Monday 26 December 2011

BBB part 3

This is what happens to postmen, couriers, delivery agents who don't delivery on time and those who think they can beat me on the games table, courtesy of my hairy hound Cai, those who have had the misfortune to meet him will understand,




"Paunches to the left of them, Paunches to the right of them"



Mr Rogers, Dafydd, Matthew and birthday boy Gareth, apologies to Stuart, Craig, Shaun and the better looking Dafydd who all with due modesty avoided the camera





Blenhiem Birthday Bash part 2

"Did I paint all these?"

"Get stuck in Boys"



"why us"



"good job there's a public loo in the village "







Austrian forces









Seasonal Greetings and BBB piccies

above Allied cavalry


above French forces


above Allied assault towards Blenheim


French cavalry move up in support



the Birthday Boy, hands in pocket, on right the shoulder biting Dafydd


May I wish all followers of this blog a Very Happy Xmas and a Figureful New Year , I trust you all found in your Santa's stockings the masses of figures, books, paints, terrain that you've always wanted, and I hope you all had a very peaceful Xmas.

I must apologise to those to whom I didn't send cards this year, my only excuse is that due to loadsa orders for for my figures I spent the last two weeks dashing backwards and forwards to local Post Office sending off piles of parcels all over the place and just ran out of time, but the upside is that because of all monies recieved I can now go towards new moulds for some new castings and the recasting of some older ranges ( 3 variations of Les Higgins ECW cavalry, thanks Ian, Crimean and Franco/Prussians , thanks John & Harry et al, Napoleonic heads, thanks James, Napoleon in Egypt, thanks Clive, plus some varied figures,thanks Uwe and finally the Douglas Miniatures Crimean will go into production mid Jan 2012, at long , long last), should mention that a small range of recast from originals of ECW and Crimean are now available.




















Thursday 15 December 2011

BLENHIEM Birthday Bash

Here's the reason I've neglected the blog recently, about three weeks ago the wife of one of our wargaming group asked me to put on a surprise 50th birthday game for her husband so after a discussion with another leading light from the group ( Dafydd, he who bit me on the shoulder after Borodino game some years back, see Harry Pearson's book " Achtung Schweinhund"for details !!) we decided to not use Gareth's collection but to refight Blenhiem using my forces based on the scenario in the Fire & Fury variation "Age of Honor Lace Wars"

When I checked what troops I had available found that I had enough infantry, artillery and commanders but was over 200 cavalry figures short !! hence a painting blitz with a fast closing deadline, ran short of horses so had to cast up a fair few, also used some 30 YW horses with Irregular Miniatures WSS wagon drivers as Prussian Liebregiment Dragoons just to make a change from my Les Higgins Marlburian figures, my Cuirassiers in lobster pot helmet on 30YW horses looked good as Austrian cuirassiers, to cut a long story short by 15.30 hours on the Wednesday before the Friday night set up I attached the last rider to his horse, now all I had to do was do the labels for each unit and pack the boys to transporting.

So on the Friday evening three of us sneaked into G's home (he has a large war-room attached to main house in an old barn)after his wife had taken him out for the evening, she lent me a key for entry, the other lads set up the terrain while I laid out the troops, we had a 4 hour window to complete the task and make our getaway, only took a couple of hours as we went like hell, left the place as silently as we entered, no clue was left.

On the Saturday at 9.00 hours 8 of us turned up and G's face was a picture when he saw the lay-out, played until 17.00 hours, couldn't finish the game unfortunately but we all had a great time, fight went to and fro, quite bloody at times, catering was superb in particular the homemade Victoria sponge (mouth watering)

Apart from the above painting deadline I've also been getting out Xmas orders for my ranges of figures, appears that lots of wives/girlfriends are buying figures for their fellers this year, only trouble is that some of them have increased their orders just when I'm about to despatch, I'm not complaining mind!! as monies recieved will go towards new masters and moulds

pics of Blenhiem game will appear soon when I find the camera!! Now back to sending off orders

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Boy!! Did I Get Creamed

Initial set-up, on right Spanish, then Austrians, then French


British bottom of pic, then the prussians




bottom left small mixed German States Brigade allied to Prussians, massed Prussian cavalry in centre right



following two pics are of a small WSS Scots unit that Iain presented me with prior to the game, the word bribery was not mentioned !!











Since my last posting I've been preparing the SYW game for Iain's visit last week-end and what a scrap it turned out to be, Iain chose the Prussians and British (in hindsight right choice) I commanded the Austrians, French and Spanish, we used Age of Honor rules, a Fire & Fury variation, I launced everything at him with the result of getting blown away ,literally, by devastating Prussian volley fire, Spanish cavalry got flattened by British cavalry, Prussian Hussar brigade did sterling work by routing a very large brigade of Irish in Spanish service, captured four guns until they got clobbered by Austrian artillery( Spanish infantry fire was absymal even with enfilade fire). On my right wing French cavalry advanced across rough terrain to be met by Prussian Cuirassiers and Dragoons, several charges and melees later, Prussains gained the upper hand, in the centre my heavy French cavalry pushed back several Prussian infantry units until they succumbed to Prussian volley fire.


