Plans and dreams 2017

Now you may be wondering why I posted a picture of the sky. Well it's because many of the projects I am going to talk about are up in the air right now with only a few concrete ones.

So let's start with what is going on now and what I will continue in 2017
1. Is the construction of a Gunboat based off a drawing I found. It's coming along well and should be done relatively soon.
2. Oronegrean Militia! Getting close to completing these figures. No command figures for them yet. But for now any well dressed and dashing character will do.
3. Comrade Pirates. Now I really try and avoid bringing up my political beliefs here. So I hope you'll let me have this one moment of exposure. I'm a member of a socialist organisation and I decided to paint up some pirate figures for the other members of our branch. This project is always behind as new members join and I need a few more female pirates. So this one won't really be completed this year.
4. Oronegrean Civilians. Again 18th century. I want to get a few painted up. Will be useful for raids by native tribes. (See below)
5. Project: Sanctuary Lanes. This is something that needs a whole lot of lore fleshed out for it. The idea is of refugees coming to Oronegro in secret. The first people for this are from Japan (figure wise not lore wise) I have some Samurai and Ninga for this. Lore will follow later for this project.
6. Other figures. Plenty of random figures in various stages of completion. Some only primed. Some based. Others with paint. Look out for some new enemies for Oronegro.

Now what about projects I am about to start or have got the ground work ready for.
1. A fluyt this will be an interesting build with multiple decks making construction a challenge.
2. Natives of Oronegro! Finally some interesting things. I dug up an old set of Hät Thracians, some partially painted but without primer (oh how I've learned). Anyway black paint and PVA base and I'll paint up some. I have a few being "test" painted right now to see if this idea will work. Instead of steel weapons they'll have copper and bronze (more fitting for the Americas)

Projects in planning. Or projects Gowan thinks he can do but probably shouldn't or can't do this year!
1. A Junk! This is related to project: sanctuary lanes. (Spanish name pending) this will be an interesting and exotic addition to my flotilla. A merchant vessel of reasonable size it will play the role of target in games with the pirates.
2. ONE SHIP TO RULE THEM ALL! After the Junk I probably will stop making large model ships. (Because at that point all the bookshelves and window sills at my parents place will be occupied and we'll have to move to attic storage.) But before I close down my large shipyard I want to have one last hurrah! A frigate with two decks, based off various designs incorporating all my experience and skills.  This is a dream project, one that's probably not even going to start this year. But in the world of planning 5 years is considered a short period of time so this is definitely a near future project!
3. Catamaran. In contrast to the big ships I also plan to build a small vessel. Catamarans did not really take off in the West until the late 19th century but in Oronegro this can be different. Because of their speed this vessel can have many uses.

So is that all? No probably not. In all reality I will let these projects be put on hold and try a few others.
Oh and as always if you have any figures you want to get rid of please let me know. I might be able to give them a good home.  ;-)

Doubling the Fleet!

"Capt. we need to double the size of the fleet!" Well it's pretty self explanatory isn't it. I currently have 4 boats (3 river boats, 1 sloop) and my goal for this year will be to end the year with 8. But what shall those boats be? I don't want to make more small ones, at least not many. So if the current ratio is 3 small to one big let these new models be 1 small 3 big!

maybe this is a little over-ambitious?

El Francisco / San Francisco:

 The final of my small boats. Named for long time follower, the angry lurker himself Francis Lee. Pirate vessel? Trader? Naval ship? or Fishing boat? I'll let the man himself decide. I already have a hull ready and prepared for this one so it shouldn't take too long once I get my materials together.

The hull appears to be similar to those for the ships I already made, perhaps a little bigger.

La Tigre:

This one is going to be big, perhaps a sixth rate or trading vessel? Named after my Aunt Hillary (her nickname is Tig/Tigger from Winnie the Poo). This vessel will join the Abigail as the pride of my model fleet until an even bigger one comes along. :-)

I might make one a little smaller than this, around the 43cm (17in) mark.

St Michael:

Named for a man with whom I have traded many figures. A fine Fluyt for my Dutch friend. This vessel will not be as large as La Tigre but more complex with removable decks to allow figures to go at multiple levels. I will try to use my snapping shut method for these but it will take more time to do.

These are beautiful ships, the lines are very nice.

