A few new wastelanders.

Tango & Caps. 

These pair a unlikely pair of Wastelanders. Tango got her name because of the hue of her skin. Best not call her a mutie though as that hammer will be used. Caps like getting caps, it doesn't matter how. 

With Tango I was going for the ever popular orange skin tone you seem to see people wearing. 
Tango is from East Riding minis and is from the Golgo line. Caps is a Copplestone sewer scavenger. 

Libbi

Libbi is a Psi-er. Dont piss her off. She will make you nose bleed just before your brain melts. Libbi is from Hasslefree minis. 


I liked what I read of the SSS game by Mojo Miniatures. So I headed into the mini pile to convert some figures. 

Its amazing what a head swap and a hood can do. 

The guy on the left was a WW2 American with a head swap, hood and arm swap. The guy in the middle is a Copplestone Sewer Scavenger. I swapped his SMG out for a staff/pipe. The guy on the right is a WWW2 British Paratrooper by Westwind. A head swap and hood changes the feel of the mini. Even if I dont get to play SSS these figures will make good additions to my Stalkers - which is why I kept the colours similar to the Rookie Stalkers. 

Bolt Action Ruined Hamlet - review

Well thats the Xmas madness over. The decorations are down, the house is back to normal (kind of) and I can look forward to steaming ahead in my hobby. 

One of my Xmas Goodies was a Bolt Action ruined hamlet by Warlord. I found them nice and fairly versatile models. They come in separate walls and corner pieces. The kits include details such as floors, chimneys, rubble piles and roof beams. 

There is enough to build 3 double storey ruins and 3 single storey ruins. Or if you are like me you can mix them up. They are a nice set. I will be using them for my 80's British Post Apocalyptic setting . I have seen similar style rural buildings around North Wales, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Scotland. There is even one in Urban Liverpool. 

Given the historic style of the ruins they may even see use in my Victorian Sci Fi (VSF) games. 

More Jungles....

Yet more jungles for Sci-Fi or my Brit Post Apoc setting. This is the lot. There is no more to make.  They are plastic aquarium plants on washers or old CDs as bases. 

Alien jungles around the ruined world....

The one on the left is a lump of Foral Foam left over from another project and the one on the right is foamboard. Both are mounted on CDs. 

Very British Terrain....

If you have a British setting you need some typical British terrain items to give it the right feel. 

Old British Telephone Boxes and Post Boxes. 

Rubbish tip. This fits most modern urban settings. 

All resin items by Blackcat bases. 

Triffids

Get yer hedge trimmers out....the TRIFFIDS ARE COMING! 

These models where made from scratch for my Alien Plant invasion bit of my 80's British Post Apoc setting. 

Made from plastic straws, cake candle holders, wire tie wraps for food bags, plastic bases and good old greenstuff putty! Simple, cheap n cheerful! 

Hmmm - I think I will have to do a tutorial at some point. 

Anfield Reds - Post Apoc Street gang

This is a street gang based in the old Anfield Stadium. They gathered there as protection during the end and soon found the pitch, stalls and roof handy for growing crops. Food is supplemented through hunting, raiding or trading salvage. They are at constant war with the Cultists who live across (and control) a nearby park.

Seaforth Syndicate

The Seaforth Syndicate is based in the Seaforth freeport container base, Gladstone Dock, Alexandria Dock and the Coast Guard Radar Station & Nature Reserve just to the north of the Freeport.  

The syndicate has its own electrical power and is protected by a fortress made from Shipping Containers. Due to the import and customs part of the port this faction has access to a lot of vehicles and other items that would not be available in the UK at the time of the apocalypse such as Muscle Cars and Unimogs. The syndicate produces armoured vehicles, buggies, bikes, ammunition, black powder, SMGs, muskets, flame throwers, pipe bombs and rockets. 

They trade these goods up river with Scouse Land and inland with West Vale for food. They will also trade with Scavengers, the Southport Salvage Crew and anyone else who has something they need.

Seaforth is under threat from the Altcar Protectorate who want it as a asset but they where driven off in the early days by the syndicates superior firepower. 

These are the warriors that protect the rebuilders from raiders and Atlcar's unwanted attentions. 

You can see Old One Ey (second Left front) and a ex army cadet Yeti next to him (far left front). Yeti is an excellent point man and scout. He was given a shot gun as its usually at close range when he gets into trouble. 

