Loud Ninja Games at Salute 2014

Hey all you UK conventioneers!

We here at Loud Ninja Games are happy to announce that, while we will not be at the convention ourselves, our partners at 15mm.co.uk are going to be carrying us to Salute 2014 (http://www.salute.co.uk/salute/salute-2014/). Come see us at their stand, TF07.

So, if you haven't got your claws on any 15mm or 28mm Chuhuac, come on by and let Gavin Syme and his mates help you put some dinosaur goodness onto your sci-fi gaming tables.

Thanks,

-Eli

Space Raptors Spring on the Scene Soon!

We are happy to announce that the Chuhuac will soon be available for sale. It's been a long haul but that amazing time is upon us. Our partners at 15mm.co.uk will be opening the Loud Ninja Games page on their site, Monday March 10th 2014!

Here is a listing of the codes we will be putting up on Monday:

RAP001 Chuhuac Troopers (6)

RAP002 Chuhuac Leaders and Support Weapons (6)

RAP003 Chuhuac Command Section (4)

RAP004 Chuhuac Herdmaster (1)

RAP005 Chuhuac Spec Ops (6)

RAP006 Chuhuac Assault Troopers (6)

RAP007 Chuhuac Battlesuits (2)

RAP008 Sirrus APC (1)

RAP009 Chuhuac Grav Bikes (3)

RAP010 28mm Chuhuac Alphas (3)

RAP011 28mm Chuhuac Troopers (3)

There are also bigger packs that offer savings and ready made platoons and wings:

RAP007P Chuhuac Battlesuit Section (6)

RAP008P Sirrus APC Platoon (3)

RAP009P Chuhuac Grav Bike Wing (9)

RAP001P Chuhuac Platoon (28)

RAP004P Chulhuac Herd (75)

Wow! That's eleven codes and five unit pack offers right out the gate!

We're super excited to finally have made it to this point. Thanks to each and every one of the Kickstarter backers, friends, family and our partners at 15mm.co.uk for all the support and faith in Loud Ninja Games and the Chuhuac. This is just the beginning!

Sincerely,

Eli & The LNG Crew

They Didn't Eat The Mailman

51kg of Space Raptory Goodness

These hurtled across the pond. Sent on Monday, they are on my doorstep by Wednesday the same week. I haven't even opened them at the time of this update. I find myself gripped by a mix of excitement and apprehension.

As the "young people" like to say, "Stuff just got real" :)

More soon,

-Eli

Progress Report

A recent update from my pals over at 15mm.co.uk informs me that the production run for the Chuhuac "Space Raptors" Kickstarter is as approximately 70% of total production. Even cooler, some of the smaller production runs are completely done. This means it won't be long before I am buried in metal space raptors and going mad trying to get them out in the post.

Soon....very soon...

-Eli

The Future of LNG

I realize, with the Chuhuac Kickstarter yet to be fulfilled and the range's retail release still pending, that it may seem odd to discuss the future of Loud Ninja Games, but there is a future and I would like to talk about that. 

Despite the stumbles and slumps in getting things going, the mindset here has always been for us to turn Loud Ninja Games into another place you can find new and interesting miniatures in an ever-expanding product line. To this end, we have been working to develop future ranges and expansions on the Chuhuac. I have also given thought to the best way for me to present our products to the public and to make sure they are available across the widest area possible. 

So, let's take a look at some of what is in store. 

RETAIL FUTURE 

Before there was a Loud Ninja Games, I had established a working and friendly relation with Gavin Syme ate 15mm.co.uk.. In many ways Gavin has been a major influence in my growth as a sculptor and my development into a miniatures entrepreneur. When it came to considering how I wanted to go about selling my line of figures to the gaming public, he was the obvious person to turn to. The end result is an agreement between Loud Ninja Games and 15mm.co.uk in which Gavin and crew will become the retail source for my line in 2014. 

Why did I go this route?

It comes down to simple resources and customer service. 15mm.co.uk is an established company with myriad ranges across a number of subjects and scales. They have in-house mold-making, casting, packaging and retail facilities. Add to this my trust and existing working relationship as well as their knack for serving worldwide customers with quick and fair shipping and it really wasn't much of a decision.

Why not do it myself?

As much as I'd like to, I really cannot and would rather not have to mire myself and my family down trying to manage inventory, sales, packaging and shipping. 15mm.co.uk will be able to keep stock on the shelves, shipping going smooth and a clean and well-managed retail site. I'll still maintain creative control as well as marketing and promotional interests and in return I'll collect a percentage of the sales. Loud ninja Games is still a brand and I'm still in control of that brand, but I've got a big brother (so to speak) in the industry that can help me make it work.

