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Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: Thunderchicken on February 04, 2011, 08:01:02 PM

Title: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Thunderchicken on February 04, 2011, 08:01:02 PM
London, Sunday, August 1899: The news of heavy fighting in and around Woking on Saturday was still reaching London breakfast tables when reports were received of Fighting Machines reaching the south western suburbs of the great metropolis. The dull thud of artillery fire from the direction of Richmond and Twickenham followed by plumes of thick black smoke confirmed the city was now vulnerable to the seemingly invincible metallic giants.
A correspondent and photographer of the Illustrated London News had been sent to Twickenham to report on the military's preparations. Their arrival coincided with the Martian advance on the suburbs and the following two pictures taken by the team electrified the world with images of the advancing doom.

The pictures show one of many guns placed in the streets of south west London. This detachment of the Royal Artillery (Electrical Command) is about to open fire on two approaching Fighting Machines. Although not confirmed it is highly probable this gun and its crew was destroyed. The infantrymen seen in the picture have yet to be identified as their features and unit insignia are indistinguishable due to the poor nature of the print. Again their survival has never been confirmed.

(http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z395/Lord_Futtock/IMG00083-20110204-1633.jpg)

(http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z395/Lord_Futtock/IMG00085-20110204-1635.jpg)   

P.S I'm afraid this isnt an AAR but a game will be coming soon  :)  
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Elprez on February 04, 2011, 08:38:21 PM
Very dramatic pictures! Lovely.
Look forward to more.
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Ray Rivers on February 04, 2011, 08:39:58 PM
Although not confirmed it is highly probable this gun and its crew was destroyed.

Ah too bad.   :'(

Hopefully the machines didn't mess up any of your buildings though.   :D

THAT would make me really mad if I was you!   ;)
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Svennn on February 04, 2011, 08:45:53 PM
Great shots -really really authentic looking. The buildings are brilliant together
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Dewbakuk on February 04, 2011, 08:47:01 PM
Very nice, looks a bit Yorkshire though  ;)
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: DeafNala on February 04, 2011, 08:47:41 PM
TERRIFIC bit of cinematic effect...looking forward to the game.
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Mister Rab on February 04, 2011, 08:58:02 PM
That looks grand. I hope your intrepid reporter will be able to bring more panoramic shots of the machines advancing (or, preferably, being driven back) through the streets of Twickenham  ;D
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Thunderchicken on February 04, 2011, 09:19:58 PM
Thanks chaps. It's the culmination of a project I've been working on for a long long time and its a relief to see it finally coming to fruition. Svennn and Westphilia Chris need to take some of the credit as their machines will be the stars. More pics will follow once battle commences proper so these are just teaser shots.

Hopefully the machines didn't mess up any of your buildings though.   :D

No buildings were hurt in the making of this documentary however I can assure you it will get messy.  ;)


Very nice, looks a bit Yorkshire though  ;)

Cheeky monkey!  lol

How about in colour:

(http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z395/Lord_Futtock/IMG00091-20110204-1639.jpg)

(http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z395/Lord_Futtock/IMG00086-20110204-1636.jpg)



Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Trooper on February 04, 2011, 09:28:44 PM
An excellent teaser that has left this member of the audience wanting much more. First rate stuff.
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Supercollider on February 04, 2011, 10:39:46 PM
Fantastic pictures.   Congrats on finishing an amazing project, too :)

I'm eagerly awaiting anything else you post up.
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Svennn on February 04, 2011, 10:50:42 PM
Very nice, looks a bit Yorkshire though  ;)

Royston Vasey.  The Shropshire Twins are "local". lol
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Conquistador on February 04, 2011, 11:32:12 PM
Dude!

Looks a little "puckery" for the troops...

Gracias,

Glenn
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Bullshott on February 05, 2011, 01:24:29 AM
Very nice work TC
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Blackwolf on February 05, 2011, 01:31:31 AM
Lovely,like the perspective in the photos,tres' ambient (sic  lol).
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Captain Nemo on February 05, 2011, 01:35:03 AM
Fantastic Work!
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Dr DeAth on February 05, 2011, 01:51:09 AM
Really nice - are the buildings in the foreground done with brick paper, or are they foamcard bricks?

Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: OSHIROmodels on February 05, 2011, 08:57:09 AM
Well Mr. Cheeks, you really have surpassed yourself this time...

 8) :-* 8) :-* 8) :-*

Love all you've done there (and the bits done by others).

You are a dark horse aren't you  ;D

cheers

James

*edit for bad spelling*
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Thunderchicken on February 05, 2011, 09:17:46 AM
Thanks again chaps  :)

Royston Vasey.  The Shropshire Twins are "local". lol

I used to run a shop there.   ;)

Really nice - are the buildings in the foreground done with brick paper, or are they foamcard bricks?

They are embossed plasticard stuck to foamboard or foamed PVC. Antenociti's Workshop sell them or a comapny called Plastikard. This was my first stab at a scratchbuild but it gives you the idea:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=15494.0

You are a dark horse aren't you  ;D

The family motto is 'Keep you head down, never volunteer and never double dip your biscuits.'  ;)
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Geudens on February 05, 2011, 09:22:54 AM
Lovely job!!!  You should write a VSF book on that, or... a radioplay...  No better still: make a movie!!!! lol

Rudi
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Malamute on February 05, 2011, 09:38:08 AM
Eye candy of the highest calibre ;D :-*
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Pappa Midnight on February 05, 2011, 10:47:50 AM
Awesome stuff! :-* :-* :-*
It all goes together perfectly. You are a very talented Gentleman Sir!

