December 2000

Solaris Sentinel Edition III

M erry Christmas from the staff here at the

Solaris Sentinel! There is a lot to talk about
this month, with the release of my favorite Clan
my mind. The mini rocks. It has a huge LB-20X
AC in the right arm/right torso, and the mini shows
it. The left arm contains an ER Large Laser,
‘Mech and all. I hope that you have gotten some of although this just looks like a box with a little nub
your Christmas shopping done as well, because it’s that’s the lasers optics. The finale weapon is a
getting closer all the time! I would like to say thank LRM-15 which is mounted in left shoulder. The
you to everyone for their support of the newsletter LRM’s have two tons of ammo in the left torso
as my counter on the homepage has been spinning while the LB-X has three tons of ammo in the right
the numbers up higher and higher (so I’ve gone a torso. As standard on Cappelen designs, there is no
few times myself, sue me!) I am always interested CASE to guard the
in feedback, so if you have some, tell me! E-mail XL engine. The
me at daishi_dvs_2@hotmail.com I’d appreciate it ‘Mech moves at a
greatly! Well, have a merry Christmas and peace good 5/8/0, faster
and goodwill to all, and to all a good night! than most Inner
Sphere heavy
designs, equal with
Another Way to Fill Hex-Bases only the Thunder and
Maelstrom. I like
A good way to fil hexes is… I use some sort of this mini; it has a
epoxy plaster used to restore antique plaster sealing rough, hardcore look
ornaments its not plasters and has a green or pink to it. The cockpit
collor and hardens in 1min or wiht retarder in +- 30 juts out with multiple window-pains. This is one
minutes you should be able to find it in big hoby that you should defiantly check out!
store's its expencive but you get 1 kg so if you put
it against the price normal hobby epoxy cost its -Ross Koga
cheaper in the long run its based on a acryl
resign/epoxy and better quality is also used in the
orthopedic industry for fixing teeth or prothese's
Follow Up: Easy Way to Make Decals
I live in Belgium so giving you a name of the
product won't do any real good but the one used in Now, I found a great site (thanks to the links at ISN)
the orthopedic industry is Orthocryl that has info on doing your own decals. Check it
out! The Lore book
SalCrump-miniature painter
http://1freespace.com/game/salcrump/home/ -Ross Koga

