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Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: War In 15MM on 08 January 2017, 02:53:23 AM

Title: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: War In 15MM on 08 January 2017, 02:53:23 AM
Since completing my Gangsters “And Stuff” collection at the end of October (hope to have the pictures posted this month) I’ve been working on a 28mm space collection which I will probably call something like On the Rim of the Verse.  It was inspired by my love of Firefly/Serenity and by the fact that it offered the opportunity to bring together a wide variety of figures and vehicles that could probably only come together in the port of a far off moon or planet out on the edge of the system where travelers of different races, cultures, dress styles and technologies cross paths.  Over the last decade the swap meet has provided me with over 20 large spacecraft, most of which were marketed with Star Wars films but also from a Star Trek film, Thunderbirds, and Space 1999.  In addition to the spacecraft, the swap meet provided the centerpiece of this posting which is one of my two spacecraft repair units.  The toy was originally a GI Joe playset, but when I first saw it I recognized its potential for a 28mm spacecraft repair facility.  The figures are 28mm mechanics from Warmachine.  I have no idea who made the large space capsule (another swap meet toy) being repaired, but I liked it, and it was fun to paint.(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_3255_zpsgcdmvvox.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_3255_zpsgcdmvvox.jpg.html)(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_3256_zpsxtdrlhqc.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_3256_zpsxtdrlhqc.jpg.html)(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_3257_zpsofwimjp3.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_3257_zpsofwimjp3.jpg.html)(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_3258_zpst7ndsm09.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_3258_zpst7ndsm09.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Supercollider on 08 January 2017, 03:03:43 AM
Wow, nice job, that's turned out great!  :-*
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: horridperson on 08 January 2017, 04:07:08 AM
That is awesome.  Great setting for cool stories for sure.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: jambo1 on 08 January 2017, 10:01:31 AM
Wow!! That is very impressive. :)
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: OSHIROmodels on 08 January 2017, 10:06:34 AM
Looks the part  8)

Might I suggest some bits and pieces dotted around, crates and the like.

cheers

James
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Michi on 08 January 2017, 10:23:36 AM
Excellent looking dock! I wish I had the time to build one too.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: tomrommel1 on 08 January 2017, 10:24:50 AM
very nice indeed
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: blacksoilbill on 08 January 2017, 11:10:26 AM
Oh my goodness, that is nice! Would love to play a game on that!
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Diablo Jon on 08 January 2017, 12:13:35 PM
That is very cool  :o

I love the whole Serenity/Firefly style of sci-fi
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Juan on 08 January 2017, 12:15:55 PM
Very nice work, this is fantastic!
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: The_Beast on 08 January 2017, 01:04:36 PM
The toy was originally a GI Joe playset, but when I first saw it I recognized its potential for a 28mm spacecraft repair facility.  

Having had a couple gifted to friends for their projects, I recognized it immediately, but had to re-read the text four times before I found you already knew.

For once, checked sufficiently before sounding the idiot. At least, a total idiot.

Let me say, I've never seen it better utilized. Very handsome and evocative.

Also, for the first time, I see how useful, for making retro shuttles, one could find toy barn silos...  ;)

Two pieces? The smaller doesn't ring a bell from what I recall of the fort. Are they attached to the flat? I assumed that was just a mat, to be replaced by table top, where you could spread more terrain as James so correctly suggests.

Doug
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: huesped on 08 January 2017, 01:08:45 PM
 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* ( NO words, mate!! a-W-E-S-O-M-E)
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Predatorpt on 08 January 2017, 01:36:11 PM
Looks great and your Serenity crews are also a ace job!
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Hobby Services on 08 January 2017, 02:24:37 PM
Seriously impressive job there.  Great idea for a project too.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: MagpieJono on 08 January 2017, 04:09:35 PM
Wow that's a cracking piece of scenery to game over.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Mason on 08 January 2017, 04:19:18 PM
Another wonderful centrepiece for your gaming table.
 8) 8)

Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: Hitman on 08 January 2017, 04:30:37 PM
That looks awesome!! Nice detail and very user friendly. I bet it is great fun to use in games. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Hitman
 8)
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: axiom on 08 January 2017, 05:57:12 PM
That's a fantastic set of terrain! I love the repurposed GI Joe playset...now to track one down? ;)

Do you plan any gantries, cranes or similar?
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: twrchtrwyth on 08 January 2017, 06:12:35 PM
That's a great conversion of toy to scale model.  ;)
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: War In 15MM on 08 January 2017, 07:15:31 PM
Thanks to all for the kind words.  Repurposed toys are alway fun.  Let me address a couple of questions/suggestions that have been made.  The Beast, you are correct in your memory of the toy... the sides were made to come down, but for this project I like the enclosed look so I kept the two sides up; there's still a lot of room for figures.  Another reason, though not key, for have the sides up is space.  I will have two of these on two end-to-end 5' x 7' tables (one on one table and one on the other).  My plan is to create an Eaves Downs Dock (I think the spelling is close) area that is 14' long and contains a community of perhaps 20 structures (including these repair units), and a docking area for at least 11 spaceships (hopefully 12).  James, I agree completely about the need for detail material like crates, etc.  My normal approach to a project is to paint figures first, then buildings, then vehicles and finally once I have the general look of the place add the detail.  I got a little out of order with this one because the urge to see if I could make these GI Joe playsets into usable repair units just was too much to resist.  I have already begun collecting detail pieces (removable) such as the Reaper welding unit and tools and crates and other assorted junk.  Jon, the GI Joe playset comes with an attached crane... it's shown in the first picture but because it's a straight on shot it is hard to recognize as a crane.  But in addition to the attached cranes I have lucked into two of the very large Thomas Train Cranky cranes (thanks again to the swap meet), and they will be repurposed for use with the repair units.  Thanks to all for taking the time to write.  Really happy you enjoyed it.  Richard
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: supervike on 09 January 2017, 01:13:17 AM
Really nice.  I love how innovative you have been with this.