El Santiago:

Finally a really big one, for if I get through the others in one year (a very ambitious aim). This one is named for yours' truly or rather the Spanish version of my middle name (my vanity can only go so far). I'm planning a fifth rate for this one! 1 1/2 to 2 decks with lots of gun ports for the full broadside experience. I have no clue where we are going to store this model but it will be the pride of my fleet.

 

Pirates better beware of this mighty ship!

 Will these be all the ships I make? NO of course not! Will this actually take me a year? Right now I am erring towards longer (I don't have much time at home to build them). Can I have a ship named after me? Why yes, if you ask nicely. Being a subscriber for my blog(s) does help. Can you build me a ship? Well probably not, all my work takes an indefinite amount of time (no fixed times) and I haven't yet designed a model which can be taken apart and put back together for transport (wouldn't be able to mail it). But if you could pick it up perhaps, but only if we play a game with them first (I need a ruleset, may need to make one).

Anyway model ships are the pride of my collection and I want to build more. If you ever stumble across some nice plans or juicy informative pictures of some fine vessels please send them my way. But apart from the obvious needing to get on with them (and a mountain of figures) that is all for these vessels for now.

have a good day/night!

P.S. if anyone sees that set of Hät Marines and sailors for sale let me know. They'd make good crew men.

Earth Defence forces - Sci-fi fun

Well here I go off on another crazy idea but one that is perhaps not as crazy as others. Basically it's a consequence of Dr Who and we can all blame him for the idea. Basically I wish to create some Oronegrean based Global defence force. Second (or third) only in skill to the Black Angels in the Oronegrean Armed Forces - Fuerzas Armardas de la republica de Oronegro (FARO). Admitidly this is not such a big deal as the Black Angels (Los Angeles Negros) are one of the best military units of the human race, their exact position in the top 10 is unknown (like most of the other contenders).

These figures from Elhiem fit the bill. although they look a bit like Storm troopers.

Naturally I'll need some guys well creatures, mutants, robots and cyborgs to invade but as those plans are already in my head I need not go over them again.

BUT WHY ALL THIS SILLYNESS

War is hell and if Oronegro is the child of my imagination then I am putting my child through hell... I am a terrible parent

Well the real Oronegro story is quite depresssing. a story on a powerful nation ripped appart in which civilians took up arms against a democratic but quite uncaring government (and in many areas corrupt) the conflict which engulfed Oronegro was explotied and worsened by the global superpowers which were also at war! the story allows for many possibilities and I can make up lots of stuff but if I only go down the route of civil war and serious conflict (for my moderns) I don't think that I can have some really fun scenarios. sure I can have fun but none of the scenario's can be completely ridicculous and light hearted. I have been criticised for having a civil war, which is why the Soviets and the US (and any other self respecting power) is involved in an attempt to move away from the nastyness that comes with all civil wars.

if this is you call FARO... or just accept your fate. which ever is easier.

but these science fiction plans allow me to add a bit of sillyness and fun to the doom and gloom. zombies getting blown up left right and centre by a cyborg sheriff (another idea from the Dr Who episode -"a town called Mercy") Now this does not mean I intend to make Oronegro into a totally unrealistic place. the zombies, have their explanations, chemical weapons. the Advanced forces as well they pop up during the war and are repressed.

and as there are no pictures of Faro and a dalek here is the nect best thing... at least the dalek can feel safe while is raises money to help daleks avoid the doctor.

FARO is one of those groups that helps to repress these outbreaks, invations, uprisings etc. Anyway thats that. now its over to you guys for your comments and ideas

making stuff with the old man? a plan...

well I have a cunning plan... not that cunning because it is only in 1/72 scale and not 1/1, which would be cunning. But I am going to make some bunkers! yes that's right, bunkers. I have been communicating quite a bit with my friend Michael with whom I have set up quite a good miniature people smuggling ring. but one of the things I offered to do was make buildings... my cunning plan; get some practice in making buildings, and make something we can both use.

But I also want to do something with my dad. its been a while since we last made something together so I thought it would be nice to get him involved in making something. a father, son project, seeming that next year I'm off to university with any luck I must make the most of the time left in which we can both work on something together.

