MERCS Table Project

Now that I've completed my MERCS Madness Month, I'll be working on a new MERCS Table. I mentioned I would be upgrading my MERCS terrain, so now it's time to kick-off this project!
I've got a few days off work (after working several weekend shifts for the last 4 months - woohoo!), so I'll be dedicating a good portion of my time to get this done!

There are three elements to this MERCS Table Project I'll be creating:

• 2'x3' Gameboard
• Buildings
• Scattered Terrain Pieces

2'x3' Gameboard
I know in my previous post I said I'd be sticking with my Toposolitario tabletop, but I think I'll kick it up a notch and try to create a studier tabletop made from MDF. After a bit of googling, I found this gem to draw inspiration from, which is clearly an attempt to bring Topo's original papercraft design to the third dimension.
This table top won't have any built in elevators, and be considered completely flat for gameplay purposes.

Buildings
I mentioned earlier that I had received a mispacked MicroArt Studios District 5 Apartment Building, and Dan from Defiant Gaming has just let me know that he has worked his magic, and the kind people at MicroArt Studios have sent me an entire new District 5 Apartment Building set! That's the fantastic service that makes Defiant Gaming my dealer of choice! So I'll see what I can come up with, using all the bits I'll have.
After watching Snap2Cover's FAQ video, I agreed that elevated terrain that also provides half-cover elements were a no-no for MERCS. But after a little more play testing I've found that the KemVar are a balanced opponent - if you know how to handle them.
So for demos involving beginners (whom wouldn't know how to handle the KemVar's Active Camo, and wouldn't have the use of ACMs) it would be ideal to have buildings which provided elevation, but no cover. For full games, elevation with cover elements would be fine.
So ideally, my buildings should be able to cater for both situations.

Scattered Terrain Pieces
I've also already received my District 5 Apartment Walls, as well as my Hirst Arts molded sci-fi terrain pieces, which I'll be using to create full-cover and half-cover elements for my battleground.

Well, that's the plan - I'll keep you guys posted on my progress through this project.

Sync out.

Sync's MERCS Madness Month Complete!

This month has absolutely flown by! I started my MERCS Madness Month on July 29th, and it's now August 27th - so I've got a few days up my sleeve. I think all the late nights have paid off, and I have four MERCS factions, now painted to the best of my ability - and I can look back at my accomplishments with a sense of pride and achievement. Here are the squad shots of my MERCS factions:

[CCC]

[KemVar]

[USCR]

[sefadu]

With four factions to play with, I'll need a MERCS tabletop for them to wage war on - so my next MERCS project will be creating one! Stay tuned, PLENTY more MERCS to come!

Sync out.

Sync's [sefadu]

And this marks the end of my MERCS Madness Month! I know I said this before, but I can't believe I've spent the past month painting so much!
The sefadu are a well-posed and sculpted faction, all very dynamic and aggressive, and I think I owe them some table time!

Sync out.

[sefadu] Medic

And that's it! The last model painted in my MERCS Madness Month - has it really been a month? I guess I've been quite busy, so the time has just flown by!
Group shot tomorrow, then I think I'll take a well deserved break from painting.

Sync out.

[sefadu] Leader

This model was quite tricky to photograph and get into proper focus because of the heavy forward lean and the long horizontal spear, but I think these photos came out alright.

Now, using a spear in the world of MERCS wouldn't be my first choice as a primary weapon for combat - but that just goes to show how awesome this guy is!

I can't believe it - on more model to go, and I'll have finished my MERCS Madness Month!

Sync out.

[sefadu] Berserker

Talk about commitment to melee combat - this guy brings two forearm-blades onto a battlefield were everyone else has guns - big guns. Another fantastic dynamic pose for the sefadu, and I'm getting pretty keen to see these guys in action!

Sync out.

[sefadu] Sniper

The last three sniper models I've painted have at least been holding their rifles, so it's cool that the sefadu Sniper has his slung on this back. As part of a melee-oriented faction, it's entirely appropriate that he's wielding his Karambit, ready to strike, instead of taking aim with his Laser Rifle.

Sync out.

Hirst Arts Terrain Arrived!

Came home from work yesterday to find these little beauties waiting for me! I mentioned in this post that I'd be using these for my MERCS table-top project, and now they're finally here after a long transit period (coming from the US).
I think I've finally got everything I need to start on my MERCS table-top, and just in time, as I'll be finishing up my sefadu this week!

[CCC] Medic and [KemVar] Demo added for scale

Sync out.

[sefadu] Demolition

Love this models 'run & gun' dynamic pose! I remember first seeing this model and thinking that there was no way the join between his foot and ground would be strong enough to support the model, but it's surprisingly solid.
I actually had a bit more time today, so I've already started on the Sniper - stay tuned!

Sync out.

[sefadu] Gunner

One more week of MERCS Madness Month to go! The final faction for my MERCS madness month is sefadu, and I've kicked it off with the Gunner. Another week of complete repaints...

Sync out.

Sync's [USCR]

I think the group shot really helps to emphasize how the big the Behemoth really is. The USCR are already a big faction, and the Behemoth towers above the rest.

The most important thing I've learned in painting my USCR, is to avoid painting solid whites, at ALL costs. Never, EVER, paint solid whites!

Well, that's three factions down, and one to go in Sync's MERCS Madness Month - this week I'll be tackling the sefadu!

Sync out.

I Made a Meme

So I've downloaded all the MERCS wallpapers, and have them running as a Desktop Wallpaper Slideshow on my computer. The USCR Behemoth one popped up yesterday, and I couldn't help but think of those guys that MTV decided should have a reality show, which then spawned this meme.
Anyways, this USCR wallpaper was just screaming the meme, so I thought I'd oblige.

Sync out.

[USCR] Medic

And that's the USCR finished! No more painting whites! I vow to never, EVER, use white as the main colour for any miniature, EVER again. EVER.
This guy has a very similar pose to the [USCR] Sniper, but I think the few changes (the medkits, stepping stone, rolled-down sleeve) really add a lot of character to the model.
I'll put up the group shot tomorrow, as well as little [USCR] surprise.

Sync out.

[USCR] Assault Leader

Alright, so that's the last of the repaints on the USCR - tomorrow I'll tackle the USCR Medic I received recently as reinforcements for my MERCS squads.
The USCR Commissar has a great leadership pose, almost a mirror of the [CCC] Assault Leader - which is one of my favorite MERCS models!

Sync out.

[USCR] Monkeywrench

I thought painting the whites would be better today, now that I'm in the groove of painting the whites again... it wasn't! Tedious and repetitive... I think that the USCR are looking a lot more crisp though, so hopefully this week will be worth it!

Sync out.

[USCR] Behemoth

This guy is the baddest mother lover on the block! I thought I would treat myself to painting him, as the white layering is getting to be all too much - then I realised that he probably had the most white to paint out of all the USCR...

Sync out.