Iron Ace and Starship Troopers

This model came from eBay and I am sure it is long out of production.

I think it is a former Heller kit.  There was no pilot so I rounded one up and now there is one.

Iron Ace, his plane, and Rubberman and Black Mail his two main rivals.

I think it is an interesting little WWII group.

Working on my Action Fleet Starship Troopers figures.  I liked all the movies but I always figured it was rather stupid that they did not have any ground vehicles.  If they were not going to do the Mobile Infantry as jump troopers, then at least a few tanks and APCs would have been in order.  And don't get me started on their tactics.  I have added a few additional figures to the unit by painting other science fiction figures in the Starship Troopers colors.

I have also obtained and repainted a number of Matchbox, and Hot Wheels items to give them greater ground mobility and reconnaissance capabilities.  Also a large drone.  Last summer I stripped all the paint off these vehicles, except the drone, and repainted them. I also began adding decals but the weather got too cold for that and they will wait for summer again.  I also painted about 100 figures for this group from other non-Starship Trooper sets I had.
 

Starship Troopers, Colonial Infantry and Buck Rogers

Some of my Starship Troopers lined up as I sort them and inspect them for damage after I found one that had come apart.

The only good bug is a dead bug, this bug is good.

The figure on the right has been repaired and his boots repainted.  They figure on the left has boots that are not painted all the way around the figure.  For some weird reason none of the figures had boot that were fully painted.  I suspect the figures were laying flat and machines spray painted the figure from the front but not the back.  So I have been working on touching up the boots.

I also want more figures so I am doing paint conversions of some other figures to make them into Aliens style Colonial Infantry.  They will function as a sort of National Guard, and local Militia to supplement the Mobile Infantry.  They are being painted in the same color palette but their stands will be a different shape to distinguish the three units apart.  The figures on the left are from the board game Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.  The figures on the right, in the back rows are those also, but the first three rows on the right are from some Matchbox vehicles I got 20 years ago.  The Matchbox have better equipment and so will be the Militia types.  The others are more lightly armed and equipped and so will be the National Guard; interstellar version.

Some close ups of one of the Buck Rogers poses.

When I am working on projects like this I record the paint schemes and the colors I use  on a card like this one.  Later when the project has been finalized the information goes into a notebook so I can touch up the figures or add more if I need to, I have done this for decades.  Sometimes it can be 10 years or more between working on the same project so having records can be very helpful.

The End

The reconnaissance drone sends overhead views.

It shows the progress of the battle is good.

But not all the bugs have given up.

A few more rounds from the reconnaissance vehicles help get him down.

The heavy support robot grabs the brain bug and holds him back from getting into the hole.

The DOG is brought forward and his paralyzing bite will render the brain bug unconscious long enough for the bug to be recovered and removed to a secure area for interrogation and experimentation.

The last of the bugs are finished off in another successful operation.
 

Bugs Fall

The handler and his DOG.

Heavy support robot.

Dead bug succumbs to grenades.

Reconnaissance vehicles check fire to avoid hitting friendlies.

Most of the bugs are hit and down, the brain bug has managed to turn around and is trying to get back into the hole.

Another bug falls.
 

The Troops Dismount

The support robot is deployed.

Then the troops exit the vehicles.

The DOG handler brings out his beast.

The reconnaissance drone sends back a live stream to headquarters of the troops deployment.

Troopers move in with grenades.

 The heavy machine gun is set up.

Troopers Move In

The bug counter attack did not last long.

They just ran right into the fire of the Troopers.

The reconnaissance vehicles creep forward as the bugs start to fall.

A platoon of personnel carriers are ready to discharge the Troopers.

Troops are ready.

That seems close, but less open ground to cover.
 

Reinforcements

Personnel transports begin to arrive.

Reinforcements!

The reconnaissance vehicles are not supplanted by the personnel transporters.

The still have a ways to go to before the troops can deploy.

The bugs are getting desperate to hold back the human forces.

A couple bugs try a short counter-attack.
 

Bugs

The warrior bugs redeploy to meet the reconnaissance vehicles.

Brain bugs find it almost impossible to back up.

The reconnaissance vehicles are very fast, lightly armored, and have to rear mounted, forward firing machine guns.

The bug is bleeding as the machine gun bullets keep hitting home.

The bug screams in pain.

The reconnaissance vehicles call for in the contact report for additional support.
 

Recon Moves Up

The warrior bugs are after the reconnaissance drone.

But it's small energy weapon is a great short range weapon and it keeps them at bay.

The warrior bugs confront the reconnaissance vehicles.

They move forward but not too close.

Only lightly armored they are vulnerable.

They take position for some mid range fire on the warriors.