PM
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Overlord on February 05, 2011, 10:57:10 AM
Brilliant stuff! Very atmospheric B&W photos.   "No one would have believed......"  8)  :-*
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Mors on February 05, 2011, 11:43:14 AM
I get really p****d off when I log on sometimes and see what other peoples commitment and skill produce.
Fabulous project , I salute you
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Funghy-Fipps on February 05, 2011, 11:54:11 AM
Just saw this and my jaw hit the ground.  There can be no hyperbole when I posit that yours is a board of the first water.  The very first, I say!  Also my village local is called The White Hart, so you gain additional points for that too.  Would it be incredibly rude to, in the manner of a well-known Victorian orphan, ask for more?
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: gamer Mac on February 05, 2011, 12:00:08 PM
I love the atmosphere of the B&W photos :-* :-* :-*
Stunning work  :-* :-* :-*
Got to agree with Funghy-fipps - "Can I have some more sir"
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: The_Beast on February 05, 2011, 05:18:34 PM
An excellent teaser that has left this member of the audience wanting much more. First rate stuff.

Heck, it's the kind of thing that would get my blood up as a participant. Mind you, piccies are, at best, an afterthought with us, usually bad phone shots. ;->=

Come to think of it, I need to dig some out to share...

I get really p****d off when I log on sometimes and see what other peoples commitment and skill produce.
Fabulous project , I salute you


Yes, Mors old bean, Thunderfowl has also joined my shameful legion of the list of envious ire. ;->=

And, yes, hungry for more, indeed!

Doug
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Gluteus Maximus on February 05, 2011, 06:52:14 PM
I used to run a shop there.   ;)

Any chance of some "special stuff" or have you eaten it all?

The use of the sepia tone is a touch of genius. The figures and terrain are of course splendid, but this makes it look so real. The colour pics are non too shabby though  :D

Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Captain Blood on February 05, 2011, 08:09:36 PM
Superb Neil.
More!
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Skrapwelder on February 05, 2011, 10:38:21 PM
"There's two of them, Nigel! Its a trap!"

Excellent the way its all falls together and looks so seamless.

Well done.
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Sterling Moose on February 08, 2011, 11:20:22 PM
Somewhat suberb!!
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Malamute on February 09, 2011, 08:33:56 AM
"There's two of them, Nigel! Its a trap!"

Yep, there's two of them alright, the Thundercheeks twins, official royal photographers to HRH Queen Victoria (Gaud Bless 'Er).

This has stirred my blood, we need to organise a game pronto :)
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Ettrick on February 09, 2011, 08:35:44 PM

This has stirred my blood,
It has stirred mine, too.  I want to do a short video documentary with 'old' stills to tell the story for YouTube... only it won't fit on my normal channel, nor on my other normal channel.  (unless it's done cleanly and simply enough that it fits in with kidlit.)
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Alfrik on February 10, 2011, 02:34:26 PM
Wondering if the "in battle" versions of the buildings are ready? You know, the ones the martian walkers crush, smash through or blast with various heat rays or such?  ;)
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: The_Beast on February 10, 2011, 03:53:44 PM
Wondering if the "in battle" versions of the buildings are ready? You know, the ones the martian walkers crush, smash through or blast with various heat rays or such?  ;)

Don't forget smoldering. They must have smolder. ;->=

Doug

Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Thunderchicken on February 11, 2011, 12:54:58 PM
Wondering if the "in battle" versions of the buildings are ready? You know, the ones the martian walkers crush, smash through or blast with various heat rays or such?  ;)

Funny you should mention that. They're on the workbench (in spirit). Red weed is on the production line too.

This has stirred my blood, we need to organise a game pronto :)
Get the beer and pizza in!
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Fuzzywuzzieswiflasers on February 12, 2011, 12:16:06 AM
Thunderchicken that is bloody awesome  :-*

Where are the tripods from again?

I need to work on Victorian buildings for a similar game with my tripods.

Cheers

Fuzzy

aka another WOTW Neil  :D
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: einarolafson on February 12, 2011, 12:20:28 AM
Impressive!!
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Thunderchicken on February 12, 2011, 08:56:26 PM
Where are the tripods from again?

These marvels are by Westphalia Chris, the idea was to think of a tripod from a Victorians point of view and avoid 20th/21st influences. There's a tiny bit more work to do on them. There is another beauty built by Svennn to come yet.
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Fuzzywuzzieswiflasers on February 12, 2011, 11:48:42 PM
I do remember seeing some WIP of Svenn's tripod and was mightily impressed! Based on some pictures off the net IIRC. Can't wait to see them.

I used red lichen for red weed and that has worked pretty well in my mars games.

See here:
http://littleleadmenofvalour.blogspot.com/2010/05/little-wars-gaslight-demo-game-photos.html

Lots of it stuck over Victorian buildings and all over the ground would look cool!
Cheers
Fuzzy.
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: oldskoolrebel on February 13, 2011, 09:56:00 PM
Very impressive Mr Thunderpants! The pictures look wonderful, full of character.

I'm now reading War of the Worlds for the first time, thanks to your recommendation at BLAM. Might we perhaps see a Thunderchicken war of the worlds game at BLAM this year *crosses fingers*. Regardless I cannot wait to see the game pictures!

Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: Fighting Machines Reach London!!
Post by: Thunderchicken on February 14, 2011, 04:21:48 PM
I used red lichen for red weed and that has worked pretty well in my mars games.

Svennn gave me a good tip for Red Weed - rubberised horse hair! It'll do the job nicely.

Very impressive Mr Thunderpants! The pictures look wonderful, full of character.

I'm now reading War of the Worlds for the first time, thanks to your recommendation at BLAM. Might we perhaps see a Thunderchicken war of the worlds game at BLAM this year *crosses fingers*. Regardless I cannot wait to see the game pictures!


Hope you enjoy the book, you cant beat the original!

Alas I've got another game planned for BLAM but hopefully it'll make up for not seeing these fellas.