Old School 28mm Sci-Fi Review

As progress continues apace on my Five Parsecs from Home/Traveller project, I've been struck with how few resources are available for 28/25mm old school Sci-Fi gaming, and those that do exist are rather scattered.

"Old School" needs to be defined, I suppose. In my judgement, Old School hearkens back to a time when:

• We played face-to-face
• Figure were rules-agnostic, made of metal, and painted.
• The Content was neither video-game derived, nor so aesthetically inspired.

These are the basic qualities, and they may be tweaked as time and experience march on. Other details, like paper maps, cardboard/cardstock boxes and that the scale was more like 25mm, I'll leave off as not compulsory for my particular purposes.

So, alphabetically then:

Alternative Armies

Based in the UK, Alternative Armies has been a mainstay of my 15mm Sci-Fi collection, but they do 28mm Sci-Fi, too. The Alternate Stars Space Opera figures are there, as are the old Asgard Space Marines and Adventurers, as well. The 28mm Ion Age also has an Oldhammer Old School feel.

Figures by Alternative Armies

Copplestone Castings

I will admit a personal bias in that I love, and have always loved, Mark Copplestone's sculpts. The Future Wars line embodies all that is good in Old School style - good proportions, not cartooney, reasonable weaponry.  Nick Eyre at Northstar Miniatures has assumed the distribution rights for this line, giving Mark Copplestone greater freedom to design and sculpt new models.

Figures by Coppleston Castings

Denizen

Probably the grandfather of the UK companies, Denizen make large 25mm, which will work with moderate 28mm. They are well detailed, even by today's standards, and well proportioned. Lines include Sci-Fi, Fantasy and modern race-car crew and drivers. They do not have many photos of their lines, which they seem to be working to correct, albeit slowly. Denizen have an email-based ordering system.

Figures by Denizen Miniatures

Grenadier

See Mirliton

Ground Zero Games

The Gold Standard in miniature figure companies. Other companies beat each other up over who can be more like GZG. IMO, GZG inspired the 15mm SciFi trend in the mid-90's, and helped usher in the "Golden Age of 15mm Sci-Fi" which only began to wan in perhaps the last year-or-so.

Unfortunately, there aren't many photos of the GZG 25mm line up on their website - one of the very few errors of judgement Jon@GZG has made over their long history.

Goth Figures by Ground Zero Games

NAC Figures by Ground Zero Games

Mirliton

Mirliton acquired the last-gen line of Grenadier fantasy figures, which overlaps with some EM4's Sci-Fi line. Many of these figures are mirrored on Copplestone Castings website, though Mirliton has been slowly adding some new figures to their line. Given the ruinous shipping rates from Italy to the US, I've been very selective of what I've ordered - nothing, to date. The distributor, Noble Knight, acts as the US source for Mirliton. 

Figures by Mirliton

Moonraker Miniatures

Also inheriting the EM4 line of Future War/Future Skirmish, Moonraker Miniatures offer many of the figures on the Mirliton site, as single models, at a fraction of the shipping cost.  I have had good service from them, with dispatch, notification and post taking about 10 days.

Figures by Moonraker Miniatures

Editor's Note(3/11/2020) : Moonraker Miniatures are now owned by Forlorn Hope Miniatures. Best of Fortunes to the new owner.

And now, some Honourable Mentions:

Black Cat Miniatures aka Black Cat Bases

Black Cat has a veritable cornucopia of Old School style miniatures, just not a lot of generic Sci-Fi. What they have do mix well with other moderate 28mm. I've always had good service from Black Cat Bases.

Crooked Dice Design Studios

One of the first companies to understand the Power of Nostalgia*, Crooked Dice entirely qualifies as an Old School Miniatures Company, only they're scarcely a decade old. Still and all, their miniatures are spot-on for the Old School vibe - they just need more generic in their Sci-Fi line..

(*which, by the way, suggests that the neo-PULP genre is the Next Big Thing. Nota Bene!)

