tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50100610113305030092024-03-13T14:45:09.218-07:00The Wargames WayA personal view of painting and playing with toy soldiers - eclectic tastes!Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-13485846381686268352022-02-25T10:50:00.001-08:002022-02-25T10:50:13.842-08:00<p> ...More soon(ish)</p><p>OK, it was a race against time but the 90+ Italian Wars Venetian Condottieri army was completed in the proverbial nick. Of time that is, not the police station.</p><p>I have always wanted a Condottieri army and have had the figures for a
15mm army stashed away since buying them in Rome about 12 years ago. Imagine how surprised I was when my wife and I stumbled on a wargames shop when on holiday there! <br /></p><p>Nevertheless for the l'Arte de la Guerre competition I had entered at Beachhead Show last year I needed a 25mm/28mm army. I had stupidly enntered the competition before finding out what the period was going to be and then found myself committed to a competition for which I had no suitable army in the scale. </p><p>I still needed to finish a 15mm Classical Indian army for a competition in Oxford on 9 January. Undanunted, I decided that it was possible to get a whole army in the 4 weeks after Oxford. For this project I was fortunate that I already had about 8 boxes of Perry's Wars of the Roses plastics that I was originally going to use for what it said on the box. </p><p>That was towards the end of November 2021 and with a birthday and
Christmas ahead I was able to do a bit of planning with the gift list.
Stradiots and spare Italian heads duly arrived and put in the painting
queue to start as soon as the Indians were finished. </p><p>I made a start with a couple of stands of knights and kitbashed a stand of LC Crossbow from the Mercenaries and Light Cavalry box.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOtXdAV9ufEVaxGrNJQ99jQ8-iSO92voKelOXIrKg44B_zNNsxN4xRNla6Z99Vi4i2QssajV9cm6txlHGF5eJF3b0UZLzXkL7bArbGjwoEfxyO-PS4AC_Sph39HDG_7sAaTnD0bJfd6luzF2ikdiS-VvmhijJHvnEKnzdNPfAGpjME7NUFuWh5gNS83g=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Perry's knights and some light cavalry crossbow" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOtXdAV9ufEVaxGrNJQ99jQ8-iSO92voKelOXIrKg44B_zNNsxN4xRNla6Z99Vi4i2QssajV9cm6txlHGF5eJF3b0UZLzXkL7bArbGjwoEfxyO-PS4AC_Sph39HDG_7sAaTnD0bJfd6luzF2ikdiS-VvmhijJHvnEKnzdNPfAGpjME7NUFuWh5gNS83g=w320-h320" title="Perry's knights and some light cavalry crossbow" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perry's knights and some light cavalry crossbow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho_E9DQ810S5KWIEmV5ljJ7IKpo4a-aunjTbyW1xWZXPJTxtEhA6fu1Kt0e18glLR6ipvzQ3JAt7f6QLKLpcSr7EK8znPA9aPTdIxfbItDYFqBzMVAm6HUYa1usy44SIqHv6JFtn2oeJXQSgmZHAFNZxq2jbTevOsPvcEg7sinFCT7t4JmjejAyN8QLQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEho_E9DQ810S5KWIEmV5ljJ7IKpo4a-aunjTbyW1xWZXPJTxtEhA6fu1Kt0e18glLR6ipvzQ3JAt7f6QLKLpcSr7EK8znPA9aPTdIxfbItDYFqBzMVAm6HUYa1usy44SIqHv6JFtn2oeJXQSgmZHAFNZxq2jbTevOsPvcEg7sinFCT7t4JmjejAyN8QLQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the pikes<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheT-7-FMmfNEpLB1jiFzKFbV2nbj-FCw-o1wk75qe_VcHW44B41ndxTnSF9QNLY8W7mLkRt5wziCO45EKDsjhpzs5gIt0JHdegmalfuEQBV2njdGiRkPoFzldJShZ5NhrW_zCcGLD2f3htJ7cJOi55gpFMp_8tAOhpkZW8HisKfrjZqzI4-eyGsimUWA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheT-7-FMmfNEpLB1jiFzKFbV2nbj-FCw-o1wk75qe_VcHW44B41ndxTnSF9QNLY8W7mLkRt5wziCO45EKDsjhpzs5gIt0JHdegmalfuEQBV2njdGiRkPoFzldJShZ5NhrW_zCcGLD2f3htJ7cJOi55gpFMp_8tAOhpkZW8HisKfrjZqzI4-eyGsimUWA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slowly gathering in strength<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiieB-wDXP7MkSjT-cOfLWcmLRgO74q61CgnX891J6gACzlYiTZQB84nvMZgKZkwnlsK8s5S-x3roiUKhRVOiriZLDPUtY3Qq2tNiS3JTtW_syFuVHCui7UXxPz_YMM8YPsxsn4Al6VBnth_Y8MkU0O6ZxflYb2e1opzh34PwSp5rQEoB8-T8Z4n7HkPw=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiieB-wDXP7MkSjT-cOfLWcmLRgO74q61CgnX891J6gACzlYiTZQB84nvMZgKZkwnlsK8s5S-x3roiUKhRVOiriZLDPUtY3Qq2tNiS3JTtW_syFuVHCui7UXxPz_YMM8YPsxsn4Al6VBnth_Y8MkU0O6ZxflYb2e1opzh34PwSp5rQEoB8-T8Z4n7HkPw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First pike block completed apart from the basing. Lovely flags found on eBay from Pete's Flags<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLM_888j9uFjc7NMq6Wxv9HG5V134ZnNhE09SQajCv0ujfNWZFaG3DNfNJy0PWn8yPze-V-894yjss4fmB8706FPZfZ7K5M9-eGkjTwig9v6M9oKTtdlhXfIMqV15ADatRX4VrCj0qu_0_PaR8t2yGghtrdFHnMVBFPMBrSev0faV5XaXjBPfex6bgEA=s1921" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1921" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLM_888j9uFjc7NMq6Wxv9HG5V134ZnNhE09SQajCv0ujfNWZFaG3DNfNJy0PWn8yPze-V-894yjss4fmB8706FPZfZ7K5M9-eGkjTwig9v6M9oKTtdlhXfIMqV15ADatRX4VrCj0qu_0_PaR8t2yGghtrdFHnMVBFPMBrSev0faV5XaXjBPfex6bgEA=s320" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a 1stCorps Italian Wars Command group - well the standard bearer. I used another of Pete's Flags rather than the one supplied. The barding is a transfer - I was almost successful with this but the 6th and last section split.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrEhhRiQne_BFjx0haDNR0yi15Cd1XYYuWTIUjR3Oe2b02Qk9rH1f6ile6Y7hh3vi4vyXMBNfz5e53HaKGEUtIRFdDZQO6t0-3CH089ySYlVQ_8FXNuFQ-dBnnO0iKIC6t80St2wmJsg2rZnGS3N_ycBdE1uYP56wppHhA2nh6un734S7LwitjwViMzA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrEhhRiQne_BFjx0haDNR0yi15Cd1XYYuWTIUjR3Oe2b02Qk9rH1f6ile6Y7hh3vi4vyXMBNfz5e53HaKGEUtIRFdDZQO6t0-3CH089ySYlVQ_8FXNuFQ-dBnnO0iKIC6t80St2wmJsg2rZnGS3N_ycBdE1uYP56wppHhA2nh6un734S7LwitjwViMzA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My three command bases. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVjamsIgGsYgG9vFVJcUWbrzVOsQgeyNitxcHxZu1GS2Vejp3zPc3dyjBc_nnEkMFcHQNLjKYMmXxHkM9MprmQEAjb5MnTH2EkQVTwaUtVdMhpvrGAMhci3SMnoLsXxM__NlS40BdHUWuAsgTdht56XDNOoDAf1DRkqOQDKw_q2uhEXqv4kOW738-8vg=s4030" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1796" data-original-width="4030" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVjamsIgGsYgG9vFVJcUWbrzVOsQgeyNitxcHxZu1GS2Vejp3zPc3dyjBc_nnEkMFcHQNLjKYMmXxHkM9MprmQEAjb5MnTH2EkQVTwaUtVdMhpvrGAMhci3SMnoLsXxM__NlS40BdHUWuAsgTdht56XDNOoDAf1DRkqOQDKw_q2uhEXqv4kOW738-8vg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And that is it ready for the Beachhead Competition in Bournemouth.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-45365197614164053582022-01-03T05:59:00.006-08:002022-01-03T05:59:42.629-08:00<p> Happy New Year</p><p>I'm not doing very well at this blogging lark. It seems my last post was in 2019. A lot has happened since then but it really is no excuse for somebody who spends much of his time writing for a living; or maybe that is the problem. Too much writing and too little painting and gaming.</p><p>In summary, 2019 saw the continued growth of my 6mm Vietnam project and also in 20mm with the inspired idea on the run up to my birthday (a bit before Christmas) in that if I asked everybody who is usually kind enough to buy me a present to consult a list of desired items it would stop the usual donation of something that I'd never use and be destined for the charity shop some months or years later. So my decision was for a 20mm US <a href="https://www.grubbytanks.com/product-category/britannia-miniatures/20mm-vietnam-conflict/us-fire-support-base/" target="_blank">Vietnam Fire Support base</a> from Grubby Tanks.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCWlMlcnG2qFzo6lwxMJUAgWsiM8kq9RkLXIYlIN5Y_q3M4lSJINF6IaLBWBM4SdumcEM0JfNH9I8YrebllMdctlD4YlXnNQbz1S-gVcsn9D_m5ASvPXRzWLuh53T85sQ4c4wieJgdiHK99vLltO-Wiv9ml2GHqfP5e2LiOoA3xbaTBjuer8rGS5yPGQ=s5184" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCWlMlcnG2qFzo6lwxMJUAgWsiM8kq9RkLXIYlIN5Y_q3M4lSJINF6IaLBWBM4SdumcEM0JfNH9I8YrebllMdctlD4YlXnNQbz1S-gVcsn9D_m5ASvPXRzWLuh53T85sQ4c4wieJgdiHK99vLltO-Wiv9ml2GHqfP5e2LiOoA3xbaTBjuer8rGS5yPGQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gate defences of Fire Support Base <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNaX0VQzypQmsKxKiYi0sislBelixaURjghtfMyDI--tcAlrzotoWJuDQgt0kGdDPV3i0susc63YEv1vp2giPiDh-kwhnjJX8JBvA5R3-30sinj-C63uSM_s-Q215e6uQYeAadV54yUuH4rnzrhwC6b7qa_FjXlHOMjlR08MSvtHCjGtARivlOP0OkdQ=s4409" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4409" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNaX0VQzypQmsKxKiYi0sislBelixaURjghtfMyDI--tcAlrzotoWJuDQgt0kGdDPV3i0susc63YEv1vp2giPiDh-kwhnjJX8JBvA5R3-30sinj-C63uSM_s-Q215e6uQYeAadV54yUuH4rnzrhwC6b7qa_FjXlHOMjlR08MSvtHCjGtARivlOP0OkdQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VC Sappers approach the wire - you'll just have to imagine it is after dark!