Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: zrunelord on August 16, 2025, 05:04:14 PM
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Hello again all,
These are my Chinese ( Reddish Brass Visor ) & British ( Golden Visor ) Lunar infantry.
Very nice minis.
Mechs are 3D printed.
Still have to do vehicles or landers.
With hindsight, I should have taken the photos on a neutral background. Seems the paint job did it's work to camo them.😉
https://castrarunis.blogspot.com/2025/08/gzg-lunar-18mm-minis.html (https://castrarunis.blogspot.com/2025/08/gzg-lunar-18mm-minis.html)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAT9Uyr1m093iR1MHDxSaQRyl2lnD4Own-nOUhyphenhyphenLF3X8gIbKOEeIT4QdK6pJpaM0kO1wYywpGy9yUCAeS14CcuX1aDcTXXVlG7qza_dewWRAXhDYt0BEzlCCCqo-8dBfcI7c3bveNEt8toG08pm27s2-IcQ7fZaXlSEEi0JXPTjehkcwlRYYX6Kj073lt/s1876/Lunar%20(4).jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxQXJzkuyKH0kDZ75HJPbRMOhVp6QxqqizShKJG65b4HBSTB1QGNGSIEzDlOyeOe1u7smz5clBWIFHmHyR5Hu_gQlccgF346_NcnGY_rpyUkOEkqrZa4Iu-WNUgXoGYYTzBtErnIBQZWGPi-cg08-bXNhIH1_qQs4aqudeT9R4g3QfiY1UEvDuy_bcIQK/s1786/Lunar%20(5).jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsEg2broPNO1tPeNWfj1ABp1KUT-2umMBF6V5u8HzmUo3KObLw8hQ34UnEnPWJjool5jLWx3dAwjHbR6iwMW3YNBrZFYXvB7SRk6pF0LyWfHImVW4KjHQwZsL-Qf6d9K_OPvLxGiefP-wAJS53G52RJMxVlD-ugWiP4RPyFpetopOdWgfC0lYXr2np7f7/s1590/Lunar%20(7).jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5CkXYphzk7bjm6xsr03ck7ayt75suTSAKmmzDuMO3k98FU1BGQU1FAn141-45r6mE2lcy86oc2gzyPMvvOxejDfNPWvE5NeYhTcW753b3MVxnVyixZp4GAmMe70mglXQgxdJHll8I81J_wXp_z_ClXFpwY6zSgqZwmIhE_QsXcbx5_Inplejp84IjscJ/s1905/Lunar%20(9).jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaoafJFSbJq58acALVN6ipI6H_7CwhN0gjG1ynYFk5CGEkvZlkIXVVpvDuRcf9lcjQai8GSe9z1KDf8a0Oc4Ci23C-lbwMNOyGB9gsr3EvmNZqdQsjmKgifc3pa_jbBq8VfnriUTxZ3pcUl2TIhYKLs4KtWG_ek8NIYnxQYZk-f48Ommf7rspNLxB-zdCK/s1023/Lunar%20(2).jpg)
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRMAH1-2n0ZAZ9XstVzYhwk9SzWOepiklxNbXax5MI16iyTcWLJLnvHh0v-Tyy4ExDLgEXIb25vFehguHNGPtD2Pef-a68Oi55imewVHTvLMuq8xYi1Yku5XKeWrp7hrYBv42c8m5W3IbS-tkLsvTzoBG_a2Ue9ff22ZpTzdUWSaZqrqI7gN8l-Kf-bNo/s1695/Lunar%20(3).jpg)
Thank you for your comments
Z
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Those look very nice. Lunar was quite the rage here on LAF awhile back, but it seems to have faded. Sounded like an interesting game. I wonder if the play wasn't as enjoyable as thinking about it and preparing troops and terrain for it?
Mike Demana
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a cool collection.
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Nice work on them.
Interesting choice to differentiate between them by the visor colour.
Very nice mechs as well.
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Very nice looking stuff!
Mike, Lunar is certainly just on a temporary pause here. Back in January, I got in on the pre-order for their Squad Battles expansion. Waiting for that was a good excuse to slide the project off the workbench so I could concentrate better on The Silver Bayonet for Huzzah in May. Currently getting an advanced run on Test of Honour for next Huzzah.
Lunar is still bubbling under and I keep wondering when the heck that RS3 expansion is going to drop...
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Lovely figures, Lunar is still going strong at my club in the UK!
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Very nice looking stuff!
Mike, Lunar is certainly just on a temporary pause here. Back in January, I got in on the pre-order for their Squad Battles expansion. Waiting for that was a good excuse to slide the project off the workbench so I could concentrate better on The Silver Bayonet for Huzzah in May. Currently getting an advanced run on Test of Honour for next Huzzah.
