Winter is Over - The new Show season is upon us Vapnartak 2015

Whilst i didn't manage to secure a trade stand at the York show this has become a compulsory trip,
the show has gone from strength to strength and for me marks the beginning of the end of winter and the start of the Show season.

This year I arrived at the York race course a tad early ( due to an incorrect bad weather report) fortunately I got straight in - about 9.40 and therefore had around an hour to look around before the hordes descended.

I have to admit I had very little on my shopping list - paint and bases. Although I had ordered a lot of purpose built streams from Andy at Last Valley for the AMG game at Partizan in May, two large boxes in fact!!! Despite seeing loads of lovely new shiny toys my impulse buying, for once did not take over.

There were some great games of which I have taken pictures of a few but not nearly enough to do the show justice.

True to form by 10.45 the place was buzzing and by 11.15 I retreated to the bar where I remained until around 2.00

But I met lots of old and new friends - Robbi Baker - sculptor and I guess we could call him a silver surfer now :), a cornucopia of gentlemen from the AMG forum together with many other gamers I have met over the years.

As one of my colleagues pointed out we've only got two more years and we can get in free for being over 60!!!

I understand around 1500 people attended the show and I feel this has now become the best show in the North.

The pics below present just a very small taste of games, I did take some pics of Mark Dudley's 40mm Blastoff Bridge participation game but somehow managed to delete them. What was good with this was Mark's young son was playing and through the day a number of youngsters had a go - with or without fathers. Great to see an introduction to historical gaming at the show.

Favourite game of the show was the Raid on Leith.

The Curtey's miniatures lads put on an excellent dark age game - pics taken before the troops deployed.

Work Bench Thursday 29/01/2015

Well i know its Friday but I didn't want to create too much confusion and I was at the club last night still trying out DBA 3.0 ( Big Battles) - My Classic Indians scraped a very narrow victory against Steve's Scythians but that's two victories out of two games played I have to admit quite enjoying it.

You will see the West Wind Macedonian army has started to take up a corner on the workbench.
So this week I've finished the first squadron of British Dragoons and the 8 highlanders - they are gloss varnished awaiting the scenic base and the matt varnish.
The Royal Ecosse should be completed soon, more 15mm Sudanese are about finished and the two dragon Sudanese Leigh gave me are awaiting a white dry brush to lift the detail and then a start.
Been a busy week but progress is ongoing.
Want the R.E. finished and then I will start on the Manchester Regiment.

Firing Line

Whilst I've posted the pics on thee Crann Tara Blog thought they were too nice not to post here!

The first 3 Battalions complete to form the First Brigade of the front Line of Government troops at Culloden.
3 More firing line units to do for the second brigade.
The Royal Scots still have the old standard which is soon to be replaced. The others are from Iain at Flags of War.

Workbench Thursday 22/01/15

Workbench day!!
First up over the last 10 days painted a Big Battle DBA Classical Indian army (plus a few extras) using the excellent West Wind Ancient figures.
They're seeing action tonight - two chariot bases to finish -glue still wet.

Then the general view - 28mm week want to finish the Royal Ecosse, Dragoons and Highlanders - off camera still more 15mm Ansar.

Workbench Thursday

Belated Happy New Year to everyone.
One of the ways I have decided to a) increase the number of entries I make and b) ensure I make progress is to try and do a weekly update of what's on the work bench!!

My somewhat stacked out bench - The 14th Foot are just awaiting their bases to be completed, their Albion standard is also visible.
8 more highlanders are under way.
4 bases of skirmishers for the Sudan await bases to be done - off camera 10 bases under way.
In the background the Westfalia Landau is stuck as I work out who is going in it.
So as usual full of busy.

Merry Christmas ( and its all Carlo's fault - him an his pyjamas)

First and foremost can I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa brings you lots of nice things tomorrow and that you all have a great festive holiday.

I haven't posted as much as I wanted but that is primarily due to my other blog and the Crann Tara Miniatures being released at a far faster rate :)

However I aim to redress that next year and post more game reports next year.

I have been blown off course slightly by Carlo over on the 'With Pyjama's through the desert' blog.

He has spent time pulling together Peter Gilders Sudan rules and published them - 'The Sands of The Sudan'.
I couldn't resist buying a copy as I recall the original campaign series by Peter in Wargames World all those years ago!!!

I have always wanted to play Sudan and these fit the bill - my only restraint due to time, cost and space was I didn't go for 28mm so 15mm it is and in the last couple of weeks I've painted a horde (small one ) of Ansar etc and in two session a 60 figure British Battalion - its waiting for the bases to be finished. This means I can get this diversion under way in the very near future.

Just a few quick picks of the 'enemy' - still on the green board for the moment - sorry!!

All the figures are by Peter Pig - I have some Blue Moon to try - slightly taller but they should look ok.
See you next year.

Cabin Sort out and Ancients on display

Since moving in to the home some 2 and half years ago I have never really got to grips with the storage in cabin and garage what was on display in the cabin were generally buildings because they were quicker and easier to unpack.
After starting the rationalisation of my collections and sorting things out I've started moving buildings into crates and figures onto shelves :) First up the Ancients almost 4,000 painted and still growing.

 Below are some of my Greeks and Persian/Seleucid figures.

 Phalanx for the memories!! Part of the ten I have painted up for my Successors/Seleucid army for my Magnesia project.

 Greeks - Lots of them and all to be re-based

 Imperial Romans - still need more cavalry and some more lights but effectively finished.

 Romans and Germans

 Close up to show my Favorite Successor General Antigonus

Merry Christmas too you all, next to move in will be the Lord of the Rings collection and the 18th Century chaps :)