Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum news.

 Hello and Welcome back,

Come warm yourself by the fire. 

As some of my longer term readers may know I run the Post Apocalyptic Wargames forum. Some years ago the provider Zetaboards was bought out by Tapatalk. 

Tapatalk wasn't the best provider and over the years it has proven to be unstable and treats it's forum members with contempt. Recently the forum has become somewhat unusable as non paying users have been bombarded by aggressive advertising. This has caused a dramatic drop in traffic to the forum. It was killing it off so in order to survive I have moved the forum to a new provider. The new site is: 

https://postapocwargames.freeforums.net/

Sadly, Tapatalk won't provide a backup of the forum, it is a common treatment of other unhappy forum owners. Attempts to pull the data from the forum failed as the online scripts no longer work with the programs they are supposed to work with. 

So we are starting from scratch. The old forum will be kept as a libary. However if you like Post Apocalyptic Wargames, RPG's or tabletop games come visit us. We have a chance to build another cool forum. 

Thanks for reading. Hopefully I will catch you over there. 

Alice and some Wastelanders

Hello and welcome back. 

Alice and the Wastelanders?! Sounds like a good name for a Post Apocalyptic themed rock band.

Around the campfires of the ruined world people tell tales of the great heroes of the end times and chaos that followed. These stories are popular and give hope to Wastelanders. In some cases they give some moral compass to people who may have never known any parental guidance. Desperate and downtrodden wastelanders often pray to the hero’s of these tales hoping that they may arrive and help them.

A favourite story is Max, the road warrior who fought biker gangs, Warlords and more. Another strong favourite tale is that of Alice. In the stories Alice fight’s evil corporations, hordes of monsters, zombies and crazy cannibal gangs. 

In the picture she looks like she has a 5 o’clock shadow. I have no idea where this shadow comes from as it is not there in the metal. I got this figure in part of a eBay lot a few years ago and it sat half painted for most of that time. I am not sure of the manufacturer possibly lead adventure? I think it may be OOP. 

But there is more….

A typical wastelander. The figure is a old Grenadier one, now carried by Mirliron or EM4. This is the second copy of this figure I have as I like the look of it. Shame Mark Copplestone didn’t sculpt more figures in a similar style. Or as a pack in his Future Wars line (hint, hint). He was painted with whatever colours I had spare on the paint pallet. Waste not wont not and all that. I am thinking of getting a few more and picking them out in various colours so I can use them with the various wasteland gangs I have. 

Another 10 guy. 

I have a few of these ten figures in the pile left over from the Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum’s 10 year free figure giveaway that I ran a couple of years back. I found this one primed and in the style of the Wastelander above he was painted with whatever paint was laying on the pallet. As this guy is unarmed I plan to use him as a civilian. You need someone to get in the way when trouble starts. 

In the future I do plan to make a gang or force of converted 10 figures. For now I might prime a few more and paint them in different colours. 

Thanks for looking. Take Care Out There. 

Convert a 10

Welcome back Wanderer, come get warm by the fire. Let me tell you about Ten. 

Over on the Post Apoc Wargames Forum 

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/post_apoc_wargames/

There is a annual challenge set by the Warlord. This year’s challenge was to convert the celebration 10 year figure. See what others have done here:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/post_apoc_wargames/warlords-challenge-2019-f59/

Finally I have gotten around to doing the  Warlord’s challenge - Convert a 10 figure. Took me long enough to get motivated. 

I got carried away and forgot to take WIP pictures as I went along. DOH! 

Starting with a 10 figure I had a dig about in the bits box. After uncovering a few different arms from various manufacturers I discovered a pistol wielding arm. The arm came from EM4 Trooper Command arms - which are metal and designed to add a bit of variety to the Combat Zone plastic troopers. 

Carefully I clipped the arm away from the figure and filed it smooth. The shoulder pad had to be removed too. At this point I filled a couple of holes in the cast, mainly in the backpack and sleeping roll. 

