Five Paratroopers and an Injun....

Just to prove I've not been I complete slacker here are a few things I've completed recently (very few).

Woodland Indian

Fallschirmjager with FG42

Fallshirmjager with Kar98

US Airborne with M1A1 carbine

The Woodland Indian is from Conquest (now available from Warlord). The Fallshirmjager are Artizan and the US Airborne trooper is from Bolt Action (aka Warlord).

The Bolt Action US Airborne are absolute beauties. Packed full of detail, in fact so much detail it is easy to miss some of it. But they are full of character. Mr Hicks did a sterling job on these figures and I'm only now getting round to painting them.

I have actually painted more than this and I'm still working on a project which I intend to complete before posting anything on here. More to follow....

Warlord to sell Conquest Miniatures

Some good news amongst the constant rain. Warlord Games are going to sell Conquest Miniatures excellent French and Indian war range- warlord-teams-up-with-conquest-miniatures.

Previously purchased mine from Northstar but I had noticed that Conquest had disappeared from their range of manufacturers, perhaps I now know why.

Hopefully this will see an expansion to the range and give me the boost to start painting my small but growing collection of FIW figures?

If you are interested in FIW then take a look at the Conquest Miniatures figures, bloody fantastic!

Muskets & Tomahawks plus WSS magazine

My copy of Musket & Tomahawks arrived over the weekend.

Initial impressions are good. Have not had time to read the whole thing, but I think it will give a good game and will be my rule set of choice for FIW. The rules themselves cover the French and Indian War and American War of Independence plus the Native American revolts in between. They come with a nice little card set which arrived in their own little plastic carry case, like the old Top Trumps cards. They are designed primarily for 28mm figures, but give conversions for using 15mm or 40/54mm figures. A few other markers/tokens are required i.e. hidden movement for some units, smoke markers for units which have fired. Some of these can be downloaded from the publishers site apparently. I cannot see me suddenly painting  a whole load of models for this period but it will give me the impetuous to kick start this project again.

Also purchased an electronic copy of Wargames Soldiers and Strategy magazine Issue 60.

I do not really buy wargames magazines any more unless there is something of interest, and this issue co-insided with my decision to concentrate on my 28mm WW2 Normandy project around the actions of the 101st Division on D-Day. It is largely dedicated to platoon sized WW2 games and in particular paratrooper actions. Contains a scenario for the now famous Brecourt Manor action executed by Easy Company, 2nd Battlion, 506th PIR on 6th June 1944. This article, is written by Olivier Perrony who I believes uses the pseudonym of Sgt Perry on various forums, who's articles I have read before with interest. I'm quite interested in playing out this scenario, just need to purchase 4x105mm guns and build some trenches.

Also includes an article on various WW2 rule sets for Platoon sized games. Some of which I have played/used. Interestingly, for the TOOFATlardies choice they have used 'I Ain't Been Shot Mom'  not 'Troops Weapons and Tactics'.  So I think I might give IABSM a go as a rule set for platoon sized games, as well as for company actions, which means only one rule set to learn.

The column hosted by Rick Priestly mentions my club Evesham Wargames, now known as Wyvern Wargamers. Due to his recent visit there, which I missed unfortunately. But anyway I big up for the boys.

Overall quite like this magazine, having never read it or purchased a copy before. And at £2.00 for the PDF version very reasonable.

WSS can be found here wss-magazine.

Picked up my copy of Musket & Tomahawks from here-North Star Figures. £24.00 for a copy.
             

Whats it all about Markie?

Over the last few days I've found myself contemplating life, the Universe and Wargaming. Steady on Man!

Now I started 2012 with the plan of sticking mainly to 28mm WW2, with a few minor distractions, but NO new projects. FAIL! So I got to thinking and decided it was time I revised my approach to the hobby.

How to make it work without getting, distracted, bored, sidetracked, hoodwinked into a new project etc., etc.? So how does it work for me.

1. I don't like painting large numbers of the same figure. (Napoleonic's are a no no). I get bored.

2. I don't like painting large numbers of figures at the same time. I prefer to paint  a single figure so I can lavish attention to it if 28mm, or upto about 4 or 5 figures at a time if 15mm. Otherwise I get bored.

