Autobot Chop Shop

I've been thinking of ways to create new bots for the Cybertronianic wars. Splicing different bodies together seems like another way to create variaty.

I decided to pin the limbs in place to make them much more durable. The soft rubber was easy to drill.

Frankinbots! Hopefully they will take on character when painted up. It's nice to create brand new designs and takes the stress out of recreating existing characters.

The one with the back shield is called Vanguard. I found it's good to name them as you're making them, as it helps with the creation and look of the finished bot. The big shield was the starting point.

 

I tried to create interesting silhouettes when sticking on the greeblies.

This tape deck is my version of Blaster. It's modelled from a later incarnation of Soundwave. I've added some Blaster details to help with the look. The head is a resin sci-fi head from Maxmini. I thought it looked Autobot enough to work. I also added some horns to it.

After sticking a Lego lightsaber to the back of this bot, It took on a tank vibe. I had to give it tracks after that and I'm pleased with the finished look. He is definitely a armoured fighting vehicle when transformed.

Here is the strange mash up, this is a classic generic bot that is the first to go.

Vanguard has grown on me due to his unusual back shield. He too has a tank feel to him. Again the back shield is a piece of Lego.

Blaster with his nemasis, Soundwave. I couldn't get him to the same height as Soundwave but maybe I can do something clever with the base. These two audio devices are old enemies and that should make for some good games.

Plasticard bits fill in the gaps on the toys.

Games Day

I had another great day at the Prince Rupert's Games Day today. Much fun was had and it was nice to play a couple of new games.

One hour skirmish games are a club favourite and it was nice to see the North Africa toys come out.

The Germans fall back and victory goes to the Allies.

One of the highlights for me was trying out Gas lands, the vehicle combat game from Osprey. 

It took a few turns to get my head into it, but once I had, it was great fun.

Very fast and furious action.

My car was the armoured Mini, seen here taking pot shots at a passing racer.

 Out of control and out of luck!

New Autobot

Today I gave myself a nice easy project to break up all those historical uniforms. A tough looking Autobot.

To make this more fun, I made him up as I went along. Now I need to dig out my book of names and christen him.

Once I was happy with the colour scheme, I stuck on a decal and gave him a gloss varnish.

The wrecking crew. This model is the same frame I based Ironhide on. Ironhide was beefed up with plasticard.

 More Cybertron bases for the growing armies.

Welcome to the Eighties!

Alexa...play Vince Dicola!

Black Uruk Captain

This giant Black Uruk will lead the new units into battle. He also claims to be the king of Moria... although that is up for debate.

His dark flesh is actually the Dark elf triad paints from Reaper. I like the colour especially when washed with Dark tone Dip.

He also has a few grizzly retainers that with pack out his command base.

These guards have been given the Dark elf skin tones from Reaper. They even carry a bit of red in their livery rather than the black of other units. This Chieftain obviously has delosions of grandeur, nothing a sharp axe can't fix.

 I think this great orc would make a good Azog character too.

UPDATE: A red flag! The standard of Moria combines the slit eye of Mordor and the horns of the Balrog. Well, that's the idea anyway.

The horns also create the eye shape of Mordor too.

These latest figures are from Gremlin miniatures. They are crudely sculpted but they have a lot of nostalgia for me. I remember buying a few of these back in the late Eighties.

In all my many orc standards, I haven't painted a solid red one before... Moria loves to be different from the others!

UPDATE: The base is almost finished now. This new king of Moria carries two standards because of his rank.