New wasteland rigs.

Welcome back to my blog. 

Recently I have been working on some hotwheels cars. Here is the latest bunch. They are intended for my own Blood & Fire setting using Warlands rules. But there is no reason why they can’t see table time for other rule sets such as Gaslands, Axels & Alloys or Darkfuture. 

Group shot:- A scrap runner from Conn is pursued across the wastelands by a Intacepta and Tya Dok from Warlord Carnage’s hordes. Spotting the distant action a lone Road Kill vehicle joins in the chase. The lure of high speed combat is irresistible. 

The Skrap runner:

This car comes from a ancient stone fortress called Conn. It runs scavenged supplies to the fortress. 

The base car was a Hotwheels 70 Chevelle station wagon. It had the studs drilled out and glass removed. A The driver, side armour and bull bars came from the Gaslands sprue by Northstar games. The gun and Jerry cans are by Ramshackle Games. The luggage is from a 28mm figure. The front window bars are a lollipop stick. 

The blower is by Abberant Games from their Warlands range. 

The rear tombstone is by Ramshackle Games and the rear window bars are lollipop stick. 

The car features stock paint with various logos and decal ageing done with nail polish remover and a cotton bud. Rust colours were painted on followed by drydrushing for the dirt. I like this car. It’s gives me the impression that it is only a few bumps from falling to bits.

The Intacepta: 

This car serves the Warlord Carnage by hunting vehicles. The harpoon is used to take out tyres or crew. Or with weaker vehicles harpoon the body work and slow it down to a stop. The objective is to try to capture the vehicle and crew with as little damage as possible. 

The base vehicle is a Hotwheels 69 Ford Torino Talledega . The original intention was to build a copy of the chase car in the opening scene of Mad Max2 Roadwarrior. Somehow it didn’t happen. 

Instead it ended up this way. The studs were drilled out and the windows replaced by the almost compulsory mesh. The wheels where moved to the underside of the car as the original was slammed. A dual rear wheel was added, a popular wheel widening technique in the Wastelands. In this case other spare hotwheels wheels where glued on. The rear had a floor added for the gunner and cargo.

The front bumper is plastic tubing. Blower is by Autokill. Harpoon is from the Northstar Gaslands sprue. The gunner is from Stan Johannsen. Luggage came from a 28mm figure.

The front bullbars is a bit of chassis from a 1/76 tank transporter model. 

The rear armour is by Stan Johannsen, rear bumper came from a lollipop stick, the luggage is 1/35 and 28mm pouches. There is Jerry cans from a 1/76 scale model in the back and a box of grenades from Ramshackle games. 

The paint is the original paint scheme and finished in a similar fashion to the Conn Skraprunner. Before that Warlord Carnage symbols where added with Pokka paint markers. The markings are inspired by the symbols Immortan Joe and Scrotus use in Fury Road & Mad Max game.

Tya Dok:

The Tya Dok is a transport used by Carnage. They follow convoys and war parties replacing tyres and carrying out light repairs to keep the vehicles moving. They also strip what they can from vehicles too damaged to keep going and repair captured vehicles. Tya Dok’s can sometimes get split up from the convoy or force and wasteland gangs will do their best to capture such a useful asset. 

This model started life as a Hotwheels 87 Dodge truck. It just got a coating matt black paint. Then I added bits to it. Thinking about it, I should have built it first then painted it. 

The front ram is from the Northstar Gaslands sprue and the window armour is from Stan Johannsen. 

The door armour came from a gift card. The wheels are from broken Hotwheels cars and the Northstar Gaslands sprue. 

A small bit of plastic tube was bent and added as an exhaust pipe. Keeping it simple I had it exit through the front wheel arch. Digging through the bits box I found a plastic cog so I attached it to the door. 

Graffiti and Warlord Carnage symbols was added using a paint marker. Then the rust and dirt followed. 

Road Kill - Big Red: 

Road Kill are a rival gang to Warlord Carnage and they are moving in across his territories. Operating from remote camps the Road Kill gangs are a hazard to anyone they encounter in the wastelands not just Carnage. Road kill like to decorate with skulls and spanners. Vehicles are often painted Red if possible. 

Big Red is a command vehicle shown by the huge off road wheels and turret machine gun. It started life as a Tesco own brand monster truck. The classic lines of the body caught my eye. 

