Jetbike build

Hello and Welcome Back, 

Yet another jetbike speeds across the deserts of Maddan’s world. They are a popular mode of personal transport on the dust ball of a world. 

The sharp eyed amoung you will notice this bike isnt packing weapons and the rider only has a pistol. This bike is probably used around the bigger settlements on Maddan’s world, rather than convoy escort duties. 

I built this jetbike for a competition on the In Rust We Trust discord server. It's core is a pen top with (clean) medical tubing connectors to make the intake and thruster. A disposable razor cover makes up the avionics box under the engine. A tail wing off a cheap ww2 fighter plane kit makes up the tail fin. Plastic tubing makes up the tail frame.

Foam sheet makes up the engine cover and seat. The fuel tanks are half wooden balls and control blister is a bead. The screen is made from a toy plastic bullet. The rider came from a mantic corporation monowheel. 

The paint scheme was inspired by the paint schemes that featured on Japanese "Rice Burner" sports motorbikes back in the 80s and 90s. But I fancied a different set of colours to the Japanese flag.  

It was a fun build, looking back I should have made the bike a little longer. This bike looks like it can weave around the buildings of any settlement with ease. I really enjoy building jetbikes and speeders. There will be more turning up in the future. 

Thanks for looking, take care out there.

Mad Dan's Scrapyard terrain

Hello and Welcome back, 

I have been planning some terrain for Mad Dan's Scrapyard for a while now. The plan was to use the Bangarang terrain I have been building as a starting point. While digging through the pile of shame I came across some mdf shipping containers that I had assembled and primed some years ago. Feedback from the Mk1 eyeball suggested that these would be just the right size as the newly constructed Bangarang models. A check with a ruler a few minutes later confirmed that the eyeballs were right. 

As the spirit of Bangarang and the Gutterlands is all scratch built or kit/toy bashed these models wouldn't suit, but old shipping containers would suit the setting of Mad Dan’s Scrapyard. 

They were quickly painted using craft acrylic paints. Weathering was added using the fore mentioned craft paints.  

Posca paint Markers added the details and graffiti. 

As we had just lost our 21 year old cat Joey, it seemed fitting to add a bit of graffiti in his memory. 

Here is both sets of models together. 

Going forward the Scrapyard will get more models. Piles of junk, scrap and scrap weapons turrets are all on the to do make list. 

Thanks for looking and take care out there.

Bangarang Terrain.

Hello and Welcome Back, 

As regular visitors to my blog will know, I recently got into building Beadbots with the intention of playing the Bangarang game. As well as the Beadbots the game requires some stackable terrain and bridges for the bots to fight around. 

The terrain is required is 4 off 2 x 2 x 2 inch stacks, and 4 off 2 x 4 x 2 inch stacks with 2 bridges. I started off building stacks from junk in the bits box to reflect the background of the Gutterlands (the setting for the Bangarang game). Halfway through, I got the idea to build shacks as they would have more versatility. 

Again the shacks are built from junk laying about. There is a bit of recycling cards I was using to punch rivets out of. The sharp eyed amoung you will notice that the stacks aren't exactly the same sizes. It's because I was junk building and to my mind such structures wouldn't be exact. Thankfully the slight size differences don't interfere with the stackablity of the models. 

Paint was started with quick rattle can primer. They then got a coat of watered down textured paint for the grot factor. After a quick coat of brown acrylic craft paint, they got some orange rust spots and washes. Then a metallic dry brush to highlight parts and make details pop. At this point I picked out the coloured panels to break up the paint scheme. A couple of brown and orange washes then tied the models together. Then it was the fun part. detailing, graffiti and posters. 

These stackable models make for interesting picture backdrop for figures, especially as you can mix them up to keep the background interesting (check out my recent figure posts as the terrain is in the background). As well as the Bangarang these models will be used for my Mad Dan’s Scrapyard setting. That said I suspect the shacks will creep onto many other tables too. 

I enjoyed making these models and I am thinking of making more in the near future. 

Thanks for looking. 

The missing Boglander

Hello and Welcome Back,

Some time ago, Curtis from Ramshackle Games, kindly gifted me a set of his upcoming Boglanders kickstarter. 

I assembled them and got them painted. It was only later that I realised, there was one missing. After priming the figure vanished. Recently I found the figure in the un painted box. You can escape Wyrmface, but you can't hide! 

So the little guy got a quick paint job so he can join his comrades in the Strontium Swamps of Mattblackgod’s world.

The other Boglanders. I suppose I should try and get the Boglanders Kickstarter set painted up at some point. Yeah, I know. I say that about every figure in the unpainted pile. 

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there.

