Populating Mayhem City 18 (The Assault Group Russian Mafia)

This week I'll be showing off my most recent trio of figures, and they'll be from a bit of a different line of figures.   The Assault Group make a lot of miniatures covering modern and historical warfare, but not many of them have been used in the Zombie Apocalypse setting, so far as I have seen.  I liked the look of a few sets in the Organize Crime line, so I grabbed a set.   They are a little smaller in scale compared to most of my other figures, but not so much that it becomes an issue on the board.  I bought a set of four, but for some reason only primed 3 at once, and so only 3 got painted.  I'm unsure of whether or not the fourth will wind up in the same scheme or not.

These three got painted up in somewhat of a military styling, with camouflage pants, but I picture them as being more of an eccentric militia than official military.   These guys might make great saviours or wind up being just as much a threat as the walking dead.  All three are armed with the sub machinegun version of the AK74.  I really wanted figures armed with AK47s, but there are just not simple to find.  (The Assuault Group does have several, but none with the look I was hoping for.)

 

Each of these three has a nice amount of character, but I have not named any of them (yet).   On the far left is an older militia member.  His grey beard indicates that he's been around a while, and I like to think that he's been in a milita for most of his adult years.   He's been prepared for the communist invasion for as long as he can remember, and probably feels he is well suited to be a leader as the zombie uprising begins.   

Next up with the blond flowing locks is the figure I've been calling Fabio so far.  The name may not stick.  At a first glance this guy looks like he may be too pretty to be in a milita, but the way he holds his machine gun makes up the first glance opinions.   

Last in the line is the headbanded fellow, wearing a long sleeve shirt.  He is in a pretty nice crouched position in order to better target the zombies.     I was a pretty big fan of all three of these sculpts, especially with how aggressively each is posed.  I tend to enjoy figures who are aiming their weapons moreso than those who are just carrying them, and so of course I like this set.  In fact, the reason I picked them up was because I was considering doing a headswap on the Fabio character and using him as my main character for ATZ.    When the time came however, I liked the figure too much to do so.

Hope you enjoyed the trio, all comments are appreciated.

Populating Mayhem City 17 (Bobby Jackson Thugs Ladies)

A bit of good news for this update, I've done some rearranging of lights and produced (in my opinion) pictures that are far better than what I had been using lately.   Since that is the case, I will include a few extra pictures of previous updates at the end, just so there are better pictures of older figures.  Now onto this week.

Boomsheeka on the left is actually only about 95% finished, as I still need to add some sort of highlights to here hair, which is just a solid black at this point.  Booksheeka is a big girl, to say the least, but comes unarmed.  I considered adding a weapon slung over her shoulder, but realized that she wasn't likely to become a regular part of any zombie fighting force or ganger, and that I could always use more unarmed civilians, so I left her as such.   She looks tough enough to handle herself without weapons anyway.
Next to Boomsheeka is Blix Moonbeam, local hippy chick.  She may preach the ways of loving your fellow man, and just enjoying some good weed, but that didn't stop her from picking up a gun when the Zombie apocalypse hit.  Fortunately, her gun is so small and tucker behind her back that I could get away with using her as another unarmed civilian if needed.
I'm a pretty big fan of both these figures and how they came out, but I think Blix is just a little bit better.  I also put a little bit more effort into her paint job with the tie dye bandanna and peace logo on her shirt.  I wasn't too happy with how her lips came out (a bit clownish) so I may try to fix that at some point.

Here's another look at the last two week's worth of updates.   The Professional faces off with Aldo and Baldo.   Of course, my camera skills aren't great so I have a bit of the 'focused on one figure and blurring the others' effect going on.  I should have put them in a straight line.  Regardless, this shows them better than the pictures I used last week.

And finally, an updated picture of the zombie horde.  It is not overwhelmingly large yet, but it is getting to the point that would be too much for a small group to survive.  And perhaps, almost enough to game with.   A bit of the same focus issues here, but I think it looks okay for a horde shot.

All comments and criticisms are appreciated.

Populating Mayhem City 16 (The Professional - Wargames Foundry)

Just another quick little update with another survivor on the streets of Mayhem City.  He comes from Foundry's set labelled Professionals, and he looks like he is just that.

