When the forces of the Emir of Bazistan is deployed onto the streets, they are often accompanied by wheeled armour cars armed with heavy machine guns. Bought for cheap from the Cynericians next door when they replaced them with the shiny new model, these things are more effective at telling the protestors to go home than a man with a chest full of gold and a bullhorn.

In wartime, the vehicle is most likely to be seen on fire by the side of the road thanks to it’s paper thin armour but the rear hatch’s pintle mount can be fitted with locally produced ATGMs in order to make a high speed tank hunter.

“Equipment of the Bazi-Albion Wars” by Steve Walters, Arcadian Central Espionage Agency

I have a soft spot for all things armoured car – I think mostly because they are a great vehicle to include in skirmish games like Spectre. Unlike a MBT which can overwhelm a game thanks to it being almost untouchable, lighter armoured vehicles can even the odds when accompanying lower skilled forces against more elite forces without it turning into a full on stomp.

The Cadillac Gage Commando from Empress is more designed for the Vietnam era, but I think it fits in perfectly for a paramilitary force that the Emirate of Bazistan might deploy against security threats, be they internal or external.

The kit is white resin with a few metal details. Casting is the usual Empress quality, the only strange pieces being the texture on front panel which I’m not sure is intended. I had to do some clean up with wheels to make them fit and even then I managed to snap the ankle. Luckily I was able to fix it with plenty of material to glue in place. I also added one of the antennas from the Empress Tigr kit, making it standout and look a touch more modern.

The crewman on the top is actually using the knife wielding body from Militia Miniatures with a Bolt Action head replacing the original undersized one. Seeing as the original model was not great, he found a new life riding on the top of the armoured car.

I think this is the last vehicle I’m painting in the old style (i.e. without the airbrush) – however this was already basecoated so it just needed finishing off. Over the top of the desert tan from Humbrol, black contrast over the tyres, blue lines for the windows and then a quick wash of Agrax. Finally, a dry brush of Iraqi Sand to finish it off.

It’s already had it’s first battle (and it didn’t immediately explode) so expect to see it pop up alongside the rest of the Emirate forces.

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