There are more figures to come for this faction. 

West Vale Blues

This is a small group currently occupying the West Vale portion of Kirkby. The Brothers J arrive dwith "the Kid" in the early days and helped the survivors set up. The faction get by through farming and salvage in the rest of what was Kirkby. They also trade food quite a lot with Seaforth in exchange for ammunition and black powder.  

The Brothers J are the Biker (PJ) and guy in Camo with the SLR in the centre of the shot. 

The Brothers J also set up a special group of Scavengers come Scouts they call the Rangers (the two guys in gas masks and hoods in the left of the picture). The Rangers got their name from a group in some old fantasy novel which involved a lot of rings. They have special safe houses set up around the area and along the route to Seaforth. The Rangers bring in the salvage they find in the ruins. 

The Brothers J

DJ was a member of a elite regiment when the end came. He was the only survivor of his unit. DJ headed north to his home town to look for surviving members of his family and freinds. During his adventures DJ found a 10 year old boy who he promised to take to safety once he checked out his old home. DJ found his younger brother PJ sheltering in his home using DJ's personal arsenal to deal with any nasties. 

PJ was a biker and knows how to survive thanks to his Brother DJ. He wields DJ's old Uzi and a black market pistol he kept for those moments when the local drugs dealer tried to rip him off. DJ has his old FN SLR service rifle and is a dead eye shot. He keeps a old Browning Hi Power for up close and personal use.

The Brothers took the "Kid" (Chris Macca) North to the West Vale Settlement and found a surviving cousin of the lad who looked after him. DJ and PJ have trained Chris and both feel he is good enough. DJ hopes he will one day rule the settlement. Chris is now 16 and is a keen Viral hunter.

DJ leads the West Vale defences with PJ as his Lieutenant. His military special forces training has helped this band of survivors no end. 

The Brothers J where created as part of the 4th Birthday Challenge for the Post Apoc Wargames Forum
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Post_Apoc_Wargames/topic/4872576/1/?x=25#new

I need a mini for the Kid now! 

Alien Jungles...lots of em!

I am currently working on a setting in my  home city in a 1980s post apoc (as a break from my more Sci-Fi setting on Mattblackgod's world) with all manner of nasty plants ala Day of the triffids and crazy ex humans known as virals or crazies (think fallout ghouls or 28 days later rage virus guys). 

In a earlier post I had just started building an alien jungle. Here are a few shots of the old Alien Jungle table so far....

It is a mix of plastic aquarium plants although some old 40K jungle plants and plants from toy sets have also found their way into the mix. The eagle eyed among you will spot some Mutant Plants from Ramshackle Games in there too. They make good carnivorous plants to cause adventurers problems. There are also several resin toadstools and fungi in the pictures. Some toad stools are also scratch made with scraps of modelling putty. 

This terrain should have many uses as Alien planets for my Sci-Fi games and Venus in my Victorian Sci-Fi/Steampunk settings. 

There is a few more CDs to come as I discovered a few bits with jungle terrain I built a few years back that will be spruced up with aquarium plants.  The work continues....

Professor McNut.

Time for an oddball character for my 80's Brit Post Apoc setting. Introducing Professor "The Proff" McNut, who was a Scientist before the end. 

This guy built his own anti viral and triffid suit which is a mix of armour plates, diving suit and other odds and ends (including lots of Duct Tape). The Proff claims it is Viral and Triffid proof although everyone else is skeptical.  

He wanders the city with his museum looted WW2 era German MP40 taking samples. He operates out of the Seaforth rebuilders compound and was a great help to the faction in the early days of setting up. The Proff is trying to combat the things that have gripped the world and hopes to help humanity survive. 

He dreams of clearing the old School of Tropical Medicine at the University of Virals so he can continue his work and research with better kit. 

Trader

Trader is a trader in my 80's Brit Post Apoc setting...he thought is was an original name. Who knows, maybe before the apocalypse he has a shady past? 

This lot run good between settlements. The rest of the crew act a labour and security. The guy with no shirt is Trader. He wont give you the shirt off his back cos he don't have one! Well they seem to think its funny. 

The King of Southport

All HAIL the King! The King of Southport! 

The King runs a compound with his old Biker gang. As such he has declared himself King of Southport. He takes homage from local settlements in Salvage in exchange for "Protection". 