Dressed in an expensive suit, with a long trenchcoat, this killer for hire comes armed with a high powered assault rifle.   He definitely looks like he is better armed and/or prepared for the Zombie Apocalypse than the average civilian would be.

In actuality, as awesome as this figure is, I can't see myself using him often in an ATZ setting.   He just comes across as too confident, too well armed and too...professional.  As a hired gun in a modern conflict scenario, he would have much more use.   

Sorry again for the lousy pictures.   Got a much better camera, but haven't figure out the settings.  I think alot of the crappyness has to do with poor lighting.  Anyway, I hope you liked this guy, who I did not name, but simpley refer to him as the Foundry pack name: The Professional.  All comments appreciated.

Populating Mayhem City 15 (More of Bobby Jackson's Thugz)

Welcome back to those that are still reading, a couple of more thugs have shown up on the street of Mayhem City.  Whether it is to create problems for the police or do their best to survive the Zombie Apocalypse, this duo is prepared to bring the fight to the table.

Today I present the brothers Aldo Prince and Jack "Baldo" Prince, affectionately known as Aldo and Baldo.  Also sports a nice afro, and a machine pistol.  His hand post indicates he may be smoking, though my figure has no cigarette in his hand.   Also is the younger and sportier of the brothers, as he is rocking a basketball jersey and short (for some reason, on top of long pants).  Of course, to dress to impress, he has his share of bling shown off.

Baldo is a bit of a custom figure, as his head is taken from a different Bobby Jackson figure.  What can I say, I liked the original head from this figure better somewhere else.  That will come in a future update.  Baldo also favours the colour red, like his brother.  A little more mature however, hs is satisfied with a regular old pistol to do his talking.  More bling of course, one is never too mature for bling.

The pictures aren't the best.  My wife got a new camera for Christmas, that once I figure out, should produce much better pictures.  However, my biggest problem is lighting.  I need to pick up some better lamps for photos.

As with all Bobby Jackson's thugs I liked these figures a lot, despite modifying one a little bit.  These guys look a little overwhelmingly red as a duo, but they blend in nicely with the rest of the gang.   The full names don't really stick with me, as they are simply called Aldo and Baldo.  That started as Afro and Baldo, but I preferred the rhyming scheme.

As always, comments and advice on the figures is appreciated.

Also wanted to take a moment to point out a new blog/store I stumbled across last night.  Demo's laser cut terrain is looking like a nice cheap way to quickly put together some buildings.  As much as I love worldworkgames' cardstock terrain, the time investment there may keep me from ever getting ATZ on the table.  I will be picking some of Demo's designs up when I get a chance.  Check them out here.

Populating Mayhem City 14 (More of Juno's Crew from Wargames Foundry)

The last couple of posts have shown some of a gangers from the streets of Mayhem.   This time we'll be looking at a different breed of criminal.   These guys aren't robbing folks on a the street, partaking in drivebys or holding up liquor stores.   That doesn't make them any less deadly.  These guys are more along the lines of multi-million dollar jewel thieves, intimidating and blackmailing politicians.   Here they are.

Two brothers in crime, they're names are Vincent and Victor (Vega?).   Clearly Vincent is a play off of the pulp fiction character of the same name and look, but I don't think I'll ever be using him as that character, just the name.   Victor Vega would technically be Michael Madsen's character from Resevoir Dogs (and Vincent Vegas cousin, I believe).   This miniature looks nothing like him, again I'm just using the name.

These two are both decked out in black tuxes, perhaps they were at a night out at the casino when the Zed apocalypse begins.  Luckily, they are both always armed.   Vincent has a nice BA pistol that should be good for dealing with survivors and zombies a like.   Victor, a little more on the wild side, has an MP5K for indiscriminately spraying down rivals.

I'm a pretty big fan of these figures as I think Juno's Crew is one of Foundry's best sets.   These guys have a great theme together, and just scream organized crime   It would be my top recommended set from the site. Do be warned Val (from the last Juno review) is a significant amount taller than the rest.   Speaking of which...

There's the crew, all three brothers as I treat them.   I picture Vincent being a bit of the smarter, leader character, Val being the strongest (he's huge) and while not stupid, he prefers to follow rather than lead.   Victor on the end has a pose that just screams Wild Thing, so he is the loose cannon of the group.   I think this trio would be a fun survivor group to play in ATZ.   I like their chances.


