Okay, so it looks like Google Photos will do for the moment.
So, now the interminable discussion. Blah blah combined arms battalions blah blah factions blah eras.
So I decided to do one "minor" faction per era. For the Invasion era, I chose the FRR (because basically, blink and you've missed it ;) ).
The attraction of the FRR was it's grab-bag nature. Inheriting a mess of Combine designs, some Lyran salvage, gifts from ComStar, and whatever junk could be obtained on the open market, it seemed a great way to put some of my "magic Davion warehouse" of unpainted minis into circulation.
Choice of a unit proved ... difficult. Many FRR regiments only used light/medium designs. Others had ridiculously complex paint-schemes. The 3rd Hussars allowed a range of weights, a mix of designs, and had the sort of quirky background ("green veterans") that appealed. And the splinter camo scheme was something I hadn't done before.
Technically, it's a light grey base, with geometrical shapes in light blue (should have been teal, but the only teal paint I found had virtually the albedo of the base, which meant it didn't stand out at all), blue, and dark grey. Detailing, then hit with a light/medium black ink wash to bring up panelling. I did the splintering by doing a mix of pointy triangles, pentagons & diamonds in the different colours in random order, with crossovers & the like. While the end result is ... good, not camospecs quality but clearly what it's meant to be, it was
so darn annoying! While I wouldn't let myself give up on it, I really didn't get the pleasure from doing that scheme that I've had from all the other things I've done. So consider it "experiment done."
Anyway, here's the pictures to go with it!
First up, the 'Mech company:
The Heavy Lance consists of a Dragon DRG-5N, Bombardier BMB-10D, Awesome AWS-8V, and Zeus SEU-6S. It's capable of being an Assault, Fire Support, Direct Fire, or Heavy Battle lance in AS. Some notes on the Dragon: 1) always bend the right arm. Makes them look so much better. Simple swings of the arms add so much. 2) Even a small repose on one leg also adds. The Bombardier is the "new kit" here, while the Zeus mini is an old 25th Anniversary plastic - not great quality, but the simple reposes on the arms adds some much-needed "attitude".
The Medium Lance consists of a Grim Reaper GRM-R-P29, Vindictor "Avenging Angel" VND-1AA, Panther PNT-10K, and Whitworth WTH-1S. In AS, it's either a Medium Battle lance, or (most likely) a Command Lance. The battalion commander has the Grim Reaper for his command ride. The "AA" - apparently these were the gifts of the Capellan Confederation to the new state post-4th War. Gee, nice of them! But it works well here - AS stats-wise it's more or less equal to the Whitworth or Panther, it's higher IS helping compensate for the weaker armour.
And the Light Lance consists of a Boewulf BEO-12, Assassin ASN-21, Jenner JNR-7D, and Spider SDR-5K. They're fast enough to skirmish with Clan lights and not die immediately, but lack the punch to duke it out with them. As always, simple reposes on the Assassin - in this case, one leg, and repointing the medium laser - add a lot to the punch of the mini.
Now we move on to the Armour Company, here all laagered up for the night (while the crew, no doubt, are getting lagered up ...)
The "heavy" platoon is made up of Ultra-variant Vedette tanks. The idea is that they serve as a "striker" unit, exploiting their (comparatively) high ground speed & mobility and long weapons range. With the "Sniper" role in IS, they can play as medium battle, fire lance, or support lance. I have to say that the mini's about as anaemic as their game properties; it's just a weird looking thing that doesn't seem to work terribly well as a 50t tank. Ah well, that's why the FRR got them ;)
But then we get something I regard well as a 50-ton tank! The Striker platoon has those archetypal "hover tanks", the Scimitar. Love these, and love the mini! They can roll as Light Striker, Recon or Pursuit lance, and work admirably in these roles - at least, against most IS foes.
And lastly the "suicide sled squad", relying on sheer speed, comparative harmlessness, and testicular fortitude to get "in-and-out" with details on the enemy - a platoon of Gabriel recon hovers. Able to be a Light Recon, Pursuit, or (if suicidally necessary) a Light Battle lance, these guys do have some small hope of not marking enemy presence by the smoke from their burning chasses.
And finally, the Infantry company, using two locally-made Heavy Hover APCs for transport (one standard, one LRM version). The SRM and Support Laser platoons travel in the standard APC, while the Foot Rifles travel in the "IFV".
I actually had a lot of fun painting the little guys up in FRR uniforms, courtesy of FM:ComStar. Probably the most fun I had doing this whole battalion!
Currently working on RoTS & LOM, both of which I'm finding both easier and more enjoyable. Still, I did my best to complete this lot, and feel satisfaction that I got them done well enough.
Comments & questions appreciated, as always!
Cheers,
W.