Crooked Dice Cyberpunks

Iron Wind Metals

Ral Partha Miniatures live on at Iron Wind Metals. There is a Post Apocalyptic line, as well as a Shadowrun and (although drifting into the cartoon & ridiculous category) the VOR line. I'm not going to list any pictures, due to the abysmal web design Iron Wind Metals employ.

RAFM

Canadian company RAFM has a few figures that work for Sci-Fi in their USX Modern line.  They also have a line of the old Reaction Marines - though these are too far gone into the bulky/cartoony style to fit me definition of Old School. If anything, to my mind, they are Oldhammer School.

RAFM Reaction Marines 5012

Personal note: without exception, I like RAFM's miniatures, a lot, only I've never seen a company work against it's own interests the way RAFM seem to do*. From frivolous Indiegogo campaigns ($18,890) to (edit...) some questionable marketing skillz, it's almost as if RAFM is playing at Gollum: hating and loving themselves.

(Edit: I've redacted my observations regarding how RAFM posts to the USA, having tried an exercise using Canada Post - I can see that RAFM's method is a much sounder one, and I apologise for seeing a bug where there's really a feature...)

End of day, it's easier for me to order RAFM through third parties - once again: Noble Knight.

(*Except possibly GDW...)

Reaper Minis

Another of my favourites, Reaper Minis tend to be a trifle biggish, though not incompatibly so. Their Chronoscope line as a number of Old School Sci-Fi minis - you must be willing to search for them. 

Rebel Miniatures

Rebel Miniatures has a 28mm Horror line, and a 28mm Sci-Fi line (as well as a plethora of 15mm lines). Some of these figures fit quite well in the Old School genre.

Rebel Miniatures Earth Force Vixens

Rebel Minis seem to be another of the companies that hasn't quite found their footing, unless it is to provide miniatures for Two Hour Wargames. During the 15mm "Golden Age" they added to their 15mm lines quite prolifically, and now they are flirting with 28mm. I hope they continue to expand their 28mm Sci-Fi line, and not go too far into the blocky/cartoony aesthetic.

Scotia-Grendel
Scotia Grendel has the Kryomek Line, the Void Line and the Urban War (ex-Urban Mammoth) line. These lines, in my opinion, straddle the Old School/New School line, in that they display the beginning of the video-game reality, with odd profiles, weird creatures, etc. Some of the Nexus Marines work very well with Old School themes.

Closing Thoughts

This list cannot be compleatly exhaustive, and there are lots of smaller startups offering "one-shot" miniatures which may, or may not, fall under the Old School Sci-Fi umbrella as I'm using here - that said, feel free to offer additional suggestions, in the comments, if there's something you think I've missed.

Just Another Bug Hunt...Full Metal Anorak

Two weeks ago, Megz and I had another visit with the Wargames Association of Metro Philadelphia (The WAMPS) and decided to test my basic concept for a bug hunt scenario, featuring Traveller's favourite Alien derivative, the Chamax Horde. Miniatures used are Denizen Ventaurans, and WoTC D&D Mad Slashers. Acid Splash and Suppression Markers were from Litko.

Miller's Crossing Farm

These wicked wee beasties have featured on my blog in the past; this time, Zhodani troops, supported by their famous Teleport Commandos, would attempt to quell the Chamax threat.

The situation at hand: A Zhodani agricultural colony has had an outbreak of Chamax, and a platoon of Zhodani regular lift infantry is sweeping a protected farm for bug contacts.

We were using the beta test of Full Metal Anorak, basically an abandoned rules set, derived from GZG's StarGrunt II. Supplementing this were element of Nordic Weasel's Bug Hunt, part of the Five Parsecs from Home rules group.

First Contact - A Questing Bug

Players take the part of the hunters, whilst the bugs are run automatically. In Bug Hunt, there are contact markers (we're using chits) and objective markers (again, chits) which I assigned random rolls once encountered. There was also a random value assigned (my own inclusion) which meant that players could compete with each other, while also working together.

I was also using the Bug tables from 5150, hence, there are a lot more bugs than you tend to have in Bug Hunt. OTOH, there are also more soldiers.

