Battleboard project

I've wanted my own battleboard for a long time and after looking at all the options I had within my budget (flocking a board, buying one outright, using felt, using carpet etc...) I opted for 3 2x4' boards with a sampler pot of texture paint I then spraypainted in several layers of different $2 car spray paint hues.

I started by painting the textured paint onto the a single board with a roller.

They were then left to dry and spraypainted in about 7 shades of different greens, reds, yellows and browns VERY lightly in irregular patches building up from the brownish textured paint

Pretty happy with first one I went ahead and did the others!

Here's Dave investigating devious tactics to win our next game, perhaps?

The finished product

Lastly I used what remained of the textured paint to put together a batch of hills

 

All in all happy with the result of a day's work (inc. drying times)

Secret Paparazzi Photos

In a rare outing from his otherwise recluse lifestyle, the head of the Northern Irish and Midlands Enclave government was caught by paparazzi as he accompanied NME forces on a review and training exercise.
The team of five paparazzi (three men and two women, whom authorities speculate they may be international frontline reporters though identification has been as yet impossible) whom the NME authorities have labelled "international capitalist spies" due to their American accents were located roaming in their underwear along the NME scottish border by Scottish nationals who arrived just in time to see one of the group fall and expire from exhaustion and frostbite as he whispered that Dr. Steven Mooney is said to have commented, when the rogue photocrew was brought him - some suggest in shackles after having been severely beaten and tortured - that "You have been ever so lucky to stumble on my location, you fine Sirs. I welcome your having visited our pleasant domain so long as you're prepared to leave immediately, of course. What's that? You can't talk because my men cut out your tongue? Oh weren't you aware of the press restrictions within NME territory? Darn shame that is, good thing you're a photographer and not a singer, then!
Indeed it's been so long since we've been in limbo it might just be a good idea to remind our fellow heads of government, our benevolent Soviet friends and the capitalist usurpers that the NME is and has been ready to defend its vision for a strong and united Britain since the very inception of our current crisis. Release these men immediately, therefore - keep the two girls, though, for "further interrogation", of course. Good day gents"
The other two were unable to provide much useful information as their tongues had been cut out, their fingers broken and crushed by the force of a blunt object impact and their eyes singed with what experts believe could be Cuban sigars.

This was the only report of Dr. Mooney's whereabouts since his taking leadership of the NME government almost four months ago.

These photos were later leaked to international press

Outer Rim Newsreport III - A UNS Special Spotlight on Manfred

Good evening and welcome to our scheduled United News Service Special Report - bringing the Outer Rim to YOU and proudly sponsored by EnerCorp.

As you may recall we promised you a spotlight on Manfred, the galactic storm that has isolated the Outer Rim on and off for some decades now and which experts still believe may only be in the early stages of its gestation period.

Manfred developed 32 years ago when all Faster Than Light vessels were suddenly vaporised into what experts at the time believed was a black hole. As investigations began and military operations were brought to a standstill, it was understood the FTL traffic was generating such spatial winds that their own vortex displacements brought them originally into the fold of Manfred as he entered our dimension.
Fairly soon however it was understood that with Manfred firmly in our dimension and with no intention of moving on, we would simply have to learn to live with him. All FTL traffic was permanently halted to the region and commerce and travel to the region returned to normal, if proceeding ever-more slowly, as Manfred's wrath waned and built up about the Outer Rim planets. In substance Manfred's effect is, much like a real storm of water on hydrogen and oxygen based planets, to soak the galaxy with black mass and other space debris which impede or slow travel through him. A little like a cyclone, in his eye it is most calm while the forces build through his mass to the outer edges. The problem of substance however is that in Manfred's case he is at times an amalgamation of cyclones, at times no more than a gentle spatial breeze. What experts are still unable to determine is how come there are interruptions in Manfred's presence, which occur suddenly and without warning, while in other parts of the Outer Rim his presence and effects are so thick that even the most diverse telecommunication attempts and teleportation technologies cease to function with any effect, and the destruction he wreaks is beyond measure.