3. I don't like continually painting the same period for a long time. Or I get bored.

Are you getting the drift?

So what can I do about it? How can I keep the momentum and interest going so projects are completed and I can actually play games?

Well lets look at what is 'floating my boat' at the moment. What projects am I doing or started which I WANT to continue with.

WW2 Western Desert   

A newie but a goodie.

I like painting 15mm WW2 figures and models. Back in the day when I played alot of WRG Ancients the chosen scale was 15mm. I hated painting them little buggers! Yet for some reason I enjoy painting the WW2 infantry in this scale.  More importantly, and  a new direction, for me is the constrained time period of the theatre of operations, February to June 1941. Again a throw back to the WRG days I would pick armies which could fight a wide range of opponents, say for example Celts, good for 400BC to about 100AD. I have continually applied this reasoning throughout alot of my Wargaming since. So for WW2, a German Panzer force using Panthers for example could be used from 1943 to the end of the war. For the first time I'm concentrating on a much smaller period of time, and enjoying building a unit/time specific army to use in a specific theatre.

Of course I also want to build up the Afrikakorp units to use them both in Battalion size games using Rapid Fire and IABSM for company level actions.

WW2 Normandy

Based around the 101st Airborne vs 6th Fallschirmjager Regiment. This little project started not so much because of the Band of Brothers TV mini-series but because of this article on Matakishi 's Teahouse inspired by the TV mini-series- building carentan. I recall following these weekly updates, and since I was looking for a new project at the time, I suddenly found myself purchasing WW2 figures in 28mm, the article was that inspiring. So where am I now with it? Well lets see, I have a platoons worth of US Airborne, a weak platoon of Fallschirmjager and various pieces of terrain (some scratch built to my credit).  I certainly have enough to play my intended rule set.

So why haven't I? Because I've been dilly-dallying around!

So applying my new theory above, just stick to the plan man! In other words rather than getting sidetracked with considering building tanks, planes and automobiles, adding in British, Canadians etc., just stick with the initial time period from 6th June to say 13th June 1944. This would include D-Day (duh obvious!), the fighting in Carentan up to the Battle of Bloody Gulch (Episode 2-Carentan; When Easy Company is attacked by 6th Fallschirmjager Regt. and 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division). Here's one link of many which will make it all clearer-Utah Beach to Cherbourg.

So keep it focused. Why am I considering building Monte Cassino when all my other terrain is based around the Normandy country side?


Legends of The Old West

First time I played this game, came away thinking that was a load of old crap! Then the Secret Wargamers Friend (Gawd bless 'im), put on an excellent scenario driven game, with great terrain, great figures and a great cup of tea thown in (I think there may have even been biscuits).

Now I love it (don't want to marry it though!). The Warhammer system works a treat as far as I am concerned. The rules have enough 'tongue in cheek' balanced out against playability to make a great fun game.

So what did I do once I saw the light? Well I went and bought some Apache from Foundry (they were on offer I must add). So I have painted up enough for a Warparty/posse and then stopped. So I need to get back into painting the Wild West again. I want my own Wild West Town, yes I do. So the Old West is in.

Why Apache I hear you ask? Well no one else at the club seemed to have any Native Americans at the time, so I decided to fill the void. Plus I have always had an interest in Native American history/culture. By choosing Apache I get to add in this bad boy!

Its Geronimo by the way.

French and Indian War

This is one project that I really need to kick start. I've probably had an interest in the French & Indian War (or The Seven Years War in America), for longer than I have actually realised. When I actually think about it I've watched films, documentaries, read articles and books on the subject, but never gamed the period. Though I do recall at the old Birmingham Wargames Show (the one that was at the Birmingham Uni.. Can't actually recall the shows exact title), looking at some of the Ral Partha figures for this period and very nearly making a purchase.

Unashamedly I must admit it was probably Michael Mann's 1992 film version which really caught my attention and made the decision for me to game this conflict. (That means its taken about 18 years, before I purchased any relevant figures).

But it is Wes Studi's portrayal of Magua which makes the whole film in IMO.

