Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: Enakan on March 01, 2019, 08:39:08 PM
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I've done some conversions before in the sci-fi and fantasy worlds,
Been thinking lately of trying some sea, air and land machines out for the steampunk "era". Do folks around favor 25 or 15mm figures for games? Say that I do get around to playing with the toys once they're built?
Reason I'm asking is size, quite a bit of difference in the scales!
Also, what do you use, home made or store bought rules too???
Thanks ahead of time!
:D
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28mm for VSF, the one true scale :D
We use a Fistful of Lead mod for small skirmish games and an M&T mod for larger ones.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/32/2619-200418170520-323922138.jpeg)
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28mm for my Steampunk post apocalypse stuff (and back when I used to play VSF). 15mm sorely tempting as it allows for larger contraptions, but I was just too heavily invested in 28mm scenery
GASLIGHT for the rules
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I'll need to go through all my old 25mm/28mm figures then,
Dang, there sure are some nice figures/companies out here nowadays! I'll go back to lurking and find some inspiration from you guys!
Thanks!
:D
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25/28mm for me for all my VSF games.
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15mm for me and my VSF games. I can play large battles (got a quite few armies) and can use the same scenery and figures for smaller actions. I can afford the figures and scenery and have a reasonable sized table.
I don't get to have the wide variety of individuals but can glean them from various ranges.
For the large battles I've used Martian Empires and mid-sized I've used Space 1889.
For the small stuff I also use Space 1889. A familiar system which plays well.
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15mm for me as it allows me to bring big robots, machines, fevilish contraptions and dinosaurs!
The problem is, I have too many projects and my VSF collection is a bit neglected.
See here for examples:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=102869.0
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Thanks Gentlemen!
I have a big town full of older HO scale Wild West buildings, I guess they can fit either 25mm or 15mm? Since they're 20mm, maybe a bit small for 25's or a bit big for 15's.......
Plus some other more modern buildings, say around the turn of the century.
Does anyone use trains?
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Trains? Nay, though I bought a lot of train terrain. Problem is that often it looks to „real“ and not in the heroic style of minis.
Diecast models (matchbox, majorette, hot wheels etc.) are your friends and have great potential for conversions!
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Yes, many times. The kit is the Minicraft Vulcan, it's not great but serviceable with some work. I've had fun making new rolling stock for it though.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/37/2619-040319184011-378891145.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/37/2619-040319184012-378911866.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/37/2619-040319184012-378922481.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/37/2619-040319184014-378932186.jpeg)
Lots of battle reports here :)
http://redplanetminiatures.blogspot.com/ (http://redplanetminiatures.blogspot.com/)
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28mm for me for large skirmish games but being tempted to try 2mm for very very large battles ;D
Rules - home grown as I like to dabble!!
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I have a big town full of older HO scale Wild West buildings, I guess they can fit either 25mm or 15mm? Since they're 20mm, maybe a bit small for 25's or a bit big for 15's.......
HO (1/87) will look tiny with true 25s (c.1/64), and Lilliputian with 28s (c.1/56).
It works fine with 15s (c.1/100). 18mm is about 1/87, but with chunky metal figures on bases, they will look like they will hit their heads badly on the doorjambs, but it works well enough.
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I looked at some "O" scale trains, from Wiki that scale is about 1/43 or so. So for 28mms it would be a bit large. What is the closest scale to 28's or 25's? Something easy to get hold of, and not too expensive? Some trains are KA-CHING high!!!
:D
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I looked at some "O" scale trains, from Wiki that scale is about 1/43 or so. So for 28mms it would be a bit large. What is the closest scale to 28's or 25's? Something easy to get hold of, and not too expensive? Some trains are KA-CHING high!!
Yes, O scale track is way too wide for 28s, you could never tie a victim to the tracks across the rails.
S scale trains (1/64) work better with 25/28s. Usually you can get old American Flyer equipment on the cheap. American flyer track however is very toy-like. I picked up some MTH brand S scale flex track on EBay that looks superb.
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Either go for Sarissa Precision's gaming trains, or try Bachmann's On30 products.
Steampunk is only steampunk to me in 28-32mm, as it lends itself best to the small groups of characters that typify steampunk, so it really depends on whether you actually mean steampunk or VSF.
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I have to agree with many of the above ... 15mm is the best to go with.
Exotic machinery, vehicles, buildings and other terrain accessories are going to take up way too much space on the board if they are done for anything bigger than 15mm figures. And the cost for filling an entire board with accessories bigger than 15mm is nearly prohibitive.
So go with 15mm-18mm (1/100 to 1/87 or thereabouts), the ONE true “scale”.
There are MDF and resin buildings already being produced for that size, plus there are many options to scavenge/kitbash from among the HO scale kits, particularly from the HO railroad and Old West sets. Lots of HO scale boats, wagons, animals, etc too.
And nowadays there are now many more options for 15mm figures too! There is Blue Moon Manufacturing, Rebel Minis, Splintered Light, Khurasan Miniatures, Highlander Studios, etc.
