tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42380549214821974002024-03-14T08:40:40.621+00:00Zen and the Art of Miniature PaintingDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-77041695296404123352024-01-23T11:40:00.001+00:002024-01-23T11:40:03.630+00:00A Long Due Update (Happy New Year 2024!)<h3 style="text-align: justify;">Blog Update <br /></h3><p style="text-align: justify;">First of all, Happy New Year 2024! I haven't updated this blog since January 2020 in favour of releasing YouTube videos, however, the more YouTube videos I release, the more I realise that blogs and videos are very different media that serve different purposes. Based upon the traffic this blog gets, it is clear that blogs still remain much more searchable than videos. I suspect that it has to do with limitations on how YouTube videos are scraped for words, versus the written text of a blog. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, enough shop talk. </p><h3 style="text-align: justify;">Life Updates</h3><p style="text-align: justify;">A lot has happened since my last update on the blog in January 2020. First, my wife and I managed to secure excellent employment with a tech company in California, which later morphed into a role that is largely on the road. This then led to us making the decision to move to the cooler climes of Washington state. The impetus behind this was my wife's family moving <i>en masse </i>to the Dallas area in Texas. Since we weren't keen on swapping the dry, hot Bakersfield climate for more-or-less the same, we moved North and were able to purchase our first home. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We are now a household of 2 dogs near the sea, and loving life up in Washington.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-cGix1JEa7kLrQRQs07QVLfAAGRLgS2nn8mT29M2_C1sC0gU6EcaaPCJIMqKSxX3Qp4IwxOpx4s804j9qMmVLXllVsut8SSdqr2xwU3N_f2uayAIKzvLuWTHucuU-__Hp1azhRMOrXYJBTXRv5M39PneVS5E-lK63oRoso5xtUkGz4Svw5bjiewuXOwY/s4032/20231216_210254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-cGix1JEa7kLrQRQs07QVLfAAGRLgS2nn8mT29M2_C1sC0gU6EcaaPCJIMqKSxX3Qp4IwxOpx4s804j9qMmVLXllVsut8SSdqr2xwU3N_f2uayAIKzvLuWTHucuU-__Hp1azhRMOrXYJBTXRv5M39PneVS5E-lK63oRoso5xtUkGz4Svw5bjiewuXOwY/w180-h320/20231216_210254.jpg" width="180" /></a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h3>Playing Games</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One unintended outcome of the move to Washington is that I have found a regular gaming group, just across the border in Canada. How I met the main chap from the club was certainly serendipitous. In November 2022 I happened to be at Warfare in Farnborough, in the UK. I was in the UK ostensibly for work, but managed to stay over the weekend. I took the last-minute opportunity to attend the wargaming show with some purchases in mind. (I ended up spending about $500, so only small purchases) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had stopped for a pie and a cup of tea at the little snack area, when a man with a "North American" accent approached me and asked if he might share the table with me, since there was nowhere else to sit. I obliged, noted the accent, and asked him where he had come from. He said, "Vancouver, Canada." To which I said, "oh, I live 15 minutes from Vancouver." What luck! We chatted for a bit, and it turns out that I can see his town from my house, I am just across the water from him. Well, this led to emails and some sessions with the fabled White Rock Gamers, and the rest, as they say, is history. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Having a regular gaming group to play with has re-invigorated my hobby as I am playing almost every week, and more importantly, playing historical wargames again! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Examples of the stunning games we played in 2023:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIi2MVRK3Y-7yu1DZE7uQm7Smws5VXU0MPNl4CA_llsntiRE9nQhIPClRl1eWbvDkckK1aVZcgiTiTeepuDg3jyAwc1onSd1qHp2ffFC5_7CjIDwZ_1zESqNSspoZor54twkO-QK42MI-h6cYlERN3ga09U6aMDh60OgcPw06UNRXhNLKs8wE0tHqULaR/s2048/IMG-20230130-WA0013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIi2MVRK3Y-7yu1DZE7uQm7Smws5VXU0MPNl4CA_llsntiRE9nQhIPClRl1eWbvDkckK1aVZcgiTiTeepuDg3jyAwc1onSd1qHp2ffFC5_7CjIDwZ_1zESqNSspoZor54twkO-QK42MI-h6cYlERN3ga09U6aMDh60OgcPw06UNRXhNLKs8wE0tHqULaR/w400-h300/IMG-20230130-WA0013.jpg" title="Leipzig refight using Shako 2" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very small part of a very large Leipzig refight using Shako 2<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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZgFnQlh4qbn_sksbkqf28wbFg7up9830dU6GPE20cHTwqLMqRjcv_GUu-4P72nN-O6oHQSYo70a8XU7w6DgXLr8hzY3-v6LbKqJi7_-fQUrgQllzRi3hRaq3tw9x-k4tLsxLho15ncHmDlF3iPBuBFnjDaiDfVmZoxl02KkGLuTajpjVonrSF1xO9AfY/s4032/20230608_200208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZgFnQlh4qbn_sksbkqf28wbFg7up9830dU6GPE20cHTwqLMqRjcv_GUu-4P72nN-O6oHQSYo70a8XU7w6DgXLr8hzY3-v6LbKqJi7_-fQUrgQllzRi3hRaq3tw9x-k4tLsxLho15ncHmDlF3iPBuBFnjDaiDfVmZoxl02KkGLuTajpjVonrSF1xO9AfY/w400-h300/20230608_200208.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canvas Eagles<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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Eyc0Esue7L8dZhm7lSETx8QwDM7n7ZEtLBeu-h3caDK29sF1wNloNQDrOSBetuRVikhPahC_oOrE5eh5IZB_hsLqr4L6qC4VsxdKbjFqBiXZf2vbYGpvUq2GnE24lkC9rRzOVU17I_1cL07XQyMvSuAXI3qsqvqPw-zhblfGr6MSCovIcQIFxsTWOT2w/s4032/20230406_203135.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Eyc0Esue7L8dZhm7lSETx8QwDM7n7ZEtLBeu-h3caDK29sF1wNloNQDrOSBetuRVikhPahC_oOrE5eh5IZB_hsLqr4L6qC4VsxdKbjFqBiXZf2vbYGpvUq2GnE24lkC9rRzOVU17I_1cL07XQyMvSuAXI3qsqvqPw-zhblfGr6MSCovIcQIFxsTWOT2w/w400-h300/20230406_203135.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action in the Sudan, Battles for Empire <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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a8zXyQwvbvwA9zhswT1RLIiJX_vmLTGzfxxAwn967qXnBfRWi-MsLXGmsx965-EJ_icmBGdFL4pCg6q7LDsOZKYqMeHDOF8QL-603bJJRyFxAUyH1DOhvqQOv-yY5vF_dkKOWVU_oXynf337hE7WqOgcup1Wv8VFCt_JkhxRvCN-V3ie_vYVuGqogTYe/s4032/20230629_202649.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a8zXyQwvbvwA9zhswT1RLIiJX_vmLTGzfxxAwn967qXnBfRWi-MsLXGmsx965-EJ_icmBGdFL4pCg6q7LDsOZKYqMeHDOF8QL-603bJJRyFxAUyH1DOhvqQOv-yY5vF_dkKOWVU_oXynf337hE7WqOgcup1Wv8VFCt_JkhxRvCN-V3ie_vYVuGqogTYe/w400-h300/20230629_202649.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dastardly gunman finishes off a helpless supine opponent in What A Cowboy<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><h3>Painting Miniatures</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">2022 was a very fruitful year for me in terms of painting. Especially considering that I was jumping off from a position of inertia. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I'll share some snaps in this blog post, but they are but a small sample of everything I have been working on. Suffice to say, the prospect of playing with my miniatures has turned up the tempo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>The numbers are as follows: </u><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><ul><li>28mm = 21 Infantry<br /></li><li>15mm = 42 Infantry<br /></li><li>10mm = 24 Infantry | 3 Artillery & Crew <br /></li><li>6mm = 36 Infantry | 3 Tanks<br /></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><u>By project:</u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><ul><li>28mm Seven Years War = 6 Infantry</li><li>15mm Carthaginian Army = 24 Infantry</li><li>Warhammer 40k Eldar = 5 Infantry</li><li>28mm Early Imperial Romans = 10 Infantry</li><li>6mm War of Spanish Succession British = 36 Infantry</li><li>10mm Franco-Prussian War French = 24 Infantry</li><li>10mm Franco-Prussian War French = 3 Artillery & Crew</li><li>15mm American Civil War Confederates = 18 Infantry</li><li>6mm World War II Polish = 3 Tanks <br /></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><h3>Goals for 2024</h3><p>The <b>Great Hobby Reawakening™ </b>is well under way, but these are my goals for 2024:</p><ul><li>Get a gaming table set up in the basement, nothing fancy, but I would like something around 8 x 6 feet-ish. Initially I will use mats or cloths for coverage, but I would like to try my hand at MDF boards. </li><li>Finish up the Pendraken 10mm Franco-Prussian French force that I have and begin work on the German opposition.</li><li>Paint up the Republican Roman opponents for my 15mm Carthaginian army. I ordered some from Old Glory 15's on January first.<br /></li><li>Finish up painting the remaining Baccus 6mm War of Spanish Succession British army that I bought in 2022. </li></ul><h3> In Closing...<br /></h3><p>I am on holiday in Greece at the moment, in the quest for some sunlight, and will only be home again at the end of the month. I am hoping to make more regular contributions to this blog in the coming year.<br /></p></div>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-12326546519488524912020-01-01T22:29:00.000+00:002020-01-01T22:47:40.203+00:00An Initial Sudan War Reading List for Wargamers<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNvCUEUaBlw/Xg0cXbeTU_I/AAAAAAAAL7k/T-4MoZnJPl4FnB1SxCVUiBCl047w3jL3QCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/Battle_of_Abu_Klea%252C_William_Barnes_Wollen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNvCUEUaBlw/Xg0cXbeTU_I/AAAAAAAAL7k/T-4MoZnJPl4FnB1SxCVUiBCl047w3jL3QCKgBGAsYHg/s400/Battle_of_Abu_Klea%252C_William_Barnes_Wollen.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Battles_of_the_Mahdist_War#/media/File:Battle_of_Abu_Klea,_William_Barnes_Wollen.jpg" target="_blank">Battle of Abu Klea</a> by William Barnes Wollen (1857-1936)</td></tr>
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I am by no means an expert on the Anglo-Sudan, or Mahdist War. However, as a wargamer I have felt the siren's song of the conflict tugging at me gently over the years. What is more grand than the khaki and serge grey uniformed line of the Queen-Empress's finest arrayed against the white clad hordes of the Mahdi across a stark desert landscape? The conflict has its moments of consummate drama and excitement, and truly marks the end of an era of warfare. The Second Anglo-Boer war would drag the British Army, kicking and screaming, into the modern age.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/River-War-Account-Reconquest-Sudan-ebook/dp/B0084A08XW/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=8KK7UWQQOQN6&keywords=churchill+river+war&qid=1577914447&sprefix=chruchill+river+,aps,222&sr=8-4&linkCode=li3&tag=bruxza-20&linkId=0e809079413af10984fbd2d1bc653738&language=en_US" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0084A08XW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=bruxza-20&language=en_US" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An easy, enjoyable read, available for free from Amazon.</td></tr>
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I have read several good books on the topic and have slowly been gathering a deeper and better understanding of the conflict over the years. I have found the following books to be invaluable as primers.First and foremost, I would recommend <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2MHg0WX">The River War: An Account of the Reconquest of the Sudan</a></i> by Winston Churchill. I found it to be a quick and easy read, largely thanks to Churchill's writing style. It is available for free on Amazon Kindle.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Three-Empires-Nile-Victorian-1869-1899/dp/145163160X/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1577914754&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=bruxza-20&linkId=a13704e156f9c1fad21bf9b61a645d5c&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=145163160X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=bruxza-20&language=en_US" /></a>
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Another excellent read was <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2FcnJs0">Three Empires on the Nile: The Victorian Jihad, 1869-1899</a></i> by Dominic Green, which I listened to as an audiobook using Audible. It is available in print from Amazon. I listened to it whilst painting and found it more systematically and historically rigorous than the aforementioned Churchill work.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Omdurman-1898-Kitcheners-victory-Campaign/dp/1855323680/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=omdurman+campaign&qid=1577915248&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=bruxza-20&linkId=0e49f3127cb025cb0a16ff7b01748058&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1855323680&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=bruxza-20&language=en_US" /></a>
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Specifically for Omdurman, Osprey provide a useful booklet <a href="https://amzn.to/36g5Ofz" target="_blank"><i>Omdurman 1898: Kitchener's victory in the Sudan (Campaign)</i></a> with a fantastic amount of photos, maps and drawings. Hardly surprising, since the author was none other than Donald Featherstone! Needless to say, it is a treasure trove for wargamers. <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Narrative-Fighting-Dervishes-1879-1895-ebook/dp/B00AQMG4HA/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=slatin+fire&qid=1577915782&sr=8-3&linkCode=li3&tag=bruxza-20&linkId=fdeff7c5e22eb4d4c6bac5e335b83ab1&language=en_US" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00AQMG4HA&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=bruxza-20&language=en_US" /></a></div>
