Brummie's Wargaming Blog

Sunday, 2 November 2014

Book Reviews: The Reapers are the Angels and Zone One.

Not done a great deal this week. Been to knackered to to get any painting done having the kids around at half term has been great but tiring lol. Not been in the mood to write up the batrep. Hopefully I'll have it done for Wednesday's post.

Been mostly reading this week. I've read and thoroughly enjoyed 'The Reapers are the Angels' by Alden Bell a zombie novel about a young girl and her life and travels across what is left of America. It has a Southern twang to its reading which I really love in books set in America especially zombie fiction. This isn't a book where its all about zombies they are more kind of a backdrop to the trials and tribulations that the girl 'Temple' goes through. It has some quite interesting characters in it and has plenty of action to keep you going. I give it 4 out of 5 stars It had me hooked from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down.

The next book I've been reading (mostly last week) is Zone One by Colson Whitehead. The main jist of the story is about a team of Sweepers searching for remaining zombies in abandoned buildings after the Marines have torn through the city killing off most of the zombies numbers.

I have to say it was boring as hell I just couldn't finish it I managed to get halfway through by just forcing myself to read it but It was tiresome to read and just didn't grab my attention in anyway. The action (what little I read) was flat and uninteresting and as for the characters themselves well there was little or no love or hate found for them which makes it even harder to read as there is nobody to to hope for or dislike. Its written in a very intelligent way but seems to focus on snippets of the characters past events during the early days of the collapse but then even so its doesn't make you like them any more. Some scenes are just so strange.

I gave it 2 out of 5 stars.

It would be interesting to see if any of you who follow this blog have read it and what you thought of it

Normal service will resume in the week.

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

Skylar Across the Dead Earth (Official Release version)

Finally have proper internet back yay! It came back on Monday lunchtime and so have had a catch up. Anyway finished off the Officially released version of Skylar. Another great looking mini and now a much nicer size. Stuck to a simple blue and green scheme. I haven't modified this one at all apart from adding a more prominent blade edge.

All that's left from the kickstarter is to paint up is the Mercenary Sniper Crimson.

I also got a game report to write up from Saturday night but I will get it done sometime this week for this Sundays post. Not done a lot this week painting wise. I have started plenty of miniatures but have nothing nowhere near being finished yet.

The Version 1 Sculpt and Version 2. I like both just the first is that little bit taller.

Sunday, 26 October 2014

Zomtober 2014 Week 4 and Final Zomtober weekend!

My name is Merle Dixon. Brother to the now infamous and loved by many Daryl Dixon now sadly zombified and put out of his misery by his own flesh and blood.

I love this character from the Walking Dead he's so flawed yet so characterful. I really wished someone had made a sculpt of him in metal. I decided to take the matters into my own hands and have a bash at making this character out of bits.

Here is my ode to Merle all the parts are from the Wargames Factory Male Survivors set. I think he's come out quite well.

I've also rebased my Rich & Family by Studio miniatures this week as well. Due to a reorganistion of my storage boxeds (No moe Lurpak boxes) I'm ditching 30mm lipped bases for 25mm rounds (Empire of the Dead Excluded).

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Zomtober 2014 Week 3.5 Hasslefree Laurie

Having painted up the zombies in my possession. I've now turned to survivors.

First of the painting table Is Laurie by Hasslefree miniatures. Loved this sculpt ever since I saw its greens. Have been looking forward to getting hold of it. Went for a totally different colour for the bow purely as I thought a camo bow in brown and tan would seem to on purpose the blue/grey looks more like a scavenged weapon. Laurie will also get added to my other low tech armed survivors for Across the Dead Earth.

Need to get my other survivor finished for the weekend its A Walking Dead themed Wargames Factory Male Survivor conversion. Watch this space come Sunday.

Sunday, 19 October 2014

Zomtober 2014 Week 3

This was quite a chilled week this week as all I had to do really was decide on clothing colours and finish them off. Anyway we have the remaining three members of the Studio Miniatures Tiny Terrors pack. Talking of which I caved into temptation last Sunday and jumped in on the Outbreak kickstarter. So many fantastic survivors and zombies will be getting added to the range.

