I finally finished my Star Trek: TNG bridge crew. I wish I could say it was fun, but…it wasn’t.
Try as I might, even with as much love as I have for these characters, I really hate the miniatures. It’s just such a waste of a good set compared with ANY other Modiphius Trek set, especially the TOS bridge crew. The dumb poses (LaForge and Yar) and questionable equipment choices (Troi’s tricorder, Data’s phaser rifle) are a real bummer, not to mention the brittle plastic (Worf).
To get this set completed, I painted these in groups according to uniform color. Getting the “classic” next-gen uniform pattern was a bit more challenging than you’d expect; it seems these uniforms are sculpted so they can be painted in a variety of styles, either from the movies or the TV episodes. The classic look requires a bit of free-handing. The black on all the uniforms was simple Reaper Black, highlighted with a faint drybrush of Citadel Celestra Grey, then washed with Citadel Nuln Oil. After the miniature was sealed in Dullcote, Vallejo Gloss Varnish was then added to the boots.
First up, Picard and Riker, or as I like to call them, the second and third-best miniatures in the set. I painted the uniforms with Vallejo Red Brown, then highlighted with Citadel Scab Red, Reaper’s Fresh Blood, and Citadel Blood Red and Red Wash.
Next, the Ops, Engineering and Security officers: Data, Yar, Worf and LaForge. I based their uniform in Citadel Tausept Ochre, washed it in Citadel Agrax Earthshade, and highlighted with Citadel Iyanden Darksun.
Finally, the Medical crew: Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi. I think Crusher is the best miniature in the set, but YMMV. I was going to paint Troi in her classic purple/grey spandex, but she was unmistakably sculpted in her Season 6-7 science uniform, so that’s what I went with. I based both uniforms with Vallejo Prussian Blue, then washed with Citadel Blue Wash, then highlighted with Coat D’Arms Fester Blue. I based Crusher’s lab coat in Fester Blue, washed with Citadel’s Nuln Oil, then highlighted with Reaper Ice Blue and Army Painter Troglodyte Blue. (The medical table is from Tiny Terrain, a 3D-printed line of terrain available at Miniature Market. At $2.50 each, I bought three. Maybe someday I’ll have a skirmish in sickbay!)
Yar was the most fun to paint; Troi was by far the least. I don’t think I did a very good job on Data’s face, either…for some reason I just can’t seem to paint Soong-type androids very well.
I’m not sad to be done with this set. It took me longer to complete than I anticipated, mainly because I was so indifferent to the miniatures.
Coming soon: the Original Series bridge crew.
This post also marks the return of the painting queue, which somehow got lost along the way this year. By my tally, I bought 33 miniatures since the last time I kept track (mostly the Modiphius Star Trek sets, which account for 26 of them), but I painted 27, so that’s not too bad. Which brings my current tally to:
Insanity Pile Progress
Miniatures Purchased: 46
Miniatures Painted Thus Far: 90
Total: +44
Being somewhat of a fan of Trek in all it’s iterations, I do quite like the idea of playing some Trek-inspired games, but definitely won’t be investing in Modiphius’ range, as they’re a bit pricey and, from what you’ve said also a bit crappy. Hopefully Crooked Dice’s retro spaceship crew (when they release them) will scatch that itch. Nice painting though.
Thanks, Jeremy. I really had the most problems with the TNG crew. I rather like the Romulans and the TOS bridge crew sets that I own. I’m currently looking for a good miniatures skirmish rule set to use with these. Modiphius’s Red Alert is free, but quite involved with the rpg.
I know you’ve not enjoyed the experience, but you’ve done a good job with them.
Thanks, Kieron. Despite their shortcomings, I’m looking forward to gaming with them. I’m trying to get a gaming group together for the rpg; perhaps I’ll be able to play some wargame skirmishes with the miniatures, too.