FUTURE OF THE CHUHUAC
The Chuhuac are a range of minis I have wanted to make forever. I have a host of ideas for them, most of which came to fruition in the Kickstarter. Still, there are more troop types and vehicles I would like to add to this range.

Now, allow me to be a bit tentative here, if I may. Just because I would like to make something, doesn't mean the opportunity will present itself or that it would be a good idea. I'll have to see where the market goes with these dino dudes before making any final decisions. Of all the designs I am sure would be well-received, a flying vehicle like a dropship or gunship and a light tank are at the top of the list. After this, new troop types may be in the future and even more vehicles, but that really comes down to how things shape up for the Chuhuac.

Here are a couple of WIP images of what we are planning for our vehicles...

The light attack vehicle in its most basic shape.

And, the gunship/dropship in some very early WIP renders.

FUTURE RANGES
My vision for the LNG brand has never been about a one-shot with the Chuhuac and then let it ride. I've had host of new species ready in my notebooks for ages and all of them are at least runners up for inclusion in this line as miniatures. The exact order in which they will be released, really depends on how things shape up for the company. Smaller, easier to release ranges and one-offs are always doable while larger, more involved ranges will absolutely have to bide their time or wait for a windfall. I can, however, show you the NEXT release, already in early development.

Meet the Ikwen...

I don't want to say too much about these odd alien humanoids, but these images show off some of their more interesting features. Please, don't pay too much attention to the weapons as they are really just placeholders for the final weapons. More on them as they develop, but they will be released in 2014, hopefully in the first half of the year.

So, there you have it. LNG is definitely thinking forward and the new year will bring new shiny toys from us to you.

Thanks,

-Eli

Progress Report

Alright, so for those following along on the blog, I do apologize for the long time since the last post. There hasn't been a lot of interesting stuff to share with you all as we're really into the nitty-gritty of the slogging grunt work of bringing these miniatures to life.

Where are we at?

The current metal production of the Chuhuac stands at about 30% complete at last estimate (about a week ago). The casters report that they are finally getting the hang of the tricky casting and attention these minis demand and have managed to improve their success rate from 45% to 85%. This should speed things up a bit for the remainder of the production run and really makes them a bit more viable as a continuing retail product.

One of the major obstacles to the completion of the production run is that all those delays i ran into have dropped my production smack in the middle of one of the casting company's biggest releases ever, putting me to a secondary position behind their own product, a fact that I am okay with and understand. They have their own time tables and release schedule and while they are doing work for me, I am the one who is off schedule, not them. So, no sour grapes.

I have a set of minis being painted for the catalog shots right now and so should hopefully have some "living color" images to show you soon. I'm also waiting on a couple of sets of the production minis to look over myself. Call this a quality control as the last sets I saw were just the master bits. Though, to be honest, I have to admit I really have no worries about the quality. I just feel it's sort of the thing I should do as a responsible business guy.

We're getting there and the end is almost in site. Soon I'll be pulling my hair out trying to fill all those boxes!

Thank you for your continued support,

-Eli

APCs Have Arrived

Hello Raptor Fans,

The post man delivered these two lovely packages today. After a hair-raising delay, thanks to the USPS, the Sirrus APCs arrived about 9 days later than they should have with their 2-day Priority delivery. Each box weighs in at about ten pounds and was a densely packed.

The contents of the boxes were wondrous. Each box contained fours bags of 25 APCs each for a total of 100 APCs per box. This is what 200 APCs in the raw looks like. Each APC was individually packed in its own baggy with its six anti-personnel guns. Chris at Ravenstar Studios cast them up as a seamless single piece chassis fusing the separate bottom piece to the chassis with not a hint that they were separate.

The detailing on the APCs is crisp and the resin is nearly flawless with a wonderful finish that one expects in a quality gaming model. the pics below show the nifty details in all their splendor. Future note, that hexagonal roof details is likely going to be the anchor point for future weapons upgrades of the Sirrus. My hopes is to create some add-ons that will use the same sprue weapons as the battlesuits. I hope to offer them in two ways - full kits and mountings that will let you make use of un-used battlesuit weapons.

Final Master Fixes Shipped

In the long process of pre-production, I have finally finished the last of the work left for me to do myself.