Amy sadly woke up to her two sisters biting her they ate a fair bit before Amy turned and they lost interest shortly after. This is the most damaged zombie of the set with her face torn and a huge chunk of her side missing all the way around.

Stan was on his way to his aunts wedding with his sister Penny and there parents. They never made it. A poor injured little girl in a red nightie carrying a doll wondered out into the road causing there dad who was driving to come to a screeching halt. They all got out there car and rushed out to the little girl to see if the could help only for her to pounce on there dad suddenly and bite off his nose. They rushed to pull off the little girl only to in turn to get bitten.

Stan has a chest, back and eye wound.

Penny got bitten on the hand by the little girl. Penny quickly ran off screaming only to succumb to her wound later. aPennys only wound is on her left hand and she is showing signs of recently having fed.

Pic of the full completed set of Tiny Terrors I have to say never have I enjoyed painting zombies so much!

Blog Roll for Week 3

Fantorical

http://fantorical.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/born-on-monday.html

Paintbrush and Superglue
http://paintbrushandsuperglue.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/zomtober-2014-this-aint-no-riot.html

Gingerbhoy's Painting Projects
http://projectsolowargame.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/zomtober-sunday-week-3.html

Eclectic Gentlemen Tabletop Gamer
http://eclecticgentlemantabletopgamer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/zomtober-2014-week-3.html

Four Colour Super Mini's
http://fourcoloursupers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/zomtober-2014-week-three.html

28mm Victorian Warfare
http://28mmvictorianwarfare.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/the-rise-of-tod-truppen.html

Shelldrake's Zombie wargame Blog
http://zombiewargame.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/zomtober-2014-week-3.html

Mike's Random Wargaming Meandering
http://mikesrandomwargamemeanderings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/zomtober-week-3.html

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

Across the Dead Earth Rulebook

Met up with Rich after work yesterday to collect my copy of the 'Across the Dead Earth' rulebook. I'm probably quite biased but I think it looks fabulous. I've been looking forward to reading this for so long after reading pdfs etc for the past few months its just so ace to have it in my hands at last!

Its B5 in size very similar in feel to the In Her Majesty's Name, Fistful of Kung Fu books etc. Weighs in at a total of 87 full colour pages it is full of photos and artwork On each page there is this awesome watermarked effect to each one of some of the scenery.

The book includes all the accessories needed such as the event card and rare item decks as well as set of counters. They are all printed on a good quality card stock with the cards printed on both sides These all need to just be carefully cut out. I think its great as there is no need to cut up your book or print your own just cut them out and play!

Reading through It I found the font a nice size and it was easy to read and follow. The book is nicely laid out especially the boxes with fluff and examples of play. The charts are well laid out and you can find everything easily.

The Awesome Front Cover.

The rear cover with more inspiring artwork.

A quick flick through the pages below is the skill trees and the gang stats.

The Event and Rare Item cards look awesome love the artwork on the back covers.

The Counters set simple and functional

Being a backer I got some extras with my pledge and got my book signed and with an ace message inside.

Across the Dead Earth Signed Postcard

Our names in lights! Its been a great project to be involved with. I made some fab new friends and I look forward to more play testing and banter with them!

Of Course I've already received and painted nearly all my figures. Click the names below to see the completed gangs :)

The Family
The Redclaws
The State

Sunday, 12 October 2014

Zomtober 2014 Week 2

Much better prepared this week. I have two more from the Tiny Terrors pack finished off and the remaining three well on there way to being finished. I may even try and get a Survivor done for Week 4!

Anyway let the introductions begin.

Here we have a little zombie girl called Sophie who was on her way to her Uncles birthday bash when it all went mental and getting accidentally shot in the stomach by some trigger happy redneck.

Here we have Perry best friend to Kevin. Perry has a nasty wound in his back most likely from his friend Kevin. Perry has been feeding recently probably on Mrs Patterson I imagine this is some what unfair to his best friend but them both being zombies don't care any more either.