Finished!: 6mm British Moderns (part 1...)

Hi folks,

I had intended to post this last weekend, but didn't get around to it and have had a hectic week this week which has seen little painting being done.

I've been trying to clear some of the models that have been cluttering up my painting shelf for the last 12 months, some of which has been my Brits for Team Yankee. These are a mix of GHQ, Heroics and Ros and Butlers Printed Models miniatures, and I'm about half way though currently.

So currently, a full squadron of Chieftains, with the front two on the right being BPM models, while the one on the front right is a GHQ model.

The Harriers and Lynx's are H+R models, which came out quite well. Blowpipe models are H+R while the Spartans on the bases are BPM. The Swingfires are GHQ, while the Abbots are BPM and the M109's are (I think) H+R.

Still all the infantry to do, and a load of AFV's. The models are quick to paint, as I've kept them very simple. However, the basing is time consuming!

In other news, despite my better judgement I've volunteered to take part in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge again this year... So need to start organising what I plan to paint as part of that!

Battleground 2018

Hi folks,

Yesterday was spent at the Battleground 2018 wargames show in Stockton along with my 'Old Guard Wargames Club' compadres. We were using our 10mm figures and the Black Powder rules (or at least a chopped down version) and attempting to fight 'Pickett's Charge' from the 3rd day of the Gettysburg battle.

I was being General Pettigrew on the Confederate left (far left of the table above). I had one large unit and 4 medium sized units, and was backed up by Angus, who had three medium units.

My end of the table, the initial advance was limited by poor command checks combined with the odd blunders (I think all the Confederates had the same issue - my problem with these rules number 1: the defenders were sitting back and shooting, and didn't have to roll command checks and run the risk of incurring a blunder). My objective was to capture 'The Angle', which was defined as the space between the two buildings with the stone wall to my front. The capturing of this point was deemed to be pointless (ha), as there was another Union Corps behind this one, but capturing it would classed as a rebel victory.

Too many years having to assault with my Highlanders has led to me treating every army like Highlanders - so my troops got up and into the Union defenders, taking a few hits on the way. I tend to get a bit annoyed when the rules are woolly (not knowing the rules myself doesn't help) and/or the game doesn't fit my internal logic of what I feel they should do (and generally that's because the rule isn't being applied properly or there is a failing in the rules system).

A few turns later, I had managed to batter my way over the wall and into the Union position:

Dave, seeing the collapse of the Union right, sent some troops over to shore up the flank. By now my own units were on the verge of collapse, having got into the Union positions on their own. Angus managed to get some of his troops up to support, which helped.

The game ended with the Confederates getting smashed, but still in control of the wall (technically, a Rebel victory, as much as any defeat can be...).

Loot wise, I picked up a few FoW related goodies:

Some dug in markers, a German special character, artillery template and basing sand - plus a book I've been after for a while, which turns out to be a bit disappointing (review may follow).

I also picked up some 28mm Sci Fi terrain, which will be for Necromunda:

I really had every intent of taking pictures of the other tables at the show, but managed to fail to get around them this time. Sorry!

Finished!: 15mm Sarrisa Precision Chateau + Warbases 15mm Haystacks

Hi folks,

Busy week last week, having finished off my German armour for now, I switched out for some terrain. My plan had been to build my Chateau and a 4Ground hotel. However, after I built the Sarrisa Chateau I realised that the hotel model is actually 10mm scale. Bugger. That's what you get for buying quickly at wargames shows. So if anyone wants a cheap 10mm MDF building, let me know...

I also dug out the Warbases resin haystacks I picked up recently and slapped some paint on them. More scatter terrain - always handy to have.

The Chateau looks a bit big in comparison to some of the other buildings I have, but I think that can be passed off just through it being a fancy building.

I have to say it was a bit of a bugger to put together, the roof especially as the parts just did not want to fit well. I ended up having to use some filler to cover gaps. Once painted though, it looks pretty impressive. I had finished, but decided to colour the window frames as only the 2nd floor was coloured grey, and i think it looks much smarter with the light frames.

The haystacks I just hit with a grey primer, US field drab then drybrushes of gold brown then buff.

Showing off as well a recent purchase:

Which is a 1/100th scale Me109 - it'll just be a good physical representation for the occasional Luftwaffe airstrike.

My next lot of models will be my 6mm UK Moderns - which have sat on the painting shelf for 12 months or so. Basing for this lot will be a task in of itself...