DUST goes BattleTech (Update: Hornet cargo ship)

[Warboss Nick]

A couple of years ago I started a project for Gamma Wolves using DUST mercenary and axis miniatures

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=130174.msg1649598#msg1649598

Now a friend at the local club talked me into 28mm BattleTech using modified Bolt Action rules. And what would be more suitable than those DUST miniatures?

[Warboss Nick]

The problem is, the DUST mechs are a tad on the small side, more like very light scout walkers. And while my friend promised me rules for that, I still need larger mechs, too. So I decided to give a  Luther that was lying in my pile of shame a lift.

First step to get the Luther from a height of 10cm to 12-15cm was to stretch the legs. The next step was to give it larger boots by putting a bit of plasticard under them, cut to size.

[Warboss Nick]

Finally I enlarged the main body, again with plasticard. That also opened up the opportunity to add rocket launchers to the hull. That brought the main frame up to 13cm. As a happy little accident the hatch sprung open to add a little extra visual higher along with a mercenary pilot.

[Warboss Nick]

And now fully painted. It will count as a light mech with autocannon, two light lasers, KSR and an MG.

[Daeothar]

That's really pretty 

Are the DUST mechs still commercially available? I had been thinking about using a few as count-as Sentinels in my IG army...

[Warboss Nick]

Some shops have Limited stock left, and you can get them on eBay. However, you will really have to check prices twice - some are just ridiculous. But you can also get lucky.

The official site https://ammodrop.eu/?lang=en is also still operational and has the original prices. Just make sure you check the modelling kits and primed edition, not the fully painted premium edition.

[Warboss Nick]

BattleTech needs infantry, too, at least in 28mm. So more DUST mercenaries had to be painted including special weapons. Who’s to say if that is a recoilless anti-tank rifle or a laser cannon in the far future?

[Warboss Nick]

Next up a gunship. The model is a plastic kit by mantic games with the side guns being resin bits. I really quite like this one with its boxy design even though it has  little space for decals, at least larger ones.

[eilif]

I love this project!

A great reuse of Dust Models and your Luther mod is a thing of stompy beauty.

I've been doing 28mm Mech combat for a while and while I haven't yet brought any of the Mecha into my game (still all in boxes) I found the Soviet Helicopters a very nice addition
https://www.chicagoskirmishwargames.com/blog/2017/03/adepticon-prep-part-5-quadruple-copters/

[Warboss Nick]

Thank you @eilif! Good to hear I‘m not the only lunatic doing this.

Love those soviet copters, too, but they are hard to come by even for DUST standards. So for now I settled for the Hornet.

Next up are some transports and an improved Koenigsluther aspiring to become a medium mech.

[tomrommel1]

A very nice project indeed. I am thinking about doing some battletech stuff in 28mm for a while now myself. This is very good inspiration!

[OSHIROmodels]

Brill 

[Warboss Nick]

Thanks, guys! Your appreciation motivates me.

[Warboss Nick]

A VAB APC to give the light infantry a little more mobility. The plan is to have a number of different vehicles that fit reasonably well into the theme. The model is a 3D print.

[Ragsta]

Love what you did with the dropship, really makes that model look so much better!