Stand Off at the Precinct House

Sergeant Kanter paused as he stirred his coffee. He had been in mid-conversation with Officer Dien who was taking a leisurely stroll along the local area, when his subordinate gave what seemed to be a strangled cough. In the background, Kanter thought he heard a burst of automatic gunfire.

'Dien? Did you hear that?' DIEN!

The only thing audible was the hissing of the comm set, and the gentle sighing of his officer's last breath, though he didn't quite believe it at that moment. In the street, a couple of citizens peered around corners to see what was happening.

'Narlo, get up on the roof and see if you can spot Dien down by the square- he's dropped off the grid.'

Officer Narlo dragged himself off the chair, pulled an assault rifle from the rack and headed for the short ladder that led to the ceiling trapdoor. He disengaged the security clamps and pushed the trap upwards. The cool air struck him as he levered himself on to the rough surface of the flat roof, then he drifted across to the low walls of the observation platform and squinted down the street towards the statue of Colonel Cordoba, astronaut explorer and Governor of the City three decades ago, that graced the column in the centre of Distral Square. His eyes flickered in disbelief as he saw the prostrate body of Dien at the foot of the statue. Before he could register his horror, a movement beyond the square caught his eye. Several shadowy figures were emerging from the distant buildings, dressed in an assortment of untidy rags and hoods, but with glimpses of body armour peeking out from between the folds. Without bothering with his comm mike he shouted loudly through the trapdoor-

'Rebels, Sarge, they're coming down the street! Pablo's dead!'

Kanter nearly froze, then instinct kicked in and he reached for the direct comm link to the Army barracks on the edge of the precinct.

'Priority One for Captain Lerner- insurgent incident this precinct- follow this link for location, enemy strength unknown.' He signed off without waiting for a reply. He turned to look at the prisoner in the corner of the station house who was bound and blindfolded. He knew immediately why the rebels were daring to venture to this part of the city, so close to the Barracks. If this man was taken to the Government offices for interrogation, his information could harm the Rebel cause considerably.
With an economy that defined the attitude of the Army, he heard a voice issue from the comm set that merely stated-

' Response Squad en route your position.'

Meanwhile, on the roof, Narlo watched the Rebels move swiftly towards the station house.

He spotted another rebel squad to the right of the first, sidling up the right hand side of the street, as quickly as they dare- time was short to liberate their comrade and they knew it. Narlo slipped the safety catch on his weapon and sent two bursts down the length of the street, but with no success.

As the echoes of his first volleys started to die away, he could see from his vantage point the stealthy appearance of a small squad of troopers from the recon company garrison as they cautiously moved through the alleyways to his left. Dressed in urban design camouflaged uniforms, they looked hard and competent. Seemingly, without a spoken order, they fired their weapons at the first rebel squad by the walls of the square, but the concrete around the monument protected them from the flying rounds.
Undeterred, they fired again and watched with satisfaction as two of the enemy crashed to the ground with fatal injuries, and another wheeled away with blood seeping from a wound.

Narlo dragged his eyes away from the sudden action in time to see a third group of rebels running towards the vacant lot further to the east, heading for the rear of the building.

Down by the square, the Army and the first rebel squad were engaged in a fierce firefight, but neither side were able to inflict any casualties. Narlo barely had time to register this fact when several bursts of fire made him duck down behind the parapet of his rooftop position. Bobbing back up, he retaliated with a couple of bursts of his own but to no avail, as the rebels were now close to the wall of the station house. Sgt Kanter pointed his pistol through the window and loosed off a couple of rounds and the assailants swerved away unhurt. At the rear of the building, the third rebel squad had arrived inside the compound walls. The station house shook as it received concentrated fire at the doors both front and rear, but they held fast.