Mini Recommendation: Lao Hu Tactics, and the Kitchen Sink

Recently, I got the new miniature of the Cappelen Tactics is the study of how to do what, or as
Confederation Lao Hu, an average heavy ‘Mech in Ramrod would put it, how to avoid getting your butt
shot off. It's an area that must be studied, as without
knowing tactics, you won't survive, nor will your
unit. This is precisely why I enjoy this game as
much as I do, as it's like a big chess game with an
attitude, you have to out-think your opponent.
Hence the 'kitchen sink' comment in the title, expect
anything, and toss anything you can at your
opponent.
First Item: Intel
You have to know where your opposition is, before
you can hit them. It's not much good to have the
world's best ambush spot, only to find out that your
enemy is 15 klicks away from you and moving past.
You have to know where they are, before you can
aim your weapons on 'em. This requires finding
them first, then keeping tabs on them while your
heavier forces move into position. Once that takes
place, then the fun can start....
The Sneak:
This one's an all-time favorite of most folks, as it
allows you to place units behind your opponent's
line where their armor is weakest. The secret is to
pull it off without your opponent figuring it out, as
when they suddenly bounce your detachment with
an ambush you've just suddenly lost a chunk of your
firepower.
The Pinch:
This maneuver allows you to lull an opponent into a
position that risks their heavy stuff. The only
necessity for this is to have plenty of maneuvering
room. The way it works, is your center fades back
while the wings keep their position. Your opponent,
if he falls for it, will send his heavy units charging
into that gap, only to find himself caught in
crossfire from the wings, as well as the main units
he faces. At that point, the wings close in to the
center, thereby pinching off that charge into your
line.
Hammer and Anvil:
This is one of my favorites to use, but it's another
one that requires plenty of room to pull off. Your
heaviest, slowest units hold position, while your
lighter and faster units pull an end-around charge,
thereby placing your opponent into crossfire.
Hover-based units are perfect for this, due to their
ground speed.
Center Punch:
This one requires some close coordination between
fire-support and maneuver units, as the fire-support
guys get to concentrate their fire into one location
of your opponent's line. That is then followed
closely by rapidly-moving forces to punch through
that hole, and begin firing on what's left from
behind. It's got to be closely timed, as otherwise
your opponent will have time to bring his own
faster stuff in to plug that hole.
Stand and Deliver:
This is probably the most-used tactic that I've ever
seen, where folks just move into a firing line and
start blazing away with everything they've got. It
has it's advantages, as it's not easy to sneak past, but
if you have great fire support, an immobile battle
line becomes a bunch of toast in short order. All
you have to do is to keep sniping, and start piling on
the long-range stuff. Wear 'em down, punch holes
in the armor, and then hit 'em with a rapidly-moving
force and watch the targets fall and burn.
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!:
Ambushes are always loads of fun, when you can
pull 'em off, as confusion is always a great weapon.
This of course involves hidden-unit rules, so not
everyone plays that. But it's great fun to see if you
can trick an opponent into that firing zone, or see if
you can pull your own forces together and survive if
you're the recipient.
Mix & Mingle:
This one can be chancy to pull off, but it's loads of
fun and allows a smaller, weaker unit to polish off a
bigger, stronger opponent. Basically this is a case of
charging your units right into the middle of your
opponent's group, and everybody blazing away in
all directions. Losses can be high, but a melee
allows lighter stuff to close and take out the longer-
ranged, heavier stuff. This also is where 'mechs like The other reason for looking the mini over so
a Nightsky or a No-dachi really shine, with their carefully, is to fix in your mind exactly what details
physical weapons. Needless to say, this tactic is are on is, as undoubtedly some of that detail will be
useless where there's lots of open space, as you'll removed when you file down the mold-line. Once
get picked apart long before you're close enough to you have both sides leveled off, then you can use
mix it up. Keep this one for closed-in areas like the tip or edge of the file to work those details back
canyons or urban areas, where long-ranged weapons in.
really are useless.
Another tool that I find handy at times, especially
Hope these are of use to you.... with the really tiny details, is to use a dental pick to
work those details around. Sometimes a mold-line
The Ogre will run right through an area that has a bunch of
detail, so that dental pick will enable you to smooth
Detailing that Miniature out the line but keep that detail intact.
These two photographs show a Centurion, where
Okay, there's nothing that's quite as painful to me as I've altered it to have a detailed barrel in the right
to see a miniature, especially one that's received a arm, as well as a medium laser in the left torso. The
great paintjob, which also shows huge mold- LRM launcher in the center torso I've filled with
separation lines. I understand how they happen, CA (cyano-acrylate,
especially when the mold is getting older and tends or super-glue) and
to slip off-kilter a bit, but it's inexcusable to me to filed smooth, as this
leave them on it. So, this article covers how to mini doesn't mount
remove those ugly lines without removing all the that. The wire I
detail from the miniature. added both to fill a
hole in the barrel-
First thing to cover are your tools. The primary tool piece I used, and to
I use for this is a very small file, that's maybe 3-4 add some further
inches long, and with very fine teeth. This is detailing to the
commonly called a jewelers' file, as they're weapon mount. This
normally used in creating custom jewelry. It has a can either be
flat section with the teeth, and is triangular in cross- considered as a coolant line, or just a chain; either
section, as this gives me a nice edge for lines. The one goes. What it does is add interest to an
only modification I've done is to break off the very otherwise unremarkable area on the miniature.
tip of the file, which leaves me a nice chisel-end for
removing larger amounts of flash and casting As can also be seen
points. from both
photographs, all the
When I first remove the mini from the blister pack, mold-lines have
I look the thing over carefully to find all of the been removed, and
mold-separation lines on it. I do this with all pieces, the details added
as sometimes they're cast in multiple parts. Then, back in. This keeps
making sure I have good lighting, I take my file and the thing looking
start removing the lines, evening out both sides of clean, but doesn't
the line to make a continuous, flat surface (or degrade from it's
curved, as the case may be). appearance by
having huge gaps in
it's detail.
So, all-in-all, 15 to 20 minutes of careful file-work
will make the miniature look 100 times better, and
allow you to really show off that wonderful paintjob
the way it needs to be.
The Ogre
Election Editorial
I'm sure glad this whole election thing doesn't work.
my computer's down, and so now I'm not the only
one with mechanical difficulties. Still, I'm upset. I
don't know about you, but this mess up gives me the
impression that the Electoral College never passed
High School. So I have taken it upon myself to
solve the problem. Recently, one of the morning
talk shows had a panel of writers come up with
endings to the Florida Showdown. Not to be
outdone, I came up with one for myself. It Involves
Bush, Gore, and our common love, Battletech. It
goes something like this:
Bush and Gore decide to settle this battle
personally. Being the brilliant, determined, and
good-looking people they are, they choose
Battletech as their weapon of choice. Bush lines up
on his side of the field, buttoned up in his red
Warhawk Prime. All four of his ERPPC's are aimed
a Gore, who is in his blue Atlas. Both opponents are
armed to the teeth and primed for battle. As both
canadites ready themselves, the start bell tolls. Gore
moves first, choosing the direct approach. He runs
straight in on Bush, who is still trying the find the
on switch through the pot smoke filled cockpit.
Bush finally finds the button he wants...and his
mech promptly shuts down. Cursing, he hits another
button and his mech starts. Gore, who is so intent on
annihilating his foe, stops short of the powering
Warhawk and levels his Gauss Rifle at the
Republican's Candidates cockpit...then suddenly,
Gore's cockpit speaker come on. "Al, baby, this is
Tipper. I'm at the store..." Gore quickly switches on
his neurohelmet speaker. "Uh, honey, can't this
wait?" Tipper responds." Well, Al, I can't decide-
Paper or plastic?" By this time, Bush has finally
found his bearings and has all of his weapons
pointing at the looming blue atlas. He rests the
golden crosshairs on the Democrat, then presses the
button... and his mech shuts down. Then a sudden
noise fills the heads of both the leading candidates.
It's the warning of incoming missiles. Explosions
rack the Warhawk. It flails like a small doll in a
hurricane, then explodes in a fireball. a similar fate
befalls the Atlas; it racks back and forth, then falls
on it's cockpit and kills the pilot. A green Archer,
with the word Nader written across the front, steps
out from the nearby woods, " How's that for Five
Percent!"
Although these events are not likely to take place, it
would be a solution to our common problem.
Wes "William Avon" Williams
Help Wanted:
I need camo patterns! I am going to start up a camo
section on the Sentinel homepage. I have a few
patterns to use, but I also wanted readers patterns
(heck, I’m always on the look-out for a pattern!) If
you would, jot down the order you applied the
colors and what the colors were. Send an example
as well, so that we can all visualize what the
finished product should be! Send this to me at:
daishi_dvs_2@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot!! Hope to get plenty of stuff!
-Ross Koga
‘Mech of the Month: Savage Coyote
Well, the Savage Coyote came out this month, and
although I was unable to secure a mini for myself
and give everyone a hopefully glowing review, I am
still going to post up it’s stats for those of you who
don’t own Field Manual Warden Clans. I love this Heat Sinks: 14(28) 4
‘Mech: killed quite a few other ‘Mechs with the Gyro: 3
Savage Coyote. Warhawks, Kingfishers, what-ever! Cockpit: 3
A nice stand and deliver-type assault ‘Mech, I use it Armor Factor: 240 15
mainly for dueling. Oh well, here are the stats: Internal Armor
Structure Value
Savage Coyote OmniMech Head: 3 9
Center Torso 27 34
Center Torso(rear) 15
R/L Torso 18 26
R/L Torso (rear) 10
R/L Arm 14 25
R/L Leg 18 30

