The Royal Navy Marines, Part 2

To continue, Redcoats on the Royal Navy Marines always look so intimidating on the table...

Crew (can be used as Privateers or even Pirates)

Marines and Naval Officers

Governor in the foreground flanked by Naval Officers

Rank and file

Marines in a different light

Posing

The Royal Navy Marines, Part 1

Last time I posted was all about the Pirates. Now for the Royal Navy, always a good unit to face off against those scurvy dogs, arrrrgghhhh!!!

Lots of reference photos to be had all over the net.

Nice visuals, as well from Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise.

Resin model wagons from Fenris Games.
Perfect for Pirates and other periods.

Royal Marines and Crew 

Drybrushed and ready for color

More bases from Fenris

British Crew

Black Scorpion Pirates Showcase

Just had to show these bad boys off...

Well, not quite these bad boys...

The Pirate line from Black Scorpion

Beautifully sculpted makes painting them easy

Ditto

Ditto again

Now, I'm just being lazy...

Green Army Men - Yoga Joes

One of the things I love most are interesting finds that not only tickle my brain but also make me laugh. One such find was during a visit to the Museum Store at HMNS (Houston Museum of Natural Science). Most museum store fare are overpriced knick-knacks that clutter most desks and shelves. 

The obligatory Museum Store

Then I found the coolest thing while browsing around... 

But first, some background.

A staple for little boys and most budding gamers, I would guess that
most of us have started with the standard Green Army Men in a bag.
This bag of plastic soldiers gave me loads of good clean fun as I simulated
these little battles

Before the advent of computers and tech-toys, these low tech plastic
toys were powered by our imagination. No batteries included nor needed.
With all the standard poses we've come to love and expect, these mini
soldiers were ubiquitous for most boys in my generation

The Toy Story movie franchise featuring these little plastic heroes
made me fall in love all with them all over again. In fact, they
intrigued me so much I re-watched their scenes over and over again.  

So fast forward years later, I was at the HMNS Museum store when I noticed these plastic soldiers displayed on a shelf. I could've missed these bad boys amidst all the other bric-a-brack but they caught my eye.

I nearly missed these bad boys!

Upon further investigation I leaned closer and got an eyeful.

I didn't end up buying them there so I took the information from the card and looked them up online. The good news is that googling them will lead you to Amazon where they can be easily got. So get 'em already!

Re-purposing of a classic. Brilliant!

Funny as hell!

New and Old Toys, Part 7 Star Wars Minis and More

As George Lucas once said, "One thing about 'Star Wars' that I'm really proud of is that it expands the imagination. That's why I like the 'Star Wars' toys." I couldn't agree with him more. In this case I use whatever is at my disposal. I'll usually set up my table with something interesting and things just evolve.

It's been awhile since I've played with my DropZone Commander building models and really love the ease of set up using these cardboard pieces. They photograph well and are very usable for different games systems or a casual diorama setup.

A Rancor mixes it up with AT43 Red Blok mechs, Bugs,
and miscellaneous MechWarrior units and vehicles

New and Old Toys, Part 6 Stalingrad

You ever set up your game table for a specific scenario and end up with 'free play'? Such was the case one day after I set up my Stalingrad table intending to skirmish an urban ruins clash against the usual suspects of belligerents. After the table was set (...the battle lines are drawn...) I had some visitors 'oohing and aahing' over the set up. Now mind you, these visitors of mine were not gamers. And unbidden they started pulling minis from collection and placed them on the table. The result was pure fun and unplanned...

(click on the pix to enlarge)

The initial setup: 28mm urban ruins on
my 5'x7' gaming table

A PanzerGrenadier column with BMW Troopen scouts
and fullysupported with a PZII and SdKfz 251 Halftracks
with some command elements in tow entering the sector

The objective: ammo and supply dump made up with
my collection of crates, barrels, oil cans, sandbags, etc.

Soviet Strelkovy and Maxim MG Team race to get into
position when all of a sudden, the Bugs attack!

At the opposite side of the table StormTroopers advance
supported by an AT-ST while a trailing Rancor goes amok

Standard StormTrooper maneuvers as they fan
out outflanking an unsuspecting T34 and the dinos

A T-34 and a BA-6 are duly engaged with the Alien and
a raptor as a T-Rex and a Bug are locked in combat 

A Stug IIIG with some BMW Troopen get in on the action

The Alien sneaking up on an unsuspecting Soviet Scout
observing the passing of the PanzerGrenadier column

Blade showing up for a cameo appearance

A soviet sniper sights on a T-Rex from Hobby Lobby

A mixed bag of belligerents including an armor
clash between a KV1 and JagdPanzer IV 

A melee and free-for-all ensues!

"All together now!"

PSC Great War Infantry

Another Borg system spin off: The Great War 

(click on the pix to enlarge)

As sexy as she is, this is not that Borg...

A long awaited game, I couldn't wait to give it a try

Everything you need to get that WWI flavor
Commands and Colors-style!

The Brits

The Huns

Painting production in full swing

Hard lesson learned: do not use hot glue gun on plastic soldiers 
because removing them from the nail after painting becomes
problematic and difficult ("Arrrrgggghhhhh!" I yelled in frustration)

Unfortunately, the glue adheres to the plastic and
is difficult to trim. This was not an issue
with metal figures. DOH!

Consequently, the bases aren't flat as intended. Luckily
these figures stand up well on a Hexon tile because of
the static grass

The Brits - nice poses and crisp figures

Ditto for the Huns

A little test on how they stand up on the Hexon tiles

Nice detail on these Brits

First Scenario Map to be replicated on Hexon 

I decided to go the easy route and just used sand to
outline the trenches. A quick, down and dirty
alternative to get that miniatures feel

An entrenched Hun machine gun team

A Hun mortar team

A Brit MG team

Standard Brit infantry with Grenadier ready to go 'over the top'