Frontline Workshop: Making some Bushido boards.Part 1

Right after last Sunday's Sermon I thought I really ought to actually write an article on making some scenery and stuff. If these prove to be popular you can expect me to go all sticky back plastic and Blue Peter on your ass. For my none British readers please see this awesome (warning may not be awesome) video below, don't worry you don't have to watch it all:

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Review: Antenocitis Workshop Modern K-Rail Barriers

These were perchased primarily for use in games of Infinity. But I'm sure they'd work just as well in 40k or any modern warfare setting based game. They are simply put Jersey type barriers, and act as linear terrain... I'm going to struggle to make these sound interesting, but genuinely they've been really useful.

Product Description

You get 8 of these resin K-Rail barriers in a pack. There dimensions are pretty straight forward, they are 4" in length, just over half an inch wide and three quarters of an inch tall. Don't worry too much there will be photographs with Larry the Ultramarine to give you a sense of scale. They are cast in a pretty firm resin that, for mine at least, were a lovely shade of blue.

What you get in a pack

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550 followers, what already? Time for the third prize draw...

Some of my own Personal collection.

OK right, I've definitely dropped the ball on this one. I figured rather stupidly that it'd take a couple of weeks, maybe months to get anywhere near 550 followers. It's taken precisely 6 days and I'm already half way to 575 followers, which will trigger another prize draw. I think I sold myself short... bugger! Any way a deal is a deal, so I guess it time to cough the third prize draw up now isn't it? All these prize draws are playing bloody havoc with my scheduling though! Any way the third prize was donated by those lovely chaps at Sarissa Precision, and is �40's worth of store credit for you to spend on whatever scenery etc. you want from these MDF laser cutting wizards. Here are a list of reviews of their product on this here Blog:
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Micro Art and Sarissa Precision comparision pictures

This isn't a 'versus' article. This isn't me saying hey, look product 'A' is better than product 'B'. It's just me putting up some quick comparision snaps, as it's something people have asked me to do and I think people might find it useful. I'm sorry that some of my Pods etc are part painted, but I'm trying to get my table started and am in the middle of doing various articles with them so hopefully you'll let me off just this once. I'll do some measurement / height comparisons also, so those of you wanting to mix and match the sets will know what's what.

Walkways and Gantries

So first up we have the walkways from Micro Art Studios and the ganties from Sarissa Precision. First off some vital statistics the height of the MAS upper walkway is 5" whereas the Sarissa Precision upper gantry measures at a height of 6.5" or thereabouts. The MAS lower walkway measures in at 2.5" while the Sarissa Precision lower gantry measures in at roughly 3.5". So as you can see there's a bit of a height difference between the two systems.

In the background you can see the high Gantry from Sarissa Precision, compared with the MAS upper walkway in the foreground. I used the short gantries from Sarissa Precision in these shots.
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Review: System 8 - Gantry System (Sarissa Precision)

I hope you can all appreciate why this gets an 'ABC' award!!!

First things first, these were given to me free of charge to review, so as always I like to make that clear right at the offset so you can make your own mind up about how trustworthy this review is. Secondly the reason that these are being released a little after the initial System 8 launch is that Sarissa Precision decided to add some further supports to the stanchions under their gantries, after some feedback (I'm partly to blame for that - so sorry to those of you who have been eagerly awaiting this stuff). Good to know they listen and respond to customers though. Thirdly, Oh boy is this going to be a big, and I mean BIG review. Rather than review each piece of terrain individually in this range I'm going to review them as a whole 'modular system'. I have no idea how or whether this is going to work or not, within the confines of my normal review structure. However, I feel it's the right approach to take. After all we're talking about a fully modular range of scenery that realistically can't be reviewed as it's constituent parts. That wouldn't be any use to you guys. So if this gets long winded I apologise in advance, but it's for your own good! Just remember you only have to read it, I had to figure it all out and write the damn thing... Oh yeah, and that is yet another Approved by Cats badge!

That's a lot of stuff!!!

