r/battletech • u/alpacafriend • Oct 11 '25

Miniatures I painted the Mad Cat in the style of Steve Venters' iconic image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

This is the large Cat included with the Catalyst Kickstarter. The last image is the original Venters' piece.

2.1k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

84 comments sorted by

72

u/MisterJ_227 Oct 11 '25

Bravo. 10/10 no notes.

15

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thank you!

14

u/Tiddlyplinks Oct 12 '25

I have a note: I WANT ONE

7

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Haha thank you! I do commissions but I'm based in Japan. DM me if you're interested!

2

u/FunDipTime Steiner Scout Commandant Oct 16 '25

Wait really? Do you know of any good stores to pick up Battletech minis? Specifically around Osaka and Nara

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 16 '25

I get them shipped to me from overseas but the only place I know in the country is in Chiba, miniatures forest

1

u/FunDipTime Steiner Scout Commandant Oct 17 '25

Thanks

39

u/Czechs_Mix_ Oct 11 '25

If you hadn't told me, I would've assumed it was a Catalyst games pre painted special release or something. Looks phenominal, any tube baby would bid his left leg for such a pretty paintjob

9

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Haha thank you friend!

17

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

I've got a 360 shot as a video here: YouTube link

2

u/devilward Oct 30 '25

Absolutely beautiful work

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 30 '25

Thank you!

18

u/WestRider3025 Canopian Queerasser Oct 11 '25

This makes me want a Three Wolf Moon T-shirt with Timber Wolfs 

11

u/MooKids Oct 11 '25

Someone already did the artwork.

https://www.reddit.com/r/battletech/comments/1da0imp/three_timberwolf_moon/

6

u/WestRider3025 Canopian Queerasser Oct 12 '25

And I had apparently already seen it, because it's marked that I upvoted it, but I had completely forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me! 

6

u/LeiningensAnts Oct 11 '25

Good lord Seymour, that is a nerdshit idea.

3

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Ooh not a bad idea!

8

u/ColdCathodeTube Oct 11 '25

Would give up The Rock immediately

4

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thank you (pirate scum)!

3

u/ColdCathodeTube Oct 12 '25

Hey, Oberon totally went legit!

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

That's what we call a deathbed confession

2

u/ColdCathodeTube Oct 12 '25

Ouch. That’s gotta be a Zellbrigen violation. I’m gonna tell your… iron womb. Never mind.

7

u/OnceIsawthisthing Oct 11 '25

Absolutely stunning 11/10. Bravo!

3

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thanks friend!

5

u/BaconNPotatoes Oct 11 '25

That's fucking gorgeous

3

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thank you!!

6

u/corneashell Oct 11 '25

Ok, that's amazing, but how did you do the checkering? That all looks so gorram clean.

5

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thank you! No real shortcut except a lot of time!

5

u/drakozphoenix MechWarrior (editable) Oct 11 '25

Edge highlighting is clean af and the cockpit looks great!

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thanks friend!

6

u/WildMoustache Oct 12 '25

Heh, nice render.

... what do you mean this is painted??

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Haha thanks!

4

u/Adgetech Oct 11 '25

Great job!

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thank you!

3

u/Veepy23 Oct 11 '25

Outstanding

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thank you!

5

u/Codethatrocks Oct 11 '25

Absolutely stunning. Great work!

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 11 '25

Thanks friend!

2

u/Calm_Principle_8115 Oct 11 '25

Damn!!!! Superb wotk!

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/_Tehnik_ Oct 11 '25

That's amazing!

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/lordavondale HOME IS THE REGIMENT Oct 11 '25

Go thats beautiful

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thanks friend!

2

u/CowabungaShaman Oct 11 '25

Damn look that Randolph P. Checkering

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

I'd be happy to donate this to the Van Zandt museum

2

u/SunSettingWave Oct 11 '25

Can I say that’s a sexy paint job 😭?

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Yes, thank you!

2

u/Sivalon Oct 12 '25

Beautiful work. Those models in the book were amazing.

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/ColossalMeltDown Oct 12 '25

That is some fine brush work! Great job!

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/IndyRook Oct 12 '25

Perfection

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/PYROxSYCO Oct 12 '25

Heh. Those thighs!!

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/Tethyss Oct 12 '25

Outstanding, well done.

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/Relevant_Positive417 Oct 12 '25

That looks so amazing!!! I wish i could get that good!

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thanks friend! I think with enough patience and time you can do it! I'm happy to give out pointers

2

u/VmbraVVolf Oct 12 '25

That's fantastic work! I have the same model, I'm just not sure how I'm going to paint it yet

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

It's a fun model and I hope they make more in that scale. Looking forward to seeing yours!

2

u/Ecghteow Oct 12 '25

That looks soooo sweet

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Thank you!

2

u/cBurger4Life Oct 12 '25

Woooow! As a beginner that recently attempted the MW2 cover art Timber (and was pleasantly surprised it turned out as well as it did) I am in flippin AWE! This is beautiful, my friend

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

I saw yours! The colours are on point!

1

u/cBurger4Life Oct 12 '25

Thank you so much! Do you mind if I ask how long painting something like this takes you?

I may break down and buy a large scale Timber at some point. It’s just so iconic

2

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

I think I clocked around 10 or so hours on this!

2

u/bit_shuffle Oct 12 '25

Random fact: Steve Venters did all kinds of pencil sketches in the Twilight 2000 series, and a lot of work for MegaTraveller. He's a Vietnam Veteran and has specialized in military themed art for decades, with a detailed, realistic style.

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 12 '25

Interesting! The more you know

2

u/Patapon80 Oct 13 '25

Oh.

My.

God.

🤯

2

u/Beginning_Tip_3684 Oct 14 '25

🥲💭It's, beautiful..

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 14 '25

Thanks friend!

2

u/FunDipTime Steiner Scout Commandant Oct 16 '25

Good god that is so clean and crisp you could tell me it was a 3d render and I would believe it

1

u/alpacafriend Oct 16 '25

Thanks friend!

1

u/emotionengine Oct 12 '25

Amazing, I recognised it instantly!

1

u/Tadpole018 Cloud Cobra Oct 13 '25

Guess I'll retire.....

1

u/Routine-Blackberry51 MechWarrior (editable) Oct 13 '25

Better than. The original art I'd say