DEVELOPMENTS

BTR-80 soon to be converted.

Working on the conversion of an 'Aliens' cargo loader to a safer version for -DUCK!

I made the new control to be joysticks hidden behind the panel. The film version with arms extending out of the cage was just too dangerous to pass Health and Safety inspection on Deep Freight vessels. Also an armoured-perspex head protection shield will be added.The grips and arms are now articulated too. A true 54mm figure will now fit into the loader. Original is made by SUPER 7 MUSCLE - odd charicature figures.

Duuh duuh duddud dud duh duuuh dud dud dud duuuuh...

BAD FIGURES ARE THEY NOT

I suppose it had to happen that my game lent itself to a Gender Wars variant. I got hold of some of the various sets of 54mm SW figures available. I got them from Amazon, looking carefully for cheap offers. Otherwise these sets can be a bit pricey. I got some second hand sets. I think there are something like 15 different sets available, of varying size. The variety and conten tof these packs is a little bewildering and it takes some research to be sure of what you are getting...! I got these ones....

The sets include figures, models of vehicles and spaceships and stands for the models as well as little pull-back-and-go bases for the stands. I got 33 figures out of these 3 sets.

The figures are perfect 54mm scale. The modelling is very fine and proportions really nice.

I think this character is a kid so he is smaller...LUKE? OR  I have no idea who he is!

Light sabres do not feature yet in my rules... Maybe something to add. I recognise Darth Vader but not the others. Since the one with the teddy bears in it I have not kept up with SW.

What the thing on the left is, I do not know but it is relatively useless. The Skywalker figure will make a great 'pawn' figure to be rescued or escorted. One man with binoculars is acceptable but 3 in the same pack seems like carelessness! He is a nice figure, maybe using a Biosonsor but difficult to convert. Maybe cut him off at the chest and put him into a vehicle hatch ? The last man is excellent. easily converted to a flame-thrower or used as he is for SW. I'll just have to research what his weapon is.

Pilots. Very nice ones. Baddies in black, I presume, and goodies in orange. Both lovely figures. Bending the arms will give actively shooting figures.

The droid is a bit static but what else could one do ? Nice sculpt anyway. I have visions of putting a light inside it !! The running pilot is a tour-de-force. Great action pose. Slightly spastic but perfect for chaos in a -Duck! game. Nice blaster.

Extra baddie pilots but also showing these light-armed troopers. Nice for Verminators or as part of SW -Duck!

Again, I am at a loss as to who these are supposed to be, but they are nice sculpts. The woman is a great pose for hectic combat. The purple monster is useable as something but I do not know what. Droid mark 2 is also nice. Maybe a mobile dustbin?

And then there must be the cannon-fodder / Imperial Stormtroopers. Very nice figures. Shooting or ready-to-shoot. Elegant figures. 

Here is the hardware. A nice selection of fighters to make my own version of X-Wing, suitable for grandchildren and the hard-of-learning to play.

The ships come with static stands and pull-back and go bases .

There you have it. A lot of very nice figures and stuff to conjure with.

I think a SW version of -Duck! will be fun to do and if I use these figures in the Deep Freight Galaxy there are plenty of possibilities. A team armed just with hand-blasters would be fun to throw into an infested space-hulk!  Or the individual figures make for some nice customised YOU figures.

The quality of these figures is top-notch. They can be expensive but look on ebay and for bargains on Amazon. You could make an entire -DUCK! universe with these figures.

PEST CONTROL DIVISION MAKE A PLANETARY EXCURSION

My Russian toy armoured car has evolved. It is now Pest Control Division's first VTV - Vari-Thrust Vehicle.

The VTV has six light but very powerful fan units which can swivel to allow the vehicle to hover or progress forward or back.

The turret has a large calibre gun which fires steel nets and a heavy machine gun.

The body is equipped with various batteries of anti-clamber mines that explode when Threat species try to climb up onto the vehicle.

This recconaissance car can carry 5 men - pilot, comms. gunner, commander and loader.

First excursion sees the VTV called out to save the farmers of Zabril 3 from ruin. The fruit of the Koffey Tree are threatened by a plague of Barstuckian Koffey lizards.

The star Zabril emits light at different wavelengths from our sun and the 'grass' type plants there use an equivalent of chlorophyll which is blue and therefore  colours the vegetation in these shades.

So the lads have driven out to reduce the numbers and bring back a few specimens to help determine why the numbers of these reptilian pests have increased.

Any suggestions as to how to make the fanjet dust clouds better are welcomed. I need to make them more fluffy somehow I think.

The Elite Corps of Dwarves

 I got a load of potential Verminators/Teamers today. They are 'The Corps Elite' sold by Walmart in the U.S.. I got them, eventually after paying a ludicrous amount in postage. They are cheap in U.S. but not in Europe, where they are otherwise unavailable.
 
The figures are billed as 'Army Men' but do not quite live up to that billing.....

The set is in a plastic box with a bunker on the lid.

 

The contents include 80 figures and various extras.

The extras are a jet, a tank (M1), a nice helicopter, wire, fence, sandbags, a checkpoint, heavy machine guns and mounts, and th ebunker/emplacement from the box lid.

The basic men are well sculpted and without flash or gas holes or shrinkage.

 They are not available elsewhere, being new sculpts. They are VERY well produced. The plastic is stiff but not brittle.

 The only drawback is the size. I hoped they would be closer to 54mm but they are really 45mm.

54mm - 45mm - 52mm excluding base

40mm - 45mm - 60mm  excluding base

 The figures come in three colours, Tan, Green and a leather/brick red.

The poses are excellent. Non are wasted guys doing sentry duty or shooting vertically etc. They can all be used.

They ar esomehwre between 'Aliens' Colonial Marines and modern US infantry. Armoured/protected and armed with futuristic assault rifles etc.

Running man can become a YOU figure with hand blaster. Bayonet guy is really nice, he has night goggles too.

 Machine gun is a bit awkward but the man can be hacked around to use it better. The 'gunner' with mask on is really great.

 Th eminigun man is really nice - pefect for HEMG. The rocket weapon can be modified to a Shotgun or a DOPE gun.

 The sniper has a bush hat - ugh - but this can be carved and given a visor. The crouching man is another very believable and attractive pose.

Finally the other stuff that can be used. The heavy machine guns are good extras to mount on vehicles or other places. Th ebase can be used on a planet surface or cut into smaller installations for inside a ship. The robot walker is hollow in the back but is useable also.

So, 'The Corps Elite' by Lanard toys and sold by Walmart are a good buy in the US for all your Verminator/Teamer needs. They do not mix well with true 1/32 or 54mm figures, though.
From a European perspective they are a little pricey at about 1 dollar each including postage etc.

VIDEO review at LOTS of TOYS here....