The front airscoop came from the ever useful Northstar Gaslands Sprue. The machine gun and turret is from Ramshackle Games. The front window grill was a scrap of granny grating left over from a terrain build. The front plow was scratch built from gift cards. I tried to make it look a bit fierce some looking. 

The wheel arches where blanked off as was the rear side window with scraps of gift card. Gift card scraps also became the wheel blades. The driver is from Stan Johannsen. For some reason crew members sit low in this car. 

The rear window armour is also gift card. A crossed bones shield decoration from a 28mm fantasy zombie adds to the rear decoration. 

The passenger here is by Ramshackle games.

I had forgotten how much fun modding hotwheels cars was. It was modding hotwheels and matchbox cars for Axels and Alloys 15 years ago that got me back into the hobby. While I have used some parts from hobby suppliers there is a fair bit of junk added from the bits box. The lessons here is don’t throw anything away. These cars have lollipop sticks, gift card, metal mesh and scraps of granny grating on them. 

What next? So far I have plans for another Road kill vehicle and maybe something from the factories of Civilisation. Plus I am working on at least one more vehicle for Warlord Carnage. I would like to start a buzzard gang too. 

Thanks for looking. Stay safe out there. 

The Matt Black Healers/Matt Black Cross

Welcome back my wandering friend. 

Time to revisit a older faction of mine - one so old it didn’t make it into this blog. Time to change that. 

The Vaultsys Vault 999 was populated with Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Engineers and other humanitarians (and a few hippies too). During their time underground they decided that to help humanity re-build their destroyed world they would need medicine, teaching and help. 

They formed the Matt Black Healers - otherwise known as the Matt Black Cross. When the vault opened in the Glowing Wastes they set up a hospital above it. The vault was used to make medicines and other items wastelanders would need. 

They set up teams to wander the wastes teaching and helping. Each team had a Surgeon, A Medic, 2 nurses, a survivalist and engineer. They also had some guards. Plenty of Mercs were willing to work for low wages because the health care was so good. 

The faction attracted hordes of people wanting to learn. The wandering teams also pick up people out in the Wastes who like the life style. 

Today the Matt Black Healers are spread across most of the wastelands. Their knowledge, skills and teaching has saved countless lives. It is one of the few factions that isn't obsessed with fighting, killing and war. The faction are also looking to build schools in the larger settlements to start to educate people not only in medicine & survival but reading and writing as well. 

This couple of figures are reworks for the faction. They serve as medics/doctors for the teams. The figure on the left is a Grenadier Future Cop and the figure on the right is a plastic Combat Zone trooper (by EM4). Both figures got fresh paint but the CZ trooper got some putty shoulder pads too. 

Sometime in the future I will have to get a group shot of this faction (all four of them to date!). 

Thanks for looking. Take care out there. 

The Rubbleborg Irregulars

Ahhh Welcome back Wanderer, treat yourself to a rat on a stick while I tell you about the Rubbleborg Irregulars. 

“BZZZTTT - THUNK - THUNK- THUNK - BZZZTT is this thing on? Uh? Right!” 

The Rubbleborg newly installed tannoy announcement system kicks into life, much to the annoyance of the township’s residents.

“Attention Rubbleborg Citizens - this is the first broadcast by your Mayor Bustrd. I have had troubling news that deep in the Blasted Ruins, the mutant cult are rising again. Calm yourselves, news from Trashford indicates that this may be a different cult but intel is sketchy at this point. Hopefully the cult will become a pain for the bloody Brittiannan’s rather than us. Still with a new cult on the horizon and the annoying growth of Brittianna city I think the Borg needs a more permanent defence force so we are forming a permanent full time milita. If you are interested and think you have the stuff to join the Rubbleborg Irregulars go speak to Captain Dunk. T’s n C’s apply. BZZZTTT - THUNK“ 

This motley lot are the first recruits to the Rubbleborg Irregulars.

Left to Right:

Kara (Grenadier future cop- reworked from my collection), Shorty Drinksonly (classic 40K Rogue Trader figure, newly painted), Skullson (Classic Necromunda Bounty Hunter - a painted eBay find which I rebased) and Fred Tenson (10 figure conversion). 

A better look at Shorty Drinksonly. He is a 40K Rouge Trader Adventurer from back in the mists of time. I have been chasing this figure for over 30 years and I found him unpainted on eBay for a decent price. He painted up quickly and was fun to paint. 

