Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Bullshott on October 31, 2020, 05:33:13 PM
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My latest obsession is a return to project that other distractions prevented me from getting far with painting it up. With another lockdown approaching, this seems like a good opportunity to finish enough stuff to play games with.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-311020170224-490632253.jpeg)
I loved Blake's 7 (henceforth B7 in this topic) when the BBC first showed it over 4 seasons in the late 70s and early 80s. Despite the low budget, the setting and plot lines were excellent.
For those of you not aware of the background to B7, it is set several hundred years into the future. The authoritarian Terran Federation rules over Earth and a large number of colonies in star systems; using mass surveillance, brainwashing and drug pacification to control its citizens. The series is based around the exploits of political dissident Roj Blake and a small group of rebels taking on the mighty Federation.
Page 1 - Crooked Dice Federation troopers and command
Page 2 - CP Models Federation Troopers
Page 2 - Liberator crew conversions
Page 3 - Liberator crew finished
Page 3 - terrain build concept - cliff face
To start with, here are the forces of the Federation.
Federation security troopers - the main adversaries of Blake and his crew:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-311020170224-49067714.jpeg)
Federation Command - Supreme Commander Servalan and Space Commander Travis, flanked by an escort of two mutoids (mind-wiped and surgically enhanced humans, often used as shock troops or escorts/crews for high ranking Federation military leaders):
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-311020170224-49068226.jpeg)
All figures were originally from Crooked Dice, now sold by https://www.beastinthebroch.com/ (https://www.beastinthebroch.com/)
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Fantastic looking figures. I had wondered where they had gone.
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Nice work, like the fact that the security troopers’ uniforms are suitably grubby and weathered.
:)
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Great work. I have been tempted to start collecting Blake 7 after rewatching Blake 7 the on Britbox.
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I loved B7. Look forward to seeing more...
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Very cool. A future BLAM game perhaps?
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Love Blake's 7.
You've gotta get a Vila and an Orac.
Looking forward to seeing your progress.
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Beautiful Dave :)
Takes me back...
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Love Blake's 7.
You've gotta get a Vila and an Orac.
Looking forward to seeing your progress.
They will be making an appearance, along with the rest of the crew. However, first I'm getting the rest of my Federation troopers out of the way :)
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Very cool. A future BLAM game perhaps?
Indeed. It will be perfect for short multi-player games.
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Nice painting.
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The theme tune is playing in my mind as I read this. Excellent work and look forward to reading of Blake's adventures.
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The theme tune is playing in my mind as I read this. Excellent work and look forward to reading of Blake's adventures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0YLevRJ1nA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0YLevRJ1nA)
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Never did finish the last season. Now I need to go back and watch them - especially as this thread convinced me to buy the crew. lol
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Never did finish the last season. Now I need to go back and watch them - especially as this thread convinced me to buy the crew. lol
The original crew are on my workbench. I will start painting them this weekend.
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Excellent. I can use your pictures as motivation once mine arrive. :)
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I've just finished a second squad, this time by CP Models:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-041120193241-491261756.jpeg)
On the left a Crooked Dice trooper, on the right a CP Models trooper:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-041120193241-49130490.jpeg)
The CP Models figures aren't such good sculpts as those from Crooked Dice and are slightly taller. However, they paint up nicely and are close enough to work alongside Crooked Dice as a second unit.
The differences between the two sets of sculpts means it will be easier to differentiate between figures from different squads. As B7 introduced a number of variants on the standard trooper uniforms and guns, this will also allow the CP figures to be used to represent troops from a completely different force (e.g. renegade troops).
Finally I have to give a big shout out to both Beast in the Broch (for the ex-Crooked Dice figures) and to CP Models. The turn-around of orders from both of these suppliers is first class.
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Blake’s 7 was brilliant.
A great project Dave 8)
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Thanks for sharing your pictures - you've made me realise that I've got the wrong arms on the wrong figures now! :-[
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love this project..
.....you realise you will need a quarry for your terrain. For some reason I seem to recall that all the offworld episodes were filmed in a quarry?
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.....you realise you will need a quarry for your terrain. For some reason I seem to recall that all the offworld episodes were filmed in a quarry?
Or a Power Station.
