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Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: dadlamassu on July 08, 2023, 09:58:41 PM

Title: Spectre Ops - SIMBUTHU insurgents - technical added 14 Sep
Post by: dadlamassu on July 08, 2023, 09:58:41 PM: My son has encouraged me to play "Spectre" games. I don't normally play games set in recent or current conflicts but having played a few games decided I like them as being challenging and giving a decent game. So I searched my spare figure boxes and sprues and found some Warlord Games and Perry Zulu figures and spare weapons from zombie survivor and other sets. I have not (so far) needed to buy anything new for this force.

A plan came to mind - what about a Zulu type insurgent force. Several years ago I did some for a friend and so I resurrected an Insurgent force based a bit on the Simbas.

Here are the SIMBUTHU

Headquarters: Molotov cocktail, grenade launcher, Officer (with can of Tusker Beer), Dynamiter, Breacher, Sniper
(https://i.imgur.com/iZv2w7U.jpg)

Section 1: NCO (with Budweiser beer), RPG with knobkerry, LMG, 5 x AK-47
(https://i.imgur.com/CKxbOCg.jpg)

Section 2: NCO, RPG, LMG, 5 x AK-47
(https://i.imgur.com/HsbU03i.jpg)

Section 3: NCO, RPG, LMG, 5 x AK-47
(https://i.imgur.com/5aLZSgK.jpg)

Section 4: NCO, RPG, LMG, 5 x AK-47
(https://i.imgur.com/sZ1pJvv.jpg)

Section 5: NCO, assorted old close combat weapons and firearms
(https://i.imgur.com/p49OoF4.jpg)

More will be added - a witchdoctor, maybe a technical with HMG, maybe a mortar team etc
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: CapnJim on July 08, 2023, 10:14:04 PM: Okay. Now THAT is a great idea! I may have to steal that idea for my People's Republic of Northern Gambola games. Aside from the plastic Zulus, I reckon I have everything else I'd need.

And the figs look good, too. Looking forward to seeing them in action...
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: commissarmoody on July 08, 2023, 10:17:13 PM: Great looking force! They need a old t-34 or t-55 to roll about as well. :D
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: dadlamassu on July 08, 2023, 10:52:22 PM: Thanks for the kind words. I think tanks are a bit powerful. I am thinking of something of a more tribal look but no idea what yet. Other than a Daktari paint job on an armoured technical. Or a BTR-40?
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: madman on July 08, 2023, 11:51:01 PM: Quote from: dadlamassu on July 08, 2023, 10:52:22 PM
Thanks for the kind words. I think tanks are a bit powerful. I am thinking of something of a more tribal look but no idea what yet. Other than a Daktari paint job on an armoured technical. Or a BTR-40?

How about a few Unimogs? I have a few BTR-40s for my African imagination military so taken as skirmish "trophies" perhaps.
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: Belgian on July 09, 2023, 05:49:25 AM: Great idea, looking good!
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: mikedemana on July 09, 2023, 04:47:29 PM: Looks great! You got my hopes up that each unit would have a beer type associated with it... lol

The worst-armed would be the Bud or Miller Lite can units...ha, ha!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: dadlamassu on July 09, 2023, 07:36:07 PM: Quote from: mikedemana on July 09, 2023, 04:47:29 PM
Looks great! You got my hopes up that each unit would have a beer type associated with it... lol
The worst-armed would be the Bud or Miller Lite can units...ha, ha!
Mike Demana

Thanks for an interesting idea. Might just use it. Though probably use African or European beers (the Bud can is the Czech original) as Capitalist US beers may not be popular.
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: AKULA on July 10, 2023, 10:55:28 AM: A great looking rabble 8)
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on July 10, 2023, 11:02:20 AM: Quote from: AKULA on July 10, 2023, 10:55:28 AM
A great looking rabble 8)

I concur. Great work!
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU drone operator and Drone added 10 July
Post by: dadlamassu on July 10, 2023, 11:45:46 AM: Thanks everyone.