Lunar is still bubbling under and I keep wondering when the heck that RS3 expansion is going to drop...
Do you know if the Squad Battles game will be a stand-alone mini's game supplement, or will it be a new way of using the existing Lunar rules?
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Not a stand-alone, supplement to be used with core rules:
https://blacksitestudio.com/products/lunar-rs3-mass-battle-expansion
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Thank you for the comments.
I was going to paint the chinese helmets red but it would not have made sense, so the visors was the next best thing.
Yes the mechs are quite nice , they're from here
Papsikels ( There are loads )
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-fukimasa-battle-droid-commander-143404 (https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-fukimasa-battle-droid-commander-143404)
&
Kyoushuneko Miniatures
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-sdr-mecha-droid-rapid-plasma-cannon-328533 (https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-sdr-mecha-droid-rapid-plasma-cannon-328533)
https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-sdr-mecha-droid-rapid-heavy-machine-gun-328530 (https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-sdr-mecha-droid-rapid-heavy-machine-gun-328530)
Can't say anything about Lunar the game though :?
Z
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Sorry for the slight derailment, zrunelord. I've had my eye on GZG's 'Moongrunt' figures as well, they certainly do look good. The only thing that's been stopping me (so far) is the lack of a decent (generic) set of rules for moon based wargames - I've got xenos rampant and I'm aware of the miniature wargames articles on the subject but I'm still hoping someone will bring out a set with a lot of 'airless lunar combat' flavour to it.
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No worries Rick.
I honestly was thinking about using Squad hammer and adding the following " In Vacuum " house rules.
Though I still need to sit down & think them through .
a) Weapons & distances remain the same ( one assumes that they are designed for use in hard vacuum )
b) Jump/ hop movement & / or Jetpack assisted.
c) Mag boots for when doing ship assaults.
d) On Fumbles model flies out into space.
e) Suit damage ( Auto seal ? )
Z
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Apart from Lunar, Traveller RPG is the only game I know that dives into assorted hazardous environments (the accompanying miniatures rules, Striker, are wicked complex 80s writing; pity Chadwick did them before he got to streamlining for Command Decision).
Stargrunt helpfully suggests that you could just add your own rules...
: P
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I've actually just ordered a back issue of miniature wargames that has a few ideas for moongrunt bolt action - not thinking of using bolt action per se but may be a few good ideas. I've also been meaning to dig out my copy of Tomorrow's War and see if there's anything in there that could be useful. Otherwise it'll have to be house rules added to something or other of the right sort I think.
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You're right 80's rules were full of (too) detailed modifier charts also.
Must dig up my Laserburn series rules. Perhaps there's something there.
Could always start a specific thread & brainstorm ideas.
Z
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those astronauts are nice... mechs are a bit too sci-fi for me as Apollo era type combat ala For All Mankind
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those astronauts are nice... mechs are a bit too sci-fi for me as Apollo era type combat ala For All Mankind
They're lovely figures - I did think about using some of the gzg wheeled drones for a more near-future game.
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Thank you both.
The mechs are hard scifi yes, but out of curiosity what war machines would you use for that era if any ?
Those Gzg are great vehicles , especially if you prefer metal ones & would fit the part perfectly.
He also has a US faction if it interests you.
Would like to see heavy weapons next.
Z
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none... the payload in that era was always a factor. Armour? Mech suits twice the size of a man? forget it. it's open bare bones moon buggies or hoofing it on foot...
Have you seen For All Mankind on Apple TV? well worth a watch. I don't think they even had lunar surface shuttles in their alternative timeline until the 90's if memory serves. (and calling them shuttles is a stretch, they were more like Lunar Lander modules without a detachable stage)
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but out of curiosity what war machines would you use for that era if any ?
Ooh, good question. I haven't thought of expanding that route, but I might yet...
Treads, treads with a big center torso were 1960s reality. This fits my own project image of retro-future sci-fi late 1960s as imagined c.1960:
https://thearmoredpatrol.com/tag/robot/
For kitbashing fodder, I've seen the RX-75 Guntank from Mobile Suit Gundam in small scales:
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/RX-75_Guntank
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Erm, just to be clear, you are aware that we're really talking about 3 different era's of Moon wargame here? Cat and Aeg are in the 1960's, pretty sure I'm in the 2060's and I think zrunelord is in the 2160's.
Just thought I'd mention it.
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I need another project like a hole in the head, but there is some inspiring stuff here.
