The Long Dark?

My Computer has been hacked and I will probably loose the internet tomorrow at some time.

So this is just to say no posts for a while, Maybe permanently.

Don't Know yet.

So "So long and thanks for all the fish!"

Still not got act together

Sorry NO aar today. I still have not found the time. (I hope in the next few days).

Until then I have finished another knight for Lion Rampant. As such it is one of my OLD Bretonian Knights from Games Workshop. Clearly part of the Black, white, Purple troop. So it will fit into my second unit. I did not know (Until I checked on the internet) that both Orange and Purple were legal heraldic colours.  Still live and learn. As soon as I found that out the colour choice was clear to me. And an Old Games workshop figure is given a new lease of life.  I am sure most of you will already have noted that and used Purple and Orange in your heraldry. Yeah I am a bit behind the times.

While this does not finish the second unit of knights it is now a step closer.

Talking of a step closer. here are the Wild west (western) 15mm figures I still have to re-base and touch the paint up. In some cases a total re-paint. The sand yellow bases are my 20-30 year old ones, (and they do need a re-paint)
While the ones on the green bases are a gift from Peter. (And guess what they also need a re-paint). Here is what there is in total. Left to right)

• 7 Mounted figures with Long arms.
• 8 Mounted figures with pistols.
• 12 Civilians un armed) for use as Liability bases.
• 16 +8 Rifle armed towns men
• 8pistol armed townsmen.
• 1 BUFFALO (back row)
• 1 Pack mule.
• 2 mounted Scouts. (I can use them as leaders)
• 1 Wagon with supplies,
• 1 broken and unarmed figure.

This is VERY nearly enough for a "Townsmen" group ready to play "Western Rules By Peter Pig. I shall of course need a few extra packs but only 2-3 packs. For example Townsmen are not allowed more than one unit mounted!
So that's it  for now more again soon.  And I have an AAR to do when I get the chance!

All the best Clint

"Keep those cattle moving .Rawhide!"

Yes more 15mm western stuff. Firstly a big than you to Peter who gave me a LOAD of 15mm  Western stuff on Sunday. It is  Very much appreciated.

Secondly Here is my 2nd Cavalry unit. Again these are Table top Games figures now available from (LINK ) Alternative Armies. As there are only 11 figures this unit shall be expanded in the near future. Just have to get an order together soon.

While at present they do have a command officer they do not have a bugler or a flag and that is something I am Keen to rectify. They are the maximum size for a veteran unit so 2 additional stands wil be enough to make them the maximum size for an average unit.


Again I have gone for 10th Cavalry or if you prefer "Buffalo Soldiers!" this keeps them in continuity with other figures already painted.

 But it does not stop there. I have also painted up 6 stands of Texas Long Horn Cattle. I strongly believe these are Minifigs from back in the day, many centuries ago.

This should (fingers crossed) represent partial cover squares, or at least the indicators for those squares. . I have been mad aware that they are still in production. needless to say these will work better for "Cattlmen" than US army, but for now at least that is another thing crossed off the list

Thanks for looking today I shall try to post again tomorrow as I have a Burps AAR to report on.


Until  then all the best Cint

Painted for Peter

OK Admit it you were not expecting that were you. Peter down the wargames club gave me a Polish Winged lancer to paint. Guess what.  Tar-da! Here it is.

It is a Wargames Foundry (I think) 28mm Renaissance Polish winged lancer. I may have the colours wrong so DO NOT use this as a painting guide. Rather than following a prescribed and authentic route slavishly I selected colours I liked and applied them. I just hope Peter likes them as much as I do! If he does not, that's fine I have the paint remover on hand and am quite happy to give it a dip. But realistically the chances are he will be over the moon.

On the shield I have free-handed an eagles head, ( or he can say it's a griffins head if he chooses). This was actually quite a lot of work and needed re-painting 4 times in total. But it ended quite nicely so I am sure it will be OK with Peter.


