The workbench continues to be full with my diverse! Projects. Anyway this week I managed to finish basing all the Macedonian pike I have - 15mm Forged in Battle figures with Little Big Man transfers.
Next up the rest of the Companions and Hypaspists.
Another Saxon infantry regiment is based together with some artillery crew, need to finish the standards for these and have started painting the horses for the Prinz Albrecht Cheveaux legers
I think I have mentioned before on the blog my desire/plan to present an 18th century raid on a Port.
In all the notes I’ve made on the war between Scotia Albion and the Duchy of Comyn, Edward Island and its main Port ( Port Edward) has always been earmarked as the setting. For many reasons I haven’t done much with the imagi-nation campaign but I do hope to change all that next year.
So with the advantage of 3D printing I thought it was time to start printing buildings to populate the Port,
my aim is to have a built up area taking up a 5x4 area for what I envisage will be a large skirmish game.
The first few buildings are done, a rather impressive Inn, a warehouse and two houses - tower house and the Port Administrator.
The buildings have been printed at 90% their normal size!. I have taken ideas on layout etc from Whitby and Port en Bessin and more will be revealed as the project progresses.
As to the second part of the post, like many others I use and electric mini drill for working on conversions of figures etc. I’ve had the set for quite awhile and it was a gift from my mam and dad but it was only yesterday I found the paperwork for it. Bought in 1985! Without tempting fate I think it’s done good service and definitely has been very good value for money.
Keep safe everyone
It’s been a while but my winter project to insulate the garage and rebuild the gaming table is now into final stages.
All the construction work is done, so walls and ceiling suitably insulated and boarded, rubber mats laid on floor and table rebuilt to now give a 9’x5’ playing surface with the option to extend to 12x5.
The new bike store arrives shortly so bikes, ladders and all the other non gaming bits will be removed.
Anyway mighty pleased, it is noticeably warmer.
I also bought a sheet of 2mm neoprene to lay over the table to act as a base layer, it takes out any little variations, screw holes etc.
This also means that I can reorganise the loft where I’m very fortunate to have my painting table and a 4x4 gaming table which is ideal for skirmishes or board games.
So hopefully once I’m able to allow son and or friends access game on.
Apologies for the long gap between posts, my main efforts have been focussed on finishing the garage conversion to gaming room. All the structural pieces are in place - some tidying up required and then I can paint the walls and lay the flooring. I needed up with a 9x5 table - I could have gone to 12’ but felt having space was also important. I can always build an extension piece.
In the mean time managed to finish off basing etc of the Prinz Gotha and the red regiment of Polish Uhlans For my Saxons. Thought it was about time this army received some Reinforcements.
Apologies for the recent lack of posts, I’ve been slowly insulating the converted garage so it can be used as a year round gaming room. It is taking longer than I’d planned due to the recent inclement weather forcing me to move everything around inside the garage as I do each wall! Anyway 75% completed means I can start to find a little time for the hobby.
Following on from what I think is the final sell off of figures terrain etc. I have used some of the money to invest in some board games - I am finding that my interest in board games has grown. I used to play a lot of games and have kept a number that I felt make good campaign systems for figures. However production quality has improved dramatically and offer a great opportunity to try battles or campaigns I haven’t time to collect figures for.
Jacobite rising is the third addition to the Command and Colours ‘Tricorne’ series and is one I couldn’t avoid given my interest in the period. I find the series hugely enjoyable even if the O.O.B’s can be a little inaccurate at times but nothing that isn’t easily addressed.
Flying Colours by GMT is designed for actions in the age of sail, the series has received a lot of positive reports and the rules do not seem overly complex, with 300+ named ship counters in the box it is an opportunity to indulge in some fleet actions on the table top.
Finally This War Without an Enemy by NUTS was a kickstarter game and covers the English Civil War it looks extremely interesting and includes both campaign and battle but I think would be excellent for a campaign system to generate figure battles.
Just in case you thought I’d given up on figures - another 2 units of Prussian flats are under way and I managed to paint up some of the latest releases from my FIW range.
A bit of an unusual post, there has been a lot of ongoing discussion about the future of the Hobby. Littlewars TV ran a piece on the future of Historical War gaming and I know Robbie on the Independent Wargamers blog has had some recent thoughts.
However I came across this young mans you tube channel. Tom is 12 years of age and as to be expected has many wide and varied interests ( a true gamer :) no 40k) and I guess will remind many of us how we were at 12.
He is articulate and is worth listening to his take on the hobby and how he is trying to do historical gaming - refreshing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-j78IBqJAc
Well the work bench this week is more a production line. Going through a lot of basing of the flat figures and some final touching up required. At the same time the ‘round’ highlanders are waiting to be based and some 10mm AWI have crept onto the bench shouting out to be finished!
In the background is the warehouse I’ve printed to kick off the preparation on the raid of Port Edward!
I’ve also been trying out some brush pens, I can’t recall where I read about these but I think they’re great, the points are very fine and hold their point and the line is broader the more pressure you apply. The pigmentation in the red,orange, light blue etc isn’t strong enough to cover anything but a lighter colour but will be very good on flags etc. I use the black on horses reins etc and the dark blue is very effective for shading, lining in etc. All in all really pleased with these.
Finally a colleague has made, what I think, are some very effective game boards. He’s building a WW1 battlefield and as his base has used 1” upholstery foam.
Easy to cut, easy to paint over using spray which forms a light crust on the foam but doesn’t peel off. To add rigidity he has stuck them to some MDF, I have ordered some an 80”x45” piece but smaller sizes are available. More reports in the future.
