ComGuard Additions and Terrain

So the ComGuard in BattleTech, even though they use a funky 6 in a lance set-up, are a combined arms unit like the Star League Defense Force that was their predecessor.  While I have a number of tanks in the Eridani Light Horse Regiment and leftover from the same, the vast majority were created in the time between the fall of the Star League and the 3rd Succession War which is the time frame I'm building this unit for.  So with that in mind I went looking for some appropriate vehicles to use.

 

The first unit is a pair of Marksman Artillery Tanks, a pair of Alacorn Heavy Tanks, and then will get two bases of Mechanized Infantry.  The Marksmans provide plenty of long range artillery power while the Alacorns with their triple Gauss rifles will be murder on advancing enemy mechs.  With two mechanized platoons to screen them, it's a good force to provide supporting fire.

The second unit is a quartet of Puma Assault Tanks, which will also get two bases of Mechanized Infantry.  A PPC and 2 LRM/20s give the Puma plenty of ranged power with a pair of medium lasers and an SRM/6 for closer defense.  It even has a small laser and a flamer to deal with any pesky infantry that get past the two accompanying platoons of mechanized infantry.

Now after getting that terrain shown in the last post, I got an itch for getting some more CBT terrain.  So I hit the bits boxes and saw what I could come up with.  First up I had some old containers that ended turned into 5 storage tanks that will make a nice defense or attack objective/target.

Then I turned a couple Tau drone bodies into what will be a pair of bunkers/  Once they get flocked around, they should work quite well for that.  The last piece is going to be a small missile launch station with a comm tower and small bunker to go with the two launchers.

As far as mechs go, the Scout Level II of Hussar, triple Mercury, and dual Assassin got black paint highlights but still need to be touched up in a couple places with white and then get based.  They will hopefully make the next post.  So progress continues and I'm slowly accumulating a decent mix of BattleTech terrain.  I'll see you all next time and thanks for reading.

Battletech and a Bit More Battletech

So we've got some progress on the ComGuard force on both the miniature and fluff side of things.  The force is now part of the 7th ComGuard Division under Precentor Xavier Stoughton.  This unit is currently stationed on Galedon V in the Draconis Combine and is assigned to protect the HPG and other ComStar facilities on the planet.  It's a bit weird using 6 mech units rather than the normal 4 mech lance, and I'm still trying to figure out the Latin alphabet designation for the Level III layers when you figure in the infantry and vehicles.  But all in all, it's progressing well I think.

As to the painting, after using a test model to try black wash followed by touching up with white paint and then trying an ultra fine black modeling marker in place of the black wash .... I have discovered that I have the skill to pull off neither method on white models.  So they'll all get painted white, get a silver for the view ports, and then black to hit some of the weapon barrels and such, and that will just have to suffice.  I've got the first three Level II's through the two layers of white primer and then a layer of Vallejo White.

Level II Alpha Light
Adept Kevin Barrows
    Hussar Light Mech
    Mercury Light Mech
    Mercury Light Mech
    Mercury Light Mech
    Assassin Medium Mech
    Assassin Medium Mech

The first is a Light Scout Level II.  This is a nice fast and mobile unit made up of classic Star League Defense Force mechs.  It definitely should be able to perform it's role as scouts for the main force.  These are the first Mercurys and first Hussar that I have owned.  The Hussar blister was slightly intimidating with all the parts in it, but it went together quite easily.  I like this mix of mechs for this role and it makes a nice looking unit.

Level II Alpha Heavy
Adept Vincent Wellingsby
    Flashman Heavy Mech
    Grasshopper Heavy Mech
    Grasshopper Heavy Mech
    Grasshopper Heavy Mech
    Wolverine Medium Mech
    Wolverine Medium Mech

Next up is a striker/reaction force Level II.  All six mechs are in my list of favorites and offer good hitting power while maintaining good speed and maneuverability.  Again all are designs common to the SLDF and are what you'd expect to find in the hidden ComGuard force.

Level II Alpha Assault
Adept Carissa Allenby
    Orion Heavy Mech
    Stalker Assault Mech
    Stalker Assault Mech
    Stalker Assault Mech
    Exterminator Heavy Mech
    Exterminator Heavy Mech

This is the assault force of the unit.  It's a hard hitting force that's designed to punch through an opposing force.  Once more, common SLDF units and what you'd expect for a linebreaker force.

I also made some progress on some terrain for my BattleTech and thought I'd work it into this post as well.

The HPG Station that's been posted in this blog before.  A mix of GI Joe parts and various bits, it works well for the role I think and will give my ComGuard force something to protect.

Next is a factory complex that is numerous bits added to a switch box.  It's not the greatest but again should work well for what it represents.

Lastly we have a mix of small terrain options.  There is a small electrical station, two defense missile towers and a quartet of sensor towers or mining platforms as they could work for either depending on the map set up.  I think this gives a decent mix of terrain to work into the normal hills, forests, etc that go on the board and could lead to some interesting scenario driven games as well.

So that's it for the moment and I'll see you all next time.

Progress Continues Slowly

So I got the second squad of Fire Warriors assembled.  I also got a second Crisis Suit and the starter box Cadre Fireblade model put together as well.  This should give me enough models to easily field a force for a Kill Team game.  I still have a Crisis Suit and some Drones to assemble out of the force.  It's developing slowly and has been a way to pass the time some evenings to assemble them.

The unit fluff is starting to take shape as a defensive force in the Ail'daeris System for a deep space mining endeavor.  The unit is based on a moon of a gas giant and provides defensive troops for asteroid mining platforms, gas mining stations, and other resource gathering and shipping infrastructure in the system.

As far the ComGuard unit is concerned, I'm still figuring out the fluff but it's going to be a pre-Clan Invasion force set in roughly the 3rd Succession War period when the small Terran Militia and ROM forces were expanded into the ComGuard.  A group of Mechs are drying from being primered and I'm wanting to hit them with a second layer of white primer tomorrow before breaking out the black ink.  We'll see how the unit goes and I'm still trying to find good records of the organization of the ComGuards before the Clan Invasion to figure out their fluff.

Well, that's all for now, not a major update, and I'll see you all next time.