D Troop (15mm Pony wars/wild west!)

Here is my latest unit of VETERAN 9th/10th cavalry for Peter pigs "Western" rules.
Yes only 6 bases. (The maximum for a Veteran unit) so not a large unit by any stretch of the imagination.

The models are "Alternative Armies" 15mm figures. Old Table top Games. I used these not because they are the best but simple because they will fit in with the rest of the troops.

The unit consists of Leader (20 points) and 5 bases of Cavalry (Mounted, long shooter) Veteran figures. (12points  each base) for a total of 68 points for the unit!

Which considering you are allowed 300points in your farce is quite a large proportion.  I just hope the veteran status is worth the points.

Elsewhere I continue to work on my airship/zeppelin. More of this when it has dried a bit.
 So with luck more soon.

Also had an email from Crooked Dice my Kickstarter is now ready for payment. I paied as fast as I could so with luck an UNBOXING next week. Unless I have seen far to many of them on blogs before I receive it!

Until then, take care, have fun and paint IF you get the chance. See you later Clint

The Hills are alive!

Firstly a repaint. If I knew  what I was doing a re-paint would not be nessercary as I would have bought the right thing to begin with!

Back in February I purchased these 2 hills from "the Scene" in a desert colour! Why desert well I was going to do western desert PBI (by Peter Pig). All that has gone out of the window so these have now been re-painted. They will still remain for PBI but now I am concentrating on the Pacific! (Both 14th (forgotten) army as well as Japanese and American.) As the Pacific islands tend to have "shallow" hills and not steep ones (yes I know there are exceptions) re-painting seemed to be an obvious step.

So now 2 re-purposed hills ready for action. Which is all good as far as I am concerned.




Ok now for the pre-salute orders.  Firstly the Crooked Dice kickstarter has finished. So with luck I shall have those before the end of the year. This is very likely and I can start the new year with some "!Pulp" shenanigans! At this stage I am most keen on the monkey idol scenery piece! I am already looking to use that 2 years hence so the chances are we will all have forgotten about it by then.

Elsewhere my Alternative armies Order has arrived so I can sort out my Peter Pig cavalry army for "Wild west!" As mentioned  previously I am doing 9th or 10th Cavalry AKA Buffalo Soldiers. I really think this would be a grand Ammerican TV series as they fought bravely and are often (at least in the UK) overlooked.

Not going to Salute

Yep that's right I am not going to "Salute" show this year. It is just TOO big and TOO expensive. As has become my practice I have made 2 (so far) "NOT GOING TO SALUTE!" orders over the weekend.


Order 1 :

Yes I caved! I caved in and succumbed! Yes I am weak and I have pledged to this Kickstarter. ( LINK ) I only went for the "Heroes" option. as I have more of a use for them. I did look at the Villains very closely but as there was only 3 I would (at this point) use I dismissed it. MAybe in the future I will get the 3 I want from these selection. maybe I will  not.

Most importantly I am also going to get the "stretch goals!"  So for the price of £22 (plus postage) I should get the Heroes and the stretch goals. And to be honest the stretch goals are more to my liking at present than the figures.

Yes I am an awkward cuss!" At present the Ark of the covenant is not in the stretch goals but maybe by the time it closes it will be. (Fingers Crossed).  We  all like a few stretch goals!



Order 2:
As "alternative Armies" was having a sale I splurged and ordered some figures.  ( LINK ) Not a huge order but (I hope) enough 15mm US cavalry to finish an army! We both know that I will still buy some more at a later date. But this should be enough for my 9th or 10th US CAVALRY "Buffalo soldiers!" yes I could have done 7th Cavalry as seen as famous in the films but these are more interesting.

END NOTE
Sorry it is only talking today. I have had a step back and rethink on a project. Enough of a re-think to make me start again but using some existing items.

Ad a special thanks to Ray for getting me back in touch with an old friend. Not that they are old but we had lost touch over the last 23 years. So thanks again Ray I appreciate it!

If 5 are good surely 10 is better?

Year it's a long way of saying I have made 5 more smoke clods. Bringing the total to 10. This I think is enough for now.

4 may be used in PBI if an off board strike is called for either in a 2x2 block or in a row of 4 (NO DIAGONALS) wither as a row or as a column. Then a roll for deviation of each piece. They tend not to move much. But expect 1 in 4 to move. (Roughly).

If being used by on board guns (or tanks) a single square is affected. That being the case you can only have 1 off board asset a turn and on board gun (or tanks) tend to use HE in our games as they would tend to cause the most casualties!
Yeah we tend to be bloodthirsty!