I have found a site full of pictures and information from which to gather ideas.

but naturally I need to practice building, model buildings, and one thing I can practice on is bunkers. Why bunkers? because then I can improve my terrain building skills, get used to making more complex structures other than simple rectangular boxes that either have roofs and floors that slot together or are merely placed on top. The bunkers roof would be built in a similar manner to me previous building the little supply house but made from a different material.

built partially into the hillside this German 669 Open gunbunker would be a nice candidate

this is the business end

Now you may be wondering why is this cunning... I wish to make more than one! 3 in fact two smaller bunkers and one larger one. the Larger one I may sell, that's right sell depending on how nice it is, one of the smaller ones I shall send to Michael and one I shall keep myself. Now as usual I am not simply go on and do it all before I allow the followers of this blog to have an input!

Here is the site I am using for ideas; http://www.bunkerfotos.nl/english take a look around and perhaps you'll see something that would be cool. Besides if I do one to sell it would be good to do something that would be of interest to buyers.

well get involved, with the potential to sell something I make I am looking to get lots of feed back. will what I make be any good? I can't make any promises... when will I start? not sure depends on how much work my father and I have to do.

Discussion: Oronegro sci-fi

Well this post is here so that people reading this blog can comment on what they thing about sci-fi elements in Oronegro. So far there have been stories, plans and concepts but nothing conclusive has yet been written down.  I have split the main ideas I have into different categories so that you can look at each one.

I want to see what you think, because I want to one day open up the Oronegrean world for others to play around with. so right now I am setting the basic outline and a few basic fixed facts and one day, sooner or later you can all add your own things and play around in the Oronegrean world. I have allowed anyone to comment now so we can all add our ideas.

The Bunker and other advances forces

The bunker has been discussed already, but let me go over some key points. The Bunker was set up long ago and is home to NAZI scientists who after WW2 fled to Oronegro. Their experiments on kidnapped people range from finding ways to prolong life (the scientists alive in the bunker are the same ones that fled in the 1940's) all the way to creating the zombie virus (discussed later) and to making advanced forms of weaponry.

some technologically advanced force. still the can be killed by a well trained force though.

Well the Bunker is not the only place that creates these super soldiers and their even more super equipment. there is also room for another force other plains in Oronegro. this force could be bunker troops that have been smuggled in some way to this place. more will be discussed about these plains in the next segments.

Zombies and mutants

this is something I have given quite a bit of thought to, we all like zombies, and they are one of the more plausible horror concepts. also because they can be either a small battle field nuisance all the way up to a huge terrifying force, they are very simple to put into the Oronegrean story.

this guy hopes he has enough ammo

Zombies will come from either the bunker or elsewhere. they'll make everything very interesting. and yes they also might turn up in the plains. as for mutants  its a pretty similar story.

Aliens and creatures

Well these are the most outlandish of the sci-fi concepts. Aliens are not going to be to much of an issue, they'll be a few scouts, looking to see how the world emerges from WW3, who have come to Oronegro because its easier to hide in a place that humans themselves hide (they did their research). They will have advanced technology but will also be killing machines in their own right, easily able to kill a group of unarmed humans lost at night.

monster or alien? either one, but still its scary.

the creatures are beasts from the forests and jungles, they are very intelligent and have come out to put a stop to this madness which is turning their already harmed homeland into a burnt and polluted mess. The creatures will not be armed in anyway except for their own bodies, venoms or toxic sprays. Once again these will appear on the plains, and in the jungle.

Both the Aliens and the creatures will be good killers, but when the military turns up or they face a person who is very skilled with knives or other more primitive weapons, they shall find themselves in a spot of bother. the aliens may have only limited support from their advanced vehicles and flying machines.

The plains

The plains will be the scene for most of this scary, sci-fi activity! the plains are Oronegro's second farming area, they are full of small towns and have one big city. the city of El Puerto Segundo. this is comparable to La Ley in size and was full of very modern buildings, since this area is where quite a bit of the oil came from.

Puerto Segundo is the only city on the plains.

