First Test Run of Aeronautic Imperialis: "Fly Navy" versus "The Space Orcs"

A cloudless sky over Drakon-514, a simple patrol to test the refurbished engines but a wailing alert shattered a peaceful dream as an Orc Dakka Dakka Jet appeared as a tiny pin-prick on the horizon. Joss froze he only had his integral armament as the Techs did not want to risk causing an unnecessary malfunction, he just hoped the interloper was not tooled-up with long range missiles or better still fast asleep at the wheel (see below, the Navy Thunderbolt closed with the Orc Dakka Dakka Jet): 

The planes turned into one another. the Orc was no slouch as it was he who fired first. Joss slightly out of position, paid dearly for his early error as the NAvy airframe took a beating. He could hear his instructor cursing his incompetence (see below, thankfully the Thunderbolt is made of stern stuff, being able to soak up three hits, whereas the Dakka Dakka Jet is a more flimsy, with two structure points):  

The planes whizzed by. Joss marveled at the simplicity of the Dakka Dakka Jet in comparison to the sophisticated Navy Thunderbolt and its ability to "turn on the gas". It was pure speed, but in overshooting its position the Orc had given Joss an opportunity (see below: the hunter is now being the hunted):  

The Orc had the initiative but was not reacting with its OODA loop now more predictable than the Thunderbolts. With a seeming less ease the Thunderbolt seemed to move itself into position (see below, medium range is the killing range for Thunderbots, whereas Dakka Dakka Jets have to get in close - if the Orc had gotten in closer earlier it would have been Joss' loss being reported):   

The Dakka Dakka Jet was now atoms spinning crazily earthward, to scatter across the sandy, barren plains of Drakon-514 (see below, the was killed two times over and came to a catastrophic ending, not even time to feel the shame of fear):  

Joss dipped his wings, circled slowly and headed for home. Already the Squadron Leader had sent him an automated congratulations as the computers chimed with his next mission details. In the air war over Drakon-514 there would be no time for luxuries, his next mission might not be against an inexperienced "Orcling" as this one was.

40K Games Workshop - Aeronautica Imperialis - Orc Dakka Dakka Jet

The current state of the "Painting Tray" (see below, a 15mm Persian War Tower and a GW 40K Orc Dakka Dakka Jet primed and undercoated with Airfix Acrylic Grey (01)):

My experimentation with Citadel Contrast Paints continues, the 'Skeleton Hoard' is used as a deep wash as I don't think it gives much colour paint coverage (see below, the detail of the Dakka Dakka Jet panelling comes out very nicely): 

The "Shade" colours are applied. One of the things I am doing with this model is trying to apply the principle of "two milky layers of paint is better than one thick layer" (see below, Vallejo Game Colour Gory Red [fuselage], Gun Metal [engine, guns and shiny bits] and Orange Fire [highlight trim]):

The Citadel Contrast Paint 'Skeleton Hoard' is applied to dull down with a dirty brown wash on the jet (see below, somehow dull and dirty is very Orc, leave the shiny stuff to the Elves): 

The "Base" colours are applied (see below, Vallejo Game Colour Scarlet Red - Gun Metal (again) - Golden Yellow triplet, with sight concern that the yellow looks "too fresh"):

A slightly closer look at the model at this stage (see below, the metal and red look good though - still concerns about the yellow): 

Repeat the Citadel Contrast Paint 'Skeleton Hoard' is applied again to dull down the model with a dirty brown wash (see below, once again better): 

Highlighting the yellow but trying to do it subtle, also doing it now as if it goes wrong I can quickly dull it back down again with my favourite Citadel Contrast Paint (see below, Vallejo Game Colour Sun Yellow):  

WIP with the "red layer". The process of applying the highlight, or should I say an "extensive highlight" as it begged to pretty much cover the whole model again, is influenced with the several milky layers of paint approach as it tends to encourage subtle blending and it successively tones each layer into another - but it takes time (see below, the Vallejo Game Colour Blood Red is half way through the red layer and I am really liking the look of the "final" red layer):  

OK the "red" is done! I like it, it says a big "Orc jet statement" to me, as if it is yelling "come and take me on if you think you are hard enough" (see below, just the metal bits to bring out in a final, more subtle, highlight): 

With the metal shined up we have a "factory fresh" Orc Dakka Dakka Jet (see below, most shiny metal got a final Gun Metal retouch, but the side protrusions got a Vallejo Model Colour Old Gold):  

Taking the now staple Citadel Contrast Paints 'Skeleton Hoard' pot, watering it down lightly the "factory fresh" is turned into "operational dirty" (see below, that will do for now as it is mounted on its flying base and put on the "wargame ready" shelf):    

Next: Calling out for some Orc Dakka Dakka Jet friends to make a flight of three. Note: I chose not to attach the rockets and bombs at this stage to keep all areas accessible, after all it was a small (but perfectly formed) model.

Respect and kudos to this You Tube inspirational video, many thanks as after seeing this the idea of the painting this model became irresistable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22elLsWjHxk

Aeronautica Imperialis - Orcs in Space?

OK so know it is not really anywhere near historical, I mean Orcs in Space, really .. but the game pays homage to the best WWI Aerial Combat Systems, GDW Blue Max and Canvas Eagles, I've played, so it hit me in a soft spot right between the eyes (and it was classed as a birthday present from my brother so I had an excuse). The models are also very, very cool in a Steam-Punk sort of way(see below - an un-boxing to follow methinks):

The models remind me of Warlord Games latest Mig Alley Korean War selection (see Renko's superb rendition of Soviet silver camouflage) and immediately after writing that I can see myself falling towards Blood Red Skies (BRS) and the Jet-Age expansion (see below - Note: I could do that because I am not committed to any "jet age scale", whereas BRS WWII has the 1/144 to 1/300 scale "Why am I doing this again in a different scale?" question bobbing around in my head!):

It is also a "game in a box so you don't have to expand out and besides it's "Fantasy-Science-Fiction" so anything goes you can bring your own stuff in. If you get a game from it then what's the problem, otherwise I will be forever the collector and never the player. Maybe I should do some 1/300 aircraft as after all I have always played with the kit Renko has "coerced" (like I needed much pushing) into getting!

Afterthought:
Besides it is another one of games that the father can be shot down by his son (or daughter, or wife) with no loss of prestige (that noted I still don't forgive that dodgy rule call in X-Wing called by my [so-called] friends that lined up my TIE Fighter in front of that Rookie Rebel, being the exception to the rule - Unforgiven)!

Somethings are just for Fun: Gretchins

I was wandering round my local Boyes store and came across the "model" aisle and saw they had started stocking GW products, with a discount. GW is a fringe interest of mine, more on the Sci-Fi figures of "interest front" as opposed to playing 40K. Space Crusade is the closest I really come. The big stuff has frightening price tags but oddities like "Gretchins" almost accommodate sensible pricing - 11 miniatures for under £9 was 'almost' value. However the animation of the characters finally sold it to me (see below, the big dude in the middle is their Orc master): 

However, for the record, I am not a fan of "Orcs in Space". It's all a bit of Space Crusade fun really!