15mm Cavalry.

Well not all that exciting. One of my mates at the wargames club (Peter) has gotten me to paint some 15mm British colonial period Cavalry for his Zulu War collection. And as they were finished today I thought I could share them with you. Clearly they are unbased but Peter wants to base them himself so I am happy to let him. The riders come separate from the horses as do the lances and they were all ready assembled before coming into my hands. I usually like things separate for painting as I tend to find that easier as it gives you more ways to approach the figure with a paint brush!

There are also 8 foot figures for gun crews. I have no idea what make they are but all the figures are quite nice and if I was doing this period in this scale I would happily get some more. But as my colonial figures are all 10mm it's a little too late to start again .

Thanks for looking today. I should post next on Monday. I think we are playing "chain of  command" at the club on Sunday so with luck a report on that.

Cheers Guys.

Empress Maria Theresa

 Well something a little different, not a leather stocking in sight. Nor a gun, sword axe or other weapon of war. Back in 2013 when I entered the Analogue Painting Challenge, Kawe of Westfalia Miniatures offered each participant a limited edition figure. And here is mine painted up. I received it during the Salute show and at the time though "I have no use for this!" But then I got thinking. Yeah I know It's dangerous. Now I don't know who this figure was in real life, I am sure I could do the research but lets be blunt I am just too lazy to do so!

The figure is 25mm and not 28mm but that is not an issue because people all come in different sizes in real life and it is not uncommon to see people of 5 feet tall and those of 6 feet tall stood in close proximity. So undaunted I set about splashing some colour on her! Given that modern dying techniques were not used prior to 1846 I went for a Peach or coral pink for her gown with lighter pink for the lace and trimmings. Simply because I saw this shade of pink on "Poldark TV Series" worn by "Verity" in one episode, and if the colour was acceptable for the BBC I knew it would be OK for me as well. That may sound like a weak solution but it works for me.

So what will I use the figure for? Well I think it will go in my 3 Musketeer collection, but it could equally well go in with Settlers in the Americas used against my French Indian wars Indians. So not of the greatest use to me but another figure done and dusted, varnished and put away.

I did find here hard to paint but that is probably just my ineptitude and a better painter may have no problems at all. I found the face in particular a challenge but I think it came out OK so I am not displeased at all.

And finally my cousin has returned this week from a vacation in Australia. As such I was given a packet od Australian sweets to try. The chocolate outside was nice but I did not like the interior. I thought looking at the packet that it might be soft and chewy, but it was hard instead. And while I am delighted to have tried them I don't think I will ever again.

So that's a late post for me today as to be honest I was not expecting to finish the figure today at all. I am not sure what will be finished just yet but with luck I should have something finished in a couple more days. So until next time., take care, slap some paint on a figure or two or maybe play a game. All the Best from Kent, England>

Cheers Clint

Yet more Woodland Indians!

Well the title gives a very good clue about these figures. Continuing with the Redoubt 28mm French Indian Wars range today another 4 Indians. I am grateful to Simon Jones for leaving a comment on my last lot of Leather stockings. I am sure he may be correct in that they were made of trade blankets by this stage, but I will continue to paint them as leather for three reasons. Firstly because the James Fennimore Cooper books are called the "Leather Stocking Tales". Secondly because most players mine included expect them to be this material in the same way that many people paint Ninja figures dressed in black where there is NO historical evidence of them wearing black. And Thirdly because I like the look and they may not actually be used as historically accurate figures.

So this time they are a musket heavy group. There were 4 muskets in a £7.50 pack but I swapped one out last time and replaced with a war club one. Surprisingly good value I think despite the fact that they are a little chunky in places. Let's put it this way I am happy to have the figures for the Price.

The third Photo shows a little clearer on the Faces. You can all thank or curse Anne for that! For War paint I have stuck to black, white and red just to keep them all looking somewhat regular in setting. I have not looked at any traditional references for the war-paint preferring to just make it up and be happy. You will see that some have it around the jaw and others on the forehead and yet others still across the full face. For Gaming purposes I am happy to mix and match like that and not do any in-depth research! yeah I am a lazy so and so! So If you want to do the research and let me know I will be happy to listen as it will save me a job!

The final picture for today has all the ones painted so far together. Only 11 but they look quite fearsome and imposing, at least to me.

While I have no Donnybrook plans for them they may or may not get used for that. In the back of my head I do have a "Fantasy" use for them (I can imagine Ray shuddering) but one should be careful about putting "Fantasy" and "Leather-stockings" in the same sentence!

Thanks for looking today, have a good weekend and get some painting done!
I have some to do as well..... more mundane than these!

More Leather stockings!

Yes a couple more figures from the redoubt French Indian Wars range. This brings it up to 8, a long way short of an army at present but destined to grow a bit more . I can say that with confidence as I have 4 more started.