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The last book is one that I am only just beginning myself, and that is <a href="https://amzn.to/2rHNL2W">Fire and Sword in the Sudan A Personal Narrative of Fighting and Serving the Dervishes 1879-1895</a> by Rudolf Carl Slatin. Slatin was an Austrian soldier and governor in the Sudan and is famous for having been a prisoner of the Mahdists, so he is likely to provide an interesting point-of-view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5FntcXxgY0/Xg0cBMj6CnI/AAAAAAAAL7c/h7Lu-9OqsCICi1Ot3tuAojptY3jlNX1CwCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/The_war_in_the_Soudan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1024" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5FntcXxgY0/Xg0cBMj6CnI/AAAAAAAAL7c/h7Lu-9OqsCICi1Ot3tuAojptY3jlNX1CwCKgBGAsYHg/s400/The_war_in_the_Soudan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather fanciful depiction from 1897. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mahdi_war#/media/File:The_war_in_the_Soudan.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
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That is all for now, as my own reading on the topic expands, I shall post those recommendations too. Needless to say, if you, gentle reader, have any recommendations, please do let me know in the comments. </div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-59149385440940668382019-12-23T21:24:00.003+00:002020-01-02T06:21:05.505+00:00First Painted Miniatures of 2019<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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIkVQc3NE_I/XgEqi425SVI/AAAAAAAAL3s/GTA24H8Kum8jvwoAjy_wiauqJ7s6uVofgCKgBGAsYHg/s1600/IMG_20191222_214002913.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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIkVQc3NE_I/XgEqi425SVI/AAAAAAAAL3s/GTA24H8Kum8jvwoAjy_wiauqJ7s6uVofgCKgBGAsYHg/s320/IMG_20191222_214002913.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apologies for the rather dreadful photo. Still, it is proof!</td></tr>
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So, here we are: a week from the start of 2020 and I have finally finished painting three miniatures. An abysmal annual effort, but truly a reflection of how poorly engaged I have been with the hobby this year. In truth, it all ties in with the work and living situation here in California.</div>
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The reality is that I haven't had a space for the hobby. Our current place is rather small, and with space being at a premium, I cannot very well ask the wife to surrender some of that for little toy soldiers. So the bulk of my entertainment has come from playing video games and reading this year. On the topic of reading, might I heartily recommend <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684823454/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0684823454&linkCode=as2&tag=bruxza-20&linkId=c70528c3a5d722f2333a50715bfe2f23" target="_blank">Winston Churchill's "My Early Life: 1874-1904"</a>. I found the book a joy to read and a gateway to many a conflict. I know that I, for one, am keen to look further into the North-West Frontier and Sudan War thanks to this book. Read it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684823454/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0684823454&linkCode=as2&tag=bruxza-20&linkId=9fffa911664636dbad7a2cf473a27c55" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0684823454&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=bruxza-20" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An excellent book, very easy to read.</td></tr>
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I might also mention that the heat and dryness here in the San Joaquin Valley makes for weather that is not particularly conducive to painting. When the sun is out and the hounds are keen to play, who am I to say otherwise? Only now that we have hit the rainy, cold season do I find myself in the mood to paint. That said, now that I have indeed put brush to miniature, I find myself inspired once more to get that "hour a day" in before bed. Hence the Germans above, and the Soviet Naval Infanteer lurking behind them.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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In other news, I have been back to Britain twice this year, and have both times ferried quantities of miniatures and paints back with me. Having brought much lead over at the end of October, I had the makings of motivation, it just took a particularly miserable run of weather to convince me to build a rather nice little paint station my wife got me for my birthday back in June, and we were off to the races. I would highly recommend on of these handy little things to all my friends, it is very movable and surprisingly sturdy. Click on the picture to go to Amazon to see the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DL5M44D/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07DL5M44D&linkCode=as2&tag=bruxza-20&linkId=0881724eabcd3bbfbf564eff8b267548" target="_blank">GameCraft Miniatures Painting Station - 26mm V2, for Vallejo and Army Painter Style Dropper Bottles</a>. Highly recommended.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all heroes wear capes...</td></tr>
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Truly this paint station has been a lifesaver for me and has enabled me to get back to painting. I only hope that I can make a better effort in 2020 than I did this year. With that in mind, I look forward to creating more content for this website and the YouTube channel in the coming few weeks. However, until then, I wish all my dear readers a Merry Christmas, and I look forward to serving you better in 2020.</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0California, USA36.778261 -119.4179323999999823.886426 -140.07222939999997 49.670096 -98.763635399999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-42260325879278958882018-07-21T16:52:00.003+01:002018-07-21T16:52:45.502+01:00Painting Tutorial: Tabletop Workshop Stable 28mm<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is the latest video I have uploaded to YouTube, at the request of a subscriber, showing how I paint my medieval buildings. I hope that viewers might find it helpful.</div>
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<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-33773478369680734182018-04-04T20:44:00.000+01:002018-04-04T20:44:12.784+01:00Genestealer Done, Getting Back To Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqAbLVdRK2A/WsUpJv7EHsI/AAAAAAAALUI/txBMmGV0eAU__Uxu-oUjgVul65r5bTaYQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_4598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqAbLVdRK2A/WsUpJv7EHsI/AAAAAAAALUI/txBMmGV0eAU__Uxu-oUjgVul65r5bTaYQCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_4598.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My wife and I returned from our Highland adventure on Monday. It was a colossal drive from Inverness to Oxford, consuming most of our day just sitting in the car. Hardly how one chooses to spend a bank holiday, but frankly Scotland is worth it. While the West was celebrating Easter last Sunday, we were only on Palm Sunday, so this coming Sunday is our Pascha (Easter) and I cannot wait! It probably trumps Christmas as our family's biggest celebration of the year.</div>
