Bug Hunt Project

 Hello All,

There is lots to talk about.  Please allow me to spin a tale of a side project.  I never know if people prefer the slow build up over weeks or just one giant “Grand Reveal!”  thread.  Let me know your preferred style.

This all started when 40K 10^th got released.  It was not me who fell to the dark side, it was the eldest child.  Soon he had his best friend and brother playing.  Now I have lots of opinions on GW, but I will say this.  Having the boys build, paint, talk army lists, play, and argue rules was a pure blast.  The gamer energy was high.  I was shocked one weekend to look up from my painting desk to see the basement filled with people building and painting miniatures.  It was fun not being alone in the “man cave.” 

This gaming hype got my imagination going and I got the bug (pun intended) to build and paint a Sci-fi project. I wanted marines to face a horde of alien bugs.  “Bugs, Mr. Rico. Zillions of em!”  I re-read Starship troopers to get inspired and I made a couple of decisions. 

First, the project will be in 15mm.  I no longer have the desire to paint 28mm minis.  I was very inspired by all the 15mm sci-fi work found LAF.  Special mention goes to the “15 millimeters through space and time” blog for all the wonderful posts.  Thank you, sir if you read this.    

Second, the fighting would be at close quarters and underground.  I wanted the marines to go into the swarm’s network of tunnels and caverns, a classic bug hunt.  The decision served two purposes.  It would allow me to use the cave terrain for a fantasy Dwarf vs. Goblin game later.  It also allowed me to skip all the vehicles, aircraft, and big walkers.  I would avoid the temptation of a runaway side projects. 

Third, I settled on using the Space Hulk rules and missions for my setup.  The simplified game system was just what I was looking for.  Simple and Brutal.  This let me build small forces at first while still collecting enough minis to run Xenos Rampant style games. 

With all the brain stuff out of the way the project was on.  Over the next month all the following things happen.

·       Terrian was crafted and painted. Black Magic Craft style

·       Tyranid “doors” were discovered on Thingiverse, scaled, 3D printed, and painted.

·       Game counters were made with foamboard and label paper.

·       Marines were ordered (Khurasan Miniatures Earthdoom Reserve Infantry) and painted.

·       A Breacher vehicle was found on Etsy, ordered, assembled, and painted. I had to have at least one fun vehicle. 

·       Tyranid models were found on Thingiverse, a kind friend printed them to scale, and they were painted.

I am very happy how all this came together.  Mission 1 is ready to play.  In fact the boys and I have already run through Mission 1 several  times.  Those poor marines.  I have many more bugs to paint, and some walkers are on the way, but I am ready to share the project. 

Please enjoy the pictures and thanks for reading.    

40K Tau

 

Gondor: Archers