Monstrous basing for monstrous monsters.

I think most of you will be able to recall the giant tree bark base that I made for the Octupus man a few weeks ago.  In a way, that one was just a prelude to more gigantic bases.  These bases are about the size of a CD or DVD.

One of them was for the Great Elk, and the other was for this Mierce Miniatures giant... something.

His 'footprint', such as it was, meant that it would be a big challenge.  Even more so, as he hung way out over the edge of the base!

This meant that my first task would be to elevate him enough so that he would not smash into regular infantry minis in close combat.  The pieces of bark also had to be wide enough to fit those massive clawed feet.

I had to reposition things quite often... thinking that I had everything just right, only to see that one of the feet was hanging in the air!

While the other huge figure did not have any such issues, my desire to create a vignette, or duel, on the base meant that I had to plan things out very carefully.  As you can see, I also wanted to utilize some wreckage from Wild West Exodus that's normally used as stand alone terrain!

The pieces that I chose to use for the Mierce monster were made as flat on the bottom as I could make them, but to make sure there would be a more solid connection to the base, I would add some Vallejo black lava paste with the super glue.

The super glue would provide a very strong hold by itself, but filling those gaps with the lava paste meant that each piece would be set in mortar, like bricks in a wall.

I could also fill in the surrounding areas of the rock pieces to provide some variation in the appearance of the terrain.

Here's the Great Elk.  Heavy, massive, solid resin.  He's rearing up on those hind legs, which makes for a very dramatic pose... and hence the duel idea.  However, positioning all these things (even on a base this huge!) would not be easy.

He would have to 'hang' over a precipice of tree bark.  This would require the addition of many pieces of bark, and even several metal pins of 'rebar' to hold it all together.

Once again, the lava paste was used like mortar to strengthen the layers of bark.  As I said, strength would be at a premium here!  This is still a gaming base, after all.

In order to keep the base more in line with what I have been doing, some tree branches would also have to be a part of the design.

I found myself having to add more and more pieces of bark to make everything sit right.

In addition to the regular style of branches, I wanted to experiment with more wispy, tangled branches.  These would be far more difficult to handle, but they really lend that sense of scale.  I also wanted to use some as exposed tree roots and vines.

Here' s the primary attempt to position the dueling partner for the Elk.  He looked like one of my lawmen, but could also be a civilian if need be.  I positioned him a number of times.  In the end, I had to have him angled slightly upwards.

He is just temporarily pinned to the base, so that I can remove him and paint him.

You can also see some of the vine type material that I used.  I didn't know how it might react to being painted, so this could be a big 'teaching moment' if it didn't!  

Stay tuned for the next episode to find out!

Cruising the mean streets of Wappelville

Let the Bike Brigade expand with a second Interceptor light support.

This can be used by a few factions from Wild West Exodus, such as the Lawmen and even the Outlaws!

These are valued members of my Lawman posse, that's for sure!

Spellbound

Here we have another favorite of mine from Reaper Miniatures.  This is Sinoei, I believe.

Some of you will probably recognize the sculpey base that I made months ago in the column experiment series.

She's available here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221684168632?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Fabulous Five

A little group of those Privateer Press ladies.

These were fun to paint, and the subtle variations in the browns and skin colors was an interesting challenge.

Seeing them in a group is also very satisfying...

I don't know what they are exactly... I'm sure they are from Hordes...

Certainly classic Privateer Press style!

And on a different backdrop...

I still can't get over the difference a backdrop makes... it can really emphasize or diminish certain colors!

You Shall Not Pass!

We return to the scene of carnage and destruction once again, an increasingly desperate struggle between the ever vigilant Lawmen of Wappelville.

Death was not a stranger to this would be capital of the new state... and Death had brought many minions with him.

The battle took on an all new outlook when the Ironhide disgorged is grisly passengers... stinking, rotting animations which stared forward with dead eyes and deadly guns.

All that stood between the advancing horrors and the pile of RJ-1027 was a Lawman Hired Hand and Bart Ransom, scouting the area on his trusty Interceptor.

Realizing that he had to do something immediately before the entire corner was overrun, he decided to fire all of his hyper velocity cannons.  Ignoring his own safety, Bart let loose the volley, knowing full well that he would potentially be caught up in the blast as well!

