The Wargaming World of Nozza

August has traditionally been the peak holiday month in the UK. With schools breaking up in late July and not returning until early September, much of the country takes the opportunity to head off in search of a change of scenery and a well-earned break. Unsurprisingly, that annual migration tends to result in a noticeable lull in gaming activity, with fewer opportunities to get regular games to the table. The quieter gaming calendar does, however, create time for other hobby pursuits. The seemingly endless run of heatwaves we've experienced this summer hasn't exactly been ideal for painting miniatures. While the hot, dry weather has been perfect for undercoating and varnishing, sitting down for extended painting sessions has been far less enjoyable. Instead, I've found myself investing more time in my newest hobby: 3D printing. It feels as though I've owned my 3D printer for much longer than I actually have, but in reality it's only been a couple of months. My Bamb...

Over the festive break, I set myself three wargaming objectives. Two were straightforward, and the third turned into a fun little project. Goal 1: Finish Painting the Last Seven Cold-Weather Survivalists First on the list was finishing the last seven cold-weather survivalists from Athena Miniatures. This was a satisfying start - I got them done quickly, and they’re now fully equipped to face the harshest conditions . ❄️🌨️ Goal 2: Organize My Battle Systems Terrain This was a bigger challenge. Back in the 2010s, I backed two Battle Systems™ Kickstarters : Sci-Fi Modular Terrain Urban Apocalypse Terrain Over time, the pieces ended up scattered across multiple boxes. Being card-based, some of it was starting to show its age and needed a little TLC. So, I dug out every piece, sorted and organized the lot, and condensed everything into two plastic containers. For those unfamiliar, Battle Systems terrain is pre-printed card that clips together using plastic connectors. The early Sci-Fi set ...

Back in September, I wrote a blog post about my ongoing quest for sci-fi civilian miniatures that offer style without the usual grimdark baggage. In that post, I highlighted Papsikels’ Replicants and Runners range - clearly inspired by the iconic characters of Blade Runner . Think cinematic flair: sweeping coats, layered outfits, and those subtle details that scream noir without saying a word. A few figures pack heat, but most are unarmed, which makes them perfect for populating any futuristic setting without turning every street into a warzone. Well, the painting is finally done! I now have Deckard, Roy Batty, Pris, Gaff, Eldon Tyrell, Leon Kowalski, and Hannibal Chew all finished and ready for the tabletop. Leon Kowalski, Roy Batty & Pris Four versions of Rachael Eldon Tyrell & Hannibal Chew Deckard & Gaff

The Stargrave universe continues to be a rich source of inspiration for hobbyists, and the Last Prospector scenario book is no exception. Its themes of frontier survival, salvage missions, and desperate exploration have sparked another addition to my growing lineup of custom miniatures - this time, a gritty crew of sci-fi miners and workers. This latest kitbash combines parts from three distinct miniature ranges to create a group of characters that feel tough, tired, and probably overworked: Bodies: Kromlech Desert Dwellers – These provide a rugged, utilitarian base, perfect for characters who’ve spent years in harsh environments. Arms & Heads: Fireforge Northmen Folk Rabble – Their expressive, weathered features and simple clothing add a grounded, civilian feel. Headgear: Dust 47 PLA Hats – These distinctive hats give the figures a unique silhouette and a sense of cultural depth, while reinforcing their role as labourers under the sun (or twin suns). The result? A crew who loo...

Various 28mm alien miniatures from the Ignis Quadrant EC3D range, printed by Micksbits via Etsy. First, a pimp or nightclub bouncer accompanied by an exotic dancer. Next, two exotic waitresses.

The Quar are a race native to the harsh, mountainous world of Alwyd, where they've been engaged in intermittent warfare for millennia, according to their game lore. Originally produced as metal figures, the Quar have since been re-released in plastic by Wargames Atlantic. Not wanting an entire box, I bought just enough sprues from eBay to assemble a squad for "A Fistful of Lead". I opted for a straightforward design, with khaki uniforms paired with green webbing and gear. This squad will definitely make an appearance in an upcoming sci-fi game!