Wargamers, in general are a pretty innovative lot.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: horridperson on 09 January 2017, 03:03:46 AM
If you have two of the those to bookend your table the possibilities just became that much more interesting :).  If you happen to have a crane rigging one on worm gear across the between the two walls would be pretty cool.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: blacksoilbill on 09 January 2017, 11:35:53 AM
That sounds like it will be a very impressive table!
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: The_Beast on 09 January 2017, 06:06:04 PM
Two on a set up? (Almost said 'a table')

This isn't Sparta, this is madness!  lol

Doug

Edit: Just remembered, only one went to a friend who was going to use the whole thing in a project, though I never saw the results. The other one did get used, and played, but piecemeal.

Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: eilif on 09 January 2017, 06:47:50 PM
Dang, that is awesome!

I just acquired the same set myself from the resale shop, but it was missing the centeral tower section.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/30/688498.page#8941093

I'm going to hack mine up, but I love that you took the "folded up" version and made it something truely huge.

Do you have links to the rest of your layout or separate spaceships and bases?  Where is this Swap meet you attend?

Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: War In 15MM on 09 January 2017, 08:23:43 PM
Thanks to all for writing.  I appreciate the generous words.  My tables and terrain pieces tend to be large...very large.  If you have seen my Darkest Africa, Pulp Egyptian, Pirate or Victorian city galleries you will see what I mean.  I also tend to plan these things of many years and that is when most of the collecting takes place.  Once I get all the key pieces together I begin the painting, repurposing and building which depending on the project can last from 6 months to a year.  This particular collection will probably have me engaged until June 2017 and will involved two 5 ft x 7 ft tables.  ellif, as of this moment I have completed about 20 spacecraft, two spacecraft repair unit structures and about 120 figures, but the repair units are all I have photographed.  Normally I wouldn't have painted those structures at this point in the project, but I just got excited to see if I could make them look like what I hoped they could be.  I took a look at the one you got at the resale shop and while missing the upper levels you did get that wonderful brown piece which is really the most beautiful part of the toy.  As to where my swap meet is located, I'm afraid it is in Southern California which is a long journey from Chicago.  The local community colleges hold swap meets on their parking lots on the weekend, but only one of those swap meets really specializes in junk and that is were the treasure can be found.  Unfortunately the others have become little more than outdoor dollar stores.  Thanks again, Richard
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: dwbullock on 09 January 2017, 08:34:08 PM
Honestly, I have never seen this GI Joe toy.  Was scouring the interwebz to try and find it.  I had an older version of the GI Joe headquarters, but had largely gotten out of it when this one came out.

Looks great, though.  I have quite a few Joe pieces in use as space ships, industrial pieces, or 'scrap piles.'  Don't have a piece this large, though.  Would draw too much attention from the wife.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: War In 15MM on 11 January 2017, 03:11:04 PM
dwbullock, it folds up so maybe your wife wouldn't notice.  A couple of the 1992 GI Joe Headquarters are on eBay, but with shipping they are $50 and more... probably more since shipping tends to read "calculate."  It is my good fortunate that for the last 15 or more years I have had a local weekend swap meet that has offered things like this to me for $5 or less rather than $50 or more.  The thing about the swap meet is there is no guarantee you will get a second bite at the apple if you don't buy it the first time you see it.  That is why my wife bought me a beautiful shed; she actually enjoys my hobby, but she doesn't want it all over the house.
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: joekano on 11 January 2017, 04:28:13 PM
That is a seriously cool piece of terrain!
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: eilif on 11 January 2017, 07:39:38 PM
ellif, as of this moment I have completed about 20 spacecraft, two spacecraft repair unit structures and about 120 figures, but the repair units are all I have photographed.  
Wow!  That sounds great.  Looking forward to seeing more.  I share your fondness for going big when it comes to wargaming projects.  
http://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2015/04/01/mech-attack-at-adepticon-2015/
(http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2015/3/22/697977.JPG)

I agree that the brown industrial part of the GI Joe HQ is by far the best section.  It alone would have been worth the 4 bucks I paid for the toy. As for sourcing California is quite a ways to go, but the truth is that local resale shops have provided all the fodder I need for large terrain projects.  My bins-o-toys are already overflowing...
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: War In 15MM on 11 January 2017, 11:38:30 PM
That is a great table.  I tried clicking the link you provided but couldn't get through.  I'd love to see more.  Richard
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: eilif on 12 January 2017, 02:00:15 AM
That is a great table.  I tried clicking the link you provided but couldn't get through.  I'd love to see more.  Richard

That's odd.
Try this link to the article on our old blog.
http://chicagoskirmish.blogspot.com/2015/05/little-wars-2015-mech-attack-battle.html
Lots of other project stuff.
We've brought all the content over when we started the new blog last year and all new content will be at the new blog here:
http://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/
Do those links work?
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: War In 15MM on 12 January 2017, 02:10:51 AM
eilif, I just spent a delightful half hour on your Future Wars terrain posting right here on LAF... loved it!  I have the Jungle Cutter, but have never done anything with it... planned to remove the large seat and use that compartment area for multiple seats (1:43 car bench seats/swap meet broken toys) for 28mm figures thus creating a giant troop carrier; anyway that is my someday plan.  Richard
Title: Re: 28MM Spacecraft Repair Unit
Post by: eilif on 12 January 2017, 07:56:51 PM
Thanks for the high praise Richard!
      Really looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the Jungle cutter. It's such a cool odd duck that it could be made into any number of thing and it's reasonably scale-less as action figure toys go.