"Traveller Zhodani and Imperial Paint Scheme" Topic

I'm looking for ideas about a Zhodani and Imperial paint scheme for my 15mm figs.

I have 4 High Tech APC's and 4 High Tech Tanks from GZG and enough of the old RAFM/Citadel High Tech Troopers to field a reinforced platoon. The Imperials would be from the 4518 Lift Infantry.

For Zhodani I have 36 of the old Martian Metals figs and I'm going to get some of the RAFM APC's and an additional tank.

I'm still looking for something to pass as Zhodani in Battle Dress, as the Martian Metals figs are clearly in combat armor.

What I'm looking for is some inspiration on the paint scheme.

The Imperials would be from the 4518 Lift Infantry.

I'd like to hear both canon and non-canon ideas, if you could please tell me which is which though.

I'll post pics when the project is complete.

Thanks,

Mark

Imperial Battledress has chameleon effects built in, typically, so they'll be whatever color they need to be. Their parade dress color is maroon.

The only color picture of Zhodani combat armor I'm aware of shows them in black, grey and tan.

black and light grey powered armour guys would look very sweet.

I used a blue wash over bare metal for my MM Zho. then a little gold for the visors.

Then Imp I just did a black wash and gold for the visor.

GZG New Israeli are a good match for Zho as well.

BTW the figures were NEW when I did this so everything was enamels

The only picture I've seen of Zho battledress is gray with an orange helmet and bronze visor.

Personally, I use UNSC Marines from GZG for Imperials.

Mark,

I agree, I would also use UNSC Marines for Imperials, but as Imperials in combat armor not battledress. But that's just me…

Hi Clambo,

I have 6mm Zhodani and Imperials and I tend to use the following camo:

ZHODANI:
ARMY: Yellow / khaki paint jobs (Think WWII British)
ELITES: Urban camo (Think Modern US)
TELEPORT COMMANDOS: Solid black (Think German WWII)
FIGURES: Old GW Space marines, old GW IG, with 15mm warbots, GZG grav armor, and Adler vehicles.

IMPERIALS:
ARMY: Grey paint jobs (Think WWII Germans)
MARINES: Tiger stripe (Think Vietnam US)
FIGURES: Old GW Space Marines, old GW IG, GZG vehicles, some Scotia armor, and Adler vehicles.

VARGHYR:
ALL: Yellow with black stripes (Think Vietnam US with odd colors)
FIGURES: Adler vehciles, Scotia vehicles, Irregular figures, and a mish-mosh of other odd stuff.

SWORD WORLDS:
ALL: US 1980s temperate scheme (Think 1980s NATO)
FIGURES: Microarmor infantry, GZG armor, and Adler armor.

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
6mm-minis.blogspot.com

I always envisioned Traveller power armor being sleeker and more form-fitting than the massive "ape suits" that we usually see in science fiction. More like this:

picture

Mark,

I find myself agreeing with you. Here's how I see it though, that's the Battle Dress for the Imperial Marines. The Imperial Army uses something more like this…

link

Where'd you see that picture of a Zho in battledress?

Maksim,

Great minds think alike, my GZG Imperial Marines are already grey (I only have 8 of those), and as you can see I have a couple Imperial Army figs painted grey as well. I'm a bit undecided on the face shield though. At any rate, you've made up my mind, the rest will be copies of these.

Maybe I'll go with yellow for the face shield, or something like this.

link

Plus, several color pictures (think 101 Vehicles) show them and the vehicles in grey.

I had been thinking of a brown color for the Zhodani, I happen to have some Vallejo English Khaki and English Uniform from a project I just finished…

And I already have 2 platoons of Sword World painted as you described. They're the Citadel Mid-Tech Troops.

Here's a 4 man cadre of Sword World's Troops from the Gram Battalion causing trouble on Garda-Vilis.

link

Now I just need some figs for Teleport Commando's. I think I'll just use my GZG IF platoon. And I have to decide on a paint scheme for my Zho vehicles.

link

"Where'd you see that picture of a Zho in battledress?"

The back cover of the original Zhodani book.

Hey, Maks,

Those 6mm troops that I had in my box at Conquest were the Adler Venturians (Zhodani – it is the Venturians who are the Zhodani clones isn't it, and not the Stellar Feds???), I also went with a yallow/dust color with them, but with a green/metallic visor…

The "Imperials", which are a combination of Alder and some convertions I have done of the Adler Stellar Feds so that they will have the "Bicycle helmet", are done in a combination of Army Green and Blue cammo… I am hoping to get Al Pare at Reaper to put some of the conversions on a mold along with the Astrin and Intrepid models I have half built so that I can do a "Proper" Traveller/Striker game.