If the sci-fi concepts are of interest then the story for the plains in the civil war is simple. Mostly loyal to the National forces, except for a small group of rebels, the plains (apart from the city itself) were hit by nuclear weapons, and other more dangerous ones designed to create zombies and mutants. these came either from forces from the bunker itself or were supplied to rebel or Soviet forces in the area.

the area soon becomes a toxic wasteland, which brings out the armies or creatures from the forest, out for revenge on human kind for destroying their sacred land. The aliens can just notice this attack and because they are already in Oronegro, come here to analyse the effects of these human weapons but end up getting into conflict with the soldiers. The advanced army which has also now appeared in the plains now advances on the city, encountering national forces, creatures and aliens alike.

in the end your left with a really messed up place with the main city a battle ground between soldiers and advanced forces (aliens or the bunker troops) and the surrounding countryside a death trap for people lost at night!

Well there you go... tell me what you thing

All this is conceptual nothing is certain... I still have to walk the dog and its dark outside, why did I go looking up monsters that picture is creeping me out... and I have a horrible imagination that means as soon as I start day dreaming I'll imagine that one of these will be following me around. yes imagination can be a curse also.

have a nice day guys, and I hope none of these follow you around.

Making Rules for 1/72 scale ship combat

Well I was going to do this myself but I am struggling. Making rules is something I can do... when I have an outline to expand on but from scratch is hard. I have started making some rules for what I can small scale land combat, for which I am utilizing a heavily altered version of the modern combat rules I have. I have also requested a copy of Ion's (Archduke Piccolo) rules, he says he has a machine copy :-). But for naval combat I am not even going to bother looking for rules in 1/72 scale but create my own, with help. Wind, currents and weather all play a HUGE part in naval combat and so far I have avoided them. I have come up with a formulae for the turning circle though...

A Ship's tightest possible turning circle has a radius (in normal circumstances) of half its length. however of coarse that's not the main problem the problem is the formulae which of coarse is 0.5(2π x o.25L). L= length there are of coarse several modifiers that affect the distance.

• damaged rudder x1.8
• damaged hull x1.6
• damaged rigging/sails x1.7 (unless ore/steam powered)
• streamline hull x0.7
• bulky x1.2
• over loaded x1.2
• travelling at high speed x1.5
• travelling at reasonable speed x1.2
• travelling at a slow speed x0.9
• deep draft x1.5
• shallow draft x0.8
• contrary currents x1.9
• contrary wind direction x1.8
• Wind aids turn x0.7
• current aids turn x0.8
• Ship is using ores x0.5

Note that when more than one factor is effecting the ship that the decimals are added with the factors below 1.0 having the difference between the number and 1 used (i.e 0.9 becomes -o.1). So when a ship with a normal turning circle of 50cm is affected by contrary winds but is travelling at slow speeds turns as tightly as possible the turning circle is multiplied by 1.7 so the equation to find the distance it will cover becomes o.5(2π x(50 x 1.7)) the end result is that it will cover a distance of 267 cm! this of coarse is taken off the distance the ship can cover in that turn.
But the distance covered by a ship during a turn also depends of the weather, the amount of sails and their size the ship has, and also the speed of the ship the previous turn.
Now you may be wondering what I mean by reasonable speed, high speed and slow speed... High speed is the speed a ship travels when its at full sail and the winds are favouring it. Reasonable speed is when its using more than 1/2 its possible sail power and the winds are in its favour or the ship is using full sail but the winds are not giving it full power. Normal speed is when its either using around 1/2 its sail power and the winds are favourable or when its using a greater amount of sail but the winds are not favouring it. slow speed is when the ship is either using below 1/2 its sail power or the winds are contrary. The actual speeds them selves are determined by eye, how many sails and how big they are and the shape of the ship... if its wide then its slower and if its got lots of sails and their huge its very fast :-) nice and simple.
As for ore power, well I think that the number of ores must determine its speed. what that speed is I have no idea.

But there is still so much to figure out! and of coarse there is the factor of gun on the ship. BUT all crew and guns will be affected by complementary land rules... the other ones I am making.

My mind is in need of help

Well Oronegro has been my project for almost a year now and I LOVE IT!!! the only problem is that in entering this dark new phase I am unable to pin down which infantry to use as basic Oronegrean troops... For moderns it was easy USA all the way their equipment is common through out the world. However for the 18th century I am about as sure as what to choose as I was sure who were going to be Oronegro's neighbours!