I started painting these figures from Redoubt after playing "Muskets and Tomahawks." Yes I like Native American figures I can't help it. Only met one in real life as far as I am aware but they were nice enough. So no complaints there! While some of the proportions on the Redoubt figures may be ever-so slightly off As I already had them I will not complain too much. I knew when I painted the last 4 which were just for fun that I had a couple more tucked away. Well it turns out the 3 or 4 I thought I had were actually 11 or 12 so yes you can expect some more of these to get paint slapped on them before too long.

Price wise they are £7.50 for 4 (+P &P) so I expect that I will get a few more when I next go to a show with Redoubt present. Just to round the collection out, not because I actually have a use for them, although if I try hard I can probably find a use. Yes Ray I know they can be used for Donnybrook! A really enjoyable paint and great fun trying to think up different war paints for each of them.

Thanks for looking today and with luck something else in a day or two. All the best from Kent, England and I hope you had an enjoyable general election if you are in the UK. And if not better luck in 5 (or less) years time.

Cheers Clint

Casualties. (20mm Britannia)

Well I will admit that the Bank Holiday did give me a little extra time. So here today a little earlier than expected are my latest figures.

Two castings picked up at the Salute show from Andy at Grubby Tanks. They are Britannia 20mm castings which are now supplied by GRUBBY TANKS (Link) These five figures help to round out the Vietnam conflict figures I re-painted, and re-based a couple of weeks ago. It is only in "Vietnam War" wargames rules have I ever needed to worry about casualties being taken to a safe place, be that an aid station or medivaced out to a civilized hospital. Oh and in Afghan war as well now I think on it. Oh and in zombie games, but that really is different!!

So we have a figure carrying another over his shoulder and two figures carrying another between them. Both very characterful figures and totally useable in the "FNG" rules by 2 hour Wargames. Needles to say if a casualty needs taking off table during a game the squad will lose more than just the single casualty, it will require at least 1 more to move them. So suddenly your squad is down 2 fighting troops for the time it takes to get the guy to a safe place. And maybe even then if there is no handy medic to act as a guard until help arrives. It is just another example of how warfare really is and not as we like to play it. I am equally sure in earlier centuries the same thing must have happened! It's just that only from the Vietnam conflict onwards do rules take this into account.

The final picture is just a "Proof" for the local club painting challenge that the figures were painted in this time period and not before. Yes I know that sounds kind of daft, but hey they want some evidence and not to just take each others words. So who am I to argue? It just seems a bit.... well "untrusting!" To me if we don't trust other wargamers then perhaps I or them are in the wrong hobby!

That's all for today. I hope this finds you well. All the best from rainy (today) Kent. Cheers Clint
 

Sunday is club day and now I have pulled out of the ACW Campaign, I wanted something a little lighter. It is funny I do not know any player who is happy with the campaign even Scott who has yet to loose a battle. So wanting something lighter I sat down with some guys and played a couple of board games.

The first game we played was "Roll for the Galaxy. As 2 of us had never played it before the others gave us a tutorial which was confusing as they all chipped in and tried to explain at once as opposed to one person explaining the rules and the result was 3 different voices all telling us new players at the same time slightly different things or more rather the same things in different orders! Needles to say I got muddled up and it is a good job the rules were actually fairly easy. We played the game 3 times and I came 4th out of five the first time, then last and then finally the rules twigged and in the last game I actually won. Ian said " I have never seen Clint roll as many dice and not a single 1!" The git there were no numbers on any of the dice! Yeah I was surprised as well and I don't think they were going easy on me! But for once the Dice Gods favoured me. (All praise the dice gods).

And while the three games were quite quick (about 1 hour each game) we had time left at the end for another game of something different. I did mention a couple of games that I knew I liked but  they had not brought them this time. But we quickly settled on "Camel Up". I had played it once before but had forgotten what it involved. For those of you who have not come across the game it is about betting on a camel race. Very simple, a lot of fun and just a bit of strategy and planning (but not enough to make me think too hard). I do have a slight advantage here, no I am not a camel jockey and no I could not fix any races. The advantage comes that the three other players (Dave from the earlier games had left) all try to stitch each other up. I on the other hand try to move camels. OK so the result was a very decisive win in the first game by me as I ended with 12 pound (£) tokens more than anyone else. I did not do so well in the second game and came in last as I think I was trying to join in on the sabotaging of other players. But the Third game was another win for me. And they all looked at me with deep suspicion.

So out of 6 board games played on Sunday I won 3 of them! Well that's my luck used up for another year!

Thanks for looking today I hope you had a good weekend, all the best from me.

