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The Mars Project; A 15mm Sci-Fi Terrain/Mini Project
Topic Started: Sep 23 2010, 07:57 PM (931 Views)
Golan2072
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Cannie!
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I've come up with a nice side-project to me to try my developing modeling skills on: a sci-fi wargame milieu set on Mars in the early 2200's. Mars was first colonized by Humanity in the late 21st century, and an ambitious terraformation project began in the early 22nd century. Now atmospheric pressure has risen to a sufficient level to allow Humans to walk on Mars with only cold-weather clothes and a breather mask (which scrubs the excess CO2 out of the air and then condenses the air to a breathable pressure). But the terraformation process has awakened... Something.

For centuries there were rumors about something unnatural existing in Cydonia. However, the first explorations found nothing there but weathered hills and a lot of peramfrost. But a flash-flood caused by the terraformation effort (and a Free Mars sabotage of a major terraformation facility) swept much of that permafrost away, revealing a landscape of alien ruins long buried under the red sands.

And then... Something inside the ruins awakened, an ancient distress beacon. And on a distant world, the signal was received.

And now they have come to Mars to take back what was theirs millenia ago. But of course, the Earth Consortium would never allow them to do that. And so begins the Mars war.

On one side are the Earth Force Marine Corps, Humanity's best, defending Mankind's largest interplanetary colony from the alien threat, and also doing its utmost to keep Mars well within the Earth Consortium's iron grasp. Equipped with advanced rifles and combat space suits, these brave men and women are trained to fight in any environment in the Solar System, and they will fight well on Mars as well.

For them I'll be using Rebel Minis 15mm Earthforce Marines, which I have at hand, based and primed but not yet painted:
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By golan2072 at 2010-09-23
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By golan2072 at 2010-09-23

On the other side are the Grays, who once, in the previous incarnation of their civilization, have colonized Mars and tempered with Humanity's evolution. Now they are back, riding their silvery saucer-shaped starships and totting laser and plasma weapons. They have used biotechnology to adapt themselves to the Martian environment, and can breath on the Martian surface without needing a mask. Their technology, however, is but a fraction of what it was before their Long Night; they yearn to take once again possession of the Lost City of Cydonia and unlock its technological secrets.

For them I'll use one of the 15mm Gray lines of miniatures, most likely the Grays done by 15mm.co.uk, which I quite like. I haven't bought them yet, but they are definitely in my to-but list.

On the third side is Free Mars, the independence movement founded by the original Human settlers of Mars. Their aims are to throw off the yoke of Earth Consortium domination and make Mars an independent state. While their equipment is outdated, they know the lay of the land very well and use the terrain to their advantage.

For them I'll use Rebel Minis 15mm Sahadeen, with their robes and hoods colored in a rusty shade. I haven't bought them yet, but they are in my to-buy list.

And in the middle are the newer colonists, Earthers who came to Mars to seek their fame and fortune and to escape the crowded, polluted mess which is Earth. The EFMC's sworn duty is to protect these civilians, while the Grays see them as Humanity's soft belly to be terrorized (or abducted to serve as guinea-pigs in their experiments) and Free Mars tries to recruit them to its lines.

For them I'll use unarmed 15mm miniatures in space suits, most likely from GZG.

The fun part is going to be terrain: sure, I'm going to buy a red tablecloth to put on the gaming table, but making pyramids, alien crystals and a "face" would be loads of FUN! I'll also make colony domes and other structure.

And of course, everything I'll paint or build for this project is going to be useful for Traveller games! :D
Edited by Golan2072, Sep 23 2010, 08:00 PM.
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mattblackgod
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Big boss warlord dude!
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Sounds a cool project. I look forward to seeing it develop.

I am tempted to go for 15mm for my Sci-Fi setting as I am a big terrain maker and the new scale offers new challenges and ideas.

Here is an idea - take a pringles tube (I assume you get them in Israel?). I was looking at it and it would make a smart tall building in 15mm. In 28mm you cant do too much other than storage tank or light house as the tube is too narrow for anything else. Add some detail from card for window ledges and doors and I think you are set. I suspect it will quite an easy project to do.
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Golan2072
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Cannie!
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Yep, a pringles tube would make a nice tower in 15mm :D

I have the raw materials for four colony domes (bottoms cut off from beverage bottles), as well as for two big storage tanks (toothpick packages without the lids and turned upside down and glued to cardboard bases) and one smaller storage tank (a small container which has once contained cosmetics).

I'm not sure which color to choose for the EFMC; probably grayish camouflage, maybe gray/red to fit Mars better. But I want the same minis to be used in other settings as well (especially Traveller), so they shouldn't be TOO Mars-specific. The same goes for Free Mars - I'll definitely use them for Traveller, but they might find their way into my PA project as well... :)
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DAWGIE
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Mutant Slayer
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GO FOR THE GOLD MARY LOU!


YOUR MARS PROJECT SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A THING FOR GAMING IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM, WITHOUT FASTER THAN LIGHT PROPULSION SYSTEMS.


AND IN PARTICULAR FOR A SOLAR SYSTEM THAT IS VERY MUCH 1930S-1940S SCI FI IN NATURE. . .


VENUS IS A JUNGLE AND SWAMP COVERED WORLD, NOT THE ONE KNOW.


MARS HAS THE REMNANTS OF A DE-EVOLVING ANCIENT CIVILIZATION, AND IS A WOLRD COVERED IN RUINS AND DEAD SEA BOTTOMS.


