Necromunda ’95! – “Catachan” Gangers with Lasgun; Meltagun/Flamer (Michael Perry, 1993-4)

Jungle Fighter with Lasgun 1 0437/2, Jungle Fighter with Melta-gun 0437/6, Necromunda 1995, Michael Perry, 1993-4

Here’s the final pair of the metal Catachan models used in my original Necromunda gang. Like the previous pair of Necro-Catachans, this pair was also designed to represent two versions of the same gang member. In this case, a ganger picked up the “specialist” (from memory) skill which then allowed them to use a special weapon (funny, dat!) At this point in time, I don’t think the metal Catachan with flamer was yet released – as the metal IG model ranges of the time each had some of the special and heavy weapons, yet lacked the full range – and so this meant that the closest I could come up with and use was the Meltagun. Either that or I thought that the Flamer design of the day – when seen on humans as opposed to Marines – looked a bit shitty. Because that would also be accurate.

Jungle Fighter with Lasgun 1 0437/2, Jungle Fighter with Melta-gun 0437/6, Necromunda 1995, Michael Perry, 1993-4

If you look at the weapon itself, it looks “close enough” to be used as a flamethrower. To really drive the point home, I did some 1995-level conversion by adding the fuel tank backpack, shoulder straps made from thin card and a fuel line cable from copper wire. His backup lasgun was added to the backpack, in the same way I tended to do with all my Necromunda heavies.

Jungle Fighter with Lasgun 1 0437/2, Jungle Fighter with Melta-gun 0437/6, Necromunda 1995, Michael Perry, 1993-4

As with the last pair, these guys were pretty much painted – though in a 1995 sense. I did touch up a small amount of damage, rebase them entirely, and then repaint a few of the more garish elements – toned down the guns from superbright blue, repainted the fuel line from lime green to striped black and yellow. I mean, we still have forms of all four primary colours here. Just two of them are less eye-meltingly bright now. I did decide to leave the pants in their original state. I’m also not quite sure what that red camo is supposed to blend into, but I digress – just think of them as “fashion” fatigues, the likes you’ve probably seen around at some stage.

While nothing especially outstanding, and still way more garish than I’d do them today, I’m happy to see this pair updated and once again – fully table-ready, 20 years later.

Grenadier Miniatures Future Warriors: Biker with Flamethrower (Mark Copplestone)

A second model from Mark Copplestone’s Grenadier Miniatures’ Future Warriors range from the 1990’s today, and as with the previous model, he fits into Necromunda as well as whatever other modern, post-apoc, whatever kind of game I end up playing. This one was started in the 1990s as well, though the only part of the model that was completed back then was the Confederate Flag Bandana, while everything else was left at basecoated level or less, so basically all of the highlighting, shading and freehand has happened over the past few days. Kind of amusing how much of a potential trigger that bandana is today compared to when it was painted, though context is everything – just as my WWII German forces feature a few Swastikas and my Soviets forces bear Red Stars (ask my friend’s mum from the former Yugoslavia what the Red Star means to her – Hi Anna!) – so this figure absolutely looks the type that would wear this particular bit of clothing, and anyone offended by it being there should probably get a fucking helmet because life’s going to treat you much more harshly than this particular toy soldier’s paintwork.

I know that pre-emptive fuck-off might seem a bit odd to the usual readers here, but the WordPress is set to auto-post stuff to the Twitters, and we all know that there are a lot of people there who’s primary hobby is being recreationally offended, so.. y’know. 😉

In terms of painting, as I said – I kept to the base colours painted on 20 years ago (aside from the new base – painted to fit into modern, post-apoc or Necro) and so the main areas of interest to me was emulating the writing on his cutte from the previous guy (painted 20 years ago) adding that diamond patch to the front, and then trying something a little new with the tattoos. I’ve been wanting to skill myself up to the point of being able to paint full sleeves that don’t simply look like blue-green arms or a completely indistinct mess, but get to the point of having visible designs, even if you cant quite make out what all of it actually is. Kinda like seeing real people’s tattooed arms from a distance. Only on a 28mm model. I’m not there yet, but I feel like this guy’s arms are my best effort yet, so it’s something I’ll definately continue to practice.

Here he is alongside his brother. I’d like to get a few more of these guys going sooner rather than later, but they’ll probably have to wait until I’ve been through the rest of the stuff from the Necromunda case before I get stuck into any more of these. Still, there’s at least one more from the Future Warriors range to be completed from my Necro case…