"My new blog. Featuring 15mm GZG NAC" Topic

I started a blog to showcase the Ground Zero Games NAC platoon I am working on in anticipation of Ambush Alley's Sci-Fi rules which are rumored to be released in early 2010. Currently I have up on the blog my platoon organization and some shots of the conversions I did to my platoon HQ miniatures. I will be posting more pictures of conversions I am doing to the rest of my troops through the weekend.

philsblogostuff.blogspot.com

Thanks for sharing the pics of your minis. They look great.

I especially like the Plasma gun, and the scratch-built laser transmitter.

I'll have to add those to my forces as well.

At least one of my units will have one or two squad/platoon level (not sure which yet) support drones for recon, and taking out important targets on the fly. A couple of these can be easily carried in a backpack, and quickly assembled when needed.

Small, micro-missiles will take out the top-priority enemy personnel forces, if and when encounted, e.g. leaders, light support weapons and operators, etc. Due to payload limitations, the drone will also have a "kamikaze mode", which can be used for the really important targets, or against armored vehicles.

The warhead for that is too large and heavy to carry on the micro-missiles, but one can be easily fitted into the nose of the drone.

Since they are very cheap, and lightweight, they make for a very economical, and efficient tactical weapons platform.

good stuff. well done.

Nice one Phil. Yes, the laser transmitter is cool.

I have the GZG UAVs but like you Top Gun am looking for a smaller 'swarm' of drones for Recon and/or Assault roles. I was wondering about some micro starship scale 'fighters' or similar.

Cheers
Mark

"I have the GZG UAVs but like you Top Gun am looking for a smaller 'swarm' of drones for Recon and/or Assault roles."

Mark and Top Gun – I'm about six feet away from my sculpting bench…. what do you want 'em to look like? How big, and what type of propulsion? ;-)

Great work, BTW, Phil! :-)

Jon (GZG)

Hi Jon,

I'd say rather sleek, streamlined, R/C aircraft, no bigger than about 6' x 6' (18mm x 18mm), with a mount at the rear for a small prop, or jet engine. The prop probably doesn't have to be modeled in this scale, since it will be really small, unless you really want to – since props are more fuel efficient, that would probably be best.

Then again, maybe one of each in a pack – one for loitering slowly, and the other for faster searching, and attack.

I envisioned two – four small, underwing rockets/micro-missiles. Tipped with a powerful explosive, they have the impact of a fairly large artillery shell. To limit damage to the targets, smaller warheads with the power of a standard grenade may also be fitted.

Something nice looking, like your original, Full Thrust, NAC fighters, or the R/C aircraft below (only a little more elongated):

auction

A shape like the the Viggen, Eurofighter, or Su-37 would work too, since the canard design provides for excellent maneuverability, and stability at low speeds.

Best regards,

Rob

I have always been a fan of the barrel-shaped rotor drones. I can't find a pic, but I think folks might know what I'm talking about.

They appeared in Shadowrun and Cyberpunk and usually had a barrel-shaped body with twin rotors mid-way down. A sensor on on the boom that looked like the chin sites on helicopters and a gun slung underneath.

-Eli

Thank you everyone for the kind words (especially from Mark and Jon, you are my internet heroes). I will make another update tonight with the conversions I have done to the rest of my troops.

I too am looking for some small drone ideas. So I am glad the topic changed to this. I am working on a Ghost Recon style drone like this one:

picture

I am forming it from a bead, green stuff and brass wire. I have an idea for a small armed rotor powered attack drone but I have not quite figured out how make it look like I have it pictured in my head.

Jon, did you come up with something while at the sculpting table?

DAK,

Your stuff is awesome. I was going to leave a comment on the blog, but I was at work when I looked at it and the comment feature won't get through the net nannies.

-Eli

I like the barrel shaped, directed thrust look, too.

Here's a description from some of the fluff for our new game:

******

"Whiskey Two. Whiskey Two to Bee-Keeper. Request Fireflies at my position. Under Lowtraj mortar fire and pinned. Enemy foot nearby." He nodded to an unheard reply and pulled an IFF beacon from his web belt. He tossed the activated beacon into the stream a meter from our feet to be sure its signal wasn't masked by the rock over head. "Bugs inbound, Madigan. Curl up tight. We don't want to lose an arm or a leg to a mortar round or a confused Bug."