What I mean is I need your help badly. I chose Archduke Piccolo's imgi-nations to be Oronegro's neighbours as they offered an interesting set of neighbours and because unlike real nations I don't have to worry about distinct climates and certain other geographic rules also it allows one to say that perhaps its on a parallel earth accessed through say a portal... Bermuda triangle could be one perhaps... put your nation on the other side of a portal and it could be bordering several real nations and yet not appear on maps or satellite photos.
However what to do for infantry or for that matter the entire force of Oronegro. The sets I have looked at so far have been good, interesting and IMHO special in that they wear helmets and yes perhaps I will still get them! However helmeted troops are more likely to be some elite unit, not the norm as I need for a basic force. I have a few options here, as what to pick but what it comes down to is which force will allow me to create an Oronegrean century???

Here are my options:

• Peninsular war Brits > the HaT set is made from a medium consistency plastic allowing easy conversion of Shako into tricorn. Also with the release of the infantry command set I should have a a nice command structure for a century.
• French > lots out there and the uniforms show similarities to the Wurttenburg infantry also there is lots of French support sets like baggage carts which will add to the realism and possible scenarios.
• Nassau infantry> also similarities to the Wurttenburg infantry however they have sabres which makes them stand out and I am not overly keen on the limited supply of other troops types.

There are the 3 options I could of coarse get the Brits, convert shako's get a set with the drummer... what they really need along with guys with flags and repaint them in a new uniform. This would mean that they seem right especially with the marines in the Naval crew set which I will get for certain. I am so confused I just need help.

However if you were able to sell me or trade me some figs with those helmets or perhaps would like any figs I do not like when I bought a set arrangements could be made. until the groundwork for the Oronegrean army is set any ones ideas will not only be welcome but important!!!

what of early Oronegro

as I said on a post I published just before on the main blog I was recently thinking of doing some early Oronegrean history either in the era of the conquistadors or the 18th century or a strange mix of them both. well I have concluded that it should be set in the 18th century with a few conquistador style people running around! The only problem is that what figures to get, well the conquistadors are the least of my worries. the problem is which of the many musket wielding figures out there do I want to represent Oronegro. well after looking at all the sets on PSR that had tricorns and then looking at which ones would best suit my idea of the Oronegreans I was disappointed so I looked a bit later at the Napoleonic period. Here I found some suitable candidates for some Oronegrean infantry as well as some conversion opportunities.

I want tricorns so I am not about to give up because there are not any suitable sets I shall convert these bicorn and shako wearing heathens into some true imperial forces! However I am going to make an exception for some helmeted forces... and after a search through the nappies I found that Austria could hold the greatest potential.

look at these sets

What interests me about these is the conversion possibilities, the helmets I'll keep but the other more foolish looking hats will be cut off and replaced by tricorns. Here are the other possible sets, that also include the helmets

this set does include some unwanted Prussians but perhaps a use can be found for them also








this is an older set from Italeri but more of the infantry in this one have the helmet.









But what story do these sets have for Oronegro. Well as I've said this is a recent concept and I am not done refining possible stories. there is some way to go and the project may not see the light of day but with enough encouragement/nagging perhaps I will go into some early Oronegrean history!

the wish list. so long it rivals the longest santa list

 To start with, this list is not certain and I am willing to trade figs for figs!
well I think I did this before but here is a new list. I have decided to split it into several parts for ease of use (for me and you). this list is not too long and I should be able to get at least a few of these for Christmas or birthday (January). its annoying that they are close together, I will of coarse limit expenditure of models on this birthday as for the big 18 I want to do some airsoft, if you can make it here I invite all of you, if it goes ahead. I made this list so that I can refer to it in future and so and of you who may have one of these sets lying around and no longer want it or think that you would like some ancients of medievals can trade me for them. any way onto the list
all images are from PSR or the respective companies website.  and one from Dougie's wargaming blog.

must buys! these are the sets that I am determined, 100%, to get hold of. for this reason there are only 2.

the revell set of US infantry,  for Oronegrean standard troops

and the North Korean KPA for Rebel Militia

Hopeful but not sure! These sets have made me think about getting them on multiple occasions but so far no order has been made.

the second Caesar partisan set! for me good source armed civilians

Orion's Russians, good for the soviet unions troops in Oronegro

a companion to the Russian set, these guys will form either rebel gangs or more soviets

and just when you thought I was not going to be looking for more soviets....