 Picked up these models from an Etsy seller . Described as 28mm Sci Fi, Street food kiosks for a variety of games. You get three in a pack. The only difference between them is that one of the kiosk roofs has some 'oriental' style writing on it. I've used bright colours and then used a variety of washes to make them look used - weathering has never been my strong point! I think they look ok and will fit in any Cyberpunk, Star Wars, futuristic games.

One of the most famous Universal monster designs in the history of Hollywood. These aliens featured in the 1955 science fiction film This Island Earth. They once occupied the planet Metaluna and were bred for menial labour. This Island Earth was one of those 1950s/60s films that got broadcast during the school holidays and that's where I developed my love for all those films. When I saw that the mutants had been recreated in 3D and were available on Etsy, I jumped at the chance to get some. However, This Island Earth was a black and white film, so what colour to paint them? Doing some research, I was quite surprised to discover that the mutants were a teal colour with red veins. However, there seems to be some debate on what colour the eyes and the claws are, so I went with black eyes and silver claws. So here they are.

Picked up this "Sci-fi Space Bus" from a seller on Etsy. Designed for 28mm/32mm figures. It lends itself to various sci-fi genres.

Warlords of Atlantis is a 1978 British adventure science fiction film, where two deep-sea explorers and their crew must survive a master race of beings and monstrous creatures when they discover the fabled city of Atlantis. This film was one of the Doug McClure trilogy (alongside The Land that Time Forgot and The People that Time Forgot) that used to be repeated frequently on BBC2 back in the 80s. I have always had a fondness for this film and was very pleased to have recently seen it again on TV. Of course, it got me thinking, does anybody do any figures for the film; especially the Atlantean troops? Sure enough, I found Antediluvian Miniatures did a range in metal (including a not Doug McClure) and Big Mr Tong had recreated them in 3D. I ordered the Big Mr Tong sculpts from a 3D printer and I ordered the 'Warlord' commnader figure from Antediluvian. You can see the results of my painting below.

Another 3D printed race of aliens. The Mangalores appeared in the 1997 film 'The Fifth Element'. They are defined as a scattered warrior race that are considered savage brutes by other races. Mangalores tend to hire themselves out as mercenaries, having earned a reputation as soldiers-for-hire that are willing (or simply stupid enough) to accept exceptionally dangerous missions. As a means of infiltration, Mangalores have a unique ability to shapeshift their bodies. In the film, they are depicted wearing beige coloured clothing with not a lot of variation in the colour. I initially tried a beige approach to their look and to be honest found them very boring to look at. Therefore I applied various washes to give them a bit more variation and look like a group of mercenaries. In the film, the Mangalores are hired by Zorg (played by Gary Oldman). Zorg is the head of a major corporation, and the inventor of various weapons and devices who is secretly working for Mr. Sh...

Here we have some 3D printed aliens based on the Martians from the 1953 film 'The War of the Worlds'. They are described as being "short Reddish-brown creatures with long arms with three fingers that have suction cups on them. They have a large eye that has three coloured lenses, which are red, green, and blue. They appear to have no mouths." We're all Martians around here!

Some figures based on Gort, the robot from the 1951 science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still. Gort is an eight-foot tall robot apparently constructed from a single piece of "flexible metal". He is but one member of a "race of robots" invented by an interplanetary confederation (described as "a sort of United Nations on a planetary level" by Klaatu, who is a representative of that confederation) to protect their citizens against all aggression by destroying any aggressors. Klaatu describes "him" as one of an interstellar police force, holding irrevocable powers to "preserve the peace" by destroying any aggressor. The fear of provoking these robots acts as a deterrent against aggression.

Recently rediscovered some old figures in my collection. I'm not sure where they are from, I think Westwind, but cannot find them online anywhere. They needed some TLC. So I stripped them back to bare metal and started again. The figures were originally unarmed, so I took the opportunity to make some hand and head swaps with items in my bits box. You can see from the pictures that there are five different poses and that I have three of each pose. I tried to plan my swaps so that each figure in a group of three was slightly different from the rest. The tools that I used are from a model railway shop called Scale Link Ltd. Although designed for O Gauge trains, they fit quite well with 28mm figures. The headswaps are from a number of different ranges. To provide a sense of uniformity, I gave the figures the same colour overalls. So they could be a maintenance crew, prospectors, colonists, civilians etc.