It is only very recently that I finally did make a few purchases from the excellent Conquest Miniatures range. What happened? I stopped painting them. Now with the recent release of this rule set;

I've decided I really must pull my finger out and start painting. These rules are by the same guy who brought us SAGA. Which despite my fondness for Dark Age wargaming those rules seem to have  passed me by. But having read a few reviews for the FIW set, I've treated myself to a copy and hopefully they will be here soon.
I mean whats not to like about the FIW, British and French regulars, with irregulars and Native Americans on both sides. I only intend to play skirmish games at the moment, and these rules apparently can be played on a 4'x4' board.Bonus!


So what does all this mean. well I'm giving myself licence to chop and chop periods and paint what I feel like, depending on my mood. More structure, more results. Thats the theory. So lets see how I get one for the rest of the year.
I'm liking this idea of micro-periods. For the Late War 15mm I'm already considering The Battle Of The Bulge. Never modelled ice or snow and with lots of products now available to do so, could be fun painting up Germans and Americans, just for the attack through the Ardennes. Lots of trees though!

Where does it leave the Zulu War, Lord of the Rings (yes I have LotR's figures), late war 15mm WW2, Dark Age/Medieval et al. On the shelf at the moment. Though with the imminent release of the TOOFATlardies Arthurian rules more here toofatlardies-blog & here roundwood world, and Daniel Mersey about to release his new rules for Osprey (though I think they may be an updated version of his Glutter of Ravens set) for the same period Dux Bellorum, I may find myself being drawn back into the Dark Ages. The Uruk-hai are itching to get back into the fight also.

'Grrrr' Find the Halflings'Grrr'.
       

Woodland Indians

A while back I posted a few pics of some Eastern Native American warriors or Woodland Indians. Well I have completed  a few more for my French & Indian War project (which is sputtering along).

My recent involvement in a AWI campaign sparked my interest in the period again, plus I decided I needed a break from painting WW2 (couldn't face doing any more splinter camo just yet).

Four more.

  With the original two.

I've used mainly GW colours on these with some Vallejo and Foundry. I've also simplified the paint schemes opting for more natural 'buckskin' for clothing and accoutrement's, rather than spending time painting ornate schemes on the bags etc. to represent the decoration of bead work etc.

These figures are Conquest Miniatures. But these particular figures are no longer available unfortunately.

Then there were two....

Another Woodland Indian completed. These Conquest Miniature figures have got to be some of my favourite 28mm models I have ever painted. They are a joy to paint, delicate but well detailed and cannot be rushed.

I decided to paint a thin band of warpaint on this one. I had painted and highlighted the face and then added the warpaint. I used 50/50 mix of Chaos black/Scorched brown, I thought pure black may have been to harsh. The paint was thinned so I applied a couple of thin coats to build it up. Again I did not want to destroy the detail, so the original skin colour underneath can in places just be made out. The warpaint looks more brown in the photos but on the actual model it does appear to be more black.

I'm back....!

Well the house move went pretty well. I've finally now got round to start painting again, which just over a week on is not to bad.

So on the workbench we have.....

US Para 81 mm mortar platoon. Based and undercoated, just need to be painted. I will paint the base first then the models. I started basing and then painting the models many years ago, if I think I can get away with it. I never liked the painting the model first, then basing routine. Particularly if drybrushing the base detail, paint had a tendency to go on the figure, which would mean touching that figure up again, plus once figures were based some detail could not be seen. So I experimented with basing groups of models and painting them once in situ. At the time I was painting 15mm ancients for DBA/DBM (long since gone), and it worked. FoW bases lend them themselves to this method perfectly. Though I have yet to try and paint more than 4 figures on a base, or camo ie Germans. I work on the theory that if I can't get the brush into an area to paint the detail then it will not be seen anyway! So this area will be left black, representing shade or at least in a base colour. Also I have a 'base' to hold when painting the models, which can make things easier. Others like to place figures on sticks or whatever, this is the method I use and it suits me.

Next up....

Woodland Indians for French and Indian War. Observers may notice that I haven't sprayed the figures on the base, but undercoated them and then applied the model to the base and put on the sand. I've then applied a wash of brown ink to the sand and will then drybrush the base.I wanted to try something a little different, since the black undercoat can make the base colour(s) look to dark. I'm happy with results so far.

And now for something completely different....

Now to paint up the rest of the war party, so they can strike terror into the Thirteen Colonies!