Hive Queen & Country

Alright these guys don’t do any VSF (Yet, please oh please oh please). I bought a small number of their figures so I could do standard SF versus Bugs (there was a really cool book about this, which sadly has yet to be made into a film). I have some old Martian Metals Traveller grav vehicles so I figured with a few infantry guys I’d have a force that could fight the bugs using Dirt Side or something like that.

I have a large number of GZG 25mm figs that fit really well with Denizen and other true 25mm but decided I would pick up some of their 15mm as well.  Service was excellent and so are the figures. They have some flash that needs to be removed but for the most part are fairly effortless. I haven’t finished painting them yet, but even a coat of spray primer brings out good details. The animation is nice and there is a vast selction of equipment and poses.

Again if you are looking for “standard” futuristic Sci Fi in 15mm GZG should be your first stop.

I forgot the coolest thing. In the robots set is a drone from Silent Running! Excellent

I ordered a number of miniatures from M.Y. Miniatures who offer some interesting lines of figures in 15mm. These include a large number of extinct animals, primitive tribesman and some fantasy elements. Some of the older figures are currently being re-sculpted. I’ll offer a quick review of their newer material.  The order arrived very quickly and service was excellent. Michael sent along a few extras which was extremely generous. Cost was reasonable and packing was good. One of the nicest pieces is a two pony wagon. The kit goes together well and the ponies look nice and shaggy. I haven’t painted this yet, but from the look of things this will be a nice kit and a useful addition. It will be good for any period from about 1700 on to WW2, depending upon who is placed in the seat. I was really looking forward to the Megatherium, or giant ground sloth. The figure is well cast, but seems a bit small-not as much mega as therium. On a personal note the pose of the animal reaching upwards with one of its huge forepaws doesn’t work for the use I had planned for it (as a mount for my Venusian Heavy shock cavalry). In terms of the animal and its lifestyle is a very good pose indeed. Another winner is their extinct Australian giant lizard. This could be a modern day Komodo Dragon. This figure is well animated and I particularly like the extended tongue as the beast tastes the air to seek its prey. The ground walking vultures are very nice and the cattle workmanlike and useful. I was also sent several additional figures for review, including some nice bears, a couple of sabre-tooth cats and an array of various pachyderms.

Another very cool item is the conning tower of a Japanese mini submarine. Just the thing for landing agents on teh American West coast!

Some of these are very nice and others appear to be some of the older castings, which aren’t up to M.Y.’s current standards. I look forward to doing business with M.Y. in the future.

Khurasan is known for 15mm historicals but they have begun to branch out into other realms. This includes 28mm Sci Fi and various 15mm efforts. I picked up 15mm figs from their Mystri island WW1 era lost world setting, one of their historical lines and the 28mm Sci Fi setting.

From Mysteri Island I bought their three personality figures, a female big game hunter in pants with an elephant gun and pistols, her British companion and a Germanic type fellow with an eye patch and a pistol. All three are very well sculpted and cast. The lizard men come in an assortment of poses and a number of turtle shell shields were included. these glued on easily and the effect of a couple of dozen cherging headlong looks fearsome.

From the 28mm range I bought alien arachnids (go figure). These were a bit fiddley to put together but once I got the method down assembled fairly well. You will need to drill out the holes for inserting various parts onto the main body. Once assembled they look pretty nice (perhaps nice is not the right word). Download the instructions from the web site. It makes assembly much more simple.

Good service and good products with more on the way

Terry

Since I posted this originally I’ve done more work on the small walker. I want to use what I’ve done as a master for resin casting. Anyone out there with experience who wants to lend a hand will be most welcome! I’ve added three pages with information on some of my modeling efforts. They are all currently still in progress. I’m looking forward to finishing the Targee especially. She isn’t for gaming but for display and once she is finished I hope to thrill some sci fi convention goers with her. I was hoping to have her ready for Archon next month but that is pretty unlikely. By the grace of God next year!