In desperation, aware that time was ebbing away, the rebels continued to pour fire onto the doors of the building to try and gain entrance. Down the street, the army troopers suffered an injury as a soldier had his armour opened up, but he only sustained a light wound and fired back with extra venom.
The Recon squad leader was growing tired of the fruitless exchanges of fire with an enemy safely hunkered down behind solid walls, so he issued the order to withdraw, and his men followed him down an alley away from the immediate threat, and towards the station house.

Sergeant Kanter pointed his sidearm through the window again and shot a rebel trooper dead, right in front of the station house. Looking around himself, the rebel leader spotted the army troopers emerging from the shadows of the buildings behind him, looked at his comrade face down in the road in a spreading pool of crimson, then grunted into his comm mike the order to withdraw. In seconds, the rebels melted away out of the city as the members of the Recon squad arrived at the door of the Police building.

Later that day, a TV camera crew visited the area to report on the day's action.

'Record it in the junk yard Semmi- more atmosphere.'

This was an AAR of a solo game I played today whilst listening to the torrential rain down here in Wales. I tried the USEME rules, and I'm not entirely convinced I followed them perfectly, but they worked just fine for me. This is the first time I have actually set up my 'Cityscape' terrain boards, and I was quite happy with the way they turned out. The rebel figures were, appropriately, Sahadeen from Rebel Minis, the Recon squad were from the GOTA Clan range from Khurasan, and the TV crew were from Oddzial Osmy. Buildings were mostly from Mad Mecha Guy, with two from Warbases (the ruins), and one from Critical Mass Games. Roads were also from Mad Mecha.

Today I ordered a set of the Gruntz rules and downloaded the Barracks app, and I'd like to see if the card based system I've heard about can be adapted for solo play .

Lastly, I should like to thank my blog buddy Jay for nominating me for a Liebster award. I shall find time tomorrow to nominate some blogs that I enjoy but it's getting late, and I'm whacked, and I want to post this tonight.

If you have managed to struggle through this post, thanks for persevering. It's my first attempt to report a game as a narrative, and I quite like this as a way of summing up a game. Any helpful tips more than welcome!

Thanks for looking.

Khurasan (not so) Old and New minis.

I had a few moments this week to paint some miniatures, and below are pictures of my efforts. I sent an order to Khurasan when they opened up after Christmas, and within days they had posted pictures of a new release, namely the PNHE Cyborg Agents. After a quick e-mail exchange, Jon kindly added them to my order. I loved the colour scheme on the Khurasan website, and saw no reason to do any different, so in full Matrix mode I copied the hell out of them.

Now I know it's not very clever, but I don't have much of an imagination, so thanks to whoever painted these for the vendor. These are terrific sculpts IMHO, and with the leather-clad look could feature in all sorts of games.

Also in the same order I received the Zebra Kilo team, miniatures that I have painted in the past, but I wanted to re-do them for more general use, ie 5150SA, 5150NB, and zombie games. I painted them quite differently before but, and you are going to have to take my word for it, even though I have previous, I didn't realise that I was copying the website colour scheme again (well, almost, apart from the helmet colour). Possibly I did realise on some subconscious level... Anyway, I wanted them themed with the PNHE Agents, so went with the black leather look again.

 Once again, really nice sculpts, possibly by the same artist/sculptor. The black/grey colours work really well with them I believe, and my next batch will be Khurasan's 'Police Bots', which will fill out this 'police' themed force.

Apologies if the pictures aren't too clear- I took them with a little Canon Sureshot, so not as crisp as I might have got with my other camera (with flat battery as it turns out), but as those of you who kindly look in to this blog know, I'm no great shakes as a photographer anyway.

Thanks to some kind comments about my last post, I have added some detail to the Mad Mecha Buildings, such as vents, and some computer type terminals to act as vending machines and cash dispensers and suchlike, and am currently awaiting a small order from The Scene with things like air conditioning units which I can attach and create a bit more interest. So thanks for those suggestions.

Right, off to paint the 'Bots' before enthusiasm wanes. Thanks for looking in!