Therefore 10 I think is the right number as they do tend to disappear over time. So that for now is job done on the cloud markers.

All the best Clint

Smoke gets in your eyes. (and WIP)

Ok these were made for Peter Pigs PBI rules. That said  there is no reason not to think they could and will not be used for other rules. However I wanted something a little "better" than cotton wool. I know most of you will use cotton wool without issue But I wanted something different.

Therefore I created 5 smoke clouds. (5 more are started and 10 should be enough for me!). They were simple to do just "clump foliage" then sprayed white (3 coats) and then the bases painted and they are good to go. I must  say I am very happy with them. You only need 1 in a PBI square to represent the whole square being filled with smoke so they are indicators only and not realistically modelled terrain. I am  sure you shall do better on your own with a little thought.

 Aztec farm (2) WIP

 As you can see I have started the second part of my sci fi farm. So I HOPE  to get that finished in the week. More details when I do. Please don't try to hold your breathe it is still several days away at the very earliest.

Donner vehicle ! WIP

Yes more WIP, and this is a while off so really don't try to hold your breath (that would be a very bad idea! Continuing my dieselpunk obsession I wave started a donner vehicle. All I have done so far is break things up. Ok saw things but you get the idea! On this model (thanks eBay) I need to rebuild the radiator and the headlights. remove (that's done) the side wheels and rebuild the running boards. And then either rebuild the rain cover or rebuild the back seat not sure yet and add some MGs and some other bits and bobs, like maybe a new hood ornament.

So expect this to take weeks and not days to do. The chances are I  shall get bored and throw it away before I finish so PLEASE don't suggest anything to do with this car. But at the very least you know it is a live project.

That's all for now folks have a good Sunday and try not to get too much done or I shall be disappointed in myself.

All the best Clint.

2 steps forward and some steps back

Well the title says it really. Had a re-think. Yes I know that's dangerous!

Firstly PBI western desert is no longer on the cards. Given I am now reading the rules it is not TOO late. My opponent has late war Germans and late war British and I have late war Americans and mid-late war Japanese it makes more sense to carry on in Europe. (Yes I a aware Japan does not fight in Europe!) So with the infantry in this box which I had already bought but done NOTHING with I should have nearly enough to get a force together.

That being the case I am re-painting some old vehicles.  So this has had another paint job. I shall start the other one today. I will be short of all the options but I am already closer than I was for western desert. Also more is available with regard to purchases.  In fact I shall be able to re-start a stalled project. Well here's hoping. I should say I am confident I will get the first platoon done by Monday.



Elsewhere. I am still working on my 15mm DRK AGE collection. This is a Peter pig "Gift from God!" and counts as LOOT in the Longships  game. It is the only piece of loot I have so far and as 15mm figures go was a joy to paint. All the colours are authentic so as a prize will work out just fine. When I say Prize I mean in game terms you still have to get it.

Additionally I have started to order my next force for "Gruntz". This time an Alien Race and that should arrive over the weekend. So you have been warned it shall be 15mm figure heavy on this blog for a while...... You are warned!

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

Zombtober 18-03 (And SELWG loot)

I was awake at 3:30 am this morning In order to get this single Zed  done! I had a busy morning BEFORE I went to SELWG. But more of the show LATER!

So I fulfilled my quota and did manage to get a zombie  painted before I went. Here he is, based when I got back and Photographed in the  dark! I say this in a feeble excuse to distract shoddy painting and basing and very shoddy basing. Oh well can't be helped now and looks pretty good in real life if not due to my photography. Right self pity over now!

A Mantic "Walker" from the all out war set. Another "walker" for the horde. And he should fit right in. A mature gentleman and dressed only in jeans. he's missing shoes and a shirt but I guess in a zombie apocalypse being well dressed is no longer a priority.  28mm hard plastic part of the starter set.
 
 LATER:
As you know I went to SELWG. Firstly let me say I had a brilliant time.

And this is what I bought.
4 items missing as they shall be part of my Christmas gift  as no one KNOW what to get me and when I write a list NO ONE still knows what is on the listr as NO ONE in my family speaks wargame-ese.