This week, I finished the last of the fixes needed on the metal masters so that they can be shipped off to the casters in the UK and be put into production molds. We've still got the final mold arrangements and the final collation of the packs to sort out, but that's it. 

The next weeks following the caster's receipt of the masters will see the production run of the miniatures to satisfy the Kickstarter. Once this is finished, I will begin arrangements for regular retail sales of Loud Ninja Games' Chuhuac range.

At this time, the all-resin APC kits are being produced and I hope to have all 200 of them in the coming weeks.

Hopefully, it's smooth sailing from here.

-Eli

Video Shout Out!

Newest Chuhuac Greens

The last of the greens have been received from the sculptor. These include the battlesuits, the attack bikes and the 28mm versions of the basic squad. Also included is the newly sculpted aerial drone bioform. The new sculpt is more in line with my original concept of a small observation drone.

The battlesuits are multi-part models with the tail separate from the body and an assortment of back-mounted weapons and arms. The pictures below only show one arm and back weapon attached but you will be able to build them with two arms and various combinations of weapons. Their are two variations on the main body pose.

Missile Pod

Particle Accelerator Cannon

Heavy Repeating Plasma Gun

The new bioform sculpt is much smaller than the original and represents the sort of biotech enhanced organism the Chuhuac utilize as observation drones. This model replaces the original, larger model in the command packs with the original sculpt to be released later as a companion to the 28mm troopers.

Aerial Recon Bioform

The attack bikes are designed as a simple two-part kit. The bikes with riders' bodies will have separate heads available to glue to them. This will allow you some variation on the bike by positioning the head how you like.

Attack Bike

The 28mm Chuhuac are designed for players who like larger scale figures. The figures will represent a typical six-raptor squad including an Alpha Leader, three troopers, a SAW gunner, and a plasma gunner.

28mm Trooper

28mm Plasma Gunner

28mm Trooper

28mm Trooper

28mm Alpha

Chuhuac Kickstarter is Over. Onward!

November 9th marked the end of the the Chuhuac "Space Raptors" Kickstarter campaign. This campaign was a big success, in my opinion. Not only did the campaign accomplish the goals of funding the initial 12 poses of Chuhuac but it also funded several additional codes, greatly expanding the initial run of Chuhuac products. But this is just the beginning of the project really.

From here we get into the nuts and bolts of the thing. Sculpts need to be completed, molds made and then on to the business of producing the product that all the backers pledged for. Once the initial Kickstarter inventory is produced and out the door, LNG will begin stocking up for it's official opening for regular business.

Thanks to all who backed the Kickstarter and to all of you out there who have supported Loud Ninja Games as we work toward getting things rolling. 2013 should be an exciting time and I hope to see many returning faces.

Sincerely,

Eli & The LNG Team

Kickstarter Backers Name The Chuhuac APC

The Kickstarter campaign has produced a wealth of feedback and input on the Chuhuac as a whole and so when it came time to name their APC, we thought it'd be fun to put the task to those who backed the campaign. There were a lot of good ideas, and ultimately we went with a combination of some of my favorites with a sprinkling of a little of my own stuff.

Here is what we came up with... 

SIRRUSH "SLASH-CLAW HEN"

The Chuhuac have named this APC after their protective mother hens, a formidable icon in their culture. Even in modern Chuhuac society, mother's are generally absolved of any violence, up to and including murder, when it occurs in defense of young. 

The relationship between Chuhuac warriors and their APC and its crew (often female) mirrors the family bonds of mother and offspring. APC crew are often referred to as"mother", even when male, and take pride in delivering their "clutch" safely to their deployment zone. Warriors are often hyper-protective of their crew and crew seldom pay for meals or entertainment on leave. Nobody messes with a pack's crew.

Humans, having difficulty with the Chuhuac language have named the rig the Trilobite, a name they consider derisive. Even still, this high-brow nomenclature is often abandoned on the battlefield where other terms like "Lizard Limo" and "Pill Bug" are more common.

Chuhuac - Space Raptor Kickstarter Campaign Ikimasu!!!

In true anime flair we would  like to announce that the Kickstarter campaign for the Chuhuac-Space Raptors is a go.

Chuchuac - Space Raptors Kickstarter Campaign

It's been a bit getting to this point and I'd like to thank everyone who was patient enough to sit and bite nails while we trundled through this process. Thankfully, we'll have even better, flesh-tearing nails in your hands to replace those you lost waiting and will likely continue to shred as we all watch this campaign unfold.