Product description

And here my wonderful idea to review this as an 'entire system' hits it's first snag. I'm not reviewing a single product so can't describe the individual pieces as they are many are varied, and ultimately open ended. Bugger. So I'm going to discuss the product in general terms. All the pieces will be precision laser cut HDF. If you buy one of the actual walkways the construction will be formed of a base piece, which two side stanchions insert into. There will then be a number of stanchion support struts, which were added after initial feedback from yours truly. On top of these stanchions will then fit the walkway pieces. Into this walkway piece(s) will then fit the hand rails. A standard walkway kit will be between roughly 8 to 12 pieces. Corner pieces will be less while the various stair options will be considerably more. It is onto the basic gantry sections that all of the gantry upgrade kits (or bling kits as a friend calls them) are then fitted into place. All in all it fits together exceedingly well, and has been cleverly thought out, with pretty much every possible variant you could want or need in the range.
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Review: System 8 Street Canopy with lighting

Waiting for a bus, or having a cigarette... you decide!

I know. Two reviews in one day, I'm spoiling you all again. This time it's for the street canopy with lighting from the Sarissa Precisions System 8 range. Earlier on today I reviewed the Street Lighting Set, and while in the case of those they were basically eye candy or incidental clutter, that can not be said of the Street Canopy. No Sir! These have their uses...

Product description

Well It's a bus shelter, come outdoor cigarette smoking shelter thingy. If you live in the UK or Ireland I'm sure you've seen these sorts of thing spring up outside your local pub as the smoking ban kicks in. Very bizarre. Any way this is Sarissa Precisions futuristic take on these structures. It comes in 6 HDF laser cut pieces, 2 side stanchions, 2 roof sections, 1 base and 1 low level street lamp. There are also 2 laser cut acrylic discs to represent street lights. As with the street light set Sarissa didn't send me the standard clear acrtlic with blue tint for these but this funky orange... yes funky orange is a colour now because I say it is! Don't you argue with me. :P
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Review: System 8 Street lighting Set

Little and Large, and no I'm not talking about the Deva and TAG

Well I thought I'd better get on with reviewing what I refer to as the 'street clutter' products from Sarissa Precisions System 8 range. I'll keep them brief though as they aren't major pieces of terrain. So first up are the street lights...

Product description

Well there aren't really that many piece to put together thankfully. The set comes with 3 tall street lights and 3 short street lights. There are 6 bases to mount them on and you'll have 18 laser cut acrylic discs to go with them to represent the lights. Mine are weird and whacky colours that Sarissa sent me to show off the range of acrylic they could do, but I believe the sets come with a clear acrylic with a slight blue hint... classy looking!
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System 8 terrain launches today!!!

A simple Pod Combo I've used.

Yep as the title says! The Sarissa Precision System 8 terrain is now available to buy. That is all for today as I'm going to have to go to the Police Station to report a crime. You see I woke up yesterday (1/1/2012) with a searing pain in my head and then later discovered that all my money had disappeared!!! The only plausible explanation that I've been able to come up with is that I was clearly bloody mugged. The blaggard must have koshed me over the back of my head, and then made off with my money. It must have happened at some point just after midnight because things get a little bleary after that. Oh yeah here's the price list for the System 8 stuff:

• Habitation Pod - Explorer: �12 ( My Review )
• Habitation Pod - Settler: �16 ( My Review )
• Habitation Pod - Family: �20 ( My Review) )
• Commercial Pod - Plaza: �22.50 (not yet reviewed)
• Industrial Pod - Warehouse: �22.50 ( My Review )
• Roof Access ladder kit (contains 2 ladders): �5
• Pod Trade Sign Set: �2.50 (not yet reviewed)
• Pod Tech Panel Set: �5 (not yet reviewed)
• Pod Internal Wall Set: �5 (not yet reviewed)
• Silo: �7.50 (or 4 Silos with both ladder and support kits for �30) ( My Review )
• Silo Support set, 2 Supports: �5 (see above silo review)
• Silo Vertical Ladder Kit: �5 (see above silo review)
• Silo Horizontal Ladder Kit, 2 Ladders: �5 (see above silo review)
• Shipping Container: �7.50 (or 4 Containers for �25) ( My Review )
• Satellite Array: �7.50 (not yet reviewed)
• Street Lighting x6: �5 ( My Review )
• Street Canopy with Lighting: �5 ( My Review )
• Solar Panel Set: �5 (not yet reviewed)
• Air Con Unit / Access Door: �5 (not yet reviewed)

