Colony 87

It's not that common that a crowdfunding project ends with the delivery of the goods when they are supposed to be delivered and with the final product being what was really promised, if not even better. Well, this was the case of the Colony 87 Kickstarter campaign!

Axiom form Magpie and Old Lead (why the frak aren't you following that blog? It has some unnaturally good stuff!) is the mastermind behind this gorgeous project. The lack of sci-fi unarmed civilians was something really annoying, and many people were asking around the forums for suppliers or good ideas for conversions. Well, Axiom was the hero of the day, he just took the responsibility of actually doing something about it!

Let me show the six models from his first quite successful campaign.

First of all, Lord Manduc Greiss:

 

In his perfect Lobster Uniform

I really love the charm of this one. Not overdone at all and yet with all the attitude you could expect from a planetary Governor or high nobility of the Imperium. Ideas of scenarios using this mini just come to mind naturally. I bet the Arbites are gonna have some interesting times trying to protect the big fish...

His consort, Lady Greiss, was quite a challenge. My first idea was going into a dark palette, full of purple and black. But I changed my mind in the last minute, as I thought that her bodysuit was asking for a lighter palette. Then, the combination colour for that would be red, mating Lord Greiss own palette.

However, the results were disappointing. I didn't like where I was going to...

 

She was looking too Adepta Sororita

 

Sooo, back to the original idea...

Now she looks properly dark, gloomy... Imperial

She had to look distant, cold; I thought that was going to work better here. Well, she looks imposing and the perfect match for Lord Greiss...

Next one, Wandering Alexei, space pilgrim:

 

Raggedy pilgrim

This sculpt is sweet. Simple but charming. Though being in green, I believe the tunic kinda resembles an Adeptus Mechanicus vibe. Hmm, there may be a nice background there to be exploited...

Next one is Barcoon Krobosh, emmissary of the Amphirans:

 

Alien colour combination. Fashionnable among the Amphirans this season

It looks like some kind of diplomatic merchant to me, ready to trade alien goods to anyone who dares to interact with xenos. Some kind of alien Rogue Trader or its equivalent. So it had to look opulent, not just wearing some space fatigues. That drove me to paint some trimming on the cape:

 

Travelling cape. I believe I could have added more colour

I can perfectly imagine him with his Piscean escort (wink, wink), so maybe this is just the beginning oa warband of his own!

Ahem, but for the moment, let's go on with these. Kay Dee, the porter, is an inspired design:

 

No, it's not a life vest

 

 I had never thought of a porter, and the idea is great. That's the kind of variety in characters that made me jump into this kickstarter, the stuff that really adds life to your table.

But of course he is the porter to someone, in this case Pash Grolin, wandering merchant. I personally love this model, it's pure Blanchitsu. I begun to paint the vest in blue, I thought it could work. But as soon as I applied the first brush stroke I totally regretted. What was I doing? Blue? Seriously? I couldn't use blue on a such a Blanchesque mini! :D

 

Red. It had to be red, of course

 

 Ahh, much better :P

The whole group looks this way:

 

What a band of such different guys. What's not to love?

 I'm really satisfied with this kickstarter. The minis are quite impressive, both in design and good casting quality, and all the campaign run really smooth. Whenever a wave 2 of Colony 87 is released, I'm falling for it again!