I hope that I am eventually able to get some 15mm figures done too, but that is probably going to have to wait until I have another proper 3D program that I can use again (and the use of one of the Instantiators at my old job in TX – either a StereoLithograph or one of theh five-axis mills)…

Do the NI 15mm Infantry from GZG look as good as those 25mm stargrunt figures?

Those looked pretty good…

Also, clambo, are you using Striker, or do you use another "non-Traveller" based system for gaming with those?

I, as most people know, am a strong advocate for people to get back into Striker… It is an exceptionally easy system to play if you have a ref. The players just have to know "8+ to hit at Effective Range, 10+ to hit at Long range, and 12+ at Extreme range (all on a 2D6), with a few easy to remember modifiers, and a D6 + penetration – armor value to wound (Vehicles are only slightly more complex to resolve their hits, but it is effectively the same system: 2D6+Pen – Armor)…. Other than that, the players just have to be able to give instructions to their troops (1st Squad move next to the creek in cover at 3cm a turn. If you spot an enemy (or are fired upon) you may fire at them. If you route, return to base camp C… Or: 2nd Platoon A Company, remain 100 meters Southwest of 4th Platoon B Company (even if they move). If 4th Platoon B Company is fired upon, or fires upon anything, fire in support of them. Rally at Fire Support Base)… That is pretty much it… You can get away with even more nebulous orders if you kow how to really work the system, and it provides for some of the best games I have ever played (and some of the most frustrating when I first began playing, as I was not used to not being able to immediately act with my troops)…

Good luck with getting the Zho done… I hope to have some of my own in 15mm one of these days

Clambo – who made the mini's that you are using for imperial marines that you provided a photo of.

I like em alot…

Citadel made them – official Traveller 15mms. VERY OOP and quite hard to get hold of. Ebay prices can spike rapidly.

Hi Matthew,

You've got some great figures… I'd like to get some more Adlers myself, just stalling… so many minis and so few Dollars to spend…

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
6mm-minis.blogspot.com

Is "Striker" a complete stand alone miniature rule set, or a Traveller RPG supplement?

Hi DKG,

"Striker" and "Striker II" are stand alone mini / counter rules.

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
6mm-minis.blogspot.com

Thank you Maksim.

Hi DKG,

You're welcome!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
6mm-minis.blogspot.com

And Striker includes……VEHICLE DESIGN RULES.

For different tech levels.

So, you can find put just how many German Panthers it takes to kill a Imperial Light Grav Tank…

The only 'offical' pics of Zhodani I've seen show gray & black. I acquired some extra Zho MM minis years ago that were painted red. I've have some Zho minis painted different colors for allies using Zhodani gear or stolen gear. I sold most of my (except a few used by players or belonging to my wife) to pay for bills. I'm currently working on converting some Rebelminis aliens to Zhodani I bought with birthday money I received.
Admittedly, I haven't had much MT or TNE books so there might be other colors I could use.

Striker II isn't quite a stand alone set. "Fire Fusion and Steel" for Traveller New Era is needed if you want to import vehicles and other weapon systems.

Grey/blue-grey are the colour of my Zho's. I think people associate this with the colour counters from the Fifth Frontier War boardgame.

Regards,
Keith F.

I see this got bumped, so I'll chime in.

This is how my Zhodani ended up.

link

My favorite exchange of that game was this…

Frank Chadwick: "Is that Darth Vader?"
Me: "Do you have a problem with that?"
Frank: "No, not at all."

I've had that mini since MM produced it and have always wanted to work it into a Traveller game. I was a bit short on platoon level command figures, so there you go…

Frank Chadwick: "Is that Darth Vader?"
Me: "Do you have a problem with that?"
Frank: "No, not at all."

Considering they statted Vader in 'Citizens of the Imperium', I should think not. :)

BTW, nice Zhodanis.

Regards,
Keith

Gotta ask – did Chadwick explain any way to make that scenario better balanced??

Jake – we were busy discussing why StarGrunt was probably not the best system to adapt the "Strength on Strength" scenario to.

The ability for the Zhos to keep throwing element after element against the Imperials, in one turn, knocked them right out of their position.

Mind you, the Zhos ran through squads like cheap beer, and weren't in any condition to contest the position once they had achieved their objective, but once they decided to leave…*POP*…off they went.

FWIW, I remember playing the scenario in the Striker II book years ago and murdering the Zhos with tactical missiles.

Frank would probably say something like "If you're having problems with the game balance/mechanics, by all means change it."

Best regards,
Keith

A bit late to the party, but for others looking for something different for their high-tech, or ultra-tech armored forces, this color scheme (bright orange armor) works for me:

link

Definitely wanting to be seen, in order to intimidate their enemies.