ASQL: Space Base Terrain

Did some Built Up Area terrain to use with ASQL (though the buildings will probably work with any 15mm sci-fi). I used the tried and trusted sticking bits of rubbish to the outside of boxes technique.

ASQL: Imperial Strike Force

Here's 150 points of Imperial Strike Force army for Alien Squad Leader, ready for next week's tournament. They're from Ground Zero Games. Not sure why I paint so many armies pink and yellow.

They are three APC with a scout car Command, three Shocktroopers with a Command, three Assault Troops and one Support Squad. And that's all I got for 150 points coz I gave them almost every upgrade going.

Salamis

About forty years ago, wandering through WHSmiths I spotted this book, the Battle of Salamis by Richard B. Nelson, reduced to a quid (iirc). It looked pretty exciting, so I bought it. I didn't really know what wargaming was, at the time, coz I was only about eight, but the book intrigued me, and I pored over it like an eight year old who doesn't know what he's doing (a bit like the time I bought a copy of Macbeth at a jumble sale when I was four).

I never got into ancient naval wargaming, at all, but the book did inspire my O level history project (yeah, that O level came in handy). But at the weekend, by coincidence, I joined a playtest for some ancient naval wargame rules, and it turned out to be doing Salamis. So, I feel like that game is now finally complete, forty years in the making.

Spanish Village

Painted this resin village. Nice models that were fun to paint, though not mine, unfortunately. I believe most of the pieces are from Grand Manner.

Plastic Flags

I've been wondering how I was going to do the flags for my Arabs. I'm not a huge fan of paper ones, so decided to have a go at making some plastic ones. Nearly everything else in the army is plastic so it makes sense to have plastic flags, too. If you want to make these at home you will have to ask an adult to help you.

I cut out 30mm squares of 1mm plastic sheeting. In order for them to keep their shape, they need to be heated, and any thinner than 1mm and it will be difficult not to over-heat them. I stick them in the oven at about 160C for a little bit. You need to keep an eye on them the whole time, and take them out and bend them a little as soon as they start to look warm. If you leave them too long they will just curl up and die.

Bending them just a little bit and then putting them back in the oven for a few moments seems to work well. And it takes about 4 or 5 iterations to get a nice clear shape. Be careful to make sure one of the edges of the flag is still very straight, so you will get a decent contact when gluing them to the pole. When they feel about right, put them in some cold water and they should keep their shape.

The original plan was to paint a load of fake Arabic writing on the flags, but not sure I want to risk that, atm. Might have to work up the courage for that.