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In the meantime, in the dark depths of the underhive, another wretched forerunner of Hive Fleet Leviathan stirs. I managed to knock out the genestealer below in a single evening, and I rather enjoyed it. I didn't spend an inordinate amount of time on this monster, but the results are pleasing. Sorry for the poor pictures, I just grabbed these on my camera when it was done. </div>
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For my painting recipe I followed some of the YouTube videos from Warhammer TV, again, I cannot emphasise enough what a great resource that channel has been.<br />
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I've moved on to some other miniatures now, a couple of English Civil War test figures, a fighting Greek Priest from the Greek War of Independence, and the Primaris Ultramarines are on the table. I've recaptured my painting mojo recently, and am really enjoying being back, brush in hand.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-21522108781482959002018-03-30T19:55:00.000+01:002018-03-30T19:55:24.412+01:00Dreadball Marauder Jack Complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9yQZnt7Ji4U/Wr6HHT47r5I/AAAAAAAALTA/9HKcFJZiI2UcT7aPOSrkynlVtbFVjDDjQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_4448.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1482" height="304" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9yQZnt7Ji4U/Wr6HHT47r5I/AAAAAAAALTA/9HKcFJZiI2UcT7aPOSrkynlVtbFVjDDjQCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_4448.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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The other night I finally completed another of these blighters. I am not going to sugar coat it, these miniatures are awful. The detail is poor and the pose is dreadful. </div>
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So, it is no surprise that I haven't put the usual effort into this "playing piece," I simply didn't enjoy painting it.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaAJ08ecbS8/Wr6HtcvBR0I/AAAAAAAALTM/hg2I-UHEWIUW0YTufmxS9ekJhFk-YFtSwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_4447.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="1511" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaAJ08ecbS8/Wr6HtcvBR0I/AAAAAAAALTM/hg2I-UHEWIUW0YTufmxS9ekJhFk-YFtSwCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_4447.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anyway, another miniature done, so there is at least some satisfaction. My wife and I are up in Scotland for the Easter weekend, so there will be no painting for me this weekend. </div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-78708589271369269842018-03-28T21:49:00.000+01:002018-03-28T21:49:24.248+01:00Space Hulk Blood Angel Terminator<div style="text-align: justify;">
As part of my painting meanderings, I decided to paint a Blood Angel terminator from the Space Hulk board game. I have yet to play the game, but my notion is that any miniature painted for the board game can be used in Warhammer 40,000 anyway. </div>
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To that end, I will be basing these once I have done the lot. Having done a dry fit, I know that they will fit on 40mm terminator bases with a little minor surgery. I followed a handy painting tutorial from Warhammer TV for the power armour. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tla7ND13Jcg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tla7ND13Jcg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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The recess shading is something I am a big fan of. The rest of the miniature was painted using, with some minor adjustments, the older Blood Angel painting tutorial from Warhammer TV.</div>
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This YouTube channel is one of my absolute favourites, and I have added loads of handy tricks to my painting repertoire by just watching these videos. Most of the tutorials will teach you how to get the most out of a triad and wash combination, and the hosts are very good. So even if a video title isn't necessarily something you are interested in, go ahead and watch it any way, you might learn something useful.</div>
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I tried my hand at some freehand for the text on the scrolling, this marine is festooned with the word "IRA" Latin for wrath or anger. His greave scroll has "BAAL" on it, for the home planet of the Blood Angels, but I will likely need to fix this as I am not 100% happy with it at the moment. The surface isn't flat, so that complicates the freehand. I don't normally try and do freehand text, so this is new territory.</div>
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At the moment this terminator looks very bright, I think the addition of a base will really help tone it down by contrast. I'll be looking to do an industrial style basing with steel flooring of a sort. </div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EZPQZeEETmg/WrgMYGWqfwI/AAAAAAAALQk/-yczENme1oI4wVWytG5qp7oEuoNrFfD9gCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_4434.HEIC"></a>Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-26629779531863154302018-03-25T19:54:00.000+01:002018-03-25T19:54:16.013+01:00Primaris Ultramarine Test Figure<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have been getting a lot more painting done over the last few weeks, my Twitter account has been evidence of this. I suppose that the reason has been that I have simply painted what I have felt like painting. </div>
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Several weeks ago my wife and I were enjoying a day out in Oxford when we dropped in to the Games Workshop store there. Now, as a rule I avoid Games Workshop stores. I find the sales manner of the staff off-putting, and knowing that I can buy the same products from my local gaming store for a small discount, leaves very little reason to shop there. Still, it was an opportunity to catch up on the changes to the ranges, as I haven't been keeping up on what has been happening in the Games Workshop-sphere.</div>
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I spotted a £25 starter kit called "First Strike" and had to have it. My wife/chancellor of the exchequer agreed I could splash out, since I haven't spent much on wargaming recently, and a few days later I stopped by an independent stockist and picked the box up for 15% less than the Games Workshop store. </div>
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I will express my thoughts on the boxed set in another post/video, but I thought I would share the first completed Primaris Marine. Excellent miniature, and finally a Space Marine in "True Scale". Suffice to say, I am looking forward to painting the rest of the miniatures from the box. </div>