Lots of inspiring blogs to draw ideas from. Here are a couple:
http://warchest.co.uk/blog/index.php/steampunk-in-15mm-rebel-minis-pulp-adventurers/
http://warchest.co.uk/blog/index.php/gothic-horror-quickie-some-blue-moon-vampire-slayers/
http://vsf15mm.blogspot.com
There are also some old reference sites that are still plenty useful:
http://15mmvsf.bagofmice.com/vsf/builder_pt.htm
http://15mmvsf.bagofmice.com/vsf/vsfpage.htm
http://15mmvsf.bagofmice.com/AllQ/AQpage.htm
http://15mmvsf.bagofmice.com
http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=colonialwars;id=1;url=http%3A%2F%2F15mmvsf%2Ebagofmice%2Ecom%2FMinis%2F15mm_figs%2Ehtm
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Yes, O scale track is way too wide for 28s, you could never tie a victim to the tracks across the rails.
S scale trains (1/64) work better with 25/28s. Usually you can get old American Flyer equipment on the cheap. American flyer track however is very toy-like. I picked up some MTH brand S scale flex track on EBay that looks superb.
I confirm all of that, but it is rather uncommon to get S gauge in Europe. I found my own way by using H0/00 gauge tracks with narrow gauge models (0e or 0n30 or scratch built/conversions).
And of course always 28mm due to the details on models and terrain pieces.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3MyjOpKk0Qk/Uzf2Y7XmGXI/AAAAAAAAHC4/qNAArpdq-lE/s1600/Bricklane+006.JPG)
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I have to agree with many of the above ... 15mm is the best to go with.
Exotic machinery, vehicles, buildings and other terrain accessories are going to take up way too much space on the board if they are done for anything bigger than 15mm figures. And the cost for filling an entire board with accessories bigger than 15mm is nearly prohibitive.
I don't agree with that statement at all.
How can you say the above will take up too much space on the table? Why do you have to fill the table with everything?
You can tailor a game to fit any size table and any budget. Here is a very good example of a 28mm game played on what looks like a 4ft x4 ft table with minimal vehicles and figures:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114520.15
The whole 15mm Vs 25mm debate will never be settled. There's arguments for both, but to say 15s is best is completely subjective. :)
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And of course always 28mm due to the details on models and terrain pieces.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3MyjOpKk0Qk/Uzf2Y7XmGXI/AAAAAAAAHC4/qNAArpdq-lE/s1600/Bricklane+006.JPG)
Ooh, very sweet!
HO gauge track (16.5mm) works particularly well for European metre gauge for 28mm, which was used extensively for urban trams.
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that layout is very sweet
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Malamute,
Yes, it is subjective. I started with 28mm but wanted more terrain on my board, so I tried 15mm and found it to be just fine (for me).
However, to say that “You can tailor a (28mm) game to fit any size table and any budget” can be a bit of a stretch for many people with limited storage space, funds, portability options, etc. So saying “any” is also subjective. Fortunately for them, there are other “scale” choices available.
Dan
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However, to say that “You can tailor a (28mm) game to fit any size table and any budget” can be a bit of a stretch for many people with limited storage space, funds, portability options, etc. So saying “any” is also subjective. Fortunately for them, there are other “scale” choices available.
Dan
So one steam tank, a handful of figures and a 4ft square table is a bit of a stretch and a storage problem?
Then yes you had better look at other scales. 6mm or 10mm perhaps? :)
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“So one steam tank, a handful of figures and a 4ft square table is a bit of a stretch and a storage problem?“
LOL. Well, it’s not a problem if you want to play the same general game, and with the same vehicles, terrain, figures etc. all the time.
For example, I’m about to start painting a landing party from the Nautilus (some arriving by boat and some coming in as divers), for a future raid on a coastal facility. That’s radically different from, say, the vehicles, terrain surface, buildings and figures in a War of the Worlds, a John Carter of Mars or a Time Machine game. Yet I want them all, you see, and without dedicating an entire room of the house for all of that. And going bigger (or smaller) doesn’t work or have the same effect, for me.
I want them ALL. I must have them ALL, you see. I’m not addicted though. I can quit anytime, if I really wanted to. I really can ... if I wanted to.
Dan
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25/28mm for me for all my VSF games.
*ahem* Now, now, old boy, we HAVE played in 15/18mm... ;)
Still, 25/28mm is great for relatively smaller groups, and love of handsome sculpts and paint jobs.
Dan, I never felt constrained such as you suggest. It feels more like we do more character-based fightes with the larger scales, and army battles in the smaller.
Doug
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Hi!
In my opinion 1/56 scale, so 28mm figures.
VSF is a flashy genre so deserves to be done big.
Plus there is a selection of figures and accessories which once painted up look great on any tabletop.
Also for me scratchbuilding accessories is part of the fun of VSF and I like to build stuff big.
:)
Cheers!
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I have to agree with many of the above ... 15mm is the best to go with.
Exotic machinery, vehicles, buildings and other terrain accessories are going to take up way too much space on the board if they are done for anything bigger than 15mm figures. And the cost for filling an entire board with accessories bigger than 15mm is nearly prohibitive.