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqcREc6GzqkgcsIG41-h44TpKKGGF2z_ZIpcCp-ZV7Qxh-fgoLd9F9PDon1y3EkVbCqZRCTXgSR5DjRjrDSdYPZ_ANrEdohhmc1OlRLIRMNKuSe9obszutgeEjL5LWdFnz4Cv0aV_dDYx5hJk_5aadqI76h9JNs2IesQAbX2QgKb_hoUzH5egaqM-PrA=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqcREc6GzqkgcsIG41-h44TpKKGGF2z_ZIpcCp-ZV7Qxh-fgoLd9F9PDon1y3EkVbCqZRCTXgSR5DjRjrDSdYPZ_ANrEdohhmc1OlRLIRMNKuSe9obszutgeEjL5LWdFnz4Cv0aV_dDYx5hJk_5aadqI76h9JNs2IesQAbX2QgKb_hoUzH5egaqM-PrA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VC Advance<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I have enough base defences to make a FSB about 3'x3' and quite a lot of buildings for inside the base and villages outside. Razor wire is another matter, however. </p><p>I did run a weekend game using an unofficial varient of Chain of Command rules: <a href="https://carportgaming.blogspot.com/2019/09/on-road-again.html" target="_blank">Chain of Command DMZ</a><br /></p><p> We ran two games over the weekend - one was the standard 'downed helicopter' and rescue the aircrew before the VC/NVA could get to them and the second was an infiltration to an unfriendly district in search for a senior NVA officer who was rumoured to be in the area. This has a sub-plot of the officer having been cut off during a US air attack on a village and the officer having to make it across the table without being seen and killed. This was done by hidden movement and me acting as an umpire for both games.<br /></p><p>My 6mm output continued and we even had a US company level game at the club one Sunday. We used the rule set From the Delta to the DMZ with great results. We knew we got some things wrong and will rectify that at some future point.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia3JTfO4B01Ed9OWmpf7-IXyWB3jLh9Gdlv5slaXewHIVucz3LhpAblH1C9RiA9wlU24_YiyveHdbRF7_BI8542W1Sa8MYqCXTnoFyaIIYaVJp_hFT5imdWCU5JdnM8NvT19c-zKC3jx07OGXBkQCkYsr7CJmExBt4nylEhvns-JVvuWe9T7wjV-KnBA=s4455" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2521" data-original-width="4455" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEia3JTfO4B01Ed9OWmpf7-IXyWB3jLh9Gdlv5slaXewHIVucz3LhpAblH1C9RiA9wlU24_YiyveHdbRF7_BI8542W1Sa8MYqCXTnoFyaIIYaVJp_hFT5imdWCU5JdnM8NvT19c-zKC3jx07OGXBkQCkYsr7CJmExBt4nylEhvns-JVvuWe9T7wjV-KnBA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not part of the company level game but a small skirmish I set up on another occasion. All 6mm from Irregular Miniatures or Ros Heroics <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>February 2020 saw my last l'Arte de la Guerre competition game until Novemner 2021 due the Covid pandemic. I had quickly cobbled together a Sicilian Norman army and got stopped on each game as my medium elite knoghts were just no match for the heavier metal being fielded. It was a good fun weekend in Plymouth enhanced by a friend of mine from Chicago was able to meet me down there. Beer, rugby, curry and gaming made for a memorable weekend.</p><p>l'Arte de la Guerre v4 was released in 2021 and my armies keep expanding in size as well as nations. The lockdowns meant I had more time to paint as I was not leaving the house for work. I have been fortunate to work right through the various lockdowns and the extra time saved travelling meant I could paint up extra units and finish some armies off so I had more choice and start on some new ones.</p><p>Palmyrans have been expanded, Ghaznavids have appreared in 15mm form and 28mm Classical Indians have doubled in size so I really do have choices and not just the army I took to Warfare in 2018. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUjiRYLhZY2QFZB7UxxZ64shO18W0N7X0V7fl9oKvEREqKfoP-Qv8LVyDovqI-Go9m_DOtjshmZI8kcrgtqwMJoyAD47lpsiHD2PrwK-gSJKYf8Yluu2mNF6K2TFHE_OGy0x1W2q7biiPzMxVNRc-c3Uznk5btOaPuwpzucqyLVZQx0186Ma2qfhrLuA=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUjiRYLhZY2QFZB7UxxZ64shO18W0N7X0V7fl9oKvEREqKfoP-Qv8LVyDovqI-Go9m_DOtjshmZI8kcrgtqwMJoyAD47lpsiHD2PrwK-gSJKYf8Yluu2mNF6K2TFHE_OGy0x1W2q7biiPzMxVNRc-c3Uznk5btOaPuwpzucqyLVZQx0186Ma2qfhrLuA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irregular Miniatures 28mm 4 horse heavy chariot. There was no proto on the website which is a shame as this is a really nice model.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMOyK_LGs8__LCCEg2HK9d9xuVo0UJwvD_Ib22Elo13WqHxQ5Q2Y0WceUDewaKE6TbswuTh57iXJAoRzFXtczgWZ03tgriEMDRsCnx-r0-fCRWGscr_YUgE8tIs6Is_TQSQ4Lq-MlAWs5VvAfoaHeIywfNMU8BNWJGodsD3jB9mjpsa85770rvCYJcZg=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMOyK_LGs8__LCCEg2HK9d9xuVo0UJwvD_Ib22Elo13WqHxQ5Q2Y0WceUDewaKE6TbswuTh57iXJAoRzFXtczgWZ03tgriEMDRsCnx-r0-fCRWGscr_YUgE8tIs6Is_TQSQ4Lq-MlAWs5VvAfoaHeIywfNMU8BNWJGodsD3jB9mjpsa85770rvCYJcZg=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy Chariots and more bowmen and swordsmen added to the Classical Indians. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The expansion of the Indians was to compete at a small competition in the Devon seaside town of Brixham. Not somewhere I had been in about 50 years but I won't be leaving it that long again - not that I have 50 years left of life anyway! The Devonian Seaside Classic was organised by Tim Porter aka the <a href="https://www.madaxeman.com/" target="_blank">Mad Axeman</a>. It was a great weekend away and not a complete disaster for my Indians and a surprising 36 competitors who came from London, the Midlands, across the SW and one player from Finland!<br /></p><p>In preparation for the weekend a fellow club member had asked for a practice game (a form of cheating in my opinion) but I obliged on the understanding that I would have to subsitute figures as he only plays in 15mm and my Indians are all 25/28mm. Hittite chariots, Ghaznavid cavalry, Sumerians and a few actual Indians came together to provide an opposition to Hannibal's Carthaginians. </p><p>I won't bore you with the game details but my Indians had an incredible run of luck at jus the right moment and won the day. 2 weeks later another friend wished to practice with his Late Romans so he came to the club and faced off the Carthaginians - but not for long and his army was broken in enough time for him to have a second game against my Indians. Another wind for the Indians, so guess who has been building another Classical Indian Army? The first competitive outing will be in Oxford on 15 Jan 2022.</p><p>My next painting adventure is for a l'Arte de la Guerre competition in Bournemouth over the weekend of 12/13 February 2022. It allows for any army post 1071 AD until the end of the rules period. Having learned my lesson in Plymouth about Heavy Knights I have just started prepping an Italian Condottieri Ventian army. All I need to do is paint 2 figures a day - it's 3 January and I am already 3 days behind on the painting schedule. However, I have managed to assemble the Perry's plastics I will use for most of the army. Fortunately I have box loads of them for an abandoned Wars of the Roses project.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5cEu6Zzv5nUErq3DFpX2Gccntz2LtoYgYmhKd3HZogUXMrqm-1fL-Lnk6LAiukZdTXM8s8VFO2IBhRwhmZcGM0deBHrBmQFGgiLgEp_FG1NIAtpFrj_bO0NgNoNztSNNeIWLQHFMBTy96ppHIyePxUilbNN3S60kbOUC81vYAtKOoDm98Iji4DoVnQQ=s3024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5cEu6Zzv5nUErq3DFpX2Gccntz2LtoYgYmhKd3HZogUXMrqm-1fL-Lnk6LAiukZdTXM8s8VFO2IBhRwhmZcGM0deBHrBmQFGgiLgEp_FG1NIAtpFrj_bO0NgNoNztSNNeIWLQHFMBTy96ppHIyePxUilbNN3S60kbOUC81vYAtKOoDm98Iji4DoVnQQ=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hate sticking these togther! More metal to come in the post to complete the list.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I may be 3 days behind on the painting but all these are now undercoated and ready to go and I even found some painted bowman that I can use so maybe I have caught up with the painting with that find?</p><p>More soon...<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-47682438782179496242019-04-14T12:17:00.000-07:002019-04-14T12:17:26.468-07:00Companies basedToday I had a catch-up morning to flock and base a number of figures that have been finished for some time; 28mm ancient Indians, 15mm Middle Imperial Romans, 28mm Normans and the first two companies of 6mm Americans for my Vietnam project.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two companies of US infantry for Vietnam</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />The next company is nearly finished and will be ready for basing soon. I have also completed some civilians and made a start on some M113s and mortar teams. The PBRs in the background are almost finished too. All figures are from <a href="http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Irregular Miniatures</a>.<br />
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-31989260482826356152019-03-31T11:23:00.000-07:002019-03-31T11:23:07.465-07:00I love the smell of Bostick in the eveningAfter another day caring for my 90 year old dad, I am having an hour to myself to get a stalled project back on line.<br />