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Excellent work Mr Bullshott
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Thanks for all the good comments on this project so far. Now on to the freedom fighters/rebel scum (delete as appropriate).
Starting with Crooked Dice (now sold through Beast in the Broch) sculpts of all members of the various iterations of the Liberator crew. These have been converted to add power leads for their weapons and to add/correct their holsters.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-071120185812.jpeg)
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I very much enjoyed painting up some Blakes 7 figures a year ago. The crew likenesses are really good.
I'm not sure the Beast in the Broch is currently taking orders?
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Very nice work in creating those distinctive “telephone cord” cables.
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Very nice work in creating those distinctive “telephone cord” cables.
Wire stripped from multi-strand electronic wire, then twisted round a wire spear. Gluing in place with superglue was not as easy as anticipated. I got more glue on my fingertips than on the figures or wire!
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I'm not sure the Beast in the Broch is currently taking orders?
Despite what the website says, they are taking orders and given my recent experience, turnaround time is quick.
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...I got more glue on my fingertips than on the figures or wire!
That’s par for the course in my experience. They still look great.
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Despite what the website says, they are taking orders and given my recent experience, turnaround time is quick.
Very quick. I received my recent order of Scorpio era rebels from Beast in the Broch within a few days. Great service :)
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Despite what the website says, they are taking orders and given my recent experience, turnaround time is quick.
Same experience for me last week. I'm waiting for it to arrive as I'm across the pond but my order was in the mail next day.
Edit: My order arrived on 11/13. Surprisingly fast service for my local mail delivery lately.
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Carrying on with my B7 cast, here are those brave freedom fighter / rebel scum, the crew of the Liberator.
Original Liberator crew in their 'away team' outfits, all Crooked Dice (Beast in the Broch) castings.
Blake, Cally and Jenna
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-171120204207-493251557.jpeg)
Avon, Gan and Villa
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-171120204207-49331793.jpeg)
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Very nice work. Your weapon and holster modifications really add to the look. I will have to at least attempt to do the same.
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Nice.
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Are we going to see some games next? Interested to see what you do for civilians/ characters and any non Fed. opposition...
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Are we going to see some games next? Interested to see what you do for civilians/ characters and any non Fed. opposition...
I'm browsing websites for suitable civilians and opposition at the moment. I think I've found suitable figures that will go with the game concept I have in mind. Needless to say, everything will be styled B7 and Dr Who sets and costumes from the late 70s and early 80s - except that the sets will be more sturdy lol
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The Space 1999 Crooked Dice figures might fit in well. Some Hasslefree 'modern' figures could fit in as well. What other lines are you looking at?
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I'm browsing websites for suitable civilians and opposition at the moment. I think I've found suitable figures that will go with the game concept I have in mind. Needless to say, everything will be styled B7 and Dr Who sets and costumes from the late 70s and early 80s - except that the sets will be more sturdy lol
Shame. The concept cries out for cardboard scenery. ;)
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Now that I've got the core Federation and rebel figures painted, I need to think about terrain. Inspired by the locations used in the series, I'm going for:
1 - a cliff face overlooking a game table strewn with rocks and bits of industrial kit, suitable for an entrance to a mine an underground facility
2 - a corridor system, suitable for a space station or tech/security facility
Starting with the cliff face, the inspiration is Winspit Quarry in Dorset:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-211120194821-49387278.jpeg)(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-211120194821-493882351.jpeg)
Replicating this location is rather appropriate, as it was used for a B7 episode (also three Doctor Who stories):
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-211120194822-493891224.jpeg)(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-211120194822-49390533.jpeg)
As the basis for this build, I'm going to use a damaged moulded aquarium backing sheet, that I got cheap from my local aquarium shop:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/49/164-211120194822-49391507.jpeg)
Now to start cutting the sheet to size ...
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Cool.
[Edit - if you read my comment earlier, it made no sense - I still have to completely exorcise the keyboard]
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Shame. The concept cries out for cardboard scenery. ;)
Tupperware surely???? lol
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Shame. The concept cries out for cardboard scenery. ;)
I might consider that for a base interior/space station set. But than again, I might do something else lol
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I might consider that for a base interior/space station set. But than again, I might do something else lol
You tease sir!