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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Fitz on February 27, 2011, 09:03:13 PM

Title: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Fitz on February 27, 2011, 09:03:13 PM
I've had these figures knocking around in my collection for a good long time — 20-25 years easily, though they're a little older than that. In their day, they were easily the best 15mm figures available in any genre; 15mm wargaming figures of the time tended to be pretty basic. For many years, these were the only 15mm sci-fi figures available, and I think they were originally marketed under the FASA banner.

These days, 15mm figures have improved enormously, and there are plenty of manufacturers to rival RAFM in terms of sculpting quality. These guys are still right at the top of the field when it comes to character though; they're just oozing with it. RAFM have re-released them, and I'm sorely tempted to buy some more now that at long last I can.

I've just got around to thinking about painting them, after all these years. My friend Joffre is planning to run a space-opera-ish sci-fi campaign in a few weeks, and I thought it might be useful to have to figures ready and waiting for the fun to start. I think 15mm is ideal for modern/sci-fi gaming; they're large enough to be identifiable, but small enough to accommodate the longer ranges at which combat tends to happen — fantasy games tend to concentrate a lot more on hand-to-hand stuff, so the larger figure scales aren't as problematic. I've tried using WH40K Epic 6mm figures in the past, but they're just too tiny to be manageable as single figures.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hoHXXuJGtKs/TO8-EAcxzMI/AAAAAAAAAdY/jmmqN_2UQ1k/s640/RAFM-Traveller-15mm-001.jpg)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hoHXXuJGtKs/TPA_HPdxiSI/AAAAAAAAAdg/fei5Gy6-YL0/s640/RAFM-Traveller-15mm-003.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hoHXXuJGtKs/TPBlUzWFU8I/AAAAAAAAAdk/6eDbTM4RJOQ/s640/RAFM-Traveller-15mm-004a.jpg)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hoHXXuJGtKs/TPBlVdne_tI/AAAAAAAAAdo/fRq4Ka-lUJg/s640/RAFM-Traveller-15mm-004b.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hoHXXuJGtKs/TPG4ikDgR5I/AAAAAAAAAds/4byKra65PRk/s640/RAFM-Traveller-15mm-005.jpg)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hoHXXuJGtKs/TPMHR_65GSI/AAAAAAAAAdw/Jao0r4TRbFY/s640/RAFM-Traveller-15mm-006.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hoHXXuJGtKs/TPQoHhJ-xVI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Su2da3_-sYU/s400/RAFM-Traveller-15mm-007.jpg)
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Braz on February 27, 2011, 09:19:44 PM
Awesome paint job. :o Much better than my toothpick applied, enamel splotch job I did 20+ years ago. These are still some of my favorite minis and I concur that they still ooze character. I should strip and repaint them. Again awesome.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: jamesmanto on February 27, 2011, 09:49:59 PM
Nicely done! Good shading and blending etc.
RAFM really should promote these more and maybe add to the line.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Etranger on February 28, 2011, 06:51:55 AM
Yes they're nice characterful figures & still scrub up pretty well against more modern sculpts. I agree with your comments on 15mm scifi, which is why I chose that route!
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: HerbyF on February 28, 2011, 07:14:00 AM
I have to agree. 15mm is a much better scale for Sci-Fi gaming. Although I do have a good sized collection in both 15 & 28.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: inrepose on March 02, 2011, 04:22:34 PM
Brilliant job! Most of mine are still in a box!

Here are some of mine.  Certainly not as nice as yours - mine are more "rustic". I think that is a fair way of saying just about passable!

Sadly my image link did not work but here is the link to the blog article with the larger images: http://www.gruntz.biz/2009/10/traveller-15mm.html
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: rob_alderman on March 02, 2011, 10:09:39 PM
These are just great!

They remind me an awful lot of the old laserburn stuff that is still available from www.15mm.co.uk (http://www.15mm.co.uk)

Great stuff!
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Bako on May 27, 2011, 01:52:33 PM
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I stumbled upon these through Google and I wasn't even looking for pictures of miniatures. Some pretty beautiful stuff there. :)
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: CptJake on May 27, 2011, 09:20:07 PM
Great job on those.   These are some of my favorite Sci Fi 15mm figs.   I have a lot of them, mostly unpainted with the exception of my high-tech/armored troopers:

(http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg134/CptJake_Minis/15mmSciFi/image001.jpg)

When I get to the rest, I wish I would be able to do half as nice a job as you did.

Jake
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Fjodin on May 28, 2011, 08:09:37 AM
Great painting!!!!!!! :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Meier_Elf_Fanatic on April 05, 2022, 09:49:22 AM
Inspirational stuff.

I am just starting on over 700 of the little sods...
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: War Monkey on April 05, 2022, 06:52:50 PM
Those are great, nice paint work. I have a few sets myself that I have been slowly working on too, I am guessing that I might need to get my butt in gear and get them done.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: has.been on April 05, 2022, 07:53:48 PM
Quote
Those are great, nice paint work. I have a few sets myself that I have been slowly working on too, I am guessing that I might need to get my butt in gear and get them done.

That could be me too, well apart from the 'working on' bit.  :D :D :D
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: martinjpayne on April 05, 2022, 08:16:32 PM
Shows the quality of the Perry twins sculpting that they still look good almost forty years after their initial release. Your painting really sets them off to a tee, well done.
Brings back good memories of playing Snapshot and Azhanti High Lightning back in the eighties.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Fitz on April 05, 2022, 09:23:46 PM
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hDuNeG9lP3g/UGvg8HHzivI/AAAAAAAABbg/pw4lVFPOIfE/s1600/air-raft_01.jpg)

I made this air-raft out of an old HotWheels toy I got for a couple of bucks. I intended to put some passengers in it as well, but I somehow never got around to it — probably because our sci-fi campaign kind of ground to a halt.

