Loud Ninja games produce a few 15mm sci-fi ranges, two of which I collect: the Chuhuac (think tech-savvy velociraptors with guns) and the Ikwen (low tech lizardmen types).

The original Ikwen infantry set was augmented with another set of rather rough looking fighters, meaning that the range had plenty of fighting men but nothing else. A Kickstarter proposed adding a wider variety of figures but, unfortunately, it failed, so the poor Ikwen have languished unloved for some time.

However, all that has now changed with the launch of some new Ikwen figures that expand the range into something that’s now quite comprehensive (regular readers will know that a pet hate of mine (I almost wrote a “pet bugbear”!) is an incomplete range of sci-fi figures i.e. all foot soldiers with no support weapons, no AT weapons, no specialists etc).

The new figures (available from the Loud Ninja section of the Alternative Armies portfolio) were advertised with a pre-order discount so I, obviously, bought the lot!

First up are some Big Men: officer or hero types.

I absolutely love the chap standing on one leg: says something about the whole Ikwen race not just that particular individual. I also like Mr Far Left with his arms outstretched: a proper character figure rather than just another officer type.

Next up are some support personnel. Here I’ve taken the new sculpts and used them as I see the Ikwen would:

L to R: two tank killer bases, one sniper base, two tech specialist bases

So, on our left, we have various figures throwing what must be explosive charges. They actually look a bit like artillery shells. I’ve grouped these into threes and called them tank-killers i.e. small groups of infantry whose job it is to take out enemy AFVs and bunkers. IABSM, which is what Q13 is based on, has specific rules for tank-killer teams, which can be adapted as part of chrome.

In the middle is a sniper team. Fairly standard, but nicely realised.

On the right are two specialist electronic warfare teams. Anyone who’s played Q13 knows that you are at a severe disadvantage if the opposition has more EW capacity than you do: think an army with no magic fighting one with wizards! The new range has three different EW specialists: the based figures look quite similar but their EW backpacks (no, I didn’t think to take a photo of them from behind, sorry!) are distinct. I could have had three individually-mounted, er, individuals, but as the Ikwen are supposed to be low-tech, I like the idea of having three of them working together in a team. Ghostbusters anyone?

Finally, the piece de resistance in the new range has to be the Ikwen cavalry:

I am loving these Ikwen mounted on what are called Runth. Not quite sure how I will use them yet, but they are cracking figures, even if I have just realised that I have forgotten to paint the tongue of the Ikwen on the right (compare it to the one in the middle).

The Runth come as a body, four individual legs and a lower jaw/tusk, but all very easy to put together. I could have green-stuffed the gaps but deliberately didn’t do so as I like the way they look with a deep line around the shoulder and hip.

I think I might go the whole hog (the whole runth?) and buy another five so I have a squad of eight superheavy cavalry!

All highly recommended, and if people by enough of them, I’m sure that more will be forthcoming, so get your wallets out please!