I plan to expand the Irregulars with some other Classic 40K Oldhammer figures at some point in the future. 

Thanks for looking, stay frosty 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.

Maul

Hello and welcome back Wanderer. Pull up a crate and let me tell you about Maul. 

Maul drifted into Rubbleborg one dark and stormy night. As he carries a flak cannon the locals decided to leave Maul alone and not ask him to leave. Besides he didn’t really cause any trouble he just has the look an of oncoming storm. 

Since his arrival in the township Maul works as muscle or as a mercenary. Work he usually performs with frightening efficiency. 

 

Mayor Bustrd made the mistake of saying the town milita could do with new kit within ear shot of Maul. Maul walked out of town and returned hauling a several sets body armour and weapons. In Brittannia colours, still dripping with blood. 

Maul is a Necromunda (2017 Ed) Orlock with a Iron pig head and some bits from the bits box. 

Thanks for looking and take care out there. 

The crew of the Wasteland Star

Hello Wastelander, welcome back to my blog. Pull up a crate and let me introduce the crew of the Wasteland Star.

The Wasteland Star is a crawler pulling a land train from the highly contaminated ruins of the Red Star (Neo Sov) “state”. These ruins are situated thousands of miles East of Rubbleborg & Brittannia City. 

One day pair of stalkers searching for loot were driven into a “highly dangerous” (forbidden) zone in the ruins by packs of mutant beasts and discovered something strange. A heavily guarded huge vehicle was moving slowly through the ruins. By the looks of it the vehicle was from the old times. It could haul huge amounts of cargo or people totally protected from the contaminated world it was moving through. The Stalkers shadowed the crawler to its base guarded by Red Star super troopers, who are genetically modified soldiers used to keep a grip on the ruins. 

Returning to the metro network beneath the city the Stalkers gathered a band of brothers (and one sister) from various stations and moved to discover the truth about the crawler. As they were lead to believe that they where the last ones alive in the world many questions came to mind. Where did this machine come from? Was there an outside world beyond the contaminated ruins? Was there more people out there besides them?  The mission wouldn’t be easy as the super troopers where highly trained and stronger than normal people. 

The initial storming of the station went well but the Red Star threw every asset they had at the station. The Stalkers took heavy losses and decided that the crawler was their only escape. In the they crawler headed out into the ruins with the Super troopers in hot pursuit in various vehicles. The Stalkers fought hard to keep the crawler clear of boarders and eventually they broke free of the ruins. 

After 100 miles they where certain that the Neo Sov forces where no longer in pursuit. Stopping at the remains of a old factory they worked hard to patch the crawler up. There they named it “Wasteland Star”.  Now they cannot return home as the Red Star will have a prices on their heads. Now free from the grip of the Red Star state they wander the wastelands looking for a suitable place that they can call home. 

The crew of the Wasteland star are Lead Adventure figures - Ruin Raiders and Stalkers. With one exception...this lady from Bad Squiddo games

She acts as a scout in the crew. 

The LAM figures paint up quickly and they have a good level of detail without being a pain in the eyeballs to paint. 

The background was inspired by the background behind the Metro Exodus computer game with a Mattblackgod’s world twist. The whole idea seems a good way for a group to explore the world. Who knows where they will end up? I may add more figures to the faction as time goes on (I have some half converted 40K Valhalla troops someplace that will fit). I am leaving naming the characters for now. Meanwhile I need to find or make a suitable vehicle(s) to use as a crawler or land train.  

That’s it for now....thanks for looking and stay safe out there.

Some hotwheels WIP

Hello and welcome back to my blog, 

While I have several 28mm figures on the go my brain has been itching at me to get cracking on my 20mm stuff. So here comes some WIP builds from the Warlord’s chop shop. 

First up is the Tyredok - Inspired by a vehicle in Fury Road I started work on this a couple of years back. Warlord Carnage needs one for his vehicle hordes.

It has had some bits from the bits box, plus parts from the North Star Gaslands sprue and Stan Johansen bits.

The vehicle is intended as support and is unarmed (I am creating for Warlands rather than Gaslands mainly as it has infantry rules). 

The Northstar Gaslands sprue is worth investing in especially. There is a motorbike on them too. 

Quite a decent looking ride I think. 