If all the stalled projects were put in line I dare say I would have had enough money to buy a week's holiday in the sun; not that I have had the time or opportunity for a holiday in the sun for ages.<br />
The project that I wish to get moving on is for the Vietnam War.<br />
Being a wargames butterfly - no that is the wrong image completely - more of a Death Head Month being drawn to the light, I have had an idea at the back of my mind for a long time. It has involved painting Vietnam figures in three different scales - 6mm, 10mm and 20mm. And of course no army is yet finished.<br />
So today, the Bostick, magnetic sheets and mdf bases have come out and progress is being made.<br />
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All figures have come from <a href="http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Irregular Miniatures</a> 6mm Vietnam range. They are robust figures cast onto a base that is of an irregular shape. They don't have the detail of some makes but at 36" away it makes little or no difference.<br />
After some consideration I have decided to use half size Flames of War bases, mostly as it makes storage so much easier. It has meant a fair bit of trimming of the metal bases.<br />
Despite the decision to use the FoW type bases it is not my intention to play the Battlefront 'Nam rules. In fact I have been collecting Vietnam rules for decades and each has its own merits. However I have certainly not found anything that is a one size fits all - or more to the point three sizes fits none that can be used for them all.<br />
I have more in mind a series of campaign style games where different activities or types of action may be played in any of the three scales I have. 20mm for small scale skirmishes, 10mm for company actions and 6mm for much larger games.<br />
Recently I discovered <a href="http://www.wargaming.co/professional/details/tacspiel.htm" target="_blank">Tacspeil</a> - The American Army's wargaming rules for the Vietnam War 1966. This book is published by John Curry and the History of Wargaming Project.<br />
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The rules themselves are complex and not ideal for my purposes but they are rich in information that can be adopted for a simpler campaign system.<br />
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One of the joys of rummaging around the Irregular website was the discovery of PBRs in 6mm. I have bought several to go with my <a href="http://www.amphibmods.com/?product_cat=vietnam-riverine" target="_blank">Amphimods</a> brown water navy vessels. This gives me the chance for a true tri-service campaign that I can put on the tabletop. <br />
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I am making steady progress and will provide updates soon.Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-21440875875957796072018-07-12T14:47:00.000-07:002018-07-12T14:47:18.368-07:00Attack! 2018 is coming soon - 21/22 July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-63800092821716337782018-05-17T02:39:00.000-07:002018-05-17T02:42:16.725-07:00Napoleonic weekend in Devizes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0Devizes SN10, UK51.3489069 -1.994827999999984151.269584900000005 -2.156189499999984 51.4282289 -1.8334664999999841tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-20381066916823232822018-04-26T09:45:00.001-07:002018-04-26T09:45:48.420-07:00Making woods for wargamesI recently decided to spend a bit of time making woods for my 15mm l'Arte de la Guerre games in a new way. I have seen many variations on the theme and decided to have a go myself.<br />
I set the following up as a pdf but cannot find a way of including that on here so have converted the three pages to hires png files.<br />
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-52922826733868573142018-04-26T09:21:00.000-07:002018-04-26T09:22:25.113-07:00Godendag the returnI was looking to test some new video software and decided to use some of the photos I took at Godendag. <br />
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-36970403568527608972018-02-05T04:07:00.004-08:002018-02-05T04:07:37.363-08:00Godendag 2018 - Veni, Vedi...er, um...Godendag 2018 was another exceptional weekend at Firestorm Games. There were several competitions running - l'Arte de la Guerre, DBM, Mortum et Glorium and FoG Renaissance.<br />
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My partner in crime for l'Arte de la Guerre doubles competitions is Ralph Ashdown and once again we (OK mostly me) decided that a new army to be finished the day before the competition was just what was needed.<br />
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Palmyrans, as mentioned in an earlier post, would be the army of choice for the weekend. Not having anything to fit in with the designated competition period a new army would be required. After all, why use Ralph's Macedonians that are already painted and ready to go when you can buy a paint a completely new army in under a month? Practice games - that's almost cheating!<br />
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So I turned up (complete with a speeding fine on the six lane wide Newport Road into Cardiff - that is allegedly 30mph limit - I must have missed that change due to the high degree of concentration needed to navigate due to most of the road signs not having many vowels in them), and proceeded to put the troops on the table and play.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palmyran cataphracts and light cavalry advance on the enemy</td></tr>
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The first game was against Warring States Chinese. We came second but did a reasonable amount of damage to our opponents before they broke our army. Unfortunately I neglected to take many photos.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palmyrans against Warring States Chinese - the eventual winners of the competition.</td></tr>
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Our second game was against a Late Imperial Roman - we knew something strange was happening when we actually won. Huzzah our first win in our second year of the competition. Next year we are going for two wins.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVlWgwTZc8iQ9iokn5lepilosf_fsfZv9-am2oOloG2GvuxAdtwgAhxXiqSjfwvANghMobiwox7zbY-b1EKM-tGaCbDQgpdHAdCefvTNZp1fT5ICH96zVAkgrNnZDYjVV_AAdM86lQ7oH/s1600/IMG_1798.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVlWgwTZc8iQ9iokn5lepilosf_fsfZv9-am2oOloG2GvuxAdtwgAhxXiqSjfwvANghMobiwox7zbY-b1EKM-tGaCbDQgpdHAdCefvTNZp1fT5ICH96zVAkgrNnZDYjVV_AAdM86lQ7oH/s320/IMG_1798.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cataphracts face off the Late Roman Cavalry</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My Saturday evening was spent in the company of the Midlands contingent celebrating Mark Clarke's half century that was looming on the next day. The l'AdlG umpire had arranged a surprise presentation of gifts and cake and a less than tuneful rendition of 'Happy Birthday' by the competitors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90KvGR92vx4cY3fUnsy5-pgtQFSKuLjtwB_g64qvISgLiV54OPuO1GojRvblBl7d8o9IYA6WDiskZukuPpEJ9aCSB1Ak11hUYIFnoIkaAWVSkphczRD0Hwcmznt-R5oariTPDANH_NRgA/s1600/IMG_6269.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1199" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90KvGR92vx4cY3fUnsy5-pgtQFSKuLjtwB_g64qvISgLiV54OPuO1GojRvblBl7d8o9IYA6WDiskZukuPpEJ9aCSB1Ak11hUYIFnoIkaAWVSkphczRD0Hwcmznt-R5oariTPDANH_NRgA/s320/IMG_6269.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even a cake was provided on Sunday after the first game with gifts and a song</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c5Ffg0hT6zx8D4cqX8dXPvwE_XVBfejRum_ayxGRpnlDgrO1VaxjH9BXDy_0ZfceCQX-d4aZY8P91B7mCrs1H-hKA-01QHXElVGzWNmE922vBjlNXYKV9IrpxG6wok8ZxDA0hz6Gu1RE/s1600/IMG_6282.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1199" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c5Ffg0hT6zx8D4cqX8dXPvwE_XVBfejRum_ayxGRpnlDgrO1VaxjH9BXDy_0ZfceCQX-d4aZY8P91B7mCrs1H-hKA-01QHXElVGzWNmE922vBjlNXYKV9IrpxG6wok8ZxDA0hz6Gu1RE/s320/IMG_6282.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>A birthday gift from Tercio Desperrates</u></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></td></tr>
