Classic Battletech Is Awesome: the Thread!

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**Overread**

When Humble got bought out some parts of their site got predatory - eg pausing on Humble Choice is a nightmare. You have to go through several pages confirming it and on each one they swap the highlighted yes/no buttons around and such.

Used to be very single one soft-encouraged you to unpause/not pause now its a mix so even when it is soft guiding you toward the thing you want you have to pause and double check.

It's very annoying.

**BrookM**

Oh yeah, the pausing on the Humble Choice is a right pain in the arse and very scummy, I've had twice now that I thought I had paused it, the amount of times you need to click to confirm you want to pause it is absurd and still I got charged for it.

**BrookM**

So, I got one of those map scale Union class dropships, figured it would make for a neat display model and it is nicely detailed, but damn, feeling a bit ripped off what they're asking for it ($45 USD!) and what you get for that amount: a hollow plastic ball with four feetsies.

Also got a Visigoth at least, plus a long overdue Inner Sphere heavy lance.

**Miguelsan**

I feel you, I ordered 2 plus an Overlord

M.

**Vulcan**

BrookM wrote:
So, I got one of those map scale Union class dropships, figured it would make for a neat display model and it is nicely detailed, but damn, feeling a bit ripped off what they're asking for it ($45 USD!) and what you get for that amount: a hollow plastic ball with four feetsies.

Also got a Visigoth at least, plus a long overdue Inner Sphere heavy lance.

Ah... it's probably the most spheroid of spheroid dropships. What were you expecting?

**Charistoph**

Finished painting up my new Clan Wolf scheme, and we're past the latest Falcon Wing scenario, so I feel comfortable sharing these pics:

Clan Cavalry Star in Hell's Horses, Jade Falcon, and Wolf colors.

Spoiler:

I've done some stripping since Christmas. It started as a means to get more Hell's Horses units, but has expanded far beyond that since.

1st batch in Jade Falcon colors

Spoiler:

2nd batch in Jade Falcon colors

Spoiler:

Battle Armor in Jade Falcon colors

Spoiler:

3rd Batch in Clan Wolf colors

Spoiler:

**Albertorius**

Working on some Jade Falcons this long weekend. I've finished a light star and I'm working on two others:

**BrookM**

Nice! I really need to find a Clan I don't completely hate and do some work on my backlog of Clan 'Mechs at some point as well.

On my end, printed and painted up a 'Mech pilot for a future (maybe Destiny?) thing. Meet sergeant Florence Saunders, former AFFS:

**Eilif**

BrookM wrote:
Nice! I really need to find a Clan I don't completely hate and do some work on my backlog of Clan 'Mechs at some point as well.

On my end, printed and painted up a 'Mech pilot for a future (maybe Destiny?) thing. Meet sergeant Florence Saunders, former AFFS:

Neat fig. Where's it from?

**BrookM**

Eilif wrote:
BrookM wrote:
Nice! I really need to find a Clan I don't completely hate and do some work on my backlog of Clan 'Mechs at some point as well.

On my end, printed and painted up a 'Mech pilot for a future (maybe Destiny?) thing. Meet sergeant Florence Saunders, former AFFS:

Neat fig. Where's it from?

I've used Hero Forge, which has gotten some nice clothing options that more or less (in my head canon at least), make for neat 'Mech pilot attire, in this case a diving rig making for a nice cooling vest and the pants + knee protectors from a luchadores outfit remind me of the pilot art from MW5. I used their kitbash function to put a helmet under her arm for that fighter pilot feel I sometimes get.

**Charistoph**

BrookM wrote:
Nice! I really need to find a Clan I don't completely hate and do some work on my backlog of Clan 'Mechs at some point as well.

2 points on this for everyone:
1) There might be a Clan scheme you like, even if you don't care for their Clan. Not every Galaxy uses the same scheme in a Clan.
2) Unless you're being very dedicated, or running a campaign, it doesn't matter what you paint them. Make it up, or paint them in camo colors like olive drab or desert tan. Heck, make up your own scheme so you know which models are yours.

**Eilif**

BrookM wrote:
Eilif wrote:
BrookM wrote:
Nice! I really need to find a Clan I don't completely hate and do some work on my backlog of Clan 'Mechs at some point as well.

On my end, printed and painted up a 'Mech pilot for a future (maybe Destiny?) thing. Meet sergeant Florence Saunders, former AFFS:

Neat fig. Where's it from?
I've used Hero Forge, which has gotten some nice clothing options that more or less (in my head canon at least), make for neat 'Mech pilot attire, in this case a diving rig making for a nice cooling vest and the pants + knee protectors from a luchadores outfit remind me of the pilot art from MW5. I used their kitbash function to put a helmet under her arm for that fighter pilot feel I sometimes get.