 So that is my very brief foray into the Renaissance period.  While I would love to do more very few at the club are at all interested so I can't see many appearing on this blog. And that is a shame I feel. But until a set of rules come out that as a club we can all enjoy the wait for Italian wars is just a pipe dream.

Tomorrow at the club Matt has agreed (offered really) to use his Burpas so with luck on Monday a Burpa AAR.  We shall be using "The men who would be Kings!" for the game and as yet I have no more ideas than that!

So until Monday take care, have fun and paint if you can.

All the best Clint.

Don't put yuor daughter on the Stage!

Yet more 15mm Wild west. Yes it seems to be taking a while BUT I promise I am getting it done! While just 2 carts today little and often is my approach.

First up is a very old Stage-coach. If my memory serves  bought this about 35 years ago from "Minifigs" . I Grant you I may have that wrong as it is only a vague memory.

While it is of very limited use for the US Army for me it was important to get it re-based and painted. It is 15mm and can be used as a "liability". Liabilities in "Western! By "Peter Pig" are well just that. Target pieces the other team can pick on. While you do not need "Liabilities" they do a a certain wild west flavour as not everyone was a combatant.


Also as a Liability I have a US Army Wagon. While not quite as long as a settlers wagon it will still no doubt add something to the game being worth Victory points to whomever controls it at the end of the game.

Settlers wagons did tend to be longer than the one shown and were used by the army mostly in the civil war. A lot were then sold off and "settlers" used tem to haul their life across the plain along various trails until they reached some good farm land.

This one (with a change of drivers (And I have some) could also be used as a "Chuck Wagon" for cowboys on a cattle drive.

General Custer preferred pack mules on campaign to wagons so in the dim distant future you may see some..  First however I need to get some fighting troops done.

And that (I hope) will be the next phase for me.
Just give me a few days and a helpful postman. The post I can do nothing about so either they arrive of they don't. They have been ordered!

All the Best Clint

Hanging around FAR to long! 10mm SCW LMG's

Yes I am still working on my Spanish Civil War figures. Well actually until the new year at the earliest I think I have stopped. At Xmas I am  due to get a set of rules and that might spark it off again.

Now the new rules have 1 Light Machine Gun per platoon. So I have painted up 8. As the rules are either 2, 3 or 4 platoons a side 8 is the most I think I shall need. 6 being the average and 4 the absolute minimum. The rules call for 3 platoons a side, 2 if they are elite(elite in the SCW does not mean elite in modern terms, most troops were untrained) and they would get 4 platoons each side. Therefore 8 LMGs should be all I need!

The figures are 10mm (1/200th scale) Pendraken. As such they are not super detailed.  But are detailed enough In game terms.

Just 8 starnds of 10mm figures to round out my SCW stuff. And that should be all I need!

Bet is is not though. I imagine some bright spark player will want Morocan troops while another will want Guardi di Assulto! I know who they are and they will be 2 and 3 against the wall when the revolution come!

Still these are finally painted after 2 years on the painting table and now put in the correct box ready for me to read the rules in the new year!

That's it, back to the 15mm Western stuff for now.
Thanks for looking and more again soon.

All the best Clint

15mm Wild west.

Yes I have bitten the bullet. To the right is a pic of the wild west 15mmm stuff Ihave found going WAY back. It is so old that the company that sold it split in two and today neither of the companies exist,  Yet a successful search of the internet and most of the models are still available. Some I am still struggling to track down though.

So anyway I have started the re-paint. In doing so I am surprised on how well painted it was in the first place!

So anyway here are the first units. All the figures today were "Table-top Games" figures TTG which then split it 2 I have no idea why nor do I care much! And the figures became Table top Miniatures (TTM). Now some while later they are Part of the "Alternative Armies" Range. Who I must say had some excellent online service. All figures required were dispatched and arrived within 3 days. And being honest you can't say much better then that.

