Something stompy this way comes

After the recent completions of Heavy Gear models and the showcase that followed, I thought I'd be a bit proactive and make a Workbench post as I got started on my newest set of mechs:

The Maelstorms Edge Epirian Hunter mechs!

Having the double qualitites of being multi-part with lots of options and plastic models, I knew I'd have to get some eventually.

Priced at 9.49$ US/ 6.49 £ GBP they are a bit more expensive than Reapers CAV and EM-4's plastic mechs, but come with more options and are a fair bit heftier than the latter. So a fair price I think.

The shipping was 4.20£ GBP, certainly affordable since I ordered 6 of them. It took about two weeks for them to reach me which is pretty standard these days.

So onto the models themselves:

As you can see the mech comes in 3 sprues; The torso and some arm parts(left), weapon and hand parts (middle) and arms, legs, feet and more weapon parts (right). Mould lines are present on some of the pieces, but very faint and nothing that can't be fixed in a few seconds.

The company website contains building instructions along with a few helpful tips and some pictures showing off some modifications you can to to the parts to get a unique look for a special mech.

Moving along, I used tack to stick on various mixed setups so you can see what the assembled pieces can look like: 

The "standard" setup as seen on the website store, armed with double twinlinked machineguns and rocket pods on the shoulders. There is a second option of bigger, single warhead shoulder mounts as well, shown in a later picture. Since the model is made for 28mm if you use it with the companies game system, the mech stands just shy of 50mm tall, not counting the missile pods. So it makes quite the mech when used with 6mm models like I will be doing!  

 The second option for the mech is know as a Flak cannon, shown on the mechs right arm in the pictures above. With the right paintjob it can probably be any number of projectile or energy weapons, I think it will make a good plasma projector or maybe an electrolaser.

 The last weapon option is the "Maglock Chaingun". A standard long-barreled affair, this weapon looks like a great contender for any sort of autocannon or similar projective weapon. With a little bit of putty to make a lens it would even make a good laser cannon. On the left arm this mech has the optional forearm with a hand/manipulator that only fits this side of the mech.

Here you can see the optional bigger missiles.

This setup is the one I went with for the first of lance I'm putting together. I made a small mod after adding the autocannon to to right arm and a manipulator to the left. By cutting and filing the large missiles and then glueing them to the forearm to give the mech some extra punch.

I also took a few quick shots next to some other mechs to give you an idea how the hunter mechs compare to some other mechs:

From left to right: Mecha Front Lynx, EM-4 mech, Hunter and CAV Halbeard.

 
So with the first mech assembled, I have 3 more that will form a merc lance to fight with and against the other forces I have collected. I hope to show off a the full lance before too long.
I have started looking at making a few more pieces of terrain for both 6mm and 3mm, while we wait for the vanguard 3mm models to be released.

Til next time!

Not all giant robots are created equal

I was recently asked a few questions about the new plastic heavy gear models I wrote about in my last post, so I'll endeavour to answer them, along with some photos comparing them to some of the other models from various ranges I have.

I'll start with the easiest to answer; Where did I get them and what was the damage?

Heavy Gear has been around for some time, but for reasons unfathomable to me, it hasn't really got the traction you'd expect from such a long-running line of models. I ordered my 2-player starter box from the company website (link to store page) since the only other option I could find was ebay and that option was no more or less expensive.

The box itself is 90 USD, one of the more expensive single purchases I've made since turning away from 40K and Warmachine/Hordes. But for that price you do get 27 mechs (14 northern and 13 southern as well as 3 drones for the south) and also the Heavy Gear Blitz rulebook. Each mech comes a selection of weapons and extras and most of them exept for the heavy mechs can be posed either standing or moving thanks to some extra leg parts.
 The drones will most likely come in handy somehow and the rulebook is a nicely produced soft cover for my rules collection, even though I'm not sure if I will ever actually play it.
Good value for your money anyhow, with the average cost per mech being 3,3 USD and that's not including the rulebook and the remotes.

