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Lately real life has been a downer. My cousin and best friend passed away in the beginning of April. It had just sucked my hobby right out of me, as we were gaming buds too.

He was always into off of the beaten path wargames and was really fired up about Dream Pod 9's Heavy Gear game. They have a new edition coming out and he was buggin' me to dig out my old minis so we could give it a spin. I always liked HG but focused on more mainstream games like FOW and the GW ones.

So I've decided to jump right back into the new Heavy Gear game and build armies as a homage to my Cuz.

To those unfamiliar with the game and setting, Heavy Gear is a Sci-Fi game with a focus on "Heavy Gears" they are roughly 15 foot tall armored suits that bridge the gap between conventional infantry and armored vehicles. Heavy Gears make up about half of each army list, the other half is filled with Tanks/AFV's, Infantry, Artillery and Aircraft. Here is the DP9 site in case anyone wants more info.

HG is 1/144 scale so the infantry are 12mm tall. Here is a pic from one of the HG books to show some scale.



Here is the test model for my Northern Guard army. It's a Jaguar gear for my Strike Cadre. It is one of five models I hadn't build during my previous HG gaming, all pre-Blitz resculpt. (the newer models are fantastic!) Another Jaguar, a Hunter, an Assault Grizzly and a Kodiak will join him. (Oh how I love Kodiak gears!).

I've always looked at this game with much interest. Unfortunately I've never found a gaming group that has that same interest. I never picked up but one model from the line way back in the day.

My condolences for your cousins passing.

Your test piece looks really great. I don't think there is anything to say about it past awesome job.

I look forward to seeing more stuff in the future!

Thanks for the comments.

I have had a rough time getting very much interest but am still pluggin' along. The latest rules are outstanding at balancing detail and playability.

I feel HG Locked and Loaded falls squarely in between Battletech and 40K. Hopefully this will finally be the breakthrough HG needs to become more mainstream.

Painting models up that nicely should really help you generate some interest. I'm sure your cousin's appreciating the effort wherever he may be.

Thanks DFo.

Here is my first infantry base. These buggers are 12mm tall and a bear to photograph.

First a size comparison to show scale.


Front


Back


This is a WIP of the next Gear; an Assault Grizzly.


I should have posted this in the PM blog forum, my bad.

I can move it if you would like

Keep it going. Those are some very beautiful minis there. Sorry to hear about your best friend and cousin. I knwo that there is nothing that I can say to ease that pain. However, since they were gaming buddies also, I think they would be happy to see you carrying on with the hobby and producing such beautiful minis as these. I know that I would!

Can't wait to see more.

Thanks for the comments.

grey_death wrote:I can move it if you would like

If you think it would be more appropriate feel free to do so. It doesn't really matter to me.

Thanks for the move!

Here is the Grizzly finished except for a couple of minor touch-ups.

Great job, I like the caution stripes a lot.

Really, a fantastic paintjob, and a fitting tribute. The gems are particularly well done. May I enquire as to what colours you used on the grizly?

Hmm... wonder if a few of those'd fit with BattleTech. CAV models are a little too big, so these might work.

Thanks for the size comparison. I like it how the Sergeant and the Gear are almost in the same pose.

BYE

Being a grizzly and because of the caution stripes on it (which are awesome btw) reminds me of the Giant Guardian Bear in Dark Tower, if youve ever read that...

Just thought Id share...

Glad you are back into the hobby though... I really hope it helps..

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate them.

The colors used are Vallejo model color brand. If you need the color numbers I can get those for you.

Green brown for the main color.

WWII Russian uniform for the accent color

both were lightened with Iraqi sand.

All of the Metallics started off as Iron wind metals Steel.

This time I'm doing a 2-fur; a pair of Hunter gears.

Here are the hunter gears with their bases done and the main colors blocked out.



Next I'll be doing a magic wash of walnut brown, then I'll clean up the two main colors.

Here is an update.



They have both had the wash applied, the one on the right has had the main color Vallejo green brown cleaned up.

Here is the first hunter completed. I had to just finish one I cannot seem to get into assembly line painting of the gears. It just feels like I'm gettin' nothin' done.

HBMC: I used to use the older RAFM 'gears for battletech. Those were 1/87 and so a little on the big side, but Battletech mechs have always been screwy when it came to scale (20-tonners taller and bulkier than 100-tonners, etc.).

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to proxy these in.

BDJV: great paint jobs and a nice tribute to your cos and friend.

Sorry about the loss. Throwin dice on a better table now.

That's some great paint on the 'gears! You know, I look at those and it looks kinda retro-Tau to me. You know, like earlier versions of the models we first saw from them? Keep up the good work!

Thanks guys.

The second is Hunter done.




A shot of the pair.



Darn it I forgot to paint the fingers on the SC hunter, I'll have to go and fix that.

Next up the Kodiak.

This thread is bringing back fond memories of my obsession with the PC game. It was epic! Keep up the good work.

I'm glad you are enjoying the project.

Here's a pic of the WIP Kodiak. I've cut and repositioned his right arm and mounted his Rocket Pod on the left shoulder to make him like the artwork and new model.

Wow. I dig it!
Enough that I'm going to talk to my hobby shop about seeing if we can stock this.

Condolences on your loss, my aunt just had a baby that didn't even make it past 10 minutes out of the womb =/.

Thanks for the comments.

I'm about 80% finished with the Kodiak, here's a quick update.

Once again, a beautiful model! Keep up the excellent work.

Thanks Nemissary.

Here is the finished Kodiak. There are a couple of minor touch ups, I'm gonna do now that I see them in the pics. I forgot to paint the bolts on the side of his head, I'll get those before the group shots.

This is a quick group shot, I need to set up my real photo lighting to take a better pic. If you click the pic you'll get a bigger version.

These are some sweet models, and beautifully painted.

Heard of the game in passing but never acctually seen the models.

In the first pic there are hexagonal bases yet you have circular ones- any issues with that game wise? (the circular ones look much better).

This looks pretty sweet, you're an awesome painter (cue jealousness... jealousosity... jealousnessity?). Keep up the great work.

The infantry look like a pain to paint.

Thanks for the comments guys!

Waaagh_Gonads wrote:In the first pic there are hexagonal bases yet you have circular ones- any issues with that game wise? (the circular ones look much better).

The hex bases make it easier to make turns and they are slightly smaller. DP9's officail stance on bases is there is no standard basing use what you want within reason. My bases are 30mm and 40mm so all of the Gears fit completely on the base; unlike the hex bases.

Southern Gears on the horizon. This is an Iguana reconnaissance Gear.



I'm pleased so far with the color scheme; I was a little worried but it's working.

It's really working in my mind from what I remember from the actual Heavy Gear game. This kind of makes me want to pick the game back up.

Have you, or can you do any conversions for this? In general, of course.