Review: Alternative Armies 15mm Sci-fi

REVIEW

An Alternative to... high prices and bad service? Yes!

In my time looking around for odds'n ends, bits and bobs, I stumbled across AA's website [CLICK], and seriously considered getting some items.  So when they had a "Battle of Pavia 20% off sale" that was advertised at the [quite good] "15mm Sci-Fi Gaming" Fb page, I bopped over to check it out once again - glad I did!

I should mention that I have no affiliation with AA and this was my first order / interaction with any of the people involved as well. Don't get to bonnie Scotland very much anymore...!

BLUF:

- HUGE range of figures, vics, walkers, 'bots and buildings in mostly 15mm, but also other scales like "Fleet", 6mm, and 28mm.  

- Prices on many of the lines is low, remind me of the 1990s.

- Sales occur periodically and stack with discounts!

- Service is excellent and  cheerful.

- Website is well organized - essential since it has LOTS of offerings. Lots of pics.

- Ordering is relatively painless - the website was above average easy.  

Summary: 

A visit to AA is Strongly Recommended!  

You may find some perfect additions to your ongoing project, 

or you may find a brand new project.

At first, I was a bit overwhelmed as I looked through *just* the 15mm sci-fi offerings. There are several major categories, and in some of them dozens of products. But it was also kinda fun, as nearly all the miniatures have good pictures of very solid paint jobs, so there was an "eye candy" aspect to it all.

Eventually, I decided that paying $6-8 for full-sized [40mm x 80mm or so] resin vehicles was too good a price to pass up. I got a squadron / company of those with infantry. Also grabbed a bunch of other items that flesh out some needs, like crew-served weapons, useful "jeep" type vehicles [but anti-grav], and a pack of 20 Laserburn low-tech mercenary infantry. 

Overall, the order was nearly $400 total, and I saved over $80 from various sales and discounts. It went pretty fast and arrived safely:

Placed Order Feb 27 --> Shipped March 3 --> Delivered March 12

Only hiccup was my credit card security measures jumped on the transaction.

This was promptly handled by...

Gavin Syme, Creative Manager at Alternative Armies.

Gavin was helpful and polite, and even interested in how I came to order from them.  I was impressed that he was interested in how I found out about them and their sale. Catch him on Fb [LINK] or the AA Blog [LINK].

So, that was all a positive experience.  Now, on to the products!  

Note: all prices are with the 20% off sale and sometimes other discounts that stack.

LB12 Laserburn Mercenaries - Value Pack 

These are modern size, 15mm foot-to-eye. From left, Laserburn Officer, RAFM Traveller TL15 Imperial Infantry, Martian Metal Imperial Marine [old 15mm, foot-to-head], Brigade Models / GZG Hammer's Slammers Gunner [18mm] and AA resin sprue Security Force Alpha [20mm - more below]

Laserburn Officer w'Pistol [500], Merc w'Assault Rifle [501], Merc w'Rifle [502],  

Laserburn Merc w'Jump Pack and Laser [504], Merc w'SMG [503], [504 again]

Mercenary Dreadnought [506] Could also be a big guy with armor, carrying a disassembled mortar [which is what I thought it was at first...!]

Don't know if intentional or not... the pack comes to four identical teams, so two squads, each with a squad leader and a mortar team [back]. This Section of two squads has one Section Leader.  Your organization may vary!

Posing in a slammer APC. If I used them for this, I'd cut the bases down and make them shorter.

V006 Infantry Support Weapons

V006a Support Bolt Cannon, and V006b Light Mortar

6a looks a lot like a recoiless rifle, and can easily be futuristic weapon type or a traditional CPR weapon or rocket firing bazooka. The stand can be shaped easily, which I've done on the left.

With RAFM and Martial Metal "crew" for xomparison

Shaped the platform to make it more of a tripod - looks a bit better.

HOF153 Grey Alien Portable Weapon Platform with 5 Weapon Options [barrels] is top left and center.  The hole takes any of the barrels. Variety is nice, from funky zap rays and hair dryers to a traditional CPR gun looking thing.

To top Right is HOF45 Robot Scout Drone which I couldn't resist. Looks like it has lenses, I might mount it on smaller piano wire so it "floats" better.

V006b Light Mortar [bottom].  Nice model - different but still obviously a "mortar".

