Sci-Fi On A Budget

Reclaim, re-purpose, upscale are my watchwords. What are yours? Bearing this in mind I wanted a sci-fi Base of some kind; now, as we all know packaging comes in myriad shapes and sizes. Thus, I thought "that'll come in handy":

Once it held sausages. The steel washer I added, do not panic. One wash and dry later I sprayed the outside matte grey. Then brown. Then I got the masking tape out. The other camo colours are Vallejo Sand Yellow and Deep Sky Blue.

Ghar are the only faction that matters in BTGOA so I call this scheme Gharnter Camouflage. But what's that thing sticking up there? Glad you asked. It's the handle off a kitchen utensil I bought for 10p at the local charity shop.

What's it for? Well, everyone needs communications and/or early warning of enemy movements. Especially the Ghar cos they hate everyone. Everyone. Anyways the handle is now re-purposed as a Ghardio/Ghardar mast. It looks quite Art-Deco which has no meaning or value in The Ghar Empire.

The mast is undercoated with a spray of brown followed by Vallejo Red and Sand Yellow. Once dry I painted Vallejo Transparent Red and Transparent Yellow over the bases colours.

The doors, hatches, lights etc were all sourced from the bits box. The washer? Well that was to give the container some weight as well as allow the magnet on the bases of the mast to attach. Making storage easier. I plan to put the container on a Base as well for added strength.

Here's the Ghardar Station in an alien setting with some Ghar troops loitering outside:

Updates as they happen!

Ghar Patrol

This post is merely an excuse to show off some of the plastic aquarium plants and curious flora I've picked recently.

The plants come ready coloured and set into a heavy resinbase. I gave them a wash and then dry-brushed some orange-rust over the bases. This will fit them in with my idea of alien soil.

The other things you can see are resin alien 'shrooms. As they were labelled. I preferred the 4 larger ones to be set at ground level as some kind of carnivorous horror plants. One pair in a sickly yellow with green veining. The central section was day brushed in Vallejo Pale Flesh followed by Vallejo Transparent Red. Some red spilled out onto the yellow areas which I quite liked. Given carnivorous alien fungi aren't known for their table manners.

The star-shaped pair were painted Vallejo Medium Flesh followed by a couple coats of Transparent Red. The raised veins in Vallejo Pale Flesh with a poor attempt to blend in Vallejo Dark Flesh to get a leprous vibe.

I sprayed both pairs with gloss varnish. Once dry I painted Vallejo Matte Varnish onto some areas but left other areas with just the gloss to make them look wet and sweaty.

The 4 puffballs were pinned and glued and painted in anew attempt at psychedelic. I did add some thin rolls of putty to the shorter ones to suggest.....something
although now they resemble fungal helter-skelters.

The Ghar patrol transitting the scene comprises:

1 x Flitter
2 x Tectorists
3 x Outcast Infantry
1 x Bomber Squad

Routine job, no trouble expected. Just remember: The Ghar Empire hates YOU.

Pictures!

UATH!

Ghar!

Beyond The Gates Of Antares  is a sci-fi game that's caught me in its web recently. I rejoined the October Wargames Club and a game of BTGOA was in progress so I wandered over for a look. To shorten the story: the game was exciting and fun; the chaps playing it were friendly and helpful and I was hooked.

I chose as my faction The Ghar Empire. Hate-filled space goblins who want to slaughter anything non-Ghar. Read the link above for more info.

I've built up a reasonably sized battle group, pics eventually, and these toys will expand it further. They are a Bomber Squad, a sort of mobile mortar with bodyguards. And a Flitter Squad, aerial recon. Sort of.

Thus far they are cleaned, primed and undercoated:

                  Bomber Squad

Flitter Squad

UATH!