Urban Development

It has been a while since my last post, but I haven't been entirely idle on the modelling front. I wanted to create some urban terrain  for regular wargaming, and I thought I might try a little zombie bashing, and 5150 New Beginnings. I have had a number of buildings from Mad Mecha Guy, pictures posted before, but I wanted to make a bit more of them. So, I attached them to some 150 X 150mm  MDF bases (from Warbases) to give a little uniformity, and the appearance of a prefabricated colony. I also wanted a scruffy and neglected look, so used a few washes, yet this isn't apparent from the pictures.

First up, a single storey commercial establishment with a suitably unspecific name. All the bases of these buildings were marked out with a fine permanent marker, then the joints dry-brushed with GW's Bestial Brown. I think I may have been a little over-enthusiastic here, as less is probably more.

Now a two storey 'shop' with posters printed out from a quick trawl on the internet, and the sign on the roof made from an offcut of MDF that came with my order from Mad Mecha Guy- Joseph doesn't waste much, and sent me a nice selection of bits and pieces with my order.

A two storey habitation block with a feeble attempt at some graffiti....

and Quite obviously a severely un-secure banking establishment. I couldn't think of anything clever for the name so stuck to the obvious. These rooftop signs aren't glued in anyway, just held with a couple of 'pins' so I can change them when and if.

Another two storey commercial property with different window configuration.

I could have done a bit more with this 'shelter' but by this time at night my enthusiasm is waning!

Police Department- very utilitarian. I used the aluminium mesh that you can buy from car part shops for mending bodywork in all the windows- maybe for a 'Precinct 39' type scenario.

And so to 'Kelly's Bar and Grill'. I thought it would probably have obscured windows, what with the pole dancing and all, so covered them over with some picture mounting card.

These two buildings are from Warbases, but I've tried to dress them up with broken 'tile' pieces which I bought some time ago and never used, plastic girder, plastic tube for pipework etc. It wasn't until I'd put them on a base that I made more of an effort with them.

I just took one of the bases and threw a few things on to make a scruffy vacant lot. Exotic future crate from Atenociti, skip from The Scene, but I can't remember the origin of the vehicle.

This is just another improvised base, with a plastic container for the column, a mini from CP Models, I think, an MDF 15mm base for the plaque and some walls I picked up at a wargame show. Very simple stuff I know, but good cover nevertheless.

This is my first attempt at zombies. these are from Rebel Minis, but I also have some on order from Khurasan. I'm fairly happy with the result. I painted the flesh a sort of mid grey and highlighted it, then picked out top detail with Vallejo Game Colour Dead Flesh. I've seen much better on your blogs out there, but this will do.

Finally, I have seen pictures posted of various bloggers work spaces, so I took a quick picture of my own chaos.....we're all the same!!

Thanks for stopping by.

I finally get off my big, fat.........

I haven't made a post for quite a while, for various reasons which will be completely uninteresting, and for those bloggers who usually receive comments from me, I apologise for not giving you the due attention you deserve. So I'll just give a quick update on 'work' so far.

Some time ago I ordered some MDF buildings from Mad Mecha Guy, and then more recently bought the roads, walls, and paved area packs. One weekend I made the effort to paint all the road pieces, the pavement/sidewalk pieces, the paved areas, pedestrian crossings and various other things. I didn't bother with any clever shading- too lazy, and the etching on the MDF helped a little here- but got it done. So here are a few pictures of a small set-up using a fraction of what comes in these packs.

Sorry about the muddy looking brown between everything- that's just my tatty desk.

As you can probably see, I haven't bothered to paint the interiors of the buildings. I know, I know- no attention to detail.

I have also painted a few vehicles using the Mask sheets from Critical Mass Games, specifically the digital camo sheets. Using an air brush, I am reasonably satisfied with the result, though it may be too subtle to show well, but that is just my incompetence. The first vehicle is from Khurasan miniatures....

and the next two are from GZG.

I am slowly getting used to the airbrush, but as I don't have a permanent 'work station' I have to set it all up each time to use it- it can become a chore.

