Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: Oldgamer on November 29, 2023, 06:16:48 PM
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A recent thread by Wingnut sparked my interest in Black Site Studios game Lunar, a skirmish game set in the moon in the late 1970's into the 80's.
Only available in the US, postal costs make this expensive so l opted for the digital version, including six astronaut stl files that one of my fellow Deal Wargames Club members is printing on his resin printer.
He handed me a test print to paint but l had also spoken to my Florida cousin who acted as a middle man and sent on a pack of five resin NASA astronauts.
To be honest, the printed figure is superior to the cast ones, mainly due to air bubbles and misaligned moulds, also, some of the weapons and equipment arms were full of small air bubbles, not what you expect when paying around £6 per figure!
Anyway, here they are, painted over a cold evening in Kent.
(https://i.postimg.cc/L4CCxNmC/IMG-20231129-165407-kindlephoto-154378083.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/6TZf3V2n)
(https://i.postimg.cc/158W2wt9/IMG-20231129-165430-kindlephoto-154437982.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4mTbhKVM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NfZNcF9R/IMG-20231129-165455-kindlephoto-154480162.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XpcKKVgv)
(https://i.postimg.cc/bvh3Z5RJ/IMG-20231129-165510-kindlephoto-154514433.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2104J2MR)
(https://i.postimg.cc/6QfznhHh/IMG-20231129-165528.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/McXy81Jc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/tgpNqxXn/IMG-20231129-165537.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rDZrgzRq)
(https://i.postimg.cc/W486h13W/IMG-20231129-165551.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/gww67d38)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rmpGW2R8/IMG-20231129-165601.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/bGK2cMRM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xTmvLR8b/IMG-20231129-165614.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VdY08XjY)
(https://i.postimg.cc/7Zyg92Jt/IMG-20231129-165628.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KRJkv4Nt)
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Very nice! I was tempted to try out Lunar myself...last year...if I recall correctly? In the end I decided against, but you've done a marvellous job with those astronauts.
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They look great 8)
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Lovely job on those .
I’m going UFO , as in the tv series .
Pondering doing the moon surface. Any tips greatly appreciated! 👍
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Amera has a lunar surface sheet, suitably cratered, about a foot square. Look in the 'Islands' section, along with a lunar outcrop.
I am going for a mat, then adding various craters, Mardav have a nice set of 3d printed rock sections that look useful.
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Looking good! 👍 🌙
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That's a wonderful start! 8)
I've been really intrigued by Lunar ever since I found out about it, but I have the same reservations; shipping and customs would be absolutely killing. And then to hear about the casting quality as well?
Still; the setting really calls to me, so I could still see myself going the digital route instead. It would certainly be the more economical of the options and as I now understand also quality wise. Hmm... ::)
Please share all of your progress; I am very interested to see where you'll be taking this :)
Oh, and @ Hesh: UFO is one of my favourite scifi shows ever. I made a start on my own project of the setting (strictly earth based at that point, but I obviously have the Crooked Dice not-Moonbase operatives with the wigs ;) ). Got as far as painting up Straker and Freeman and modeling a couple of SHADO troopers and then there was stallage, but I really should revisit that project...
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Daeothar, l am waiting for a set of European Space Agency figures to arrive so l will report back on their quality once they arrive. l also bought the files for the moon craters and Soviet Zvedza site.
I hope to have the 3d prints next week, another club member is printing the rule book for me but to be honest, you really only need to print out a few pages as the book has a lot of fluff and colour photos. The counters need to be printed and cut out so l am looking for a 30mm hole lunch for a neater job.
I have raised the quality issue with Black Site, l was also missing some items from the equipment sprues, a minor issue as l still had plenty!
I am also the owner of a stalled UFO project, a few CD aliens, minions painted as SHADO security and a 3d printed 'not ' Mobile plus a Sixteen12 alien saucer. Lunar would be ideal for a UFO game set on the moon.
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Very nice job. I too got into Lunar and loved the figures. Sadly, I really didn't find the rules all that good.
So, now need to find so other space/moon type rules to use.
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Very nice job. I too got into Lunar and loved the figures. Sadly, I really didn't find the rules all that good.