MERCURY HAS BEEN COLONIZED IN THE SO-CALLED TWILIGHT ZONE, WHERE LIFE CAN SURVIVE


THE ASTEROIOD BELT IS FULL OF WILD CAT AND CORPORATE MINING OPERATIONS, LARGE, SMALL AND EVEN MINISCULE HABITATS, A BIT ROUGH AND READY.


THE OUTER PLANETS AND SATELLITES ARE REALLY IN WILD AND WOOLY, LARGELY UNEXPLORED SPACE. . .


THERE ARE SPACE PIRATES. . .


AND THERE IS THE SPACE PATROL, A THIN , BLACK AND SILVER LINE KEEPING THE BADDIES AWAY, A LINE THAT REPESENTS LAW AND ORDER, CIVILIZATION, THE FLAG, MOM'S APPLE PIE, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, ALL OF THE "GOOD THINGS" OUT THERE IN THE BLACK VOID . . .


DAWGIE
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mattblackgod
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Big boss warlord dude!
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You could paint your buildings black with a red Mars corporation logo... similar to a certain chocolate/candy bar. :D

Also - do you get Whiskey bottles in tubes? I have a couple from Single Malts. The cardboard tubes have a wider diameter and are slighty higher than a Pringles tube. They could mix up your "Mars Towers" look. :D

You are making me look at GZG and think too much...

That reminds me, I must get those GZG 15mm NAC based.
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tinker
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CEO of "Rat-on-a-Stick" Industries
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Danny,

Your fur ball of a cat will have a field day with 15mm miniatures!
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Golan2072
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Cannie!
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So, how do you recommend to me to paint these troopers? I'm thinking about gray/red, as it'll fit Mars well and will also work in other settings.
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mattblackgod
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Big boss warlord dude!
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Looking at pictures of Mars from the recent landers and probes (stop sniggering Ross! :D ) it looks like a rocky desert you would get on Earth. It is not quite as red as you would think. So I would go for a brown and grey based camo pattern. Use a reddy brown. That way they should fit other settings.

You know Tinker - you may have a point! :D
Edited by mattblackgod, Sep 24 2010, 06:47 PM.
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mattblackgod
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Big boss warlord dude!
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Another terrian thought is to keep yoghurt and dessert type pots as they would make nice pre-fabricated building modules. I have found the ones from microwave puddings to be best as they are a little larger. You then stack them to make a sci-fi looking building. At 15mm these will make good control towers. Single pots would make prefabricated units/buildings.
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Golan2072
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Cannie!
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Thanks for the tips! :D
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mattblackgod
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Big boss warlord dude!
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You can also use them for chemical storage too. Here are a couple of versions I made in 28mm...

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Golan2072
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Cannie!
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COOL!

How did you make the ladders and the grids?
Edited by Golan2072, Sep 24 2010, 10:29 PM.
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mattblackgod
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Big boss warlord dude!
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The ladders are modelling detail from plastruct. These are in 1:50 scale but I am sure a local model store will have some to suit 15mm.

The grating is Granny Grating - a plastic embroidery mesh that is quite cheap. The downside is that it may be a little too large for 15mm. May I recommend aluminium car body repair/bridging mesh? It is a lot finer and would suit 15s a lot better. You can pick it up in auto repair shops.
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manic _miner
Tribal Savage
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The terrain looks very good. Reminds me of the Rogue trader pieces.The McDonalds or KFC icecream lids make nice vents with mesh added underneath.Keeps it all tidy too.The car body mesh or fly mesh would work well for 15mm.

Critical Mass games do some very nice buildings for there 15mm sci-fi range.Might come in handy.
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mattblackgod
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Big boss warlord dude!
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It was Rogue trader that inspired the top one. There is more I plan to make.
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Golan2072
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Cannie!
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I've used two decorative stones given to me by my spouse to create alien rocks (objective markers?) for this setting:
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By golan2072 at 2010-09-30
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Rad Blight
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Wasteland Warrior
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Quote:
 
For them I'll use one of the 15mm Gray lines of miniatures, most likely the Grays done by 15mm.co.uk, which I quite like. I haven't bought them yet, but they are definitely in my to-but list.


I have a Hott army made from these figures and I think their excellent, they have a lot of character for such small mins and paint up great.
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Golan2072
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Cannie!
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I've finished painting an entire EFMC platoon. So far I don't have any vehicles for them due to budgetary constrains, but they are on my to-buy list. I'm quite satisfied with these minis: they are my favorite group of miniatures so far.

Platoon:
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By golan2072 at 2010-10-03

Command Team:
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By golan2072 at 2010-10-03

Rifle Squad:
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By golan2072 at 2010-10-03

Missile Team:
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By golan2072 at 2010-10-03

Autocannon Team:
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By golan2072 at 2010-10-03

Sniper Team:
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By golan2072 at 2010-10-03
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Mr. Clean
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Wasteland Legend/Cat Skinner/Bad Speller/Super Nice Guy B^)
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15mm?!
NEVER!NEVER!

STOP WITH ALL THE POSTS ON THE EVER SO TASTY 15mm STUFF!
YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME!
:-)

Brian
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Golan2072
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Cannie!
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The best thing about 15mm, aside for the cheap cost (the entire above platoon cost me $28, including shipping) and easy storage, is that they're very easy to paint in huge quantities - I've painted the above platoon in two evenings (after another evening of basing and priming).

In other news, I've ordered a platoon's worth of Grays from 15mm.co.uk yesterday, so hopefully I'll have them at hand in a fortnight or so... I'll also order the Free Mars figures (Rebel Minis Sahadeen) in the next few days.
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