Paint it Rust (The work of the paint Elves))

While at Salute this year one of my planned purchases was a bottle of rust paint, from Model Mates Click this link as I saw it on Kyles ( Click the Link  ) blog the previous year and was taken with it. Now I have toyed with painting rust a few times and have very gradually worked out how to do it. But this way is just so much easier that I am an instant convert!

First paint it an under colour, I like games workshops tin bits for this and then dry brush some bolt gun metal over some of the high lights. You may not have to even do these first 2 steps but I did. Then when dry apply a coat of the model mates rust and get yourself a drink. When you come back from the drink you will find the model has gone rusty. I am sure there are a group of Magic elves doing all the work as it really is like something from a fairy tale. I have not sat and watched it, nor do I intend to as I would much rather believe in Magic Elves!

You will have to forgive my photography but I think you will agree it does look like rust. While you can buy it in 3 different tones I only bought the middle  tone as I did not want to over work the poor little paint elves. It is even better than that though, being pure magic you can even clean your brush in water afterwards! yes you can. While you can also use water as a thinner having tried it the results were just not as good. I can only imagine the Paint Elves don't like the taste as much. So I will not be thinning it again, well not with water anyway.

As I have now run out of my Chaos Rat Marines ( Hardly the most novel of ideas) I will have to find something else to paint in rust!  So unless anyone wants to donate any skaven or Space marines to me ready for conversion I don't think I will do any more just yet unless I find them dirt cheap at a show or on eBay.

Thanks for looking today I am now of to eBay to see what price I can pick up Necrons for!

I must say I love the Paint Elves who did the work and the paint as well, it really is magical. So My advie is don't buy it and watch the results but buy it paint it on and go out of the room and make a drink. It really is worth the it!

Thanks for tuning it. All Praise the Magical Painting Elves! And with luck see you all again soon.
All the best from Clint!

Dismounted WW1 German Cavalry

Well I think the title says it all. I have finished the latest batch of figures for my friend Matt, continuing his Early WW1 figures we now have some 28mm WW1 German Cavalry but this time dismounted. No one it seems makes any dismounted WW1 Cavalry so Matt converted some if not all of these before passing them on to me.


The colours have come out much more BLUE in the photos than in reality as they are a little greyer in real life. The Auto correct button does not always give the optimal result. In the end you'll just have to take my word for it. But seriously they are more grey in the natural light as less vivid and vibrant blue.

On another note I am trying to clear my painting table in over this weekend as a local club is having a painting challenge very similar to Curt's (http://thepaintingchallenge.blogspot.ca/) but only for club members and for a shorter period. As it Is a club I will be attending this year I have been accepted and found suitable to enter. So as the MHWC Painting thingy (I'll get the real name later) is about to start I will be doing a few bits and bobs for that, but not as intensely as Curt's Challenge. So as I clear the decks you can expect another blog post tomorrow.

Thanks for looking today hop you are happy and well and I will try to post again tomorrow or Saturday at the very latest.

All the best from Clint

Games I liked at Salute 2015

This is not a collection of all the games or even all the games I liked at Salute this year. It is just a few snaps of games that caught my eye for one reason or another sometimes with comments but mostly without.

Too Fat Lardies ultra modern rules and game

Another modern game set in the cold war of the 1980s<
One does wonder if after this year this will ever get used again?

Stingray, A nice idea, and anything can happen in the next 30 minutes

I did like these figures and basing.

For me my favourite looking game. An era and setting I like.
I also like the 20mm scale from Leicter Fat Cats If I remember correctly.

Above and below 2 different Samurai games both in 28mm
Funny how wargames has fashionable periods

 

Crush the Kiaser with a reasonably large Zeplin
I did ask them if they couldn't get a larger one.

Across the Dead earth.
So nice I bought the rules.
Having read about it on other blogs

I thought this the nicest building of the day.

This was nice in that they did move some of the tables
when the boats moved.
A novel idea.

MDF ships. And very nice cost cutting idea for the scale.
Just imagine the cost in resin or metal.

Nice to see WW2 was not a seasonal affair.

I think these guys were German. Makes you wonder what
they put in the beer out there!
Mostly included for my Nephews benefit.

A very nice Swedish medieval game.
England is an island nation and we do tend to look to our history first.

Perhaps saving the best 2 games till last.
Quite large models of ATATs in the assault on Hoth.

My Photography does not do it justice and I am told it won the prize for best show game.
And while it is lovely I do wonder what will happen to it!

Just to give you all something to throw darts at.
(Please print it out first)
POSTIE won a prize in the entrance
before we even got into the show.
Makes a change from Ray!
So well done mate.

That's my ramblings for today over with. My conclusion of the show is that it is just too large for me personally. I would have been happy if it was 1/2 the size. As a consequence I am in 2 minds whether to go next year.

Back to normal posting about wargames on Thursday. Thanks for looking and with luck see you all soon.