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Review: System 8 - Warehouse (Sarissa Precision)

Well I really like the range as a whole, and this is my favourite piece

When I first opened my box of free swag I was instantly drawn to this piece of scenery. It's shear size just drew me to it. You see one of the many problems facing you when you first start playing Infinity will be scenery. Most of you will start out using 40k type terrain, but you soon realise that it just doesn't offer enough cover. You need solid blocks of terrain, so you soon move onto big boxes. Then you realise that you've just cut off most of the tabletop and what you need is big solid boxes with interiors. I have to be honest and say that what is currently on the market is great to look at and does its job relatively well. However, none of it covers enough of the board for the price... but this? This warehouse does just that.

Product description

It is a huge feck off warehouse made of laser cut and etched HDF. Its shear bulk means it also gives off the maximum glorious burnt wood smell... full of win. Any way it is constructed of 23 parts and is simplicity itself to construct. There is a base off of which, you build the rest of the kit. There are two end plates one with two garage doors, the other with a single garage door, a doorway and some sort of high level access hatch. There is also a middle support structure that is placed between the two end plates. The 4 wall sections then attache onto the end plates and the middle support structure. Next goes the roof on top of which, goes 4 hand rails. There are also two roof access ladders that come with this kit that comprise of 5 parts each. It stands at roughly 4.5" high, is 8.5" wide and is 11.5" in length.
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Review: System 8 - Silo (Sarissa Precision)

A snipers wet dream. No not the unpainted Guija, the silo!!!

As always the public health warning goes out to you all letting you know that I was gifted this for free by the lovely chaps at Sarissa Precision.Don't ask me what we'll store in silo's in the future, because I just don't know. However, what watching copious amounts of dodgy sci-fi TV programs has taught me is that in the future there will indeed be silo's. Probably lots of them, storing chemical weapons or Soylant Green!

Product description

A bit like the Shipping Containers I reviewed earlier on today, Silo's are something many gamers like to have on their sci-fi themed boards. Like all the other Sarissa Precision scenery this is a laser cut and etched kit. The Silo kit comes with 20 pieces. Comprising of 2 end plates, one blank and one with a hole for a hatch. This is the same hatch construction found on the various Habitation Pods, and comes in 4 parts. There are 8 side walls, one with an etched hatch door, which has a further piece to be glued onto the surface around it and another comes with cut out pin holes for attaching the silo ladders when the silo is deployed on its side. There is also the 'long ladder' for when it is standing up, which comes in 3 parts, 2 side rails and 1 ladder section. There is also a 3 part floor stand for when it is lying on it's side. When lying down its length is 7.5", its width and 2.5" and its height 3.25". When standing up its height is obviously 7.5" and its width and length is 2.5, or thereabouts.
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Review: System 8 - Shipping Containers (Sarissa Precision)

Shipping container and unpainted Guija for size comparison!

I guess when I asked Steve months ago now if they could do a shipping container, that they'd already been considering it. I mean lets face it, everyone knows how useful shipping containers are in games right? They're a great way to fill out a board and block LoS... besides the AT-43 Shipping Containers are now worth more than their weight in platinum!!! As with the other pieces from the System 8 range I've reviewed Sarissa Precision were kind enough to make this an early Christmas present.