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I decided to paint the Space Marines as Ultramarines because I figure that if I were ever to add to the Primaris Marines I would likely get Roboute Guilliman. It also gives me an opportunity to try a slightly different scheme from the one I have employed with my Horus Heresy Ultramarines. I want there to be a tonal difference between the 30th and 40th Millennia. </div>
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As you can see from the side-by-side photos, the 40k Marine is darker in tone, whereas the 30k Marine is brighter. I like to think of the 30th Millennium as a more hopeful epoch, humanity is at its zenith after Ullanor, the Great Crusade is drawing to a close, the Imperium triumphant. By contrast, the grim-dark 40th Millennium is more desperate and humanity on the knife edge of extinction. These colours hopefully reflect that difference, or perhaps it is all in my mind. </div>
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Oh, and I must add that of course the Primaries Marine is missing his transfers and basing. This will be done once I have done the lot and have decided on what sort of basing scheme I want to employ.</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-86492525535208381522018-03-17T00:15:00.000+00:002018-03-17T00:15:08.994+00:00Redarg Bloodfane, Exalted Deathbringer of Khorne WIP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d3hT3J9SM84/WqhoLgFF5iI/AAAAAAAALKY/W6kt9rdyDOgv_Ok8D8UAQ3hkNf3W9Q_EQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_4216.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1340" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d3hT3J9SM84/WqhoLgFF5iI/AAAAAAAALKY/W6kt9rdyDOgv_Ok8D8UAQ3hkNf3W9Q_EQCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_4216.HEIC" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I've recently started painting again, and I spent some time on repainting this figure. I began painting him several months ago as part of the Gorechosen boxed game. However, as some point I applied Reikland Fleshade to all of the miniatures, and to my horror, it dried glossy. It seems that I, in a fit of genius, had bought the gloss version of the shade, because I didn't know Games Workshop manufactured gloss shades. I felt quite foolish and somewhat crestfallen by the experience and so the models have been left untouched since. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I've started by repainting the skin on Redarg, and I tried tinkering to get the scars just right. Almost there I think, perhaps just a final touch of Pallid Wych Flesh to a few spots required. </span></div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-69715383827219221032018-03-14T00:05:00.001+00:002018-03-14T00:05:52.565+00:00Genestealer Neophyte Hybrid Test<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lX0RtrQJ6QI/WqhlPRTYzpI/AAAAAAAALKA/-oKuNLXV64Q9qsAwWhxmJ6vqR25hz-DoQCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_4220.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="1197" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lX0RtrQJ6QI/WqhlPRTYzpI/AAAAAAAALKA/-oKuNLXV64Q9qsAwWhxmJ6vqR25hz-DoQCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_4220.HEIC" width="253" /></a></div>
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I managed to knock this miniature out over the course of the evening. Looking to mix a penal-mining-colony orange with the purple carapace colour of Hive Fleet Leviathan. The aim will be to do a Genestealer Cult detachment that is twinned with a Leviathan Tyranid force set on a penal mining colony. Opposition would be Deathwatch, primarily, as I already have the requisite miniatures. In terms of basing I am going to do this faction in an urban-industrial style to match my Deathwatch.</div>
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The final result look pretty decent, zoomed in pictures ruin the look a little. The orange looks a little brighter in person, and the highlights less ludicrous. Nice figure to work on. At the moment I am painting a little of everything as I am aiming for painted kill teams for various factions. I'd like to play very small scale narrative adventures, akin to Inquisitor.</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-50774848173372942602018-03-02T09:59:00.003+00:002018-03-02T09:59:53.159+00:002017 Painting TallyTalk about a fail-year...<br />
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<u>1 Dreadball Ork Blocker</u></div>
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<u>2-man Polish Light Mortar Team</u></div>
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<u>2-man Polish Sniper Team</u></div>
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<u>1 Genestealer</u></div>
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That's the lot. Nothing to see here, move along citizen.<br />
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<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-60829352114245824062017-03-25T23:46:00.002+00:002017-03-25T23:46:52.743+00:00Genestealer: A Test Gribbly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been quietly working away at various bits and pieces on the painting desk, I've been trying to get an hour in here and there, but I must confess that I have been spending an inordinate amount of time on playing Skyrim. So immersive.<br />
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I have, however, managed to get my first Genestealer done. This is one from the Lost Patrol boxed game, a rather old kit, but not too shabby.<br />
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I decided to paint my Tyranids in the colours of Hive Fleet Leviathan, as I find the pallid skin contrasts nicely with the purple carapace and the overall effect is rather striking when combined with an urban basing style, which is what I intend to do.<br />
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So this is just the first model. I've started base coating the rest of the Genestealers, but I think I shall extend the purple up to the wrists as I think that the arms should really be "sleeved" in carapace.<br />
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<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-55953644169855230992016-12-18T16:11:00.000+00:002016-12-18T16:11:13.959+00:00Poland 1939: Action near Dukla Pass After Action Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Below is a video of the section level game I played solo using a modified version of Operation Squad: Evolution. <a href="http://zenartminipainting.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/poland-1939-action-near-dukla-pass.html" target="_blank">The briefing is here</a>. The basic Operation Squad mechanics were used with only the addition of card driven activations to make the game more solo friendly. </div>