The arm was lined up by eye and the spigot trimmed off. The arm was further trimmed to make it fit. After supergluing the arm in place a little greenstuff filler was added. A new shoulder pad was sculpted from greenstuff.

 

Hey presto - done. I meant to add some further pouches but I forgot in my hurry to finish the figure. DOH!!

A simple and fairly quick conversion. I may do more in the future as I still have a pile of these figures (if anyone is interested in getting a 10 figure please contact me at mattblackgod@gmail.com).  

Thanks for looking. Take care out there.

2018 review....

Hello and welcome back to my blog. 

Well another year comes to a end and it is traditional to look back at my hobby year. This year I want to keep it brief. It has been a interesting year and I have learnt a few new hobby related things. I met a few people and hopefully made a new friend or two. It has also been challenging in some ways as I had the never ending viral infection in the first half of the year, my wife’s health hasn’t been great, technology problems and I have had a host of vehicle health issues including crashing my motorbike on a diesel spill (don’t overfill your cars, vans and trucks folks).

Although I didn’t get as many figures painted in 2018 as I hoped looking back it is actually more than I thought it was. It was a good mix of figures from Necromunda 2017, Copplestone, Warlord’s 2000AD Strontium Dogs and Ramshackle games lines with the odd figure from here and there thrown in for good measure.

The big thing for me this year was the BYOL 2018 oldhammer show. Curtis of Ramshackle games invited me to join him in setting up the Helsreach table on which the original Necromunda rules were going to be played. The idea was that I was going to supply the town buildings. I trundled on down there with my wife in tow, two cases of figures and three plastic crates of models. 

If you are looking at the pictures my terrain was anything covered in graffiti or posters where as Curtis’ models tended to be larger and had heavy weathering. I also supplied a great number of the citizens to be shot at or aggressively romanced by the space bastards marines. For good measure I took along three gangs. The Warriors (Orlock), Fatal Floozies (Eshers) and my old Gothrats - OOP Shockforce mutant rat man. 

Take a peek at the tables and Helsreach action here:

https://mattblackgodsworld.blogspot.com/2018/08/helsreach-and-other-byol-tables.html

https://mattblackgodsworld.blogspot.com/2018/08/helsreach-pt-2-action.html

I had a fun couple of days gaming Helsreach. Thank you Curtis for inviting me, GMing and the fresh inspiration. 

The Helsreach gaming inspired me to arrange a Post Apocalyptic Wargames meet up for next year. So far the plans have fallen flat trying to find a suitable location to host it. Things may have to go on hold on that front as my wife may be starting dialysis by then. As you can imagine it will be a busy life changing year for us both. 

The post apocalyptic Wargames forum reached 10 years in the wastelands of the internet. I commissioned a figure to celebrate. Eventually I took delivery of the 10 figure from the casters after a few teething troubles. 

BTW - I have plenty of these figures still for grabs. You only have to pay P&P. Email me on mattblackgod@gmail.com if you are interested.

My own homebrew rules Radlands got a quick play test this year. They seem to play okay. My debate is to release the main rules for play test or to finish them before I let the wastelanders get their mitts on them. Batrep here:

https://mattblackgodsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Radlands

That pretty much sums up my 2018 hobby wise. I hope to be more productive next year. I have some ideas and plans which I hope to explore in next years blog posts. 

So my lovely wasteland wanderers, thank you for reading and putting up with the sporadic blog posts this year. Have a happy New Year’s Eve. Stay safe out there and have fun. See you next year.

Post Apocalyptic Wargames forum 10th Anniversary

Wastelanders today is the 10th year of the Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum out in the Wastes. Happy Anniversary!

Frustrated at various forums treating The Post Apocalyptic genre as a sub genre of Sci Fi I wandered the wastelands of the internet and founded the forum. There was a great movement to it proving that the genre was popular. 