Product description

This could arguably be the most anticipated product launch of the year. Seriously forget Nintendo's weird looking Wii U, I'm not even bothered by Ridley Scott's new film Prometheus and genuinely I'm no longer excited about playing Uncharted on the move with the PS Vita. Nope, I've now got access to a cheap cool looking futuristic shipping container for my games of Infinity! Ahem... yeah, that makes me an �ber geek. As always it's a laser cut and etched HDF. It has 10 components. 4 long sides, 2 end plates and 4 external supports. The vital statistics are as follows, it's 7" long, 3" wide and 3" high, these are rough measurements.
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Review: System 8 - Habitation Pod Family (Sarissa Precision)

The Habitation Pod Family - with obligatory Guija!

So this is the last of the three reviews I'll be doing today. The previous two for the 'Habitation Pod Explorer' and the 'Habitation Pod Settler' pretty much say all I want to say about the overall range. By now I think you all are probably more than aware of how much I like this stuff. As before I'm looking at this primarily as a good solid piece of Infinity terrain and yep Sarissa Precision gave me this for free as well, so as always again just take that into consideration when reading this review, I personally don't think it has affected my judgement of this as a product but you might feel differently.

Product description

As before this is a precision laser cut and etched piece of HDF scenery. Again as with the other Pods the etched pattern looks like metal panelling. Its the biggest of the Pod system so far and standing at 4" high like the other two Pods. It retain the settler Pods 'length' of 8.5" while adding a bit more girth... sorry width! At 8.5" wide it doubles precisely the width of the other two Pods in the range. There are some 25 pieces to the Family Pod. There are the 6 obligatory side walls that all the Pods have. The 2 end plates come with 2 large windows that can be popped out, as well as the doors found on the other Pods. A floor piece and a roof piece and 2 support beams for underneath the pod. You get 2 very long hand rails and 4 long hand rails for the roof. There is also the same roof hatch that comes with the other Pods and as before is in 4 parts.
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Review: System 8 - Habitation Pod Settler (Sarissa Precision)

Hey look it's that unpainted Guija again! Oh yeah and the Settler Pod.

Right I guess I better just get on with this one hadn't I? As before I'm primarily reviewing this as a piece of Infinity terrain and also as before this was free from Sarissa Precission. So you decided whether that has influenced me as a reviewer or not!

Product description

As with the previous smaller 'Habitation Pod Explorer' this is a precision, laser cut piece of HDF scenery perfect for futuristic skirmish games. The surface has the same sort of metal paneling look etched into it that the previous Pod did as well. And again if you're a fan of the distinctive odour of burnt wood, this product won't disappoint you! As for the constructions vital stats? Like the Explorer Pod the Settler Pod stands at roughly 4" high and is exactly the same width, 4.25". Where the Settler differs from the Explorer is in its length, and as any true honest women will tell you, length is important! It's 8.5" long, which is a full 3.5" longer than the Explorer Pod. The kit comes in 25 pieces. There are 6 side wall sections to generate that hex tube shape. Two end plates with a door, the same as those found on the Explorer Pod. A floor piece and a roof piece. 2 support beams for underneath the pod for raising it off of the floor and attaching the Pod either to it's supplied base or onto the roof of another Pod. You get 4 long hand rails and 2 short hand rails for the roof. Finally there is also the roof hatch, which as before comes in 4 pieces. Just a side note the Pod doesn't come with the access ladders shown in the first picture at the top of the page, although they can be brought separately.
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Review: System 8 - Habitation Pod Explorer (Sarissa Precision)

My trusty unpainted Guija standing next to the Pod for comparison

Right I've got a bloody lot of stuff to get through in the next few days with these reviews. Firstly I'm going to apologise to those of you who don't play Infinity right off of the bat, I'm reviewing these very much with games of Infinity in my mind. Sure much of what I say will be directly applicable to other futuristic skirmish games, just maybe not all. I might stick some plastic skull all over them and do a 40k article though... or maybe not! So yep Sarissa Precision sent me a feck load of stuff to review, and I want to say thanks to them for doing so because it was totally awesome of them, and it is appreciated. Yep all this stuff was free, so as always I'll put my hands up and let you guys judge whether I'm being fair or not...