So this  is what I can show you at this stage! Top to Bottom and Left to right)

• 7TV2e box set (Starter casts are for Crimbo) nothing is opened just yet so It is possible (Although very unlikely) that it is just an empty box.
• 8 Jet bikes from Brigade Games these are for my "scout" unit in 15mm sci fi.
• 1 pot of Dark angels green paint! From Col Bill.
• 2 Paint brushes £1.50 each and I hope they shall be just brilliant) a nessercary evil am told as part of the wargaming hobby.
• 1 Pack of Peter Pig heads. Other parts of the order are to stop blushes and yet others are reserved for Christmas.
• 1 pack of Victorian Policemen with pistols. Best  if you do not ask any questions about them for now!
• 1 Pack of GZG FSE  Mortars again for 15mm sci fi. I meant to buy more but alas the ones I wanted are old stock and need to be mail ordered or picked up at a show.

I forgot to but some vehicle to carry the Mortars Mostly because I was flustered AND I did not want to make a snap decision. However as Tony from Brigade is Local and has an invite to the club I am sur if I want them I can get Brigade models quite easily! If I decide on GZG for the mortar teams I will need to send of to get the other figures so again that is no hardship!

Thanks for looking and more of the SELWG show in a day or two.
all the best Clint.

Another JS2 (AK47 )Tank

If you are having de-ju-view all over again I might be to blame.  This week I went to Rochester gams and models and one of the impulse buys was ANOTHER Zvezda Js2 Tank. I now have 2 and this one is painted in the same colours as the last to help to fill out my AK 47 force.  I promise it is not the same tank Photographed again!

Other than a BTR I am done with this project..... that is until something else catches my eye.  It could (and is most likely) to happen. But as I type this and in my head I am done! I know they are famous last words but I kind of mean it!

So that's it for today. A quick post and finished in plenty of time to watch the football! So  get any painting done this morning and if you hate football get the shopping in in empty stores this afternoon.

Take care have fun and enjoy what ever you decide to do. All the best Clint

Very little painting

Well a mixed bag today. As the title says very little painting. But here goes.

Firstly here are 4 15mm figures. They are from the Bodyguard pack by Peter Pig AK 47 Range. I just had 4 figures left over an they were doing nothing so I thought "Why not?" I did not have an answer so it was either get them painted and ready for wargaming or leave them to rot in the lead pile. I have painted these up as professionals so they shall join my AK force and while not big enough to be a unit in their own right they can always be lumped with the professional troops should the need arise.

Just 4 15mm figures painted and based and now ready for action. I did wonder about the colour of the berets finally settling on Blue (Generals Bodyguard have white) as blue and white are the national colours. LOL but they were very nearly yellow.


Inspired by some of your comments about Aeronef boarding actions I decided to make a cheap board. So I nipped in to Poundland and bought 2 packs of floor tiles maybe I should have bought 3 but this will tell me if the idea works. My thought is that if I coat them in the old blue peter "Sticky back plastic" (also bought from Poundland) the floor tiles will act as the base board for minimal expense! I Will let you know if this works. My initial thoughts is that it will, but I have no idea how 1) easy it will be (I am hoping for very) and 2 Light and portable it will be (Again hoping for very). As always you shall be the second (After myself) to know.


And Finally I succumbed!  I bought the Rule book Maximillian '34. I do intend a review after the club have seen it and I have finished reading it and I will be most interested in how it compares to Gaslands . So no review yet but initial thoughts are positive, with all rule sets you always think why have they done it that's way and what if. But so far so good. But be aware there is not a lot of BACKGROUND about the world setting in the book but that can be positive as much as negative.

I shall give more details when I have read it unless I hate it in which case it will hardly be mentioned again.

Have a good weekend. Al the best Clint

Repaint, Rebase, Repurpose! (15mm)

Firstly I must apologise. It is just very DULL here and I am unable to take any decent pics, despite 3 separate attempts. So this is the best of a bad bunch.

Secondly 2 skirmish stands for my Viking force in Longships. Very old figures with at least 3 coats of paint Probably (much) more. 3 Minifigs and 1 2 dragons for those that are really interested all purchased some 40+ years ago originally. Not much to say as they all very old and very nasty but Vikings did not ever have a lot of skirmishers and these are 14 points out of the 400 max I am allowed so I probably will rather use more spear carrying force and less skirmishers.

In the rules Skirmishers are an annoying distraction. Many forces Like the Irish or the Scotts don't even need to pay points for them. But Vikings have to and to be honest they are annoying but don't cause too much pain to the enemy so are generally best left until you get a cavalry unit to ride them down. Oh yeah Vikings don't use much cavalry! I suspect you can see the cunning flaw in that plan.






3rdly (am I making up words again) a change of project. Here are Modern Russians.  Again 15mm. I was in two minds about selling these on eBay. Instead I have rebased and re-paint, and they are now repurposed.