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After a faltering attempt at forming a base of fire, the Gebirsjäger MG34 team and a supporting team were mauled by Polish resistance. After seeing four of his man fall, Obergefreiter Martin Reiter decided to call it a day and withdraw until heavier force could be applied to the farm and dislodge the Poles. </div>
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Reiter lost four men permanently, lost or missing, and three will sit out the next battle. In addition, he lost his MG34 in the retreat. There isn't a replacement for now. </div>
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Plutonowy Andriy Kohut is the man of the hour, the hero of Dukla Pass. As the Germans retreated he and his men withdrew from the farm, as the German advance has overwhelmed the Polish resistance in other sectors. Father Marius of the church in Barwinek has approached Kohut's platoon commander and begged him to help recover the relics of a local saint that were stolen by the advancing Germans. </div>
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All of this was generated using a combination of <i>Platoon Forward </i>and <i>At the Sharp End</i> by the TooFatLardies, and sets us up for next scenario, where the Poles will be launching an attack of their own!</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-70305910105609397102016-12-17T10:39:00.002+00:002016-12-17T10:39:41.396+00:00Review: Warlord Games Polish Infantry Squad in Greatcoats<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here are my thoughts on my latest purchase from Warlord Games. TLDR version: underwhelming. </div>
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<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-55714104426704773022016-11-19T15:50:00.000+00:002016-11-19T15:50:24.736+00:00Warfare 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
I haven't been to a wargaming show in over a decade and that was Warfare. When my wife found out about this, she was mortified. The topic had come up as I was flicking through a magazine advertising Warfare, the show in Reading. So, this morning she suggested we hop in the motor and drive an hour to Reading for the show. </div>
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I paid £5 to get in, and the lovely chap on the door let Lady K in for free on account of her non-wargamer status. We made a little donation to the Sue Ryder hospice and bought some raffle tickets with the money saved. </div>
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I had thought about what I wanted from the show, I knew this wasn't going to be a no-holds-barred spend-a-thon, so I had only brought £50 with me. This had to pay for everything, including entrance and toys. At this point I had £40 left, and by the end of our visit, I was still £10 up! So I had limited myself severely. </div>
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That said, I walked away with a fair haul. My only real aim was to pick up some resin haystacks from Warbases, one of my favourite companies. I also wanted to have a look at some of their animals to live alongside my Warlord Games farmyard critters. </div>
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I ended up with 5 small haystacks, 5 large haystacks, and a heap of bases. One can never have enough of those. I also picked up a bag of their 25.6mm off-cut bases. These are the holes that they cut into their movement trays for 25mm round bases. I got these because they would work neatly for civilians or the odd animal. I also got some geese, chickens, and floating ducks. </div>
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I had also wandered around having a look at some of those things that the internet just doesn't do justice to. One of those was Baccus 6mm. I have seen 6mm a million times on my computer screen, but never in person. Today myself and Lady K stood marvelling at the tiny little blighters. I have been keen to use the scale, or 10mm, for things like the Franco-Prussian war, but 6mm is tiny and I can't imagine painting them. Still, at least I have them in my mind as actual size now. </div>
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So Pendraken and Baccus were must visits for me, to get a sense of size. I also wanted to check out Redoubt who have the unfortunate knack of not putting decent photos of their wares on their website. I particularly wanted to see their Trojans. They are amazing, as are their Boxer Rebellion miniatures. So rather than a shopping trip my Warfare ended up being a feast for the eyes. I did pick up some more animals from Redoubt, pigs, sheep and waddling ducks. My farmyard grows! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redoubt Boxer Rebellion miniatures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redoubt canoes, I really liked these.</td></tr>
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One really great find was Parkfield Miniatures. I have never heard of these guys before, but they do an interesting range. I was particularly drawn to their South American Wars of Independence, great for Sharp Practice I can imagine. </div>
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We had a good look around the demo hall, where I came across this Napoleon in Egypt table that was simply smashing. Such an odd thing to game, but so well done. Look at those boats! Of course, there were loads of really amazing things, such as the winter table of Foy, but I am sure that better men than I will share that with the community. It was beautiful. Here are some shots of that Napoleon in Egypt table.</div>
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Mine and Lady K's favourite demo game was the Balkan War table run by Graham of Tring Wargames Club. Lady K is a Greek, so for her this was personal, and she loved the <i>evzones </i>and <i>kleftes</i> running across the table at the Turks. It really made her day and we stood there for around half-an-hour chatting to Graham and company. I was particularly interested in how he had modified Chain of Command from TooFatLardies to suit the conflict.</div>
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Graham was a really great chap and spent much time explaining how he had got to his final product. He has promised to email me his lists for Chain of Command. </div>
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The miniatures used by the Tring game are all Tiger Miniatures. Now, I have looked at these in the past, Lady K insists that I wargame Greek conflicts. Poor me. The website really doesn't do these figures justice. They are brimming with character and with a good paint job look most excellent on the table. </div>
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One of the really good things about this conflict on the table is that the limitation to bolt action rifles, medium machine guns, and field guns. Graham explained that this simplicity in the "moving parts" of the conflict make it a joy to game. And I tend to agree. One to watch.</div>
