This modeling article shows you how to put together a Fire Jaguar based on existing miniatures. While a somewhat involved conversion (some cutting and sculpting are required), it looks decidedly different on the tabletop, and those rocket pods sure come in handy! This model was built and painted by Phillipe Leclerc, whose work you can see in Montreal-area game stores.

Vehicle Name: Fire Jaguar
Affiliation: all Northern armies
Battlefield Role: Close Fire Support
Background & Game Stats: Northern Vehicle Compendium 1, page 96
Required Components: Jaguar, Weapon Pack 2, Black Mamba (opt.)
Additional Material Required: sheet styrene, modeling putty
Scale: 1/144 (12mm wargaming)
Modeler: Phillipe Leclerc

Carefully clean up all the pieces before assembly. Most of the conversion is based on the Jaguar, with the Weapon Pack 2 as a source of parts. Phillippe has chosen to model the older style of Jaguar that was used back during the War; this one sported rounded rocket pods and head unit, unlike the more modern version currently in service in the Terranovan Northern armies.

To recreate the earlier Jaguar rounded head, a Black Mamba head unit was used. The rear "overhang" was filed off and a flat armor plate sculpted with putty; the lightening holes were poked in while the putty was curing. (Alas, this is not visible here -- refers to the earlier Heavy Gear books for pictures.) The front of the sensor block was then filed down to make it thinner; replacement lenses were made, though the block can be painted to simulate an armored glass panel instead (which most Fire Jaguars were supposed to sport, anyway).

The additional armor plates require some cutting. The knee blocks were carefully removed, and their location sanded flat. A piece of 2mm (1/16") thick styrene was used to make the new armor plate; bevel the sides slightly to conform to the shape shown in the Vehicle Compendium. Four rivets (made of styrene rod, or glue drops) are then placed at each corner. Additional armor can be "bolted" to the back and front of the torso as desired, though in this case Phil elected to keep the conversion fairly clean.

Adding the round rocket pods is a fairly straightforward job -- just put one on each shoulder, making sure the head and backpack still fit. Put the rest of the weapons in the bit box for use in latter conversions.

Place the Gear on the base in an interesting posture. Glue some sand or flock to the base to give it a ground texture. An old paintbrush and carpenter's glue make the work fairly easy: spread the glue around the figure, then sprinkle fine sand or flock evenly, shaking out the excess after a few minutes. Once this is thoroughly dry, a second coat of highly diluted glue can go on top to lock down any errant grain of sand. Glue on any additional accessories (spare parts, ammo clips, scenery items, ruins) and give the entire model a coat of primer paint.

Paint the model using the same base color as the rest of your Heavy Gear forces. In this case, the Gear was painted in two shades of brown; no camouflage was used, to make sure the shape and volumes would show well. The sensor and details were then added with a fine paintbrush. The ground was painted brown, then several sand tones were drybrushed over it. Though this was not done here, flock and lichen can be used to create more complex scenery for the base.