Plastic 28mm Saxon Army

Hi Chaps,

Well my girlfriend returned to warmer climes last Friday so I have had a week of painting which I have relished...mostly because Oijai bought me a box of 28mm Wargames Factory Saxons. I was a little unsure about these figures at first as I had previously bought the first Zombie offerings from this company which were just terrible, granted the male survivor box was good but I had never seen the Saxons before.

I needn't have worried, the Saxons have clear detail and other than a few odd poses and weird bows the figures worked well. So well in fact that I ordered some Gripping beast Saxon Thegns which were much easier to put together and a little chunkier which in turn made them easier to paint. I painted these figures 10 at a time and used a wash, this speed painting was easy to do and rather fun. As you can see some tidying needs doing but the overall effect is OK and acceptable when they are on the table.

The figures are based on 60mm frontages and so could be used for DBA (although they are 40mm deep for Spears and 30mm for the Psiloi) Dux Bellorum or preferably Hail Caesar. I have on order a box of plastic Norman cavalry which will be converted to Saxons and also a General figure from Dixons. This again was an accidental army but once I got the bug I wanted to see it completed. A box of Dark Age Warriors from Gripping Beast should see a small army complete for £90...God bless plastic!

As a side note I should add that I use two bases of figures for a normal sized unit, three for a large and just one for a small unit for the Hail Caesar rules. I do hope that Mr Priestly will be cool about my tinkering with the unit sizes but it actually helps my army to fit on a table....now I just need to wait for someone to produce Late Romans in plastic...

A week off from painting?

Hi Chaps,

I may have to put the brushes down for a week as my girlfriend is over on a rare visit. It will be a pleasure to show her around the North of England's finest historical sites (managed to slide in my interests without her noticing there).

Aside from any freezing cold weather we should be able to get out and about, Nid has travelled with her work as a medical scientist across Asia but I doubt if she has tried anything as exotic as fish and chips, black pudding or stout. 

Warlord and Crusader Germans

Hi Chaps,

I have had a beano painting my Germans up and they are now finished though obviously I could use a few more units. This week also saw an old Grima Wormtongue get a coat of paint-he is my only LOTR figure, this was a range I was not interested in despite the books and films though my resolve is weakening because of The Hobbit!

I am sorry about the photo quality (or lack of) this is really something I intend to conquer this week and I have begun to make a little "cabinet" to capture the light and put a backdrop in. Udates shortly.

The Germans are Warlord plastics except for the HMG and Mortar who are from crusader as are the resin bases. Thanks for looking and keep blogging as I steal your ideas!

Scratch Build and the Plastic Soldier Company

Hi Chaps,

A rare Monday morning post but I just wanted to pop a few pictures of the scratch build from Friday night onto the blog and also mention the Plastic Soldier Company.

having only recently discovered the excellent Bolt Action rule set I am in the (expensive for me) process of building two opposing forces, German and Russian. The Russians have come via The Plastic Soldier Company and are amazing value for money. I was expecting very dodgy models because they were so cheap but actually the quality and quantity is just amazing-probably the best money I have ever spent in this hobby.

http://theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_2_43

This company deserve to do well and maybe they will even release other nations in time?

As for the drunken scratch build it is a very simple foam card shape with a pair of pillars that I bought from ebay...they were literally pennies...the paint used on this are all tester pots from the DIY stores, chocolate brown being the most useful as I use it on all my bases. There are still a few spots to repaint and I will put some dull colours on the interior walls. I plan to make a few more as they should help fill up my table nicely.

Plastic Soldier, Crusader Miniatures and a late Friday Night

Hi Chaps,

I am a happy man. Not just because I stayed up late doing something I love alone! (Scratch building!!). Also because my order from Crusader Miniatures and The Plastic Soldier Company arrived. Excellent service from both, PSC managed to get my order to me within 2 and a 1/2 days and Crusader Mini's sent me a free teabag(?)...oh and the quality of both are just astounding.

The Sponge Bob record keeps playing in my head..."Best Day Ever", partly because it was 1AM before I finished sticking and gluing and drinking beer. It's great to nerd out in style.

Oh wait having just taken a few pics I have just seen the downside-MY DESK! Clutter and untideyness is my pet hate, I swear that I spend more time cleaning my painting station than actually painting on it...oh well I will clear up before starting the Russians. I sincerely hope that you Chaps have as good a night and day as I have....

Bolt Action Germans and GW Empire

Hi Chaps,

This week has been a total miniature adventure-real life has been put aside (as much as is possible) because I have been reading the Bolt Action rule book and painting furiously at night. (can one paint furiously?).

