Playing at Home

Of course the main purpose of the move was so that our twin daughters (19 months at time of writing) would have a more rational house to live in. 2 stories instead of 3, bedrooms all on the same level and so on. Alas, one of the unfortunate side effects of finding such a property was that we acquired a largish garage.

Ok, to be honest I acquired it and got agreement to a permanent table set up before my better half had had too much time to think about the consequences (like where the lawnmower would live).

So, much of Christmas has been spent rationalising which has led me to several conclusions.

1. I have more wargaming stuff than I can possible paint/play or open over the next twenty years. I could start a shop if I could only bear to part with any of it!

 

 

2.       I should have enough room for a 12 by 8 board which could lead me to actually play with some of the stuff mentioned in 1

 

3.       I really need to find some time…

 

 

Nostalgia

In the recent house move I came across an old Citadel box from the mid 80s.

 

Originally the box contained these not so fine fellows:

 

I’m sure the figures are now residing in my parent’s loft (the term loft hardly does that room justice, it has windows, radiators, carpet etc. My Dad practises his 9 iron up there – I’m not joking)

But they had been superseded by my infamous Blood Bowl team the WCC (Wee Caledonian Crushers nothing to do with cricket or cream teas, sun lit lawns or fair play).

The figures themselves are from the Blood Bowl expansion pack Dungeon Bowl which also came with an Elf team (which my friend Richard kept), pit traps, exploding chests, spiked balls (catch that) and all sorts of hysterical nastiness. Have fond memories of these chaps and still have the team roster, not to mention a whole background story scribbled somewhere. They played in several competitions and even got a run out at Games Day in 1989 which led to me getting a summer job in GW in Glasgow.

Nice to see the little fellas! Wonder if my parents’ cavernous loft is hiding some Astro-granite?

The Saxon King

October saw the latest weekender hosted by the League of Augsburg n Derby. One of the regulars, a resident of Vienna, Gunter has been in the habit of bringing across his large collection of late 17^th early 18^th century Saxons to fight Beneath the Lily Banners engagements. This collection represents every single unit in the Saxon King’s army and this time they refought the battle of Fraustadt battling the rather frightening Swedes.

Gunter also treated us to a display of his Napoleonic army. Again, this is Saxon and represents every unit 1810-1813.

 

Finally the man himself...

 

Further information on Gunter’s colections can be found on the following threads over at the Fighting Talk forum on the League of Augsburg site.

Napoleonics:

http://www.leagueofaugsburg.com/fightingtalk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2402

BLB:

http://www.leagueofaugsburg.com/fightingtalk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3628

And his growing 1871 collection:

http://www.leagueofaugsburg.com/fightingtalk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5281

Intermission

It’s been quiet here for a while and that’s entirely down to normal life cutting into well everything including that precious time spent mucking about with toy soldiers.

Busy at work and then a house move and then having to deal with the muddled, mangled bureaucracy at British Telecom meant having no internet access at home. I’m uploading this at my in-laws who are gradually becoming suspicious of the increased frequency of my wife and I’s visits. Yes, we’re masking under a façade of completing useful chores for them but it can’t be long before thy twig what’s really going down and cut off the supply of broadband, tea and Jaffa cakes.

Anyway, all this is to explain my absence from this blog and hopefully normal (or as near normal as I can manage) service will soon be resumed.

Derby Roadtrip

The Huguenots are all packed away ready for another trip to Derby and a weekend of campaigning courtesy of the League of Augsburg. A very small contribution to the fray given the vast battalions deployed by the League and their associates but its always nice to see my figures out on a table somewhere.

Even if sometimes they don't stay on the table long. Still it's not the winning that counts at these events it's definitely the banter and beer!

Sergeant Telion

This is one of my favourite GW miniatures mainly as it is one of the few that show a bit of age. I guess in the Dark Millennium few have the opportunity to become veterans.

US Paratroop Artillery

Little guns that hopefully will pack a punch on the road to Arnhem.

Right, just the infantry to do now for my Market Garden Flames of War force and unfortunately there's 'undreds of the blighters and I only have so much time and patience!

 

US Paratrooper Snipers

Gradually I'm building an Arnhem army for Flames of War games. The XXX Corps tanks are in place, there are a few 82nd kicking about under a bed somewhere and now here are some snipers to help pin back any German counter attack. Next up field artillery.

Tiny Tigers

Ok they're 15mm so not that small but definitely midget like compared with the Warlord one finished a month or so ago. This was another airbrush experiment and as with all of these so far the result was not as intended. The reflective green pigment in particular isn't strong. Still they'll probably look fine enough on a table at a distance.

These are Plastic Soldier Company miniatures. I usually find these a bit smaller than their Battlefront compatriots but unlike the T 34s, STuGS and Shermans I don't have an equivalent Battlefront model to compare these with. So for my home battlefields at least this is the size Tigers are!

101st Test Pieces

Deploying swiftly to the aid of Jean and his comely comrade two Bolt Action U.S. paratroopers. As is ever the way with my collecting I have a horde of these waiting for some primer and paint. Maybe one day these two will be reinforced!

