Some WIP chaps in gas masks

I made these with the idea to use them as Adepts for my Normedra setting. The Adepts are highly advanced but mysterious group who practically worship technology. They have the best gear and are powerful friends, and deadly enemies.

To give them a menacing and mysterious look i gave some figures gas masks. The original idea was to make this group a small band that spend their time looking for old technology decimated ruins, but a rethink of how i wanted them to work might change that. Instead i might use modern or near future figures to represent them (so they have body armour) and instead spread these figures into other groups, perhaps some outlaws or bandits to give them a ragtag look when mixed with figures not wearing gas masks.

For the moment they're just chaps in masks!

The one in the middle below is some sort of leader. Wearing a hood and greatcoat, he holds a map, ideal for a scavenger. 

Normedra - Tundra paramilitary

Following from the City State troops in the last post are some of their enemies (or allies in some cases); paramilitary/mercenary troops. These men either raid or defend the smaller settlements not under control of the larger City States, and lead attacks onto City State held lands. They are more numerous than the City States troops, but have less support.

This is the first squad i have painted up, with another half done and the third still in construction. For the first squad i decided not to convert any of the figures so all are as they came in the box. They are German Volksgrenadier from Battlefront.

The greatcoats are a bit of a mix as i was experimenting with them.

The unit symbol is a large black eagle painted on the front of the helmet (or arm for men with caps, but none like that in this squad).

LMG team. I tried doing some winter 'pea dot' camouflage on some of the figures. I will eventually do a small platoon of merchant guards entirely in this camo, so evidently these men have had some success against them!

Another view of the camouflage greatcoat.

Need to add some grass to these too.

And a WIP on an up-gunned Sherman i've been working on. I'm happy with the turret, but not sure about the side skirts. They're too big, but i might take them off completly and add stowage instead.

Simplify

 Oooh! A post!

Yes, for once i actually feel like posting, but i have no decent photos! I am still camera-less for the moment and have been forced to use my computer webcam to take pics of my latest work. I'm almost ashamed by the quality! But hey, it's something!

Firstly, however, i have decided to stop my other blog, and instead stick everything here. It might not please everyone, but i find when i get very 'into' one project or period and i never leave it for a while. So if i have another blog i will completely neglect this one, and i'm rather keen on the 'ol Scyld and Seax.

So Normedra will probably be deleted and all posting will be only here from now on!

Now time for the horrid pictures...

So, as some readers may know i'm doing this Normedra sort-of-sci-fi idea, perhaps more of a 20th century game in a different world though than true sci-fi. So alternate 20th century then (like Runissia is my alternate medieval!).

After a LOT of thought on what i actually wanted from this project, i decided to go winter on this one. I wanted to give a winter themed army a go, i don't see many of them, and one force might eventually do as a German WWII force (perhaps not all the figures, but some at least i think). I then thought on places, conflicts..., and decided that i would centre my attention on a town in the north of one of Normedra's continents.

The town is ruined and plunged into near arctic conditions, but in the surrounding lands there is oil and minerals that the southern industrial towns and ports need to survive. So merchants send bands of armed men to protect these assets and the all important rail lines against local warlords and bandits who want to control the traffic south.

The first platoon i am doing is one of the merchant's 'armed bands'. While not numerous, they are well armed with assault rifles, machine guns and support weapons. Below is a squad, 8 men, and a bazooka/rocket launcher team.

The figures are Battlefront Americans for Vietnam, converted and miliputted.

I changed the NCO's hand to make him pointing instead of waving.

Riflemen and a grenade launcher. I added camo smocks on some, or white 'cloaks' to cover more typical summer camouflage.

LMG team.

I plan to winter this beast up. In the north, the merchants supply their bands with tanks and other vehicles, often old designs, and in Normedra this will be one. I will add plenty of stowage, extra armour (such as side skirts) and then paint it white and weather it up.

Finally, some conversions, either to go with the warlord's men shown in the last post, or the beginnings of some bandits for the above men to fight against. They are Battlefront Soviets.

New 15's

New toys!

Well, i got my student money through the other day, and after living through September spending little i (literally) went to town this weekend and decided to treat myself. Other than the essentials, i also got these...

Well, not some butter, it's what's inside that counts.

So to go with my Bolt Action purchase (that came today, need to go back to my parents this weekend to fetch it and some other things) i bought a couple of platoons of Flames of War Soviets to be turned into soldiers for my Normedra setting.

In the butter container were some more Soviets that my sister brought over for me (she visited this weekend) so i have around 100 figures to muck around with!

So what am i going to do with these? Well i'm planning to create 2 or 3 bands of adventurers, mercenaries and militia men that will inhabit Normedra searching for money and fights. More fluff and background stuff in the next post, it'll all make sense soon.

Vehicles are an important part to the bands in Normedra, mainly for transport, so Sunday i went to a vide-grenier (car boot sale) and found these:

For 1 euro, i got three cars that would be worth 5 each from a wargames manufacturer. Although the pickup and car are a bit big, the APC is perfect.

'Debus!'

I will add some spare parts i have hanging around (another reason to go back this weekend), mainly adding a cupola and .50cal machine gun i have left over from building Shermans. It then needs a good paint.

A bit big, some surgery might be needed...

Next post, the fluff!

Breaking out, breaking down

Also the name of a Bullet for my Valentine song...

Anyway, what's this all about. Well, two things, the first breaking out and the second breaking down (in a way).