Living in Sweden means that shipping from the US is a mixed bag, some companies have pretty good flat-rate charges, while other are quite expensive. DP9 sadly falls in the latter category, with the S&H charges ending up at 33.95 USD for the shipping to Sweden.

While it feels a bit excessive, the average cost per mech is still only 4,6 USD even with the S&H included. That means they are still quite a bit cheaper than a lot of other offerings and they look great to boot!

That being said I'd probably never place another order unless I was getting more than a few mechs, to offset the high shipping charges.


Now to the next query, how they look next to models from other ranges. The heavy Gear mechs are 10mm models, or about 1/144 scale. I scrounged up some models for some comparison shots, the non Heavy Gear models will have manufacturer as well as their intended scale listed

Left to right we have: GZG Japanese infantry (6mm), HG Spitting Cobra heavy mech and an Onslaught Hellborn Cultist(6mm).

 Left to right we have: GZG Japanese infantry (6mm), HG Jager and an Onslaught Hellborn Cultist(6mm).

 Left to right we have: HG Spitting Cobra, HG Jager, GZG Hound dog(6mm) and an Onslaught OTC Oni Close Assault Rig(6mm).

 Left to right we have: HG Spitting Cobra, HG Jager, GW Space Marine Terminator(28mm) and a EM-4 Mech(not sure about the scale on this one).

  Left to right we have: HG Spitting Cobra, HG Jager next to a Reaper Cav Halbeard (10mm).

 Left to right we have: HG Spitting Cobra, HG Jager and a Critical Mass Arc Fleet Combat Walker (15mm).

 Left to right we have: HG Spitting Cobra, HG Jager, Brigade Models Neo-Soviet Bizon MBT (6mm) and an Angel Barracks Junker "Thor" Hovertank (6mm).

Finally we have a shot of all the mechs( + the terminator) arranged by height.

I hope this helps anybody that were wondering about the HG Mechs, if you have any more questions I'll try to answer them as well!

Til next time!

Some WiP mechs

Today's post is just a quick one, as I wanted to show off the stuff I've been working on for the last few days:

Getting back into sculpting, I made the two mechs on the right. on the left is a EM-4 mech and a GZG hound dog for size reference.

This guy is mostly done, but I have a new right hand in the works, since the gun turned out a tad long for a single handed grip. For now the hand is attached with tack, so I'll be able to swap the alternate weapon in later. I'm also considering adding some detail to his torso, to make it more interesting.

I'm pretty pleased with this one, even if it turned out a bit crooked, I'm hoping I can staighten it out before I make a mould for it. Like the first one, the weapons are held in place with tack for the moment, the final fit should be a bit smoother.

I hope you like these two, any C&C welcome as I try to improve my current lack of skill!
I've finished the 4th episode of Starport Scum, and as soon as I finish up the writing it will be posted, hopefully tomorrow or failing that, the weekend!


Til next time!

Go small or go home?

Having been inspired to do more "big battle"-gaming lately, I realize that 15mm is simply too big with the limited gaming space I have available.
So 6mm seems like an obvious choice, smaller, so it allows for more units on the board, good amount of different sculpts, I have already got a small collection etc.  Lots of good stuff basicly.

But, having stumbled onto the Lead Doesn't Bleed  blog, as well as Mr. Average's posts on both the commander-series and Angel Barrack's forum, my eyes have been opened to the possibilities of 3mm gaming.

So now I'm faced with the dilemma of deciding, is 6mm small enough, or should I go for something even smaller? I did place a small order with O8 to check out the 3mm models in "the flesh" so to speak, and I have a few (poor) comparison shots:

 Left to right: DRM 6mm Industrial infantry,O8 3mm Heavy sci-fi infantry, O8 3mm Caesarion MBT

  In the center: DRM 6mm Tiger light tank. To the right and bottom of the shot: O8 3mm Caesarion MBT

While I try to decide, I will paint some more Space Opera minis, I need to clear space for my Mullo tanks that are coming in from The Ion Age!

If you have any ideas or suggestions to help me decide, feel free to comment!