Valkyrie Alternative 2

Here it is next to the real Valk. I have sprayed most of it with grey primer prior to putting it together (there is grey primer on the wing facing you, just not very much). The tiddly little gun things have been replaced with a LRMBT LC and a bit of plastic tubing. Which I suppose must be the HB. You can see it sizes up quite well. It has an opening rear ramp and working side doors.

And a stern chaser/LZ clearing HB to the rear as well. There is a mini missile rack on the top, but that would have be ignored for 'counts as' purposes. It could easily be plasticarded over.

The kit went togther ok, in a fraction of the time a Valkyrie does. It has less than 50 parts and is 'snap together'. Since these photos have been taken it has gained a coat of khaki, except for the undersides, which remain light grey. Er, dunno where I'm going with the colour scheme, but I'll think of something.

And it even has a flying stand ! Although I might swap that carbuncle for a GW one.

Valkyrie Alternative.

Ok then, do you remember me showing you the two kits side by side ? I did promise a better comparison and here it begins. The main issue (problem, if you're a glass half empty person) is one of scale. This pic shows the original pilot on what's left of his seat. He and another like him go into the cockpit assembly to the right of the picture. Between is my elephant solution; two Cadian torsos with Valk crew heads. The dark bit at the back of each is the other bit of the pilot's chair(s).

Et voila; I was expecting to have to shave a little off of the bottom of each to be able to fit the canopy, but they've turned out OK. The canopy itself has more obscuring paint on it and so our armless aircrew don't really look too bad.

Sorry about the lack of focus here, but I'm hoping you get the picture, as it were. Next; on with the (snap fit) build.

13th Mech

Loyal Imperial agents have died to bring us these pictures.... As you can see, the 13 Mech's Baneblade and LRMBTs (and LR Eradicator) have had a little more detailing done, including their formation flash on the front of each tank.

Apologies for the dodgy pictures but I was unsure just how stark the contrast would actually be (between the bit in the afternoon sun and the bit in the shade). The picture at the top of this post is the best, I suppose. These tankettos all need numbers and their army badge - Which for the Army of Chaux Na M'rr'see will be the battle axe.

This bottom picture nicely shows the slightly crazy sea green splinter pattern on the Sentinals; the same as on the infantry. The tanks, meanwhile are in 'good ol' GW vanillia Cadian colours, which I'm hoping increases their utility in the future somewhat. I really do like the renegade LRMBTs on JTS, but these were my learning to airbrush (and then reproduce the result multiple times) tanks. So I'm happy. If I change my mind, I can always respray them later.

Cadian 144th LRRR

These fine fellows are from the Cadian 144th Long Range Recce Regt. Which you may recall is the 'holding force' present on Devos IV, stemming the tide of heresy until the 72 or 73 Army Group turn up to 'restore order'. So these are the men that the =I= agents are trying to contact. Obviously these guys are uncontactable until they have been based and given at least three colours, but this dodgy pict should keep the =I= keen for the time being.

Just a reminder.

These guys are the fun and interesting bit of the Cadian 144th LRRR. Old pictures, but they got me my first comment, so here they are again. The Cadian 144th LRRR were on their way somewhere else when they, as the closest (suitable)military asset, were diverted to Devos IV to support the local Sisters Hospitalar convent who reported being under attack from heretically inspired govt forces. So they are now on the planet, reportedly becoming less and less combat effective as time passes. For instance one of their Coy Commanders is now OC, as he (and the rest of battalion HQ are missing). But they, the 144th, are still there. Just.

Most of the squads are CESTFAW Infantry, with snipers and so on, rather than heavier weapons. I might dig them all out at some point for a group shot, before the Bloodcoats finally run them all to ground.

first Valkyrie.

This shows the two grey&grey colour schemes off quite well. The =I=FV has a hard edged four colour scheme and the Valkyrie has a two tone mottled pattern on the top and sides, the underside is another shade lighter again. The =I=FV is mostly in Tamiya acrylics and the Valk in Vallejo Airbrush goodness. The air crew. All of the aircrew of the 50th Tactical Lift Wing will have different coloured helmets. Just like the cast of "Top Gun". They are Pig Iron heads.

The Valk paint scheme needs metal and burns on the engine outlets and vapour trails therefrom. Then the lenses and a tail number. Also a bit of colour on the ML and HB. And I should have filled in those two little dents in the nose. Oh well. This was my first Valkyrie and took me more or less most of Friday to get from opening the box to here. I'm going to look at the Star Wars Republic Gunship next.

The 50th TLW do not see themselves as close air support. They see themselves as a movement asset; inserting and extracting. They may well shy away from Hot LZ.

The Inquisitorial IFV

You can make out the devotional Eagle on the starboard rear door. And also make out some of the camoflague pattern. This shot shows the disruptive pattern off even better. You can make out the little blue =I= symbol above the front wheel. Only a little more weathering and detail needed; the light above the main armourment and a soot streak where the exhaust is. It's hard to make out here but there is some detailing (Hatches and the main armourment mantlet) in the same blue as details a lot of the Lady Inquisitrix's followers. I'm not sure if it really looks ok or not. You'll get a better look at it tomorrow.