Miraculously, he not only survived, he took down three of the evil constructs, and damaged the Ironhide.  Perhaps the Dark Council had something in mind for him later...

Ultimately, he gave his life, as Missy used the sounds of his firing to target the Enlightened with her Death Launcher.  She managed to set the Ironhide on fire, as well as another construct.

Bart would suffer serious burns before his death.  He would be remembered in blood.

As the contest for the RJ-1027 rose to a fever pitch, the Earp Brothers stood shoulder to shoulder and pounded anything that moved towards the main power generator.  

Carpathian would never claim this power source for his own.

The original intent of the Judgement heavy support was to drag in Carpathian and summarily execute him.  However, Carl Fredrickson was now under assault from both Kaufmann brothers.

Destroying the wagon intentionally was not an option.  If you recall an earlier statement I made about this moving objective with variable points, it was worth 4 points if you controlled the wagon, or two if you were merely "along for the ride".

However, if the wagon was destroyed by an errant blast template, it would be worth -2 points.  Should you unwisely choose to destroy it intentionally, that was a -3 to your score!

This was to represent the fact that such an act would likely result in a rather substantial crater in the center of town!!

The Judgement vehicle decided to use its rail gun to take down one of the Kaufmann brothers to equalize the odds against Carl.

Apparently the Dark Council has quite the sense of humor, as you can see the retrograde results of the dice rolling... moving from re-roll to re-roll starting at 4, to 3, to 2, and finally... a '1'.

Yes indeed.

With the shot from the Judgement missing the mark, and even more desperate action was taken by Virgil Earp.

He ran as fast as he could towards the wagon, ignoring both Carpathian and Vlad in the Saloon.  The wagon was deliberately targeted, catching the Kaufmanns and Carl in the blast!

Incredibly, Carl was alive, and the wagon was intact.

One of the Kaufmanns was dead, and the other was flat on his back.  As control of the wagon was lost, Carl was able to use the confusion to blast the helpless Kaufmann in the face with his Portal Glove!

While disaster had been averted by the narrowest of margins with the RJ-1027 in the wagon, the Enlightened were establishing even tighter control over the pile in the southwest.

Jake Freeman was the sole Lawman standing against them.  He held out as long as he could, fighting hideous, blasphemous animations, and Long Tree!

He also fell, which left the Copelie Sisters to remove the cover of the intervening structures.

Again, the citizens of Wappelville had become all too familiar with the destruction of their dwellings and businesses.

Mysteriously, Long Tree was unharmed in the conflagration which followed.  That Dark Council member seemed to be even more interested in the Bad Medicine of the quack doctor.

All the firepower of the Sisters, and even the immobilized Judgement vehicle could not kill Long Tree, since he was 4 wounds above his starting level!  Bad Medicine indeed.

As the driverless wagon veered ever closer to the Saloon, both Vlad and Carpathian emerged from their hideout.  Vlad caught the valiant Carl Fredrickson in his sights, and took him down.

Fortunately, Virgil was nearby, and he was able to catch up to the wagon and climb aboard.

This left Carpathian with one choice... to target the wagon, and hope that it would survive as it had when Virgil did that very thing!

The power of his weapon was just too much, and the battered wagon was no more.

There would be no great explosion of the RJ-1027... which was eventually attributed to the Dark Council.

Saving a town from a horde of monstrous abominations really makes you work up an appetite, so Chef Babo fired up his stove and cooked up some beans for the Lawmen.  

The subsequent explosions had nothing to do with unstable RJ-1027.

In the final analysis, the Copelie Sisters and their K-9 pets were crucial.  Their long range firepower was able to keep the advance of the Enlightened in the southwest corner under control, and Hercules stunned everyone by killing Edison.

These mysterious fellows will probably be sighted again in Wappelville, but one never knows what their true intentions are.  They are fickle dance partners for sure!!!

The Earps did exactly what they intended.  Claim the Power station, and keep Carpathian and Vlad from having any influence over the rest of the battlefield.

Virgil ultimately took control of the wagon, a job well done!

