Car Wars with Hotwheels

[helbent4]

Hello,

The subject of playing CW with Hot Wheels has come up. I've been doing this now for several months (CW2 with counters from CW5 or Classic CW counters scaled x3) and it's worked pretty well!

Following are a few pictures from a couple scenarios I've run either solo or with friends ("Convoy" and "Green Circle Blues"). I'm not really an arena guy, I think I participated in a couple arena combats some thirty years ago and the blood sport and brawl-like nature didn't appeal to me (but I don't judge). The road scenarios supplied a background and rationale that appealed more to me as a roleplayer.

Anyways, there are some spoilers for encounters in these adventures here for anyone who is wishing to play Convoy or GCB some time in the future!

First, my apprentice gamer Giannamaria:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...psdzzjgi2i.jpg

She is focused (as is natural) on a ;67 Chevy C10 pickup and a .69 Ford Torino Talladega edition.

Second, every good game needs a soundtrack. While looking at these pictures I suggest you cue up the song "Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)" by Don Felder from the Heavy Metal (1981) soundtrack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYO6tMvkEck

So climb up into that cursed B-17, pull back the charging handle on your twin cal-fifties, and let's begin!

From Convoy:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...psovxk6fvl.jpg

Leaving Lexington (from R to L) A Nevada Systems Ram Tonto (aka "'70 Chevy Chevelle SS"), Rothschild Motors Mace tractor with modified Tailgunner II, Excalibur Combatant 20 (aka "'83 Chevy Silverado") and Vanguard Hi-Tek (aka "Desert Thunder V16").

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...psdioh2ihq.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...psxbavfuyc.jpg

Just south of Elizabethtown, KY the "Green Grabber" in a modified Mitsui Bodyguard (aka '71 Plymouth Hemi Cuda") begins his attack by laying down oil and mines in front of the convoy.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...pstyumqnfg.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...psobi9pbdr.jpg

The convoy slows down and the rear escorts come up on line. The Bodyguard's rear armour is quickly stripped away. The Green Grabber attempts to reverse into the convoy but is smoked in short order by the combined firepower of escorts and semi-rig.

Just shy of Memphis, the convoy is subjected to a last-ditch assault by forces wanting to prevent them from reaching their destination.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...pshuwvafmf.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...pse5lyzcxs.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...pslerutrjm.jpg

The Vanguard Hi-Tek lays down green paint and flaming oil slicks (set on automatic) to discourage pursuit by two Mitsui Naginatas (aka "2006 Corvette Stingrays") in "Ascendant Security" markings.

Green Circle Blues:

On I-84 just north of Baker City, a Nevada Systems Ram Tonto duels with a pursuing Firestorm, hired by the Green Circle terrorist group to prevent it from reaching Seattle.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...pscid3mlti.jpg

Having chewed through the Firestorm's front armour (and started a power plant fire) the Ram Tonto pulls a U-Turn to administer the coup de grace on its pursuer.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...psytz4207d.jpg

But before it can do so, the Firestorm (true to its name) explodes, showering the highway with debris!

Hope you like these pictures! Lots of fun. I did run into a few rules questions which I have posted to the Errata and FAQ thread.

Tony

[kjamma4]

The green gas counters look really striking.

Hotwheels make a really cool looking game.

[helbent4]

Originally Posted by kjamma4

The green gas counters look really striking.

Hotwheels make a really cool looking game.

Hello kjamma4,

Yes, I sure lucked out with the paint! That game was run some time around Hallowe'en and I had the bright idea that there would be lots of different coloured synthetic "spiderweb" material to choose from. I got black, white, grey, orange, green, and purple. I shall never want for smoke or paint again!

The Hot Wheels cars are pretty sweet. I decided not to modify them too much because a) waaay too much effort for a slacker like me (although I did add some markings and turrets and b) in the future people still want their rides to look cool. Fortunately the taste of most in the post-apoc future is backwards-looking and nostalgic for the days of the muscle cars of the previous century which is easy to achieve with CW vehicles being so malleable and built via CAD-CAM.

Again, in Convoy, there's an ambush where static paint sprayers are triggered from both sides. Following are pictures of the paint clouds:

http://i68.tinypic.com/2m4298z.jpg

As well, those who are observant people will notice I used vehicle display print-outs courtesy of Car Wars Combat Garage. I ran all the enemy and encounter vehicles through it to double-check they were kosher, which was a quick and easy process. It's been a while but I did find that more than a few had errors.

http://carwars.opentools.org/

Tony

[LokRobster]

Great pics; looks like Convoy was a fun run for y'all!

The pics looking head-on at the oilslicks stacked with mines are terrifying...

[schoon]

Wonderful report.

Yes, 2x Car Wars has always been a favorite scale of mine.

For the new edition, Hot Wheels scale will be 1.5x for those wishing to keep using that alternate scale

[TheAmishStig]

I absolutely LOVE those smoke/paint/etc counters! I know what my next "upgrade" is, after finishing a 3D arena of my own [with much, much mentoring from MageSmiley]

[Chernobyl]

great looking stuff!

what was the truck you used? I've been looking for good matchbox scale big rigs but the ones I've found are not proportioned correctly.

[helbent4]

Originally Posted by Chernobyl

great looking stuff!

what was the truck you used? I've been looking for good matchbox scale big rigs but the ones I've found are not proportioned correctly.

Hi Chernobyl,

Thanks!

The truck is from the "Adventure Force" line at Wal-Mart. There are nice van and livestock trailer models available. Unfortunately, the proportions are out a little as well. The truck is about 1/32 scale or so, while the cars (all HotWheels and similar size) are 1/64 scale. So it's about twice as large as the proper scale, although it does make the rig look very imposing!

I also have some dollar-store trucks (cab-overs that look like HINO models) but they are of a smaller scale than the cars; the trailers are only 6 inches (30 feet) long.

That said I did order a Corgi die-cast semi-trailer tanker truck through Amazon.ca that is 1/64 scale. As well, M2Machines offers the 1/64 die-cast "Auto-Haulers" line, with (generally) cab-over tractors with car carrier trailers.

Tony

[Chernobyl]

I've done some googling on the 1/64 big rigs and seen quite a variety of prices. 1/64 scale buses are less common.

[Magesmiley]

Originally Posted by Chernobyl

I've done some googling on the 1/64 big rigs and seen quite a variety of prices. 1/64 scale buses are less common.

I've found some 1/64 buses in the model train supplies that aren't too horribly overpriced and which look ok. You might try looking there.