Some bonus bits. Lion with huge pole axe thing on a grav cycle, and a space plant monster in resin, both very nice. The left would make nice Aslanni for Traveller.

V005 Heavy Laser Cannon Artillery Laserburn Artillery Piece [CPR]

Cannon in its pieces. You can see that the barrel has a peg, goes into the hole on the platform, and the shield is mounted with two pegs - makes for easy assembly, so "nicely done!" far as I'm concerned. Gunner goes on seat at lower side of platform.

And assembled, below.

Gunner, below - not much to him.

The gun assembled. I like that the main gun is set back and more portable. This differentiates it from modern pieces. I see it folding up quite compactly.

But, if you wanted a more traditional look, no reason you can't mount it forward.

Below, some anti-grav utility vics, aka "sci-fi jeeps", a ground worm monster, and body bags [I am likely to use them as casualty markers]. These are all nicely done, inexpensive and will be useful either as "scatter terrain" or as actual vics with rules [I like to have rules and victory conditions about evacuating wounded].

V104 Hover Support Wagon, V101 Flit Car, VNT35 Greater Sandworm

HOF128 Body Bags - Value Pack

HOFA01 Security Force Alpha (Core Army Set) This included two of Maginot Turret, 75 resin sprue infantry, and 6 Mark II Hover Charger APCs. All for about $82, so a nice deal.  The full-sized vics work out to around $6.40 each. You can't beat that with a stick!  So a no-brainer, long as you like the style.

To flesh out a full squadron, I got 6 more Charger Mk II's and 3 Scrofer Hover AFV. Each vic somes with the sprue for a closed hatch, commander, large closed hatch or turret.  I think the AFV looks a bit "undergunned" and will likely buy larger turrets for them.

The Scrofa [left] is one main piece, super easy to deal with. The Charger is two pieces and will require a bit of cleaning and shaping to assemble, not a lot. View from the back [below] shows the higher AFV on right with large rear ramp.

Infantry sprues. There are 5 of the guys with a support rocket, and 10 of the bottom infantry. Lovely figs, just way too big for my collection. A bit disappointing and I wish that the description included sizing as they are nowhere near 15mm, more like 18mm and quite bulky as well.  They will look great on someone else's table.

Maginot Turret is a nice model, very clean.

Door is more of a hatch, a bit small, and suits the armored pedestal of the model.

V105 Sabre Class Jet Flyer

I couldn't resist getting a light flyer to act as an artillery spotter / command flyer.  Below, what comes in the pack, a lot of heavy metal - will need a substantial base to hold it in the air. Obviously, this would make a great resin kit, reduce weight and cost.

And below what it looks like painted [from the AA website].  Had to show it off, nice job!

Hope you not only got something out of these looks at some of the models, but also that you can see the relative price points.  

- A bunch of these resin vehicles are around half the market price [they are older], and using the various sales and deals infantry can go to 50 cents apiece.  

- Full price, the resin Security Force Alpha 20mm figs are around 80 cents each. 

My only caution / critique is that you should carefully check descriptions and ask any questions of Gavin regarding figure size / scale.  They have three in the 15mm sci-fi offerings [old 15mm, new 15mm, and super-sized contemporary size-creep 18mm] and the vic seating sometime looks a tad small. Your concern with this may vary.  I am fine with the overall "look" of a model and crew unto itself, and rarely have the figures alongside one another anyway [disperse = survival in modern combat, and in the future as well, I say!].

But taking into account the entire experience, including great communication, service, and stacking discounts / sales, I think Alternative Armies is worth checking out!

Spanish Civil War: More Minairons

Minairons get closer and closer to hitting the table!

As the figures have been cleaned, prepped and now primed, I have had growing excitement over these figs. They are a nice balance of old school in style and pose, but with the newer demand for pose variety well fulfilled - seems like all the boxes so far have no repetition of poses. They mostly cleaned up easily and have also been fun to modify with alternative heads and such. My one unfulfilled desire is that Lluis and his sculptors do not have the distinct hat of the Guardia Civil, perhaps best described as a reversed bicorne?

Anyway, I know that I am just crying out for a small unit of these fellows...

Below, the artillerists I cleaned and primed last time, notionally Republicans...