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Overall, I really enjoyed Warfare, and I certainly think that wargaming shows are worth visiting, I just don't do it often enough. Time to go and paint now. </div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-27695916812798747602016-11-05T19:52:00.000+00:002016-11-05T19:52:03.904+00:00Mustering Forces: A Lick of PaintThe next phase of the muster has commenced. Yesterday they got their bases sanded, and today they got their under coat. I decided that I am going to pop the MG34 team on a lozenge base like the prone figures, but I didn't have any to hand. I have ordered some from Warlord Games which should be here soon. Progress!<br />
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Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-74200030975119749362016-11-04T15:16:00.001+00:002016-11-04T15:16:22.575+00:00Mustering Forces: A Hobby Update<div style="text-align: justify;">
I got back from Greece on Sunday night and immediately set about mustering the forces for my <a href="http://zenartminipainting.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/poland-1939-action-near-dukla-pass.html" target="_blank">Dukla Pass scenario</a>. I have all the assets for both sides, I just needed to get it assembled and painted. So yesterday I broke out my box of 28mm World War II stuff from the <i>Oorlogskuur </i>(The War Shed) and got out the Gebirgsjäger I needed, plus all the potential Polish forces that might appear in the scenario. Glue and the Xacto knife were wielded and in no time I had this box full of miniatures ready for basing.</div>
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Apologies for the poor picture. A quick list of what inside.</div>
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Germans: A kfz. 13 Adler armoured car, eight riflemen, an MG34 team, an Obergefreiter.</div>
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Polish: Ursus armoured car, ten greatcoated Polish infantry, light and medium mortar teams, MMG team, anti-tank gun, sniper team and anti-tank rifle team. </div>
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A fair bit indeed. The next step is to base the lot, and then undercoat.</div>
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I figured, while I was at it, I might as well get some of my 15mm stuff assembled too. This time Finnish and Soviet vehicles for a Chain of Command scenario idea I have. </div>
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Again, not a great photo, but I wanted to show that I had done something. Some Soviet armoured cars and armour, which was used by both sides. There is also a Finnish Vickers 6-ton. I am going to do most of this in Finnish livery, but the twin turret T-26 and one BA-6 and one BA-20 for Soviets. These chaps will get their undercoat at the same time as the 28mm stuff. Hopefully I will be able to get my scenario played soon enough. </div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-79310502166586510852016-10-23T21:41:00.000+01:002016-12-15T10:03:51.493+00:00Poland 1939: Action near Dukla Pass Briefing<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>I was eager to try out the Operation Squad rules that I had purchased some time ago for small 28mm squad based action. I decided that the best run out the game could get would be a scenario based on the opening hours of the German invasion of Poland.</i></div>
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<b><u>Dukla Pass, Polish-Slovakian Border, 1st of September 1939.</u></b></div>
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<b>The Situation:</b></div>
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The German "liberation" of Silesia and Posen has begun. While the bulk of German forces sweep away the Poles in the west, the First Gebirgsjäger Division has left its staging points in the Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia and descended upon Galicia. The initial goal is to clear the villages on the Polish-Slovakian border and thereby secure the right flank of the German advance eastwards. </div>
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German forces are pushing north into Poland through the Dukla Pass, to capture the village of Barwinek, before pushing further on to take Tylawa. A company of Gebrigsjäger has just stepped off and is shadowing the road north, clearing the forests on either side. The area is heavily wooded before turning into farmland. </div>
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Although Polish forces haven't fully mobilised, local resistance is expected. Polish reservists are arming and are en route to their depots to resist the invasion. German forces cannot allow the Poles to withdraw in good order and consolidate, and so Army Group South is pursuing with all haste to keep the enemy on the run.</div>
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A German platoon has come across a small outlying farmstead to the south-west of Barwinek and Leutenant Krantz has charged Obergefreiter Reiter of 2nd section to recce and clear this small collection of buildings of any Polish opposition.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_V8k4xZle0/WA0NjeBMlfI/AAAAAAAAKLU/yQwnGzFvas4AukUkeKkEbSa34ApUb8lGQCPcB/s1600/barwinek.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_V8k4xZle0/WA0NjeBMlfI/AAAAAAAAKLU/yQwnGzFvas4AukUkeKkEbSa34ApUb8lGQCPcB/s320/barwinek.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The area south of Barwinek, Poland © http://digitool.is.cuni.cz/</td></tr>
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<b>Scenario Details:</b></div>
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This scenario was created by combining Scenario K (Reconnaissance) from Platoon Forward, and Scenario 8: Recon from Operation Squad Evolution. This action was played solo.</div>
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As an objective I rolled :"Is that village or key building occupied?" The building is a Polish farmhouse, which forms the focal point of the 4' x 4' playing area. I generated the terrain using <i>Platoon Forward</i> and produced this vector graphic map as a guide on how to set up my terrain.<br />
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A simple plan on how the terrain should be set up,</div>
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with the German axis of advance shown.</div>
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<b>Dramatis Personae:</b></div>
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<u>Obergefreiter Martin Reiter</u></div>
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Martin is a veteran of the Great War, and at 40 years-old one of the senior men in the platoon. He is originally from Posen (Poznan), but when the border shifted at the end of the last war he decided to move west into the new Germany. For him the Polish campaign is personal. Martin's primary qualification for his rank is his earlier service, which is unfortunate as he is a pretty inept section commander. He has a drinking problem, but the upside (if there is one) is that it serves to level his temperament somewhat in the face of the enemy.<br />
