Walking around Toys ‘r Us at Wollongong (or was that Toyworld or Uncle Pete’s?), I came across some packets of Robot Wars robots on sale. Robot Wars is, of course, the TV show where people built remote controlled Battle Robots and go out and bash the heck out of the other contestants robots (and I must admit that the English version of the show was better than the American version – as were the English commentary team).
There were four packets of three robots each, including contestant robots as well as some of the house robots and the Refbot. They were all just under 40mm wide, so would be perfect for both 15mm or 25mm basing. And they were on special, 20% off, so who could resist.
I determined that I would stretch reality just a little (it is Hordes of the Things after all) and for the Stronghold use a film crew from the 30’s rather than a TV crew or audience (besides, I had a 25/28mm film crew in stock at home). They were from the Pulp Figures range.
So, the stock is made up of:
Robots from Various establishments such as Argos, Toys R Us, etc. Have a look at the Google for Robot Wars type robots.
The film crew is from Pulp Figures.
OK, the four packets of robots gave the following. I have given them different Hordes of the Things troop categories based on their performance. Perhaps some of them, like the house robots, could be reassigned to types such as behemoths but I had 12 robots and needed 24AP.
| Robot | Horde Type | Notes |
| Panic Attack | Rider | A quick robot and used a flipper – not really powerful, more fast and manoeuvrable that many other robots |
| Chaos 2 | Rider | A quick robot and used a flipper – not really powerful, more fast and manoeuvrable that many other robots |
| Shunt | Blade | Shunt could probably be classed as a behemoth for those times you want some more variation |
| Razer | Spear | An average sort of ‘bot’ |
| Pussycat | Rider | A quick robot, really quick – not really powerful, more fast and manoeuvrable that many other robots |
| Hypno-disc | Blade | Scythed through most opponents |
| X-Terminator2 | Rider | A quick robot and used a flipper – not really powerful, more fast and manoeuvrable that many other robots |
| Dead Metal | Spear | Another average sort of ‘bot’ |
| Refbot | Knight General | Seemed that the refbot was the most appropriate for a general and knight general just seemed to fit the bill for the refbot |
| Sir Killalot | Blade | House Robot – mean and powerful although bot really quick |
| Sgt Bash | Blade | House Robot – mean and powerful although bot really quick |
| Matilda | Blade | House Robot – mean and powerful although bot really quick |
So, the Hordes of the Thing Army:
| 4 x Riders @ 2AP | 8 |
| 1 x Knight General @ 2AP | 2 |
| 2 x Spears @ 2AP | 4 |
| 5 x Blades @ 2AP | 10 |
| 24 |
| Stronghold – a TV or film crew. An alternate stronghold could be a studio audience, or the robot preparation and repair area out the back of the studio, the garage. |
| Alternatives: reclassify some ‘bots as behemoths; Lurkers – floor plates that have spikes or flames coming from them when a ‘bot is on them. |
Painting
Well, the ‘bots were easy as they were diecast and already coloured. The film crew was painting using the “Magic Dipping Method”. Basing was on a combination of Sarlon cloth and 3mm balsa.
