GZG Moongrunt Minis...
Jon over at GZG has released some really nice 15mm minis in spacesuits - the Moongrunt range.
It encompasses two factions currently:
MG15-USLF01
US Marine Corps Extra-Planetary Expeditionary Force Luna, rifles
pack A - 6 figures as 2 each of 3 poses, in M31 Protected Pressure Suits
(PPS) with separate backpacks, all carrying M225 Laser
rifle/low-velocity grenade launcher combo (optimised for low-gravity vacuum use).
It
is the near future…. the threat of aggressive action by Chinese
military forces against US Lunar Mining installations results in the
dispatch of a unit of US Marines specially trained and equipped for
low-gravity vacuum environment combat... the MOONGRUNTS are on their way...
MG15-PSF01
- Chinese Lunar Troops (People's Liberation Army Space Force) rifles
pack A - 6 figures as 2 each of 3 poses, in Type 28 armoured pressure
suits with separate backpacks, all carrying ZH24 Laser rifle/grenade
launcher.
It
is the near future…. the threat of aggressive action by Chinese
military forces against US Lunar Mining installations results in the
dispatch of a unit of US Marines specially trained and equipped for
low-gravity vacuum environment combat... the MOONGRUNTS are on their way...
You can see some lovely painted minis (by Ralph Plowman) over on this thread on TMP - GZG Moongrunt:
Direct link to Ralph's blog with the painted minis:
US Marine Corps Extra-Planetary Expedition Force Luna:
Chinese Lunar Troops (People's Liberation Army Space Force):
Based
on the conversation on the TMP thread listed above - it appears that
John Treadaway has seen a new US Marine with a shoulder launched bazooka
type weapon. Good news for all of us - as it appears Jon is going to
be expanding on this range in the very near future.
Subjective
commentary: These are a brilliant addition to the 15mm SciFi scene.
They tap into an unexploited, near-future genre of hostile environment
skirmishes. I can see battles on the Moon, Mars, or on any other number
of hostile exoplanet environments. Perhaps even some Iron Skies scenarios (Thanks
Benjamin Starkey) or even some retro Moonraker scenarios? Perhaps even a
scenarios or two based on the old Task Force Games pocket games - like Cerberus: The Proxima Centauri Campaign or Moon Base Clavius?
Minis suitable to be used with GZG Moongrunt???
Let's start with other 15mm figures in spacesuits from GZG...
In the Civilians, Colonists, Cops, etc range - we find 5 more suitable packs:
SG15-V10 - Spacesuited crew in light-duty vacc-suits - male and female, 8 assorted figures from 5 variants.
SG15-V11 - Spacesuited crew in heavy-duty EVA vacc-suits - 6 assorted figures from 4 variants.
SG15-V12 - Spacesuited crew in zero-G poses, light and EVA suits, 6 assorted figures plus 6 bases (stand wires not supplied).
SG15-V14 - Armed crew figures in heavy EVA vacc-suits (6 figs)
SG15-V15 - Armed crew figures in light duty vacc-suits (8 figs)
Subjective
commentary: These are all solid options - though I must say the
pictures are atrociously small and really need to be updated. Even if
the zero-g poses don't fit your vision - they might be useful for
wounded or deceased troops, floating away...
Moving on to other 15mm SciFi manufacturers...
First - let's take a look at Blue Moon Manufacturing and their offerings:
15ALN-101
- Orion Republic Heavy Infantry - These figures are created to use with
the upcoming Galactica Wars I rule book but can be used for so much
more. There are 10 figures in this pack.
15ALN-112
- Nova Patrol - These figures are created to use with the upcoming
Galactica Wars I rule book but can be used for so much more. There are
10 figures in this pack.
15ALN-118
- Robot Legion Legionaires - These figures are created to use with the
upcoming Galactica Wars I rule book but can be used for so much more.
There are 10 figures in this pack.
Subjective
commentary: All of these options are pushing a bit further into the
future than the other offerings - so your mileage may vary.
