Today’s models are something that regular readers have probably been expecting for at least a little while, what with the unpainted “winter whitewash” mechs that have been standing in for scale of the “Epic Scale” terrain pieces the past couple of months, and now it’s finally happened – some painted Battlemechs!
My experience with Battletech has been limited over the years. I owned the first edition boxed set many years ago (not Battledroids) but the combination of confusing rules to my young mind (all those dots!) and the more alluring game with Space Marines happening around the same time caused me to abandon Battletech before I even really started.
I played a few of the PC games over the years, and we used to go down to The Jam Factory every so often to have a few goes on the Battletech Centre that they had there, with the enclosed networked cabinets. Despite all that, it’s only now in 2025 that the existence of Alpha Strike – a simpler, more accessible ruleset and version of BattleMechTech has caused me to become interested in the tabletop game again.
The plan, as it were – was to work out two Lances (or whatever) of around the same points value so we can play some simple games for dummies and learn to play. One in Tan/Desert Yellow and one in Green. I don’t know or honestly care about which Clan or Era or whatever, because frankly I’m too old and tired to pretend to want to care about another epic background that’s been ticking along for 30 years – so both are Mercenary Companies. Problem solved.
This Unit, the “Desert Yellow” one was painted based on how I painted the Warhammer, which I’ve painted along the overall scheme, of the Robotech Tomahawk Destroid. Because my road to being interested in mechs (and to a lesser extent, Anime) was via Robotech. One of the old-school entry points.
I’ve also added segments of hazard striping across some panels on the mechs as well, mostly on the shoulders and knees – just something besides the basic desert yellow and the brown chest panels to tie the group together. I’ve added some tufts to break them up from the base just a little. I might also add some weathering pigment down the line, but for that I’ll probably wait until I’ve “finished” all of the mechs that I’ll do in this particular scheme before moving onto something new entirely.
Now that I’ve got some mechs painted, I feel much better about photographing a ton of the terrain pieces I’ve been holding back on showing for the past (almost) 2 months. Now it’d be better if I also had some smaller tanks and infantry from Legions Imperialis to show alongside, as well as an Imperial Knight or two or even a Titan. But Rome wasn’t built in a day! Expect a bit of a run of terrain posts for a while now as I photograph and clear that backlog!
Oh yeah. Mechs are vehicles, right? Walkers are vehicles? I think they’re vehicles. It means that these also count for Dave Stone’s Season of Scenery ’25. Hope you’re feeling okay, Dave – we all miss you!
Azazel's Bitz Box. 
Nice!
I’ve always had a soft spot for ‘Mechs. I found BattleTech a bit much too. I’ve never played Alpha Strike, but did really like the HeroClix version, MechWarrior – Dark Age and Age of Destruction. All the same decisions but massively simplified and next to no book keeping.
Anyway really like your painted ‘Mechs, looking forward to the next batch.
Cheers,
Frank
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Cheers Frank! I haven’t played AS yet myself (waiting till I have the OpFor painted as well) but looking forward to it. I never played any of the Clix style games. I remember them in the FLGS during the…mid 90’s? but I was too steeped in Warhammer/Necromunda/WarZone around those days to pay it any heed.
Hopefully the next lot won’t take as long as the first ones did! 😮
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These look amazeballs mate, so cool! I remember really wanting to get in to BattleTech back in the day, but like you, the lure of the 41st Millennium was too much for me. Mind you, I don’t think the mechs looked this good back then 😁
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Thanks Alex – yeah the combo of (relatively) inexpensive plastic models (not the best quality sculpts, but good enough) and a simpler ruleset that plays more like a skirmish game than a detailed wargame combined to sell me on the concept. Now let’s hope the game is actually fun! 😉
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🤞😬
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Great work again matey👍🏻👍🏻
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Cheers Pat – thanks!
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Really like the colour scheme
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Thanks – ripped off from Macross via my method for painting DAK with a side of Iron Warriors. 😀
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Oooh, these are brilliant! 🙂 I really like that sand scheme! You might even have prompted me into thinking about painting some of mine. Like you I might be thinking more along the Alpha Strike route (have the book). The Warhammer is in my top three coolest looking mechs, the others being Rifleman and Madcat!
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Thanks John – as I just typed to Guru it’s basically ripped off from Robotech/Macross which I watched as a young-un, but painted in pretty much the same way as my DAK. I literally just managed to get hold of a Rifleman (Raidar X/Defender this week – unfortunately the arm AA cannons are redesigned for modern BT rather than the original look. Now I’ll have to paint it in the same style as these ones as it’s how it looks in the Robotech/Macross series.
My next ones are a bit more inspired by WWII planes (with credit to a bloke on reddit). Theres already a Madcat in there!
After that, I’ll probably go for something somewhat based on Cold War jets with the brushed aluminium/silvered look with colourful accents. I wonder if I can get tiny 1:300 scale roundel decals somewhere? Without too much hassle, at least!
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All sounds good! 🙂 Butlers Printed Models do aircraft decals in 1:300th and I’m sure others do as well (hopefully closer to home for you)!
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I may have to print my own as a lot of the small “boutique” places just print images on a giant sheet of A4 decal film – I can already do that much myself here!
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These look really cool! I’ve somehow avoided getting into Battletech over the years, but I’ve been seeing quite a few people painting mechs lately and the allure is growing. I always heard the rules were pretty daunting, so good to hear there’s a simpler system for them now.
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I’ve been much the same until Alpha Strike and the Catalyst models. I’ll probably post something when I eventually play the thing! 😀
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Keen to read your thoughts when you do!
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Very nice work on the mechs, mate! I like the color scheme a lot. It should look great in an urban or desert setting. You’re right that this was indeed inevitable and expected! 🙂
I’ve never been into mechs all that much but I did play Zone of the Enders because it had a preview for Metal Gear Solid back in the day. The only other thing I remember about that game was that it was really short. Armored Core was good fun too and allowed for a ton of mech customization.
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Cheers Kuribo! Love that classic Macross Destroid scheme and thankfully it transfers well to other mechanisms as well. Now I need to paint up two more of The Unseen” that I’ve gotten since then in the same colours to have two more of my “RDF” force in their “original” colours…
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