To all effects, Stella has appeared to be the least affected Manfred in this region of the Outer Rim in recent time which has caused it to flourish immensely. with great benefit to our benevolent sponsor and governor of Stella, the EnerCorp corporation, while other planets have not been so fortunate. We all sadly remember how Tercio Secundi was swallowed whole 17 years ago, while Kaine II has been isolated to all communication for some time as well. Xuran has only recently returned itself from a decade-long isolation caused by the galactic storm's convulsions, among many other affected planets.

Experts predict we have yet to see the worse of Manfred, whose unpredictable nature means travel to and from the region and the planets affected, as well as orbits about them, remain under constant threat.

Soon we will return with a special spotlight on Stella itself and, most importantly, a celebration of EnerCorp's founding of the planet due to be celebrated in less than a month. Preparations across the planet are in fact reaching fever pitch as citizens, military and corporate personnel all prepare to embrace this huge milestone in the Outer Rim's brief history!

From Jaqueline Villeneuve this is all for this special. We thank EnerCorp for its continued and benevolent government of Stella and the other Outer Rim planets blessed with its patronage and welcome you to join us again soon for more news from United News Service - bringing the Outer Rim to YOU and proudly sponsored by EnerCorp.

A Saturday morning chillout painting session

Right so yesterday was my RDO - Rostered Day Off for the uninitiated, which I was until very recently! - which was spent chasing around my bike in the hope it would be serviced as well as shooting to Eureka miniatures to pick up a batch of sci-fi Germans for my 15mm collection.
Today I'll be heading to NWA in Mitcham to try out a new game but this morning I got my hands suitably grubby finishing off some Warmaster miniatures, a pair of ARC fleet walkers and starting an ARC fleet assault walker.
Thought I'd do a little video, as well, to keep practicing my recording skills (or generating them from scratch, depending on how lenient you want to be with me!)

Hope you like it
S.

UNS - Outer Rim News Report II

Good evening and welcome to this week's edition of United News Service - bringing the Outer Rim to YOU and proudly sponsored by EnerCorp.

Our top stories this week

The USX reports EnerCorp stock posted an 0.3% growth in its quarterly revenue as ARC forces sign a contract to maintain security on Stella on behalf of the planet's benevolent corporate governors. The ARC military mercenary forces are said to have netted some 65.4million United Space Credits from the venture but EnerCorp was still able to draw financial advantage from this deal as a large percentage of the USC charge was withheld and offered as payment in kind for the ARC forces to utilize EnerCorp infrastructures planetside to carry out their duties. An ARC spokesman reported "ARC is very glad to have won the tender to assist EnerCorp with its security concerns on Stella. The ability to use its intricate and complex surveillance, security and maintenance systems once on the ground allows us unprecedented access to an array of prevention and control measures that other colonies and democratic democracies cannot implement - we were therefore very happy with the profit we netted for this deal as we consider it a collaborative pilot project."

EnerCorp Security Division spokesman reported "In recent times there have been a series of growing security concerns on the planet for us. There are a large number of mercenary forces battling on the planet and the sway of NAC and the Islamic Federation's dealings is also of concern to us. The Oceanic Union has a presence on the planet now and is obviously reinforcing its detachment in order to protect its interests. One of the factions we will be monitoring closely is the rogue Vandolyan Inter-Regional Unification Service, or VIRUS, who are at present at the end of their contract to protect Kaine II governor's interests on the planet. We are concerned that with civil war on Kaine II and the mercenaries' contract funding having dried up they may take some convincing to depart our planet if their intentions do turn sour. Thus the agreement with the ARC forces takes on a more pre-emptive rather than reactive security role."

UNS SPOTLIGHT - VIRUS Mercenaries

Hailing from the now defunct planet Vandolya, which was condemned to extermination by its Imperial governors over 60 years ago, this mercenary caste has long organized its military presence around its fast moving and lightly armored walkers, known as Striders, and the teleportation devices used by their infantry.

VIRUS infantry teleport onto the battlefield in support of the advance of their Scout Striders which are traditionally tasked with reconnaissance roles. When a threat or theater of operation is identified, the Scouts will attempt to fall back to a position of vantage to which the infantry will be teleported in a defensive support role.

