Dust Tactics: Johnny One Eye

Johnny One Eye is part of the Dust Tactics Allies Hero set.

He's a badass, with a big-ass machine gun, smoking a stogie, so what's not to like?

He is not the first badass in the Dust Tactics universe, but he's the first hero with the 'Badass' skill. In game, it means he doesn't run out of ammunition and any squad he joins gain unlimited uses of their limited ammunition weapons (Grenade launchers and demo charges come to mind). Which can be handy in a fight against the big scary Axis walkers.

I very pretty pleased with the finish. The weathering and chipping on the pauldrons is all brush-work, but it is a small enough area to allow me to create an 'effect' rather than having to spend too much time on it.

It has been a challenge trying to work with lighter colours whilst still maintaining a 'grubby' or 'lived-in' look, but good fun all the same.

Dust Tactics: Red Devils, 3rd Para Brigade

The Red Devils are a heavy infantry choice for the Allies in Dust Tactics.

"Axis soldiers had pinned down Captain Joseph Brown where they had bunkered in a Scapa Flow alley. As he and his men watched bullets trace the air over their heads, the thundering footsteps of a combat walker began to approach. Before he even saw the walker, he heard its massive cannon blast, and a nearby wall exploded, sending rubble flying. "Where are those reinforcements?" the Captain shouted. He didn't hear his sergeant's response, but saw, instead, the sun glinting off three heavily armored paratroopers."

I enjoyed the contrast of the olive power armour and the red berets on these models and the 60W phaser armament is great for use against other ground troops, including enemy walkers.

Once again, a little darker than desired (when will I learn?) but overall I'm pleased with them and they still 'pop' enough to make them stand out on the tabletop.

Dust Tactics: Action Jackson

There's quite a lot of good ole' American home-grown action heroes in Dust Tactics. Cigar smokin' Phaser totin' Action Jackson is one such hero. He clearly eats danger for breakfast and is well suited to lead the Red Devils into combat.

Dust Tactics: Action Jackson

I picked up Action Jackson as part of the Dust Tactics Allied Hero Pack, in which he comes with Johnny One Eye and The Priest.

I enjoyed painitng this model, it's quite a dynamic pose and the twin Phasers are definitely on the cool side. I'm just not quite sure how easy it might be to smoke a cigar with your hands secured in those giant phasers. Perhaps he lights them with the phasers? Still, style over substance eh!?

To get a lighter finish I'm going to have to experient with a variety of olive colours to find a base colour that works best. A nice excuse to pick up some new colours to play with.

Dust Tactics: Captain America

Despite it's flaws and rather weak reception, I actually really rather enjoyed 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger.

Good ole' wholesome American boy takes on the Nazis before a deisel-punk backdrop... with weapons and technology straight out of Dust Tactics... what's not to like? As a plus, Alan Silvestri's soundtrack to Captain America: The First Avenger isn't half bad, so the score went straight onto my Weird World War 2 gaming playlist too.

I'd seen other gamers using Captain America in various games so after a quick seach on Ebay I secured a suitable Clix model for just a few pounds.

This wasn't a complete re-paint. I simply re-coloured where necessary and adjusted the lines to match a little more closely to the movie version of the costume.

The model was carefully cut off at the feet and re-based on a 30mm DS Profile Fenris Incursion resin base. I'm a big fan of these bases and I'd ideally like to re-base the rest of the the models in the 3D play-set to match.

I used Captain Rogers as a proxy for Bazooka Joe, a Heros already available in the game, so there's nothing 'broken' about using him in game and I think he's a rather fun proxy that for me fits perfectly into the Dust Tactics universe.

Dust Tactics: 13 Foxtrot, Allied Special Ops Rangers Artillery Observers

To make use of the Artillery in Dust Tactics the Allied M2 Medium Combat Walker (Steel Rain Variant) Foxtrot 13, the Allies artillery observer team is a necessary addition to an allied army.

These two figures come in the Dust Tactics: Allied Rangers Observer Squad and Sniper Squad. As a separate squad to the Crack Shots Sniper Team the two figures are fielded as a single unit and can be used to fire artillery pieces that otherwise do not have direct line of sight to a target. A very useful addition to the Allied forces.

Once again working with a lighter palette I was able to keep the end result in the realms of what I was after; grubby just not too dark and they we pretty fun and quick to paint.

Dust Tactics: Crack Shots, Sniper Team

Ever since the introduction of the Allied M2 Medium Combat Walker and Axis Medium Panzer Walker we've had the option to use artillery in our Dust Tactics games. To facilitate the use of artillery the introduction of small unit of observers came into play. Alongside those observer units, came the sniper team.

These two figures are fielded together as a two man unit and come with the Dust Tactics: Ranger Observer and Sniper Squad

As is typical with many game mechanics, a sniper can choose it's targets, making it highly effective for disabling critical squad weapons such as heavy machine guns, flame-throwers or panzerfausts.

