporate faction, with the orange and blue colour scheme.

 



 

 

The Grand Tour - Ash Wastes Dune Buggy (Take 2)

As you may have seen over at Leadplague or Sho3box, this year the WIPsters guaranteed each other at least one hobby related present this year, with a Secret Santa gift sharing.

 

My Santa recognised that vehicles have been a bit of a theme this year, and that I clearly needed more racers. I was therefore as excited as a 4 year old with a full stocking when I opened my present:

 

That's right - a mint in blister OOP Grenadier Future Warriors Lightning Strike Buggy!