But lest we forget, Carl Fredrickon's heroic sacrifice was the turning point in what seemed certain catastrophe.  He will be missed... or will he?  Is it possible that he used his Portal Glove to find a safer location than the center of Carpathian's blast template?

We may just see him again, in case the Outlaws attempt to free Billie from the Jailhouse.

Stay tuned.

The Hounds of Wappelville

Release the hounds!  Well... that would be later.

The struggle would begin with Wyatt and Virgil, flanked by Deputy Doogan on his interceptor.  A member of the Dark Council decided to get a very close look at the situation, and follow the Lawmen heroes towards their goal!

As I mentioned last time, the RJ-1027 power generator was a major objective in the fight.  It was one of three objectives.  The generator was worth two points, as was the pile of RJ-1027 containers in the southwest corner of the town.

The third objective was the wagon, which was worth a variable amount of points.  We thought it would be more interesting if it was actually moving around town, in a manner similar to regular civilians.

So, in effect, it was careening wildly through the streets of Wappelville, as the driver had been killed in the crossfire!  Nobody knew where it might go next.

It was worth 4 points if you managed to get control of it, two points if you were simply "along for the ride" in the back of the wagon, and even negative points should it be destroyed!  More on that later.

The Enlightened obviously planned to make a dramatic push towards the pile of containers to the southwest, and possibly control the center of town to cover the wagon as well.

However, an early shot from the Judgement's rail gun took down a few of the hideous constructs of Dr. Carpathian, who was holed up in Miss Fannie's establishment.

The unstable constructs began to ignite as the rail gun blasted its way through the putrid flesh and metal...

Missy Copelie had instructed Hercules, her trusty K-9 companion, to go after Edison, the young inventor who had been corrupted by Carpathian's madness.

While on his way towards Edison, he attempted to leap through the window to take a bit out of Carpathian!  Brave Hercules!!

Unfortunately, Edison was nearby, and came to the aid of his master.  He used his sonic weapon to push Hercules away from Carpathian.

Karl Fredrickson had been inside the jail at the start of the battle.  Once he saw the wagon head directly towards the front door, he decided to make an attempt to jump onto the wagon!!  A Dark Council member was nearby, so he felt confident that he would get a second chance to take control of it.

Alas, he was unable to catch up to the wagon, which turned around and headed back to the center of the intersection.  Clearly, the Dark Council had other plans.

Karl was now left covered in nothing but dirt, out in the open!

Edison also used his sonic weapon to push some constructs toward that pile of containers, right past Hercules.  He would pay a very steep price for this action as you will see soon...

As an aside, we were able to figure out how to get six constructs to fit inside the template but still keeping enough space between them to avoid a cascade of self destructive explosions!

With Hercules cast aside, the Kaufmann brothers of the Enlightened used their vast quickness and agility to leap onto the wagon and take control of  it!!

This was a disastrous development for the Lawmen, as the Enlightened could now move the wagon well into the protective zone created by Carpathian and Vlad, who were using Miss Fannie's establishment as a sniper nest.

Speaking of Enlightened underbosses and sidekicks... Hercules was able to work his way around the wagon and hurl himself upon Edison!  The young inventor was no match for the ferocious mechanized beast, who tore him to shreds.  

Should Missy's pet survive the inevitable counter-attack by Long Tree, he might be the last hope of the Lawmen to wrest control of the wagon...

Sadly, the valiant Hercules was slain by Long Tree, who would continue on and join the constructs marching towards the pile of RJ-1027 containers.

Even though Wyatt and his brother had secured the power station, control of the wagon and its cargo spelled doom for Wappelville.  Only one Lawman was capable to preventing this horror... Fredrickson!!

He used his power gauntlet to teleport himself directly onto the wagon!  A suicidal mission, to be sure.  With the guidance of the Council member, he managed to appear directly in the midst of the dangerous Kaufmann Brothers!!

To the southwest, the struggle for the pile of containers would intensify as the Enlightened would bring as much force as possible to that far corner of town.

It was here that Missy and Rebecca would shine, potentially saving the day for the citizens of Wappelville.  

How many Lawmen would be sacrificed in the prevention of Dr. Carpathian's evil plans?  Find out in the next episode!!!