Category Archives: Battletech

Shiaic3D 6mm Game Box Storage Terrain – Example Building

by

17

Shiaic3D 6mm Game Box Storage Terrain - Example Building

Back to 3D printed terrain for the next few posts – this print is of a free sample (where I predictably started my 6-8mm journey) from a maker called Shiaic3D. This one is their free sample/Example Building from their Game Box Storage Terrain line. I believe the concept of the non-sample pieces is that they’re mostly box shaped hollow pieces with slots so you can “slot in” your based Battletech models. Even this non-hollow model is pretty easy to store as it’s basically just a detailed cube.

Shiaic3D 6mm Game Box Storage Terrain - Example Building

These were some of the first terrain pieces I printed at this scale, way back at the start of the year. I got started on painting them a few months ago, but got hung up on the best way to bring out the details of the subtle ins and outs of the building(s) – the raised portions and the ring of indented squares just below the roof which I elected to paint as an architectural feature rather than even more windows!

Shiaic3D 6mm Game Box Storage Terrain - Example Building

I finally achieved success with the Oil Wash Weekend at the start of July, where Marouda and I spent a couple of days making a mess on the War Room table using oil paints and leaving them and then coming back later for a big wipe session. These may not have come out “perfectly” but they ended up a lot better than they were before, and I think they work for weathered and somewhat gritty buildings in what’s going to be an endless series of warzones.

Shiaic3D 6mm Game Box Storage Terrain - Example Building

The windows on these give me the “feeling” of some kind of clinical series of research labs. Just a bit vaguely dystopian/cyberpunk-ish feel I get. As with pretty much everything I’ve been posting lately, these terrain prints work for Dave Stone’s Season of Scenery ’25.

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Warhammer, Thunderbolt, Blackjack, Trebuchet

by

18

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Warhammer, Thunderbolt, Blackjack, Trebuchet

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!

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Blackjack, Trebuchet

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.

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Blackjack, Trebuchet

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.

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Blackjack, Trebuchet

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.

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Warhammer, Thunderbolt

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.

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Warhammer, Thunderbolt

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.

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Warhammer, Thunderbolt

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!

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech: Warhammer, Thunderbolt, Blackjack, Trebuchet. Legions Imperialis Alpha Legion Glaive

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!