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Game 3 on Sunday morning found us facing Southern States Chinese. Heavy chariots and lots of infantry with 2HCW. The whole game hinged around the field in the centre of the table neatly positioned by our opponent. We diced to move/remove it got a 5 so moved it into our deployment area. Just right. They then diced also got a 5 and put it back where they originally had it - right in our way. Even our attempt to narrow the table with a waterway didn't help as the Chinese were boxed up tight on their left flank.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlgl3xbD9jxVGLqraX0Yh9VEcYSOENwYPWjjtsN8OHpPA02t60W7gRWVSjnhOUbII4RGxer0xwsgNEhhY7GSaB5U9KajMlzoeEyrG5nUnt-JSwdhQyZnHhG0dcDFpWa_E_dy2Felj_A5d/s1600/IMG_1805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlgl3xbD9jxVGLqraX0Yh9VEcYSOENwYPWjjtsN8OHpPA02t60W7gRWVSjnhOUbII4RGxer0xwsgNEhhY7GSaB5U9KajMlzoeEyrG5nUnt-JSwdhQyZnHhG0dcDFpWa_E_dy2Felj_A5d/s320/IMG_1805.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That wretched field</td></tr>
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Game 4 saw us facing a Patrician Roman (the army of choice for a lots of players over the weekend) and the inimitable Tim Porter. Tim and his partner had not been having a good weekend with three losses and all to play for in the last game. Lack of terrain and poor positioning of our troops led to our rapid downfall. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsWKdYDKt8bunMUhHcOFWLrFeAaB2AgigHE1pOewTxiEkLUFAtJfoDaIkAAJ9DomJwzXdPDa-5M88r7sT2pv3cxIe0MDmo4SdhZObsvkef05MvIYe4g6tGssa1FBIMZs4syPGHKMqSJSb/s1600/IMG_6259.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=" Just let me roll higher than a 3." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1199" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsWKdYDKt8bunMUhHcOFWLrFeAaB2AgigHE1pOewTxiEkLUFAtJfoDaIkAAJ9DomJwzXdPDa-5M88r7sT2pv3cxIe0MDmo4SdhZObsvkef05MvIYe4g6tGssa1FBIMZs4syPGHKMqSJSb/s320/IMG_6259.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim Porter prays to the dice gods for anything but a one</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.madaxeman.com/reports/Godendag_2018_4.php" target="_blank">Tim Porter's detailed account of our last game. </a>Opinions are his own!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggyfVkxL6xfnPTD7_Z4iVbxiRn3GKqquPl_rqAKHl8zrbixYZ7VQfl5mNSG9jsBoxvdIfLOAD-URiZdZLHCMh8XevThxLjZN2m8R82VJS-lv-0Qics9Kr2ub4-2gx6yLgYxkqN3NYz4lz/s1600/IMG_1811.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggyfVkxL6xfnPTD7_Z4iVbxiRn3GKqquPl_rqAKHl8zrbixYZ7VQfl5mNSG9jsBoxvdIfLOAD-URiZdZLHCMh8XevThxLjZN2m8R82VJS-lv-0Qics9Kr2ub4-2gx6yLgYxkqN3NYz4lz/s320/IMG_1811.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had some outstanding die rolls on our right flank and were wearing the Romans down but they outnumbered us and the rest of the battle was already lost.</td></tr>
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Overall it was a really good weekend with four interesting games and friendly opponents. We are already planning for next year.<br />
<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-66107054499394396542018-01-01T12:04:00.000-08:002018-01-01T12:04:57.982-08:00Another New Year and painting resolutionsThere is nothing quite like a deadline to focus the mind when it comes to painting a new army. The trouble is I seem to have four on the go at once. Nevertheless, <a href="http://www.bhgs.org.uk/godendag.html" target="_blank">Godendag</a> is looming at the end of January so a new 300 point 15mm army for l'Arte de la Guerre in needed at the double.<br />
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Over the Christmas break I have managed to paint six stands of cataphracts and two of light cavalry towards a new Palmyran army. All figures are from <a href="http://www.irregularminiatures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Irregular Miniatures</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCrKEmwnDEwpQ5CQONW_tamjsrVr8xu0bpZ4D2oaX8WcISFOFJO_nQzgaRlD__xvs3y4JAxwTC7D-NnMNV88dDacxe3P5gJSqZJ2WYWsHSWe6cptHWvVl44LrR0EMm7d2kcPxI6Pl3vEh/s1600/IMG_1760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1600" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCrKEmwnDEwpQ5CQONW_tamjsrVr8xu0bpZ4D2oaX8WcISFOFJO_nQzgaRlD__xvs3y4JAxwTC7D-NnMNV88dDacxe3P5gJSqZJ2WYWsHSWe6cptHWvVl44LrR0EMm7d2kcPxI6Pl3vEh/s320/IMG_1760.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hopefully the rest of the army will arrive in the post this week, leaving me around three weeks to paint the other 24 stands plus generals needed.<br />
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One interesting thing I uncovered at my parent's home today was an old press cutting from the Evening Echo (Bournemouth) dated 29 June 1974. Hard to believe that after 44+ years I'm still painting figures.<br />
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I hope I am still painting figures for another 44!<br />Happy New Year<br /><br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-35940972854985391592017-11-07T23:43:00.002-08:002017-11-07T23:46:50.871-08:00Six months is nothing...Ok, so I must try harder at this. It seems to have been 17 months this time and so much has been going on. New armies, new rules and some painting - but not as much as I would like,<br />
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In terms of new rules i have started playing l'Arte de la Guerre ancients/medieval rules. Armies have been re-based, new armies built and competitions entered and mostly lost. I am enjoying the rules though and find I now have armies in both 15mm and 25/28mm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAQXJKwUXihW6ePu6FX5UDw9hwiN3HC6bpdAW7zgNM1j_AVA398vz0pMau3_ayUBFxjOKOwD1bDnbvZobpvk-eN2p6cSzCleUIjHYdU04z-y1maSWncWztQPgg8sRQGOiQakxdhwmyIxd/s1600/IMG_0855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAQXJKwUXihW6ePu6FX5UDw9hwiN3HC6bpdAW7zgNM1j_AVA398vz0pMau3_ayUBFxjOKOwD1bDnbvZobpvk-eN2p6cSzCleUIjHYdU04z-y1maSWncWztQPgg8sRQGOiQakxdhwmyIxd/s320/IMG_0855.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Imperial Roman commanders to lead my first ADLG army</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsWsnYOwiZv9YaOHgJy3a7e-GrBTsFPZCl1cRODWxXmlInjQC-i51HsD6GkxHW9Zm1TNuI3PmiXc5k-DYFJQwgaU9H5FQAERN8X9iBQ3b5mMp54iYVcGj0HJIwhNDCohW7plMgrwgI3s_/s1600/IMG_0858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsWsnYOwiZv9YaOHgJy3a7e-GrBTsFPZCl1cRODWxXmlInjQC-i51HsD6GkxHW9Zm1TNuI3PmiXc5k-DYFJQwgaU9H5FQAERN8X9iBQ3b5mMp54iYVcGj0HJIwhNDCohW7plMgrwgI3s_/s320/IMG_0858.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Early Imperial Romans didn't do too well in their first outing at Thormbury in Bristol during August 2016.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6F6SjTWVNBad5neLUZoco3sHuJG0dRhyhpARbt2JrC-OymNsGOrqqknaNKCYY2mW-Fo5iVa_QF78s8jGeWGf9ZYeFE_kkI6J4JPzz_dPKFzCE8YnVHMKDULPJdb-0fEjMmyC5FG3mP4hf/s1600/IMG_1502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6F6SjTWVNBad5neLUZoco3sHuJG0dRhyhpARbt2JrC-OymNsGOrqqknaNKCYY2mW-Fo5iVa_QF78s8jGeWGf9ZYeFE_kkI6J4JPzz_dPKFzCE8YnVHMKDULPJdb-0fEjMmyC5FG3mP4hf/s320/IMG_1502.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I will never play War & Conquest nor WAB the long term Republican Roman Army project is being turned into a new ADLG army. First outing was at a 100 point competition back in Thornbury in August 2017.</td></tr>
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-73307808487030074322016-04-22T13:44:00.002-07:002016-04-22T13:44:46.665-07:00Oh dear! Is it really six months?As someone who mostly writes for a living I am not doing too well at writing my own blog.<br />
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I suppose it is a case of so much to do and so little time. Since my last post things have gone fairly slowly on the painting front but buying models and terrain pieces has progressed steadily and thus increasing my personal lead mountain.<br />
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I have however gone small - 6mm is making inroads into The Bunker. There has always been 6mm or 1/300 lurking in quiet corners. Last year I 'finished' - yes finished my 6mm Prussian Napoleonic army for Polemos rules. I say 'finished' as I took one look at all I had painted and decided that more cavalry was needed..maybe some more Landwehr? Definitely more officers and artillery and that box of Austrians could do with some attention too. I bought more Prussians and made good progress with the Austrians and then came to a halt about November time.<br />
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20mm Valiant WWII had become a priority for some Chain of Command games and a box of 60+ Germans took the field with British infantry close on their jackbooted heels. Americans next.<br />
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For Christmas I left subtle hints by making shopping lists of wargames items and leaving them around. It was an unnerving time on Christmas day as presents were revealed and nothing on my lists had appeared - note to self more lists and weblinks next year. However, the last present was on my list a copy of the Team Yankee rules. I was particularly keen to look at these.<br />