I lost about fifteen (yes,15 !! ) units to Iain's 2 maybe 3 , pics were taken at various stages which I will post over next few days.


Figures used were, Garrison, Revell, Art-Miniaturen, S Range Minifigs, my Wodensfeld, Airfix conversions (from French Foreign Legion to Brit SYW infantry , done in 1966!! ) and Spencer Smith plastic cavalry (which Iain now loves, but don't tell anyone.

Sunday 6 November 2011

SYW & Nap


Part of SYW collection, getting them sorted for Iain's visit
Above French Infantry
Loadsa Cavalry
My Wodensfeld SYW French painted as a German Regt in French Service
spanish and Prussians from various makers
In centre Prussian Hussars by Revell
Austrians, again various makers
Hinton Hunt Scots Greys, dismountable series
Prussians

I ad a disasterous photo shoot today, took 81 pics and the above were the only ones worth keeping, mental note, must do better

Thursday 3 November 2011

War of Austrian Succession

I can't claim any credit for these as they belong to Iain, sculpted, painted and based by him, I just had them cast for him and supplied the officer, NCO, and standard bearers from my Wodensfeld SYW French range.

The marching figures are generic types for WAS and as Iain has done such a fantastic job I had to share.
























WSS & ECW

above Les Higgins gunners from the ECW range , also very handy for WSS period too



Irregular Miniatures Restoration Officers mounted on Les Higgins horses, generic officers for WSS





more Les Higgins gunners, all figures in my collection, painted for me by Iain







Wednesday 2 November 2011

Return from Gaelcon

What a week-end !! Ferries to and from Holyhead to Dublin excellent, arrived at "Conrad Kinch's " home slightly earlier than expected, was dragooned immediately into cutting labels for units for Salamanca game ( Command and Colours rules) that "Conrad" was running, all figures 20 mm from various sources, as soon as we had finished off into centre of Dublin to meet the lads, several pints of Guiness well quaffed, plenty of laughs, returned to "Conrad's" where he provided me (seeing as it was damned Baltic Weather) with a South Walian hot water bottle called Mr Jones in the shape of a Welsh Dragon in red of course ( full marks for hospitality), whilst chatting before retiring for the night my lap was invaded by Captain Flashman, the Kinch's latest young cat, who has a machine gun like purr.

Saturday morning early off to venue ( not orginal venue as this was flooded out by the recent floods in Dublin), General Gorman and his committee had done a sterling job in re-arranging everything in 4 days, the new venue was superb, we set up Salamanca game just in time for the doors to open, attendance over the 2 days I was there was very good, mostly fantasy cards games , RPGS, Space Marines etc but with very little historical games but atmosphere was great.

I played 2 games of Salamanca, first game on Saturday I commanded the left wing and wiped out Swiss, Irish units and 1 french General but the Portugese on right wing let the Allies down and cost us the game, it was close fought and most enjoyable, I then played "Pulp Fiction" with dinosaurs versus shotgun wielding missionaries in Darkest Africa !! Real fun, resulting in me wiping out the raptors by getting up behind said raptors and shotgunning them up their rear ends!!

The other historical games were Three Musketeers skirmish game ( didn't get to try this one but it looked good, 28 mm), Dambusters games was brilliant, the set up was fantastic, object was for the RAF and Royal Navy subs, to destroy as much as possible of the German postions inc dam, heavy water factory, AA guns inc 88s etc, E-boats, supply vessels and so on, all this in 20 mm, Mosquitos, Lancasters and a Wellington were the RAF planes, a single German Focke-Wulf 190 was the only air oppostion but there were literally dozens of AA guns to get through, game lasted a few hours with most Germans ships sunk by RN subs, I did get my Lanc into postion to release bouncing bomb but got shot down just before I could release. German defence was excellent even though their AA guns did take a hammering.

Congrats are due to the Gaelcon organisers for getting the show to run so well in very difficult circumstances, Final note there's some great eating/drinking places in Dublin

Thursday 27 October 2011

Gaelcon

The blog will be quiet for a few days as I'm off to the Gaelcon games convention in Dublin, catching ferry in the morning, the invite was graciously extended by "Conrad Kinch " of http://joyandforgetfulness.blogspot.com/ fame, where i hope to be cracking a few beers/heads (game-wise) with the indomitable General Gorman, a full report of our activies will be posted.

For those interested in World War 1 take a look at this site

http://www.wdmodels.com/index.htm

Again many thanks to all who have posted comments and to those who have viewed my ramblings from all over the world since I started the blog thanks are also due

Wednesday 26 October 2011

WSS

Sorry if I'm boring you all with WSS stuff but until I've worked out how to get rest of pics from external hard drive onto blog there's going to be a bit more WSS until then, Naps, ACW, SYW will follow I promise!!