The Altcar protectorate know of King and are thinking of taking him out of action. The King mini is made from a mix of GW parts with a Westwind Biker Head and a scratch built sawn off shotgun. 

The King's warriors are called the Knights of the round wheel. It isnt advised to point out that wheels are supposed to be round if you don't want to die in some horrible slow way. 

The Knights of the Round Wheel and their "King". 

The knights specialise in capturing Virals and then using them in sport. Their Viral fighting pit is legendary. Its best not get on their wrong side. 

Southport Salvage Crew

The Fourth Faction...

Southport Salvage Crew operate from the "King's" compound in the centre of the town. They strip the local buildings for salvage and then trade it with the factions in what was left of the city to the South. Some salvage gets paid to the King as tribute. Its the only way to stop him from getting ugly...well uglier anyway. 

The SSC often operate in hostile conditions fighting through the alien jungles that covers some buildings, seeing off Virals and Wild Dog packs. They also have trouble from the odd band of scavengers and other holed up survivors who object to them turning up removing their stuff. 

L-R - Squaddie ( Kallistra minis), Ross Kant (Artizan Wild West), Joe Porter (Kallistra), Owldie (OOP Hetzerdog Babylons Burning), Ste Hassle (OOP Hetzerdog Babylons Burning), Helen Back (OOP Hetzerdog Babylons Burning)

Gothika

When out in the Post Apcoalytic Wastes why not visit Hotel Gothika! 

This is my third 80's Brit Post Apoc faction built up from my minis collection. 

Based in a old Victorian Hotel on the Southport seafront you can find Gothika. A small commune of surviving Goths have fled here.  The hotel is fortified against all comers and well stocked from scavenging runs.  The "King" of Southport is happy for them to be on his turf as long as they pay tribute to him in Salvaged materials. The packs of wild dogs that haunt the nearby streets also offers Hotel Gothika some protection from Viral and raiders. 

This faction is a little low on numbers but will get suitable reinforcements when I add the 80's cold war British army figures to other factions. 

Post Apoc Scavengers for the 80's

The Second faction for my 80's Brit Post Apoc made from a minis pile raid.

Scavengers live in the ruins and derelict places looking for things to make life easier or for trade. Generally the treated with mistrust as they tend to be light fingered when visiting settlements and camps. 

This bunch of scavengers wander around the area looking for salvage which they trade with the other groups around what remains of the city. It is not known where they hole up. They may be nomadic. 

In true scavenger style they tote a mix of home made and old worn out weapons. 

Knights of Caernarfon.

As I am heading into my Retro 80s Brit Post Apoc I have been digging through my minis piles in an attempt to cobble together some factions. I have been weeding out the Sci-Fi  & ultra modern minis. In fact anything else that wont fit the period and kit available in the UK at that time (the Apocalypse happens in 1982)

The First Faction.... Knights of Caernarfon 

This lot holed up in the old Norman castle when things unwound (Caernarfon is a castle on the North Wales coast). They slowly have reclaimed the town upto the castle's outer walls. The faction survives through fishing, trade and piracy. 

Behold Lord Caernarfon!!!

I can just see this guy hacking his way through hordes of Virals/Crazies (Humans who survived the Killer Virus but suffered brain damage that turned them into feral killing machines). 

A bit of history on this mini - he is inspired by the singer from Skindred. He wore this costume at Download 2011 and I thought it too cool not to copy. The mini is by Kallistra. 

How to make Sci Fi Jungles

As my British Post Apoc setting has alien jungles and I hope to start a VSF Venus setting some day I decided to get some made. These are plastic aquarium plants based on washers.  

1. Take a metal washer - wash it washing up liquid (how many times can I get wash into a sentence! ha ha ha!)
2. Dry it and cove the hole with tape. 
3. Cover one side with PVA glue and cover with sand. 
4. When dry paint the base in your chosen base coat.
5. Chop plants and hot glue them on in clusters.
6. Paint the hot glue lumps.

Easy, quick and effective. Oh one other tip, get your plants form a local shop not GW. They are far cheaper.







The whole lot together...

Retro Brit Post Apoc Character - One Eye!

The first of my Brit Apoc figures..... Old One Eye Hogdes.





One Eye got his name by losing an eye during his service with the British Army. He was retired and kept busy as a Army Cadet instructor. When the end came he and the cadets where acting as a reserve in the barracks where they where based. After three days there was no contact from the deployed forces. Assuming that they where lost and they where forgotten about he lead the scared boys (and the barracks Caretaker and Daughters) to another TA Barracks three miles away crossing a crater and bombed out ruins with the hope of picking up similar survivors.