Mad Dan’s Scrapyard

Hello  and Welcome back, 

Time to introduce a new character for MBW. Mad Dan is a crazy old coot that lives in a ancient junkyard. He is aggressive to strangers but is happy to trade with folks that make the dangerous treck to the scrapyard. Just make sure he knows you have something he wants to trade for.

Those unscrupulous types who think they can rob or cheat a old man, have to deal with Mad Dan’s scrap built robot. The lumbering bot is well armed and is programed to protect it's master and the scrapyard.

In addition to this the old loon keeps a couple of huge junk yard dogs that patrol the scrapyard and happily rip apart any trader, raider or mutant that may wander into the scrapyard.

Mad Dan’s Scrapyard is a old world scrapyard about 6 days march North West from the Last City. There is many treasures to be found there. It’s worth the trek if you need some parts. The approaches to the Scrapyard is difficult with roaming packs of wild dogs and mutant bears acting as a deterrent to raiders. The land around the scrapyard is heavily mined and booby trapped to prevent intruder and critter incursions into the scrapyard. The scrapyard has junk barricades, scrapbuilt automatic weapon turrets, patrolling combat bots and more. There are rumours that Mad Dan keeps horrific mutant critters as guard “dogs”. Something that Mad Dan promotes with using ancient jury rigged sound system playing something known as a "data chip" with monster sounds on it.

Mad Dan is a Space Rogue figure by Copplestone castings (via Northstar Miniatures), the Junkbot is built from beads plus the contents of the bits box and the Mastiffs are old Maurader figures from the late 80's.

Thanks for looking and take care out there.

Junkbot Ratta

Hello and Welcome Back, 

I thought it was about time to build a Junkbot for the Bangarang game. As its a junkbot I used a bit cut off a Mantic cargo/canister as the body/torso. 

The rest of it is made from all manner of beads. As this is a Junkbot it only has one eye, the Bangarang fluff sayes that these bots are built by the poorer members of the Gutterlands. Apparently the amount of eyes a bot has is a indication of wealth. I discovered some tiny rhinestones for decorating finger nails which were cheap (£3 for 500) on ebay and make for great rivets. 

As this bot is not just a Bangarang machine but it will be the bodyguard of the resident/owner/foaming at the mouth crazy loon who runs Mad Dan’s Scrapyard, a few days march North of Last City this bot has been well armed (more fluff and figures about Mad Dan to follow soon). Ratta sports twin bolters (storm bolters?), a power sword and some funky looking plasma weapon. That should be enough to change the minds of anyone trying to steal Mad Dan’s junk. I chose a rusty and bits of matt black as a paint job.

Some WIP pictures of this bot. 

Thanks you for looking and take care out there. 

The Water Merchant.

Hello and Welcome Back, 

A common site in Last City's Barta Square, the water seller trades water from his cart. To stop the locals from just mugging the Water Seller, a couple of hefty guards protect him and his assets. 

All these figures are by Macrocosm miniatures and are based on the Carl Critchlow drawings in the Helsreach section of the old 40K Rouge Trader rule book. 

I found these figures really fun to paint. While they fit the Post Apocalyptic setting perfectly, they could equally be seen wandering around a dirtside space port. I am tempted to pick up a lot more guards as they could be used in a lot of table top factions. I also think I need to make the Water Merchant a cart at some point.

Thanks for looking, take care out there. 

Igorts..meet the Igorts!

Hello and welcome back,

The Igorts are a mutant clan from deep in the wastelands who now live in Last City, running a very successful vehicle building and repair business. Orginally discovered by a long range Last City Scout who was returning from a mission, after breaking down several days march from home. As he settled down in his vehicle for the night (crossing the wastelands in the dark is incredibly dangerous as there are many "things" looking for food) he heard noises. Upon seeing a mob of mutants flocking around his vehicle, the Scout fled to a safe distance fearing they wanted it for themselves. He was amazed to see the mutants fixing his vehicle up. After a while the mutants gingerly approached the scout. The Scout was ready to run, as the mutants appeared to be augmented and huffed on horrific looking pipes inserted into their mouths. Speech from the Igorts was largely unintelligible being muffled grunts and gargles, but the Scout eventually figured they were friendly and gesturing to his vehicle. 

Taking a risk and trying no to show any fear, the Scout sauntered up to his vehicle. Upon inspection (followed by excited, if somewhat muffled whoops from the Igorts) he was amazing to find his vehicle not only repaired, but serviced and improved somewhat (although the Scout wasn't sure about the addition of the pink fluffy dice). The Scout realised that these unconventional mechanics would be an asset to the Last City. He explained (somehwat slowly) that his home had lots of different vehicles and machinery to repair and maintain, news which seemed to excite his mechanic saviours (there was a lot of hooting of the word "Igort" from the mutant Blackthumbs). It took very little persuasion to get the Igorts to return to the Last City. 