Second Contact - these chamax are more alert

Bug Hunt assigns a random set of d6 for rolling  movement and aggression. To simulate the chamax state of "questing" - where the bug is not actively attacking potential food sources, I altered the aggression level down to a d4, making it less likely the chamax would attack unless a figure got within 8" (movement range).

Once a bug was killed, however, it emitted a radio/psychic shriek, which caused all other chamax on board to increase their aggression dice by one die type. This would eventually max out at a d12.

Forming a firing line?

The Zhodani Infantry were standard line, so they were armed with 4mm Gauss Rifles. These had an impact of 2d6, vs the Chamax armour/toughness of d8. A trooper had to at least double his impact roll vs the chamax defense roll to kill it, or else there was no result (alien biology, and all that...)

As an added bonus, when a chamax is killed, it's because the acid sack behind its gullet was ruptured, causing a spray of fluoric acid and molecular debonder to shower out in a 1.5 inch radius.

The Hive is aroused...

 The first two turns were spent with the Zhos advancing cautiously toward the contact markers.  half proved to be non-contacts (random wildlife fleeing the area, puddles of digested colonists, etc.), but still worth VPs.  The first chamax contacted was blown away fairly easily - as Megz noted, a little too easily.

"We've got movement all over the place!"

As each chamax died, another 2d6 swarm would activate, with dead figures recycled back into my "bug pool". Then they enter via a random map edge. By the third/fourth turn, there were bug swarms on all sides of the Zhos, except to their left flank.

So they began to draw together.

And they called for help.

*TADAAH* The Teleport Commandos Arrive.

One of the nice things about playing the Zhos is their high degree of telepathic officers and NCOs - all of them, to be exact. This means that actions can be passed from higher ups to riflemen with greater flexibility than in Stargrunt II or FMA,  Another perk is you can ask for help from the Consular Guard Commandos, who can teleport in like...magic.

A fireteam of three commandos and senior NCO was held in reserve for just such an occasion.

Effects of directly applied Plasma Gun fire.

Armed with PGMPs (Plasma Gun, Man Portable) and the comforting thought that they could, if necessary, just manage a quick teleport back to base if things got too dicey, the Commandos arrived. The Effing New Guy in the team got teleport sickness (out for a turn - suppressed) but the rest opened up on the bugs with their plasma guns - with devastating effect.

"HERE THEY COME!"

Chamax melted and burst, sending showers of acid on those bugs next to them, causing them to melt and burst as well. A cheer went up from the encircled Zhos.

And more swarms activated.

And other hives in the area were beginning to activate, as well.

"Time to go!"

There were three waves of chamax swarms coming toward them from the building area, and the Zhodani decided it was time to breakout back to their rally point, call in an airstrike, and then return for the mop-up sweep.

First though, they had to deal with the bugs that were reaching them.

Chamax have no morale to break, so they keep coming until they're all dead or you're all bite-sized niblets. The two or three survivors of the plasma-storm reached the commandos and attacked.

In melee, chamax get two slashing attacks - if both are successful, there is an automatic acid-laden bite on the following turn. Also, armour is degraded by one level for each bite, this can continue even after the bug is dead. And speaking of dead - don't forget the acid spray.

Winning the melee is also losing the melee...

Three chamax sprang at the commandos - the senior NCO/TD* was able to use his gauss pistol in melee and got off a lucky shot, killing the chamax and spraying everyone in the immediate area with acid. The two commandos took a couple of slashes, but not enough to warrant the dreaded bite attack.  By the second round of combat, the NCO had killed another chamax and acid spray did the rest to its companion.


With armour smoking and more Chamax on the way, the Leading Officer saw the opening and gave the telepathic code: "Guardsmen, we are leaving..."

The final result was Megz had gathered more VP than myself, but the calling in of the Commandos had elevated the priority of the sweep, meaning we'd be going back in after a quick refit to take out the Maternal/Queen. So no clear victory as far as a campaign would be concerned.

Post Game Thoughts:
Usually, I find games with the Chamax Plague to be lots of fun, and this was no exception. There is plenty for the players to do, while the mounting numbers of opposition keeps the pressure on to take objectives, gather clues and keep from becoming tomorrow's leftovers.

