Dystopian Wars - Completed Naval Battle Group, Prussian

Here we have the first of two Dystopian fleets I have been working on. Hopefully these can find a good home.

Since my last update the Prussian fleet only needed it's tiny flyer completed, I have been painted the 10 tiny flyers with two different wing patterns to help distinguish them on the table. I was tempted to paint a single Red Baron fighter as befitting the Prussian's but have resisted, for the moment.

When black washing the sides of the bases I dabbed the wash randomly on the blue surface previously painted. The intentional water marking this has left behind simulates a birds eye view of a seascape. Simulate is perhaps a stretch but it certainly gives a subtle and appropriate texturing that may not have been paint-able. The wing markings are a red or black line painted down the center of a wider white line. The wider white line is not too difficult to paint with the drag of a #2 paint brush and carefully painting down the center of this with a finer brush gives you the three stripes.

Prussian Black Wing Squadron

Prussian Red Wing Squadron

Here are all the updated pictures of the rest of the Prussians that have been featured previously on the blog. The work done on them includes; decking, windows, brass pipes, subtle blue glow for the Tesla batteries, scorching on the weapons and barrels, freehand markings, and sculpted bow wakes. The free hand stripes may be hard work but are definitely worth it I think. I can only hope I am commissioned to paint other vessels from the Prussian Empire so as to see this colour scheme put to more work.

Dystopian Wars - Painting Update, Prussian Bombers and Empire of the Blazing Sun WIP

Just a quick update on the Dystopian wars progress, the Prussian fleet is now finished and the Empire of the Blazing sun are coming along. I still can't quite decide how to incorporate the blazing sun imagery or accent red, somewhere between just a small free hand flag or blazing sun beams across the entire hull.

Full pictures of the fleets will be done when I have a decent lighting set up, for now some quite peeks of the fleets that should soon be available for purchase

Bases have been magnetized and I have staggered the heights to give the squadron a little more interest.

Nakatsu Class Cruisers. 3 Cruisers looking for 4th, for fun, friendship and maybe war!

Uwatsu Class Frigates.

Sokotsu Class Battleship - Another small conversion with the extended barrels of the fore turret (just for visual balance, because I'm a tart like that).

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Dystopian Wars - Prussian Geier Class Bomber Conversion WIP

Here is a quick scrappy look at the work in progress with the Prussian bombers from the box set. The propellers provided were very quickly discarded when I got these models. They can be rather wonky and delicate, I also wasn't keen on them aesthetically. They work well for many of the Dystopian models, but just not these. Perhaps if they had been iron cross propellers it would have been genius, but that's another idea. Meanwhile, to finish the models here and now I grabbed some 40k imperial guard flamer arms and created what might be described as an exhaust/vent/steam/jet engine piece (logic need not apply here, the model seems to remain airborne best not to argue how it actual does).

Drilling and pinning the pieces is a delicate procedure. (Note the angled section under the flamer piece pin, this matchs the angles on the bombers wing) \o/

The ever present smidgen of green stuff provides a robust and solid fit.

The air support 80% painted, shading and markings to come.

It is a more industrial look, and I like it. Will have to save flamers for any bombers added to my command.

Dystopian Wars Prussian Fleet

As I have been systematically completing and painting all models buried in my collection I have inevitably uncovered my Dystopian Wars fleets. Both a Prussian and an Empire of the Blazing Sun boxed set were purchased at the release of the game, however the game never caught the deserved attention. This was due mostly to the poorly formatted and ambiguous rule book I think. While the rules still continue to be ironed out and clarified (iteration 1.1 of the rule book still has numerous errata and omissions) the fantastic model range and additional nations has ceaselessly grown. Spartan games have fleshed out a fantastic alternative steampunk universe with hugely characterful and aesthetically varied factions. The rules hurdle for this relatively complex strategic game can perhaps be alleviated for anyone with the strong and dedicated forum community on the Spartan Games site. So as I am drawn back to this game system I set about finishing the models I currently own.

Starting with my favourite, the Prussian Empire.

I chose a colour scheme that echoed the pseudo WWII atmosphere of the game, in this case, dark gray/green. I kept most of the model very business like metal and brass and added the accent colours of the Prussian flag in a flash down the hull (this is angled in line with the funnels). I am more than happy with how the scheme worked out and hope to add other Prussian ships from the range given the change. As well as a possible commission painting service at this standard.

The bases are plasticard and have been coated with tinted water effect after painting (the white wave crests or my sculpted bow wakes were painted last).

The fleet as a whole, the spare frigate is on point.

The magnetized turrets of the Battleship are converted with Plasticard tubing.

Though a little OTT the larger barrels are suitably imposing.

Reiver Class Cruisers

The air support from the box set are also near completion with a small conversion to the bombers that I should be posting soon.