...and below with a big gun, a French Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider. In my ground scale, there is little use for such a big gun - it's main purpose is to either act as an objective or indicate artillery support at the edge of the board, where it can also be an operational target for aircraft [which are forthcoming!].

And below, a likely tow for the gun at this point. I have three of these Lledo trucks, and they will provide motor support for now. They may be just a little bit large, but they are close enough until I can score some good truck models.

Below, some pictures of the French that helped me to assemble mine - I was a bit uncertain as to how it fit together:

Below, the Anarchist militia milling around in a chaotic jumble, as is their wont:

Lots of pose variety, and some kneeling and crouching figs for good measure. Kneeling is probably one of the best alternative poses, as prone figs take up a lot more space on the table, about double. Still, I like them, and my 15mm WWII on FoW basing has as many as possible.


Finally, the Nationalist Infantry, two boxes, 15 poses each, 30 total, awaiting a cleanup. Poses include firing, loading, grenade & walking, and five running.

The Nationalist HQ and Support Weapons are cleaned and ready for a bath and then priming - this'll happen with the other 30 and the next day with low humidity.

The box included two LMGs, one HMG, one 2" knee mortar, and a command group of officer, sergeant, banner bearer, and bugler. A nice variety!

Looking forward to getting paint on these fellows. Will have to start figuring out a painting scheme next...

Spanish Civil War: Minairons Progress

The Revolutionary Militia need more figures!  

Of course, opinions differ on this...

 

Another great thing about this period: Spanish Civil War propaganda art is better than American Civil War or English Civil War propaganda art!

From the Minairons Website [CLICK], the below packs provide alternative figures, poses, and with head swaps additional variety in what is already a generously varied figure line. I previously reviewed the line in some depth [HERE]. 

BLUF: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND these figures!

I have been very happy with the price point [$1.25 a fig +/-] and visual impact of these figures. 20mm makes them large enough for easy visual identification on the tabletop and rewards additional figure details like rank and medals which are also easier to paint than in 15mm. 

Despite the substantially larger bulk compared to 15mm, the figures still have a modest footprint and the vehicles / houses are substantially smaller, allowing for more "space" on even a smaller table. While 25-28mm is great for infantry battles, the use of vehicles - usually tanks - ends up pushing the scale distortion v. table space ratio into difficult places. As far as I am concerned, if you want all branches of the service on the table, then 20mm would be my new "ideal scale". Depending on the rule set, you can play small skirmishers easily on a 4x4' or even 3x3' table, but go all out 6x4' or 8x5' and still identify figures 6' away. Rant over!

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In this post, I worked with the below revolutionary militia a d Republican figures to create more interesting poses and situations, both as figures and as game markers; unit status, victory point locations, etc. For example, the below wounded female militia figures could indicate that a unit is pinned, or be used in a small diorama as an aid station that doubles as an objective marker.

Got two packs, 8 figs total. I dislike duplication in skirmish games and skirmishing units. There are no male casualties [oddly] so I will convert some using head swaps to get rid of the main female indicator on the sculpts, the longer hair.

These gals are realistically proportioned to be a bit smaller.  However, the substitute heads are also a bit small, so didn't really look that out of place on them. Also, according to George Orwell, the militia had a lot of teenage boys in it, who ended up serving as a means to keep them out of trouble and also fed. Their smaller stature fits the female sculpts nicely. Side note: unlike lots of female historical and - especially - fantasy figs, these women do not have grossly exaggerated body parts and are _not_ pinups - thank you Angel Terol!

The below pack is for large artillery pieces, which is why the figs are standing poses. I like the rangefinder sculpt. It appears the officer is sculpted to peer through it, which will make for a nice independent base. The artillerists are a bit blandly posed, IMHO, and I'd have liked to seen them more in an "action stance" in various firing positions.  But maybe I'll change a pose or two...

Not only will these add some flavor to a command post, but they will provide a visual mechanic to transmit orders or a victory condition [help the dispatcher leave the board].  The big metal bases seem like a waste of metal / cost, and I'd have done them in plastic personally. Might've afforded another rider in the pack...

Various heads. The Pasamontana Cap heads below are a bit too small - would make good heads for young / small soldiers.

The woolen caps [favorite knits in cold weather, and can go under a helmet - we do the same thing today] are a bit bulkier, and there's a bearded fellow also.