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Team Yankee was a book about a WWIII scenario set in the early 1980s, written by Harold Coyle. I was lucky to meet Harold Coyle (or HW as a prefence) in 2004 when I went to the Seven Year's War convention in South Bend Indiana and played in his game. I subsequently bought and read the novel Team Yankee.<br />
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Reading the rules over the Christmas break made me realise that Battlefront had made some smashing figures and models but in the wrong scale to my way of thinking. I've never liked the close packed tank formations of Flames of War and although Team Yankee is based on FOW but some different mechanisms the look and feel of the games are similar.<br />
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So last weekend I went to Salute and played a game of 15mm Team Yankee - it was quick and fun - but I also picked up the Sabre Squadron rules for modern warfare. I have yet to play these but they have come highly recommended. I already have Cold War Commander and others have mentioned Fistful of Tows as a good modern set of rules.<br />
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So whilst considering which direction I will go in with rules I have been building up 6mm Russian, US and Chinese forces for the 1980s using models from Heroics & Ros and Scotia.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNoFqEnmqHuBRdavhSO3jSns6oQIGMLs6M1S0xifbdnlCFldWwkFsAHsTsSbRZ7q0a7FZXU3keyyoYA73HjhVeAtcpnWkY6HfOQwehx18EfpdmOtbW3XEyxRkqf_UhUaZH48Pf09VpOnr/s1600/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNoFqEnmqHuBRdavhSO3jSns6oQIGMLs6M1S0xifbdnlCFldWwkFsAHsTsSbRZ7q0a7FZXU3keyyoYA73HjhVeAtcpnWkY6HfOQwehx18EfpdmOtbW3XEyxRkqf_UhUaZH48Pf09VpOnr/s320/IMG_0724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today I printed out the Sabre Squadron supplement 'Seven Days to the Rhine' that I bought as a pdf. There are 138 pages of company level organisation for the Warsaw Pact in the 1980s. Yet more reading and more to write about soon...<br />
<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-17839240058602009512015-10-05T03:27:00.000-07:002015-10-06T05:08:22.165-07:00A SAGA of beginners luck!It has come to that time of year when the <a href="http://www.ddwg.org.uk/" target="_blank">DDWG</a> is once more scheduled to elect or re-elect the committee for the 2015/16 year. The AGM is rarely more than 45 minutes but it means that gaming time will be short; on the plus side my good friend for over 40 years, Paul Martin, will be there for the meeting. <br />
Paul lives in North Dorset and is one of DDWG's affiliate members (a discounted rate for living over 20 mile from Devizes) and only come to the club on the occasional Sunday. The gaming is usually preceded by a curry and it makes a great opportunity to catch up. Yesterday was no different; curry and gaming but what to play?<br />
Not having played <a href="http://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Saga.html" target="_blank">SAGA</a> for some time I decided to dust off my Vikings and Normans for a couple of hours of fun. I have almost finished the new huts and fences for my Dark Age village so they made a first outing to the table top.<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1126749003"></span><span id="goog_1126749004"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGptC6PvDWqUiPKuMZNp1FwQupF8oT1KJVFMZm9RUVbqgYdfDPvutc9zxM3MWT21FcHc8SZZqhH9KwW9uYSvCd1F14MfPz3bpt3ktQizOts3Ug7-X9W44nefcgP9VIZtfL3cpiA8F9ZOC/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGptC6PvDWqUiPKuMZNp1FwQupF8oT1KJVFMZm9RUVbqgYdfDPvutc9zxM3MWT21FcHc8SZZqhH9KwW9uYSvCd1F14MfPz3bpt3ktQizOts3Ug7-X9W44nefcgP9VIZtfL3cpiA8F9ZOC/s320/IMG_0525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My Dark Age village is a mix of mdf buildings from a number of manufacturers and scratch built buildings. Wattle fences are from <a href="http://www.renedra.co.uk/product.php?product=163" target="_blank">Renadra</a></i></td></tr>
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Paul opted to use Vikings so I had the Normans and had worked out two matching forces of 6 pts each: 1 general, 1 unit of 4 Hearthguard, 3 units of 8 warriors and one unit of 12 strong Levy bow each.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4Lc3IQQGOctLRIZQ7P8Ym4qOj2l2vBmlvaOtkdXMWdlgELPLvZ9CP6UzvuVix8Vze_HvHSEy97FcPChbJd6ZFyplSixueY7q55JUCnmmT_jWMiO6twqEkr5woWf3_ZjS1ipvtFyJ3UpR/s1600/IMG_0522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4Lc3IQQGOctLRIZQ7P8Ym4qOj2l2vBmlvaOtkdXMWdlgELPLvZ9CP6UzvuVix8Vze_HvHSEy97FcPChbJd6ZFyplSixueY7q55JUCnmmT_jWMiO6twqEkr5woWf3_ZjS1ipvtFyJ3UpR/s320/IMG_0522.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The fearless Normans deployed for the Viking onslaught</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0fmK8dSC6U2uuMpH5CfFBppuhnaooQUTRSjINh3MkX_l0miSlJkPwU8Ut2UwHfQomEx8pWcdDF8tAuAIYAG1unUjb-2iYmVr1jN-3Lia6hq-nNAQeiQ69GlMLtA6Z8bXr9tMZwNH2C0f/s1600/IMG_0523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0fmK8dSC6U2uuMpH5CfFBppuhnaooQUTRSjINh3MkX_l0miSlJkPwU8Ut2UwHfQomEx8pWcdDF8tAuAIYAG1unUjb-2iYmVr1jN-3Lia6hq-nNAQeiQ69GlMLtA6Z8bXr9tMZwNH2C0f/s320/IMG_0523.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Viking raiders prepare their advance</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Paul took the initiative and advanced into the village pushing his
Thrall bowmen to the fore. The Normans had a fortunate first roll of
their Saga dice and managed to fire double their normal range with an
ability that killed two of the Thralls facing them. After that it all
went downhill for the Normans! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprBmrynoGk8ZnRKcUIIDVtFRrnIBzp0sAYTSttrVs5AyEcfRFnYjBlURsbMYL6B4rE9Y5qMFYYhNU3Bd9mAA7nLipdsnzPhq4teQGCYGS9llDTGNBI0s75EAB0HAyVMt12c-D11RmpiQc/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprBmrynoGk8ZnRKcUIIDVtFRrnIBzp0sAYTSttrVs5AyEcfRFnYjBlURsbMYL6B4rE9Y5qMFYYhNU3Bd9mAA7nLipdsnzPhq4teQGCYGS9llDTGNBI0s75EAB0HAyVMt12c-D11RmpiQc/s320/IMG_0528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice view of the scratch-built huts - maybe the Normans would have been better off hiding in them?</td></tr>
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It should not be that difficult to roll high numbers on a D6...but it was yesterday. As for Paul who had brought what he laughingly calls his 'lucky dice' as he normally has dreadful die rolls; well he couldn't throw much below a four for the whole game.<br />
Two Norman units melted away in two moves leaving just four Saga Dice for the Normans to use. The Viking luck held and although two units were down to one man they managed to keep out the way and therefore retain the Saga dice needed to keep the Viking steam-roller coming forward.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ7BOS5Bz1yXNIDUZNW1jrFJEOm_fFjUtXTjHISL6Rvb2hCLnlv9YD6h22cmAEGu7EaDtkJgCF6mHYeTvOidABPKrr-EtBKhe2KmkhW8qB0yAV4F7siazxgKxqUQUNRsFqg51dGHBuWRU/s1600/IMG_0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ7BOS5Bz1yXNIDUZNW1jrFJEOm_fFjUtXTjHISL6Rvb2hCLnlv9YD6h22cmAEGu7EaDtkJgCF6mHYeTvOidABPKrr-EtBKhe2KmkhW8qB0yAV4F7siazxgKxqUQUNRsFqg51dGHBuWRU/s320/IMG_0527.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erik the Pink (illegitimate son of Erik the Red and Snow White) leads his unit of Bondi forward to smash the Norman cavalry. The Viking ship grave in the background would not be needed for this game!</td></tr>
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<br />
It was a fun game and even though the Norman general issued a personal challenge to the Viking leader, deployed as many abilities as he could with four Saga dice he died horribly to the Viking axe.<br />
<br />
As it was only Paul's second game of Saga in two years it was a worthy win...or beginners luck? And that is how Sagas are made.Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-71088242677092521092015-09-26T23:54:00.001-07:002015-09-27T00:47:58.856-07:00DDWG Chain of Command weekend<div>
Today is day 2 of the DDWG Chain of Command weekend. At the end of a hard fought Day 1 the British had won a minor victory by achieving their objective. We had to break through the German defences and get at least a section off the German side of the table (at the top of the photo).</div>
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<div>
The White blobs are smoke laid by he British 2" mortars to block the Germans' line of sight. The red round poker chips are the British jump of points and the blue ones are the German jump off points.</div>
<div>
The White poker chips in the centre of the picture covering the woods and fields mark the barrage laid down by German off table heavy mortars. These caused considerable damage to B platoon, pinning them for several phases and killing the Company Commander - lots of bad things happened as a result.</div>
