Space, My New 28mm Frontier (Jan. 12: pics recovered & 2 pics of final project)

[War In 15MM]

While my plan for this collection is not limited to the plot line of Firefly and Serenity, that series and movie are central to what drew me to work on this collection, and central to that plot is the threat/fear of the Reavers.   As far as I know the only company that makes Reavers is Sgt Major Miniatures who makes them under the name Space Cannibals.  I picked mine up at Historicon in 2012… four packs of five figures each.  Great figures.  The space ship I have adopted as a Reaver ship is the Y Wind marketed with the release of one of the Star Wars films.  The large versions of these Star Wars fighters can easily be made to look like multi-figure-crew ships… at least to my eye.  As always, I picked mine up at the swap meet.  Because it was in pretty bad shape when I found it, I got it for $1.   It required some repair work but nothing too difficult given that Reaver ships have a pretty rough look to them anyway.

[Dr Mathias]

Very cool, I wasn't aware of those figures. They look the part!

[jamesmanto]

Brilliant stuff!
Although that Y-Wing looks in too good repair for a Reaver ship! 

[vodkafan]

 Your Reavers are spot on. Loving that big Y wing too. I always preferred the Y wing better than the X wing.

[War In 15MM]

The Sgt. Major Reavers/Space Cannibals were a lucky find.  And jamesmanto, I take a shot at beating this Y-Wing up a little more before the project is done... still needs some thinking to help decide upon the doable ugly.  Thanks to all for taking the time to write.  Richard

[dwbullock]

Between your swap meets (and a Heroclix store - seriously, an entire STORE?) and Eilif's thrift stores, I think Kentucky has some of the crappiest flea markets, thrift stores, and ... well, we don't really have swap meets.

Good jobs on all of those.  I always wonder about the civilians and other 'working girls' when I see folks post them.  Are they playable as a group, or do you intend to use them more as 'scenery' or obstacles? 

Dave

[jamesmanto]

I like civilians on the table. It helps it come alive to me. They can also be fun to paint.

I keep hoping that they can become part of the game as a moving obstacle or an objective or a source of Intel.

But usually they're just part of the terrain.

[War In 15MM]

James I share your love of terrain and civilians for their own sake.  In the Orange County area of Southern California there are still a number of really great hobby shops dealing with trains, models, and miniatures Arnie's Trains, Brookhurst Hobbies and Majestix for the Heroclix).  But having a shop dedicate to Heroclix came as a surprise to me when I found it a year or so ago.  It's doors are only open four days and for four hours each of those days... Patrick the owner does most of his business with on-line sales.  The store has thousands of Heroclix singles ranging in price from 25 cents up.  I think Patrick was once the world champion Heroclix player.  In the last week my attention has been drawn to the Heroclix-like Wizards of the Coast Star Wars figures... some really great "civilian stuff there.

Dave this is where you will probably lose interest in what I do because this is where I tell you (are you sitting?) that I don't game.  If you want to see where this collection is ultimately going, check out my recently completed Gangsters "And Stuff" Gallery (it's big... approximately 150 pictures) at www.warin15mm.com/28mm-Gangsters---Stuff.html

[dwbullock]

Not gaming isn't sad, at all.  I like to think some of us are, basically, less serious model rail roaders.  We have significant overlap with those guys, though they seem to be fascinated with what gauge train should fit on what gauge rail, and whether that building material was available in the 1930s based upon layouts etc...

We just like our spaceships and mobsters and castles and other cool things.

Also, does it count as gaming when I just keep building and painting stuff, but never actually throw any dice?  Maybe 1 time ever 6 months I get to actually play.  The kids do love to steal my creations and toss some Legos on them, so that's always good for me.

Regardless, always enjoy your posts and your projects.

Dave

[Dr Mathias]

Not gaming isn't sad, at all.  I like to think some of us are, basically, less serious model rail roaders.  We have significant overlap with those guys, though they seem to be fascinated with what gauge train should fit on what gauge rail, and whether that building material was available in the 1930s based upon layouts etc...

Also, does it count as gaming when I just keep building and painting stuff, but never actually throw any dice?  Maybe 1 time ever 6 months I get to actually play.  The kids do love to steal my creations and toss some Legos on them, so that's always good for me.

Good summation, I don't play often enough to legitimately call my productions 'game pieces'

[War In 15MM]

Dr. and Dave, good to hear that shouldn't feel too odd about not gaming.  I have never hidden the fact, but I sometimes feel a little odd admitting that putting together these large collections and galleries is what I do, and that's enough for me.  Tomorrow I plan to post another spacecraft, a couple more ambassador types, and a few more vehicles.  I'm having fun!  Richard

[jamesmanto]

Well as long as you're having fun without disturbing the peace of frightening the horses it's good!

[War In 15MM]

My knowledge of Star Wars spacecraft is limited so I am not certain that this one has a Star Wars background, but I believe it does.  I was attracted to it because its box-like shape said freighter to me, and I like that.  The two ambassador-style figures are from Iron Kingdoms.  The only modification done on these is to the one on the right (in red).  I got it at a great price because that figure’s arms were missing from the pack.  I used arms from Heroclix figures as replacement.  The vehicles, like the spacecraft, were purchased at the swap meet.  Every once in awhile I find one of these little vehicles for 50 cents or a dollar and there is something about their shape that is unique and fun and that I believe will paint up in an interesting way… these were no disappointment.

[The_Baron]

While my plan for this collection is not limited to the plot line of Firefly and Serenity, that series and movie are central to what drew me to work on this collection, and central to that plot is the threat/fear of the Reavers.   As far as I know the only company that makes Reavers is Sgt Major Miniatures who makes them under the name Space Cannibals.  I picked mine up at Historicon in 2012… four packs of five figures each.  Great figures. 

I really like what you have done with the Reavers, as I am currently working on a Serenity project myself. To be honest I haven't been particularly impressed with the quality of the sculpts shown in the photos on the SMM website, they look pretty crude for some reason (their Mal in particular). But you have made them shine through. What were your feelings on them? Was the sculpting quality ok?

[War In 15MM]

The_Baron, I really like the Sgt Major Space Cannibals/Reavers.  There are 20 of them... 10 with guns and 10 with blades.  If you have a close look at the ones I posted you will see that while all 20 are different poses they are not 20 completely different figures.  I'm just guessing that there are probably 6 to 10 different figure types (bodies and heads) that are reconfigured to provide the 20 different figures that you get... I hope that makes sense.  A few of the figures had mold lines that needed some cleaning and there was a little flashing on some of them, but nothing significant.  I painted these figures black and  then dry brushed the clothing, hair and armor so I was relying on the sculpts to provide the detail you see.  The only thing I painted (as opposed to dry brushed) was the skin and eyes.  I would buy them again.  Hope that helps.  Richard