The other forums eventually set up dedicated boards to Post Apoc, to stop us pinching their followers. New post apoc games and figures popped up. The genre got a boost with popular culture becoming interested in Post Apocalyptic themes again. Now we are spoilt for selection of games and figure choice.

To celebrate this there is the 10 year celebration figure. 

There is no weapon sculpted intentionally as various members play different time frames and equipment. Just add a weapon of your choice. 

Now to get your hands on this figure all you have is DM your name and address,  over on the forum. Or use the email contact address at the bottom of this blog. 

All it will cost you is.....Postage and Packing. That is right, postage and packing. Just DM with your location and I will get back to you with a price. I only take PayPal. The figure is supplied unpainted with a 25mm plastic base. Due to the limited amount of these minis I can only supply one per person. Get them while they are hot! 

The figure casting isn’t the best but a improvement over the original casts. It has been a pain to get here. Sadly I did not have resources, time or patience to pursue another figure. As these figures are not to my standards I feel that I cannot charge for them. 

Happy Anniversary Day! Parrttttyyyy! 

Wasteland Wondering -still alive.

Welcome back Wasteland Wanderers, 

Long time, no post. I am still alive and kicking. Mini painting has been going slow and not just because of the cats. We had a raiding run into the Lake District last weekend. 

It is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK and every time I visit it blows me away. 

My paint queue has been growing exponentially with various kickstarters dropping goodies on my door mat. Then I got some Blots Industrial walls for the Nu Necromunda boards. 70 of them.What have I done? *sob* As they are not too gothic looking they will also be useful for post apocalyptic games as walls and what have you. 

I have gotten a few figures painted. Some Vault Dwellers and characters for the wastelands. They are just waiting for me to finish the bases. Pictures will follow as soon as I get them finished. The Nu Necromuda Eshers are primed ready for paint. 

The Goliaths have gone in another direction. These guys are huge and remind me of the various bosses you come across in the Mad Max video game. 

So my twisted mind started off developing a post apocalyptic feudal army with each of the Goilaths as a Warlord with his own turf, serving under a Overlord. As such I am doing some Post Apocalyptic conversions on them. Each warlord will have a themed gang of warriors too. At least that is the plan until I get distracted.

As for the Overlord, I wanted something even more intimidating looking than a Nu Necromuda Goliath. I started converting a plastic GW Ogre but I wasn't too happy with how it looked. The pose on the figure is limited plus the muscle is more like an old school wrestler rather than a iron pumping chemed up meat head. For now I am looking at converting a Heresy Boris figure for the Overlord.

I have been looking at the Nu Necromuda Orlocks that GW has just released. They have a certain post apocalyptic warrior look. I am thinking of using them as road guards for merchant convoys crossing the wastelands. 

The Ten figures have arrived from Hysterical Games, so as soon as I get organised I will set up a sales thread over on the Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum. Watch this space.

My Bunker/Star/Space Bastards are nearly assembled. Just some odds and ends to do before I get them painted. No idea what colours I should choose. I like rust. Does old power armour rust?  There is a request the vehicle for the gang. Something open topped. I believe last year's Bring Your Own Lead Helsreach table/game had some issues with gangs riding around in tanks. If I don't get time to build one I am sure my collection will have something suitable for my force. 

Not too sure on how the painting will progress. My good Lady is off for to hospital tomorrow for a operation, so I may have a busy week or two. 

Thanks for reading.

Take Care out there.

Ten - Update 22-12-17

Hi, just a quick update on the ten figure I am having sculpted for the post apocalyptic wargames forum. 

The sculptor Darklight Miniatures, got the figure sculpted at lightening speed. I now have the finished sculpt in my grubby mitt. 

I chose to have the weapon hand empty so that gamers can add weapons to suit their background. It will also help if I am left with a bucket of figures. 😂

I am pretty pleased with the figure, now to get it cast. I will chase the casters in the Xmas break. 

Thanks for looking. Stay safe out there.

"Ten" - post apoc figure.