"Should we drag Hart in?"

Chavez shook his head. "I got no vitals on him and we got no time."

A ripping sound filled the air followed by three distinct, dull pops. In my mind's eye I saw the familiar shapes of the Fireflies unfolding as they were scattered through the air by delivery shells fired from one of our PA's shoulder launchers. Each "Bug" consisted of a small, articulated direct thrust pod steered by a very basic AI and armed with anti-personnel grenades and flame canisters. If these weapons are exhausted or prove ineffective, a Bug will become suicidal and attempt to dive into its target and explode.

The heli-hover drone shown by DAK in his link would be well received by me, and no doubt many others as well too.

Maybe one type for one side, and a completely different variety for the enemy forces.

I know it is similar to the ones you already produce Jon, but I like this one a lot (Sikorsky Cypher), since it looks very different from most other items available currently.

The larger, ant-shaped, recon pod heli-drone would be nice as well, for longer-ranged missions:

link

Add a laser turret in the top, and it is ready for battle.

Lots of good stuff here, including many photos:

link

For the backpack drones the following types would be excellent: the X-47-like Killer Swarms drones would be just the ticket for the light recon/strike drones I was suggesting; and I also really like the droop-winged, Laser Drone, with its tear-drop shaped side profile – scroll down a bit on the above page link.

For a great Hunter-Killer drone, the Boeing A160T Hummingbird looks to be just the ticket – 18 – 20 hours of endurance, and well armed. A great looking, shark-like helo:

link

My airborne troops may want these too, in lieu of jetpacks, since while slower, they provide more range:

link

Finally, the Frisbees of Death are a great idea too – I already have a source for those.

Best regards,

Rob

Hi!

Id love to see some sort of robotic scout drone made available too. Im not too fussy about appearance to be honest but it would be quie nice to see a couple of options as well as a human tech type to control it.

I'd love to see some of the Ghost Recon style heli-hover drones that Phil suggested.

We could use some small, fast buggy types as well, with big wheels, for the ground pounders – recon variants, and armed with a machine gun, laser, and a single A/T missile tube.

Quads, or six-wheeled variants would be nice – think streamlined dune buggies with some sort of small antenna arrangement for communication with the operator.

"We could use some small, fast buggy types as well, with big wheels, for the ground pounders – recon variants, and armed with a machine gun, laser, and a single A/T missile tube.

Quads, or six-wheeled variants would be nice – think streamlined dune buggies with some sort of small antenna arrangement for communication with the operator."

I assume you mean something smaller than our current 6-wheel MAWPs….?

Various types of airborne drones now on the workbench, by the way – watch for more news in a few days! ;-)

Jon (GZG)

Hi Jon,

Yes, about 2 – 4 feet tall, and long, e.g. the size of a very large R/C vehicle, so it can carry weapons, and roll over rough terrain, but still small enough to hide easily.

Smaller variants yet, for the pure recon missions, e.g. about 2 feet long, or so. (Note, this one can be fitted with a demo charge to take out high-priority targets, if found, and other assets aren't immediately available – think a nitro-glycerin charge, or other powerful explosive).

Thanks for listening – looking forward to seeing some photos of them.

Sincerely,

Rob

Drones:

My favourite is this: link

Closely followed by the one that looks like Jon's Mantis gunship: link

There's this as a close up of the Ghost Recon style drone mentioned above: link

And this one would be great for Aliens: link

Cheers
Mark

I've just started a new topic for the drone discussions, here:

TMP link

I think it may run for a while, and I didn't want to go on hijacking the thread on Phil's excellent blog work! ;-)

Jon (GZG)

Thank you everyone for the kind comments so far. I have new updates with the rest of the platoon conversions. See them here philsblogostuff.blogspot.com

I updated my blog again with pictures of the paint scheme I am going to use. I hope you enjoy.

Drones:

My favourite is this: link

Closely followed by the one that looks like Jon's Mantis gunship: link

I'm with you, i like these! And they could be remote fighters/VTOLS in 6mm too.

Looks good, and blends in nicely with your bases.

Thanks for sharing.

Yes, I agree. I this scale, solid colors, or just a basic camo. pattern are usually better, since they detract from the miniatures much less, permitting you to see the detailing of the figures better. Overly complex camo. detailing frequently just clutters up the overall look of the miniatures.