17 Feb 2014

Modern combat: The plan!

Hello guys,

my hobby mojo has been returning this month and while I got a minor lead pile yet to paint, I've decided to get a bit more active in my moderns project.

The plan is to game 28mm Force on Force campaign, set in a made up place called Evergreen Island, who's capital city, Evergreen Fields is also a setting for my Zombie Campaign that then never happened.

I haven't quite figured out the exact background for the campaign, but for some reason, Slovenian army would engage in firefights with local insurgents. It would be mostly infantry firefights, as two humvees and a T-90 are all the armoured vehicles I got at the moment, but if I'll ever find a great deal, that could easily change. T-90 will have to be my proxy for any other tank needed, but I'm not too picky.
For the "good guys" I have decided to give it a shot and sculpt Slovenian soldiers. I am at the rifles at the moment (been there for months), but I have already bought two Empress pilots to help me with the size and proportions. At this point, I have to thank Bryan the Savior for letting me have the order sent to him and he has sent it to me, which came out a lot cheaper in the end. I've decided to only buy the two pilots that I'd like to convert into an APC crew...roughly. I didn't want to buy any of the actual fireteam packs, as I would prefer to buy the 4 pack deal some time in the future.

Given I'm sculpting the Slovenes, they probably won't get ever cast (unless they'd happen to be very interesting to someone :D). My immediate goal is to make the weapons and then sculpt two 4 man fire teams. Then I would add the Eureka or Empress UK/US/GER/FRA or whichever, packs, to compliment them with heavier weapons and to boost the numbers where needed. In real life, Slovenes are often attached to bigger nation, so makes all the sense. The primary nation would be Brits, as US are simply too represented and UK range is large enough. Judging only by the looks I like French the most.

Below are some WIP photos. Troops, weapons and heads are all based on Ebob's work. If you are reading this, thanks again!
Hasslefree, EBob based "Slovenian", Empress, Artizan

Hasslefree, EBob based "Slovenian", Empress, Artizan

All four dollies (one in a very bad shape) compared to a ruler and Empress pilot

With their planned heads - bodies need much, much more bulk!

Weapons: RGW90, Minimi para, F2000S GL and 2x F2000S (for red dot and 4x optics)

They look like shit on photos, but I think they aren't THAT bad in RL. Barrel will be 2/3 shorter.


Minimi by Ebob, I've added optics, cloth ammo pouch and "para" stock

RGW 90 or MATADOR, needs some cleaning up

Weapons compared to WGF survivors box. Mind that RGW and M16 are both 100cm long IRL. By lenght RGW is closer to 1/56



As for the "baddies", the insurgent militia, I got a great idea for this one! As my campaign would be set in western-ish word (most closely related to Kosovo and Bosnia I guess), the Wargames Factory Survivor - the men seemed like the best option. The box doesn't have enough AKs for everyone, but I'll just substitute them for some M4s and SA80. Support weapons are a bit problematic. I'd need RPKs, which are just long barreled AKs. I assume I could convert them. RPGs are more problematic, as they are only available in female set. I've got one from Carl, owner of Grekwood miniatures. He has added two panzerfaust from some sci-fi troopers, but they're largely overscale - perhaps they could be a vehicle borne home made anti-tank weapons for technicals? I will try and sculpt the missing weapons myself, but if anyone has any extra RPGs or MG42 (yes, the WW2 german machine gun) laying around, I'd gladly accept them :P.
Insurgets-to-become all stacked up. Some extra weapons Carl has put in a pack for me. Thanks!



 According to the Force on Force quick start rules, I'd need 4 leaders, 17 guys with assault rifles, 3 guys with RPK and 4 guys with RPG. This seems like a good starting force so I'll stick to that plan. I might also make one sniper and eventually, I'll add some heavier machine guns and anti tank weapons to the force.

Forces on modern battlefield also encounter civilians regularly. Force on Force has them in mobs. I've decided to convert some zombies to be more "alive" looking and giving them some banners. They will act as the front row civilians. The mob will be filled with actual zombies I've painted so far to add the masses and to get some dust off them. I'd love a dedicated civilian mob, but that is far down my to-do list.

It has been a bit of a long post, but hopefully photos helped. If all goes as planned, I should have some wips to show twice a week!

Mathyoo

16 comments:

  1. Sounds good. Looking forward to seeing them done especially the F2000's

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    1. Thanks! I need some rest with F2000S' (S is a part of a gun designation :P), as they're giving me some trouble and I have to make sure I don't do them just "good enough" :P

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  2. It always delights me to hear that a person has rediscovered their mojo. I know only too well what it's like to lose it, but once you have it you should use it to the maximum. You've clearly given this project a lot of thought and I wish you all the best with it.

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    1. Hah, I keep saying all I do is THINK about projects :P. So now I finally got around to working on something, too :)

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  3. I hope all these modern troops are going to take on zombies at some point, good luck with this project.

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    1. Some of them certainly should. The irregulars will probably have to take a roll of a gang in a PA setting, though :)

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  4. Keep up the good work. Looking fine so far.

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    1. Thanks mate, will try to be working on them every day a bit :)

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  5. Good start to what I assume is a long term project. It reminds me of a "Very Brtitish Civil War", except set in modern times and in Slovenia of course.

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    1. The plan is to prolong it, for sure. I figured the miniatures would be handy for all the modern stuff, so might as well. While the conflict will be made up (and not in Slovenia :P), I'll try to keep it "realistic" more or less. So no goofiness! ;D

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  6. Great, going well! I might be able to find some spare rocket launchers from the female survivors set, if you're still looking. I'll have a look this evening, if I remember.

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    1. Thanks mate. I' am still looking for them, but only if you wouldn't need them yourself, of course. If you want, I could trade you for some bits - to make it fair and all?

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    2. I can send you some RPGs from the female survivors sprue, if you like. Also I have a fair number of excess assault rifles, pistols and shotguns (and a chainsaw or 2!) - are these any use? Contact me here if you wish to follow this up: 'hcduggan at gmail.com'.

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    3. I hope you've gotten the mail? :)

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  7. These weapon sculpts are very nice ! Great job !

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    1. Why thank you! Hope I can keep it up, if not improve it :)

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