Sorry no painting!

Well you Know it has been hot! For me far to hot. I sit in the same place to paint and I drip! OK I have started some figures for Matt. So expect some Burpas by the end of the week.

Change of Subject 1

Yesterday at the club we gave "What a tanker" another game. They decided I was not to have a tank destroyer this time. (thanks Richard). They also for a change decided Russian front.  I started in a German Tank lasted a turn and a half and was shot and no save and as we had unequal numbers I was then started in a T26. The lowest level Russian tank possible. I think they may have regretted it 3 kills later.

Here are my Tank Crews

British A13                                 1 Kill
            A13 (Second vehicle)     1 Kill    

Russian T26 B                            3 Kills         

German Panzer 2 A-C                Dead
              Panzer 35t                     Dead
              Panzerjager 1                4 Kills

So I can always have at least 1 tank with at least 1 kill in future games OF THE SAME TIME PERIOD. Not boasting but few other players at the club have gotten more than a single kill in a game. So at present I have a target painted on me and ALL players are trying to get me to some extent.  I bet they get me soon and with much celebration.


Change of Subject 2

Due to ease of building I will be going for option B, the Hidden Valley for the "Pulp Alley" game board. But I also plan to float an airship over the board to emphasis the height! At this stage DINOSAURS will be at a minimum. (Sorry Michael) but this will allow me anything from Victorian explorers all the way back to Cro-Magnum man and everything in between. SoTim shall be allowed Aztecs and Matt shall be allowed British Royal Navy! And Kev can (if he chooses) have Undead Egyptians!

Who knows what everyone will pick!

That's it for now too hot to sit in the sun typing!

All the best Clnt




          

An easy paint

More talking than anything else today. I admit it I got side-tracked into real life. Maybe for a good thing maybe for a bad one! Who knows at this stage!

Here  are probably the easiest things I have ever painted. 2 Elephant tusks, or Mammoth tusks or if you choose really large alien teeth!

They are by Wargames Terrain Workshop WTW (Link) Thanks Dave. I really do like them simple and effective and can be used for almost all 28mm wargames. Maybe they were just loot or maybe they are objective markers of in my Back of Beyond just really large Mammoth tusks. Who knows at this stage.

I am continuing to paint 6mm sci fi vehicles but the seem to be going very slow at the moment, perhaps due to lack of sleep in the heat. But at least they are coming along and I shall have some to show next week. Until then a sneak peek into my mind...... AHHHHHH! Yeah I thought that would be both scary and unpleasant.

Subject changed:

Next year, I know it sneaks up fast! Anyway next year at some local shows I plan to run some "PULP ALLEY" games. At this stage I have 2 plans and here they are!

Option 1;
A Victorian Science fiction game set in a Victorian steam-punk dockyard.  Above is a Picture of Chatham Dockyard so you get an idea of what kind of feel I would be looking for,

here are my initial thumbnail sketches.

 At this stage all is likely to change IF I go down this route. So only take the layout as a rough guide and do not try to find the exact option.

All buildings would and should be enterable and as such all should have fully functioning interiors Which means in warehouses piles of crates,sacks and the like for loads of cover.

You will no doubt note,  as one of my players did the airship and the submarine. These ideas were seized upon and to those members of tHe club became for a very short while the most important parts. Where as I looked upon them as being added extras, there to be finished last so if they were not finished they would not matter.

I already have the figures and am happy to get a few more. So figure choice would not be an big issue.

Option 2:


The idea of a secret valley. Harder I found to sketch! I am deliberately not saying if \I would choose to make an Ice age  Crevice, an African rift or a South American canyon. If this is selected I hope to make that decision with the aid of club members. I do like the idea of an airship somehow being involved for 19th and 20th Century Pulp adventures, as well as a possible Tarzan type character.

As such I have all the figures OR am willing to buy a few more.  Again no reason why in a pulp setting German or Royal Navy could not be involved. Just think of "Doug Mc Clure" films and I am sure you will get the idea. Although at this stage I shall not be going full "Valley of Gwangi!" Unless players really want me to.  I am sure we all remember the T-Rex in Tomb rader though! Still brings a smile to my face

ANYWAY:
if  you have a strong preference let me know. I shall of course pay a lot more attention to my club members as they will have to play it.  Maybe try a few other clubs as well before a show. All depends on how soon I pull my finger out and get on with it!

If neither of those ideas appeal I am happy to listen (BUT it shall be "PULP ALLEY" ) to alternatives. I have learnt in the past though that the more options given the less decisions are made and the more debate is had usually by the people willing to do the least work and try to claim the most credit! So please stick to the above ideas unless you  have a really smashing, bursting to get out never been seen at a show before idea!