 There is also these two builds on the production line. The green station wagon is intended as a service vehicle for a settlement. It has a mix of Aberrant, NS Gaslands and Ramshackle bits on it. It still needs more. Possibly protection over the windows.

The sliver car (Hotwheels Ford Torino) has been drilled out, had a floor added to the rear, meshed windows, wheels lowered on the body (I do wish Hotwheels would stop making slammed cars - they would be useless in a post apocalyptic world), dual tyre rear wheels (this seems to be a compulsory modification if you have seen Mad Max 2 - Roadwarrior), a rod rear bumper and autokill blower. It needs more adding. The intention with this rig is to have a rear gunner and some sort of plinth mounted weapon on the roof. 

I have forgotten how much fun hacking hotwheels cars about is. 

That all for now - keep watching. 

Thanks for looking. Stay safe out there.

Aerocity

Welcome back to my blog Wanderer. Today we are looking at another long established settlement on mattblackgod’s World - Aerocity

Aerocity is a mishmash of hangers, terminal building, old vehicle wrecks and abandoned aircraft converted into buildings all contained behind a defensive scrap wall in what was a old airport. There is electricity, lights, bars, workshops, an arsenal and black thumb/Mek garages. The central control tower of the airport is the hub of command & defence. It has a lookout/sniper nest built on top it. 

When the end came refugees fleeing the firestorm hid in an nearby airport. It seemed to be the only place to have any shelter for them.  It soon became apparent that the airport had lots of useful resources for the survivors. Materials, shelter, abandoned luggage, fuel, tools and more. It wasn’t long until other smaller bands of survivors hiding there (mostly made up of airport/hanger/airline personnel) joined the new arrivals. In the weeks that followed they used the airport machinery to build barricades while covered by their comrades using looted airport security weapons. 

The strong arm of Aerocity 

As time went on they sent teams to salvage weapons and kit from the ruins. Food was grown in planters on roof tops, while the contaminated airfield was sown for fuel producing crops.  The city even has a small orchard providing apples, almonds and olives. Water is collected from atmospheric water distillers constructed across the site. The city uses all manner of aircraft bits to generate power. 

Aerocity trades with scavengers and traders for items they may need. The city has metals, parts, fuel, weapons, reconditioned oils and vehicles are items they have to trade. 

Tactical squad deploys. T markings on the helmets. Squad No1 as marked on the shoulder pads.

The city has grown since it was first founded with a estimated population of 450. The walls have been moved at least twice to accommodate the growing population. There is a outsider compound where traders and travellers can trade and stay without entering the city proper. This provides the residents a rare sense of security. The compound is watched and any trouble is met with a heavy hand. Squads of Aerocity warriors wearing old body armour look like something from the old times patrol the walls and gates. They employ a Big un to provide extra muscle. The massive flak cannon he carries tends to make people behave. 

There is stories about the faction owning a fearsome flame thrower war rig (possibly an converted 6 wheel airport fire engine), an actual working oldworld medium tank and some operational light aircraft. These may just be stories possibly generated to keep various Warlord’s hordes away. 

The assault squad deploys. A markings on their helmets. This is Squad No2 as marked on the shoulder pads.  

The Aerocity guards are old plastic 40K RT 1st ed era imperial guard with later 40k arms/weapons. I picked them up from eBay. I touched the figures up. An old plastic combat zone trooper with some putty shoulder pads Is also added. The 40K RT IG medic is also a rework I got from eBay. 

The sniper is a metal grenadier figure recruited from older retired faction.  The Ogryn acts as support. 

The plans are to grow this faction with extra rag tag units. I have been on a Oldhammer kick as such I have a handful of the metal versions of the old 1st ed 40k Imperial Guard , some very early IG figures (same helmet but different armour and 2 piece uniform) and mercenaries/pirates and adventures. Any unit shortfalls will get figures I have from other lines, just to mix it up.

Thanks for looking, stay safe out there. 

The court of Baron Schmitt

Hello and welcome back to my little place in the wastelands of the internet. Let’s look at Schmittville - and the court of Baron Schmitt. 

Schmittville lies in what was a oldworld industrial estate a days march east from Rubbleborg. Behind the clay brick lined scrap walls there lies a warren of old factories, old skips, dumpsters & vehicles converted into homes and plenty of ramshackle huts. There is very little power here. All light is provided by crude torches and oil burning lamps. 

