Laborjacks (Civillian Steamjacks for Warmachine)

[Modhail]

Hello folks,

In this past week, I've converted a pair of Laborjacks. I plan on using them in friendly Warmachine games as a sort of interactive terrain: Any model capable of controlling a Warjack can take control of one of these. Just to add to the fun and mayhem...

I originally started on them as draft "animals" for a trader caravan I'm intending to build. But they just seemed to get finished faster.
They're made from two Mercenary Warjacks, which I disarmed as far as possible, and then modified their appearance to differ from the original model and make them look less martial.
Here are the bare models:

Based on the Vanguard mercenary warjack model. Original here: http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/mercenaries/warjacks/vanguard
Modifications: weapon and shield removed, head swapped with the Talon Light jack. Cowling over the head sawn loose and reattached under the head. Added tow-/lift rings to shoulders and hips. The model came mispacked with 2 left legs, so I had to switch one over. Added cinder/spark catcher.


Based on the Talon mercenary warjack model. Original here: http://privateerpress.com/warmachine/gallery/mercenaries/warjacks/talon
Modifications: Weapon and shield removed. Head replaced with one made from spare plastic bits. Tow rings added to shoulders. Turned the remnant of its spear shaft into a large spanner with plasticard.
Added cinder/spark catcher.

And in their painted glory:

They still need some grass added to their bases.
Oh, and build the wagons they're supposed to be pulling... 

[YPU]

I LOVE the idea, and the models as well. Now I wish PP would make an actual set of laborjacks! I would probably have gone for the cheaper new plastics, but the mercenary models do work better I think, many of them always had a bit of a "civilian adapted for war" feel to them already.

[Dewbakuk]

They look good. I'm going to do a similar thing using the 'Grind' Jacks as a base.

Menoth is the easiest. The Crusader is a laboujack design... or that's what they told Cygnar...

[Grimmnar]

They look good. I'm going to do a similar thing using the 'Grind' Jacks as a base.

Menoth is the easiest. The Crusader is a laboujack design... or that's what they told Cygnar...

Hey now, your arent saying the Path of the Light lied or deceived the Cygnar high council? ;-)

Grimm

[Modhail]

Thanks!

YPU, I'd love an "official" PP Laborjack model as well...

The slightly more civilian look of the mercenary 'jacks is why I chose them. There are both light jacks by the way. I could have used the plastic 'jacks but as far as I know only the plastic heavies have been released yet?
I've got a Nomad on order, to build a heavy Laborjack as well. (Which is actually slightly cheaper than a new plastic heavy. Less weapon options though, but I don't need those for a Laborjack.)

Hmmm, I forgot about the "Menite Deceit"... Thanks for reminding me. Might come in handy if I ever decide to build a cart for a travelling priest.

I really should get building on those trade wagons... Or my steamjacks won't have anything to haul around. 

[YPU]

Indeed only the heavies are made plastic, but the starter sets, not including merc's I think, are also plastic.

[Heldrak]

Patlabor! Brilliant idea...   

[Modhail]

Patlabor?

[Michi]

Oh these are nice Erik! I bear a similar idea in my mind for a long time now, but other projects delayed my Khadoran progress...

[The_Beast]

Highly original bit of thought, adding this to Warmachine!

Closest I can think of is a lot of the combat engineers in other games, and I think there were a few civ 'mechs in the cliccy Mechwarrior, or was I confused about those? I collected some of the non-mechs as proxies for OGRE, so never actually played.

Doug

[Modhail]

Thanks!  My Khador army isn't exactly advancing leaps and bounds either, Michi.

They're not really meant for an army support role, though I could use them in that way for certain scenarios. I just like building items of terrain player can interact with during a game. Having one or two idling Laborjacks on the field will hopefully tempt players to activate and use them. 
And I like adding little rewards/"easter eggs" for attentive players. The two barrels in the last pic for example, are marked with the icon of the Golden Crucible. They manufacture the two-component gunpowder of the Warmachine setting... One barrel is marked red, the other black, which are the colours of the two components. If they mix: BOOM!. 
For my zombie games I have a steamroller, and I generally rule that non-damaged cars can be hotwired. More fun that way.

Generally I think many games would benefit from random civilians or livestock running around the board, messing things up.