DVD Special Features: Terrain For Hippos UNCUT!

It seems like every time you wander into a DVD shop or video library you are assaulted by uncut versions of movies. Well, never one to lose out on a trick, Terrain For Hippos presents: 15mm Fortnight Shuttle: The UNCUT version!

(Terrain For Hippos wishes to advise parents that the images below may not be suitable for children. Or sentient life forms for that matter.)

15mm Fortnight:TFH Ishoo Firty-Nin: Alien Monolith

It's sunday afternoon, 15mm Fortnight is almost over, but there's just time for one more project. This time we're going to look at some Alien Architecture. It can be quite a challenge making something of obviously non-human origin. One favourite way is to use as many round or curved shapes as possible, because you rarely see those in our buildings. Curves can be very hard to produce. You could use round packaging, dessert tubs, plastic plates etc, but you often run into problems with getting paint and glue to stick to the slick plastic these things are made from. There must be an easier way... possibly one involving hippos...

There you have it hippos fans! The final instalment of 15mm Fortnight. I think we've proved that painting, modelling and terrain building in 15mm scale are so easy a hippo could do them quite conclusively, don't you?

Don't forget to vote in the latest People's Choice Poll, and stay tuned for Duelling Paintbrushes, which starts tomorrow. After that, we'll be back to our normal haphazard programming...

15mm Fortnight: Alien and AI figure showcase

As promised, here are some higher quality pics of the Space Pirates, along with some of the drone and mech units for the Ghost Legion.

First up, here are the space pirates we painted up in PFH Ishoo Too. They are lead by the fearsome Zorn Deathfist, in his mighty suit of powered armour (a GZG Cyclops actually), and will eventually be accompanied by a squad of huge brutes (Eureka 18mm armoured trolls) and transported in a range of improvised drop ships built from toy cars.

Here are the Ghost Legion's AI controlled units; a pair of Mobile Autonomous Cannon and six spider droids, all from GZG. There are also some GZG Micro Grav drones in the works.

This is how I'm indicating the spider droid shields: disposable plastic shot glasses. Each pack only has five of any given colour, but I do have a second pack (I'm just not sure where...)

15mm Fortnight: Human Figure Showcase

Now that I have my good camera back, it seemed a fine opportunity to take some better photos of the various painting projects involved in 15mm Fortnight, as well as some others which might help to inspire.

Today we'll look at the human faction figures I have painted, tommorow we'll look at the parts of my Space Pirates which are painted so far (they won't be based until tomorrow!)

First up, here are the stalwart men of the Radium Falls Militia; hard working colonists during time of peace, but ready to take up arms (any arms!) to defend their homes. Each member supplies his or her own equipment, so they are a fairly eclectic mix of various GZG ranges. They also make use of improvised transport, usually what ever trucks are involved in their day jobs!

Next are the Radium Falls Mining Co. Security Team. The RFMC owns Radium Falls, and is responsible for it's security. They employ a small force of professionals, and also provide the command structure and leadership for the militia in time of crisis. At present the force is fairly small, but they have a few new toys on the way. The models are Eureka Ventaurans.

Finally, the really serious boys, the Ghost Legion Mercenary Free Company. These are professional soldiers of fortune employed by the RFMC. They have better training and equipment, and the shiniest toys. The models are Critical Mass ARC fleet (it's the GruntZ starter army for that faction actually) along with a squad of GZG power amrmour. They've actually got some more toys on the bench, but they are not quite done yet - they will probably appear in tomorrow's update.

All of the figures seen here have been painted with a mix of Citadel, Tamiya and Vallejo paints, using the techniques shown in both of the Painting For Hippos ishoos featured in 15mm Fortnight.

15mm Fortnight: Painting For Hippos Ishoo Too: Space Pirates.

Welcome to another thrilling instalment of 15mm Fortnight! In this ishoo, we're looking at how to paint non-human 15mm figures; specifically Ground Zero Games' Alien Mercs, which form the basis for my Space Pirate army. One of the main challenges with a non-human paint job is finding the right skin tone; you don't want them too look too human, but you don't want anything too outlandish either. After a bit of experimentation, I've found a system which looks just right, and which is so easy a hippo could do it!

And there you have it! A unit of obviously non-human origin, quickly and simply painted. Like the militia from our previous instalment, these guys were painted inside an hour.