I don't agree with that statement at all.
How can you say the above will take up too much space on the table? Why do you have to fill the table with everything?
You can tailor a game to fit any size table and any budget. Here is a very good example of a 28mm game played on what looks like a 4ft x4 ft table with minimal vehicles and figures:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114520.15
The whole 15mm Vs 25mm debate will never be settled. There's arguments for both, but to say 15s is best is completely subjective. :)
I'm with Malamute on this one, my table that he linked (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114520.15 (http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=114520.15)) cost me very little to make - the terrain is base on scraps of mdf, the hills are made of a £4 can of expanding foam and the trees are fir cone cores topped with some £1.99 aquarium plants. I'd guess that if you add the cost of the cheap emulsion paints used to finish it all off then the cost for the entire table (including the home made terrain mat that rolls up for easy storage) is around £20-30. That's not very much at all these days when you consider the price of figures, rules etc.
As for playing the same general games, the scenarios can be as diverse as you want once you've built some basic terrain. Next up for me are some Martian ruins, which will be blue foam bricks on scrap mdf, painted with cheap emulsion and finished with creepers and foliage that I make myself by grinding up scrap upholstery and packing foam. Again costs will be minimal.
As for 15mm, well I use the same table for 15mm Space Opera sci-fi, so it fits both.
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I went to the local hardware store yesterday and picked up some stuff,
I thought about building a Martian Tripod, looking at what I've done so far, it might be too small for a 25mm scale one. I have a 15mm Union ACW army, I may compare it to them and and my HO Wild West buildings. Just have the legs in progress now, I have to decide on the right shape for the body of the Tripod.
I guess take photos and start a thread in the conversion area? Once I get more done!
Love the feedback folks, this is a very civil forum! Great points about both scales!
I guess, throwing THIS out here, that some larger battles could be done with 3mm or 6mm figures???
:D
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There are a couple of us contemplating using 10mm figures and having flyers et al for grand scale games.
Do show your tripod when you have photos :)
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I guess, throwing THIS out here, that some larger battles could be done with 3mm or 6mm figures???
Just a couple of years ago, Brigade Models was muttering about doing 1/300 aeronefs. They would make for lovely full combined arms big battles. Good thing for my gaming budget they haven't followed through with that.
There are a couple of us contemplating using 10mm figures and having flyers et al for grand scale games.
So, why are you still contemplating and not doing?!?
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So, why are you still contemplating and not doing?!?
lol
Need to get Salute out the way first ;)
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Well,
We won't keep you! Get off here and get back to work on those projects for Salute!!!
:D :D :D
Went down to the modeling area and started a thread down there. Might start out with 15mm or 1/100 scale, just because of the models, terrain and buildings already on hand.
Now its just finding the proper moving boxes and tubs.......they're out in the garage someplace!
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Personally I use 28mm as it suits my style of gaming. I've walkers, airships ,and a Eather flyer with a solar boiler All in 28mm.
Mark.
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(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oOumZhGeYTY/V9bIgXf3PMI/AAAAAAAAA-0/7LjOPzLNEkU36hB6QTrme2jstXgjUHdtQCLcB/s640/IMG_20160827_193830.jpg)
2mm. Not as visually sound as other scales, but the miniatures are painted pretty fast lol
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Mark (Tin Shed Gamer),
Wow, very nice! Where did you get those “triangular” bases for your tripods?
Dan
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I like the "TOES" on those big feet!
Got some hexagonal feet for my first Tripod, was going to cut or mold something similar to his. I usually drill and pin miniatures, even small ones, to keep them sturdy. Will try to keep doing it with these new projects too.
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I don't think anyone can say there's a 'best' scale for an entire genre, just the 'best' for them individually. If it works for you, great, but to say that 28mm doesn't work for VSF for whatever reason, when there are so many examples where it clearly does, seems overly dismissive. It all comes down to personal preference, storage, etc and there are no right or wrongs, just choices and preferences.
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Aptly put Elk101. :)
We are also fortunate that there are so many options available these days that people can game in their scale of choice.
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Nah, 28mm all the way!
;D
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After a retirement move 1000 miles,
I had thought about downsizing the toy/figure/game collection. I managed to "diet" and some of the more dusty items went off to other folks. Same with the books.....darn it!!!
No such thing as TOO MANY TOYS!!!
Right?????
:D
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Until you get flooded out and no-one wants to move/store your stuff as you remain homeless for an unknown period as there aren't enough homes left to acquire.
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That does stink!
Know a guy here lately too, whose shed caught fire. Forty plus years of collecting up in smoke..........
I wonder what the silver lining of disasters is? Life IS change?!?!?!
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Shadow Beast
I know all too well what you mean. So true.
Dan
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28 to 32mm for me. :)
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To my the epitome of steampunk is brightly clad soldiers marching in formation entirely nonsensically when there are also huge pondering landships on the field, like how Robida drew it. For that reason, 6mm is the one and only scale for me!
(https://i.imgur.com/FsJTxhX.jpg)
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15mm for Martian Empires...