So, now need to find so other space/moon type rules to use.
What was the issue with the rules for you?
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It was the cards for one. You only got so many guns. The rest of the figures were equipped with nets of glue type guns that really do nothing.
Lot of rolling for no real result. Couple of other things but can't remember right now. Last time I played was last summer.
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Bet you could do this with some variant of Fistful of Lead on the moon and have just as much fun to be honest, just make up whatever specific rules you think appropriate.
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I have painted up some more figures, the 3d files from the starter set, plus some craters from eBay.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VvT0pZTx/IMG-20231218-113152.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/FkyKJphp)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pV1jmyTs/IMG-20231218-113202-edit-30919567870808.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z0pngb6N)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QMs92T4d/IMG-20231218-113211.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/dhHVdLcb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HL2cdkR4/IMG-20231218-113221.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7C5YNwxf)
The first of my Cosmonauts
(https://i.postimg.cc/fLqVSgwV/IMG-20231218-113240.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5Yv4ZgQJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/VsTSYTGT/IMG-20231218-113252.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9zdXbxjt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kXb2DcL5/IMG-20231218-113302.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9rcmnGm3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/P5nPDDkQ/IMG-20231218-113312.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RNGS5NhW)
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They look great :)
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Very good.
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Looking great!
Lunar continues to fascinate me...
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If a person wasn’t too hung up about setting the games during the Cold War, Khurasan Miniatures and Ground Zero Games both make quite good “near future” armed astronaut figures and moon vehicles in 15mm. Brigade Models also makes some 15mm moon colony buildings. I’m not sure how tightly the Lunar rules are linked to the period, but setting the date later and using smaller figs might be entertaining if someone was starting from scratch.
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For me, it's more than just Lunar, the game.
It's also me reading Apollo Rising and watching For All Mankind. And this has set me firmly onto the path of space race era lunar skirmishes... :D ::)
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I have just received my latest order from Black Site Studios, a set of European Space Agency astronauts and a pack of equipment cards.
The figures were of better casting quality and came with a number of rifles in addition to the usual arms and equipment sprue.
(https://i.postimg.cc/8zz5FJmS/IMG-20240302-141650-edit-224912729906232.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xcBYhdZx)
(https://i.postimg.cc/jS3jyxMJ/IMG-20240302-141706-edit-224889402468585.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4YtZggkJ)
(https://i.postimg.cc/N0yj43nC/IMG-20240302-141719-edit-224860571442137.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/06sv5BP7)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y072thCT/IMG-20240302-141735-edit-224841452579072.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/62Hx06Rh)
In addition to these, l tried a quick conversion on a spare 3d print NASA figure, chopping his arms off and giving him an M16, having been inspired by watching clips of For All Mankind on Youtube!
(https://i.postimg.cc/NfgGV9VH/IMG-20240302-143022-edit-225020626800357.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WtHPq3sN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Cx5hMywM/IMG-20240302-143029-edit-224998226285991.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K1XSQHKC)
The weapon and arms are from the plastic Special Forces set by Warlord, l will be doing more coconversions when l have more figures printed.
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Great work! 🌙
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Nice work.
I do wonder about the effect of recoil firing conventional weapons in low gravity.
Anvil have resurrected the GyroJet pistol and rifle as an option for their astronauts (plus the G11 which is reported to have had the entertaining in low gravity feature of firing three rounds before the combined momentum is applied to the firer).
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Ah yes. Lovely work; they look great 8)
And it's not even obvious that the AR-15 arms are not actually part of the spacesuit; they fit really well!
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I do wonder about the effect of recoil firing conventional weapons in low gravity.
My thoughts exactly! ???
Still, is it that important if it is fictional tabletop game? I guess one could always rationalize that they use a special ammo that is slung mechanically from the barrel and then the round accelerates on its own...hmmm.
Mike Demana
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I guess one could always rationalize that they use a special ammo that is slung mechanically from the barrel and then the round accelerates on its own.
(https://www.anvilindustry.co.uk/images/thumbs/0025098_3d-printed-regiments-astronauts-with-gyrojet-rifles-6-miniatures.jpeg)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrojet (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrojet)
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Funnily enough I've been looking at those figures today :D
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Funnily enough I've been looking at those figures today :D
I have two sets awaiting assembly.
