Okay since we're closing in on the start date and we are basically at the point of no return, here's what I am doing.

My goal is to go a dark and serious for EOD2. I kicked around several ideas and have since settled on two. I'm plannign on doing two pieces for this one.

One of the pieces will be set at the initial point of the outbreak. The government responds but does so with issues. They don't know what they are dealing with and fall into the classic mistakes you often see in the zombie movies that allow the outbreak to spread. With the outbreak spreading, the government declares Martial Law and enacts quarantine on infected areas. Our scene shows the government sending in a team into one of these quarantined areas to collect data on the outbreak and gather any survivors. They'll be wearing hazmat suits.

The other scene is set years after the outbreak. The remnants of society have been picked through by the survivors. There is little left. Ammo is a rare commodity. Packaged food has either been eaten or has spoiled. Fuels are gone or have gone bad. The scene revolves around a small group of survivors traveling down a road. They are on horseback and have had to adapt to this post outbreak life as they try to hold on.

There'll be added bits in each piece to set the atmosphere of their respective timeslots during the outbreak. I will probably build both of these at the same time.

Sounds awesome Alex, I've found myself in the odd spot of building the scene first. The more I think about using the M113 the less I like it. It's just an aluminum box and they weren't even equipped with weapons necessarily! Plus, I still need to work out all my references; like my comment of it being 'funny if someone did something with the Mayans'. I'll probably use some Mayan artwork as graffiti somewhere. Things of that nature.

The only 'bad' part of this campaign is it seems we're all struggling to decide what we want to do exactly.

I have an old M113 I might use in one of the projects. I'm going to break it down, add the engine, and make it look like it's been scavenged. For the road scene I'm favoring remaking my Mutt scout car from EOD1 and have it like it was abandoned just an old wreck. Either it broke down, ran out of fuel, or was ambushed. I've got my eye on a 1/32 scale Mini to give some life to the street. Revell has a snap together 1/32 fire engine but I think it'll be too big for my urban scene.

The Mayan thing could be fun to include. I'm hoping to add some easter eggs. I've got a Romero and Linnea Quigley references planned.

The firetruck could work as a border. Always loved to see partial vehicles on the edges of dioramas. Always so perfectly cut and positioned. Did you happen to see the 'Death Race' photo-feature from a couple weeks ago? Possible inspiration.

I've got a lot of ideas in my head to use in both pieces. I'm kind of having to wait to see how they develop to see what I'll put in. I want to give a nod to the genre like maybe a sign "Romero's Meat Market". And maybe some advertisement for Cross Roads Mall. I'm trying to find a way to work Ving Rhaymes in there. Or even Barbara. Maybe a personalized license plate on a Mini Cooper or a business name. Barbara's Hair Salon Walk-In Welcome.

I've no idea who you're talking about Alex, are these characters from EoD1?

Romero's Meat Market refers to George Romero the "Godfather of Zombies". He's the man that made the original Night of the Living Dead and has his name associated with a number of horror works like Creepshow, the original The Crazies, Night of the Witch, Monkeyshines. He has a pretty decent list of credits to his name, but he's mostly known for his work with zombies.

Linnea Quigley is a scream queen remembered for playing punker chick Trash in Return of the Living Dead. Another known female from the films is actress Melinda Clarke who was in RotLD3. Yup, Lady Heather (CSI) was a zombie...with lines.

Crossroads Mall was the mall in the remake of Dawn of the Dead.

Ving Rhaymes is an actor that has played in two Dead Series movies as different characters. Plus he's been in a variety of zombie, vampire, etc. movies.

"Barbara" was the name of the female lead in both the original and remake of Night of the Living Dead. The opening scene of the original had Barbara and her brother in a cemetery before the zombie situation really showed itself. Barbara is creeped out by being there and her her brother playfully picks at her by saying, "They are coming to get you Barbara". And then the zombies get him. Clip of the scene. No gore or violence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYR3dorshwA

Right, I'm going to pretend I know who those people are and that I've seen most of those movies. I'm really not a big movie person.

Plus I'm surprised I watched your clip from Youtube! No gore? What gives....that's like when I watched The Last Man On Earth (first movie adaptation of I Am Legend). I really just wanted to bang my head on a wall because I was bored!

Christopher, Those are easter eggs. Fans of the genre should get the references, but if they don't it's not a big either. It just seems like a fun little addition.

The video was violence and gore free to make sure there'd be no issues in posting it here. If memory serves, the brother is a zombie banquet about 5-10 seconds later.

