Battletech, the XL edition

[Modhail]

Well, I managed to stave off "Real Life" for long enough to get some hobby time in...

I've started on a few Japanese kits I received:

Yeah, had Battletech on the brain a bit recently....

The kits are an alleged 1/100 scale, but they are functional enough for 20mm-1/72nd figures and vehicles. I'm thinking of using them for small combined-arms skirmishes. 1 or 2 Mech's a side, supported by a couple of squads of infantry, maybe a light vehicle or 2.
Fairly small skirmishes.
Odd thing is, I haven't played Battletech for nearly 10 years, I don't even know if I still like the game! I like the concept and setting though. If worse comes to worse, I can always hack together some beer-and-pretzel style rules...

Now I still need to source some decent 20mm Sci-fi infantry. Ideally including some that can double as Clan Elementals.
Does anyone have suggestions?

[Onebigriver]

Might suit your needs:

http://www.wargamessupplydump.co.uk/20mm.htm

Who makes the kits?

[Modhail]

Thanks! Do you know if their Colonial Rangers infantry is similar to the jetbike crew?

The kits are from Bandai, the action figure is from Revoltech. I got them both via Hobby Link Japan. Just do a search on "Destroid" to vind the kits, and "Dougram" for the action figure.

[Love_the_Lash]

Must be something in the air I just bought 5 of the old exo squad / robotech toys to form the basis of a couple of inner sphere lances. Would be very interested to hear what the height of the warhammer and longbow is so I can work out if they are compatible or not.

Am pondering also picking up http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/ttc1003.jpg from Khurasan Miniatures because that just screams inner sphere don't you think?

Keep on posting pics!

Chrissy

[Modhail]

It could very well be...For me it was triggered by the announcement that Mechwarrior 4 would be distributed for free, and the background buzz about the concept trailer for Mechwarrior 5/Reboot.

The Warhammer is 11.5 cm to the top of his "hunchback", 13 to the top of his missile rack. The Longbow is 12 cm to the top of his scanner "head". The Griffin is a smidge oversized at 12 cm. How large are the Exo-squad/Robotech models?


That model looks quite nice! Size seems about right for a medium mech indeed.
I wonder if their Federal Marine Powerarmour is large enough to serve as 20mm Elementals/Battle armour...

[Love_the_Lash]

Will let you know when it arrives!

[Modhail]

Thanks!

Had a bit of a root round, and maybe (if you're using 20mm infantry) these might work as Battle Armour stand-ins? http://www.gtns.co.uk/store1/commerce.cgi, look for V15-79A  and V15-79B.

[Tacgnol]

Big-scale Battletech is always a winner- I'll be monitoring this thread with interest. 

[steders]

Big battletech is great fun, can I point you to this thread
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=16206.0
If anyone has any good suggestions for Clan stuff in 20mm I'd certainly be pleased!
The only stuff I can think of is either the Robotech Gluags (which I already have a few of) or some of the Kryomek walkers

[steders]

Oh yeah, for clan elementals I had thought of using Ground zero games NSL power armour. Their figures are 25mm so they actually look pretty good next to 20mm stuff, I can take a photo if you want.
What figures are you thinking of using for your infantry?
Edit: I've picked up several boxes of these
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1390
http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.aspx?id=1389
To use for normal infantry with some tripod mounted guns for laser teams. Although they are plastic, it is not Airfix type plastic and they do actually 'take' paint.

[Modhail]

Thanks!

Steders, your stuff looks great! Nice fix for the buildings too.

For infantry, I'm thinking of just getting 20mm figs. Just take a random mix of WWII to moderns, and paint them in non-typical colours. (DAK in jungle colours, modern Brits in flat grey, etc.) I believe I still have some 20mm SHQ DAK lying around.

Haven't solved the Clan issue myself, actually. There's a fair bit of papercraft mechs around the internet. I may just use those as templates for plasticard scratchbuilds? If it isn't more work than it's worth that is...
I'll try and find some links if you're interested?

[steders]

Definately
I've got a few of these
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN37109
I thought about adding missile pods to the shoulders and changing the guns to give me a vulture and a Madcat. Not sure how much of a mess I would make though, so I haven't tried yet.
Have you thought about rules, I've been using Future war commander with modifications, works pretty well.

[Love_the_Lash]

Unless you have a few of those I'd be inclined just to use them as unseen Marauders (which I have a real soft spot for).

Chrissy

[steders]

Ive got 4, I might just build and paint them 'as is' and proxy them as omni mechs.

[Viper]

I really wish there was more in the way of larger scale battletech stuff.

The tiny CBT miniatures just don't do much for me.
Very sad that the armorcast 28mm scale Madcat and Vulture are hard/impossible to get hold of these days.

Oh how fun playing BT with 2 lances of 28mm mechs would be.

Still there's always the museum scale pieces I guess. I'm not sure how big they are 4-5 inches tall maybe.