Now, bear with me a little longer, it will soon be over. Next up, some miniatures- NAC guncrews from GZG....

followed by a sniper crew from GZGs new Power Armour range....

and then the rest of this range that I have completed, support weapons included.

I also recently made a start on another of GZG's ranges- I believe it is the 'Republic of Arden' range for Tomorrow's War. I just think of them as modern French Foreign Legion! This picture isn't very clear I'm afraid, and the fact that they have been gloss coated but not matt doesn't help the situation. However, on the plus side, you can see the Tricolor on the shoulder pads!

So finally, I took advantage of an offer from 15mm.co.uk/The Ion Age and ordered a three pack of their 'prefabricated hab' buildings. I'm really pleased with them- nice clean castings, and best of all, because of the shape, they fit beautifully on the terrain hexes I use!

So that's it. Thanks for spending the time if you have read this far and not dropped off to sleep. I have been challenged, sort of, to a paint off by Barks from 'Wargaming with Barks' and Allison from 'The Painting Agency' to have a go at a Khurasan figure or two that completely don't resemble characters from a certain  '50% existence' game (if you get my drift). You know the one. Both Allison and Barks have made outstanding jobs with their renditions, so I don't think mine will be half as good, but I'll have a go....might not be this week though!

Thanks for looking in!

Whilst digging in the lead pile.....

I quite often sit in front of my desk, eager to get painting, but for some reason stall, and so I pull over boxes of unpainted stuff to mull over, trying to whip up some inspiration. Last week I found some GZG figures I purchased a long time ago that had slipped way back in the queue. These are from the Free Cal-Tex range, and upon closer inspection, I thought the detail suggested some sort of Police or Paramilitary Police Force. Decision made, I wanted to depict something that was fairly obviously police, but with a bit of a difference. What I have finished up with is something a little more Space Opera then Hard Sci Fi, but I was reasonably pleased. What's that you say? Pictures? Oh all right then, you've persuaded me.

A very simple colour scheme of Vallejo Prussian Blue, highlighted with the addition of increasing amounts of white, GW Codex Grey body armour/equipment/helmet, picked out in white, weapon is Vallejo German Grey, details picked out in Codex Grey.

Here they are, sneaking up on a suspected terrorist holed up in the building to the right, while one of his accomplices is held under guard. Buildings from Mad Mecha Guy (I love 'em!).

That bloke in the window is asking for it- a pistol against all that firepower!!!

Here they are with the paddy wagon!

The other figures I have painted this week are more of the new GZG power armour figures. I added a picture of one of these minis last post, so here are the others I have done recently.

Nowhere near as nice as the camouflage painted versions of these minis that Mr. Harold displayed on his blog 'Clear Horizons' but I'm quite happy. Once again a simple colour scheme- Vallejo Russian Green base, Army Painter Strong Tone wash, highlights in base + white a couple of times, equipment in Vallejo German Grey, again highlighted by the addition of white. Weapon is German Grey detail picked out in GW Codex Grey. Visor is Vallejo Gold (996).

Sneaking through the woods, power armour whirring smoothly.....

Having tried various varnish options, I am using a paint on gloss varnish from Games Workshop, followed by a spray coat of their 'Purity Seal' (almost) matt varnish. I have been reasonably happy with this solution, although I am running out of the brush on gloss varnish, so would welcome some suggestions for an alternative, but having heard so much about it, I made an order to Atenociti for some Testors Dullcote. Well, I tried it this morning, and I have to say I am rather impressed. I quite like the finish- in fact, all the above figures have been coated in this stuff. Usually I post pictures of minis pre-varnish rather than post, as I tend to think they look a little better, but I thought I would risk it, and it seems to have paid off!

So, that's it for now. As I say, if anyone can suggest a good protective gloss varnish, and I am gradually moving away from GW stuff by the way, I would be most grateful to hear from you. Well, it would be great to hear from you anyway!

All the best 'til next post. Now, where's my barbecue mitt...........