Hello and welcome back to my blog,

Some of you out in blogger land probably know that I am creator of the Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum (link in the side bar). It was a place I created because I felt that the post apocalyptic genre was largely overlooked by the wargames communities. It is a place that covers post apocalyptic small scale skirmish and rpg games too. 

How things have changed since I started the PA wargames forum. Every online wargames forum has a post apocalyptic board. There are now lots of choice for games, figures, scales and backgrounds. There has been a explosion in the genre. Not just in the hobby either. The media has created lots of books, comics, films, tv series and computer games in the post apocalyptic genre in the last decade. 

Next year is our 10th year in the wastelands. To commemorate this event I am having a 28mm figure sculpted and cast. I am thinking of something like this dude:

Here is the spec I have sent the sculptor. 

"I want a 28mm scale figure sculpted. It is to be similar to the figure in the above picture I sent you (gas masked, hooded survivor figure). It is okay for the figure ho be holding a pistol, however don't make it too modern. Something like a colt magnum revolver or M1911 pistol will be suitable. The figure is to have a small shoulder pad with the number 10 engraved in it. Elbow and knee pads are peferred but not compulsory. The figure must have a backpack. Is this okay? "

I hope to make this exclusive figure available to all active members of the forum for cost value and maybe use one as the prize in the 2018 Warlord's challenge. I will keep this blog updated with the progress of the figure.

Thanks for looking. 

Harrier wreck WIP.

Over on the Post Apoc Wargames forum there is a Post Apoc Aircraft challenge. I have started work on a 15mm harrier wreck. I intend this to be scenery or possibly a game objective. Scavengers could live well trading with Drop City with bits from a wreck like this.

Various bits have been cut off with a saw. The cockpit canopy needed trimming and the seat/pilot removed to make it look like the pilot ejected.

Next up I need to get some ground cover on the base. 

Thanks for looking, stay safe out there.

Warlord's Challenge 2017 - PA aircraft WIP

Over on the Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum, the Warlord's 2017 challenge is to build a post apocalyptic aircraft. If you like the sound of it come join in the fun.

Link to 2017 Warlord's Challenge


Before this challenge was decided I thought to pick up a 15mm scale harrier kit. No real reason for the purchase. I am still getting my head into 15mm scaling so the kit was for reference. 

However I now think a crashed or abandoned Harrier would be a cool model. I am not a fan of high tech air power in a post apoc setting. They are notoriously difficult to maintain and drink fuel quicker than a Ruby Team in a free bar. 

First up assembly of the Revel snap together kit. I found this fiddly as bits keep popping off. If I was keeping the jet stock I would use a little super glue to keep it together. As such I assembled it and I left the stores/weapons off because if they pinged off one more time the kit would have seen the underside of my size 11 boot! 

There is a number of ideas in my head for this kit. 

1. A jet during the wars suffers a malfunction or runs low on fuel and is forced to land. In which case some of the stores may still be fitted, although pilots would probably emergency jettison them before a forced/emergency landing. 

2. A jet destroyed during the end. Maybe the blasts forced it out of control? 

3. The jet was shot down during the wars. 

The last two present the question of did the pilot jettison?  I have a few things to think about before work starts. 

Thanks for looking, stay safe out there.

Road Warrior Car - Finished

Hello and welcome back. There will be a bit of post bombardment as I catch up with the odds and ends I have been doing in the last week or two.

As you may recall from previous posts, over on the Post Apoc Wargames forum the Warlord's 2016 challenge is to build a post apoc vehicle. Take a look and join in! Look here.

For the Challenge I have been working on making a Road Warrior Car for my Blood and Fire setting. To be exact a rebuilt Fury Road variant of the Interceptor. In the fill in the gaps graphic novel Max rebuilds a Interceptor from bits he scavenges or wins in contests.
Since the last report work has been slowly moving forward in the painting. I am glad to say that the car is finished.  

The not Max figure is The Stranger from the Warlands range by Aberrant Games . 

