For a post regarding the 2024 redux version of the rules – check out Dead Mans Hand Redux: Building 2 gangs from the starter set
The rest of this post is based on the original rules and starter set.
So I have a wonderful opportunity thanks to one of my fellow members at the October Wargaming Association, that is to build 2 gangs from the 3 sprues that you get in the starter set.
So I have been asked to do a Lawmen and Desperados gang from the 2 sprues, so at 7 figures each for a 21 points gang that leaves a potential 1 over.
I have built lots of figures from these sprues previously and used several of the spare parts on figures from other games, but I have also made some errors and as this time I am doing it for some one else I cant afford to do that.
So lets lay down some basics (for most 2 gang combinations) of the 15 figures available 8 will need pistols – to meet the at least 50% of the gang have a pistol as their sole ranged weapon. My friend from the club has requested that several of the Lawmen have long coats – there is 1 of these per sprur – ok ok lets back up, what is available on the sprue.
Lets have a look at the sprue
So what is available –
| Body Part | Description | Count per sprue | 3 Sprues |
| Head | Sack mask | 1 | 3 |
| Half mask | 1 | 3 | |
| Top Hat | 1 | 3 | |
| Bowler Hat | 2 | 6 | |
| Wide Brim Hat | 6 | 18 | |
| Body | Long Coat | 1 | 3 |
| Short Coat | 2 | 6 | |
| Shirt | 2 | 6 | |
| Left Arm | Pistol | 3 | 9 |
| Shotgun | 1 | 3 | |
| Repeating Rifle | 0 | 0 | |
| Saddlebags | 1 | 3 | |
| Empty Hand | 8 | 24 | |
| Right Arm | Pistol | 6 | 18 |
| Shotgun | 1 | 3 | |
| Repeating Rifle | 2 | 6 | |
| Empty Hand | 3 | 9 | |
| Other | Holstered Pistol | 5 | 15 |
| Empty Hoster | 5 | 15 | |
| Dynamite | 1 | 3 | |
| Lasso | 1 | 3 | |
| Cow Skull | 1 | 3 | |
| Cacti | 1 | 3 | |
| sheriffs star | 5 | 15 |
So the max we could build is 15 armed only with pistols, 6 with shoguns and 6 repeating rifles/rifles, 6 wearing masks and all could have sheriff stars.
So what are the weapon mixes for the 4 core gangs- so an 8 man gang for each gang will be 1 leader (6 rep), 1 No 2 (5 Rep), 4 core (2 rep point), 2 disposables (1 Rep Point)
| Gang | Weapon | Min (8 Man Gang) | Max (8 man Gang) |
| Lawmen | Pistol | 4 | 8 |
| Repeating Rifle or rifle | 0 | 2 | |
| Shotgun | 0 | 4 | |
| Cowboys | Pistol | 1 | 8 |
| Repeating Rifle or rifle | 0 | 7 | |
| Shotgun | 0 | 1 | |
| Outlaws | Pistol | 4 | 8 |
| Repeating Rifle | 0 | 4 | |
| Shotgun | 0 | 2 | |
| Desperados | Pistol | 3 | 7 |
| 2 Pistols | 1 | 1 | |
| Repeating Rifle or rifle | 0 | 3 | |
| Shotgun | 0 | 1 |
So from our 15 figures – lets make 1 with 2 pistols to support the Despardos, 7 with pistols (most gangs even if they only have 7 figures need at least 50% with a pistol as their sole weapon and the guy in the desperados does count as only pistol armed). That leaves 7 more – so luckily for me my friend is not interested in the Cowboys (as they throw this whole conversation out the window) – I think I’ll build 3 with repeating rifles/rifles and 3 with shotguns. The law can take a max of 4 shotguns (2 of the 1 pointers but then they would need to take 4 of the 1 pointers) and from 15 figures we dont have enough models to create 2 valid gangs and allow them to field 4 shotguns. This build will mean that if the lawmen take 3 shotguns then the desperados will take 3 repeating rifles which should create an interesting game with one gang trying to keep at long range whilst the other wants to get in close.
So from the 15 figures the build will be
- Lawmen – 21 rep points – 8 figures
- Sheriff with pistol (6 rep points)
- Marshall with Pistol (5 rep points)
- 4 deputies (8 rep points)
- 2 with pistols
- 2 with shotguns
- 2 upstanding citizens (2 rep points)
- 1 with pistol
- 1 with shotgun
- Desperados – 21 rep points – 7 figures
- Boss with Pistol (6 rep points)
- Killer with 2 pistols (5 rep points)
- 5 bandits (10 rep points)
- 3 with Repeating rifle/rifle
- 2 with pistol
Now if you wish to build the Cowboys or are not interested in the Lawmen then the figures to build would be different, as you’d be looking at less shotguns and more rifles.
During the build I have included a few of the masked heads from the Female Gunslingers as well, as the core set only has a single masked face and a single head wearing a sack per sprue, which would generate a lot of sameless in a gang wearing masks. I have also only built 4 of the lawmen with stars on, this way the other 4 (2 with shotguns and 2 with pistols) can be used with figures from the other gang to create variations.
Prior to undercoating I have glued the figures to the bases and applied a layer of Valejos European Mud to hide the puddle bases. I have also for the first time added some of the themic items to the bases, so cacti and cow skulls.
So I thought I’d share with you may wonderful temporary spray booth – its a 4 tier Mini Plastic Greenhouse my wife and daughter picked up for me. I use a boot liner to protect the bench I spray on, but as the greenhouse is water proof it means I am able to spray items close the door and leave them to dry in the garden with out worries.
I place the figures on plastic cutting boards so I can rotate them easily on the shelves.
Personally I love the spray paints from TTCombat – and a cheeky trick for a saving – if you have amazon prime – buy them from amazon and save on the postage :-) or go to a convention and buy them from TTCombat direct they usually have a good deal.
So what are the Cacti on the Sprues – well I believe one of them is the Prickly Pair cacti and the second is the Bunny Ear Cacti
Now another quick tip – Faces and Eyes – I have quite a simple way of doing faces, I start with a base of either Vallejo Dwalf Skin or Heavy Skin, then I apply a wash of Vallejo Skin Wash and finally I add Highlights with either Vallejo Sunny Skin or a similar lighter tone then I turn to the eyes. I used to hate painting eyes until my daughter accidently bought me some Vallejo Air Black paint, I dont own an airbrush so initially I started using it as a heavy pigment wash/ink. Then I did some online reading and discovered that one of the properties of Air Brush Paint apart from being very liquid is that it is fast drying, so now I use an ultra thin brust and the Black air paint to do Pupils as it is not too runny and allows for very accurate placement.
And Here are the Lawmen – just some tidying up, details and finishing the base to do before varnish
and the outlaws
As my eyes arent as good as they were I often use photos like these to help me see issue to fix :-).
and the finished models – First up the Lawmen – a Sheriff, Marshall, 2 upstanding citizens and 3 deputies.
And the Desparados – Boss, The Killer and 5 Bandits
I have a game arranged against the owner of these games in next few weeks and look forward to seeing how they perform. Also I have just been shared the details on the Baron and Plains Indians so will write up analysis of these 2 gangs in the next couple of weeks.
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