19 March 2026

Pulp SciFi figures

Like many of my generation I grew up watching Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (RIP Gil Gerard) which led me to love pulpy / retro SciFi. So, inspired by my games with Rich last year, I treated myself to some of Hydra Miniatures' fabulous "Retro Raygun" 32mm Pulp SF range in their annual Black Friday sale. Thus, I am pleased to introduce a new cast of characters:

The Astro-Angels

The Angels are a compact but highly capable Galacteer squad deployed for boarding actions, sabotage missions, and planetary patrol operations. Their barracks is also the source of the Angel Martini; a cocktail with a reputation across Starbase Epsilon-4 for its remarkable strength and suspiciously high fuel-cell compatibility.

Team Leader: Sergeant Stacy – Tactical leader. Cool-headed and decisive, Stacy keeps the team focused when missions go sideways, which they frequently do.

Team Members:

Polly Plasma – Assault trooper with nerves of steel. Known to walk straight into alien nests with only a smile and a plasma rifle.
Trixie Tachyon – Scout and reconnaissance expert. Fast, agile, and always the first through the hatch during boarding actions.
Vera Vega – Veteran blaster specialist and the squad’s steadiest shot in close combat.
Cassie Comet - Practical joker and a crack shot with a Rocketship Burst Laser.

Molly “Deadeye” Dawn – When missions require heavier firepower, Molly's signature plasma grenade launcher gleefully turns entrenched enemy positions into expanding clouds of ionized debris.

Technical Specialist:

Daisy “Dynamo” – Engineer and mechanic of the Angel's rocketship Calypso. Daisy keeps the patrol ship flying long past the limits recommended by Galacteer maintenance protocols. When accompanying the team in the field, she provides technical support, demolitions expertise, and a fathomless capacity of dry wit.

Captain Roxanne Rayburn - Callsign: “Starfire”

As one of the Galacteer’s most capable field leaders, Starfire commands the Astro-Angels. She is renowned amongst patrol crews as calm under pressure, lethal in combat, and impossibly photogenic in danger zones. A combination that has made her a favourite subject of Galacteer newsreels and recruitment posters across the frontier worlds.

And what team doesn't need a few Red Shirts to come along as a support act? Starfire and the girls often work with Rex “Skylark” Rourke, Ace pilot, and his plasma-cannon toting buddy Bruno “Bulkhead” Kessler.

Together they keep the Galaxy safe from savage aliens, barbaric Space Pirates and the merciless Robots Legion!

Miniatures by Hydra Miniatures and based old school with sand (that I collected from Waikiki Beach!). I tried some new colours and techniques (like lipstick!) that were challenging.

This was my final submission to AHPC16, which was posted here:

https://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/03/from-paul-og-galactic-gals-70-points.html

at brings my Challenge to a close - thanks once again to Curt and the amazing Minion team who bring all of the goodness together!

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Painting Notes

Pixie Pink Warpaints Fanatic AP

Sly Blue Vallejo Model Color 70961

Corvus Black GW

Moot Green GW

Flash Gitz Yellow GW

Dead white Vallejo Game Color 72001

Apothecary White contrast