A Big Undertaking for the Word of Blake

[Tangoforone]

So this is the year that I have set out to do something crazy.  I am going to create a Level IV of Word of Blake, down to the last infantryman, and I am going to post my progress in this forum. 

My plan, to not drive myself insane (more so than I already might), is thus: it will have combined divisions of the 50th (two) and 52nd Shadow Division (one), and three 10th Word of Blake Militia Divisions, as well as a few extra assets.

I have a rough idea of what each Level III is going to consist of, but have not finalized it.  The 52nd will be an 'elite' battlemech division, the 50th will have a mechanized and artillery division, and the 10th will have an infantry, armored, and battlemech division.

My first official post is this: a single platoon of foot infantry with rockets.  Six squads of six infantry each.  I have three more of these platoons to finish, and I have to paint up transports for them (they will be non-combatant, so I'm not counting them against the Level II); total infantry for these four platoons is 144.

[pokefan548]

Nice! Definitely going to be keeping an eye on this!

[jimdigris]

 

[avon1985]

Looks like a good start!

[Mecha82]

Very nice.

[Xan]

Very Nice, great start!  Looking forward to seeing more of the unit.

[Tangoforone]

Thanks all for the kind words!

I have finished the other three planned Rocket Foot Platoons, or at least the infantry squads (now totaling 144 individually painted infantrymen).  I have transports planned for each platoon, and will probably procure them towards the end of the month.  Unfortunately, well, for the pretend soldiers anyways, I am trying to keep the BV for these guys pretty low so I designed a transport that, uh, barely survives a single IS medium laser from the front and sides.  It can carry 3 squads, and moves pretty quick.  And is very low in BV.  Anyways, I'll post those painted and the record sheet when I get around to it.

Next up: I am continuing work on the 10th Militia Division, Infantry Battalion with their only two mechs in the entire Level III, two Grim Reapers, and 6 more platoons of foot infantry; 4 rifle platoons and 2 'command' platoons.

Let me know your thoughts!

[Hellraiser]

And here I thought I was ambitious thinking I might some day reach a L-III of painted C* minis.

Will follow this closely.

[Grizzly]

You can do it!

[Tangoforone]

I have completed one of the Grim Reapers.  I wanted to figure out how I was going to paint the white mechs, and I am pretty happy with how it is going to turn out.  I did the best I can with shading, but the common issues of the shallow grooves of old IWM models rises here, so eh. 

The process for those who may wonder:  prime white, paint the entire model with Apothecary White, then I used Model Color White Grey to do a bit of panel painting, then I did a very light dry brush of Model Color Cold White.

I see a lot of models with gun metal grey for the mechanical bits, actuators, weapons, and I thought it would be fun to use a bright copper instead.  I think it looks pretty solid. I did a small bit of dark grey in some places to represent paint chipping or powder that may build up from missiles/ballistic weapons firing.

I think this will work for the rest of the Militia forces that need to be painted.

[Tangoforone]

And you thought this thread was dying.  ALAS NO!

I have been a bit busy, but knocking stuff out here and there.  I have 6 more Level I's completed.  I also have another Grim Reaper in progress, and I have assembled some transports.  Two goblin transports for the two command platoons, and 5 of 12 5-ton trucks needed are assembled.  I have spared many expenses when transporting the generic militia folks. 

[worktroll]

May the praise of Blake shine upon you! This is holy work 

Seriously, I've got a few Level IIIs under my belt - the difference being I usually use 3-5 infantry figures on an MW:DA base representing 18 infantry, because I'm more interested in potentially playable pieces than accurate headcounts.

Level IIIs are a lot of fun to build - plenty of equipment options, lots to customise to different configs, and 'Mechs (and to a lesser extent vehicles) you won't see elsewhere, alongside lots you will.

Looking forward to tracking progress!

[Daryk]

+1 for the Goblins! 

[DEZOAT]

  I can't wait for the rest to come. Great job so far keep it coming. Thanks for the pics.

[Tangoforone]

Alrighty folks, new work incoming.  Finished up the second Grim Reaper.  Two Goblins, 12 transports for some infantry, and 2 more platoons of infantry, this time with mortars!

I have attached the record sheet I created for the 5-ton trucks.  They are, uh, not great.  But they are inexpensive.  I picture that the commander requested armored transport trucks and due to paperwork issues they were delivered these; unfortunately the bureaucracy is very busy so we are stuck with them.

I think I am going to take a break from the many infantry and change over to vehicles and mechs.

[Tangoforone]

Here is the record sheet for the 5-ton trucks.

[Daryk]

Why not 9/14 instead of 7/11?

[DEZOAT]

  Some more great job on some more minis.

[SeeM]

Anything below main battle tank in out scale is absolutely tiny. Those are very well done support. I have some mobile infantry, but it's barely painted and needs some more care.

[Tangoforone]

Why not 9/14 instead of 7/11?

Mostly because 'inefficient' lore.  I looked at the bigger engine and it was only another $1,000 c-bills and 1 more BV, but it is one of those things that I picture these as cheap trucks that are not dedicated to their new role. 

The infantry has been pretty easy.  I use the Apothecary white from GW, then paint a non-pure white onto the helmets, shoulders, and a bit of the jacket and pants.  A bit of brown around the belt, and watered down dark grey for the guns and equipment.  The vehicles and mechs follow the same scheme, which is still GW apothecary.  Panel with the non-pure white, then do a slight drybrush of pure white.  I used a copper metallic for some details, but I'm trying not to go overboard. 

While I am not done with this Level III (crazy, I know, but I have cheap helicopters to build for other infantry transports, and two Level II's of mechanized infantry that I need to figure out models for), I am moving onto another Level III for a bit, and I would like some help.  I attached a screenshot of a proposed Level III, all the highlighted cells are up in the air.  The empty ones at the bottom are going to be the aerospace assets for this Level III, which are also not decided upon.  So let me know your ideas!  I don't want to go pure heavy vehicles, and I am trying to have it be mostly Word of Blake primary vehicles.  Era is generally 3072 or less.

[Daryk]

25s were the most common size, so I'd say they're the most easily obtained.  Why go out of your way for a mere $1,000? 

[Daemion]

Well, you still get a road bonus when they're used right, anyway.  Do you really need to be going 150 km down the highway?  That's just shy of 100 mph.

[Daryk]

It depends on where the militia base is in relation to the target being hit by the pirates, but my default answer is YES, I need to go 100 mph! 

[Tangoforone]

It depends on where the militia base is in relation to the target being hit by the pirates, but my default answer is YES, I need to go 100 mph! 

Generally my thought process is that these infantry would be used at minor 'important' facilities, such as a bridge security checkpoint, a power transfer base, etc.  Easily accessible via road, and would give alert if an enemy was moving in on their site.  They might be able to provide some resistance, but would probably fall back pretty quickly if heavier assets or more infantry don't arrive to support.

One of the Level II's of foot infantry will be transported via Battletech equivalent MI-24's, so fast deployment, rocket pods or maybe LRM-5's with half a ton of smoke and half a ton of regular rockets, and a LMG.  These would be used to drop troops off and then fall back to safe positions or maybe provide support.

[Daryk]

Being they're ComStar derived, they're going to expect jamming and cutting of land lines.  If they really want to be able bug out in a hurry, they need to have their transport with them, and it's a lot easier to park a fast wheeled vehicle at a checkpoint than any kind of VTOL...