What's on the workbench

Just a couple of quick pics of most the workbench, the Westfalia Forge sutlers cart is coming along - I need a couple more figures to paint and then I can finish the vignette. 

Another French Battalion - I sent Steve too few figures so need to paint up 5 more to finish it off - must have being having a senior moment! 

There's a few more Scots pike for my Lion rampant force which I hope to finish soon, but really between getting a few conversions/sculpts finished I need to focus now on completing the armies for the demo game at Partizan.

Scottish Battlefield Trust Wargames Show - Prestonpans

Saturday saw me attend this small event at the Gothenburg pub in Prestonpans as a trader.

First off the pub was wonderful, good food, good ale ( even if I couldn't drink any) a micro brewery etc. So even if the weather was a bit dour the pub was warm and friendly.

This event arranged by Warwick Louth in support with the Scottish Battlefield Trust was a first and in many ways took me back to the hobby in the early 70's, a friendly, intimate atmosphere where people came to game and enjoy themselves. Seven games (I think) all with a Scottish theme and around the same number of traders.
The games had the likes of Barry Hilton,David Imrie, Iain McDonald there and all were of a good quality.
I only took a few photos I'm afraid mainly of Barry's Killiekrankie  battle where he was trying out his soon to be released card driven rules for the period.
Lot's more photos on Iain's  The Camlachie Wolf blogspot http://thecamlachiewolfe.blogspot.co.uk/

Also had the pleasure of chatting to M S Foy of Prometheus in Aspic - its always good to meet up with people previously only known through the internet and blog world!

The pictures of the room were taken before the public arrived, it ticked over nicely all day and I really look forward to going back next year sometimes small is good.

Photos of Barry's Killiekrankie game - very nice.
I also found a wonderful company Supreme Little Designs - yes another laser cut building company but Michael has made soem really nice pieces of all scales and is worth checking out.
One thing for certain I will be back next year.

Workbench Update and a trip to the Darkside

Sorry about missing last week, as preparations for my trip to Chicago gather a pace I'm finding lesss time to get orders completed, painting done etc.
Anyway the work bench has moved on  - the squadron of 11th dragoons are completed ( photo won't load) and we press on with the Sutlers cart and the Lion Rampant figures.

Just as a reminder these are the Claymore castings chaps I have finished

I also took my 10mm AWI from their boxes for a review - quite a few standards required but a handful of units will see the two armies ready for battle.

So a bit of motivation all round to get painting.
Monday saw my son take me to Warhammer World at Nottingham. I guess it must be 8 years since I last went and in that time I've sold 95% of my GW but still have fond memories and still like painting some of their models. My son just wanted to go see what had changed.

I'm not getting involved re money, prices etc all I can say for a day out I thoroughly enjoyed it. The main gaming hall hasn't changed too much except it now has a forgeworld and a black library shop.
There are still lots of nicely made gaming tables.

The exhibition hall has changed significantly first its £7.50 to go in but there are 5 halls and we spent over an hour admiring the painting and craftsmanship of the models and the displays.

This final model display speaks for itself and you work your way down the 22' high tower, there is so much to see on the model a fantastic display to look and admire. A nice trip down memory lane with my son and I day I enjoyed.

Battle of Kolin

Yesterday I attended Colin's ( from http://www.carryingsonupthedale.com/ ) for a refight of the Battle of Kolin using the Honour of War rules.

Now Colin is going to do a detailed write up of the game and battle which is just as well because before I played the game all I knew of the battle was that Frederick was outnumbered and he got beat!!!

Five of us in total spent a full day gaming and here's some photos taken during the game I shall not give anything away
Robbie laughing at our outnumbered forces and reminding us who won!

 The garrisoned village of Krezczhorz a primary objective for the Prussians

 Lots and lots of Austrians facing the Prussian right flank

 Zieten sacrifices some Hussars to stall the Austrian right flank

 Robbie pondering about the dawdling Austrians in the centre

 More Austrians

 Prussian Cavalry on the left taunt the Austrians to come forward.

 Robbie getting excited that his Austrian artillery actually hit something

 Prussian grenadiers have taken Krezczhorz and threaten Austrian cavalry flanks!

 The massed Austrian cavalry attack pour through the centre.

Things I learnt on the day - Colin is a great host and has a lot and I mean a lot of painted figures.
His wife makes exceedingly good soup.
It was a cracking game and I actually like the Honour of War rules with suitable amendments regarding cannister range which is way too long in the rules.

Workbench Thursday and Cracking New Book

First and foremost not a bad week on the workbench front, Munro's foot ( 62nd) are all finished, the Scots Grey conversions are painted and the metal masters off to Griffin for casting.
The Westfalia forge sutlers cart is ready for priming and and a few pieces to be added for a vignette.
The reinforcements for my Lion Rampant Scots creep to the front as do some FIW indians.

Even better that tomorrow I'm off for a game at Colin's - Battle of Kolin and I'm trying the Honours of War rules, looking forward to it.

I also received volume 1 of Charles S Grant's latest publication in the new Refighting History.
Published by Caliver Books this large format 112 page publication is superb. With plates by the late Bob Marion, Menzel, superb pen and ink drawings and superb photo's of Charles' and John Ray's collections it looks great quality and to make it even better its a great read.

work bench

Progress this week has not be as I'd hoped, partly due to the fact that I painted the wrong cuff colours on half of Munro's regiment who are now based and waiting for the base to dry before the ground is painted and standards issued.

According to the cloathing book the regiment had red cuffs with yellow lace up until 1748 when it the adopted standard practice of cuffs, turnbacks etc all being the same.

Asa result I didn't get the conversions/new releases finished but maybe this weekend, I also finished off a base of Belgian Napoleonic infantry (20mm Newline design) based for the Blucher rules - quite pleased with the number of figures etc so may progress with this project!!!

Return to normality

I don't intend to reflect too much on last years achievements ( or not) suffice to say that this year needs to see more gaming, more painting and more blog posts!!

A quick snap shot of the work bench as I eventually find some time to return to normality - I have a busy for weeks before a quick trip to Chicago and upon my return it will be head down to prepare for Salute and as far as this blog is concerned to prepare a game for Partizan - the theme 1744 and Marshall Saxe's proposed invasion of England to place Charles Stuart ( the young pretender) on the throne.
It will be played out as a mini campaign by some of the lads at the club and will culminate (I hope) in the final battles at the Newark show. The campaign is based on my article from the Wargames Annual Summer special 2015. and will be reported upon on here.

Now to the pics.