The Scout Striders and infantry will then be quickly joined by the heavier Combat Striders who can either be dropped onto the site from orbiting VIRUS spacecraft or advance planetside if already deployed.

Armed with fusion rifles, target-designators for the Combat Striders' twin-linked weapons arrays and heavy man-portable fusion cannons, the VIRUS mercenaries are a fast, mobile and deadly mercenary force which EnerCorp is preparing to welcome into its stable or remove from the planet altogether if they turn unfriendly!

From Graham Stuart, this is all for this week. We thank EnerCorp for its continued and benevolent government of Stella and the other Outer Rim planets blessed with its patronage and welcome you to join us again next week for more news from United News Service - bringing the Outer Rim to YOU and proudly sponsored by EnerCorp.

UNS - Outer Rim News Report I

Good evening and welcome to this week's edition of United News Service - bringing the Outer Rim to YOU and proudly sponsored by EnerCorp.

Our top stories this week

The New Anglian Confederation has accepted Federal Stats Europa's invitation to vacate its installations on the Outer Rim planets of Orgoth and Stella. Analysts predict this move by the NAC to be in preparation of a complete withdrawal from the sector following renewed hostilities between it and the Islamic Federation. As Jez Goodwin reports, an NAC spokesperson recently commented "Stella is traditionally EnerCorp territory, who founded the first colony there some 150 years ago.

The NAC would have been glad to lend support to our newfound friend but our resources are required elsewhere at present. We will endeavor to return to Stella as soon as we can as many of EnerCorp's citizens hold dual NAC citizenship and it saddens us to have to abandon the planet at this time. Indeed we are all familiar with how complex and dangerous travel to the Outer Rim has been for some decades as the galactic warp storm, Manfred, intensifies and wanes unpredictably conflicting with the main routes to the sector, thus we have thought it best for now to concentrate our efforts elsewhere"

Thus no admission of renewed conflict was made but UNS will be sure to keep you posted on these important developments.

In other news, the FSE celebrates the cessation of its hostilities with the Oceanic Union and a return to what both sides deem a "profitable and lasting relationship founded on the respect of one another's dominions". This important item of news confirms what analysts and the United Nations Space Command had been auspicating since the FSE made a move on OU's first Outrim settlement on Stella.

Indeed we, and all citizens of the Outer Rim, hope this will be a lasting and peaceful relationship as this is certainly not the first time these two two factions have clashed.

Further to his declaration he was not implicated in any form of corruption, EnerCorp Chairman Ken Young has accepted the corporation's offer to remain on at the helm for another term. The founders of Stella's first colony, Forgia Primus, have again been confirmed as the galaxy's largest single energy provider in a recent UNX stock exchange analysis - and for that we congratulate both our EnerCorp sponsors and Mr. Young.

Xuran Planetary Governor Jules Von Bitten is said to be ecstatic with the results of an independent confidential report, due to be released in a few weeks, reporting the crime on rate on Xuran to be now the second worse in this sector of the Outer Rim. Indeed its traditional position as the Outer Rim's most violent planet was lost when civil war erupted on Kaine II last May. As you will recall we have had no opportunity to report from Kaine II for some months now as Manfred continues to impede contact with the planet and analysts unfortunately predict ESU may condemn the planet to nuclear extermination once contact is made again if the situation has degenerated to the point many fear.

Lastly the entire Outer Rim but, in particular, New Israeli citizens and armed forces can at last breathe a sigh of relief in preparation for the holy Islamic month of Ramadan, due to begin in only a few weeks. This ancient celebration heralds the cessation of hostilities, for one month, involving both the Saeed Califate and the Islamic Federation as well as members of the Pan African Union.

From Martha Thomson Jones, this is all for this week. We thank EnerCorp for its continued and benevolent government of Stella and the other Outer Rim planets blessed with its patronage and welcome you to join us again next week for more news from United News Service - bringing the Outer Rim to YOU and proudly sponsored by EnerCorp.