You may have already noticed that one group has blue/grey hats and the other group has brown/tan hats. Again this is just to simplify the identification as I do intend to have one army predominatly in grey/blue (as the Ashigaru of the last blog post) and one army in red/brown. These colours will not extend to the actual samurai figures as they will have clan Mons on the Sashimo back banners sufficient to identify them.
The last Picture shows both units together just because someone would be bound to ask. When I get a few more units done I will do a group shot of the whole army but at present there are not enough completed to warrant a picture of that nature. 
The figure themselves are a pleasure to paint and as long as I don't get side-tracked (we both know I will) I can see these getting finished quite quickly. (Well quickly for me that is). While I do not at this stage have a rule set lined up I have decided to base them with 4 stands to a unit on the same size bases as for DBA. If nothing else I will get a couple of DBA armies bashed out in pretty quick time! I (along with many others) don't like DBM and to be honest the figures are a little late for the medieval period. I might have a look at FOG Renaissance or, which is looking most likely create a set of rules myself. In no way do I consider myself an expert on this period but I know what I want the rules to do and knowing what I want from a game might make this easier than chasing around for the "right" set of rules.
Anyway onto the figures. These are clearly Samurai as they are mounted. I think that the area needed to graze a horse would restrict anyone other than a Samurai or lord to have the area required to keep a horse. They are on a 40mm frontage and 30mm deep (60,thou0 platicard sheet. Only 3 figures to a base so 12 figures in a unit. Pendraken sells them in packs of 15 so while 4 horses would fit on a base it just made more sense to use 3. Yes I am tight fisted! I would have liked more Sashimono back banners but at least one on a stand is enough to get the idea. As you can see I have settled on the 4 diamonds motif as it is the easiest to paint. (And I like Easy when it comes to 10mm figures).
For the Ashigaru (light feet) infantry armed with Aquibusiers. These are on 40mm by 20mm bases with 4 figures to a base. Again as with the Cavalry I went for convenience rather than struggling to cram figures on bases. While more figures might look better 4 is enough to give an idea without being too many to eat up all the figures in one go. Unlike the Samurai the Ashigaru have been given uniforms and have a very standard look to them. I have used a single Sashimono for the unit so we can see which stand is the command stand of the unit. I have no idea if I will need command stands in any rules I create, but it does look better in the box! 
Let me start by saying I had a fabulous day everything went well, there were no problems and we arrived in time and set up without any distractions. The first two pictures are of the game the club and myself put on. The scenario was that the British fleet (controlled by Graham and myself) were blockading a Dutch port and the Dutch were trying to get a merchant fleet out. Dutch I know someone will say that's an unusual choice! The reason being that Graham had not got any Spanish turn cards with him. Anyway who cares, Peter and Rob were the bad guys! The game went well but you do not put a game on at shows with the main aim of getting a result but of meeting and talking to fellow wargamers, discussing rules, figures and other related things. That side of the day was very busy for me and greatly enjoyable. Every time I stopped and chatted the other guys took over my ships and carried on playing. (Or when talking to Fran (Angry Lurker) at the start of the day they did try to keep me involved. ) I can't say I was paying too much attention, but I did have a plan and was determined to stick to it. The plan being that I would cover the left side of the board. Graham had his own plan, a more aggressive plan as it turned out! 
There second game was a 28mm English Civil War game. I know nothing about and have minimal interest in this period. I could get tempted into it but only at a skirmish level and it would need to be about witch hunting or something equally unrealistic. So for me this is a wargames period I am not likely to venture into. As such I did not get too much of a chat with these guys.
A Dystopian Wars game. Again I did not chat with these guys, yes I'm a wargames snob and if it does not interest me I just can't be bothered. The reason this game does not appeal to me is that it seems to be trying to do too much, land, sea and air steam-punk. Just one of those areas and I could get interested. The Spartan games models are nice yet somehow leave me cold. This game at the show also left me cold. They simply had too much on the table. This just leads to an unfocused free-for-all.
Peter who runs the "Gamers Hub" only 19 years old and bags and bags of enthusiasm always puts on a Warhammer game usually 40k but this being Fantasy. A really nice guy and I think if he retains that level of enthusiasm will become very well known in wargames circles.
The Third SELWG game was "Saving Captain Windsor" an Afghan war 28mm skirmish participation game. The guy in charge did admit they signed in as a different club because 3 games by one club at such a small show would have been a bit much. I think that speaks highly of the guy frank and honest and if other clubs don't want the space more power to them.
Some 40k game going on I was running out of time so I did not stop for longer than to take the picture. If nothing else it does show diversity in our hobby. It looks pretty good and in my youth I would have been interested, but now I am approaching "Crusty-hood" it simply does not!
Paul and Ian from "Crush the Kiaser" doing a WW2 game for a change. Russian Front Mid to late war judging from the tanks involved. Had a nice chat with the guys about a Game idea I want to explore and perhaps put on at Broadside '14. There is a future blog post on about this proposed game so when I fail to get any painting done I will fit it in there.
Medway Wargames Club (Dave and Paul) put on a game of Dust Tactics. It is a game they have put on at the Rainham club a couple of times and while I have not played it yet I may well get around to it in the future. It is just one of those games which costs a lot from what I have seen. So while I might have a go my pennies will be going elsewhere.
The last game I have seen at a couple of shows but somehow it still does not register to chat with the guys and find out more. I feel I am missing out but sometimes you just budget you time better. I shall try to make an effort next time. There was also a bring and buy, a painting/modelling demonstration, re-enactors and traders. I had a deep pockets day and the traders suffered I was only parted with £9.60 in total so I will not be doing a "Loot Post!" this time around.
"Scots Fusiliers" commanded by Brigadier General Archibald Rowe. They carried no regimental colours but did carry the kings colours into battle. Red cuffs but yellow facings. I must confess the small mitres were a guess for colours, but I thought the yellow most appropriate. At 6mm (1/300th scale) it hardly matters anyway as I know my players will just identify them by the yellow stripes on the lower edge on their tunics. I felt the need to put the yellow stripes on to distinguish them from the above unit.
"Earl of Bath's regiment of foot." As you can see these have yellow cuffs which the Scots fusiliers do not have. Commanded by Lieutenant General William North. 
Here is a link VIKING APC to a wiki of the vehicles in real life. I add it because this vehicle is not typically seen on news footage. That being the case it is possible that you may not be aware of them. I am not sure if they are currently serving with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan (2013) but as the game was set in 2008 prior to the change in rules of engagement I am informed that they were present at that time. 
Anyway both these Vikings are from Grubby Tanks (GRUBBY) formally part of the Britannia Miniatures range. They are resin single part castings and thus require no real assembly. They do come with 2 crew and a machine gun and gun shield in white metal as well as a hatch cover for the rear top hatch. I did one with hatch open and one buttoned up. This gave me the greater variety. The only7 disappointment I had with these was that the boxes and bags moulded to the top of the passenger compartment. The disappointment only comes because they were exactly the same. If they were not cast in the same one piece resin It would have been easy to add items to more personalise the vehicles. Should I get another of these I will, which I am tempted to do as it would then allow me to transport a platoon of troops, I will add extra baggage and tarps to create some variety. And that is my only quibble with these vehicles. Other than a Chinook helicopter kit I have waiting to be started that should finish all my forces for the Afghanistan game. I have no idea if I will ever make the Chinook and if I do where I will keep it so do not expect it to feature in the near future.
I promise this is my last 3 Pinkertons. Again by Artizan Designs these are another three in their Wild West range. All very nicely cast and sculpted with a few light mould lines and very little flash. Despite my photography you can see that I have settled on a very limited palette of colours in order to unify the figures. They are totally in keeping with the other figures I have done and should now give me enough figures in dusters or long coats to satisfy my usual players at least in the short term. Given the long coats it was a very quick painting exercise as the coats did tend to conceal a lot of detail beneath. Which meant that once the coat was painted very little extra work needed to be done. Just the kind of figure I like. Overall reasonably happy with the results, they could have been better but by crickey they could have come out so much worse. So I'll settle for that. 
Nope nothing to do with online retail! It is a lot to do with the latest figure I have managed to bash out. Again a Reaper Miniature in 28mm she is considerably more slender than the male barbarians but to my mind better proportioned more realistic and in a fantastically dynamic pose. 
I want to mention the chainmail bikini again completely Hollywood and more a sculptors fantasy than a historical reality. I can proudly boast that I have known a woman with a chainmail bikini many many years ago and that it was reputably "not very comfortable" I'll let you use your imagination as I feel sure it will be totally accurate. And did require it's very own gambeson!
In most fantasy wargames settings dwarfs have technology of some sort to counter the fact that they have no spell casters. All my life I have steered clear of collecting dwarf armies for this reason. I have nothing against them just that I felt that if you did not want to use magic you might as well not play fantasy games and stick to ancients. I am at long last coming round to having Dwarves and actually quite like them not I am getting older. Perhaps I feel I have more in common with them! 
As well as the zombie wild west game on Sunday, on Saturday I went along to the Milton Hundreds Wargames Clubs open day. I know what you are thinking where is the Milton Hundreds? Well for those of you who don't live within 5 miles of them it's the Sittingbourne club. Not sure why they think Milton Hundreds Wargames club sounds better than Sittingbourne wargames club but as the founder and president is a local history buff I have always fallen asleep when he replies to that question. Anyway what follows is a very quick report.
The first game through the door was a "Rapid Fire" late war game set around the Germans trying to escape the Falaise Gap. A very enjoyable fast moving to watch. Simon the games organiser always puts on a very well structured game well thought out and balanced. The Germans started one side of the river with their escape route over the other side. The inevitable fighting over bridges and fords was to take place all day. Overall as WW2 games go a very nice game to watch. Phil and Alex as the Allies and Steve and American Bob the Axis.
Keep scrolling down there are a few more games to get through.
This was an odd one! Speaking to Mark the MHWC secretary he did admit the game was set up for 3 musketeers, but he realised that he had no suitable figures for the game when he got it to the hall so placed a few Dr Who figures into place to make the display more interesting. What was VERY flattering is that I was later told that the buildings and scenery were purchased after I put on a 3 Musketeer game on at their club 2 years ago. I have promised to return (hopefully later this year) and run it again as it was a giggle!
A wild west setup. I do Know they sometimes do put on a game set in this period and as you all should know I am very interested in this type of game. Everyone needs to play wild west games they are just so much fun.
The other game they had set up and ready to go was a WW1 game using "To the Last Man" rules by Chris Peers. Belgium's attacking a German position. With very smart Belgium Cavalry and a couple of Belgium WW1 armoured cars, all well painted by Mark (as mentioned above). I wanted to get a tutorial for these rules and that was one of the reasons for me going. However Mark (secretary) and Alan (club President) were too busy meeting and greeting and making trips to the refreshments that the Women's Institute had supplied. I must say I did enjoy the sausage roll for 30p so I can see why they made more than one trip while I was there!
So getting on with it. I told the players the situation. Which is to say that they were all travelling by stage coach and during the day they were unable to change the horses as the way station was a grizzly sight and everyone was dead and partially eaten by animals and the horses had escaped the corral and so they had all been rushed into town with the current horses covered in sweat and close to collapse. Thus all the players arrived on foot in the same location at this stage unaware of the zombie apocalypse. 
Figures started to emerge onto the street and amble towards the players from all directions. Getting closer Deacon realised that these were some sort of abomination from the pit and fired a scatter gun at the shamblers knocking them down but not killing them. "Preacher" and Manco went into the saloon and still failed to identify the two figures inside as being undead. They were promptly attacked. Gary Winchester loitered outside and tried to peer into the shadowy gloom as figure moved closer. " were clearly not quite human but the third looked convincing enough in the dark. Warm Leg Bob identified a walker and plugged it with his sixgun out side the saloon. 
Pedro was moving towards the Sherriff's office he had a machete and being Mexican he had an extra clue from the name of the town ( Negro de la ciudad de cabra) while Randy Cockspur decided that late night shopping was the thing that made most sense to his limited thinking lumberjack and he looted some cans of peaches from the general store.
