From one gamer's collection to another's... Some of Vampifan's SciFi Miniatures

When I started this blog there was a member of our household who was quite poorly, which, then developed into serious symptoms, that saw them taken into hospital. Now, unfortunately, further deterioration has seen that person progress to being back home and receiving palliative care here, from us, their family, the NHS, and various support groups. 

Acting as a carer, along with others, has left me not able to further the blog's content, until now, for various reasons. Which I'm sure are understandable and are something that I'm not going to go further into.

Instead, I'll write about the reason for this blog post.

Back in 2020, I inherited part of Bryan "Vampifan's" collection of miniatures. The provision for receiving these was "that they were to see use" - something which, I have to shamefully admit, they have not. I've always intended to use them. To play with them. I've even bought some miniatures to complement them and use against them, of a nature that I know, Bryan himself, would have approved of. 

So that is where I'm at. I have the miniatures that were Bryan's - all fully painted and ready for use. Some miniatures of my own - some painted, some not. I, also, began making terrain, a month or so ago, for my caveman project that will work great in games featuring Bryan's models. I've even rules, both quick and easy and the W.O.I.N RPG rules that Bryan used on his secondary blog. So I'm about ready to get going. 

I'm going to finish this blog post showcasing the painted miniatures of Bryan's (some of which I've not found photographs of on his "Vampifan" blog) So, they'll possibly be being seen for the first time for a lot of people. 

I'm unable to identify the miniature's manufacturers for the most part, nor the paints or colours Bryan used. But I'm sure those of you who visited Bryan's blog will simply appreciate seeing his work again, and how I'm going to use them.

This first photo shows those miniatures painted by Bryan (grey bases) and others that I already have, or some of what I've bought in over the last, few years - The painted miniature (bottom-centre) is actually a "Secret Santa" blog event miniature, I received a couple of years ago (I obviously don't know the gifter/painter of the piece).

I'm hoping to be able to get some hobby time in the not too distant future, to get some opponents painted and play a game using these miniatures (probably using Ganesha Games' "Mutants and Death Ray Guns" rules, as they're easy to use and Solo-play friendly-ish).

Lastly, I should thank Bryan's brother and Joe "Zabadak" for allowing and facilitating the distribution of Bryan's miniatures - Thank you.

Progress on the Cave Girls

Progress made in the last few days;

. Cleaned and glued up the two Reaper Miniatures Cave Girls miniatures.

. Converted one of them; used a scalpel blade to cut off some of the width of the feet, sculpted 'caveman/barbarian -style' fur boots using (Games Workshop bought) Green Stuff; worked on the miniature's buttocks, to make them plumper (we won't ask why...you can figure it out yourself).

. Used Green Stuff and an MDF base on the miniature's plastic slotta bases - I used the 2mm-thick MDF, as shown in the photos. [I've no issue with taller (male) miniatures towering over (female) miniatures but, seeing the taller Reaper Miniatures Cave Girl higher than the other two just didn't do it for me.]

. Lots of boring, practical stuff, like finding my paints and cutting out hardboard for terrain, seeing what trees I have.

Photos are clickable.

The (male) miniature is produced by Crooked Dice Games Design Studio. Converted to hold a CP Models Starship Crew (not- The Original Series Star Trek) Phaser Type-2 weapon.

The model is based differently than the two others as I've had it for years and never have got around to painting it. It's, also, made with a tab, designed to work with a slotta base, unlike the Reaper Miniatures that use an integral base for their miniatures.

From memory, I also lengthened the trousers on the model, to fit over the boots...Oh no, I seemingly didn't (just looked at the Crooked Dice website). Seems I cut the original 'boot-cut' trouser legs down, or something (it was that long ago, I can't remember what I did - I just know I converted the trousers, somehow).

As to how I'll use the Phaser Type-2 in games of Palaeo Diet; I'm planning on, simply, using the revolver/pistol rules, as-written, in the Palaeo Diet Pulp supplement. We'll say the weapon is "set to Stun".

Getting back to the Cave Girl in her new footwear. 

I'm quite pleased with my sculpted boots. So much so, I'm going to christen the character 'Cali' (see explanation below);

Caligula: More formally known as Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, he was given the nickname “Caligula,” meaning “little boots” in Latin, during his travels with his father on military campaigns as a child.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula

Close Up On: Reaper 03303, Cave Girls (2)

Manufacturer: Reaper Miniatures 

Item code: 03303, Cave Girls (2)
Material: Metal

Photo images are clickable, can be enlarged by right-clicking and selecting "open in new tab"

I have seen a comment on another blog, asking whether the (club wielding) miniature's legs are too chunky/fat. I've tried to show the size in the following photo's.

One thing I've noticed, the model has big feet - necessary to sculpt the individual toes, obviously.

What I've also, tried, to capture in photographs is the size of the miniatures - 'Heroic' 28mm is the fashionable term, perhaps. 

The club wielder is the shorter of the two, and the spear-armed miniature is tall: 32mm to the eyes, so pushing 35mm at the top of it's hair.

Just spotted that weirdly sculpted line on the left breast. Its not a mould line, so I've no idea why its there. I'll clean it off when I sculpt some boots onto the miniature.

Close up on: Reaper 44167, Corinna Greek Archer

When I went looking for images on Google for this miniature, I couldn't find any that showed the details at the back. Hopefully, if anyone does an Internet search for this miniature, these photos will help. 

Manufacturer: Reaper Miniatures 
Item code: 44167, Corinna Greek Archer
Material: Plastic

Photo images are clickable, can be enlarged by right-clicking and selecting "open in new tab"

Monumental decisions and resolutions!

 1)

Only play easy-to-play and easy-to-provide-for solo-friendly games. Or, to put it another way, I've decided to concentrate on these games:

. Palaeo Diet: Eat or be Eaten / Fireside Tales / Pulp. 

. Mutants & Death Ray Guns.
. Star Trek Attack Wing.
. Star Wars X-Wing 2.0.

Star Wars will mean sorting out my Galactic Civil War era Rebels and Empire forces. Star Trek will be sorting out my Starfleet and Klingon forces (2350s). Both of which, possibly wont feature on this blog.

What will feature on this blog is games of Palaeo Diet. I've three, separate ideas for the game. One, a (Star Trek) Starfleet enlisted crewman's shuttle is forced down on a prehistoric world and he joins up with the friendly Cave Claw tribe - or what is left of them. Two, mythical Greece. Three, a slightly alternative WW2-era British 'Stargate' allowing a team of government and military explorers to mount brief journeys to the strange new world.
Benefits for those ideas being; One, the cavemen idea isn't tied down to a time or place on Earth, so I can use what animals I like to populate the games; Two, it being Ancient Greek mythology, I don't have to worry about historical accuracy and can pursue a more 'Hollywood' aesthetic; Three, British ATS girls with guns, being chased by dinosaurs!

2)
Regularly update this blog with what I've done regarding the above.