It was back in the mists of time since I have felt so positive about this hobby, even if I never have a game of bolt action I have been enthused by it's new (to me) turn mechanism and it's simple mechanics, so enthused that I went and purchased some German Warlord infantry to paint. I also ordered a HMG and mortar team from Northstar, it will be nice to see if they mix in...if they do I need a few other bits to complete my infantry.

The first German section was painted using Codex Grey as the Vallejo reed green made me dizzy, the second unit are Vallejo German field grey, it was trial and error as you can see. The Imperial tropps were from Ebay, there is another unit waiting to be painted up, they seemed to be a relief from all that grey!

The Russians ill come via The Plastic Soldier Company in the form of an army box-£35 for 57 infantry, HMG's and a couple of artillery pieces!

Keep blogging Chaps.

The future is indeed plastic...

Hi Chaps,

 It has been a strange week, having accidentally purchased The Bolt Action rule set on Friday I felt compelled to visit my local model shop to acquire a box of Warlord Games Late War German Infantry. My reasoning was that I could try out the rules in the scale that they seem to have been written for. All was well with my scheme until tonight when I came to paint 4 of the minis, I used Vallejo 920 German uniform colour...it's my own fault.

 Usually I paint one figure and make notes in my painting log of the colours I have used (yes I am that boring...the winter nights fly by in my home). Being clever I painted the jackets on four figures assuming that the colour would "settle down" and assume a naturally German army appearance...instead I had four world war two German infantrymen looking like space marines!

Now I have four completed Germans but it was a frustrating experience painting over (twice to get rid of it) the fun colour that masqueraded as a uniform shade. This is just a cautionary tale to gullible who may believe what Vallejo have produced....if I ever meet the guy who named this colour I am going to kick him in the painticles.

On a much more positive note (unless you happen to be my wallet) I saw this today about a range of world war one plastics....my order from Brigade Games never arrived (The Chris Peers Contemptible Little Armies) and I got no response from the email that I sent them so I may hunt down the old Warhammer Historical set if these figures ever get produced.

http://wargameterrain.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/tsuba-miniatures-early-world-war-one.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+WargameNewsAndTerrain+(Wargame+news+and+terrain,+A+blog+dedicated+to+the+hobby+of+wargaming!)

Have a good week Chaps because we are all special.

Work in Progress

It is a little strange but most of my figures now seem to be from Games Workshop? As a mostly historical type (or so I thought) I find this puzzling. GW are either Sci Fi or Fantasy and expensive to boot yet they are the only figures (except the odd Reaper) that are on my painting table! I have never played a game of WarHammer 40K yet I have a unit of Terminators awaiting undercoat and WarHammer Fantasy is a mystery to me but I now have a couple of units painted up?

To add to this mystery I have several odd modern military figures and a bunch of Zombie survival types on my shelves....long gone are my thoughts of a Napoleonic army in 28mm, maybe its just easier to paint small numbers of varied troops? The big battles (if they ever happen now) will have to be in 6mm...

Manchester visit and the next painting season.

Hi Chaps,

I must apologise for the lack of posts but this summer has been a pain in the proverbial. First off the visit to Thailand which took the wind out of my sails and then more legal delays....excuses over with.

Can anyone ID the aircraft that the rear gun turret is from? I would never have guessed it...I even read its information card twice. The tank is an easy one but I just wanted to put its picture on here...if your ever in Manchester the war museum there is well worth a visit. I did take lots of photographs but the place is dim and my camera was old even before I bought it-my sons I phoney took far better pictures.

As I intend to resume painting soon I have been spending hours online looking for something a little different...what do you chaps think of Mantic games? Are the figures nice enough to paint? They certainly look interesting enough.

http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/deadzone/getting-started/product/rebs-faction-starter-11-figures.html

Despite being mostly a solo player I may try and find a local club...it may encourage my son away from the Xbox and I may actually play a game against a live opponent. The only club I previously used to attend regularly was Burnley Wargames Club which I have fond memories of...some of their members were amazing artists as well.

http://www.meetup.com/The-North-of-England-Gaming-Group-NEGG/events/143961322/

Good to be back and it has been good catching up on what you fellows have been doing.

The Summer Break

Hi Chaps,

It has been a month or more since my last post but I find it difficult to organise my painting/hobby time in the school holidays as I am a single parent....so I take a break. When I say break although I am not painting I am busy taking pictures of Victorian buildings and museums ready for the new season of building and generally messing around in miniature.

This new season will be somewhat different in that I intend to thin out my collection of figures and concentrate on 28mm Victorian era projects based on In Her Majesties Name. Each year I just paint what I like-my 20mm German WW1 army is a keeper but unfortunately my storage space is full. Thankfully I am not alone in this collecting madness which is peculiar to miniature wargamers so I am sure that you will understand.

Thanks for blogging and keeping my interest alive and well. I look forward to our adventures in miniature together.