The weird thing here is that I'm not a big fan of horror movies. I use to watch alot of movies because of my work schedule. I've watched alot of them, but there's alot I haven't seen.

To be honest, I think the zombie genre has been done to death. This is the last time I'm using zombies though. If there's an EOD 3 I'm looking to the stars for the next destroyers of humanity.

Hi,

The end of days as we know is comes nearer....

Or wait, no...

It's only the official start of our end of days campaign

Well, if the world really ends on the 21st, then at least I have taken all my residual leave!

I have changed my plans for my campaign project a little bit.
No Zombies
No collapsed economics or climate catastrophe
No Mad Max
No Resident Evil
No Vampires or Werewolves

There will not be any more clues...
... at the moment

These parts will be used (and more, but that will follow later on):




One pictures of the over all layout:


and my first steps on the Ford Bronco:


Have a nice day!

Thomas

Hmmm, would a sort of modern day economic/national/global war outta hell work? I had thought up a scene sort of like a modern day US civil war. North vs South, rebels, mercenaries, modified military vehicles with new types of camo, etc.

If that doesn't cut it, I'll throw in some zombies


-Conor

Thomas, I'm glad you're going down a different path. There's nothing wrong with variety. In fact, I'm interested to see what you do. I suspect it's going to be a more conventional EOD scenario like economic breakdown. Or maybe a terrorist thing. It'll be interesting to see it come about and to hear the backstory.

Pretty safe to say Thomas likes his Verlinden products!

@ Alex, Connor:
Sorry guys, but you are not even close.
But I will satisfy your curiosity on the 21st latest.
Or, if anyone finds the correct answer, even earlier

@ Christopher:
I found an Ebay-Seller who reduced his Verlinden stuff by 30%, so it was - including shipping and german tax - only around 70% of European prices.
And...
... I did not find that variety at my preferred dealer :-)

best regards
Thomas

Woops lol I wasn't trying to guess yours haha (It does have me wondering though) I was throwing out an idea of mine.

Have you built trumpeter kits before? How are they?

-Conor

Thomas, No problem. I can wait. It looks like you're not doing paranormal stuff (zombies, vampires, etc) and the most common natural cataclysms. No economic breakdown I would guess includes energy shortages and food shortages. You've eliminated a bunch of possibilities. You've got my interest and I'm curious to see your back story once this starts.

Tell me about the Bronco. I'm starting to keep an eye open for scale usable autos.

Sorry for any misunderstanding, I am more used to business english, I'm still working on the colloquial part...

In regards to the Trumpeter figures...
... I never build another trumpeter kit, but these figures are OK.
Enough detail, good fitting accuracy and realistic proportions and faces.
They are a little bit more delicate compared to the Verlinden Resine figures, but from my point of view recommendable.

Car kits in 1:32 - well, these old Monogram, Revell and MPC kits are more of a children toy than a serious kit.
The Bronco kit is 20 years old, the casting quality and accuracy of overall size are OK (for me, I am not a scale perfection addict).
But it is a big car for 1:35 figures.
The Black Army Modern driver is too tiny for the Bronco.
The Legend and Blackdog drivers are slightly larger and fit perfectly into the Bronco.

Unfortunately you can just forget about the wheels of the Bronco - they are rubbish.
So aftermarket wheel (for the Hummer for example) should be used.

There are PickUps in 1:32 on EBAY, you may have to wait 4 to 8 weeks for the perfect offer...
Right now these PickUps are offered:

ERTL Chevy

Toyota Camper

MPC Jeep

MIG and Meng pick-ups in /35th too.

Just remembered the MINIMANFACTORY M1008 and M1009 CUCV.

... and several chinese, russian and Korean Humvee clones from different manufacturers...

Yeah I'm looking for autos on the inexpensive side to use as scene accessories. Like vehicles on a street or even convert them to wrecks.

Lindberg also has a few 1/32 scale autos. Most are older vehicles and the kits are pretty basic. I picked up their 1936 Ford Roadster to see what it was like. It actually seems a little small for 1/32 scale.

This is the basis for my ride! Got a few other kits bashing into it .

Machine guns everywhere?!?! Might want to close up the bottom, wouldn't want random people getting in while you're driving along!

Heck yeah! Got a few ideas for the muscle for my convoy!! Also are we allowed to use cards or whatever there called it build? Im trying to think of thing round the house and i have a few old de ks of playing cards id like to chop up paint and use? Just want to check with you guys first!

Doesn't matter what you use to build. That'd be a really nasty campaign; you can only use X, X and X to build your diorama!