These are painted as part of the 10th Cavalry. The so called "Buffalo soldiers". Final markings have yet to go on the flag, but only a "10" in the Red and a single (Company) letter in the white. As I have yet to decide on a company it has not been done yet.

This shall not be the end of them as I have another company already in the pre-paint. In the rules I shall use6 bases is the maximum allowed for a "Veteran" unit so that isall I have shown here. 5 Bases of rank and file troops and one officer. Other units can have up to 10 bases for "Green" troops.

Also as part of the 10th Cavalry I have a single unit of artillery. (The most any force is allowed. As such I have it both limbered (for moving) and Un-limbered (for firing). I would be entitled to a MG IF I forgo the artillery. But in the rules you cannot mix and match, it's either one or the other. But just imagine the fun I shall have in the future and feel free to take a wild guess at what I shall be buying soon. (No more Hints!)

The final picture shows the goodies I have purchased this week towards the project!

I shall be honest I did want to build a wild west fort. Unfortunately they are not covered in the rules. You never know it might just float my boatr enough to do one anyway. It will mean making up my own rules for it. BUT WHO DOES not want a Wild WEST fort! (I do and I am sure I am not alone.!

General Custer did make use of a river paddle steamer (Far West by name). While there are no rules for paddle steamers you can bet your bottom dollar that I have also thought about making one! Bet I do not though. Far to much like hard work and far too seldome used I suspect!

Anyway that's it for today. Jon from my university days is building a Sioux Indian Force and that is the main reason I have started on the cavalry! It means we can do some real Wild West actions pretty cheap and easy.

More again soon as I am already itching to paint some more Cavalry as wel as a few "Liability" markers.

All the best Clint

Peter's flaming pigs!

Yesterday at the club we played "To the strongest" By Simon Miller. A fast play set of "ancients" rules (by "Ancients" I mean Biblical up to late medieval/renaissance!).

WE actually played Romans in Germania. 3 players on each side. The Romans were Graham, bob and Richard, while the German tribesmen were (from left to right) Peter, Tim, and me (on the right wing.) We each had one hidden card which was a special one use tactic! I'll come to tat later.

All terrain and figures were supplied by Graham. Terrain was symmetrical and we had choice of where we positioned the camps. The Roman camp (needless to say) was Fortified while the German camp was not! Oh dear.

Each side had 13 Victory points and it was the first side to take all the Victory points from the other side.

The game looks quits dull and unaspiring but played well.
All Photos taken from my position! (Right wing otf the German Tribes)

Starting positions.
Bob plays his tactic card on me an all my troops
retreat 1 square!

1st turn I manage to get out of the camp
and advance. All the germans likewise advance.
and so do the Romans.

There is a hole in the German line
to which the Roman elite advance
Opps!

First clash is not devastating
The Germans hold all along the line.

We take casualties but still hold firm )
It could be much worse.

While still holding the Fragile Romans
loose heart and with disaterous effects they break at my flank.

I play my tactic card and Flank march my cavalry
Up to this point kept off table and they arrive
behind Richards now faltering line.
The Romans have a praetorian unit on the right wing
but nothing else.
In 1 turn I score 5 Victory points.

Yes my cavalry arrive and while there presence on the boad
 makes the Romans think and ponder
they do not achieve much

The Praetorians were then trapped
with Germans on two flanks.

They kept turning to face the aggressor.
and were played really well.

Over on   the left wing
Peter faced off against Graham a more experienced player.

meanwhile back on the right wing.
I had an aweful run of cards and could not do much.
except threated the camp
but only threaten.

With both Tim and Myself against the Praetorians
Sooner or later we were going to win
Surely we were!
Eventually Tim did!

Peter had a couple of tries to enter the Roman Camp
both tries were unsuccessful
But his troops had for the most part driven the Roman Cavalry off.
It was expensive in troop casualties
but eventually

The last rurns were evenly matched.
Graham played his special card which was an Assassination attempt.
The attempt failed.
But only just.