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These are great. Nice painting.
Could that AR be chambered in .22LR or some other low powered cartridge? Physics was never really my strong suit, but I imagine that might still be controllable in low-G and a spacesuit only needs a hole or two to render the occupant out of action.
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In both Hot Moon (book) and For All Mankind (series) firearms are used on the surface of the moon and they just work; I suspect the recoil will just hit a bit harder. It's in 0G where things will get interesting, unless the firer braces him/herself first.
All of which is nicely described in Hot Moon (the hardest scifi I ever read; I am confident to take its description of lunar combat as very well researched indeed) :)
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They look great :)
What were the pistols used in Ad Astra when Brad was zooming over the luna surface?
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Excellent work on those, looking forward to seeing more and a game
Cheers
Matt
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For those interested in how weapons operate in a vacuum there is the de-classified report - "Meanderings of a weapon oriented mind when applied in a vacuum such as on the moon." first published in 1965. I found it very interesting.
https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4013coll11/id/2010/ (https://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4013coll11/id/2010/)
from the Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library
Author [Directorate of R & D, Future Weapons Office, U.S. Army Weapons Command]
Abstract The purpose of this brochure is to stimulate the thinking of weapon people all the way from those who are responsible for the establishment of requirements, through those who are responsible for funding, to the weapon designer himself. Although the primary purpose of man in space (on the moon or other planets) will not be to fight, he requires the capability to defend himself if necessary. There may be other countries desirous of preventing U.S. access to the moon and other planets. If space is truly for peace, we must be strong there just as we are on earth. Because of the entirely new and different environment and conditions facing man in space, we cannot wait until the eleventh hour to "crash" a weapon program through with any hope of success, for we may even now be standing on the edge of the battleground of Armageddon. To quote our President before he ascended to the Presidency, "Space is infinite. Man's knowledge of space is finite. The sum of our understanding is not yet sufficient for us to comprehend how vast the dimensions of our ignorance."
Publisher Rock Island, Illinois : Headquarters, U.S. Army Weapons Command,
Date, Original 1965
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...What were the pistols used in Ad Astra when Brad was zooming over the luna surface?
That reminded me that that movie was still on my 'to watch' list, so I sat through it last night. A pretty compelling movie all in all with some pretty nifty visuals and effects (but also some glaringly badly researched bits). The lunar race was really cool and because of your post, I was especially focussed on looking at the hand guns. They looked like a scifi version of a British Welrod silenced pistol.
But that's basically a tube with a pistol grip underneath as well, so that's probably where I got that idea from. In reality though, I figure it's a custom design made especially for the film.
It fires something that flashes blue, which suggest something like a plasma weapon or perhaps a gauss gun, firing ballistic ammo. It was never explained in-movie.
I do believe the crew of the interplanetary ship he leaves the Moon with, eventually wield them as well. Inside a ship in deep space, so the projected energy might well be sufficiently low to prevent hull breaches...
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They look great :)
What were the pistols used in Ad Astra when Brad was zooming over the luna surface?
Here is an image of one of the prop guns, it seems they were made for the film out of a bit of pipe with a grip and trigger guard added. My first thought was a Welrod too!
https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/ad-astra-space-pistol-prop-gun.305871/
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Intriguing - I feel myself drawn towards a new project
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It fires something that flashes blue, which suggest something like a plasma weapon or perhaps a gauss gun, firing ballistic ammo. It was never explained in-movie.
I do believe the crew of the interplanetary ship he leaves the Moon with, eventually wield them as well. Inside a ship in deep space, so the projected energy might well be sufficiently low to prevent hull breaches...
Just enough to kill or incapacitate but not damage anything else >:D lol
Here is an image of one of the prop guns, it seems they were made for the film out of a bit of pipe with a grip and trigger guard added. My first thought was a Welrod too!
https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/ad-astra-space-pistol-prop-gun.305871/
That's cool, thank you :)
Intriguing - I feel myself drawn towards a new project
I have lunar boards (Limehouse)...