The tank and blower are items from Warlands. The resin stowage and jerry cans are made by Fields Of Glory and are intended for 1:72 WW2 Allied vehicles. 

The exhausts are made from 1mm brass wire bent to fit. 

 I am not too happy with the scratch made front panel. However this is the rebuilt wasteland (Fury Road) version of the Interceptor so I wont lose sleep over it. 

This was a fun and interesting build for me and I have learnt a few new techniques for future post apoc car builds. 

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there. 

Road Warrior Car Feb Update

Hello and welcome back. 

As you may recall from the last post, over on the Post Apoc Wargames forum the Warlord's 2016 challenge is to build a post apoc vehicle. Take a look and join in! Look here.

For the Challenge I am working on making a Road Warrior Car for my Blood and Fire setting. 

Since the last report work has been slow but I am glad to say it is starting to get there. 

The wheel arches are done and need a little sanding. The spoiler is made from card and green stuff. It still needs a little filling. 

The front spoiler has been added to. It was constructed in thick card and green stuff holds it in place. The detail was made in thinner card and glued over the face. 

The not Max figure is The Stranger from Warlands. 

The tanks and blower are items from Warlands. The resin stowage and jerry cans are made by Fields Of Glory and are intended for 1:72 WW2 Allied vehicles. 

The exhausts are made from 1mm brass wire bent to fit. 

The car needs a little more filling and sanding before I paint it. 

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there. 

Road Warrior Car WIP #2

Hello and welcome back. 

As you may recall from the last post, over on the Post Apoc Wargames forum the Warlord's 2016 challenge is to build a post apoc vehicle. Take a look and join in! Look here.

I am working on make a Road Warrior Car for my Blood and Fire setting as my entry to the Challenge. 

Work has commenced slowly on the Hotwheels Ford XB. The new wheels have been attached to the chassis. As the car model featured low rider tubbed wheels I have had to use bits of balsa to space the skinnier wheels out. 

As you can see the wheels need a little tweaking. That said I bet those wasteland roads are murder on a cars tracking! The front bumper has been removed ready for the sloping front panel. 

Another alternative for the front is the remove the grill and lights. Then it is fairly simple to make the square lamps for the Interceptor look later in Mad Max 2/Road Warrior. 

The Blower and Tank are Warlands items. For now they are resting in place until I get further into the build. The rear bulkhead, boot and window has been removed to take the tank. A bit of work (read as chopped out) to the boot floor has to be done to make the tank sit lower. 

I snapped the rear bumper during removal. Whoops. Still its a Post Apoc ride and it adds to the look. 

The front needs sorting, the wheel arches need flaring (putty) and the exhausts need making. 

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there. 

Road Warrior Rig WIP

Hello and welcome back. 

Over on the Post Apoc Wargames forum the Warlord's 2016 challenge is to build a post apoc vehicle. Take a look and join in! Look here.

I have decided to make a Road Warrior Rig for my Blood and Fire setting. 

Last year I stumbled upon a Hotwheels Ford XB cheaply on evilbay. Over the Christmas holidays I drilled out the rivets and stripped it down. It now lies in this state. 

So what next for this car? Well a wheel swap is on the cards. Low Profiles look a bit naff on a car which will live on rough roads. I also want to build the front sloping grill for it for that interceptor look. 

I have a Warlands blower. The bonnet/hood will be drilled out to take the blower. At the rear I want to add the tanks and luggage. The problem is that hotwheels cars is that the rear assembly post is situated there. It will require a bit of messing about to sort it. The boot will need removing too so I can add the tanks. 

This is going to be a interesting build. 

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there. 

Radiation Bob's

Over on the Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum the 2015 Warlord's Challenge is to make something to do with a Trader. It can be a vehicle, figure or terrain. As I am currently working on a set of Undercity Terrain I decided to make something in that vein. One of the nice things about the depths and caverns of a ancient city is the terrain also fits the Post Apoc wastelands genre nicely. 

