Chronoscope Line Potentials

   I am partial to a lot of the minis that Reaper Miniatures makes. I am especially fond of the Chronoscope line. While checking them out recently, I found the following figures that I just knew would be of interest to my fellow VSF gamers.

   The first one is a steam-power armored hero, carrying a big pipe wrench. An excellent servitor for any automaton force in 25mm.

50165: Decker Lugstampf, Steampunk Hero

   A classic nightstick-armed Peeler. Useful for RPGs, or scenarios. Probably not much use on a battlefield, but used to conduct the women and children to safety while the troops defend the settlement? I could see that.

50106: British Bobby

   While this is ostensibly the ever-loyal companion of Mister Sherlock Holmes, this figure of Doctor Watson would serve well for any armed Victorian (later Victorian) era gentleman.

50060: Doctor John Watson

   This is not my favorite clockwork or automaton servitor around. But, it has its own charm, and felt it should be included with the rest of this listing.

50063: Jeeves, Clockwork Robot

   I like this little guy. He's quite short, but he looks like something straight out of the old sci-fi pulps. Bubbling beakers? Check! Engorged cranium? Check! Maniacal laugh? Check! And they had a shot of one painted up, so I shared it with you. Painted by Michael Proctor.

50061: Professor L.T. Froschmeister, Scientist

   Hope this has been helpful or inspiring to you.

6mm WtNW Project

  Followers of this blog will know that I am involved with the development of the Victorian Science Fiction rules set titled When the Navy Walked. The rules are geared primarily towards 15mm figures, and can be used easily with 25mm figures as well.

   One of the many projects on which i am working is adjusting things for 6mm figures. To that end, I have bought some Franco-Prussian War Prussians for Imperial Germans, Mahdists to make Martians, and colonial British for, well, the British. I've also been buying up some 6mm sci-fi and other pieces to make steamtech machinery. I've even posted photos of some of the 6mm Germans and Martians. The British are newly acquired and not yet out of the package even.

   One thing I have discovered is that the first bases I put the figures on just does not work for me. I had some FOG bases (40 x 15mm and 40 x 20mm). The bases are too wide. So, I have to rebase them. I think I am going to go with a base half as wide. The good news about that is that I will only use half as many figures per base, so I will double my bases (it's a base-based rather than a figure-based game). I guess I need to get hold of Litko and order some 20x15 and 20x20 bases next.

  I will give more progress updates as the project moves forward.

Recently Seen Around the Planets

Engineers Proudly Unveil New Walker

  The peerless science of the Empire has produced a new wonder with which to make the enemies of Her Majesty (God Bless Her!) tremble in their boots. The Cavor-Smythe Three-Legged Steam Walker stalks across the landscape with ease, at a speed no horse can match. Its crew of five are protected from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune by a thick protective layer of armor. Its armament of a steam-powered Gatling gun spray the foe with a hail of lead, wiping them from the field should they be so foolish as to venture forth when this mighty behemoth stalks the battlefield.

Cavor-Smythe Walker

[Black Hat Miniatures, 15mm]

3rd Rhineland Infantry Reg't. No. 29

   The 3rd Rhineland Infantry has recently arrived on Venus. They are shown here on field maneuvers just outside the palisade of their camp near Venusstaadt. Herr Kapitan von Gruber wields his sword, encouraging his men forward. I hope that their presence on Venus is merely to suppress the indigenous wildlife and native populations as their foreign ministry has assured the representatives of Her Majesty's Government.

Prussian Infantry

[Black Hat Miniatures, 15mm]

[Editor's Note: There is more stuff on the table right now. If you want to see them, hop on over to The Scattergun Gamer, my other blog. Feels good to be getting a bit of painting accomplished.]

Painting Update, and an Error!

  I made a mistake oh those many years ago when I originally painted the French Legion Extraterrestriale. And it is a dumb one. The trousers should probably be madder red, not white. Which makes even more sense on Mars than it does on Earth. So I probably need to go back and fix that.

  Also, look here in the next day or so for photos of the new British tripod walker I finally finished. Finally is an exaggeration - I only got it earlier this month. For me, that's blazingly quick to get to something. I also have a unit of 15mm German line done, with an additional musician. I'm nearly done with the second unit (units of 10). They are easy paint jobs, but I haven't been concentrating my efforts very well.

Alamo Anniversary

175 years ago, a small group of men defied overwhelming odds in a makeshift fortress outside of San Antonio for thirteen days. In the end, all were killed. Their sacrifice enabled the rest of their army to build, and six weeks later, to win independence for their nation.

Some may call them foolish for not abandoning the Alamo. But no one can doubt their courage.