THE Spanish cap of the war, still used today [heck, WE still use it today, without any tassles of course], Isabellinos are inexpensive but can carry a jaunty air when tilted.

Both tassled and non-tassled are provided, which makes for easier Nationalist v. Republican distinctions.

In general, the heads are a little small for men, and a little big for women, and none have a neck - the sculptor should take a cue from others and put a larger ball underneath the head. I made do, as explained below.

So, how did customizing these figures go?  Quite well, overall.

Below, the hobby weapons of construction used for most of the work - only thing not shown is the Dremel tool: X-Acto blade knife, pin vise, forceps [medical clamp], small hack saw, AKA a jeweler's saw.

Above, an artillerist loses his head - I wanted a helmet, and more diversity with the artillerists. Besides, since they are behind the lines, I figured they'd be going for comfort and a cap! The jewelers saw blade is very delicate and breaks easily [or I'm doing something wrong] but with a light hand, I was finally able to cut off all the heads I needed and the blade survived. 

I wonder if I bought the wrong blades for this thing....? There's definitely a ratio of tooth size and strength, I may have too fine a blade for the weight of the saw itself.  It did work in the end, however, and gave a very clean cut.

I started a little hole in the torso / neck with the X-Acto, then used the pin vise with a drill bit to get a good start, then finished it off in a couple seconds with the Dremel tool and a larger drill bit that matched the stem of the heads. NOTE: The Dremel really goes too fast for this type of work, I wish I had something else that had a much lower RPM.  Still, it only takes a minute or so for the entire process.  

Below, female casualty has lost her head!  Doctor is attempting repairs with a pin vise!   Where did he study medicine, anyway - on line???

Below, final product. Isabellino cap [US Army garrison cap] head instead of the woman's head with splayed out hair. This casualty now has some options...

Another replacement, this is the artillerists head with - I believe - a "Trubia" helmet, a domestic Spanish helmet similar to the German coal-scuttle helmet.  Also similar to the Czech helmet, far as I can tell.  While it looks large on the female's body, I'm OK with that as the helmet's are probably "one size fits none" or if there were size options then they would have been badly organized by Republicans anyway!

Sometimes there isn't a neck on the figure due to sculpting and cutting. The heads as pictured above, do not have necks. So what I did was attach it a bit "high" as though there was a neck there...

...which does look a bit 'pencil-necked' from certain angles...

...then I put a big drop of "extra-thick Maxi-Cure" on it [the viscous super-glue].

Final result: Three artillerists, two with changed heads - an Isabellino and a wool knit cap. 

I ended up re-positioning an arm on the left fellow, who is the stiffest of the bunch - I think he'll be yanking the lanyard. 

"Female" casualties with Adrien [French] helmet and wool knit cap.

Their hight makes them useful for picking up, hmmm....

Same, with Isabellino and wool knit caps.

Same, Trubia helmet and Isabellino.

What will these eight casualties do?  Well, perhaps objective markers, perhaps "pinned" markers, etc.  I'm not 100% certain yet.  It'd be more money and work, but it'd be nice to have a wounded fig as pinned markers for each infantry unit.

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As for the dispatch riders...these are good sculpts, one is actively riding [a bit upright in posture] the other is standing and waiting. 

After some thought, I decided to assemble them completely, and paint them assembled. It's a constant debate with people, but it saves needless painting and cyanoacrylate glue holds better on bare metal anyway. 

I used the slo-zap glue for the rider's seat.

Their hands had no indentation for the grips, so I filed a groove into each hand...

...which will both look better and hold better with the glue.

Yeah, the handlebars need to be re-shaped. I ended up cutting out the center, and doing some bending which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Hands fit pretty well now!

Final result, a solid, natural pose.

Being a [former - I decided I like my body parts attached] motorcyclist, I thought the pose on the box of the standing dispatcher was unnatural - hard to relax on a bike like that as the bike tips. I find it easier to sit astride the bike when standing around. 

Fig fit nicely like this, also, I might add...

...with both feet and seat nicely settled and glued in.

Also had to move his arm over a bit.

I think he looks natural enough - just waiting for the next message to be sent!

This all took a couple of hours of work. I enjoy doing some converting and either refreshing my skills or learning new ones. These figures will give some character and satisfaction to my project, so I'm very happy with the result.

Feel free to ask any question clarifying how I did the work.