<div>
A Platoon was to the right of the road and came on as a our reserves once the Germans had committed troops to capture the right hand jump off point. They then continued to push troops into that flank whilst our </div>
<div>
C platoon pushed forward on a left flank Attack on the weaker German flank - most of whom couldn't see much due to our accurate deployment of smoke.</div>
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Today the table has moved such that the British advance will start amongst the fields and over the river bridge towards a German held village. </div>
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We have been having a lot of fun with this set of rules.</div>
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God Save the King.</div>
Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-42085269956629764622015-09-22T15:09:00.000-07:002015-09-22T15:15:57.758-07:00Exploring l'Arte de la Guerre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxgTzM7EQfbPA9_T6h2PTtxRyk3lX0C1okT7GoYlko-MwrOspTA1By5ZdlUE704qtGCeEBEWk8DaM2lKNA-D4tl5TpmiZFDXYpesDvPgfjTeHDce28u8gBWNe6h05UuEw__vrM88s99yK/s1600/ADG-A4_SMALL_EN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxgTzM7EQfbPA9_T6h2PTtxRyk3lX0C1okT7GoYlko-MwrOspTA1By5ZdlUE704qtGCeEBEWk8DaM2lKNA-D4tl5TpmiZFDXYpesDvPgfjTeHDce28u8gBWNe6h05UuEw__vrM88s99yK/s320/ADG-A4_SMALL_EN.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
Last Sunday I played a new(ish) set of rules called l'Arte de la Guerre
for ancient and medieval games. Figures are based as per FOG/DBM so I could also use my 10mm Warmaster Armies to play these rules. <a href="http://www.artdelaguerre.fr/en/index.php"></a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZGlPFIv4g8"></a><br />
However, for this first game I
played using my 15mm Khwarizmian (some are over 20 years old!) against Paul's Sassanids.<br />
<br />
The terrain system is quite straightforward and as I was to be the attacker I had the chance of moving some pieces or removing them totally depending on a die roll. We drew deployment maps before setting out our troops. This is done by placing one corps (you split your army between three corps) at a time with the defender placing the first and then the attacker and so on.<br />
<br />
To find out what would happen within this rule set my tactics were basic and
simple: advance, shoot and charge. That was
about it other than the rout after the first three! Well not with all
troops. Charging the Sasssanid elephant is not really the sensible option in most rules but I managed a shot before I closed to attack and I managed to pin it for a second round of melee when I managed to kill it. Fortunately the elephant randomly rampaged through adjacent Sassanids rather than my cavalry. <br />
<br />
It was a bloody and relatively quick game all to be lost or won
hanging on one melee - the victor would win as we were both within two
points of breaking our opponent. I came second! The game was great fun and can be played on a
relatively small table so contact is quick. A second game is planned for a few weeks time but using 28mm figures.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately I did not take any photos but the official web page is here <a href="http://www.artdelaguerre.fr/en/index.php">http://www.artdelaguerre.fr/en/index.php</a> <br />
<br />
There are some video guides on YouTube that give a good insight to the game <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZGlPFIv4g8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZGlPFIv4g8</a>Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-9520783869286549812015-07-15T14:30:00.001-07:002015-07-15T14:30:59.538-07:00It's this weekend - Attack! 2015. 18-19 July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are looking forward to an exciting weekend running our annual club show Attack!<br />
With over 30 traders, 15 participation games and six competitions there is something for everyone.Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-62553758409202564062015-05-27T12:40:00.001-07:002015-05-27T12:42:43.246-07:00Siborne's Waterloo dioramaIf you read the June 2015 issue of <a href="http://miniaturewargames.co.uk/" target="_blank">Miniature Wargames</a> there is an interesting article on the Waterloo diorama created by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Siborne" target="_blank">Captain William Siborne</a> at the Royal Armories in Leeds.<br />
<br />
This article and some of the photos in it took me back over 40 years and reminded me of the generosity of a lady who lived in the same village as I did.<br />
<br />
I lived in a north Dorset village called Pimperne and there was to be a
village event one day called 'Pimperne can do it'. Friends of my mother
convinced me to take part and give a demonstration of making jewellery -
something that had become a lucrative sideline and addition to my
pocket money allowance. I dutifully did as I was told - despite being 16
years old.<br />
<br />
My display showed the various stages of polishing
stones and making mounts and I was quite pleased with how it looked
between the cake-makers, button-makers, wood carvers and any number of
people who were demonstrating their hobbies. I was caught out when a
local man who knew of my military modelling interests asked where my
models were? I ended up running home and bringing some back,<br />
<br />
The
models generated more interest than the jewellery and I ended up on the
front page of the local paper holding a model Polish Lancer in 54mm from
Airfix. However, a lady who had recently retired to the village with
her husband asked me lots of questions about my hobbies and the next day
arrived at my parent's home with a box.<br />
<br />
The box contained her
father's mineral collection - he had been a geologist and worked around
the world. It was a great addition to my own collection as I once had aspirations of being a geologist myself. However there
was a smaller box too.<br />
<br />
The smaller box contained four lovely
looking French Napoleonic figures about 25mm scale - 1" from sole of
foot to top of the head and they are based on thin brass sheet. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgyoQqUR3Ki4SOFXVMZkOfFjvyFznTcywmhAAEhKc_WE2_vgNCcxv0NVtCAYhn9ILaVIWvedDYD0OAy7skgWVWraql0GFucIwE0Bw1dfWpdv9rvCuh9f6QCurMH-IycIc0WuJ67NZsZbg/s1600/Antique+French+Napoleonics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgyoQqUR3Ki4SOFXVMZkOfFjvyFznTcywmhAAEhKc_WE2_vgNCcxv0NVtCAYhn9ILaVIWvedDYD0OAy7skgWVWraql0GFucIwE0Bw1dfWpdv9rvCuh9f6QCurMH-IycIc0WuJ67NZsZbg/s320/Antique+French+Napoleonics.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The four figures that I have had for over 40 years were old when I got them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The
lady, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, told me that she had
inherited the figures from her grandfather and all she knew was that
they had come from a large diorama of Waterloo that was displayed at an
exhibition. Could these figures have come from Siborne's display? Maybe
we will never know but the similarity is certainly there.<br />
<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-6853366360357425652015-05-25T14:55:00.000-07:002015-05-25T14:59:42.543-07:00Advance of the Austrian cavalryIt has been a busy work week - four evening meetings and Friday night out with friends for dinner, so painting has been slow.<br />
I've caught up a bit this weekend and finished off a couple of units of cuirassier that I had started and finished two units of hussars from scratch.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The foremost unit CR2 is from Adler Miniature and everything else from Baccus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have been working my way though the <a href="https://www.baccus6mm.com/" target="_blank">Baccus Miniatures</a> Austrian Napoleonic starter army but found I had an old unit of <a href="http://home.clara.net/adlermin/" target="_blank">Adler Miniatures</a> cuirassier that I had never finished. Not sure why I had these as my Adler armies are Napoleonic French and Bavarian.<br />
<br />
As you can see from the picture above the Adler figures are quite a lot larger than the Baccus. I like both makes but don't think they sit well together in the same army.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun2oYSsDSEeK2w8pPHRnnMakgayWVkHUCanJZP1vxAM482uDYy5gzcxnVc3wHRU8Gg-hNXvAzpUvIhBSyG6N2Mrvp11m9xR3OEfh99MTX-FZszjU1PUeOw_ckiOVvLvos9V-9kpElx1mC/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun2oYSsDSEeK2w8pPHRnnMakgayWVkHUCanJZP1vxAM482uDYy5gzcxnVc3wHRU8Gg-hNXvAzpUvIhBSyG6N2Mrvp11m9xR3OEfh99MTX-FZszjU1PUeOw_ckiOVvLvos9V-9kpElx1mC/s320/IMG_0574.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austrian hussar regiment no7 to the front</td></tr>