Least said soonest mended.

Yes it has been Just under a week since I last posted, No grumbles just real life getting in the way.
Also I have done NO painting except 30mins yesterday. So now when I pick a paint brush up again it feel uncomfortable some how.

On the plus side it has allowed me to do some thinking ! Which has lead me to question a good number of things about wargaming in general and Science Fiction Wargaming in particular. Firstly let me say FOR THE RECORD I like Science Fiction wargaming a lot. Yet I seldom play it at the club. I now that sounds strange even as I type it. Therefore I need to start playing it more.

HOWEVER.
And it's a big however! Everyone has a different idea about Science fiction wargaming. Take aliens as an example! Should they be men in a rubber suit? I would like them not to be. I am equally aware that someone would say symmetrical bipeds are the most logical way intelligent life would evolve. So (and this is where you come in) if I wanted some 15mm aliens who makes the best ones?

I do like GZGs "Chitters!" but I find them too expensive at £1 a 15mm figure. In addition I find the heads unconvincing so I would chose to do head swaps each and every time I wanted one. I have not ruled them out but if someone has a better suggestion I am more than willing to listen. So ideas are greatly appreciated as long as there is no film related! (A related film brings that film to players minds and that is not what I am looking for!)

As for vehicles I already have those all sorted ou, but as yet unpainted, from an eBay purchase about 5 years ago. It is not important to me that the Aliens and the vehicles look the same.. After all humans look NOTHING like any tanks we have ever produced ! As I already have a set of vehicles in 15mm that I want to use it is of no use to me pointing out company P produce the most fabulous vehicles and they go with these infantry! To do so is a waste of your time and typing skills.So forget all about vehicles for the moment!

Medics (VBCW and more!)

I finally painted these 3 figures. They are Foundry 28mm from the set "Dumping the body!". However I intend to use them as VBCW figures. In fact they are painted as normal VBCW figures (with no particular uniform with the intention that they can be used by any side.  I am not sure why I purchased them originally maybe I was thinking of a grave robbing game (I know that was a plan years ago).  But now they shall function as VBCW medics. No that is not the best way to move a wounded person, before anyone says, but at least it will get them out of the area of firing so they should not be hit AGAIN!

Additionally I found this dead body. so I thought it only right to paint it at the same time. While I do not at this moment have a use for the figure I am sure that in the goodness of time a reason of its painting  will some to mind. I thought it might be best floating in the water as being a little different to just lying on a grassy knoll not least because I had a bottle of unopened GLOSS varnish I was eager to try.
Now all I need is a water filled area, maybe a Victorian docks, in which to leave the stiff!


SECRET PROJECT no 2)

I also needed to make some flying bases. Mostly for Aeronef. Obviously the helicopter is NOT aeronef related so I shall talk more of that another time. To get the 6mm (1/300th scale )Helicopter "right" I shall need to finish the base. I will also need to cut the rotor disc more accurately. But the ideas work fine I just need to execute them better, so expect that to be done soon! When I say soon It all relates to a pre-order I have made with Brigade Models for pick up on Sunday at the Broadside show. I have some pre-orders already in place but most of my spendz will come down to what money I have once I sell a few things. But we can save that for a show report on Monday and a LOOT haul report on (I hope) Sunday night.

Until then take care have fun and paint and game  as much as you are able.

Not Going to Salute LOOT

As most will know I did not attend Salute this year! I do not regret it. I am sure it was great and many interesting things were there. But it just costs too much to go every year. So here is what I spent the money on instead.... and it s still cheaper than the entrance and travel costs.

• What the Tanker , a new set of rules to try and having watched a few vids on toy-tube it does look like my cuppa!
• Zvezda t-26 in 1/100th scale, (not quite 15mm but close enough) More of this later
• Warpaint "Monster Brown"
• 3 Lucid Eye figures. Yes the pack had the wrong price on it so I nabbed it quick.
• 2 Brushes

Total spend less than £44 so for me a cheaper option. Whine over!

lets start with the brushes. these are just to replace ones that have been worn out! they really were the reason I went shopping! The paint is brown paint as I always use it in a variety of shades, almost every day! The Lucid eye Figures well as they should be £7:50 and I got them for £4:50 I won't say too much more.