If I can take a moment to address you on a personal level, I'd also like to take a brief moment to explain what my "angle" was on this campaign. It's pretty simple and I had to fight to find ways to get snazzy with the rewards because really what I want to do it get you miniatures to play with. To that end, most of the rewards are structured as what are essentially pre-orders. You help the dream become a reality and you get nifty shinies to play with. The more esoteric rewards come in the form of painted figures and for those of you who really love to live the hobby, a chance to get your creativity into the mix.

Every Kickstarter campaign has had that sweet spot. This is the place where you get a mountain of stuff and you qualify for stretch goals. As a taste of things to come, I have decided to post a short blurb about what will be available to you in our sweet spot.

The goal with the Chuhuac - Space Raptors campaign sweet spot was to give you as complete a fighting force as possible with the items being presented in the campaign. for me, this meant something like a company of minis. To this end, this is what I have come up with -

Chuhuac Battle Force (67 minis total)

1 x Herdmaster (Commander)

Command Element (1 x Revered Leader (Officer), 1 x Data/Comms Tech, 1 x Medic, 1 x Recon Drone

Command Security Element (6 x Trooper w/ Assault Rifle)

2 x Combat Platoons each with Platoon Command Element (4 figures) and 4 x 6-man squads.

Each squad is made up of the following: 1 x Alpha Leader, 3 x Troopers with Assault Rifles, 1 x SAW Gunner, 1 x Plasma Gunner.

In addition to the above miniatures you will also gain access to stretch goals which will add to this force. Everything from spec ops to grav bikes are planned for stretch goals. There could even be an APC and power armor troops.

I am excited to see where this goes and thanks all in advance!

-Eli

Chuhuac Kickstarter Is Green Lighted

Exciting news for all you Chuhuac and Loud Ninja Games fans and supporters!

With the amazing feedback and support I have received over these awesome Space Raptors, I have decided that there is no good reason not to try to push things into overdrive and go ahead with a Kickstarter campaign.. You have all shown that you really like this idea and, every possible pun intended, it's got legs.

A successful Kickstarter will mean the ability to get going with not just platoon assets but to start working on higher command, specialist troops and maybe even vehicles. The basic campaign will cover the aforementioned 12 poses as well as five new poses. Stretch goals will be used to extend the range of what I will be able to roll out with right away.

So, why the advanced posting?

Kickstarter campaigns are challenging and ultimately I am asking you all to invest in my great idea. Honestly, this means money. It's out of respect for that, that I wanted to give advanced notification that the Kickstarter had gone from a consideration to a definite. This will allow you loyal LNGers to prepare for the campaign so that we may all attain maximum benefit from the endeavor. We can make this happen bigger and badder with more teeth than ever!

So, when does it roll?

As it stands, I am shooting for October. Kickstarter is all geared up and ready to go save a few bits of polish on my end. So, unless Kickstarter pulls a whammy on me, I'm ready to go for October. 

So, watch this space as well as TMP and Facebook for the announcement for when the campaign is a go.

Thank you all for your ongoing support and loyalty throughout what has been a very strange and educational process. The goal is in site...

Forward!

-Eli 

New Logos

Thanks to a fellow 15mm scifi gamer and blogger, Colin,  Loud Ninja Games now has a whole host of new logos for just about every occasion. Colin runs the Eclipsing Binaries blog that has featured some top notch 15mm scifi stuff.

I've decided to show a few of them below.

Thanks for the snappy work Colin,

-Eli

Hey Eli! Where the $@#! are my Space Raptors!?

So here's the skinny folks.

This project is far from dead. It may be taking a LOT more time than I had hoped, but all set-backs aside, I think it's come a long way. Right now, the stage is set to enter the last stages of sculpting and hopefully I'll be able to get moving on that shortly enough either this month or next.

The possibility of a Kickstarter campaign still exists and I am polishing some ideas for that. In fact, I've got it set up and just waiting on a few last details before I push the big "GO" button. I am trying to keep the Kickstarter simple, as befits a start-up type campaign, and for the most part it will equate to a way for people to safely "pre-order" their space Raptors. there will be a few spiffs in there beyond product for those who really like to get into the spirit of Kickstarter but if all you want is lead, there will be plenty of options for you - anywhere from $10-100.

I know you've all been waiting and it's taking a while, but but I am still making progress and your patience is wonderful and appreciated.

Thanks for your continued interest,

-Eli