Chris Peers and 20mm Hat plastics

Hi Chaps,

The weather has not been great for painters...it seems that the paint is drying from the moment that you open it but I have manfully soldiered on and I have painted a battalion of WW1 Germans from Hat.

I have to admit to being seduced by the 28mm ads for figures in the past and like a huge proportion of other gamers I have attempted to amass armies in 28mm. Now I see the error of my ways. Having collected the humble 1/72 miniature from a very early age I think that I got all blase' (did I spell that right or do I sound like Del boy?) about their quality and potential...familiarity breeds contempt and all that. After several attempts I think I may have found a way of releasing that 20mm potential-for me anyway.

Recently I purchased "Contemptible little armies" from Brookhurst in the USA (not arrived yet) and the army lists off of Ebay and I was wondering how the hell I was going to collect (let alone pay for) two 1000 point armies when I visited "Plastic Soldier Review". It was all there, all the infantry, cavalry and guns that a war gamer could want....well almost I could really use high command figures if anyone at Hat are reading.

This is a work in progress but progress has been good. Simple painting techniques have allowed me to almost complete a 500 point army of early war Germans. At this rate (and I am getting faster) I should have enough figures for a meeting engagement in a week or so.  Compared to 28mm this is light speed and in fact the drop in quality is not as bad as I had feared.

When the weather picks up (stops raining) I will post some pictures of the completed models and I may have enough photos to produce a "how to" regarding the Germans...I tried the really weird tip of coating your figure in PVA after you had painted him...and it works! My only problem is now trying to stop buying more of the Hat figures...£4.25 for 48 infantry!

Thanks for reading guys. Keep gaming.

As an afterthought the photo is way out of date to the tune of four more boxes of various WW1 figures and equipment....

Victrix

Oh Chuddlies!

I just bought, based and undercoated a German early war 20mm Battalion and supporting units...

http://wargameterrain.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/victrix-plastic-28mm-world-war-one.html

I suppose it is an excuse to paint some more figures. I will be posting some pictures later in the week, this really has put a spanner in my plans-literally! I have just completed the plans for a few 20mm buildings.

It is still a happy event when we have to much choice?

20mm on 25mm bases...

Hi Chaps,

I have a few unpainted 20mm Hat Germans so I thought I would base a few up on 25mm bases to see what they look like....? Once the figures have been PVA'd they are fairly tough and the extra large base should also help protect them but I am torn whether to invest in some 28mm? What do you fellows do? Also is there any good sites to help one scratch build 20mm buildings? I am even at the point of molding my own doors and windows so that I can just glue these onto the shells of buildings...the card and the green stuff are waiting but again a tutorial would help.

The cost of plastics are a fraction of the metal, if I had the knowledge I would put a poll on here and let you guys decide, my eyes are not what they were blah blah, you have probably wrestled with the scale question many times so what did you fellows go for?

I look forward to your replies, in the mean time I am ordering some paint and LOTS of 25mm bases.

Thanks for looking.

Well done Caliver books!

The power of Blogger has proved itself to me yet again. At last I am the proud owner of "At Close Quarters" (3rd Edition) and I must give praise to Caliver books for amazing service. My copy arrived the day after I ordered it!! I am pretty damned impressed with the speed my copy arrived-in fact I am taken aback...if you need a book check Caliver out because it will arrive quickly.

To try the rules out I have been painting some 20mm plastics by Caesar...what started as a handful has morphed into something far larger than I intended. The plastic Brits are now (if you use Rapid Fire type units) a full battalion with heavy weapons support and transport from Britannia....and the "bad guys" are growing in number with an order from Elhiem planned.

My dimming eyesight will probably make regular 20mm gamers shudder but on the table they will pass off as adequate, I have coated the figures with a generous amount of PVA before and after painting so they are fairly solid but they do have a certain sheen to them. Initially these plastic chaps were a stop gap to be replaced with fine quality 28mm the moment I won the Euro lottery but actually they are growing on me. Suddenly lists of 20mm moderns by various manufacturers are becoming very interesting.

Thanks for all the help in tracking down the rules...Ever Victorious Armies next, to be viewed alone in a dimmed room with a fine wine, internet and visa card.

Where can I buy Chris Peers rulesets?

Hi Chaps,

I was wondering if any of you knew where to buy some of Chris Peers rule books? I particularly want to buy "At Close Quarters" and "Contemptible Little Armies" but would also like to get hold of "Ever Victorious Armies".

I had all these rule sets previously and I had the older versions at my in laws in Thailand for emergency reading when on holiday but on my last visit they were gone!!

It seems Mr Peers has gone off the war gaming radar which is sad because I always found his rules to be excellent....much better than "Force on Force" which is very disappointing. Any help tracking these books down would be appreciated...I have tried ebay to no avail...

Keep war gaming!