I am laid up just now with a chest infection so had some time yesterday between coughing fits to make a drone and drone operator.
The operator is a kneeling Zulu with various spare parts added. The "computer" is a bit of scrap plastic.
The drone came from the "broken bits" box - an Aifix 1/76 truck axle, differential hub and scrap bits. The "rotors" are the sunspension units from a broken Fujimi Panzer 1. Mounted on an MDF base and fusewire support.
(https://i.imgur.com/taxsRGd.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rfoY4ZO.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: CapnJim on July 11, 2023, 02:02:27 PM: Nice job on the home-made drone! I imagine their opponents will be surprised when the Simbuthus show up with a drone! Well done!
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: commissarmoody on July 12, 2023, 07:28:23 AM: There goes the neighborhood
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: Freddy on July 15, 2023, 11:37:18 AM: Great idea, consider it stolen :)
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: dadlamassu on July 16, 2023, 10:35:04 AM: Quote from: Freddy on July 15, 2023, 11:37:18 AM
Great idea, consider it stolen :)

Glad you like the idea.

Now to add a suitable "technical". I have a cheap toy police pickup left over from our zombie set up and a modern "jeep" one might be suitably armed and armoured.

And a witch doctor once I find a suitable head in my fantasy bits box
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 16, 2023, 10:49:33 AM: Great stuff D, where did you get the RPG arms from, please?

???
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: dadlamassu on July 16, 2023, 11:06:29 AM: Quote from: Harry Faversham on July 16, 2023, 10:49:33 AM
Great stuff D, where did you get the RPG arms from, please?

???

All the arms on every figure are repositioned, with surgery, standard Warlord/Perry Zulu, Greek Hoplite and zombie survivor arms. The RPG-7 is from the Warlord Games Project Z female survivor sprue.
(https://i.imgur.com/WOv3zeb.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: dadlamassu on July 16, 2023, 11:08:12 AM: Had look in the bits box. No suitable head so put a "Wanted" requset out for a masked head from, say, Frostgrave tribals in the bazaar.
Thanks
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: has.been on July 17, 2023, 08:51:16 AM: Quote
Now to add a suitable "technical". I have a cheap toy police pickup left over from our zombie set up and a modern "jeep" one might be suitably armed and armoured.

And a witch doctor once I find a suitable head in my fantasy bits box

Britannia Miniatures (Grubby Tanks) Do separate roof gunners, if you want to add
some firepower to a vehicle. I bought both at Devizes show (Saturday) with the
intention of doing a head swap, so that it is one of my Rebels.
Quote
https://www.grubbytanks.com/product/britannia-miniatures/28mm-ranges/28mm-mogadishu-1993/us-delta-force-rangers/34-delta-figure-for-humvee-with-50-cal-machine-gun/

There is a company (sorry can't remember their name & my room is in chaos due to
ongoing building work on our kitchen) that sell a which-doctor complete with mask.
They do a whole load of colonial Africans, including female warriors (if that helps the
Hive mind to name the manufacturer).

FOUND IT !!!! Ironclad Miniatures.
Quote
https://www.ironcladminiatures.co.uk/ourshop/prod_6441493-DAC03-Witchdoctor.html
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: Harry Faversham on July 17, 2023, 03:48:50 PM: Quote from: dadlamassu on July 16, 2023, 11:06:29 AM
All the arms on every figure are repositioned, with surgery, standard Warlord/Perry Zulu, Greek Hoplite and zombie survivor arms. The RPG-7 is from the Warlord Games Project Z female survivor sprue.
(https://i.imgur.com/WOv3zeb.jpg)

Thanks, D.
:)
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: dadlamassu on July 17, 2023, 04:47:30 PM: Thanks, the Ironclad figures look promising and at a nice price.

I'll see what I can pick up at Claymore in a couple of weeks from Grubby tanks.
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: has.been on July 17, 2023, 06:24:44 PM: Quote
I'll see what I can pick up at Claymore in a couple of weeks from Grubby tanks.

Andy is a very nice bloke, but I would recommend sending him an e-mail list of what
you want. He can't bring all his stock to shows. He is based on the south coast so
it is a bit of a schlep to Claymore.
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU insurgents from plastic spare parts
Post by: dadlamassu on July 18, 2023, 05:30:59 PM: Quote from: has.been on July 17, 2023, 06:24:44 PM
Andy is a very nice bloke, but I would recommend sending him an e-mail list of what
you want. He can't bring all his stock to shows. He is based on the south coast so
it is a bit of a schlep to Claymore.

Thanks, will do.
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU drone operator and Drone added 10 July
Post by: AKULA on July 27, 2023, 08:35:56 AM: Quote from: dadlamassu on July 10, 2023, 11:45:46 AM
Thanks everyone.