I was happy working with a lighter palette for these models and as I managed to keep them that way for the most part I'm pretty happy with the end result.

Dust Tactics: OZZ 117- Real Name Erased from File - ASCOM

The fluff in Dust Tactics is full of mysterious individuals with suspiciously shady pasts. OZZ is one such character. After returning from a stint of work with Special Operations Command, his background was carefully erased. Nobdy knows his real name and although he speaks several languages... fluently, there's no trace of an accent to give away his natural origin.

OZZ 117 comes with the Dust Tactics: Operation Seelowe Campaign Expansion. He's cold and calcluating. An unsympathetic leader who commands by directness and battlefield prowess rather than charisma or charm.

He wears XM series aerial asualt armour and mounts an under fist flamethrower, which is great for assulting fortified positions or driving enemy troops out of buildings.

I was pretty pleased with how OZZ 117 turned out. He looks a little shiner than he actually is, due to the sun coming out as I took the shot, but altogether I think he works okay.

Dust Tactics: Tank Busters, Heavy Ranger Tank Hunter Squad

This Dust Tactics:Tank Busters Squad is an example of the simplicity of Dust Tactics. Squad sizes are typically three or five figures. A lightly armoured squad size is normally five and heavier troops comprise of three miniatures.

The Tank Busters wear XM-18-22 aerial asualt armour which allows them to literally 'jump' into combat allowing for considerable combat manueverability. They are also equipped with M10 bazookas, with enough firepower to worry even the heaviest Axis walkers. They're a pretty effective unit and a pretty decent additon to the allied forces you get in the Dust Tactics Core Set.

Simple and quick to paint. These definitely ended up too dark for me. I'm still pleased with the overal gritty look but I was aiming for something quite a bit lighter. A silly mistake on my part due to undercoat colour selection and a little too much heavy washing. Tansk Busters... only more grimy.

Dust Tactics: The Chef - Guglielmo Zanicotti - SOE

There are quite a few interesting characters in Dust Tactics. All of which present some intersting and individual painting opportunities. One of the quirkiest has to be 'The Chef'' Guglielmo Zanicotti. The Chef is one of the Alies chief spies and Rosie and Captain Joe Brown reply heavily on his insider information for the effective execution of many operations. He is currently thought to be deep in Berlin, obtaining information on the Axis Blutkruez Korps and VK expreiments.

The Chef comes with the Dust Tactics: Operation Cerberus Campaign Expansion.

My long term gaming buddy and Dust Tactics opponent James really doesn't like this dual wielding flame-thrower nutter, which is why it is nice to sneak him into a unit, get in close and use him to toast the Wehrmacht's finest.

Whislt vulnerable on his own he is an asset to any clsoe comabt unit he joins and is very effective against vehicles.

I used a pretty standard technique of base-coat, wash, touch-up, highlight and detail on this model. It was nice to be able to use some X-27 Tamiya Clear Red - TCR once again on the blood. Overall happy with result.

Dust Tactics: Medium Combat Walker M2 - Steel Rain and Hot Dog Variants

As a following on from my previous post, here's two of the other Dust Tactics Allied Medium Combat Walker variants.

Dust Tactics Steel Rain M2-F Artillery Support Walker

You get one chassis and two turrets. The Steel Rain M2-F variant is the second turret and the other three share the same base, just using a different main gun.

Dust Tactics Hot Dog M2-B with Napalm Thrower

The Hot Dog M2-B uses the same turret as the Pounder M2-C (17 pounder swapped for flame-thrower) as does the third Mickey M2-A just without the long barrel gun, so hardly worth a picture.

The two turrets had the same paint treatment and I painted them alongside each other to make sure there wasn't any significant colour difference.

Dust Tactics: Pounder - Medium Combat Walker M2-C

One of the appeals of Dust Tactics universe is the 'Walkers'. Not zombies but walking tanks.

The M2 Combat Walker is the most successful of all the allied combat walkers. It first went into production in 1945 and the Pounder fields the heaviest gun they could mount on the chassis.

The Pounder Medium Combat Walker M2-C fields a turret mounted 17 pounder, a pintel mounted 50 cal Victory MG and forward facing .30 Cal Victory MG.

The model can be fielded with four variants, the Pounder as shown, a howitzer bearing 'Mickey', an artillery version equipped with a Petard Mortar and 4.2" rockets 'Steel Rain' and the anti-infantry napalm spitting 'Hot Dog'. All 4 variants can be fielded with the bits in the box and the parts are interchangeable, even when painted.

This model was painted using the hairspray method, however I have to admit a mistake, one that is worth sharing.