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I have another two units of hussars to paint but need to buy more dragoons and cuirassier at some stage. So next will be more hussars before returning to the infantry.<br />
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<b>One for the woad...</b></h3>
Not Napoleonic but I umpired a great game of <a href="http://www.ricks-warmaster.com/" target="_blank">Warmaster Ancients </a>at the Devizes club yesterday. It was an Ancient British civil war using 10mm <a href="http://www.pendraken.co.uk/" target="_blank">Pendraken</a> and <a href="http://www.magistermilitum.com/scale/10mm.html" target="_blank">Magister Millitum</a> figures.<br />
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-5514885479687107712015-05-13T13:49:00.000-07:002015-05-13T14:34:02.609-07:00Neglecting the small guys...<div style="text-align: left;">
Yesterday I met up with the recently retired Will for a quick coffee in town. We talked about the forthcoming Waterloo game the club has planned to help commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the famous battle. They intend to use the <a href="http://www.ageofeagles.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Age of Eagles</a> rules, a spin off from Fire and Fury.</div>
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Will is furiously painting his Prussians for the game whilst I am taking my Prussian painting at a more leisurely pace because I am not going to be playing in the game. Whilst comparing notes on our progress, figures used and many details about uniforms and equipment, I looked to show Will a photo on my iPad and stumbled on a couple of shots I'd forgotten taking over Easter.<br />
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I have finished all my 6mm <a href="https://www.baccus6mm.com/" target="_blank">Baccus</a> Napoleonic Prussians and based them up for <a href="https://www.baccus6mm.com/includes/polemos/naps/nap_text.php" target="_blank">Polemos</a> rules; having finished them doesn't mean that I don't need more! <br />
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Anyway here are a couple of shots of the recently completed project.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garden is looking good in the background!</td></tr>
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Whilst talking about the 6mm figures we are working on - Will is building both French and Russian and I have French with Bavarian allies (Adler Miniatures), Prussians and I am currently painting 6mm Austrians when I am not getting sidetracked by 15mm Prussians and many other projects - the subject of rules raised it's head once again.<br />
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Rules are a very subjective matter. We have one club member who wants to change rules as soon as they are published regardless of if he has played them or not and others like me who are still looking for the Holy Grail of rules in each period. Polemos Napoleonics are OK and possibly we just need to play them more to get the best out of them? To me they seem a bit slow.<br />
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I mentioned to Will that I had been reading a bit about the <a href="http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/modules-games/blucher/" target="_blank">Blucher rules by Sam Mustapha</a> and found a video on YouTube that had piqued my curiousity.You can see the Blucher Introduction Battle Report Video here:<br />
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Will, however, surprised me by saying he already had them and fancied giving them a try with our 6mm armies. So we need to set a date to meet at the <a href="http://www.ddwg.org.uk/" target="_blank">club </a>one Sunday and set to. So watch this space for our own battle report in the not too distant future.<br />
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-63232738307685900832015-05-11T14:43:00.000-07:002015-05-11T14:59:48.121-07:00Napoleonic ProgressIt has been a productive week or so painting Napoleonics. The intention to finish my 6mm Baccus Austrians has slipped a bit as I have been tempted to just 'test' a few 15mm Prussians that I bought at Salute.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW3UZubKnXFtZajlfTlvcY5O2kwoomnqVZDTQ5_InrlwaDNuhNFVymfGCi_OjzM8tO7SJi18FSrMPhnpK82J_m2LAYmJcwdjK2iqo0kZzUtUy170Zs0CYeGyh132cGfYe3KwmdFDrustz/s1600/IMG_0557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW3UZubKnXFtZajlfTlvcY5O2kwoomnqVZDTQ5_InrlwaDNuhNFVymfGCi_OjzM8tO7SJi18FSrMPhnpK82J_m2LAYmJcwdjK2iqo0kZzUtUy170Zs0CYeGyh132cGfYe3KwmdFDrustz/s320/IMG_0557.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of the 6mm Austrian Cavalry - Dragoons</td></tr>
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The 6mm Austrian cavalry has been started - it makes a nice change after 5 infantry regiments. Prussian cavalry and infantry on 15mm were also 'tested' and I was quite pleased with the results.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">15mm Prussian cavalry - command figures are from Warmodelling and the troopers from Black Hat. On the right is the first stand of Prussian line in greatcoat from Lancashire Games. I'm trying to decide how I want to base this army.</td></tr>
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What I was less pleased with were the Warmodelling figures I bought from <a href="http://www.stonewallfigures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stonewall Figures</a> at the Legionary show. Notwithstanding the fact that I accidently bought three packs of command figures instead of troopers the quality was very poor. As you can see from the pictures below one of the two packs had a figure missing and both packs had badly crushed horses.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brent figures and one rider figure missing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bases and legs bent at almost 90 degrees and difficult to straighten</td></tr>
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I have already painted some of the other pack as a command for the dragoons shown above. The horses however were so badly bent at the legs that even with the best and most careful of straightening they still looked as though they had a really bad case of rickets! Luckily I had a few spare Old Glory horses to replace them with.<br />
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On the painting table I have some <a href="http://www.timecastmodels.co.uk/" target="_blank">Old Glory</a> Landeswehr Cavalry and some more 6mm Austrian dragoons. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn_EpXXClpXjIulJoKMQa-j_JAYqvOUct8xmU2uqrJ1hCx8nDQ3NAK8_ZHAplZXpZ2u7tXxlWC-oN7qb3eyEXvrOV-72KO3iLNz-5KtLeaRmgoIg4D4v559NQj-9oZgSKzgP_ECguTaOA/s1600/IMG_0556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn_EpXXClpXjIulJoKMQa-j_JAYqvOUct8xmU2uqrJ1hCx8nDQ3NAK8_ZHAplZXpZ2u7tXxlWC-oN7qb3eyEXvrOV-72KO3iLNz-5KtLeaRmgoIg4D4v559NQj-9oZgSKzgP_ECguTaOA/s320/IMG_0556.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the painting desk tonight - 11 May 2015</td></tr>
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-67874179303261580132015-05-11T10:34:00.001-07:002015-05-11T10:36:50.245-07:00SAGA Grand Melee 2015I was just wondering if there was to be a SAGA Grand Melee this year. It is about 12 months since I booked to play in the 2014 Grand Melee at <a href="http://www.firestormgames.co.uk/" target="_blank">Firestorm Games</a> in Cardiff. Although I couldn't go on both days I had a terrific time <strike>losing</strike> playing.<br />
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Just had a look on the <a href="http://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gripping Beast </a>site and there are details about this year's event which is to be held at the Derby Worlds in October. Not as convenient as Cardiff but I've not been to that show so it could be fun.<br />
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<a href="http://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/Entry_To_The_Official_UK_SAGA_Grand_Melee--product--5147.html" target="_blank">Take a look here for details.</a><br />
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Maybe it's time to dust the Vikings off? Perhaps a mini comp at <a href="http://www.ddwg.org.uk/attack-2015/index.html" target="_blank">Attack! 2015</a> this July even?<br />
<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-82201269362689254412015-05-03T13:10:00.001-07:002015-05-03T14:07:04.645-07:00Legionary 2015Next time I go to a convention with Mick I'll make sure I am ready really early!<br />
