Septimontium: Waiteri test

Though, the Waiteri tribes protest the new technology of the Septimontiums, they do not shun them. In fact, Sept citizens are permitted to join the Waiteri tribes (and sometimes a Waiteri will leave the tribes to join the Septs). To join a tribe, an applicant must reject the new technologies but must also pass a simple combat test; life in the Wasteland is difficult, so new members must show they have a strength.

Hodon saw the folly of Sept life and challenged the Waiteri for membership. He would fight Adams, a knife fighter of Waiteri Smith (tribes are identified with surnames and individual members with given names, all in the old language.) The test is simply called "The Bridge," and the goal is for the applicant to force a Waiteri warrior of the end of a rocky platform. Real weapons are used, and the fight is serious business, so injuries are common.

Adams opened the fight with an immediate move to the center of the platform to gain ground. Hodon timed the swing of his heavy mace perfectly as he moved to meet Adams, striking Adams' leg with a fierce stroke! Adams' leg went numb and he fell on his back grasping his leg which gushed blood from a gaping wound. His leg would not last long, but neither Adams nor Hodon could quit. One or the other must be forced off the platform to finish the rite.

Adams was able to rise before Hodon could press the attack. Hodon just needed one more good swing to force Adams off the platform and end the match, but Adams would make Hodon earn his membership into the tribe. Adams parried away a few of Hodon's swings, but was not able to force the melee back to the center of the platform. Adams' leg quickly became useless as the bleeding worsened.

Adams showed no pain but he knew the end was near. Hodon easily out-maneuvered a slower Adams and attacked hard. The large spikes of Hodon's mace slipped under Adams' arm guard and into his belly pulling the Waiteri warrior painfully off the platform and to the ground. Adams tried to lift his head, but he was too weak. Hodon passed the test, but Adams' wound was mortal.

Just before he died, Adams realized he had been defeated, but in defeat, he knew the tribe had gained a new member. There was honor in his death because a stronger warrior would take Adams' place and help ensure the tribe's survival.

As is tradition with the tribes, new members would be given a proper Waiteri name. There was no longer Hodon of Rubikon; that name died when Adams fell. Now, there was only Harold of Waiteri Smith.

Post-Apoc: Finished Moro!

I call it a Moro after Dr. Moreau. I chose that name since this animal is a combination of a couple others from my toy box. From concept to execution in less than 48 hours. And I like it. I think this beast turned out nice.

The green stuff work went smoothly. The paint job tied it all together. And I like the spines for that little something extra (thank you to everybody who made suggestions, by the way!)

Painting was actually quite easy (it was inspired by the random patterns on African wild dogs). I drybrushed the whole beast a light tan color. The I went around and painted large and little swaths of black. Inside my black patches, I painted a base coat of light brown in large patches and smaller spots, then I went a much lighter brown and drybrushed that to highlight the light brown patches ... and then one more highlight of the light brown. 

Next, I went a step lighter from the light tan overall base coat and picked out/highlighted the light tan areas that weren't covered up with the spots. One more layer of almost-white over those areas finished off the fur. Next, I painted the spines, teeth, mouth and eyes. Done and done.

I put together this beast because I wanted another animal in the arena for playing Red Sand Brown Sky. I also wanted to see how viable taking apart and reassembling vinyl animal toys was. Answer: My box of old dusty vinyl dinosaurs just became a huge bits box.

Post-Apoc: Moro WIP

Here are a few pics of my Moro beast in progress. It's actually all together; I'm waiting for the black acrylic primer to dry before I start painting. (and I'm also going to do a touch of research since I'm going to paint the fur similar to an African Wild Dog.)

I started by taking the heads off two vinyl toys using a razor saw. The allosaur's head was easy enough to lop off, but the gorilla head took a little more time since it was set in between two high shoulders which I wanted to preserve.

Next, I drilled holes in the allosaur head and gorilla body and dry-pinned (with a large brass rod) the two parts to get the position I wanted.  I glued the head to the body (with the pin) and started to fill in the large gap with green stuff. Another layer of green stuff was sculpted into fur. I impressed divots into the fur where the spines would be placed. I decided on spines but left off a feathered head crest; I think there's already enough going on at the front of the model.

The spines were individually made by rolling small pieces of green stuff into "snakes" with pointy ends. Later, when the green stuff had cured, I could snip each spine down to the length I needed it, and glue them into the divots with a little super glue.

I tried a lion-type tail (with brass rod and a greens tuff tuft at the end), but it just wasn't doing it for me. I think a slightly larger tail would fit fine and balance the model well, but adding tails simply made the beast look too conventional; I'm looking for slightly more freakish.

The spines I like. They turned out better than I thought, and were easy to make. The whole model is a little front-heavy (in looks), but I like it because subconsciously, the look feels a touch unsettling (to me, anyways.)

Paint comes tomorrow. And I should be able to finish him this weekend - of not tomorrow. I'm happy with this quick, off-the-cuff conversion. I have a few more old, second-hand dinosaur toys sitting around in a footlocker that I think just became a larger bits box.

Post-Apoc: Beast idea

So I'm looking through my collection of dinos and other vinyl animals, looking for some inspiration for converting a decent post-apoc monster. I could easily just do an extreme dinosaur, but I want something that looks more original. Then I hit upon this idea. I'm still not sure how I feel about it (it's not done- these pics are Photoshopped.)

It feels a bit contrived, but I think I can certainly make the transition from gorilla body to allosaurus head seemless (I'd cover it with some fur made with green stuff.) It's more animal, which is OK, but I like the freakishness of my other two beasts.

I'll ponder over it the next few days before I start cutting anything.