Nicely done!

**BrookM**

Alrighty, new project time! I'm putting together a pirate band for use as NPC's / cheapo opposition for future narrative games, pretty much grabbing whatever I had on hand that would work during the Succession Wars era. So far the theme is.. old stuff nicked from militia and recovered from scrapheaps, mostly energy weapons over slug throwers and missiles (ammo is expensive after all), plus if it has one or two hands, all the better to nab stuff with.

I am aware that the Flea is probably the outlier here in terms of rarity (not seen again until Wolf's Dragoons returned was it?), but we're not too fussed about that stuff for our thing.

Flea
Javelin
Ostscout
Stinger

Blackjack
Chameleon
Centurion
Sentinel
Starslayer

Ostsol
Warhammer

Banshee

As for support, a pair of Maxim's and Galleons to ferry around troops and haul off the good stuff too small for a 'Mech to grab.

And a work in progress test model, which will all have a weathered, rusty, chipped away scheme. I may do the odd 'Mech in different colours, maybe try and do a former Lyran 'Mech this way.

**aphyon**

Set up a river city table for some battle tech tonight.

Spoiler:

A couple of the guys got in a game while i was busy elsewhere.

Spoiler:

My first game was over in 4 turns....loads of crits, leg amputations, and we both decapitated each others lance commanders on turn 2

Sad, i wanted more action for my hatamoto themed force.

Spoiler:

The lace game was against a comstar lvl2 with a re-enforced 2nd swords lance.

The hohiro really saved the day once he got into the fight (comstar did their best to hide from his guns much of the first half of the game). taking down the marauder II, king crab, and battle cobra, i managed to tag team the flashman with mediums. the only loss on our side was self inflicted critical falling damage on our no-datchi. even with the win, most of the mechs in out force were pretty battered.

Spoiler:

**Miguelsan**

BrookM wrote:
Alrighty, new project time! I'm putting together a pirate band for use as NPC's / cheapo opposition for future narrative games, pretty much grabbing whatever I had on hand that would work during the Succession Wars era. So far the theme is.. old stuff nicked from militia and recovered from scrapheaps, mostly energy weapons over slug throwers and missiles (ammo is expensive after all), plus if it has one or two hands, all the better to nab stuff with. I am aware that the Flea is probably the outlier here in terms of rarity (not seen again until Wolf's Dragoons returned was it?), but we're not too fussed about that stuff for our thing.

Flea
Javelin
Ostscout
Stinger

Blackjack
Chameleon
Centurion
Sentinel
Starslayer

Ostsol
Warhammer

Banshee

As for support, a pair of Maxim's and Galleons to ferry around troops and haul off the good stuff too small for a 'Mech to grab.

And a work in progress test model, which will all have a weathered, rusty, chipped away scheme. I may do the odd 'Mech in different colours, maybe try and do a former Lyran 'Mech this way.

The Outscout was also pretty rare. Premier scout mech if original sensors were still intact, pretty much worthless if not.

M.

**beast_gts**

Catalyst Game Labs Acquires Iron Wind Metals

Catalyst Game Labs Acquires Iron Wind Metals
May 9, 2025
Catalyst Game Labs is pleased to announce it has acquired full ownership of Iron Wind Metals, located in the Greater Cincinnati area. While Iron Wind Metals (and its Ral Partha brand) is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Catalyst Game Labs, it will continue as its own division, specializing in metal miniatures manufacturing for a variety of companies, with a heavy focus on BattleTech.

‍

“I purchased my first Ral Partha miniature–a Warhammer–in 1987, with no idea of where BattleTech would take me,” said Randall N. Bills, Creative Director at Catalyst Game Labs. “By 1996 I was working at FASA Corporation, and of course had a regiment of heavy metal by that time—including a swath of Earthdawn and various dragon miniatures from Ral Partha, which my wife Tara painted wonderfully.

‍

“Soon thereafter I met Mike Noe for the first time and continued to work with him–and his great team–in a variety of capacities for the next thirty years, continuing through the transitions from FASA to WizKids to FanPro and to Catalyst, and Ral Partha to Iron Wind Metals. To me, Mike Noe is Iron Wind Metals. And Iron Wind Metals is BattleTech. While it’s been magnificent to launch millions of plastic miniatures onto gaming tables around the world, the metals will always have their crucial place, mortaring the seams of BattleTech.”

‍

Catalyst is committed to this portion of the Ral Partha legacy begun fifty years ago, ensuring metal miniatures of all kinds continue to flow to the tens of thousands of hobbyists who enjoy the craftsmanship and passion in this all-important part of the hobby industry.

