Work Bench Saturday

Thought we'd kick off the work bench updates especially as I have the AMG weekend coming in June and I have some painting targets to meet.

So today finished off the first 12 figures for the dismounted 10th Cobhams dragoons. They've just had the gloss varnish applied before basing and matting down - hopefully tomorrow.

Also finished are the Pendraken 10mm Highlanders for my AWI project these end up being dipped for speed but once based etc the effect is pretty acceptable.

Next week Baggots Hussars and a return to the Sudan 15mm project !

Also on the bench are the British artillery crews painted by Mark Allen, just waiting for the issue of guns and artillery tools.

Parizan 2017

As life slowly starts to return to normal and having attended Falkirk last week as a trader I had booked to attend Partizan with a game.
In the early days of Partizan I had always attended as part of the Redcar Rebels and therefore demo games and Partizan have really become part of my must do's. With the passing of Lee and the disappearance of Gordon I have always striven to do something.

This year I thought it time to raise the Crann Tara banner, putting on a game to promote the figure range and have fun at the same time. So I attended with Bob and Leigh to play.

Photos of my game I will put on the Crann Tara blog and I will put images here of the games that caught my eye in a very brief run around.

I have to say Partizan was a great show again and for me is most probably the best and most enjoyable show I go to, good light, room to move and superb games.
I apologise in advance for not taking note of all the names of the presenters.

First up Steve Jones and his excellent rendition of Bunker Hill, all his own work including the rules ( must get a copy)

 Just a fun game French Indian Wars ( I think!) using peg armies :)

 A very, very nice Russo Japanese naval action.

 Barry Hilton and friends with a Great North War game using his excellent Warfare Miniatures, always a pleasure to talk to Barry

 Dave Docherty and his ever expanding Sudan game, looked superb

 The Perry twins were in attendance with a Napoleon in Egypt game, unfortunately when I took the photos onlt the British were deployed

 Finally this was a WWII participation game but I thought the winter effect was very good.

So a great day spoke to many, many people and looking forward to the Other Partizan.

Starting again

Many of you will know that despite some positive statements in my last post I lost my Mam on the 15th April and saw her cremated on the 27th. So the year hasn't really got off to a good start.

She will be missed greatly as she was my rock and always said it as she saw it, however she also told me yu have to get on and live your life so now the formalities are over and most the paperwork is done its a slow return to the work bench.
The week saw figures arrive from Mark Allen and Steve Allen so on the bench getting based and flagged is Wolfe's regiment and the two Swiss regiments de Sallis and de Courten all of which should be getting a run out in the game I;m presenting at Partizan on the 21st May.

In closing there's an excellent piece by Richard Clarke in the current Wargames Soldier and Strategy which I commend people to read. It's one of those thought provoking pieces about the hobby and how it is stronger than ever but that its very diversity is also its weakness.
He also has a pop at the big companies, the possible demise/usefullness of magazines and how very much like me wargaming is our life blood.

As a hobby its been with me since I was 13 and I could never see me giving it up, its a social hobby and one which regardless of where you are you can devote time to. It's also kept me sane through some really tough periods in my life - an escape.

Anyway from now - hopefully a lot more positive posts.