Product description

Its a compact HDF piece of scenery designed for use with 28mm sci-fi skirmish games. Sure you could put your Napoleonics or Teutonic Knights next to them... but if you do, expect to get worried glances from concerned friends. All the pieces are laser cut and therefore fit wonderfully well together, look totally spiffing and comes replete with burned wood smell. Various details are etched into the surface with lasers too. It comes in roughly 21 parts, there are 6 side wall sections giving the building its hex shape, 2 end plates with doors, a roof and a floor (handy), 2 suspension supports that attach the Pod either to its base provided or onto the roof of another pod. There are also 4 hand rails to go on top of the roof and a roof hatch made out of 4 individual pieces. So what are it's vital statistics? These are the rough figures, but height = 4", length = 5", width = 4.25". There are also two push out doors and windows on the kit, these can be left in or removed as you see fit.
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Interview: Steve Cummings Sarissa Precision

Yes that's the Warehouse. Yes that's a Guija TAG. Yes it's that big!!!

Right yesterday I blew your socks off with a World Exclusive (let me have my moment of glory) and today I'm bringing you all a brief interview with one of the guys behind Sarissa Precision, Steve Cummings. Hopefully you'll find it illuminating and hopefully you might also get to see some more concept pics of the stuff I teased you about yesterday. Reviews following shortly.

Frontline Gamer: I think the first question many people will want an answer too is when will this stuff be available to buy? Will it all be available at the same time or will some of it be staggered over a period of time?

Steve Cummings: It will be available on January 2nd, most of the range will be available right away. There are some ideas that we haven�t done anything with yet or are still testing. We will do some variations of some items as well. The range will expand, but I think there is enough choice to keep people happy for quite some time.

Yep this is the 'small' Pod, and yes that's still a Guija!

FG: That's cool, so there's more yet to come. The second most important question I guess will be how much is this stuff going to cost

SC: We think it�s very well priced as a guide, the 3 Standard Pod variants will be priced as follows -

Habitation Pod Explorer will be �12.00
Habitation Pod Settler �16.00
Habitation Pod Family �20.00

Accessories and upgrades �2.50 - �10.00

All the extras which make the range what it is will be available in a pick�n�mix style. This is so you can create the table you want and don�t have to buy things you don�t need. We�ll also have some special offers and bundle deals as well up on the web store.
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World Exclusive: Sarissa Precision 'System 8'

These are early mock up, the finished article has slightly different detailing

You know what? Sitting on a world exclusive isn't very easy you know. Especially when it's something a little bit exciting. Sure, so I'm not about to break the news on a new race in 40k, or tell you the 8th race in Warpath. Neither am I about to show you the profiles of the 0-12 forces in Infinity. But, hey I'm only a little blog and any world exclusive is a big deal for me alright! It's also my first so yeah... I'm milking it baby! No, what I'm about to show you is the latest efforts of those lovely chaps at Sarissa Precision. You know the people behind all that Old West scenery I've reviewed and used for my games of Malifaux of late. I'm a fully signed up fan of their Old West scenery and indeed laser cut HDF scenery in general. I really do think it's the future of scenery as it's strong, versatile and affordable what's not to love?

Easy access for internal gunfights

So imagine my delight when a fair few months back now I got an email off of Steve at Sarissa Precision asking me if I'd look over some new concepts for them. Stuff with a more futuristic 'slant'. I was only too happy to oblige and feedback my comments. This back and forth has gone on past a fair few emails and months now, and all the time I had to keep my big gob shut about how cool their stuff was. Not able to say a thing on pain of death, and trust me as somebody who just loves talking hobby and letting others know about cool stuff, it has very nearly killed me. I've been bouncing off of walls with anticipation, because I'm genuinely interested to see what other gamers think of it, and what you think of it. However, I can now break the silence and let you see what I've been looking at for quite a while now, and that is a really cool fully modular set of futuristic HDF terrain, suitable for many types of future war skirmish games, such as Infinity.
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Review: Micro Art Studios Tech Walkway

Catwalks and not a Tyra Banks in sight. Yay!!!

