Gashants

Not terribly sexy and prone to peck off your head if you're not careful, the Gashant is Mars' answer to the evolutionary question, "What was I thinking?"...

Seriously, I think these figures are brilliant.  Kudos to "Uncle Frank" for taking a dinosaur and giving it a beak.

This particular pattern was inspired by the Great and Terrible Rob C., who has challenged and vexed me greatly for decades. At least I think it is, or else I'm subconciously thinking about budgies, which can't be a good sign...

These are actually the first is a set of Martian Cavalry I'm working on. Details to follow...

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Mind the Gap - Canal Martian Artillerists

One of the challenges in miniature wargaming is filling the Product Gap in a line of miniatures.  In the RAFM Space:1889 line, there is a current dearth of Maritan native artillerists. I say "current" because RAFM is currently discussing how best to expand this line, and I hope they are contemplating new artillerist figs for the Canal Martians.

In the meantime, I've been using RAFM Elves of the Crystal Isles "buccaneers", which can be found, occasionally, on eBay. These were sculpted by Bob Murch, who also sculpted many if not all of the RAFM Martians, so they fit in fairly well.  The only divergence is the elves are wearing boots/shoes.

I can live with that.

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Her Majesty's Land Ship "Turbulent"

Ironclad Miniatures

This is one of the Ironclad Miniatures steam tanks and I'm very happy with it. The, the detail is lovely, the resin casting is crisp. No voids or bubbles in the visible areas (some tiny bubbles on the underside - easily sanded out).

The model comes in four main pieces in resin - hull, drive tracks,  and turret, with four pieces in white metal - smoke stack, hatch (2 halves) and gun.

Marvelous tank and well worth the price.

5/5

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And More Œnotrian Artillery

Rounding out the Œnotrian artillery park is the mighty Lob Gun.

With RAFM 28mm figure for scale

While there is no direct Earth equivalent on the Soldier’s Companion artillery tables, the Lob Gun’s performance equates to that of a 10” or 11” mortar. As non-rifled, indirect artillery, a lob gun only hits on a 6, regardless of range.  However, with a range of 6 feet on the table, the lob gun can reach out and threaten most units in your average Soldier’s Companion game.

Lob Guns don’t work well against open order infantry, and are best used in defense of towns, where they can threaten enemy vehicles, like slow-moving British land juggernauts (tanks) and aerial gunboats. The Lob Gun’s slow rate of fire (1 shot per three turns) means they are best deployed in pairs, or even better, in threes.  Three Lob Guns, fired one per turn defending during a British assault, might goad the Red Terrans into launching a premature attack.
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The particular model shown is from J.R. Miniatures and is cast in two-piece resin (base and barrel).

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Trenches

I found some old 25mm trenches that I had built using Frank's instructions in Soldier's Companion. These will prove useful for the Great War on Mars scenario.

Pics of the before and after refit soon!

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Conversion pics for the Ironclad Minis Steam Walker

These photies could probably have gone with the previous Tripod post, however, I don't get to post as often as I like, so whey-hay, here we go:

Here's the original front/bow of the crew compartment - as mentioned, I've decided this will be the rear/aft of the walker.  

The piece of 1/4 inch dowel that has been cut for to serve as a firebox can be seen.  The silver sliver is an HO scale railway smokestack.  There is a larger, white metal, smokestack supplied with the model which is fine - I just preferred the look of the smaller stack.

Below is the "new" front/bow.  The stack housing has been milliput-ed over and some styrene card glued on to simulate the gunners position.

Here is the assembled smokebox, stack and water/oil tank. I really do think the reversed cab looks better this way! More praise and glory to Ironclad for designing a model that is easily kit-bashed!

Below, atop the three legs, is the 25/28mm Sci-Fi console base, used for the running gear box - the top (not shown) looks a bit like a TARDIS column.  I will need to figure out where to get more of these if I want to make another tripod...(Edit: I have since discovered, a soft-drink bottle cap will work as well.)

Joining the legs was simpler than I thought it would be - I used some two-part epoxy to fasten the legs to a fender washer.  Once dry (and I had  to hold the legs down with my thumb for 10 minutes while watching the Game of Thrones) the washer and legs were easily epoxied to the gearbox.

The model needs a base, if only to protect the legs from catching on something and snapping off. I have 2" diameter sheet steel bases that were too small to fit the "feet", and a large 3" fender washer that I decided was too heavy.  Finally, the model was epoxied to a styrene-sheet base (actually two pieces, stuck together). This provides a nice stable base without making the model too heavy.

Vorwards!  Nach Paris!

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L' Ancre Embrouillée

Troupe de Marine symbol

L' Ancre Embrouillée

The French Ministry of Marine Establishment on Mars

As given on page 161 of Soldier’s Companion, the French Colonial Establishment on Mars contravenes the French Constitution, which prohibited the deployment of “Metropolitan” troops (i.e. those in the regular French Army) from being deployed out of France.  

French political thought in the years from 1872 to the run up for the Great War was dominated by “Revanche” – the recovery of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from the German Empire, and the punishment of the Germans for occupying the same.

This meant that, in the mind of the government, the sole purpose of the French Army was to fight Germany in the Next War.

Running concurrently and in opposition to the dominant policy of Revanche was the Colonialists' notion that for France to reclaim her status as a power, lost in the disasters of the Franco-Prussian war, she would need colonies. Occasional Colonialist political victories against the Revanchists would result in France controlling an empire second only to Great Britain’s in size and scope.

The Army’s hands were essentially tied, and the Ministry of the Marine controlled the French colonial military until 1893. Thus in 1889 the bulk of French Troops on Mars should be Marine Infantry, reinforced by native levies and penal battalions (les Joyeux), stiffened by the Foreign Legion and the occasional sprinkling of Fusilier Marines (Sailors) near the landing zones.

The list should be amended to something rather like this:

The French Colonial Establishment on Mars – Idæs Fons Colony

2nd Foreign Legion Infantry                         E2

3rd Marine Infantry                                       V1

7th Marine Infantry                                       X1

1^st Btn Tirailleurs Martien                            T2

5^th Btn African Light Infantry (penal)            X1

1st Foreign Legion Gashant Corps             V1                 
Martian Indigenous Irregular Cavalry           X2

Martian Irregular Cavalty Goumiers

Following the limited success of using native Arab horsemen to track and raid troublesome desert tribes, the French have begun to enlist Hill Martians as native "Goumiers". Thus far, the practise appears to be working well, due to the superior warlike qualities of the Hill Martian riders.

To be continued:...