This might finally be an excuse to pull the trigger on some Maschinen Krieger, like this guy: https://slave2gaming.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=87_106&product_id=442
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I know, I've seen them and I like them a lot. If I find out somebody has imported them to the UK then I'll be getting me some. Until then, I'll be over here, looking at Moongrunt.
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Thank you both.
The mechs are hard scifi yes, but out of curiosity what war machines would you use for that era if any ?
Those Gzg are great vehicles , especially if you prefer metal ones & would fit the part perfectly.
He also has a US faction if it interests you.
Would like to see heavy weapons next.
Z
Just out of curiosity, zrunelord, what sort of heavy weapons did you envisage?
I thought about the usual SAW, HMG, Autocannon sort of thing and considered the recoil would be tremendous - you'd go flying rearwards in no time. I also thought about MDC's or railgun's and you'd likely need a power pack the size of a fridge-freezer for even a few shots.
So if you've got some ideas it would be great to hear them.
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Personally I think the generic beauty & versatility of these minis is that they can be used in whatever era one chooses
just by changing the extra assets, whether droids, robots, landers etc.
I think they can also be used for games like Space 1999 & S.H.A.D.O. also. Yes ? :D :D :D
he also has other minis which can easily be converted to a bubble helmet.
Whilst I'm at it, I would strongly suggest reading this superb trilogy by Ian Douglas
https://www.goodreads.com/series/41537-heritage-trilogy (https://www.goodreads.com/series/41537-heritage-trilogy)
If I were to go scientifically & again depends on the era....
I would choose GyroJets in various calibers ( as in the original boltgun idea in Laserburn ) but modified to have a self sustained chemical propellant ( since there's no air , something like MRE's ? )
This might work also for exothermic or thermobaric etc munitions but again air is required.
The beauty of solid shot is that is keeps going until it hits something ( no vacuum ). Imagine being hit by a stray shot a million miles away !!!!
Lasers are too complicated & power hungry ( unless a small power pack can be invented ) to manhandle. Vehicle mounted might be possible ( Space Toyotas ;)!!! )
As are mag coils.
Simple spring loaded darts ( as in a ballista ) are also a possibility if a fast loading system is invented. Imagine the damage this simple devise can do to a paper thin Lunar Lander !!!!
Concentrated rad beams are also a no go but thin sonic waves might be possible.
Z
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Oh and I just remembered the solid shot multi barrelled ship guns from the Expanse..
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the Expanse is another example of payload limits... having a wooden desk was considered the height of decadence because of the cost to weight incurred to export from Earth, even when you have sci-fi engines.
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Oh and I just remembered the solid shot multi barrelled ship guns from the Expanse..
No! Please don't conflate space weaponry with surface weaponry, even if they both work in a vacuum. The multi-barrelled guns from the expanse were designed to be fired with the combined velocities of both the firer and target working to their advantage. Using a similar weapon on the moon, unless you had the energy to really ramp up the velocity, would likely result in those multiple shots just bouncing off a spacesuit and doing minimal damage! lol
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I don't see mention of this elsewhere, but anyone in the US who was thinking about grabbing some lunar figs from GZG is out of luck for the foreseeable future. Jon announced all US orders are suspended a few days ago.
AUGUST 14th: FURTHER UPDATE ON US ORDERS!
With the situation still unclear about just how the new Tariff charges for shipments to the US will be handled by the Postal authorities and other carriers, to avoid any problems I have reluctantly made the decision to SUSPEND all orders from the US with immediate effect. I sincerely hope that this will be TEMPORARY, and as soon as I have clarity on how the new systems will work I hope to be able to re-open sales to all my US customers - thank you all for your patience while this is all sorted out!
Jon (GZG), Thursday 14th August 2025.
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Sadly unsurprising until there's a bit more clarity on what and how to pay.
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I see Brigade Models also posted about the changes, although they're apparently continuing to sell to the US with an added 10% tariff charge that should theoretically cover everything. I have my doubts about how well that's going to work with the current US administration. Apparently most of the problem is that the increasingly-shaky USPS is relying on other countries' postal services to collect the tariffs - which appears to be insanity to me, and will probably fall apart in short order like everything else in this country lately.
The blog post is an interesting read, if nothing else.
https://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Blog/2025/08/tariffs-and-tribulations/ (https://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Blog/2025/08/tariffs-and-tribulations/)
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Well, fingers crossed it's that straightforward in practice.
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My packages go through customs in NY before they're handed over to the USPS. Once the package hits the Boston USPS Distribution Center, then it might get forwarded to my city 15 miles away. But there's always a chance someone will blow a whistle and the game of sports parcel is on — could get punted anywhere in eastern Mass or even up to Nashua NH, and then the popcorn sales ratchet up as all the fans are on the edge of the seats wondering where the volley will go next.