Now here is an odd thing to admit. When Micro Art first announced their 'Designed for Infinity' scenery I wasn't that taken with their catwalks. Now don't get me wrong I think they looked cool but they looked like they took up a lot of space on the board without actually providing that much cover, certainly at ground level. Then there was the fact that the railings weren't solid, so they shouldn't provide cover, and to the inner sniper in me that just seemed like a missed opportunity. They actually looked like they might make superb Necromunda or 40k scenery, if not aesthetically certainly in how they would play out on the game board. Nope, it was the buildings that tickled this particular gamers fancy... thing is opinions change, and after actually using these in some games I'm man enough to admit I was wrong and do a volte-face!

Product Description

As with the other Micro Art Infinity scenery I reviewed, the District 5 Apartment 1 building, these catwalks are a precision laser cut HDF kit. The pieces come attached to 4 HDF sheets and require 'poking' out of their spru's prior to assembly. Micro Art do provide a prodding tool on the spru's itself to aid with that prodding. However, I'd advise taking a very fine surgical grade exacto bladed craft knife to the back of them, to ensure they are cut all the way through and to stop you snapping any of the thinner pieces as you extract them from the spru. The kit comes in about 95 pieces excluding the 'prodding device' and although that might sound extremely complex, it's actually a really easy piece of kit to put together, and it's pretty obvious where everything goes. Having said that the 'construction' guide could do with a few more photograph examples maybe, but I didn't find it too hard and I built what you'll see in this review in under 30 minutes, and to be clear it's all from the one kit.
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Seriously all I need now is people to pay me for my blog!!!

What the hell could this strange package be?

So this morning, literally 10 minutes ago, I had this funky little brown package turn up at my house, all the way from Poland. What could it be? I thought. I haven't ordered anything recently due to a severe lack of funds, and certainly not from Micro Art... Yeah so, I'm bad at lying I know what it is really but you're going to have to keep on reading to find out for yourselves!

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Review: Sarissa Precision Livery Stables

Yeah I know, but it really is that good!!!

I think the first thing I need to hold my hands up and say right here, is that this was a very kind donation to my own scenery cupboard from the lovely chaps at Sarissa Precision. However, I was clearly a confirmed admirer of their own particular brand of wonderful HDF scenery before they gave me any freebies. I've tried to judge this piece as I would judge any other product I've purchased or indeed received for review. I think what follows is my honest judgement about it, and yes I know I've given it one of my coveted 'Approved by Cats' seal of approvals, but honestly hand on heart it deserves it.

Some of the larger components

Product Description

This is another fine piece of HDF scenery from Sarissa Precision and is from their Oldwest range of scenery. When they first started producing their Oldwest scenery, I thought that what was really missing from their range was a Church and a Livery Stables. Well I reviewed the Church last month and a fine piece of scenery it is too, and so now we get the Livery Stables. I have to say It's a very fine piece, and is a little bit more complex in it's construction and composition as a shape than their usual 'box' like construction of their other pieces. As always it is precision laser cut HDF, and the detail is also etched into its surface using those lasers too. As with some of their other bigger pieces the door frames and window frames come detached from the walls so you can paint them separately and attach them at a latter date. The doors also come part cut, and can be punched out and re-arranged to be partly open, closed or whatever. The entire kit is comprised of some 60 pieces, or thereabouts.

The rest of the pieces

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I love blogging

A wonderful box full of free!!!

You know what, I started this blog to let people know what I think about this awesome hobby of ours and you know, listen to what you guys have to say about things too. Because without an opponent to play with all we're really doing is collecting unpainted toys. However, my blog has had a totally unexpected and totally awesome consequence. People send me free stuff! I know it's totally awesome. It started with an Ika Squid and rapidly escalated to the awesomely generous donation by Mike McVey of Studio McVey with a literal box load of sexy Sedition Wars miniatures. Just to be clear I didn't start my blog so I'd get free stuff, although if someone wants to pay my mortgage off...
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