Jean has a Long Moustache

And here is Jean with friend, best not to ask questions. Guess the two are out hunting Nazis or avoiding that tiger from a couple of weeks ago. Models from the Bolt Action range.

Colonel Steiner

Let's hope Jack Higgins' lawyers haven't spotted this chap in Warlord's Bolt Action range; leather jacket, sten gun hmm... When I get round to gaming with him must remember to use my Bavarian Cockney accent.

Battlefront Tiger Tank

Another model that has been sitting around forlornly hoping that I would finally get off my lazy whatsit and pick up a brush to finish. Well it finally got it's wish, not too sure about the result though. Never tried to splodge a 28mm WWII vehicle before, have done plenty 40K where you can pretend naff paint jobs are to reflect 'character' (especially if it has an Orky look).

Still that's one more off the workbench and on to a table (sometime, somewhere).

Williamite Cannon

At last this one is based. Hopefully they will get a run out in Derby come October. I went for a Dutch like uniform for this gun, I have one more to do and they are to be clad in the more familiar red.

Huguenots March into WI 321

That's Wargames Illustrated not the other WI. In issue 320 readers had to endure a photo or two of the Bautzen game with me in them for which I apologise (why Barry chose one that looked like I was picking my nose I'm not sure!).

Anyway WI 321 has a photo of my Huguenots on page 102 marching off to greet some Jacobites!

Huguenots Part 5

The nice people over at the League of Augsburg blog have posted the last part on the Huguenots. http://leagueofaugsburg.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/hugging-huguenots-my-new-wargaming.html

Huguenots Part 4

Fourth part published over at the League of Augsburg blog. http://leagueofaugsburg.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/hugging-huguenots-my-new-wargaming.html

Schomberg’s Horse

These guys have actually been finished for a month or so and debuted at the latest League of Augsburg weekender in March.

They were fighting the Battle of the Boyne scenario, forming part of the Williamite cavalry reserve on the left flank. When I commanded them they only arrived in time to see the end of the engagement but I so rarely get to play that it was just great to see them on a table surrounded by fantastic figures and wonderful terrain.

To go a bit melodramatic for a moment (like I need an excuse!), I never feel a piece is complete until it’s been played with at least once. Hopefully, this will be the first of many excursions for them!

Test Piece – French Resistance

Damn those rule and figure manufacturers! Just when you think you’ve got everything you’ll ever need in this lifetime of wargaming something else catches your eye and surreptitiously empties your wallet!
Always wanted to do something on the French Resistance, so have emptied the coffers to the benefit of Warlord’s Bolt Action Partisan range. This is the first piece…



More will follow… just as soon as I finish those Napoleonics, Ancients, Paratroopers, FoW stuff, Huguenots, Space Marines, Empire chaps… ooooh did I just see a Warfare Great Northern War range?

WWII German Gallery

I suddenly seem to have a lot of these chaps...

Tanks

 

 

 

 

 

Artillery and support

 

 



 

 

 

Infantry

 

 

 



 

What I’m Working on Now…

Altogether now…
There ain’t nothing like an Ork,
Nothing like an Ork,
Whether they worship Mork or Gork,
There ain’t nothing like an Ork!

GW Killa Kan.

WWII German HMG

Some MG42s to give the Wehrmacht a little extra something when trying to hold back the Soviet war machine.

These guys were base coated with Vallejo Air paints using an air brush and then dry brushed highlights.

 

 

 

 

WWII German Infantry

The last of the Open Fire box set.

 

What I’m Working on Now…

It’s back to the default setting of 1815 and some more French. These guys are destined to be base coated and dipped using Army Painter. Still experimenting with that, still having variable results!

Perry Miniatures – plastic and metal

Huguenots Part Three

The third part about collecting Huguenots is up on the League of Augsburg site.

http://leagueofaugsburg.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/hugging-huguenots-my-new-wargaming.html

WWII German Mortars

Just off the brush. Battlefront models.

 

What I’m Working on Now…

A long time ago… in a blog post far, far away, I started describing an Empire Army for Warhammer Fantasy Battle. They are still there sat on their sprues awaiting the attentions of clippers, glue and brush.
One day I will get to them – that oft made wargamers cry! But for now I’m dipping into the commanders.
First up a couple of colourful battle wizards:



And a mounted general…


Naturally all GW’s finest.

WWII Irish Guards

Got a bit carried away with the Market Garden lists for Flames of War and have ended up with a lot of Shermans.

These are from both the Battlefront Open Fire box and Plastic Soldier Company. Not sure if you could mix them in the same unit but at a distance...

The group includes JOE Vandeleur and the RAF forward command, both Battlefront.

 

 

What I'm Working on Now...

Huguenots didn't have any guns but I thought mine might need one or two. First one underway.

Apparently the British artillery adopted blue coats in Ireland in honour of William of Orange, however, they quickly returned to red.

What I'm Working on Now...

Finally getting round to those Huguenot cavalry. Next stop Dumfries in March.