First up for breaking out, i built something! Started another horseman, perhaps another Kindarrian to accompany the lord shown a couple of posts ago. It is perhaps the worst picture i have ever taken as i'm using my computer's web cam (really need to go into town and get myself a cheap camera!!!) but you get the idea, at least sort of.

Perry mounted body on Fireforge legs, cut up and added a mail hauberk showing below the breastplate. The horse also has the rear covered to show he is part of the lord's household retinue, but i might give him his own symbols, using blue as a common colour though. Hmmm...

I also have another on the workbench, being the Fireforge body on Perry legs, either to make a lighter Kindarrian or a mounted crossbowman for the Kaliads (i need a second to make a light horse base for Dux Bellorum).

Also breaking out, i have been thinking about ordering just ordered the Bolt Action book. Although i haven't played WWII for a time, i was tempted for a couple of reasons;

1. I've wanted to try them, and i have a German and Soviet force for Flames of War that i could use. I have enough for a small force in FoW but should be a lot bigger in BA. They're multi-based, but that's not a big deal. I have German paras, grenadiers and plenty of panzers while for the Soviets i have a small battalion/large company with snipers, AT rifles and some tanks, not enough for FoW but in BA you only have a tank or two at most so that's no problem.

2. If this Normedra idea flourishes, i thought of using BA for the games. As for figures, i have some spare Soviet infantry, badly painted and not based so they will be found, cut up and converted with miliput to create some men for this new world of mine. I was thinking of using FoW but decided against it (i could still use FoW later though, as i have the rules already).

This means i'll be playing in 15mm, which i prefer. Seeing other blogs who have done this (such as firemonkeyboy at http://themonkeythatwalks.blogspot.fr/) i like the look, distances are better (not perfect, but better) and i wanted to try something smaller. At the club i go to, most people use 20mm minis, my 28's look like giants next to them! I also wanted to test out converting and painting on some smaller guys/

And 28mm tanks are ridiculous to me!

And breaking down because i've got a nice shiny idea in mind, and i fell to temptation and got these rules! However, i will not be buying more figures just yet, but when i do i'm thinking of getting some plastic soldier company tanks and converting them for my Normedra setting. All this and still continuing my Runissia setting, of course.

Normally i loath doing two ideas at once, but then again staying stuck on one think can lead to 'having too much of a good thing' and spoil it. We'll see.

I should perhaps begin this Normedra blog then? Or at least start a brief intro here? Next post perhaps.

Last post from here

Last day at home, and last post from here too as tomorrow i'm moving out to Bordeaux. I'll have a nice little room all to myself, internet and about a 4x4 foot square to play some games on the floor. There's a club there too so i'll be frequenting that often.

The only thing is that i don't have a camera, so unless i use a club mate's photos i will not be posting any, so i'll use this time to explain more about Runissia and it's enemies.

So today, last photos from my house, the Kindarrian commander:

Freehand again on the horse covering, i like how he turned out.

Here he is with the beginnings of his household warriors, i'll probably add three or four more to make 2 bases for Dux Bellorum.

I also remembered this Kaliad i had forgotten to show earlier. He will be a noble, perhaps commander even, and he will be wearing a black and white surcoat.

I added a plume, like an ancient Roman or Greek one, extended the back of the surcoat, and changed a pair of English arms from the command sprue. I hacked off the pauldrons (shoulder plates) and covered them in sleeves.

So by the time i post next i will be in Bordeaux!

WIP Kindarrian commander

I've done his banner bearer, so i thought it was about time i started on the actual Kindarrian commander!

The horse was shown some posts ago. For the actual commander i've only done limited conversion, with the plume and aventail/camail. I was messing around with the pose for ages, cutting up arms and trying to make him point forward, but in the end i plumped for the 'pointing his lance in the air' pose.

The lance needs to be glued on, but it makes him top heavy so i'll wait until all is dry!

I was also considering adding a cloak, but i think it looks fine without, might look too 'busy' otherwise.

This is how it'll look when glued (i'm holding it on, hand is out of shot).

More blooming WIPs

Tired of this yet?

More cavalry, again a mix of Perry and Fireforge. I might need to order more soon but for the moment i'm really enjoying doing some mounted men. Being the 'elite' i can go to town a bit with fancy armour and what not, and after making English medieval forces and nearly done 2 Dux Brit forces on foot, i've got enough infantry for now.

Kaliads, the light lancer and a mounted crossbowman both finished.

The mounted crossbowman has Perry armoured bill arms. I like him as i only used miliput on the coif. Nice, simple, and quick!

The scout, all done too. I though about giving him a shield, but he looks good without one. He's a scout after all, no need to carry a heavy shield around. Also, he will be wearing a coat of plates once painted.

The heavies! Kindarrian heavy lancers. Unlike the Kaliads, the Kindarrians prefer heavier armour and no longer use javelins, leaving them to be used by the lighter cavalry, the stralots. So these men are jorfar, or nobles, cream of the Kindarrian armies and equipped in fashionable armour.

Note no crouched lancers here!

I'll make a stralot or two for every jorfar, some with lances to support the nobles, or lighter with javelins for harassing the enemy before the charge goes in.

Some horses. The left hand one appeared last post, now with chest armour and a head. The head looks a bit big, perhaps because of the feathers! Whoever will be riding this beast will be a mean fighter, probably a high ranking noble and a rich one too.

The headless horse will not have any metal armour, i'll add some additional decoration to the front and, once finished, will be the mount for the standard bearer, carrying the flag of the leader.