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Writer's pictureBlaxkleric

"The Battle Taxi APC Is Lightly Armoured And Armed…”

“…And ideal for low intensity warfare and urban conditions.”

This 15mm scale Grey Adder APC Battle Taxi Lifter is sold by “Alternative Armies” and can be purchased as Pack Code IAF036G from the company’s "The Ion Age" range. Supplied as a single piece resin vehicle, the “hover” can apparently carry eight troopers and two crew, and is approximately 60mm long, 45mm wide and 25mm tall.


Due to my desire to use the miniature as a proxy for a “Rogue Trader” era Crimson Fists space marine Rhino, I super-glued it to a large-sized plastic "Flames Of War" stand by “Battlefront Miniatures” and primed it using two coats of “Vallejo” Heavy Blue. I then shaded the entire automobile with “Citadel” Nuln Oil. Ordinarily, I would next dry-brush the entire ensemble with (more) “Vallejo” Heavy Blue, however, with my initial (not) Crimson Fists I left the infantry and vehicles alone without highlighting the “Citadel” Shade in order to capture the deep dark blue I’ve always associated with the crusading, fleet-based Adeptus Astartes Chapter.

"There is only the Emperor!"

I did though depart from my recipe when it came to the Battle Taxi Lifter’s rear door and entry hatch, as “Games Workshop” no longer produce their excellent Bloodletter glaze, so I was forced through necessity to combine a couple of layers of “Vallejo” Heavy Red with some “Citadel” Carroburg Crimson. This blending didn’t really create an exact match for my old colour scheme, but should hopefully be close enough once the models are on the tabletop and viewed from a distance.


As some final steps I coated the vehicle’s air-cushion with a few applications of “Citadel” Abaddon Black, and ‘picked out’ its front mounted Angis 12.5mm AP Gun, its large engines and side vents with a little “Vallejo” Gunmetal and “Citadel” Nuln Oil. I also gave a couple of its details a lick of “Vallejo” White and Pale Grey to suggest they were bulbs of some kind, and attached an old “Games Workshop” Crimson Fists decal onto the miniature’s rear.

"Flames Of War" WIPs - An Officer, a Panzershreck loader and a Panzershcreck operator

Sticking with 15mm, albeit 'proper' historical stuff, I have been getting the base layers finished some more of the German soldiers from the “Hit The Beach” starter set for “Flames Of War”. I’ve actually finished working on the first half of the Panzergrenadier Company HQ figures, so for a change of pace have predominantly focused my attention upon the four Panzerschreck anti-tank team models which come in the “Battlefront Miniatures” box.


I actually goofed up somewhat in assembling this pair of two-man heavy-weapon units, as I permanently attached them to a couple of three-hole small bases instead of two-hole ones. Luckily, the difference isn’t game-breaking, as it simply means they’re stood further apart from one another than they would normally.

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undercoat2670
Jul 20, 2021

Nice vehicle looks terrific. Loving your take on the Horus Heresy using non GW stuff. You seem to be building up a sizable force.

Those FoW minis are superb. They seem to have loads of detail for such small scale and I am liking your painting so far, especially the camouflage you have done. Great work!

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Jul 20, 2021
Replying to

Thanks Undercoat. I have a few more 15mm vehicles from the Ion Age range to post/paint over the next few weeks. I certainly have three similarly-sized forces of Blood Angels, Crimson Fists and Imperial Guard. Just need to focus on their chaotic opposition at some point.

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wsd50
Jul 18, 2021

Smashing work on the "not" Rhino, those AA vehicles still look good despite being pretty old designs now!


Good progress on the "Germans" too, you've been turning out some very tempting WW2 stuff of late, be it either true or alternative period 😀


Cheers Roger.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Jul 18, 2021
Replying to

Thanks very much indeed, Roger. I do like the Ion Age vehicles enormously, and have a few more to post about over the coming weeks.


I'm delighted you're enjoying the WW2 stuff, as I've got quite a few Flames of War figures being lined up for posting over the coming weeks 😃

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planetmut
Jul 17, 2021

Lovely work on the battle taxi. Is it Uber or Lyft? LOL! The blue looks really good, and sorry to hear about the lack of Bloodletter. My local games store still sells glazes, I assume they're just the ones they have in stock. Have you tried Amazon or Ebay for it?

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Jul 17, 2021
Replying to

Probably. But I'm lazy (LOL!!!) and have now settled upon Carroburg Crimson. 😀

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wargamesterrainworkshop
wargamesterrainworkshop
Jul 17, 2021

The tank turned out great Simon, shame GW are stopping their glazes, means I need to find an alternative source now !

Nice progress on your Germans as well, the base problem sounds minimal as you say, they're just further apart.

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Blaxkleric
Blaxkleric
Jul 17, 2021
Replying to

Thanks Dave. With hindsight it might have been better to have dry-brushed my Crimson Fists when I first started working on them. But hopefully the gaming table pics show that they aren't quite so dark blue as the first Battle Taxi APC pics would suggest.


My understanding is that the GW stance is that you don't need glazes anymore as that's what the contrast paints do instead. Yet another reason why I prefer "Vallejo" over "Citadel" - this is now the fourth paint I've solidly used in the past which GW have since withdrawn. So annoying!!!


I think the two-man teams look fine on their stands, Dave. As I say, they're just in different positions to one another than recommended.…

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