My main thought is the chamax might be too vulnerable to their own acid. With a d8 Strength vs. a d8 defence, it seemed that they were dying more from their own acid than from Zhodani fire. I'll need to play again and keep closer track of the casualties.

Bug Hunt has more tweaks and options I'd like to incorporate, like Location Effects. Kinda like Objectives/Clues except they effect the environment, possible slowing bugs down or delaying swarm activations.

Plans are to run this at Cold Wars and at GZG:ECC in March. I'm going to add some grain silos and water towers, as well as an out building or two.  That will reduce the lines of fire a bit and make the game more...interesting...Ω

*TD: Teleport Director. That's a real MOS in the Zhodani Armed Forces

I'm Talkin'bout...SHAFT! in 28mm

Miniatures by RAFM, Black Cat, and Copplestone

These figures presented herein were finished over Thanksgiving(US) weekend, only I haven't had me camera out for some good photies - and the table is cluttered with ongoing projects.

"Stay with the car, man, and guard those rims..."

These two (above) are part of the Copplestone Casting "Soul Section" - the third member was posted here. I liked the plain plaid pattern shown on Copplestone's website sample, and did my best to simulate it, to mixed effect, on the figure in the foreground.

Behind the Road Champs 1970 Chevy door, the second figure was a more straightforward paint job. The black leather jacket was underpainted light blue, and I'm pleased with the final result.

This pair will represent the Harwin Brothers, another freelance "Troubleshooter" team, sticking it to the Man and Cthulhu in equal portions. That last bit might go on their business cards as the motto.

"There's a monster behind you..."
"I know, but I'm losing the light..."

Finally, a RAFM Dimensional Shambler creeps up on the Black Cat Miniatures Photo Journalist. The Photo-guy paint-job is based on an old pic of George Lucas, circa "American Graffiti" with a bit more grey-white frosting that Lucas acquired later in life. Plus bluejeans, army vest and a lumberjack shirt.

For 7TV1 games, I'm planning on making photo-journalists non-player effects, giving them the ability to grant Audience Appreciation points to any Hero or Villian that starts the turn within 6" of them.  This is similar to 7TV2's treatment of TV Cameramen. Of course, Villains and Monsters will get VP for killing/incapacitating/munching Photographers, making it incumbent upon the Heroes to protect them....Ω

Ship's Crew - 28mm Heresy (et al).

Miniatures from Heresy and EM4

Five Parsecs from Home (5PfH) looks to be an amusing way to generate sci-fi skirmishes without a lot of campaign back-logging.  After reading these rules, I decided to match the campaign shell to Full Metal Anorak (GZG's abortive StarGrunt II skirmish rules).

Heresy 28mm Ship's Crew

While I have a ridiculous amount of 25mm sci-fi miniatures, they are mostly old Grenadier Star Wars minis, and I wanted to capture the Traveller-esque flavour of 5PfH.  Fortunately, I had been given a small pile of 28mm sci-fi some years ago, and after a rummage about in my abandoned 5150 project, I was able to assemble and paint my first 5PfH crew.

Heresy and EM4 - Perfect Together

These are all Heresy 28mm SciFi, except for the auburn-haired gal on the end, which is EM4, painted to look like Hillard from Alien:Resurrection. Andy over at Heresy Miniatures hasn't added much to his scifi selection of late, and two of the figures seem to have been dropped from the catalogue.

Pity too, as I remember they were offered as part of a four-figure "Ship's Crew" set, which work very well together, as the reader can see - with matching jackets on three of the four. All four have badges on their jackets/vest, which make for nice corporate markings (and which my camera work doesn't show...). The engineer has the most variety, and I painted his undershirt black, and gave him non-regulation footwear.

(The scattered terrain in the background is for my 1970's 7TV game - yes, that's an old fashioned cigarette dispenser behind the blue post boxes. How times have changed.)

Coming soon: I'm working on another crew/gang, based on the crew of "The Betty" from the aforementioned Alien:Resurrection...