The Barracks was deserted and looked as if the survivors has retreated. As they could drive any of the remaining vehicles they would have to head to the local base outside the city, 10 miles away.

On the way they passed Seaforth container base to find that a massive fort had been built from ships cargo containers. The boys where challenged. One Eye explained that they where headed to Altcar Base. The people manning the fort told him that the next four miles was over run with virals and triffids. There was no way boys with bolt action rifles could make it through. One eye and the boys joined Seaforth and 
now provide some the Rebuilders faction's security. 

The mini is a Hasslefree Corba. 

Retro British Post Apoc

Real life has kept me away from my computer for the last couple of weeks (there will be a large update of minis too when I get to take pictures). In that time I have started toying with a new setting. Inspired by my friend Xander's British Post Apocalypse I have decided to dive into the Retro Post Apocalyptic setting too. 

I have decided to use Xander’s setting (basically a world destroyed by a comet, meteors, alien plant life and a virus) set in the early 1980’s. As he is concentrating on the area’s around where he lives I am working on the area’s around Liverpool. 

Its been fun researching what was around back then, even if I do remember it. The UK still has stashes of WW2 era kit (many Army and Navy stores still sold it) including Bren Guns and Lee Enfield No4 Rifles. So mixing WW2 and Cold War UK minis should work fine. It was a era before the UK banned automatic weapons so those with gun licenses could pick up certain assault rifles from shops. The other main weapon would be the double barreled shotgun. 

The down side is so many post apocalyptic minis seem to be armed with sci-fi, ultra modern or SMG/assault rifles not used by the UK at that time. As I see my setting with many home made weapons I plan on re-arming some of my minis to make a more fitting force. 

The map of the city has been drawn up randomly using dice rolls to give a feel of just where the survivors have set up. This also gives a feel to how the suriving factions may look. 

There is terrain differences too. 

Triffid infested would be some sort of area overgrown with strange alien plants giving it a alien jungle feel. There are some carnivorous plants in there in addition to Triffids. My collection already has the excellent Ramshackle Mutant Plants but I am currently working on jungle terrain for this!. Of course this jungle will be put into use for Venus and my Sci-Fi setting.

Viral terrain is either over grown with weeds or lightly to medium damaged/run down/abandoned looking. In my minds eye it reminds me of Stalker and the areas with Snorks. 

Meteor terrain is a crater with the flattened buildings and other associated damage caused. These areas have triffids and virals.

Danger Zones are areas with other dangers. Wild Dogs, Purples, big cats and other dangers. The Big Cats and some of the wild dogs escaped the Safari Park outside the city. It not unusual to find Zebra or Antelope wandering about. There are some stories of Rhinos too. 

Dust Zones where hit with toxins and chemicals to destroy Triffids. It killed everything else too. 

Surviving rural areas are overgrown with trees taking advantage of the lack of grasses (in the setting there is a virus that kills all grass crops). Some are tended by survivors growing limited crops of veggies. There is some chance of running into a wandering wilddog, big cat, viral or triffid. 

Surviving urban areas are lightly damaged or age worn and overgrown. Most are abandoned providing good scavenging opportunities (there are simply enough people to populate them). Others turned into fortified villages. There is some chance of running into a wandering wilddog, big cat, viral or triffid. 

Destroyed ruins. These places where bombarded with napalm and high explosives to try to stop the Virals and Triffids. Scavenging here is not impossible but requires work to dig it out and the quality of a find may be low. There is some chance of running into a wandering wilddog, big cat, viral or triffid. 

Nuked Ruins. As things got out of hand and desperate Nukes where used to limit the spread of virals and triffids. While this destroyed the pests the radiation seemed to boost the alien plants. They are growing strong in these areas. Residual radiation makes these places no gos for many. 

I will be needing some new terrain bits (shame that!). Post Boxes and Telephone boxes are typically British. That will add a bit of flavor to the setting. Watch this space. 

Big Cat!

Out on MBW big cats prowl some of the wastelands...yet another hazard on this perilous world. 

This panther may be used as a nuisance in games. I am thinking about also using it as a sidekick animal for a character. 

The mini is a elven cat from Mantic games. Quite a nice mini with little flash or cleaning needed.