These days I would probably 3d print something; I suspect the days of old-school kitbashing and toy modification are in the process of passing away, and will soon be the province only of grumpy old farts mumbling to themselves through their dentures.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Fitz on April 05, 2022, 09:30:09 PM
Speaking of 3d printed stuff, this is a mech that I resized to become a high-G hardsuit or the like, shown alongside a 32mm Reaper Bones mini.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_xwmB5QrYKM/YDhU09382cI/AAAAAAAAXuo/IsO4_CLMg5434Ya1HEfvacW4T4mrGZnBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/2021-02-26-SciFiHardsuit.jpg)

I also rescaled it to go along with my 15mm stuff, and painted them in rainbow colours so that I could tell them apart on the games table.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--hRaiRgdt8o/YDmT_fUVMII/AAAAAAAAXvE/fqgIpKHMkiI8K9tRtDCbkP9fkfzoHnCKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/2021-02-27-hardsuits15mm.jpg)
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: has.been on April 05, 2022, 09:46:07 PM
Quote
and will soon be the province only of grumpy old farts mumbling to themselves through their dentures.

Speak up youngster, what did you say?  lol lol lol
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: War Monkey on April 06, 2022, 12:50:08 AM
Quote
I made this air-raft out of an old HotWheels toy I got for a couple of bucks. I intended to put some passengers in it as well, but I somehow never got around to it — probably because our sci-fi campaign kind of ground to a halt.

That is a great idea, I love it, a cheap way to crowd the streets of the future and make them look so good!
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: War Monkey on April 06, 2022, 01:17:42 AM
Nice hard suits, from where did you get them from?
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Fitz on April 06, 2022, 03:55:46 AM
Nice hard suits, from where did you get them from?

Somewhere on Thingiverse, but that's as much as I remember I'm afraid. It doesn't really narrow it down much I know.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Cacique Caribe on April 06, 2022, 06:34:44 AM
I suspect the days of old-school kitbashing and toy modification are in the process of passing away, and will soon be the province only of grumpy old farts mumbling to themselves through their dentures.
Please no.  Let’s hope the art continues to eternity and beyond!

Dan
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: zrunelord on April 06, 2022, 06:52:15 AM
Nice work.
Those hard suits are Dutch Mogul's if I'm not mistaken.

Let's hope I won't have to have dentures done any time soon then !!! ;) :D :D :D.

Kitbashing & scratchbuilding is an integral part of the hobby as much as collecting, painting & playing.

Z
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: War Monkey on April 06, 2022, 07:13:22 AM
Thanks Z
It is one of Dutch Mogul's, found it on Thingiverse under his name.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: zrunelord on April 06, 2022, 07:29:01 AM
Great, WM.
I had plans to modify those & use them for my Micropanzer Gitungi ( i.e. shaped like Easter eggs )

Z
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: War Monkey on April 07, 2022, 02:03:05 AM
Z
I know the ones you're talking about, those would look great along side with them.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Cacique Caribe on April 07, 2022, 06:19:06 AM
Excellent work!  Inspiring!  Thanks.  Please keep them coming.

Dan
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Cacique Caribe on April 24, 2022, 06:45:20 AM
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hDuNeG9lP3g/UGvg8HHzivI/AAAAAAAABbg/pw4lVFPOIfE/s1600/air-raft_01.jpg)

I made this air-raft out of an old HotWheels toy I got for a couple of bucks. I intended to put some passengers in it as well, but I somehow never got around to it — probably because our sci-fi campaign kind of ground to a halt.

These days I would probably 3d print something; I suspect the days of old-school kitbashing and toy modification are in the process of passing away, and will soon be the province only of grumpy old farts mumbling to themselves through their dentures.

Fitz

Are you still planning on 3D printing copies?  Thanks.

Dan
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: eilif on April 24, 2022, 05:50:03 PM
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hDuNeG9lP3g/UGvg8HHzivI/AAAAAAAABbg/pw4lVFPOIfE/s1600/air-raft_01.jpg)

I made this air-raft out of an old HotWheels toy I got for a couple of bucks. I intended to put some passengers in it as well, but I somehow never got around to it — probably because our sci-fi campaign kind of ground to a halt.

These days I would probably 3d print something; I suspect the days of old-school kitbashing and toy modification are in the process of passing away, and will soon be the province only of grumpy old farts mumbling to themselves through their dentures.
I like that quite a bit. Could you share what you used to fill the wheel wells?
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: NickNascati on April 24, 2022, 08:04:16 PM
Those Rafm figures look great, I had a load of them when Striker was released.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Fitz on April 24, 2022, 11:47:41 PM
I like that quite a bit. Could you share what you used to fill the wheel wells?

I used a generic two-part epoxy putty I got from our local auto parts shop.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Fitz on April 24, 2022, 11:49:19 PM
Are you still planning on 3D printing copies?  Thanks.
[/quote]

Unlikely. I'd be more likely to print some of the models available on Thingiverse.
Title: Re: Old 15mm RAFM Traveller figures -- painted at last
Post by: Cacique Caribe on June 10, 2022, 09:43:30 PM
I would love to get my hands on that awesome grav convertible!

Dan