=^,^=
Tariffs will get handled first through Customs. Odds are good that won't run smoothly, but it will be a separate layer of chaos.
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No! Please don't conflate space weaponry with surface weaponry, even if they both work in a vacuum.
Rick, I was explaining that solid shot ( not the guns ), as in the before mentioned gyrojets, are another possibility, as in the Expanse.
Z
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Rick, I was explaining that solid shot ( not the guns ), as in the before mentioned gyrojets, are another possibility, as in the Expanse.
Z
Yes, I got that - the idea of multiple solid shot fired into a ships path is a common idea and relies on the velocity of the firer, plus the velocity of the propellant and the velocity of the target to achieve hull penetration and damage. Against space suits on the moon, high velocity flechettes might work a lot better.
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Indeed,
Which is why I said.
"Simple spring loaded darts ( as in a ballista ) are also a possibility if a fast loading system is invented. Imagine the damage this simple device can do to a paper thin Lunar Lander !!!!"
Cheap to make also.
Z
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Indeed,
Which is why I said.
"Simple spring loaded darts ( as in a ballista ) are also a possibility if a fast loading system is invented. Imagine the damage this simple device can do to a paper thin Lunar Lander !!!!"
Cheap to make also.
Z
High velocity flechettes? Did you read the high velocity part? I don't think a 'simple spring loaded' dart, even the size of a ballista bolt, would penetrate a space suit reinforced with something like kevlar, let alone a 2040's lunar lander (a 1960's one, perhaps, but not in anywhere vital).
A rubber band could propel a projectile a fair distance on the moon, Alan Shepherd's golf ball, despite an impovised club and clumsy one-handed swing, travelled 40 yards. Distance is easy to achieve but you need a big enough velocity to penetrate something once it gets there.
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'Simple spring loaded' can still bring a lot of velocity into action.
I have a .22cal, break action, spring loaded air rifle. If I were to splurge on the platinum-coated pellets, their muzzle velocity is supersonic and makes a crack like a bullet.
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'Simple spring loaded' can still bring a lot of velocity into action.
I have a .22cal, break action, spring loaded air rifle. If I were to splurge on the platinum-coated pellets, their muzzle velocity is supersonic and makes a crack like a bullet.
Air? lol
Sorry, but the spring is there to compress the air into the chamber, it doesn't actually launch the projectile - you're talking about a compressed gas rifle, which is fine, but not a spring powered ballista bolt.
On the other hand, fire it at a kevlar reinforced spacesuit, if you wouldn't mind, then tell me what the penetration is like?
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Small pointy things will penetrate kevlar, at least the front side, but not likely to come out the back...
Non-penetrating impacts can still crush tissue and more on the inside.
High velocity ammo is not going to lose a lot of velocity in transit on the moon.
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Some years ago my brother had some 0.22 sabot rounds for his air rifle - 3 pronged plastic sabot with a thin steel penetrator - very accurate and good for killing rats with. Not something, however, I'd care to be armed with in a shooting war. Especially on the moon where you specifically want penetrating impacts - even if you miss the person, you've holed their suit, which will need to have a fix; enough holes and you never really need to hit the person to take them out of action.
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is the kevlar inside or outside of the vital airtight bit... if you can pierce that, even slightly, you've a problem
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From what I understand the existing NASA spacesuits have a multilayer sandwich of materials so, presumably, it's in that. Looking at the figures, most of them also have some exterior reinforcing as well.
But yes, it changes the nature of combat when you're inside an airtight suit that is likely to get pierced - suit integrity becomes a very important factor.
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Rick,
Modified this post & posted to the " Moon wargaming - some thoughts " thread to keep things tidy.
Z
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Actually that's a very good point - I think this page and some of page 2 should be moved across to the moon wargaming thread?
Now if I can just attract the attention of a kind mod who would do that for us! lol
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Going back to the GZG mini's, in addition to the figures in the Moongrunt range, there are also some useful looking packs in the civilians and colonists range - a couple of packs in heavy suits that might work as another faction and several packs in light vacc suits that could work for civilians. Just thought I'd mention it.
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ut yes, it changes the nature of combat when you're inside an airtight suit that is likely to get pierced - suit integrity becomes a very important factor.
As the motto of the Special Astronautic Service goes 'Who tears wins'.
(Yes, Jon and a couple of other chaps nearly threw the stand at me when I told them that a few years ago). ;D
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That's a good one :D :D :D.
Z
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That's a good one :D :D :D.
Z
Don't encourage him, he may have another one primed! lol