‍

“Last July marked my 42nd anniversary in the game industry, and I had no plans to quit any time soon,” said Mike Noe, President of Iron Wind Metals. “However, Melissa, my partner in life and in Iron Wind, has been battling health issues and now needs me with her as often as possible. So, after more than 40 years in the game industry and more than 20 with Iron Wind Metals, it was time for me to step back and take care of my family.

‍

“Fortunately, Loren Coleman and Catalyst Game Labs stepped up, allowing me to gradually back away and stay home with Melissa while letting Iron Wind continue with business as usual, bringing metal BattleTech under their wing. I remain involved with IWM on a limited basis and will continue to do so for as long as my help and input is needed or wanted, but it brings me great joy to know, as I let go of the reins, that Iron Wind is in such experienced and capable hands.”

‍

“I cannot thank Loren, Randall, and the rest of the Catalyst team enough. Nor can I sufficiently thank all our loyal customers and friends for all their help and support these many years. The last four decades have been an amazing run, but as they say all good things must come to an end. I leave with many happy memories, secure in the knowledge that the company I founded and the legacy from which it began will carry on stronger than ever under Catalyst’s able stewardship.

“I hope to see many of you at game cons in the years to come, but for now, farewell and good gaming…”

**Charistoph**

I think some people are not going to be happy about this.

I've already seen a video from one saying to buy Ironwind Metals models because they aren't CG! And they just posted a video on this purchase... Haven't seen the second one yet.

**Charistoph**

Last Friday we did a little King of the Hill, with the terrain from Heroscape making up the hill. We could choose 5 Heavy Introtech Mechs, and then pick one to try to take it to the top.

I made a bit of a meme list and started off with the trusty STK-4P Stalker. "But wait, a Stalker's 85 tons!", you say. In this case, not so much. Dropping an LRM-10 and its Ammo Bay, along with a ton of Structure, you basically have the same Armor, almost the same weapon load out (sans one LRM-10), and same cooling (speed is still the slow 3/5/0, though).

Somehow, I managed to get this slow, lumbering beast up the hill and to the top by the next to last Turn. Even more surprising is that I took an early Gyro TAC hit, and fell down 2-3 times before reaching it.

Spoiler:

I was in Forced Withdrawal at the very end, though, but oddly just barely. Who knows how I made it that far.

Spoiler:

**Charistoph**

Here's some completed painting over the last few weeks:

Somerset Strikers

Spoiler:

Rifle and Command Support Lances

Spoiler:

Jade Falcon Repaint

Spoiler:

Afreet Battle Armor

Spoiler:

I have more Battle Armor to paint, so a perspective shot with the Afreet is waiting.

**aphyon**

Since i am going to be out for a couple months after this weekend i did a big send off with house kurita-

Got in 3 games and won 2 of them.

I ran my themed MRM/C3 lance 2 times with one small change. the first time i ran a mauler one of the only good ones with C3 and LBX10s, and then later i replaced it with the MRM sunder.

otherwise i had a shugenja, catapult and crusader. the first game i got spanked pretty hard. the crusader basically got one-shot by an ultra 20 alkl hitting the same location and i basically couldn't hit anything the entire game. the last game i ran the sunder loadout and managed to nearly table my opponent. i was hitting average but i scored an amazing amount of through armor crits. i was fighting a guillotine, ceasar, banshee and thunderbolt. the only one i didn't crit engine kill was the guillotine (i only severed and arm (with a crit) and a bunch of other damage and he was the last one on the table.

The second game was more silly, we did all mediums. this time i was facing a hunchback, nightsky, bushwhacker and enforcer. i brought a Non C3 lance (well i had some C3 slaves but no master so it wasn't on) a wolverine, shadow hawk and 2 goblin IFVs with raiden battle armor squads in each.

We were using expanded ammo explosion rules this game and it pretty much won me the game when the hunchback detonated. i lost the wolverine, one goblin and both battle armor squads, but he also additionally lost the bushwhacker and nearly lost the nightsky, i got to it the next turn. the enforcer decided to with draw instead of facing my remaining two units.

Spoiler:

**BrookM**

Been too busy with work, life and whatnot for hobby stuff, but managed to get a Grey Death Legion set at long last.

Also had a chance to snatch up some Legendary Mechwarrior blind boxes, got three and I got.. two Warhammers and a tank destroyer. 😭 No more gacha for me.

**Charistoph**

Got some repainting done along with some Battle Armor, all in my Clan Wolf scheme.

2nd Clan Wolf Repaint star

Spoiler:

Black Wolf Battle Armor

Spoiler:

Salamander Battle Armor

Spoiler:

Clan Medium Battle Armor aka "Rabid"

Spoiler: