Season end, work bench and a few thoughts.

Well as we draw closer to Christmas I guess this may be the last post of the year? Certainly not as many for the last few months as I'd hoped but that's what happens when real life gets in the way!!!!

First up the work bench -

I've managed to base the units that were on the bench ( pics on the Crann Tara blog) and as a result of talking to a member of the AMG forum I've ended up doing conversions/sculpts for the Compagnes Franches de la Marine for the Sugar Island campaign - so far 8 figures are under way. In addition I've also got some metal back from Griffin some of these were my Naval Landing party which use the Fife and Drum labourers as the dolly, the first five are undercoated. In all I aim to do about 16 different figures and I'm hoping Jim and I can come to an agreement re their possible availability.

As I'm on my own New Years day I aim to treat myself to a solo game and hope to do the long delayed naval game I'd promised myself some weeks back.

The results will appear on here.

So can I wish you all a Merry Christmas and trust you will all have an enjoyable festive holiday

 

Where does the time go?

So what happened since the 18th November? Blown if I know, just go away for a few minutes, paint a few figures go to a wargames show and over two weeks has gone!!!!

I didn't get the naval game done I'm afraid so I will be trying again soon! I attended the Battleground show on the 26th November with me stand and a Christmas clearout which did very well.
Couple of games I liked were a 10mm game of Ramillies and a WWI game.

There were lots of other games that were good I just didn't get time to take the pics. The show kept reasonably busy until closing and Leon at Pendraken miniatures has done a first class job in promoting this show.

The bench currently looks like-

The Le Marck regiment awaiting earth grass and standards. Poor Spartacus' troops are pushed to the rear awaiting completion.

Hopefully some hobby time on the run up to Christmas and the New Year.

Progress

Well in between preparing for the show at Kirriemuir last weekend and my last show at Stockton next weekend I managed to clear quite a bit off the paint table.

Finished the MacDonald clan - only another 175 figures to go :)
and another squadron of French horse.

No pictures of the work bench this week as the figures are in a state of transition - i.e. I need to fill the gaps :)

Also next Wednesday I plan to have a solo naval battle trying out the rule Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls using the ships painted for me by Julian at Model J Ships - report will appear here.

A victory - and workbench update.

A busy weekend running round doing chores on Saturday but Sunday saw me travel through to Bob's for the annual Hordes of the The Things tourney which forms part of the World wide series of tournaments.

Not a game I play very often in fact it's almost a year since I last played but the event is very much a social event and a nice way to spend the day. This year the theme had to be based on historical armies as I'm slowly painting a Spartacus army for Big Battle DBA so tweaked this slightly to play in the tourney. As usual I forgot the camera but I surprised myself by winning all three games and winning the tournament.
Unfortunately the good guys team lost by 4 points. The only photo I have is Bob presenting me the wonderful trophy ! :)
A cracking day all told.

The paint table is still full of busy. The horses for the second squadron of Orleans were completed so I will do their bases and finish off the other two squadrons. Plastic ACW came to the fore as a number of club members thought it would be good if we all painted a brigade or two of palstic figures, so not one to be left out!!
The Jacobites have had a little more done and hopefully I can get them finished this week.

Work Bench Sunday!!

It used to be workbench Thursday - now its whenever I get chance!

Just a couple of pics, to the fore are the Orleans Cavalry - riders painted by Steve Allen I'm painting the horses - 3 squadrons to go. I think for those that get figures painted by others then horses and bases are the two most important things that tie the armies together. Hence I paint my own horses and base the figures, these figures have been glossed and awaiting the matt varnish.

The Highlanders have had a bit more work done but I aim for a push on them next week and then the usual suspects lurking in the background :)

Workbench Update and a bit more!

I haven't posted a workbench update for a while so here goes! The sons Panzer Grenadiers and sci fi pieces are still claiming squatters rights but as no progress has been made for a while they may disappear shortly! Only Dad can keep things on table for an indeterminate period of time.

Now the Battle of Rocoux is done with its trying to get back to some form of agenda - Jacobites to the fore as I'm behind on painting these chaps. Horses for the next cavalry regiment are off camera drying and the 15mm figures are for a Spartacus army - this is for an annual HOTT tournament at a colleagues although these days its more a social bash than a competition - anyway the theme this year was Historical armies so good old Spartacus fits quite nicely. I shall then finish them off for a Big Battle DBA force.

R

 

In addition I have just finished an article which may appear in the winter wargames annual - about a few boardgames I think make excellent campaign systems to generate tabletop battles and ideas on conversion to the table top.

Having just been told my booking for Salute is confirmed its also heads down to plan what I need to get ready for the Crann Tara stand - such is life!

Battle of Rocoux

Well it's almost a week since my return from Charles Grant's and another excellent weekend of gaming, chatting and having a small drink or three.

The game itself was based on the Marshall Saxe's attack on the centre of the Pragmatic army and will appear in Charles' next book

As a result I'm not able to go into detail of the game except to say it was hard fought and it was nice to see my British figures make the table. As usual some units shone and some did not live up to expectations and of course it always seems to be at critical times do our boys stand up to the mark or fail to deliver.

I have to admit the sight of 21 French columns marching towards my lines was a sight to behold.
So without further ado some carefully selected pics from the game.

So all in all an excellent game with excellent company and superb hospitality from Charles and Liz

The Road to Rocoux

two weeks time will see me travel to Scotland and visit Charles Grant to refight the battle of Rocoux for another of his forthcoming books.
I have been privileged to participate in a number of these refights and most enjoyable they have been

Rocux is a little different in that Charles wanted to use my British troops so the last few weeks has seen much painting of cavalry, there is now one squadron of Scots Greys to go to complete the 12 squadrons asked for.

Hence the busy paint table - not helped bu my son who suddenly decided to take a break fro the Horus Heresy and start WWII and plonk 30 Panzer Grenadiers and a few Brits on the bench before he left for three weeks to America!

SO its back down now to prepping the last squadron and converting a couple of standard bearers.,

When good news is also bad

The lack of posts continues I'm afraid. This has been partly instigated by the sudden increase in orders for my figure range, quite a few from America (Brexit?) and of these a sudden surge in people buying Highlanders- what's happened?

So good news for my business and bad news for my spare time :)
Last Sunday saw me attend 'The Other Partizan' with both a demo game and trade stand. The game was loosely based on the Battle of Melle and in this particular case the British got their act togther early and punished the French.
Pictures below.
From talking to people the show itself was well attended and another success for the Newark team - well done.

Workbench - another busy week

Whoever said retirement was a time to relax and chill was a liar!!!
Anyway a couple of pics of the workbench - It's heads down to get 3 squadrons of Scots Greys finished for the 25th September in time for the battle of Rocoux. - No problem!!!

In addition trying to catch up on painting highlanders as well as those other little diversions.

For those that have been to the Crann Tara blog you will see there's the Jacobite personalities and artillery crews for the Jacobites and British armies so lots going on there as well and of course preparation for 'the other Partizan' in August - not a lot then.

In closing found this and thought it was rather good.

Five weeks! _ What's been going on?

It came as a shock to see it was five weeks since I last posted and sincere apologies. I've been quite busy with Crann Tara and the new releases which I'm really pleased with.
In addition I travelled up to Charles Grants for our scheduled Hohenfreidburg part 2.
As usual I can't say a lot as the game is scheduled to appear in a future Refighting History book.
John Dougan my erstwhile opponent gave me a cracking game, enough to say it was an exceelnt scenario and one I would like to do again - a real meat grinder!.

I've found a few pics from early on in the game that don't give anything away.

On the painting front I've started on some Carlist's for Sharpe's Practice 2 and Steve Allen finished a couple of units of French Infantry which I've based and 'flagged'

I also thought I'd do a little push on the 10mm AWI so did Tarleton's legion in addition I've also had a mad idea to revamp the studio and cabin so both are now in a state of turmoil!!!

Hopefully back to normal this week!!!!