Time was about up and Peter played his special tactic card.
Flaming warpigs of doom
It was enough to give us the final Victory point and sent a Roman light horse unit running for the hills.

 

Conclusion: I got 5 Victory points all in one turn and the Germans won
quite convincingly in the end. A total of 13 Vp to 6. the rules were good and I can imagine another game in 2 weeks time. But hopefully with some more and better terrain.

Thanks for looking more again soon.

28mm Colonial British Cavalry

Well the title says almost it all. They are  Foundry 28mm metal figures of the colonial British cavalry. I nearly put them on 2 days ago but thought it better to get them all finished and varnished first. 11 in all for this stage, although there might be more tomorrow. He says he has something but as yet no idea what it will  be.


Officer with pistol and a standard trooper.










Bugler, officer and Sergeant! Painted to match in with the rest.












 3 more troopers.












And the final 3 troopers  all to make a total of 11.
Yes I know you can count them. I assure you they are all there, there are no mirrors or trick photography.

I know some of you will be happy for me t get back to sensible historical stuff. While others will be happy for me to do all the rest and strange stuff. While I am just happy to paint. and realise you can't please everyone ALL the time.

Take care have a great weekend and with luck an AAR on Monday.

Full Circle!

Well you know what they say. "What  comes around, goes around"! And so it appears with me. I have slipped back into wanting to do "wild west" wargames.  As such there are 3 routes to explore.  Firstly cowboy skirmish games. I already have enough figures (who am I trying to kid... there are never enough) figures for that. I just need a set of rules I really like.  Maybe a few more apaches.. would be nice, but who knows.

The second thread is 15mm mass battles. I  know we tend to think of small skirmishes with up to 1/2 a dozen figures on each side. But Bigger battles did take place. Think "Battle of Little Big Horn!" for example. Peter Pig *(http://www.peterpig.co.uk/) Have just re-released a set of rules for that and to be fair. I am interested. It should be better that the "Hey you in the Jail" set I have from them. So that is something I shall definitely be looking at.

The third option, is to go non-historical. Yes we have Dracula in America,( Best place for him I should imagine). But we also have Westworld. Before anyone asks NO I have not seen the TV series! And this is an old conversion (way back about 6 years ago!) but I could be very tempted to do more.

So if I do Westworld I shall use the 7TV 2e rules. And shall buy some more "Fembots" just for the heads better to make conversions.

So in the future expect me to re-make my wild west terrain in bother 15mm and 28mm.

That's iit for now back to the paint table and the miniatures mine!

Cactus (28mm WTW)

Yes I felt the urge to do some wild west wargaming. It has now quickly past. But while I was in the mood I did manage to paint (roughly) a Wargames Terrain Workshop (WTW LINK) 28mm Cactus. Personally I like the sculpt, very well cast and clean and easy to paint. Just what I want from a Cactus. I am sure it will fit well into a wold west setting with NO difficulty!

It cost just £3 and was a joy to paint. Model wise, very well cast with no flash and no Moulding lines. So a real minimum of clean up. So really just a prime and paint.

I am tempted to get a few more but as wild west is currently not my thing I will hold off a while longer. But be aware when Wild West Wargaming does rear it's head with me again I shall nip out and buy some more.

I was going to grit the base but a simple paint was all that was required. We did not want to guild the lily to much so I have kept it simple. The taller cactus clup (I am sure there is a better word but at present it escapes me0, is tall and wide enough  for a 28mm cowboy to hide behind. While the rest are either waist or chest height.  Overall I am very pleased with the cactus and while at present Dave only makes (I think) 1 variety of these if there was more I should get one of each!  No that is not a cue to make more. As previously mentioned I am not in a wild west sort of mood.


That's it for today, back to painting some 28mm Colonials for Matt, which I hope to show soon.

Thank for looking more again soon. All the best Clint.