What do you guys think, all comments are appreciated.

Populating Mayhem City 13 (Bobby Jackson's Gangsta Thugs)

Welcome back to the hood of Mayhem, where we will introduce a few more of it's inhabitants.   They are more great figures from Bobby Jackson's line.  They need little enough introduction, so let's go.

Now there's a tough looking crew you don't want to cross, zombie apocalypse or not.  Starting on the far left we have Heavy C.  He may be gangsta, and he may have two pistols, but his too small t-shirt and belly showing make me view this character as almost comedy fodder.   Even his pose makes him look like he's about one step away from falling on his face.  Next up is Shades.   He's advancing with a pistol drawn, and always wears his sunglasses, day or night.   Under his jacket he's got a hockey jersey on (probably Boston, but could be a retro Pittsburgh).  His pants are an urban blue camouflage style that I didn't really plan on doing.  After starting with a blue base, the highlight I choose was far too bright.  So I decided to really over do it with the blue, and then added some black marks as well.  I'm really happy with it, and pretty sure it came out better than it would had I planned to do camo from the beginning.

Next up is Jimmy Money, with his gun lined up for the deadly kill shot.   He's got a dollar sign charm around his neck for his namesake.  For some reason I picture Shades and Money as brothers (no pun intended), and will treat them as such in scenarios.  Last of the crew is Cliff.  He's a lot less flashy than his cohorts.   Perhaps he is a little bit older, and a little more experienced than his fellow gangers, but this is less of a game to him.   It's not about dancing around and posing with your gun sideways.  It's life or death on the street, and for that reason he carries a big gun, the only in his crew to carry more than a pistol.   Cliffs shotgun will probably make him fair better than the others in both modern/urban combat and a zombie apocalypse.  

All in all, these are great figures.  I have a harder time picking a favourite out of this crew.  Jimmy Money and Cliff are probably my favourite.  If I had to choose one, it would probably be Cliff, just for his uniqueness in weapon choice.

The gang is growing into quite a force.   I'm really satisfied with what they bring to the table.   Here is a picture of them so far:

Thanks for reading, all comments are appreciated.

Populating Mayhem City 12 (Bobby Jackson's Gangsta Thugs)

Welcome back, and it's time to introduce a few miniatures from a great line:  Bobby Jackson's Thugs.  This crew is a set of great sculpts, totally nailing the gangsta feel.  Let's look at what I have painted so far.

On the far right you have my favourite of the entire line, who I have named Tyrone.   Tyrone fits to role perfectly.  He is intimidating, muscled, draped in gold and holding his pistol in the dreaded 'kill shot' angle.   Once again I made a small attempt at checkered/plaid clothing as this lad's boxer shorts are exposed.  
Second in line is the duo of Sammy and Little Walter (names stolen from a book I just read).   Now while most of this line is clearly meant to be made up of mean thugs, I like to view this figure a little differently.  Sure, it is possible that the sculptor intended this figure to be a trashy mom bringing her baby along to a gun fight, but I prefer to view it more as a desperate mother fighting to keep her child alive.  Perfect for the zombie apocalypse, where I am certain this figure will find many uses.  I tried painting her up in a motherly colours rather than a tough girl set (where I probably would have used some black colouring).  The yellow shoes look a little goofy, so I may try to add some blue there as well.  Clearly her base needs to be touched up as well, but that is a simple task.

Last in line, and wielding dual pistols is Billy Z.  Veteran street thug in his early 20s, he's been in enough shootouts to recognize the benefit of some kevlar body armour.  Dressed all in black because he is certain it makes him look tougher, Billy Z is a perfect addition for street gang games or zombie apocalypse.

There's nothing not to like about this set of figures, and would be a must have set for anyone in a modern, urban setting (whether there are zombies or not). Every figure in the set has a dynamic pose that looks like it comes right out of a rap video.   I plan on using most of these figures as rival gangers in ATZ, but some can fit the role as a survivor as well.   All will also work as a gang in any modern conflict, such as could be used with the Flying Lead ruleset.

That's all for this week, all comments are appreciated.