The Igorts seem to love working on anything mechanical with a feavour that looks to be the reward itself. If you point them at a pile of scrap they happily dive in and start building or repairing. These mutants have proven to be cheaper than hiring Squats, more stable than Trog Mek Boys and far more honest & relaible than using Grots (who usually steal everything not bolted down before vanishing into the wastelands). Igorts seem to have no names and refer to each other as "Igort", leading to speculation that that is their word for themselves or possibly they are some sort of hive creature. In fact "Igort" appears to be a word that has hundreds of different meanings. They seem to randomly hoot the word. The Igorts have built, maintained and repaired all manner of machines across Last City and have received freedom of the city from Mattuis Black himself (which means no taxes upon entering or leaving the city and they can enter the Black City) for repairs to old power armour, weapons and vehicles. This doesn't mean he won't have them shot if they appear to be a threat to the Last City in any way.

Today the Igorts have a workshop and scrapyard on the edge of the Mutant (shanty) District of Mootle. They receive payments of scrap, junk, fuels and gases in return for their services. Despite the Irgorts disturbing appearance, thier mechanical prowess has made them popular figures in the Last City.

The arrival of the Igorts at the Last City seems to be the first occurance of them arriving in the wastelands. Reports have come back to Mattuis Black that the city of Hamsterdam in the Freepeoples Wastes (to the North) now have a Igort working for them. The question is, is there more Igorts out there? If so where are they coming from? Questions to the Igorts about thier origin just leads to blank looks, as if they do not understand the question or concept.

The Igorts are Mechanics figures by Macrocosm miniatures and were a lot of fun to paint.

Thanks for looking, take care out there. 

Minimus Squat's goons.

Hello and Welcome back,

These four squats roam the Wastelands looking for people to enslave, who they then trade to the less scrupilous wasteland settlements. 

All three figures are part of Minimus Squat's slaver team by Ramshackle Games. I love these figures as they are really characterful. 

Thanks for looking. Take care out there.

Helsreach Walker

Hello and Welcome back, 

Ever since I was a spotty kid, I have admired the slaver walkers in the Helsreach art in the first edition 40K rule book. 

Fast forward to 2014 and Mr Papafakis's awesome Helsreach Walker kit bash inspired me to build one for myself. After a good while scouring the Internet I ccouldn't find a suitable toy to cut up but I discovered a Ban Dai Destroid Spartan kit which I acquired. Work started on this during the late covid lockdowns here.

These kits are well detailed, each part of the leg and foot are fully mobile making posing it interesting. I only needed the bottom half so the rest of the model now lurks in the bits box. 

Things stalled as I waited to find a suitable item to make the platform, in this case a plastic individual dessert tub. I tried several glues before I found UHU managed to bond the two different plastics. Learning from that the tub was lined inside & out with standard ink jet paper and PVA glue. This not only reinforced the tub but allowed all the various gubbins to be added. 

The tub was a little deep for my 28mm figures to peep over so a piece of foam board was added to lift the deck. Granny grating/embroidery mesh was laid on top of it. The machinegun coupla was made from a kinder egg pod added to the side. Lots of milliput filled the gaps around the bottom. Card was wrapped around the outside to disguise the shape of the pods. The floor was then added. The gun rail is a bit of plastic rod warmed up (by holding against a mug of tea) and formed around the coupla shape. The gun was salvaged from the bits box, the handles came from a mantic vehicle heavy weapon and the ammo box is a 1/35 scale WW2 item. 

The metal posts for the ropes are made from plastic rod. The ropes are made with twisted wire from the inside of a electrical cable.

Various bits make up the controls and gubbins. The exhausts are from the Bandi walker kit and the water tank is a Ramshackle Games resin item. The light array posed a problem. It was eventually made from a small electronics component box lid (found in the bits box) and a bunch of stick on googly eyes. The ladders are 3d printed items which were cut up to look like they are retractable. A chain was added so the crew could pull it up or drop it as needed (it doesn't work on the model!). A spotlamp from a 40K Imperial Guard tank was added. 

Paint was reasonably quick once the front "toes" were painted with industrial hazard stripes. Lots of washes followed the base colours to make it look worn and weathered. The model was based on a CD. It's taken me 3 years to finish but I have learnt a lot. Who knows, I might make more walkers in future if suitable donor bits are found. 

The Walker will see use with my Orks on Maddans world when they come a raiding. On Mattblackgod’s World the Walker will get used by my Slaver gang "Tox's Blackhearts". 

Thanks for looking and stay safe out there.