So weary wanderer come bring your salvage to Radiation Bob's for great trades! 

Radiation Bob's started life as a plastic tub you get Christmas Puddings in. Once the delicious seasonal treat had been scoffed it was cleaned up. Staring at it for few minutes I decided that it looked like an ancient abandoned reactor or something similar. 

A few minutes with a glue gun, knife and a pile of drinking straws and the basis of the Trader's station was formed. 

The base is a cork pan coaster found cheap at Home and Bargains. The edges were broken off to give a broken rock look. The whole plot was then attacked with items from the depths of the bits box. A load of textured paint was applied. Once dried it was sprayed with matt black (what else?) car primer. Later a layer of grey car primer was used.

Some of the rubble and the rubble wall out front of Radiation Bob's are bits of the cork base. 

The electrical power boxes are the  covers you  get on three pin plugs. The barrels, crates and milk urn are press cast milliput (I made Latex molds some years ago to stop my terrain obsession breaking the bank every time I needed some model accessories). 

 Rusty brown and orange make up most of the metal work paint. I decided that hand painted signs would be in order. Graffiti was also added most of which is inspired by certain Post Apoc films. 

That's it....remember to come to Radiation Bob's for a great deal!! 

Thanks for looking. 

The Raised Shack finished.

I have finally finished my entry into the Building Up competition which is being run by a member of the Chicago Skirmish Wargamers over on the Post Apoc Wargames Forum. 

The deadline is the end of November. I didn't think I would finish it in time as real life has thrown a few spanners in the works which has taken priority. 

Any way on with the pictures of the finished competition entry. 

A recent addition is the ladder. I realized that the folks living here would need a way to get into the shack. This was made from a couple of lollipop sticks with matchsticks and scraps from the bits box.

You cannot see it because of the idiot standing in front of the sign but the resident has named their humble abode "The Luv Shak". 

The residents don't like mutants either. 

The roof is removable but I haven't gone for a fully detailed interior. It takes quite a bit of time and that has been a bit limited. 

The roof is scraps of corrugated card. A bit of a Cola sign has been cobbled into the roof structure. I painted it to look worn and corroded. It was only later when I looked at it I realized it says "Cok". It kind of fits with the Luv Shak motif I suppose. 

And there is it is. This project has been fun and allowed me to try a few new ideas and techniques. 

Elevated Living Accommodation WIP3

Time for the next update of my Elevated Living Accommodation entry for the competition run by the Chicago Skirmish Wargamers over on the Post Apocalyptic Wargames Forum. 

I have painted up the base and walls. 

The shack on top has been carefully crafted from scraps laying about. It will be painted next. I don't usually work this way but I wanted to get the inaccessible parts painted. 

There is still glue drying on the shack. It needs lots more detail adding before I add the roof. 

Details of the rug on the floor. It needs a couple of washes to tone it down I think. Plenty of time for that later. 

Looking at the pictures there are a few details I have missed in paint. I will pick these up when I paint the shack. 

Any comments or ideas? 

Building Up Competition:- Elevated Living Accommodation - WIP

 As a regular over at the Post Apoc Wargames Forum I decided to have a go at the Building UP competition. I always wanted to make some elevated shacks. It occurs to me that living in the end of times it would make sense. Keeps you above all those nasties creeping around after dark. 

Me being me, I have hundreds of ideas running around my skull. I will try to build one but I know I will probably get carried away and end up making a few. 

So on with this WIP. My vision for this one is a shack built on top of a ruin. 

Basic building materials. 5mm thick blue foam and our old friend the old CD. 

I painstakingly drew the bricks on using a pencil. The trick to this is to go over the bricks a couple of times with the pencil to get that worn brickwork. I also distressed it with various items (read as whalloped it) to make the bricks look rough. The posts are there to support the shelter that will go above the ruin. 

Still a fair bit to do on this one. Keep watching.