In What a tanker a T-26 is the starting tank for the Russians. Therefore I imagine it will see early are action either by me or by a friend. I will be going for the Russian Northern front in WW2 as this seems to give the greatest variety. Russians with some lend lease from Britain and America as well as Germans (with Finish allies, Italian Allies, Hungarian Allies and Romanian allies (yes there was also the Spanish Blue legion as well but they were without tanks). So More variety of tanks than any other front. yes the Germans did use some captured French equipment as well) but no Japanese tanks were used in Russia in ww2 (China yes, Russia nope! Unless of course you know better)

So that is todays up date more on Sunday when I get some painting done!

Epiphany (well sort of)

Ok that might be over doing it. (and It may be spelt wrong) but you get the idea. The figures are 20mm SHQ purchased at the recent Cavalier show (on Impulse). Personally I like 20mm figures and I like SHQ Miniatures and I like Cold war wargaming. Thus for me it is a shame they will possibly never get used.

I know the kind of wargame I want and have never found the correct rules. You can imagine what I wanted looking at the pic on the left. I have even looked into making and casting the "Iron Cow" Yes Bryan I know if I ever do you want one in 28mm scale. I know this. But I would be working in 20mm IF I ever did it, or maybe in 15mm depending on the other manufacturers and what they make to fit in as opposition. But my plan has always been 20mm.

Anyway that will have to wait. Probably till I die and someone else does it! So hold your breathe if you want but I would not advise it!

OKAY so why the Epiphany? Well while looking for some suitable "The Zone" rules I can across "Black Opps" by Osprey. Now I will admit they would be kind of suitable, but they would need a few tweaks to get the flavour right. What they would suit is Vietnam. Now the Vietnam conflict is just my thing and I have 2 forces ready to go. In fact they are itching to get going and have been for a LONG while. In a weeks time I do have a Veitnam game (Peter Pig rules) at a show. Personally I do not like these rules as I feel they are more about the game than the conflict. Yes I have looked at SEVERAL other sets of rules Including (but not limited to) FNG, Buckle for your dust, Body Count, Force on Force, Skirmish Sangin, Specte and even Flames of War. None of them quite give what I am after. FNG is closest but I do not like the mechanics as they come across as unwieldy. However "Black Opps" is the right scale (about a squad) easy to explain and use and should I hope, give a good Vietnam game. So that is my plan at this stage.

Thanks for reading my babble. next time some Vikings. (I hope)

Mixed bag

Yes a mixed bag today. A REAL Mixed bag. Infract a liquorice allsorts type of post.

Let me explain. Matt dropped of some figures on Sunday and they are based and undercoated and I HOPE to show some in a few days. But this put me in a position where I was starting afresh with nothing ready to share on todays post.

BoB Back of Beyond.
Having looked at the prices of Trains on eBay suitable for BoB wargaming I was quite frankly alarmed. A single locomotive ranged from £30-500. (Plus postage). But this was for a train to go around a railway track. I found that a cheaper option was to go for a "STATIC" model, which in this instance cost £5.95 inc.
postage. Which if a far more acceptable price. The model is only a little bit smaller and once taken from the base (4 screws) and weathered shall I deem make a very acceptable wargames piece suitable for the Back of Beyond.

Roman Necromunda.
Well not quite but still a good set of rules and one that allows you to play ancient skirmish games quickly easily and with a minimal of fuss. Yeah but it's Fantasy...... Well yes it is but my argument would be it is true to what was believed at the time. Okay that is only partially true. It is a bit like saying that people today believe in ghosts or the Loch ness Monster or UFO's. And True some people do and everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. I am not going to criticise anyone for what they believe or don't believe.

Several differs types of "warband" are featured in the rules but any enemy of Rome could be featured if you were willing to do some background reading and approach the rules with an open mind.

If you want a review of the rules let me know. Personally I like what I read, but it does mean you have to have an open mind and or like Fantasy games.

Longships.
This project has come from the back burner to the front burner. Two Christmases ago my Secret Santa (Blogger) sent me some 15mm Peter pig figures. I have felt guilty ever since as I had not used them at all. As Tim (at the club) has 2 10mm WW1 Middle east armies nearly finished that project fell of the burner altogether. Which opened up some space. Some of you will be aware that I used to be in a Dark age Re-enactment group, as such I have an interest in this period. As such I did have a VERY old DBA army (I actually had 4 at one stage but only kept hold of one). Therefore I an repaimting and rebasing a force to sit in with the Peter Pig rules "Longships". I hasten to add than no new purchases are at present planned (Ok some are, but only loosely and no money has parted hands so far.

One of the good things about the Dark ages is that once you have an army it can be used for multiple opponents.  Seriously there is no difference in what a Viking wore or fought with or an Anglo Saxon, or Scots or Welsh or... you get the idea.