The wishful but at a stretch! Now these might be purchased only id and when the sets above are not bought or in the highly unlikely event that I get some large sum of money (lotto)... of coarse these might be on the list of sets for the 19th birthday. But on the whole most of these are just temporary ideas that has stuck a little longer than most and I might not actually get them in the end, well just wait and see ;-)

militia, for the jungle or the city streets

Militia, lots of Sturmgewehr's which will pass off as AK-47's or another type of Kalashnikov

engineers, I know WW2 Germans, but they are correct for Oronegro's army

motorcycles, which with ample modification  they can form some rather modern looking bikes

METAL & Resin STUFF!!! This lot is set aside due to the material it is made from, these are perhaps more likely to be bought than those above, but still not certain purchases.

Elhiem miniatures: The following figures will be used along with the Revell set to complete the Oronegrean century I have built up :-) which will mean that apart from maybe turning it into a type B battalion later on (see Oronegro blog for info) that will complete my standard Oronegrean forces :-)

well these are from Elhiem miniatures, their armour means they are good for some MP's I only need one but the others will be good for other roles

more of the same, some of these guys will be useful for filling in the roles of medic, I still need 3 to complete the century

I need a five man bomb squad for the century, 4 men + one from the above set and that's done.

this pic is from Dougie's wargaming blog, these are the Elhiem civilian relations team, I just need one of the above infantry to accompany

with a bit of mix and match with current figs these and some others will form the engineers

I hope to get the engineers company out of this lot maybe some back packs and equipment will make the scene

and the backpacks to make the engineers look like ones... might get 2 sets so 8 of them have them

Of coarse Elhiem might also be used to add to the baddies in Oronegro.

they have a nice range of soviets as well as many other figures

S&S models: for those vehicles that you find nowhere else and a few other bits and bobs.

 these guys is a must somewhere along the line. they are the backbone of the rebel army, well them and converted figs

this image is big because the vehicle here is one of my favourites :-) the ZU-23-4, Shilka, I love it because it is so rugged!!! My favourite tank is the Leopard 2 A6 if you are wondering, why do you think I got Germans :-)

That concludes the list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must say that this is by no means all that I will buy in future and I am also not saying I will get all of it, I have very limited amounts of money, time and I have more important things like school and qualifications and university to worry about... there are some things like MJ figures News Crew and maybe Zombies and some other things like Little Green men's colonial marines that have been left off due to me not being sure whether to go down that road yet, news crew would be for some game. I have also looked at much more and am still keen on developing the UN involvement in Oronegro. and as always other things like vehicles and aircraft are also on the agenda but do not appear much due to me not having a large can of spray on primer, which I think I need for doing them... if you have one of the sets I am more than willing to trade, my purchasing power is small and as you know for this year I will not be buying more, except for Christmas or if the deal is excellent!

HELLO TOO: Peter. Bonami from Peter's cave great models and I know that he has been looking into some moderns recently :-) welcome to the wonderful and complicated world of modern camouflage.
greetings to Erhan Atalay from mini afv great with Kits from many era's I have seen the ZU-23-4 recently appear on his site.

OH and its the holidays :-D

dream figure

now I have only ever done one post like this before so this is the second. I play an online game called Red Crusible2 its mostly free but recently I splashed out to make my character look cool. but now I have decided that not only was my decision was not my best way to spend my money but also that y character was so good I must turn it into a model! so here is James.ep3 he is not the greatest player on Red Crucible 2 but he looks cool and as such I am now determined to create a 20mm figure to do him justice! now I am not a good sculptor, far from it. however I wish to perhaps convert some figs to make him, or perhaps there is a sculptor out there willing to sculpt him- he would make a pretty good Russian (apart from the gun), or mercenary.

a backpack for good measure!

yes the gun is wrong a L1A1 sniper which is not Russian so not in keeping with the figure but hey if he was a mercenary it is OK

and he has a gas mask for protection

now remember my Spetnaz well I chose this uniform for the character because it reminded me of them

 
 

well there you go. his role in Oronegro will either be an elite Russian soldier or as a top operative for the National forces, a mercenary, who is known for his tactical know how and his great ability for planning! so if there are any sculptors out there willing to give this a go! or some on who can tell me some ways to create this guy I would be very happy to hear them. and some general comments on his look would also be good! thanks guys so many posts in one day it must be a record for me today.