Part of the Irish Brigade in French Service, with Garde Francais to rear

"the Blue King" Max Emmanuel , in centre, red tunic and white trimmed hat




Cologne Dragoons, mounted and dismounted, all bases have now been done, in blue are Liebregiment Nothafft, in red Chassonville Dragoons




Cologne Liebregiment zuPferde Arco, flanked by Bremen Grenadiers in red and Mecklenburg-Strelitz Infantry, British Infantry to rear







Bremen Genadiers, front and rear views









Tuesday 25 October 2011

SYW & WSS

These were painted by Iain ( yet again ) for my collection, I supplied the figures and uniform details


Below Royal Rousillion, Les Higgins figures


Below Frederick the Great vignette, figures from Art-Miniaturen





Fred will be opening his wargames career in November in his first outing, trust he'll perform as good as he looks, luckily he be facing Iain who is not actually the best dice thrower to come out of Essex!





SYW

The following pics are from my SYW forces, bought several years ago from the late Terry Wise


Front rank, D'Escars Hussars, Second rank, British Mounted Grenadiers and Royal Horse Guards

Infantry Regt Buckeburg. French Engineers, Hesse Prinz FriedrichDragoons, French Royal Carabineers, French Gendarmes de la Garde




Regt Buckeburg





French Royal Carabineers and Gendarmes de la Garde






Passing in review









Monday 24 October 2011

I Survived!!







Iain kindly sent me this pic of his Sikh War figures, which he converted, painted and based recently, wish I had his talent, Sikhs from Newline Design, cavalry from Tumbling Dice Crimean range. First pic is of Iain's Newline Designs Companions






Finally recovered from boys visit, great time with old pals (and I do mean old!!), excellent food, many beers, a few hours playing cards ( yet again we all covered B's travelling costs), discussion on the merits of various authors, Bernard Cornwell, Patrick O'Brien, Simon Scarrow, tales of grandkids exploits, Vic presented me with a dozen Zvedva GNW Swedes that he's been painting for me (nicely done) over past few years, E has started a new tradition involving a bucket and peculiar sounds at 5.30 a.m. T tried to get him to bathroom but inside door handle spring broke so both trapped until I heard T calling "HELP" , luckily I had left a bucket by E's bed as he wasn't too well on last visit, (new door handles fitted yesterday), KJPS again last to surface Sunday morning muttering "Cawfee, Cawfee", I fed and watered them all with multiple cuppas and toasted doorsteps ( translation, very thick slices of toasted bread with lashings of butter and marmalade), had a very relaxed morning due typical Welsh rain, they left around midday heading for their usual watering hole near Corwen for lunch on the way home, leaving me with the washing up again!! Roll on next visit sometime in the Spring when hopefully the missing campadre Joe can make it over from Crete ( brand new grand-daughter ) so then the "Magnificent Seven " will ride again !!

Saturday 22 October 2011

Answers to queries

When we played Nap Black Powder don't think we had any major problems with the rules handling large numbers of units and figures ( roughly 1000 plus per side), took a full 2 days gaming, very enjoyable and hard fought.

Must be honest I can't claim any credit for the re-modelled Airfix farm as I bought it off Ebay.

My usual set of Napoleonic rules are "Battles for Empire " by Buck Surdu dating from early 1990s, they have , for me, a good period feel about them and they handled some really big battles, Waterloo, Borodino, Austerlitz fought with local lads over a week-end in a school hall using 50 x 6 feet table, I was umpire, ended up with massive head-ache afterwards

Favourite rules for other periods

"Fire & Fury" and various variants of these like "Age Of Honour" but I don't like the Napoleonic version, personal choice,

"Patriots and Loyalists " for AWI
" Warfare in the Age of Reason" for SYW, although " Age of Honour" easier to teach as most of the lads I game with know "F & F" well.
Never found a Colonial wars set of rules that I'm happy with, anyone got any suggestions??
ECW/30YW I use several rule sets, all which give a good fast game
WSS/GNW, again "F&F" variant "Age Of Honour"

Probably won't be posting until Monday as just about to be invaded by 5 (all over 60s hooligans) on our twice yearly get together, involving slap-up meal in our favourite Bistro, followed by several beers until early hours, then back home for a card session (you name it we play it), we've been doing this since our early teens, which is close onto 50 years !!! Scary or what??!!

Boys just phoned, got to get kettle on, warm up embrocation, more on Monday if I survive.

Friday 21 October 2011

Napoleonics




A couple more views of Black Powder game, French versus Austrians, less than 20% of my French Army collection on the table and about 50% of my Austrians, I kid you not !!! Yeah I know I'm totally crazy/obessesed etc etc

Worked out the other day I have 7,000 odd figures suitable just for Waterloo period, Heaven knows just how many other Napoleonic I've got, all German States, Spain, Portugal, Russia,all arms infantry, cavalry, artillery, command plus supply trains and ad infinitum, if you think that's bad wait still I start on ACW (someone once said I could put on Gettysburg on a 1 to 1 basis)


I do know that the WSS collection all painted is 3,000 items, luckily I have a very understanding wife ( who actually paints horses for me from time to time )