I am laid up just now with a chest infection so had some time yesterday between coughing fits to make a drone and drone operator.
The operator is a kneeling Zulu with various spare parts added. The "computer" is a bit of scrap plastic.
The drone came from the "broken bits" box - an Aifix 1/76 truck axle, differential hub and scrap bits. The "rotors" are the sunspension units from a broken Fujimi Panzer 1. Mounted on an MDF base and fusewire support.

I love the ingenuity on display with this scratchbuild/conversion 8)
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - Imagi-Nation - SIMBUTHU witch doctor and hyena master
Post by: dadlamassu on August 22, 2023, 09:31:30 PM: The Spectre Rules allow Simbuthu a witchdoctor and an attack hyena as long as I allocate a figure as its master.

Witchdoctor
Traditional beliefs and shamanism, often mixed with other religious practices still play an important role across much of the continent. The effect these beliefs can have on conflict has been widely reported from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, DRC and CAR, among many others. Usually, a warlord or other important individual will proclaim he has supernatural powers, such as invisibility, the power to transform into a wild animal or invulnerability to bullets. These powers are claimed to be gained from certain rituals or the wearing of talismans (or women’s clothing…).

My Witch Doctor miniature is a character within Simbuthu. He is able, while still in play, to treat the wounded with stimulants, and even giving his squad, sometimes the entire force immunity to suppression, or certain wound effects! This can add a very interesting element to our games.

I wanted a pose that was entirely different to the other figures and settled on the "casualty" in the Perry set. He looks as if he is in a trance dancing to invoke much juju from the gods/spirits. The mask is courtesy hobgoblin (Thanks)

(https://i.imgur.com/UN3jyhb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Du8zxic.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AOc2pxL.jpg)

For the hyena controller I used a nornal Zulu with a cut down iklwa and added a chain from the bits box - with D&D Hyena
(https://i.imgur.com/2GZJ2kP.jpg)
With Conan RPG Hyena
(https://i.imgur.com/iNNVQwo.jpg)
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - SIMBUTHU insurgents - Witch doctor and hyena master (22 Aug)
Post by: CapnJim on August 23, 2023, 11:00:34 PM: Can he control them both? :o

Nice job on them, by the way...
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - SIMBUTHU insurgents - Witch doctor and hyena master (22 Aug)
Post by: dadlamassu on August 24, 2023, 07:17:02 PM: Quote from: CapnJim on August 23, 2023, 11:00:34 PM
Can he control them both? :o

Just one. The rules allow me a dog or hyena but I must have a handler for each.
The stats are the same for both hyena and dog though the hyena is a far larger and far more powerful creature. I feel a house rule is needed.
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - SIMBUTHU insurgents - Witch doctor and hyena master (22 Aug)
Post by: CapnJim on August 25, 2023, 06:06:22 PM: Quote from: dadlamassu on August 24, 2023, 07:17:02 PM
Just one. The rules allow me a dog or hyena but I must have a handler for each.
The stats are the same for both hyena and dog though the hyena is a far larger and far more powerful creature. I feel a house rule is needed.

I guess it would depend on the dog in question...Remember, it ain't the dog in the fight, it's the fight in the dog ;)... But yeah - i would tweak the Hyena stats a bit too...
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - SIMBUTHU insurgents - Witch doctor and hyena master (22 Aug)
Post by: mikedemana on September 03, 2023, 06:25:53 PM: Nice! Good to add those atmospheric and fun elements to a game. Did you name the hyena "Shenzi"...? lol

And you could name the controller "Uncle Scar"...

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - SIMBUTHU insurgents - Witch doctor and hyena master (22 Aug)
Post by: dadlamassu on September 03, 2023, 06:40:19 PM: Quote from: mikedemana on September 03, 2023, 06:25:53 PM
Nice! Good to add those atmospheric and fun elements to a game. Did you name the hyena "Shenzi"...? lol
And you could name the controller "Uncle Scar"...
Mike Demana

Thanks and a good idea for the names.
Title: Re: Spectre Ops - SIMBUTHU insurgents - Technical added 14 Sep
Post by: dadlamassu on September 14, 2023, 03:34:21 PM: The Simbuthu have acquired a technical armed with a 50cal Browning (because I could not find a DShK in my bits box. Now I need to convert a plastic Zulu crew for it!

The car is a cheap (Poundland?) police car that was in a set of 3 many years ago. It was the last one I had. Card "armour" and a rough paint job.

(https://i.imgur.com/0ytE5LO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Xh8FIGm.jpg)