Hammers Slammers

The SF author, David Drake, has been described as the 'father' of military SF. He served in the Blackhorse elite battle cavalry in Vietnam. The Blackhorse were the unit who devised the Thunder Run. Experience of combat has given him an insight into the impact of combat stress on human beings that no other author has ever bettered. His work stands comparison with the great WWI writers.

He is perhaps best known as the writer of the Hammers Slammers series. These are stories based around the colonial warfare campaigns of an elite third millenium mercenary battle cavalry regiment. These campaigns often involve asymetric warfare.

The picture above shows an Old Crow Hammers Slammers Blower Tank in 28ml. It's main weapon is a devastation 20cm powergun.



John Treadaway and I obtained David Drake's permission to produce the first official rulebook and wargaming guide to the Slammers. We went to enormous trouble to recreate the world of the stories, in the rules, in the background and in the models. Pireme published the books and Old Crow & Ground Zero Games designed the models. David kindly checked all the stages to ensure that we had captured his vision.

There were two initial paperback books - The core book, the Hammers Slammers Handbook, and a supplement, Hammers Anvil.

See:

http://www.miniwargames.com/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=5e957abgucofq86p8ccgsg4km3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hammers-Slammers-Handbook-Technical-Specifications/dp/0954727606/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261245035&sr=1-14

There is an independent review here:
http://www.totalmodels.co.uk/reviews/data/Wargame_Rules/Sci-Fi/pri_hammers/index.shtml

We are in the process of producing a revised version in hardback that will incorporate and update the earlier work.




Hammers Slammers Combat Cars armed with three tribarrel powerguns.



Blower tanks rolling hot.


A firebase.



Slammers 'Hog' - self propelled rocket assisted artillery.


Terran Authority Starmaine infantry and HALO MBT. These are the profesionals that keep order in the colonies. They are tough, highly trained veterans that are superbly armed.




A Texian Mercenary Regiment gunship. These are elite light infantry.




A half track from the Thunderbolt mercenary regiment.


A Wolverine mercenary regiment powergun in an anti-tank role.



A Zaparoyski mercenary regiment Sabre MBT.

For more pictures, modelling guides and free downloads go to the official Hammers Slammers Website here:
http://www.hammers-slammers.com/

Guild Witchhunters

This is a Guild witchhunter team led by Sonnia Criid (master). It includes Samael Hopkins (cost 8 soulstones) and three expendable Witchling animated bodies (cost 4 soulstones each). This is a small but perfectly playable Malifaux army and costs less than £20. That makes Malifaux a great 'additional' game as it costs little to buy into. A large force would have two masters and, say, sixteen other models.






It has snowed in southern England. This is something of a rare event so I have included a piccy taken from my front door.

Guild Witchlings

'Witches' captured by the Guild's Witchhunters tend to disappear. Some are reaminated by Sonia Criid, leader of the Witchhunters, as Witchlings. These are the Witchunters' expendable footsoldiers.

The base inserts are also sourced from Wyrd Miniatures. As you can see, I am still learning how to use layering. :)

The swords were painted in Citadel light gold and then covered with a mixture of gloss varnish and yellow acrylic. Citadel green wash was dribbled into the cracks.

John

Congratulations

Sometime today the one hundredth Follower joined this blog. I think this auspicious event should be marked. Please email me privately and let me know who you are.

John

PS Graphic is a freeby C. Worldcliparts.

Ramos & Hopkins, Malifaux

Hopefully, some better pics. We are close to the shortest day of the year in Northern Europe and the sun barely creeps over the horizon. So there is not a lot of light.

Ramos is the President of the Miners & Steamfitters Union, a front for the Arcanist organised crime syndicate.

Samael Hopkins, Guild Witchhunter

Hopkins is the best hunter in the Guild's Witchhunter taskforce led by Sonia Crid. The Guild are the policemen in Malifaux, although perhaps security guards are a better term as they are uninterested in justice. Their remit is to ensure the steady flow of soulstones to Earth.

Apologies for the poor quality of the pic - I had to use artificial light.

Steamborg: Executioner Class

I have been very taken by Wyrd Miniatures Malifaux range. This is a Steamborg manufactured by the Miners and Steamfitters Union, which serves as a front for an organised crime network called the Arcanists. Malifaux is a sort of Steampunk-WildWest-Victoriana. More about the game in a later post. The models are great.