1928/29 Buck Rogers stories

[robh]

Anyone seen (or tried) games of the original "Buck" Rogers stories "Armageddon 2419AD" and "Airships of Han"?

I have been listening to the free audio versions on Libravox and think they have the potential to work well as a game, especially in scales small enough to model the flyers and "tanks". Everything from the vehicles to Infantry uniforms and weapons are well described with measurements given in some cases to allow scratchbuilds if nothing already exists.
Totally different stories from the awful 1970s effort (for which Erin Gray's presence is the only redeeming factor).

I have seen a lot of Space Opera Flash Gordon type games but nothing from the Nowlan books.

[tin shed gamer]

It's something I'd thought of . But haven't found enough time to sculpt. I've a playable 2 ½ ft ether flyer. That I've toyed with using until l can fit a more apt model in.

More and more likely I'll get talked into sculpting some though as my sons have discovered the Flash Gordon serials.

Mark.

[robh]

Well anything suitable for the Buster Crabbe Flash era would suit the 1939 Universal "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" serials.
Apparently the BR25 series was done on such a small budget they re-used a lot of the sets and costumes from Flash and Crabbe was the star of them both (maybe because the speedos fitted).

Those are more Space Opera than the large battle events in the original books but still very cool and I reckon would be great to do.

[dgrosso]

TSR did an rpg based on the early BucK Rogers comic strips and stories. They had some nice maps of airships and other things. The thing that really struck me as fun is the use of Curtiss Jenny airplanes.

[tin shed gamer]

Just for giggles ,if you come up with four characters (images) I'll make them as I need a league for the ether flyer anyway.

Mark.

[robh]

Just for giggles ,if you come up with four characters (images) I'll make them as I need a league for the ether flyer anyway.
Mark.

If you are after big 28/32mm Matt at Hydra already has the "not xxx" Space Opera characters superbly covered. Unlicensed so generic names but still startling likenesses to the Universal Buck Rogers characters (and a guest appearance by a Gordon lookalike in the specials range).
15/18mm would be really cool though, some great ranges of martians and evil villain types in the smaller scale that need a few manly heroes to give them a good thrashing.
 

TSR did an rpg based on the early BucK Rogers comic strips and stories. They had some nice maps of airships and other things. The thing that really struck me as fun is the use of Curtiss Jenny airplanes.

Yes, I found details of that when looking around for options before. Looks good but I can only find a couple of eBay sellers at outrageous shipping costs unfortunately. Looks like it would be a good resource for the "by the book" Buck Rogers .......has to be better than the post 1979/80 TV inspired rpg they did.

[LeadAsbestos]

Great minds think alike! I've just been trolling around the Hydra site to see.if their stuff will do the trick for my recent Buck idea. I've had a hard back collection of the original strips for years, and it has been burning in my brain recently. Certainly War Rocket has the aesthetic down.

[DivisMal]

15/18mm would be really cool though, some great ranges of martians and evil villain types in the smaller scale that need a few manly heroes to give them a good thrashing.
 

Oh that would be brilliant...my next project that will never be finished:)

[tin shed gamer]

Rob,
Thanks,
I had quick look.I do like some of the robots (they'd be ideal for space1889 as well). Plus the jet bikes capture the feel pretty well.
Unfortunately its the wrong side of the pond for me.The Uk distributor was out of stock. Which is good for me because £6.50p a character (Buck Rodgers)is more than I'm happy with.
Since my son's will be after them. I think I'll sculpt them some.
(I've no out let for a 15-18mm range of figures.As I've never been commissioned by a company that does that scale. Plus my boys like 28mm)
Mark

[robh]

Yeah, Hydra figures are pricey to get hold of, especially if you have to ship them from over there.

This is the sort of look I would go for with a Space Opera "Buck"


Different enough from the Gordon guy to be distinctive, and you gotta love matching satin vest, speedos and boots. 25th Century fashion is going to be so cool........

If you do get a set done and end up with a few spares kicking around I would love to get some for display.

[tin shed gamer]

Rob,
Once they're done I'll talk Simon into adding them to the follies.(its where all my cunning plans go to hide.)

Mark.

[Mason]

I would be up for getting some of them too.
A B+W Flash Gordonesque project has been fermenting in my noggin for a long time....

[robh]

A B+W Flash Gordonesque project has been fermenting in my noggin for a long time....

Sounds good, I hope you can get something going with this. A b/w retro Space Hulk Dungeon Crawl mix?