6mm Star Wars "Battle of Hoth"

Here's some pics of my 6mm Battle of Hoth miniatures. I use a home-brew set of rules, but also use the WEG (West End Games) edition of 'Battle of Hoth".

The AT-AT's are Ertyl Models. Each model also comes with 2 snowspeeders and a Rebel Golan Turret.  The Shield Generator in the lower right is custom made. The Snowspeeders have a hole drilled through them to slide up and down on the wire, mounted to a metal washer and nut. A small piece of foam below the speeder keeps it at the desired height.

The Rebel Hoth troopers are modified 6mm Epic Eldar, with their cone-shaped heads re-sculpted (a nip and tuck here and there) to resemble the Rebel Hoth 'Kepi'.   

The Imperial Snowtroopers are also modified 6mm Epic Eldar.  Again, with the heads re-shaped to resemble Imperial troops.

I needed a 'downed' rebel pilot or a few, so I converted some more epic.  

In addition to the snowspeeder models that came with the walkers, I also have the Micromachine Snowspeeders which are identical in size.

 

For additional Rebel and Imperial troops, you can also find them in the Rebel Transport/Echo Base model from Ertyl. It also comes with a model of the Rebel Transport and a Millenium Falcon. 

 

Here comes the Clone Army to a quadrant near you...

Here are some pictures of my Clone army to date.

 These are all of the larger vehicles. The black base vehicles are all from WOTC.  The AT-RT's (left) are Micromachine/Titanium Toy miniatures.  The Assault Tank (left) is a Transformer/vehicle.  The AT-TE (right) is another Transformer/vehicle while the other AT-TE (center) is an Action Fleet vehicle.  The Turbo Tank (Rear) is a Play set.  The Republic Gunship/Transport (center) is another transformer/Vehicles.  The other 2 gunships (left and right rear)  are metal die-cast Titanium vehicles.     

 These are all of my Clone Troopers (WOTC), including specialists, commandos and etc. 

Here are more of my Jedi Knights (WOTC), in addition to all of the metal ones that I have. I certainly have enough Jedi for the Battle of Geonosis!

My Droid/Speratists Army...

Here are some pictures of my Droid army to date.

 Here are all of the oversized vehicles.  Most are from WOTC (Black Bases).  The MTT (upper left) is an Action Fleet vehicle.  One of the AAT's (left) is a Transformer/vehicle and the other AAT (Right) is an Action Fleet remote control vehicle.

Here are all of the ground forces that I have including battle droids, security droids, super battle droids, commando droids and General Grievous with his guards, and the Viceroy. (All WOTC)

Some Tips on Painting...

I'm trying something new right now, so I thought I'd put down a few thoughts about the strategy for painting miniatures.

Painting 'Now' Technique(s)

I was reading about a different painting technique and decided I'd give it a go on my 28mm wild west figures.  Essentially the process is this:

1.  Prime the miniature black.
2.  Dry brush the figure with white. (black will remain in all the low spots.)
3.  Paint your figure with a layer of color(s).
4. Add a layer of lighter shades over the base color.
5. Dry brush white over the top to highlight the uppermost details.

The result is a figure that shows a better amount of shading and highlighting than I am used to doing. (progress pics to come soon showing the stages.)  The results have eliminated the need to do a dark wash and the shadows are still in the appropriate places.

Painting 'Past' Technique(s)

Here is how I've painted my miniatures in the past:

1.  Prime the miniature. (Black, White, or Gray.  See notes below.)
2.  Paint your figure with a layer of color(s).
3.  Add a layer of dark wash (thinned down black or brown paint and water) to get some shadows in the low spots, folds, and etc.
4.  Add a layer of lighter shades over the base color.
5.  Dry brush white over the top to highlight the uppermost details.

Selection of Primer Color:

Here are a few colors to choose from:

White: All of my early figures, 15mm and some 25mm, were painted white.  This was because they were 15mm ACW and Napoleonic figures, and 25mm Star Wars with brightly colored uniforms.  The white base coat makes the colors come out that much more brighter.

Black: I now paint all of my figures with a black base coat.  I started with my 20mm WWII skirmish figures and carried it through to all of my newer 10mm Zulus, and 28mm ACW, Seminole Indian, and other skirmish figures. The black base coat tends to dull the colors somewhat, giving them a muted/dirty/used tone, exactly what I wanted for those time periods.

Gray: I tried to use a gray base coat, but I just didn't like the results, not to mean that you won't.  It gives a result somewhere between white and black.  Some of the pro-painters swear by it?