14/400. yes tis is 14 points from 400 needed for a game. The figures are old, very old, they are about 35 years old and were the first army I ever bought. Re-painted now . The two with bows are "Minifigs" the 2 with slings are "Tabletop games" (A company no longer in existence at all.) Each stand in the Peter pig rules is worth 7 points. They are skirmishers and a Viking army historically did not have many of them at all.

I will not flood the army lists with skirmishers but it is useful to have 1 skirmish unit if no more. Having NO skirmish units is I have found a disadvantage.

When I finish another unit I will tell you both the points of the unit and the total paints for the army. Remember it if out of 400. so as mentioned this is 14/400.

That is it for today more again soon. Matts crew next I hope.

As always any questions, comments or observations are welcomed.

Plans! (2018)

My plans are as always very fluid. However here are some thoughts for the new year. I will of course continue to paint for Matt (and other club members if they pay me). But that is not really a plan of mine for the new year.

Bellow are the things I want to achieve for myself I will try to only show the basic plans and hope this time next year I can cross them off. (I usually can't).

1] I shall continue with the BoB (Back of Beyond) Project in 20mm. This will definitely happen as I feel enthused by the whole game ethos.

2] Crimson Skies: While still reading the rules I see this as a club game that may actually take off. I still need to read all the rules but so far so good. It should make a very suitable game for the club and I am at present contemplating making some sky boards even maybe a zeppelin! Remember you heard it here first.


3] WW1 Historical. For this I really need to do a few things first. The easiest being talk to Tim at the club. When that is done I need to sell all my colonial figures (to raise funds and make space.) Tim has an UNPAINTED Turkish army and an UNPAINTED Imperial (British) army. So I will need to see what he says on Sunday and maybe start an army within 2 months of that. As well as Galipoli and Lawence of Arabia there are many other battles that did take place and it makes such a change from Western Front.

4] Dieselpunk. As I had the "Gaslands" Rules (osprey) for Crimbo I find I like the ules but dislike the setting and scale and therefore changes NEED to be made. As such I intend to make a scale change to 28mm. Easy done just enlarge the templates. I also want to take it back to a 1930's setting. Yes this will be loads of work to get the cars right.... in that they will need to be converted. But just imagine how spectacular it will look. Assuming I can get it finished. I know this is by far the biggest plan and fraught with difficulties but if it works it will be great.



In addition I will continue to work on my dark age aries (yes I have 2 started, one in 28mm and one in 15mmm) > These are not a priority at present so do not expect huge leaps to be made in them. I also have some Lord of the Rings figures to paint and hope to do one every 2 weeks.

Lastly I expect TO GET SIDE TRACKED. This is almost inevitable so do not hold it against me. Hope fully something will grab you as well. If so please feel free to leave a comment.

All the best Clint

And little can be done until a chat at the club but at least these are my plans.

All I want for Krimbo is......?

Well I must say I am very pleased with the gifts I received this year.
And here they are.

 Firstly my mother is very nearly back to normal and this is the best gift.

As she was poorly she could not get any gifts so I treated myself. I bought the new Osprey rules "Gaslands" which I must say are rather quite good. While designed for a specific scale and setting there is a paragraph in the rules For changing the scale or the setting, so I think I will be edging towards Dieselpunk games.

I was also VERY lucky and managed to snag (on eBay) a mint version of Crimson Skies. It really does not look like it has ever been played with so I am just going to have to play it like crazy! I have about 20 "Wizkid" planes and will be working on getting this game as fully 3d as possible. Maybe not straight away, but soon my precious soon!  More Dieselpunk!

My sister got me the DVD of Rocketeer so that will add to the dieselpunk vibe very nicely. It is what I asked for and I am grateful.


Lastly from Matt and completely unexpected I got some German Aeronef ships. These are Brigade Models and they are helping to lift my spirits immensely. Totally unexpected and again I am very grateful for them. Cheers Mate.

Not (so far) a bad Krimbo at all. Yes I did buy everything in the top 2 pics myself, but I got exactly what I wanted and am smiling like a Cheshire cat!

Another post (Assuming I get anything finished) in 2 days

Until then take care have fun and paint if the mood takles you.

Best Wishes and seasons Greetings Clint

2 things

My Sister on Khan (the horse)
at Hickstead this year.

Firstly a big congrats to my sister. She came 9th out of a field of 29 at Hicktead Horse Trials. She was competing in Dressage.  While 9th is not Olympic standard it is still pretty good. (FAR better than I could have even attempted to do!)

