This 1:285 scale pre-built plastic model of an Adder is produced by “Catalyst Game Labs” and can be found together with an Executioner, Timber Wolf, Nova, and Grendel in the company’s “Battletech: Clan Invasion” boxed set. All the pre-assembled miniatures in this “supplement to the BattleTech: A Game of Armoured Combat box” come with an assortment of Alpha Strike cards depicting various colour schemes. But as I plan to use this particular sculpt as a Sopwith class British War Walker for an upcoming Weird War Two campaign using some homemade rules, I decided to go with a predominantly light brown palette.
“Codenamed Puma by Inner Sphere forces who first engaged it”, the 33mm tall figure was initially given a double undercoat of “Vallejo” Earth and shaded in “Citadel” Agrax Earthshade. It was then dry-brushed using (more) “Vallejo” Earth with a softly-bristled make-up blusher brush, and had its rather prominent cockpit’s windows ‘picked out’ with a dab of “Citadel” Abaddon Black.
Originally, my plan for this machine’s colour scheme was to somewhat match that of the two Shadow Cat models I have previously painted as Hawker class British War Walkers. So with that in mind I started to apply a layer of “Vallejo” Heavy Green to the light Clan OmniMech’s legs. However, I soon gave up on this idea as I simply didn’t like the overall look of the contrasting colours in that area, and frankly was finding it devilishly hard to get my brush-tip underneath the squat-looking sculpt’s blocky carapace.
In the end I therefore settled upon simply ‘picking out’ a couple of the Adder’s much more prominently-placed armour plates with a combination of “Vallejo” Heavy Green and “Citadel” Biel-Tan Green. Before applying some “Vallejo” Gunmetal, and later a splattering of “Citadel” Nuln Oil, to the model’s pair of Extended Range (ER) Particle Projector Cannons, some air vents, shoulder-joints, ankle-joints and knee-joints. In addition, I repainted the figure’s nose cone, having felt the “Vallejo” Heavy Red I had initially decided upon made the war machine look too much like Rudolph the Reindeer.
Lastly, I dug out three of the smallest Union Flag transfers I could find within my assortment of “Decal Details” and placed them upon the three (Ferro-Fibrous) armour plates I had previously pigmented green. This really made the red, white and blue of the national colours stand out, and gave the small-sized mech a distinctly patriotic feel.
Alongside my latest addition to my ever-growing “Battletech” collection I have also finished the largest (and final) "Bolt Action" Shell Hole produced by “Warlord Games” for this month’s Season Of Scenery Challenge. This dual-crater was super-glued onto an 80mm “Citadel” round base and given an Abaddon Black undercoat, a rough layer of Doombull Brown, a highlight of Rakarth Flesh and finally, a splash Agrax Earthshade wash.
That is a smashing little mech and I love the way you've painted it, I think it's my favourite so far! the shot of the three British and three German looks awesome!, now you need a few 6mm Panzers and Churchills 😉.
First to finish something for Dave's Challenge too! We are showing of mow aren't we😁.
Cheers Roger.
I have to agree, giving them a slightly different scheme makes for a bit more variation while still keeping them coherent with the other mechs on the same side. And the craters look good; seeing you, Dave, John and Roger make a start on scenery kicked me into actually doing something LOL!
Great looking Mech. I like the added green panels they look great. A good sculpt and a good paint job. In the group shot the British mechs have the edge for me in terms of the overall look, but both look fab! Good looking craters that can be used in numerous games very useful bits of terrain.
Great work on the latest Mech Simon, I personally like the difference in colouration between the different classes, gives each a very individual feel.
Great work also on finishing the last of your craters