Constructing the Space Hobbits

On the cover of a recent Miniature Wargames magazine was a free sprue of SneakFeet from Wargames Atlantic. Of course in any other place these would be space hobbits or halflings. Another place calls them Ratlings.

I borrowed some spare round bases I had and constructed the four models.

They were a little challenging to put together for me. You certainly get a wide choice of arms and heads, I wasn’t always sure about the best arms to use. However quite pleased with the end result.

Space Hobbits

On the cover of Miniature Wargames this month was a free sprue of SneakFeet from Wargames Atlantic. Of course in any other place these would be space hobbits or halflings. Another place calls them Ratlings.

I recently ordered the Provisionally Prepared miniature from Games Workshop, which is a great model. I did then think about getting the new Kill Team supplement, Brutal and Cunning, this contains a Halfling Ratlings squad. However I have seen it has sold out online, everywhere it seems. I will probably have to wait now until the Ratlings are released separately.

Having said that the free SneakFeet sprue gives me a chance to make up and paint some space hobbits, oh and a frying pan with eggs in it, second breakfast and all that.

Wargames Atlantic Werewolves

On the cover of this month’s Miniature Wargames was a sprue of Wargames Atlantic Werewolves.

The Blood Cursed…the Fanged Ones…Nightpack…Lost Children of the Forest…whatever you call them the men and women who turn when the full moon shines are a scourge upon the Free Kingdoms. These half-man half-wolf beasts are both cunning and ferocious and once they pick up the scent of prey they are relentless. Villagers pray for the coming of the sun when the moon is full.

This is how the finished and painted versions look on the Wargames Atlantic website.

I like getting these free sprues on magazines as it gives you a chance to get an idea of what the models and quality are like from a manufacturer without initially spending money. Also, as with these werewolves you get a few models that would be ideal for a quick scenario idea.

These would be great for a weird world war scenario. It’s a full moon one night in 1940. A platoon of Home Guard are tasked with exploring strange lights and noises emanating from a deserted farmhouse. They are wondering if these are German spies, or even German paratroopers. However what they will be facing will be much worse, a band of werewolves.

Another idea for a scenario. During the Peninsular War the 95th Rifles are on the move to hunt down a French spy in a Spanish village. However unknown to them, the village is cursed and there is a full moon.

You get the idea.

Space Lizards

One of my biggest disappointments with Warhammer 40000 is the lack of space lizardmen. Back when the game was launched, we had space orcs (as in orks) space elves (eldar) and even dwarves (squats). However despite the fact that there were fantasy lizards in Warhammer, there were no space lizards in the same way as the other fantasy races. 

Everytime I see a model like the Saurus Scar-Veteran on Carnosaur at Warhammer World I think how would that look in the WH40K universe. 

We know that the Slann came from space, so where are the Space Saurus? 

Across other games and literature we have seen space lizards.

The Harry Turtledove Worldwar in the Balance series of books had small lizards, the Race, arrive in starships in December 1941 and invade the earth in May 1942. However their equipment is more akin to 1990s Earth technology rather than anything more futuristic, despite the face they travel between the stars.

In the world of Space 1889, though there were no lizards on Mars in 1889, there were some on Venus.

I did once consider converting some Skinks and Saurus warriors that came in the fifth edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battle that came out in 1996. However I realised I didn’t have many spare 40K style guns and that idea was left on the workbench. Writing this I now realise that there are quite a few third party stockists of 40K style weaponry that I could use, so if I can find the plastic sprues in the garage maybe I can have a go at that idea.

In the February issue of Wargames Illustrated however there was an advert from Wargames Atlantic about a forthcoming release of Fantasy Lizardmen. However there are options to arm them with muskets or auto-rifles (AK47 style weapons).

This hard plastic box set allows you to field up to 24 Lizardmen with options to arm them with sword and spear, fantasy and British muskets, or auto-rifles. There are four unique head types for all bodies in the set so that you have options to use these figures for fantasy, Victorian Science Fiction, or straight science fiction Lizardmen.

So you could use the musket armed lizardmen in the world of Space 1889 for games on Venus.

The auto gun armed lizardmen could be used as alien invaders, as in the  Worldwar in the Balance series, but they may be a little too big, as the Race is described as smaller than humans, but it’s science fiction, so why not. As for rules, well what about Bolt Action?

I think I might get a box and see what I can do with them. In the meantime I think I will dig out my old plastic Saurus warriors.