I was in a bit of a rush when I painted this and didn't take enough time to prep when I airbrushed it. As a consequence, the paint was too thin and didn't quite cover the well enough, so I topped it up with some matt white from a spray can. Big mistake. Where I'd used the spray can to cover up the parts with poor coverage, I was unable to remove the pain with warm water and a brush. Dr Google soon explained - paint thickness and microns... lesson, don't try the hairspray method with a spray can, only an airbrush.

The rest of the weathering was a combination of sponging, washes, dry-brushing and pencil. I'm pleased with the overall look, although I had intended for the model to have move of the original 'under the whitewash' colour showing.

Dust Tactics: Master Sergeant Rosie Donovan - ASCOM

The Dust Tactics universe has quite a few strong female characters. And by strong female characters I mean ladies with lovely figures who wear tight fitting clothing, tote heavy weaponry as if it were the latest fashion and kick ass.

Master Sergeant Rosie Donvoan comes with the Dust Tactics: Operation Cyclone Campaign Expansion. Her Bazooka adds anti-armour firepower to any Allied squad she joins and her 'Tank Head' ability allows her to repair damaged vehicles in the field.

Master Sergeant Rosie Donovan - ASCOM

Rosie was a fun miniature to paint, simple, quick and definitely stands out from the olive clad units she typically joins.

Dust Tactics: Light Assault Walker M1-B Blackhawk

One of the cooler aspects of Dust Tactics is the walkers. You get two walkers in the Dust Tactics:Core Revised Set and this is the Allied version.

The Blackhawk is one of the 'Light' class walkers, it is a fast but lightly armoured walker armed with Dual Heavy PIATs that pack a punch even against the heaviest of vehicles.

I used the 'hairspray' technique on this model. First time I have ever used it. It you are not familiar with it, the process is simple. You treat the model with the basic colour and shading variation you want on the finished model and then give the entire model a coat of hairspray. You then airbrush your top colour, in this instance, white (Dust Tactics is, and when it is dry you use a rough brush or toothpick and some warm water to gently remove some of the upper coat, thus simulating a worn and weathered look. I touched up a few 'edges' of some of the weathering with the original white to give a chipped paint feel and then weathered the model as normal.

I was very pleased with how this turned out, it has certainly ended up much more on the lighter end of the scale, so far closer to the look I was after.

Dust Tactics: Sergeant Major William Springfield, aka 'Rhino'

One of the things I like about Dust Tactics is the Heroes and Squad leaders. Sergeant Major William Springfield, otherwise known as Rhino comes with the Dust Tactics: Revised Core Set and leads the allies forces. He typically hooks up with 'The Hammers', as shown in a previous post.

Painting Sergeant Rhino

The figure itself once again ended up being a bit darker than I really wanted, however I wasn't about to go back over the whole thing from scratch. I'd simply chalk it up to experience. Whilst I had adjusted my painting style, I'd not done so enough, but I had proved to myself that I'd found another way NOT to get the result I was after.

Dust Tactics: Hell's Boys Ranger Attack Squad

This was my first attempt at any kind of camouflage in a long time. In fact, the first attempt at anything with a pure military theme for a while, so I had to re-buy a few choice olive drab and olive colours.

This Ranger Attack Squad for Dust Tactics turned out a little darker than I really wanted, so I started to think about getting the top coat, pre-wash, colours a little lighter and diluting the washes a little more.

Hell's Boys - Ranger Attack Squad

Dust Tactics: Death Dealers Ranger Weapon Squad

Whilst living away from home over the last 18 months I didn't really get anywhere near as much hobby done as I'd have liked. I simply couldn't transport large scale hobby projects and gaming tables back and forward and to me, that's very much part of my enjoyment of the hobby.

I did want to do something however, something simple that would be a complete game in a box and I could take as far as I wanted, without having to commit to anything too vast. Seeing as I had a change of location and was getting a little giddy about Weird War 2, later growing into an interest in Incursion, my curiosity was piqued by Dust Tactics.

I downloaded a copy of the rules, free from Fantasy Flight Games website, which looked simple enough, with just enough variation to have at least some depth, and after deciding it looked pretty cool I picked up the Dust Tactics: Revised Core Set.

The models were pretty nice sculpts, the soft plastic did throw some challenges with de-flashing and a few 'bendy' models here and there (simple enough to fix with the hot and cold water trick I picked up when collecting Star War Miniatures), but considering the price, pre-priming and high production value on things like tokens, unit cards etc. I was sold. So, with a single pack of miniatures at a time and a small toolbox of paints and tools I set upon a new adventure.

What started as a simple boxed set, grew over the 18 months, during which time I was keen to attempt to copy the colour scheme and painting techniques as closely as possible. Here's the first of many units I painted over that time.

Death Dealers: Ranger Weapon Squad

Quick note on basing. As I'd been experimenting with some resin bases, the entire play-set is scheduled to be re-based on pre-painted resin. Therefore, none of the bases were touched.