Starting with the "regular" soldiers I now have 3 bases of Professional quality troops. While you may hope that all your troops are of this quality in the bush wars of Africa (At least in the AK 47 rules) these are actually very rare troops. So rare in fact that I have NEVER used any professional quality troops! They are all armed with Assault rifles (AKs as it happens) some even with underslung grenade launchers. In the rules Profesional quality troops are good but the points cost makes them VERY limiting. They are also my only troops that have helmets!


 Along with Assault rifle armed troops I now have 4 bases armed with RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades). As in the rules you asre limited to 2 stands per unit I have enough for 2 units. Also in the rules they can act as "Normal" professional quality troops they will all do double duty as riflemen. As the points value is exactly the same Most (if not all) AK players buy these first for a unit as it just makes more sense to do so.


The RPG is a common sight in news footage but realistically they should be a little more rare. But just as camera-men in modern times like to take pics of RPGs a similar parallel can be drawn with WW2 camera-men liking to take pics of TANKS, which were actually a lot less common that most wargamers think.

Next up I have 4 stands of LMGs. Now the points cost means I am probably not going to use these much unless I use them as Riflemen., but as the rest were revitalised it made sense to do these as well. You never know It is possible to have a unit promoted a grade temporarily for a battle so it is possible they may get used a lot. Well one can dream can't one!

The last 2 pics is of all the professional troops together. I have slim hopes of getting them all on the table at one time, but you never know stranger things have happened in my wargaming pastime. That being the case I will keep my fingers crossed.

The modern Russians are team Yankee figures and it is a single pack now used as AK-47 figures. It works out a LOT cheaper to do this than to buy dedicated Peter Pig AK figures.

Now my AK 47 force is just about finished. By that I mean I have more than enough to play a game but there is always room for more and I do have my beady eyes on a few more acquisitions. But they an Wait until Selwg at the very least.

Thanks for looking today. My work bench is now clear so on with 28mm figs next! (Insert evil cackling as desired!)

Long Ships (2nd Unit)

Yes some more 15mm Vikings for my second unit in Longships. Longships in case you had forgotten is the Peter Pig game of the same name concerned with Viking/Anglo Saxon warfare.

As we only have 400 points here is another unit ( a small one). ! leader (compolury), 3 Un-armoured stands (again compulrory) and 3 Armoured stands. Only 7 stands in the unit but 3 armoured stands count this unit as superior!

A mixture of makes. Tabletop games, two Dragons, Minifigs and a few I just do not know. So if you do more power to you as I have no idea. But they are all 15mm in size. I do not mind some being taller then others after all we are all different in real life.

I went for a Blue and white shield colour scheme just to conveniently tell one unit apart from another and NOT being historically accurate. As this will count as a Superior unit I hope it will aquit itself quite well on the tabletop although I know a few bad dice rolls and the unit will flee. But this will be the standard unit composition of my force. At least until a few games in and I reserve the right to reassess te force when I see how it plays.

That's it for now. More 15m coming soon and some 28mm now started. Until next time take care and paint as much as you feel like.

AK 47 Tank Ok a JS2

For those that do not know AK-47 is a set of rules by Peter Pig. I have tried the newer set (still quite old now) and do not like them. I do however like the old AK rules. I also think the club would benefit from a continuous game. ( I am reluctant to use the word campaign as they seem to think we will play the same set of rules every time, and let's be honest we all want a change). So on Sunday I will propose starting an AK 47 series of games.

I hope to set it up like one of my old necromunda campaigns so people an drop in and drop out as the whim takes them. And yet still have consistency of groups and people. BUT no you will not be able to control more than 1 African faction. As a side note Shame Fran is not in the area as I really do think this would be his sort of game as it usually is devoid of hedges but does nave other things to hide behind.

Anyway this is a Zvedzda 100th scale (therefore many use them as 15mm) JS2 heavy tank used by a great deal of countries around the world in the 1970's . Painted in a fictional colour scheme which I think is suitable for Africa (You are of course free to disagree but Africa is rather large and it does have a WIDE variety of terrains).
The model went to together very easily and despite my best instincts really was fool proof. I will be interested in getting another of these just to give me some variety of units and Knowing the rules having a "professional" quality tank on the table costs a lot of points BUT does tend to scare the opponents in AK terms.

That's it for today. next time either more about the campaign proposal or far more likely some Vikings. Until then take care have fun and roll some dice like you are a dice rolling fiend intent on winning.