The Baron rules with a iron fist relying on fear to control his people. He takes slaves to work the clay mine. Townsfolk are bullied by the Baron’s Enforcers and Goons. Those who offend the Baron end up as slaves in the clay mine or brick factory. Some offenders are beaten, stripped and taken out into the wastelands then left to fend for themselves. The hope is that in addition to the beating and humiliation bandits or a wasteland nasty will finish the troublemaker, if the harsh conditions don’t finish them first. Some survive long enough to be saved by traders who allow them to work off the debt for saving them. One unfortunate got captured by slavers who sold him back to the Baron the next day, much to the Baron’s amusement.

Schmittville’s major trade is clay bricks, pots and crockery. In addition to this they also produce home made hazmat suits from the massive stores of rubber sheet found in one of the factories. If asked the Baron has other trade assets. One of the factories has old stores of magnesium, copper sheet and aluminium ingots. The township has no use for them nor do they know what to use these items. He may also trade slaves who prove useless. 

Regular scavenging and salvage runs are made into the nearby ruins to keep the town supplied. Rad ghouls are a very real danger in those ruins. 

The Baron likes to trade with Slavers but isn’t beyond sending teams of Goons out to raid settlements for fresh slaves.

As the complex lies close to the old road the Baron has travellers and merchants delayed unless a tribute is paid. To get around this traders on the Trashford - Piean - Rubbleborg trade run will often call into Schmittville to trade as this avoids the tribute. 

Grandson of the first Baron of Schmittville the current Baron is a cruel man who rules Schmittville with a iron hand. He will not think twice of trying to rip off traders. As such he has a reputation in the wastelands as slimey, dishonest and untrustworthy. The Baron is one of the few township leaders who is happy about the Britannians and is willing to join them, for the right deal. 

The Barons wife Eleanor, is a self indulgent individual. As a born Schmitviller she doesn’t trust her husband and knows that as soon as she stops being useful to the Baron she will be discarded. But for now she has a lot of power and status. So why not enjoy it?

Wally is Lady Schmitt’s pet um...pooch I guess. Wally is a weird creature brought from the Shriek swamps by a trader. It is a strange mix of dog and frog. The Lady Schmitt fell in love with the creature. It is loyal and acts as her bodyguard. She has the town’s metal worker make it some armour for the pooch.

Krawford is the head of the Enforcers and is known as the “Baron’s Watchdog”. He is now too old for active duty and relies on other Enforcers and Goons to enforce the Baron’s will. The Baron keeps him around for his iron will and ability to psychologically break people during interrogations. 

Nunk is Schmittville’s techmonancer. He is one of the few people to use electricity in the township, provided by an ancient generator. Nunk is a mutant who came to Schimttville as a slave. His talents with ancient technology proved to useful to the Baron and he was invited to join the court. 

Guy is the Baron’s Head Goon. He is renowned for shutting down the area 31 riots by spraying the rioters with his automatic shotgun. Guy is a non nonsense character who lives by the rules. Guy leads Goon squads around the settlement and mine enforcing the Barons will. 

The court of Baron Schmitt is various figures by Blind Beggar Games. 

Thanks for looking. Stay safe out there Wanderer. 

Next rework in the queue.

Hello and welcome back Wanderer. 

There has been quite a bit going on with figure painting and planning new factions. I will get them posted up as soon as I get the background fluff written up. 

Meanwhile it’s time to fix up this bad boy and update it. The model fell off a shelf last year.

This piece was my first fully detailed interior model which I made around 15 years back. The inspiration for it came from a place I worked in. The design is set out so a 25mm base can move around inside.

The walls are foam board and the base & roof are cork board. The planters on the roof are old electrical connector caps filled with greenery. The tool cupboard, cupboard and filling cabinet came from a cheap Chinese garage set. 

Lots of bits from the bits box turned up including some bottles and bits from a tavern set (Grendel maybe?). The bed is scratch built from balsa, paper and putty. The chairs are chopped down oil barrels with cushions made from milliput. The stove/heater is another cut up oil barrel with card door. Lots of posters printed off from the web, the owner one ‘Mad Dan’ likes the goth female form. 

Time to repair - the corner of the roof has gone. The sign needs replacing. The exterior needs some paint touching up and will get the PA weathering. Inside may get some new details too depending on what is laying about. 

Keep watching for the next update. 

Thanks for looking. Take care out there.