The Damned Cavalry

Although I'm never quite sure why sci-fi settings seem obsessed with cavalry, I do enjoy the models.

The Damned bring their Outriders into the fray.

 

The Damned Heavy Infantry

One of the distinct units for The Damned is the Heavy Infantry. Think 40K Scions troop type.

Disclaimer: I could not be bothered with attaching the cables to run from the weapons to the backpack. Too fiddly for me.

Again, there are multiple head types on the frames but not enough of each type for all the figures on the sprue. I've decided to go with the grotesque face mask version to build a Blood Pact type squad requiring me to use the heads from across four frames. This means other squads will have different heads. 

 

Wargames Atlantic The Damned Arrive

They've been a while in arriving but, finally, The Damned Kickstarter pledge has arrived and crikey, it was a metric poop ton of plastic. Fortunately, they've also arrived at a time to 

coincide with my having the time to get back into some hobbying after being very busy for the last two years, hence the gap in posting.

I jumped in for the 15 box pledge which came with a very liberal sprinkling of free sprues.

Now, The Damned are a faction for WGA's Death Fields Arena ruleset but they have the capacity to be an Imperial Guard style Lost and the Damned army for 40K.

I have a line up of posts to come showing some of the basic builds and work in progress.

First up is a Command group made up from the HQ set. Not shown is the Brute model (think Ogryn) that was also on the sprue. These have been built to be the Boss model for the Brute squads (more on those later).

 

There are parts for an officer, medic, comms operator, standard bearer and sorceror/ psyker (again, in a separate post).

Across the range of boxes, there are multiple head types. For this initial burst of models, I've opted for the gasmask and hood variant. Slightly fiddly to build, the canister is a very small component glued onto the front of the hood. 

I've also built this Command squad with them all wearing trench coats. I may not do that for other squads, making this the lead Command for the army.

The army is being painted with Contrast paints with the main colours being:

Trenchcoats:                             Black Templar.

Trousers:                                  Space Wolves Grey.

Tunics:                                      Flesh Tearers Red.

Boots:                                       Cygor Brown.

Weapons:                                  Basilicanum Grey.

Webbing/ Hoods:                      Snakebite Leather.

     

 

More SciFi Cavalry - Wargames Atlantic Chip In

We all know by now that I'm a big fan of Wargames Atlantic's Death Fields range.  There is nothing better if you want to expand a 40K Imperial Guard army and engage in some kitbashing.

In this case, their new Les Grognards cavalry are out on the streets.  I decided to indulge with a box which will allow nine riders and mounts to be made. Why nine? Who knows but better nine than five for your £25 to £30.

There is a snag though...

...the plastic WA mounts were made for their historical range so are decidely not 'heroic' 28mm. See below.

As a result, I have stuck the WA riders onto spare GW Empire Pistoliers horses. Additionally, I have replaced thehorses heads with the armoured heads from the Les Grognards set,

I have also avoided using the Les Grognards heads and have opted for the capped head from the Bulldogs kit, making these Rough Riders from the Terrax Guard units I have already kit bashed.

 

How To Use Up The Spare Heavy Ordnance Weapons

Another one of Wargames Atlantic's stls is a plasma cannon for the Bulldogs as shown below.

It's quite a chunky carriage but not very long.  I experimented with removing one of the plasma cannons and seeing how a GW Imperial Guard heavy lascannon would sit on the carriage.

The end result isn't perfect but shop around as alternative carriages could be out there for expanding other sci fi armies.

 

Victoria Miniatures Rough Rider Kickstarter Physical Models Arrive

Examples of the models printed from the stls have been posted previously.

These models, however, are part of the physical pledge and were dispatched just prior to Christmas. Much like the Halfling Sharpshooters, these required little in the way of prep before building.

As I already have a five strong pith helmet squad, I decided to build these using the more Command style options so have gone for a standard bearer, a bugler and equipped two of the others with the shock lance/ goad style lance that the sets come with.

 

SciFi Highlanders Trial Scheme

Once again, I've opted for Contrast Paints for new models.

The Highlanders will be wearing Space Wolves Grey jackets with Dark Angles Green for the kilts. Snakebite Leather is my go to choice for webbing. Weapon  furniture is Wyldwood with shoulder armour and metal parts painted in Basilicanum Grey.

I will likely end up using Corax White to add some tartan to the kilts.