Back in Blighty

Hi Chaps,

just a quick hello! I have missed my hobby and being able to read about your exploits but that will all change in the coming weeks. I will post a few pics of Asian architecture but these reference photos will stand for Sierra Leone and probably a lot more of Africa as well....

What rules would you chaps use for modern small scale wars? I have Force on Force but I do not like them at all....any other options? Does any company still carry At Close Quarters?

Thanks in advance....

Going off the grid...

Hi Chaps,

I have been enjoying reading about your miniature exploits immensely. Hopefully I will be able to continue reading about your adventures over the next month or so. My son and I are returning to Thailand to sadly have a funeral for my wife and son...years later than it should have been but I suppose that is the system we have here....

Anyway I hope to keep up to date with you all and if I see anything military and interesting I will snap a picture and plop it on here. As I will be in South East Asia I will definatley see some unusual stuff which will appear on here....In Her Majesties Name asian style will be a challenge!

Thanks for keeping me sane, keep blogging and be happy Chaps, you are all very special individuals.

Legal Stuff ends...

Hi Chaps,

this is not really related to wargaming though it does explain my occasional absence or lack of output.

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/hospital-trust-settles-claim-with-ulverston-dad-following-deaths-of-wife-and-baby-1.1137776

I will now start to look forward to actually living a little and attending a few games shows and who knows even gaming.

Thanks for keeping me sane.

Carl

Space Hulk arrives...first game

Hi Chaps,

Well Royal Mail did me proud and Space Hulk arrived and within an hour my son was battling with Genestealers and writing his own miniature legend! The game took around an hour as we plodded through the rules but it was an exciting and tense affair...aptly named Suicide! The marines did flame the room as ordered but the last two men perished the very next turn. I had forgotten just how awesome this game was and watching my son making decisions and enjoying himself really made my day....see for yourselves, it was fun!

The figures are a little dated but I will strip and repaint the metals using nail polish remover and for the plastic Genestealers I will soak them in Dettol for 24 hours which strips paint but does not damage the plastic. In no time the figures will look far more modern. I suppose for the time of this games release the figures were painted to the standard of the time?

Thanks for looking, my son and I recommend this game to anyone who likes miniature gaming, bargains are still out there!

Keep blogging.

Enjoying painting and the sunshine.

Hi Chaps,

Well it's all sunny here at last, maybe even too sunny to take a picture of my figures which does not happen too often. I completed these little post apocolyptic figures last night, the bases have yet to be done of course.

If I am lucky the post tomorrow will have a couple of Space Hulk games in it, although the figures will need a repaint I am sure that my son and I will have a couple of games over the weekend. If I am double lucky the Bretonnian cannon I ordered will arrive as well....it's not that I need one it was cheap and may come in handy at some point over the next decade or so.

Thanks for looking.

Keep blogging!

Games Workshop...more purchases....

Hi All,

Well it has been a busy week with solicitors etc. so the important stuff like my hobby has suffered time wise though the real casualty has been my bank balance.

I have won a couple of auctions for Space Hulk (first edition) and so I naturally needed some figures and then one thing led to another. I had to visit Games Workshop Preston for some red paint and it seems that they have adopted the Foundry 3 shade system with an added wash for each colour? Anyway I cannot wait to try them out.

Whilst I was in the shop I purchased some "Cultist" figures which were actually reasonable at £6 for five, these will fit any future/post apocolypse type of game and are a useful little bunch. Next up was a treat to self for a crap week of legal stuff (actually a crap 6 years). One of my fleabay purchases was a cannon and two crew so this chap will fit the bill as master gunner. I actually have an earlier version of him in metal bought for me by my wife....anyway he was £9 which is damned expensive. Games Workshop can do a decent price (re the Cultists) so why this much for one figure? Anyway like a sucker I bought him.

Keep blogging Chaps, when the rain stops I will post some pictures of the ever growing horde of Space Marine stuff that seems to teleport itself onto my painting station!

Is this addictive?

New camera and the Space Marines

Hi Chaps,

Well I am down to the last two Space Marines (Woot woot...). I do not think that I will be painting anymore soon as they seem to be a lot of work for little return and also they are expensive! I bought this lot from ebay for around £12.00 but even on that site the resale prices are eye watering.

Can anyone recommend a decent figure manufacturer in the UK with a sci-fi range? I have bought some reaper fantasy plastics from ebay just to have a look at them but really I wanted science fiction for the inevitable Space Hulk game that will come my way.

The new camera came with a nifty programe that helps to lighten up pictures of miniatures...slowly getting there with the pics.

The pictures don't seem to capture the detail but I suppose there is not that much because they are Space Marines....I do not think that I will go to the trouble of painting more of these.

Keep blogging Chaps you are an inspiring bunch and I like to learn (or is that copy) from your ideas.