Apocalators: Group shot

Since I'm done with my 54mm apocalators (for now), I figured I better get a group shot. So here they are. Many of these figures were actually converted for playing Qwik (the two chain fighters and all of the two-handed weapon fighters.)

I've also moved the flamethrower out of the fighter ranks and into the ranks of arena officials; I was playing a game (using converted Red Sand Blue Sky rules) a few months ago, and the two players contented themselves with dropping back and catching their breath for many turns. So I introduced a third fighter to "prod" them to combat. That new role will be filled by Mr. Pyroeis.

I'm still searching for a couple more nice, generic, abominable monsters to add to the ranks of beasts. There are a couple more Fantasy Flight Games prepainted Arkham Horror monster that have been released that may fit the bill; Maybe I'll try sculpting or converting my own?

Apocalators: Only slightly irradiated

Here are the last two figures from this latest batch. Not too bad; I received the Bronze Age dollies on Wednesday and finished painting the last figure Monday -- I guess it might as well be one full week once I get this batch varnished.

I was bored with the usual old skin tones, so these two received a little bit of mutation, compliments of my paint. I went back (again) to Foundry's Storm Blue and Storm Green triads.

Hmm, I just realized I don't have anything new to paint, and no plan for anything in the immediate future. But that's ok; I want to get a little gameplay in. I wouldn't mind finding another monster or two to throw into the arena. Perhaps I'll look through the rolls of older D&D prepainted figures to see what works as a post-apoc abomination.
I may also have a couple more dinosaurs sitting around to paint.

Apocalator: Heavy fighter

Here's another fighter all painted up. This might be one of my favorites, though, I'm not quite sure what the special appeal is about this gladiator.

I like the large shield with a big boss bolted on. I like the worn, peeling blue color on the shield complimented with the yellow cloth of his loincloth and havelock. I like the combo of rubber shinguard and patch of chainmail protecting his leg. The skin tone turned out nice (Foundry's Bay Brown, again - and it looks much better in person than in this pic). This guy, I think, looks like he belongs in the arenas of the post-apoc future. Ok, for all those reasons, I prefer this figure over the others.

Just a couple more figures to go, then I'll probably go back to playing a bunch of Red Sand Black Moon/Brown Sky.

Apocalators: Knifer Adam and arena official

Here's a couple more figures; these are painting up fast (I have another figure that just needs a few things painted up to finish him off.) 

The first figure is my other "knife fighter" figure. I've painted him up in old Waiteri tribal colors. I like that the galerus covers the head almost completely (as seen at far right in the pic.) You can also get a better idea of what the weapon looks like on this fighter.

The other figure is another "matron" figure I can use for combats with more than two fighters. The radio was saved over from a Tamiya WWII kit, mounted on a brass rod and secured with twisted copper wire.

Apocalators: Knife fighter Eve

Here's one of my two "knife fighters." Since I have a male and female, I call this one Eve (and the other Adam.) I gave her purple hair to evoke a little bit of cyberpunk. I don't mind mixing styles among my fighters; it'll give my players more options that might appeal to their preferences when choosing a fighter.

And yes, more rusty armor. I may have a few different styles going here, but I think it's the rust that's helping to hold these figures together as a cohesive set.

For those who play Red Sand Black Moon, I'm gonna try something different with this figure's armor: Instead of counting her as being AC1, I'm treating her as unarmored, but with the large galerus and armored sleeve counting as a small shield. So depending on how many signatures, attribute points I give her, she's probably going to b low-rated. Another disadvantage she'll have is that she can't switch weapon hands. She's a fighter for an experienced player (or for an expert player when fighting novices.)

Repainted Dinosaurs: Dilophosaurus

While I wait for the primer to dry on the apocalators, I had this dinosaur sitting off on a corner of my table, so I whipped up a quick paint job for him. I just drybrushed of a couple layers of reds, browns, storm blue (Foundry) and light gray, then added some lizardy spots.

Dilophosaurs were around 20 feet long, so this model (as are just about all my other repainted dinosaurs) is just about perfect alongside my 54mm figures. I may roll them into my post-apoc setting, or at least introduce them into the post-apoc arena as mutant, monster or lost world beasts.

54mm Post-Apoc: Next batch of apocalators assembled

Well, it took all day, which is fine, but this next batch of gladiators is assembled. I'll let the greenstuff cure overnight and prime these tomorrow. I think these figures will paint up nicely.

54mm Post Apoc: Working on next batch of apocalators

Here's a quick in-progress pic of my next batch of apocalators (Post Apocalypse gladiators). I enjoy just throwing a piece of green stuff onto a body part and start sculpting to see what comes out. I've got a good mix of leather, metal and tire tread (protecting the stomach on the figure with raised arm) armor with this batch of figures.

The only armor I had planned ahead of time was the arm armor and extra large galeruses (shoulder armor) on the two figures at left. This is the only armor they will both have, AND they will both be butt naked. So all I have left to do for them is add hair and give them short blades extending from their gauntlets.
And I do like those exaggerated galeruses, especially hers. Her's reminds me of classic Georgia O'Keefe styling -- flowery and reminiscent of female genitalia.

The figure to the far right will be another "matron" character for playing Red Sand Black Moon (she will be used to help to keep track of whose turn it is.) I got the figure without the faintest idea of what I would do with her. I had that WWII German radio tied to that poll in the bits box, and it fit nicely into one of her hands, so I went with it. I'm not going to use that bucket, though (it was going to be full of blood.) It's hard to see in this pic, but she has a bandana across her mouth. I will also give her welder-type goggles. She won't be wearing anything else.

I'm on vacation, so I'm taking this project a little slower. Even still, I think I'll be able to start painting these this weekend.