Ironclad Miniatures – Page 5 – An Archive For The Steinberg Shed Space Blog

Steam Wars – Finished Vehicles.

Coronasan commented on his blog recently that the Steam Wars Navy has yet to claim its nationality…

Consider that claim made. We are Children of the Stars and Stripes (mainly because I found some 1/72 and 1/48 American naval flyer decals recently).

As the tanks were finished and weathered recently, I had to get the decals out and slapped them on just before I varnished them and called them done…

I first liked the decals for the large NAVY lettering on the sheets along with a vast selection of small warning labels and markings. But the Stars and Bars also go well on the grey base colour.

Hull numbers are always good to apply as they make me think that this is a section of a larger national force.

The Brass Coffin has again been a problem as it has no real flat surfaces to apply larger decals to.

But plenty of space for smaller warning labels…

White infantry uniforms and Stars and Bars, why I hadn’t seen it before I don’t know. It also opens me up for adding in some Navy flyers at some time as well.

Simple paint jobs always benefit from some detailing (something I cannot do with a paintbrush).

Even my Artillery tow got a couple (mainly to avoid friendly fire when I do get some flyers).

Something about red triangles always attracts me…

All in all they are a fine set. Although how I am going to get them into a KR carry case without busting off the MGs, I don’t know… Especially worrying are those long fragile legs…

It didn’t really need it but the Steam launch got a couple too.

(Then I realised I had stuck them where the hover engines are meant to go…)

Steam Wars – New Tanks And Another Good Game.

My Ironclad order, put in before Xmas, was made after receiving a gift of these Ironclad Steam Tanks. Veganman (a beneficiary to the shed on many occasions) donated these unpainted tanks for my growing naval force. He now has a quite few painted ones and was unlikely to use these ones as he has never picked up a brush in the fourteen years I have known him…

The benefit of a non painting friend is the knowledge that, in time, I may benefit from other impulse purchases. These tanks got the usual resin treatment, a wash down with soapy water and warm rinse, but dried with a slight sheen that left my undercoat cracked and crazy paved…

I don’t know what caused this but I do wonder if the water was too hot or the drying process too slow. Whatever it was, I now know my tanks from any others by their distinctive pain job (likely caused by transporting over salty seas…)

One reason for this may be my foolishly rushing to get them ‘table ready’ for a game and not paying enough attention (or being patient enough). Patience has never been one of my hobby talents.

It was to be Veganman’s initiation into Steam Wars as we had a very large game planned for Xmas and needed another player.

I cobbled a force together from his classic old Mordian Iron Guard and Praetorian Imperial Guard, from his vast, unplayed, 40k collection. They actually did well to look the part with their pith helmets and formal uniforms.

We both had plenty of infantry and a couple of Ironclad steam tanks and set too over a city board with plenty of cover. The Ceri Design mats I now own managed to set the scene nicely I think.

Praetorian jump troopers took to the centre of the table early on while I advanced on both flanks (why consolidate your efforts when you can spread your force thin on 2 flanks).

Surprisingly I held the centre and the flanks. Somehow I managed to force Veganman to draw more forces away from his attack in the centre, leaving us both spread decidedly thin.

My artillery and HMG teams gave me an edge and I managed to rebuff his attacks long enough to claim a victory.

I was helped by some very lucky artillery dice rolls…

As well as some plucky lone troopers holding their ground against overwhelming odds…

All in all a good game, even if my tanks were rushed into service. More on the tanks later as I did get to finish them off nicely in the end.

But only when I gave them the time and attention they deserved…

Steam Wars – Assault Teams

Things have been quiet on the blog with Xmas and New Years causing far too many distractions. Add to that a plethora of work commitments and family causing even more distraction (a house full of women will do that to you) and I think I have enough excuses for anyone to forgive me my lack of attention.

Grovelling apology over… I have, however, continued to do some work in the shed.

I gifted these lads to myself over the pre Xmas period and planned to have them done for a big game in the Xmas break. Half have been completed but the other half remain base coated white while I struggle get back some focus and direction.

The miniatures are from the Ironclad Miniatures British range and are their naval boarding party miniatures. Some have sword and pistol whilst others are rifle or shotgun armed.

I decided to make 2 squads for Steam Wars. One is a true assault squad mostly armed with pistol and sword. The command figures are a pair of chaps with helmets off. I added a few pouches and a water bottle from my bits box and made the older chap into a military doctor type, this lets them benefit from some medical support while they are out and about. A slight conversion made to one of the basic troopers gave a special weapon to the team. This was done by simply adding one of Black Pyramids Aether pistols to the model.

Painted in my simple stark white uniform and grey trim they fit in well with the Black Pyramid troopers and add some much needed close combat clout.

With the first 3 done the other 3 were not far behind. They have now been bloodied in the field but I will let you see them in action later.

The rifle armed troopers I picked up will be more of a Breaching or Storming team. They are made up of heavier weapons options and will be destined to go where everyone else would be reluctant to tread. It would seem that they are themselves still a little reluctant as they have not managed to face even a paintbrush as yet…

Steam Wars – Turrets, Tows And Tanks

The painting has not progressed as well as planned over the last couple of weeks. Some parts of the overall plan have been done, but without the progress I had hoped for, being made. Work, Colds and Xmas do sometimes get in the way of important projects when you least like them to…

The Brass Coffin has been sat in the shed for over a year without any real purpose. The Steam Wars project has finally given it a place all of its own. When I put it together it got a spray of grey, and a dark tone wash, then I just sat it to one side. The fact it has no weapons limits its use in any game in my opinion.

A touch of brass and silver matches it into the other Steam Wars vehicles without much effort. The addition of the spare turret (sent by accident with my West Wind landship) and a couple of Aether weapons and a naval head (from Black Pyramid) and we have a Twin linked light tank.

With another vehicle for the army done, I was pleased to see a package arrive in the shed from Veganman’s vast collection of unpainted purchases. These were Xmas and Birthday gifts and aptly timed as I thought I would get lots of painting done in the Xmas break.

Three small tanks from Ironclad Miniatures, that I think I recall he had bought at one of the first Birmingham Games Expos. All still in their boxes and perfect for my slowly growing Naval army.

Sadly a persistent cold and commitments at work continue to keep these unpainted and me out of the shed…