Painting 'Future' Technique(s)

With this 'new' technique, at least to me, I've eliminated the dark paint wash step. I keep reading about doing ink washes and I know some live by it.  I'll probably give it a try on some future miniatures and will report on the results.

Here's some pictures of my Deputies in Progress using my 'New technique'.

(Color Schemes are taken from 'Pale Rider')

#1: The Primed Black Figures.

 #2: The figures are dry-brushed white.

#3a: Color being added to the figures, under-layers first.

 #3b: Color being added to the figures, outer layers second.

#4: Additional lighter shades & highlights.

#5: Final shading. (Coming Soon.)

#6: Bases, flocking and details. (Coming Soon.) 

My Star Wars Personalities...

Here are a few more of the main 'characters' from the original trilogy, Episodes IV-VI.

(L to R) Boba Fett and IG-88.

(L to R) C3PO and R2D2.

(L to R) Bespin Leia, Lobot, and Lando Calrissian. 

(L to R) Leia Organa, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker.

The Force is Stong with the Jedi.

Here is a collection of my metal Jedi Knights.  Most are from the West End Games miniatures line, but there a a couple which are customized metal figures from other manufacturers. Of course, with the WOTC plastic figures, I have a lot more Jedi now.

Here are the Jedi in all their glory.  

And here are a few more Jedi. 

I tried to customized enough 'Lukes' so that I had him in each outfit worn in Episodes IV-VI. (I have Tatooine Luke, Luke in Landspeeder, Luke with lightsaber on the Millenium Falcon, Luke in Stormtrooper armor, Luke in Rebel Pilot Suit, Luke in Hoth Gear and lightsaber, Luke on Tauntawn, Luke in Snowspeeder, Luke in Bespin Outfit, Luke in Black Jedi outfit,  and Luke in Endor Camouflage. Whew.  He changes more than a Vegas showgirl.)

These Jedi are all modifications from other figures. 

Here are a couple of the other Jedi modifications.



My Rebel Forces...from the many factions across the galaxy.

Here are some of my 25mm metal, West End games 'Rebellion' figures:

My squad of Mon Calamari Soldiers.  

Since WEG only had 2 poses, I modified a few of them.  On the left, I added a heavy blaster rifle under the arm.  In the center, I slung a rifle over the shoulder.  The two on the right had their blaster pistols removed and a blaster rifle added.

...And then there were Wookies! 

My typical Rebel forces in the light blue/tan scheme, as seen in Episode IV. 

The Rebels need a heavy Repeating Blaster! 

Here's another squad of elite rebel troopers from the Crimson Battalion.  

For those arid planets, I have a squad of Rebel troopers in Desert Camouflage with an armed speeder for support. 

I thought the 5-color camouflage came out rather well.  

"I never want to paint dots on camouflage again!" 

"Rebel pilots...to you ships!" 

Where would the rebellion be without their droids? 

Endor Troops...

Here are my 25mm metal, West End games figures:

The Ewoks are WEG miniatures.  The two gliders are from Galoob, I believe. (Again, I have lots of WOTC plastics to compliment my metal Ewoks.) 

The three different poses available.  

 Here are my rebel troopers in camouflage, ready to take out the shield generator on the forest moon of Endor.

I had to make some custom heroes by adding some green stuff for cloaks. (L to R) Luke in Camo, Endor Leia (comes like that from WEG), Han in Camo, and Chewbacca (WEG Wookie).

Denizens of Tatooine

Here are my 25mm metal Star Wars figures by West End Games.

Here are my Jawa's with an Action Fleet Sandcrawler. I have many other WOTC Plastic Jawas, but haven't taken a photo of them yet.

Here are my Tusken Raiders/Sandpeople with Bantha's. I have many other WOTC Plastic Tusken Raiders, but haven't taken a photo of them yet.

A couple of them have been customized including one with a new sniper rifle and one that I swapped the top half with a Bantha rider top half.

Meesa have a Grande Gungan Army...

Until they end up in battle, I thought I'd take a picture of some of my available Star Wars Troops.  Here we have the Gungan Army.  The Infantry are from WOTC.  The Fambaa's are Action Fleet, remote controlled vehicles/beasts.  The Catapults are from the Kenner line of Action Figures.

I've got a 'couple' of infantry figures. 

I need more Kaadu too, but at $15+ a pop for the rare figure, it's high unlikely I'll have too many more. 

I need a few more of the shield bearer figures, but of course they're 'uncommon' and at least $3 each.  

"Bring on da droids!"