Next we look at Khurasan with their Federal Defence Force Exterminator Squad:
TTC-2703
- 15mm Federal Defence Force Exterminator Squad in Extreme Environment
Suits (x9: sergeant, two SAW gunners and six rifles)
Subjective
commentary: These are great sculpts - the weapons and spacesuits fit
well with the Moongrunt line and bear a slight resemblance to those
found in a movie from 1979 with a rather distinctive xenomorph...
Next we look at RAFM with their Infantry Packs in spacesuits:
RAF07012 - Infantry Pack #1 - Pack includes 9x 15mm sci-fi troops in various poses with assorted weapons.
RAF07013 - Infantry Pack #2 - Pack contains 10 15mm infantry. 1 leader, 1 medic, 8 infantry.
Subjective
commentary: These are a good fit for the Moongrunt line - thought the
weapons themselves are dated and could use a little updating. Perhaps a
bit of kitbashing is in order?
The last manufacturer we will be looking at is Rebel Minis with their Earth Force Marines Army:
Star
Army: Earth Force Platoon - This is everything you will need to run an
Earth Force Platoon in 5150: Star Army. The set contains 21 Infantry, 1
AutoCannon Gunner, 1 Sniper Team, 1 Missile Launcher, and 3 Command
Figures.
Earth Force Command Team - Comes with 6 (2 of each type- kneeling, motioning forward, and using communicator/ controller).
Earth
Force Marines Heavy Weapons - The Heavy Weapons Pack comes with 6 15mm
Miniatures (2 Sniper Teams, 2 AutoCannons and 2 Medium Missile
Launchers).
Earth
Force Marines Gun Team - The Gun Team Pack comes with 6 15mm Miniatures
(2 Spotters, 2 Mounted AutoCannons w/ Gunners, and 2 Support Infantry).
Star
Army: Star Army Platoon - This is everything you will need to run a
Star Army Platoon in 5150: Star Army. The set contains 22 Infantry, 1
SAW/AutoCannon Gunner, 1 Missile Marine, 1 Sniper, and 3 Command
Figures.
Subjective
commentary: The Earth Force Marines fit in extremely well with the
Moongrunt minis - their gear is perhaps a bit lighter in weight, but the
guns are solid and consistent across the range. Being that the same
sculptor was involved in both ranges - this should not be a surprise.
I
may have missed an offering or two - if so - please drop a note in the
commentary or shoot me an email and I will append the article
accordingly.
Hope this article proved helpful for all of you looking for something a bit different in the 15mm SciFi arena.
Art Braune
artbraune@gmail.com
artbraune@gmail.com
Great topic off world colony wars, I would like to mention Brigade models power armoured figures as they look pretty much like armoured up space suits and the standard troopers all carry the same style of weapon except for the heavy weapon troopers. :) Zac
ReplyDeletehttp://www.brigademodels.co.uk/15mmSF/Figures/SF15-005.html
Zac - subjectively these would be pushing that future fringe of the genre - but they should scale well as Martin sculpted them as well.
ReplyDeleteAlso - while I can't say for certain - the Khurasan Federal Defence Force Exterminator Squad sure look like they could be Martin's work also...
One more pack to add from GZG:
ReplyDeleteSG15-V17 Survey Team Personnel in vacc suits
8 figures in light-duty vacc-suits, as 2 each of four poses: standing with vision enhancer, standing with datapad, kneeling with datapad, kneeling with open equipment box. All figures are in the same design of light pressure suits as packs SG15-V10 and V15. A pack each of SG15-V10, V15 and V17 will give you an excellent group of science/survey personnel plus an armed security detail to protect them.
http://www.groundzerogames.co.uk/index.php?_a=product&product_id=1650
Man, now I have to dig out an old unfinished project. I was starting to do a Moonscape terrain board based on the then new GW crater set. Now I need to finish it.
ReplyDeleteVehicles, Gotta figure out the vehicles....