I do not mention my sister often as she has NO interest in my hobby.



And the Rosette for coming 9th

Can I ride a horse?.... I have learnt to cling on but I am in no way proficient.


















Ok back to wargaming...... here is the start of Matt's Aeronef British fleet!


At this stage he has Far to many small aeronef and they have been a right paint to paint. But they are done now so I can put them out of my mind and get something else done.

below are a series of close ups of various class vessels. With the brown ones at the end being airships. I had to paint 3 times before I was happy with them.

That's it for today. Take care have fun and paint if the mood takes you.

best wishes Clint


Mixed Bag

I have not had such a good week so far. But I am Ok and the Family are OK so it could have been FAR worse.

OKAY let us start with the Wargaming. As you Know I did play a Napoleonic game on the weekend. And as you will no doubt remember I aid I would help out painting up some 28mm French (as I had a box of Victrix models sitting about doing nothing. So here are the next 6, Making 9 in total. I am sure you can spot the difference. (I can easily)

Having played the game I do not feel the need to make any flag bearers officers or musicians. Maybe just some NCO chevrons on one in the next 3. Or maybe some flowers on the base. Just an indication that One figure is in charge.

You may note that the Blue is darker on the last 6 following your feedback last time. I have mixed them in so they start to blend.  3 |More figures to go and then that is a Unit done. And As I am not enjoying it I will then stop and call it quits for as long as I can. I really do not enjoy painting them.

Following the Game on Sunday I got to thinking.... always a dangerous thing! I do now have a set of Skirmish rules I do like. "Songs of Drums and Shako's". I also have a desert town in 20mm (My Afghan town) which does not see enough play. I think with a very very quick re-write and a very slight reimagining I can use these rules to play some "Beau Geste" or in the clubs way more likely to be "Carry on Follow that Camel!". I already have enough 20mm Arabs AND a(this was a secret but I am blabbing now) some 20mm French Foreign Legion. (FFL) and while the FFL are few in number being just samples and conversions I think I can have a show quality game (but played at the club) up and running within 2-3 weeks. 

Finally I am painting my Aeronef fleet (no nothing to show yet. ) The problem being I really do not like the stands at all. The plastic breaks in the holes FAR too easily and the stands wobble a LOT with bigger vessels. Therefore I need either to make my own stands OR find a viable alternative. At present I am looking at Resin block stands as they will have the weight I require with metal (wire) columns to support the vessels. If you have a better Idea I am all ears. The Stand shown was made by Tim of Frontline and does not come with the Wire, but that really is a small thing so at present I am not worried.

Thanks for looking today and with luck more again in a couple of days.

All the best Clint

The Missing Pics

Last week I reported missing some pics of the stuff  I had been painting. Well I found them. By which I mean the camera found them. They did not appear one day but were there a few days later. And here they are.

They are all for Matt and part of his ever growing Sudan Collection. They are all also Egyptian, Matt knows I like painting them. And I think they are all old glory figures in 28mm.

Most are spare artillery crew figures along with 1 Nordenfelt Machine gun (Link to Wiki ). Clearly 4 of the figures, those in blue are officers, not just because they are pointing!

These to me are now "Old news" as they have already been returned to Matt and mighty pleased he was too.

Elsewhere on the painting table at least for now I have some Mahdist Cavalry (as well as 3 Madist foot) so expect them next week or maybe if you are unlucky for the next few weeks.


 Of my own projects I have my last Deepone. He (or maybe it is a she... I cannot tell) was delayed because I could not find a suitable base. Now however a base has been found and I can crack on as fast as I like.

A Zombie... From the walking dead game nearly finished now and should be OK to show next week.

A platoon of 15mm WW2 Japanese finished at last. Purchased in February and now just about ready for a game or two. I will admit Vampifan reignited this project by giving me enough funds to buy the Type I Ho-Ro Tank destroyers. I will admit they put me into a buying frenzy for the project and I am now just about ready.. or I will be when I start painting up some armour, Well Tankettes at least.

I shall do a post about this project probably on Sunday. With everything painted so far. But I still have some stragglers on the painting table as well. But I hope to finish them over the weekend. Fingers crossed.

Well that tells you what is coming up. I must say I am looking forward to the Japanese as I have in the past played VERY little Pacific and far east Games.

Of the two I am hoping for more Pacific Japanese Vs American games, but I know Graham (at the club) wants more Far East games.

Finally there are 5 Napoleonic French on the table as well. Almost forgot those.

Right that is enough waffle. Have a good weekend and try not to get caught doing things you should not be doing! ((By her in doors!)

All the best Clint