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Our planned departure time of 8am meant Mick arrived with 30 minutes to spare and I was still in the shower! Just as well Jane was up and about to make him a mug of tea whilst I had a <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">rapid rub down with the towel and got hastily dressed. We were ready to leave for Exeter on time and arrived at Legionary just after 10am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">There was already a buzz about the place with many games and traders already busy. The show is held at a livestock market on the edge of Exeter; there's plenty of space and has a good restaurant where we enjoyed the 'Farmers' Breakfast' before tackling the show .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The bring and buy had some interesting things on offer and I kicked myself for letting a bargain offering boxes of Warlord Games 28mm British Napoleonic infantry for £10 each slip through my fingers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It was also great to catch up with old friends some I'd not seen for at least a week in the hubbub of Salute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">There were enough traders to provide more than enough ways to spend your money, including two from Wiltshire - <a href="http://www.forlornhopegames.co.uk/" target="_blank">Forlornhope Games</a> (Gary Tate shown below) and <a href="http://www.em4miniatures.com/" target="_blank">EM4 Miniatures</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">There was supposed to be a War & Conquest competition somewhere but I cannot say that I saw it to be much in evidence. However there were some great participation games so here are a few pics:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Michael
Stokin, more used to trading as <a href="http://angelbarracks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Angel Barracks</a>, was there with his 6mm
science fiction game. Michael will be running his own show <a href="http://angelbarracks.co.uk/blast.html" target="_blank">Blas-Tastic</a> in
October, a show dedicated to sci-fi gaming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I cannot find my note on this game but I admired the terrain.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As
much as I enjoy playing naval games they just don't have the visual
appeal of a brightly coloured army on well-made terrain. The ships above
were quite fantastic though ( and large).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">28mm Bosworth - figures from the collection of <a href="https://gcooksonblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Gary Cookson</a>. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Bored
with Borgias by The South Somerset Wargamers Group. Nick Turner's
impressive 28mm Italian Wars figures and using Pike and Shotte rules.</span></td></tr>
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Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-44680569827305070312015-05-01T22:37:00.000-07:002015-05-03T13:46:50.759-07:00Legionary Show in Exeter todayEven if there is no Saga competition and it is a bank holiday weekend it is still worth braving the holiday traffic to head for Exeter and the Legionary show.<br />
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I went last year to play Saga and had a great time and it was a good show; not overly large but plenty to do and see. More photos later.<br />
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<a href="http://exmouthwargames.org.uk/index.php/legionary-show.html" target="_blank">Legionary show details</a>Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-75379777642330721912015-04-28T08:48:00.000-07:002015-04-28T08:49:38.438-07:00Napoleonic Prussians in 15mm - the scale of the problemIt sometimes comes as a shock to realise what choice is actually available when it comes to wargame figures. Like most of us I have my preferred periods and consequently figures to match. But what happens when it is something new?<br />
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In March I spent a freezing four hours at the Corn Exchange, Devizes, playing a 15mm General de Brigade game. It was only freezing because the organiser of the Toy and Model Collectors' Fair thought he was doing us a favour by putting us right by the entrance of the venue. Unfortunately the doors stayed wide open and the outside temperature was hovering around zero!<br />
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It was nonetheless a good game; Mick provided terrain, figures, scenario and an up-to date version of the rules rather than my second edition that didn't seem very compatible with Mick's.<br />
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Over Easter I finished (yes finished!!! ) painting all my <a href="https://www.baccus6mm.com/" target="_blank">Baccus Miniatures</a> 6mm Napoleonic Prussians.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-XYmuAU8qiv0F8QEUjpatXRMuS5u9db75wflJERmIJr4cmDkBKiMVcIjUWaz5XMIhMt5XAdetA5_lW64Y-0W-laZabRxufdqX-lCRFUV_asT2eWqQTRihtEq7DNtxXeEAo5PEVA2NTy8/s1600/6mm+Prussians+April+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-XYmuAU8qiv0F8QEUjpatXRMuS5u9db75wflJERmIJr4cmDkBKiMVcIjUWaz5XMIhMt5XAdetA5_lW64Y-0W-laZabRxufdqX-lCRFUV_asT2eWqQTRihtEq7DNtxXeEAo5PEVA2NTy8/s1600/6mm+Prussians+April+2015.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Of course I may need more at some stage but not for the moment. Intoxicated with the success of actually painting and finishing a complete army, down to the last figure, I recalled that I had 6mm Austrians from Baccus too so I made a start on these whilst thinking that 15mm Prussians would be good to have and play with.<br />
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After considerable research I pre-ordered figures from <a href="http://www.timecastmodels.co.uk/" target="_blank">Time Cast - Old Glory</a> and <a href="http://www.magistermilitum.com/" target="_blank">Magister Militum </a>to pick up at Salute last weekend. I also ordered some sample Prussians from <a href="http://www.blackhat.co.uk/" target="_blank">Black Hat</a> who make and sell the Gladiator range of Naploeonics.<br />
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Whilst at Salute I also bought some <a href="http://www.joomla.lancashiregames.com/joomla/" target="_blank">Lancashire Games</a> figures. Maybe not surprisingly there is quite a difference in the size of figures and I should say that I hardly do anything in 15mm these days - 6mm, 10mm, 1/72 and 28mm is quite enough scales to cope with.<br />
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So here are some photos to show the contrast between the four makes of infantry I bought.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDpX_Lw37vC6Za1WatXZacOgRe4BGCIQH3rzEfP-nanu7SaBFUfpJaeVH8BzxSJEixK8XXMfMSLk5sMboiDGuhPGYAqbXVxKFSvJXwjjwGqf2S9KBDY8uQuh-syvTxNnVsvsof-Jt6UPZ/s1600/Prussian+Infantry+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDpX_Lw37vC6Za1WatXZacOgRe4BGCIQH3rzEfP-nanu7SaBFUfpJaeVH8BzxSJEixK8XXMfMSLk5sMboiDGuhPGYAqbXVxKFSvJXwjjwGqf2S9KBDY8uQuh-syvTxNnVsvsof-Jt6UPZ/s1600/Prussian+Infantry+1.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></div>
Above: Prussian Napoleonic Landwehr and Line infantry from four manufacturers side by side. Each with its own style of sculpting.<br />
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Here is a shot with a ruler to show the actual height of the figures.<br />
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And some cavalry too. I couldn't get any Lancashire Games cavalry at Salute as <a href="http://scenics.co.uk/" target="_blank">S&A Scenics</a> had sold out of Prussian cavalry just before I hit their stand.<br />
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There is far more contrast between the cavalry figures than the infantry so it will be harder to decide which way to go when I start building the cavalry regiments up.<br />
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In the meantime it is the 6mm Austrians I need to get on with before I start 15mm Prussians...OK I confess I have been tempted to 'test' some of the Lancashire Games Line Infantry in Greatcoats.<br />
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<br />Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5010061011330503009.post-88045412388778679562015-04-18T02:23:00.001-07:002015-04-18T02:23:19.711-07:00Anyone in Wiltshire looking to go to Salute on 25 April?<div>Good morning. Next Saturday Devizes & District Wargames Group has a coach heading to London to visit the UK's largest Wargames show at the Excel Centre in Docklands.</div><div>We have spare seats on the coach if anyone wants a low fare for a day out to London. We will leave 7am and return around 7pm. £20 fare. Send me a message or email me through the club web site www.ddwg.org.uk</div>Philip_Mackiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11755170842942287990noreply@blogger.com0