Weight and Space Allocation

Location Fixed Spaces Remaining
Head 1
Center Torso 2
Right Torso 2 XL Engine 8
Double Heat Sink
Mass: 85 tons Left Torso 2 XL Engine 8
Chassis: Assault Double Heat Sink
Series SXG Right Arm 8
Power Plant: Type 255 Extra-Light Left Arm 8
Cruising Speed: 32 kph Right Leg Double Heat Sink 0
Maximum Speed: 54 kph Left Leg Double Heat Sink
Jump Jets: None as standard
Jump Capacity: None as standard Primary Configuration:
Armor: Foring ZK11 (Standard) ER PPC RA 2 6
Armament: 45 tons of pod space available ER Medium Laser RA 1 1
Manufacturer: Landen, Picuris and Zuni 'Mech 2 ER Small Lasers RA 2 1
Production Complexes Double Heat Sink RA 2 1
Communications System: TJ6 "Bell" Integrated LB 10-X AC LA 5 10
Communications System Ammo (LB-X) LA 2 2
Target and Tracking System: TRTTS Mark II CWS ER Medium Laser LA 1 1
Type: Savage Coyote Double Heat Sink LA 2 1
Technology Base: Clan ATM 12 RT 5 7
Tonnage: 85 Ammo (ATM) 15 RT 3 3
Battle Value: 2145 ATM 12 LT 5 7
Ammo (ATM) 15 LT 3 3
Equiptment Mass Double Heat Sink CT 2 1
Internal Structure: 8.5 ER Medium Laser H 1 1
Engine: 255XL 6.5
Alpha Configuration:
Walking MP: 3
Gauss Rifle RA 6 12
Running MP: 5
Ammo (Gauss)16 RA 2 2
Jumping MP: 0

Sha Yu! "

Savage Coyote
ER Large Laser LA 1 4
ATM 6 LA 3 3.5
2 Medium Pulse Las. LA 2 4
ATM 6 RT 3 3.5
Ammo (ATM)30 RT 3 3
Jump Jet RT 1 1
ATM 6 LT 3 3.5
Ammo (ATM)30 LT 3 3
Jump Jet LT 1 1
Medium Pulse Laser CT 1 2
Jump Jet CT 1 1
Anti-Missile System H 1 0.5
Ammo (AMS)24 LT 1 1
Battle Value: 2,536
Bravo Configuration:
Large Pulse Laser RA 2 6
2 ER Large Lasers RA 2 8
3 Double Heat Sinks RA 6 3
Ultra AC/5 LA 3 7
Ammo (Ultra)20 LA 1 1
4 Small Pulse Lasers LA 4 4
Double Heat Sink LA 2 1
2 ATM 3's RT 4 3
Ammo (ATM)60 RT 3 3
Small Pulse Laser RT 1 1
2 ATM 3's LT 4 3
Ammo (ATM)40 LT 2 2
Double Heat Sink LT 2 1 Release Schedule for the
Small Pulse Laser H 1 1 Month of December
Double Heat Sink CT 2 1
Battle Value: 1,867 # Annialator (resculpt)
# Cyclops (resculpt)
# Undine Battle Armor
# Gnome Battle Armor.

Yup, that’s right you foaming

Crusaders! Your assault battle armor is
coming out! So run to the store and get
some!

Hatchetman !

Victor "