Update: The Ship's Crew are being offered again as a five pack...Ω

Foreven Shipyards Ships Painted

So, despite some minor issues with the primer (Testors grey) interacting with the Smooth Fine Detail Plastic of which the Foreven Shipyards models are composed, I'm well pleased with the results.

Gazelle-class Close Escorts

Vargr-class Corsair

Type M Merchant

Type M Merchant

The solution to the slow-curing tack seems to have been to hit the model with a puff of dull-cote. This was mainly an issue on the Vargr.  The Gazelles and the Merchant where primed with an oil-resistant base that's meant to cover grease spots for latex house paint. Worked a treat.

After the convention, I may go back and pick out some more details, but by-and-large, they're ready for the table top....Ω

Traveller Starships from Foreven Shipyards

In the run up for this years TravellerCon/USA convention, I ordered some classic ships from Foreven Shipyards, a Shapeways supplier of licensed Traveller ships.

This year's TravellerCon theme is the Vargr, the genetically uplifted canines often referred to as "the Wolves of Space", so imagine my delight when I realised that Foreven Shipyards offered a Vargr Corsair ship in 1/1000 scale.

Personally, I've never cared much for the Vargr. In our classic Traveller campaign of my youth, there was always one fringe player who insisted of playing one, and it usually made the session feel "off". Certainly, his character was not allowed on the settee. The irony of this year's theme is not lost on me.

All models displayed on a 1" grid.

Vargr Corsair

The ships are very nice - they are also, in some cases, rather pricey. This is due in some part to the materials in use, as well as the manufacturing process. Still and all, worth every penny.

Also ordered was a set of four Gazelle-class Close Escorts and a March-class Type R Subsidized Merchant.

Gazelle-class Close Escorts

In each case, the classic lines of the original artwork is faithfully reproduced, making these models a joy to behold. Cast in Smooth, Fine Detail Plastic, the detail is excellent. One thing to watch for is there seems to be a lengthy curing time for the plastic. I'm not sure how long, except to say that the models have a slightly tacky feeling, except for two models I purchased in October of 2018. I have had some 15mm Rhodesian Alligator APCs that had to sit atop the hot water cistern over the winter before the Smooth, Fine Detail Plastic lost it's tack.

Type M Subsidised Merchant

Flight stands were ordered from Litko, at the suggestion of the model maker.  I had a bad experience with them in the past, but Litko seems to have improved on both delivery time as well as customer service. My complaint with the execution is the post pieces have not been cut straight.

The idea that a company with "Aerospace" in its name making Out-of-Tolerance parts is rather droll....Ω

28mm Soul Sisters

STOP!, in the Name of Get Christy Love!

Several packages arrived earlier this month from various manufacturers, and the one which leapt out and demanded painting was "Destiny" from the nice folks at Hasslefree Miniatures.

Miniature by Hasslefree Miniatures

Despite Kev's obvious talent, I don't order a lot from Hasslefree - I might have a baker's-dozen HF miniatures at best. Kev's interests are far more eclectic than mine, and his modern figures tend to follow the lines of Post-Buffy, Post-BSG, Post-GoT and suchlike. Not that this is a bad thing, just not my cuppa rosy...

However, once I saw 70's icon Teresa Graves aka Christie Love sporting her best Charlie's Angel's (the original series, not the wretched wreboot) pose, it was an instant purchase, along with several other figures to round out the order.

Painting the blue jeans on this model was a lot of fun, as was the 70's-style vibrant colour palette. I'll need to go back and shade her platform shoes a bit, then find her a car model - maybe a 1969 Corvette Stingray.

Also jumping out at me was one of Copplestone Castings Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang series, titled the Soul Section. These minis shout "SHAFT!" (watch your mouth). I often wonder why this period failed to achieve greater popularity as a gaming genre.

Miniature by Copplestone Castings

I tried to simulate a late 60's/early 70's print pattern for her dress, plus nylon stockings. Once the orange colour started flowing, the metallic orange wig seemed to fit. The contrast is very attractive, I think.

Next up will be the other two minis from the Soul Section pack - a Richard Roundtree analogue and a shotgun wielding street preacher...Ω