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<u>Plutonowy Andriy Kohut</u></div>
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Andriy is a 25 year-old ethnic Ukrainian, native to Galicia. From farming stock, he believes that in the new Poland, hard work and determination does pay off and it is clear that money is a priority. He is a cheery, optimistic fellow, with a level head and does a solid job of commanding his section. </div>
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<b>Force Assets:</b></div>
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<u>Gebirgsjäger</u></div>
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Obergefreiter Martin Reiter</div>
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MG34 Team (3 pax)</div>
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One Rifle Team (8 pax) </div>
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<u>Polish</u></div>
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Plutonowy Andriy Kohut</div>
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Polish strength is undetermined, but infantry can be expected. Vehicles and heavier assets are highly unlikely. (Essentially, I will generate these forces as the scenario unfolds using the <i>Platoon Forward</i> rules. Not all blinds will necessarily materialise.)</div>
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5 A blinds (squads are either BAR teams, rifle section, or armed civilians)</div>
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2 B blinds (AT Rifle, MMG, or Mortar teams)</div>
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1 C blind (Tank, Truck, or Armoured Car)</div>
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The small scale of this action means that both sides can be very flexible with their ORBAT and create fire teams or break off individuals as required. <br />
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Battle report to follow...</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-29420551863385593692016-09-24T22:04:00.001+01:002016-09-24T22:04:21.289+01:00Review: Lost Patrol - Part 1<div style="text-align: justify;">My initial thoughts on this rather splendid looking game. More to come once I have taken it for a spin a few times. </div><br /><br />
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<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-81312792495281285362016-09-24T13:07:00.000+01:002016-09-24T13:07:00.681+01:00Where has the summer gone?<div style="text-align: justify;">
My last post was in July. The reason for this quiet spell is simple, I went to California to get married to the lovely Lady K, and as a result have done nothing wargaming related in the interim. So what follows is a short of "What I did on my holidays" post, and then some thoughts on wargaming plans going forward, I hope this isn't dreadfully dull.</div>
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Once school was over in July, I flew over to Bakersfield, California and began preparing for the wedding. Family members and friends started arriving a little before the big day. The first arrival was my favourite cousin who lives in Australia, she treated me to my first ever NFL game. It was a preseason match between the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. She is a Cowboys fans, hence our t-shirts. I am more of a rugby man, but being at the first game the Rams played after moving back to Los Angeles was something special. Additionally, the game finished in spectacular fashion with the Rams clinching it in the dying seconds. I would definitely go again.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Memorial Coliseum is worth visiting any time. </td></tr>
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We then headed up North to San Francisco, to meet my then future brother-in-law, who is a massive San Francisco Giants fan. He arranged for us to go and see the Giants play the Pirates at AT&T Park. After the intense excitement of an NFL game I worried that a sedate baseball match might prove a little dull in comparison. However, I was happily proven wrong and I thoroughly enjoyed my first encounter with "the national pastime." Between hot dogs, "Take me out to the ball game", and "rally caps", it was a fantastic evening out. As a lover of cricket, baseball isn't too far from my chosen sport, but different enough to be interesting in its own right. </div>
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My dear friend Lydia has flown into San Francisco and came to AT&T Park directly from the airport to meet us. After the game we set off for Stockton where we crashed for the night before moving to Yosemite National Park. Now anyone who has ever used a Mac will be familiar with the vistas of Yosemite, they are often used by Apple as desktop backgrounds, but nothing can prepare you for the true scale of it all. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods." - Theodore Roosevelt</td></tr>
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After this bachelor party getaway, we headed back south to Bakersfield for the wedding. Still more foreigners with thick South African accents descended upon the city and met with the raucous hordes of Greeks and Arabs of the local Orthodox Christian community as it was all hands on deck to make the arrangements for the big day. </div>
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In our jam-packed little church I got married to the lovely Lady K, whose father married us. As with most of these sorts of things it is a blur, and the very next day we headed off to Los Angeles to fly to Vancouver for our honeymoon. Vancouver airport is absolutely amazing, and the city didn't disappoint either. We spent the next week going on Zodiac rides, going to various waterfalls and I even managed to haul myself up Grouse Mountain one morning early.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After an early morning Grouse climb, I enjoyed a coffee in the early morning chill before all the cable cars brought the hordes of tourists up. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome views from the top, and the cable car ride down was stunning.</td></tr>
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I would definitively visit Canada again, I think that Vancouver is a perfect destination for outdoorsy type people and I thoroughly enjoyed walking and running in the various city and national parks. Sadly we didn't have long for our honeymoon and head to head back to Britain because I started my new teaching job in London. However, before we did leave, I managed to get a picture of the world's largest tin soldier in New Westminster.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady K is smiling because, thankfully, none of my "toy soldiers" are this big.</td></tr>
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That is all for now gentle reader, I am afraid I am very much still in the "adjusting to the horrific London commute" phase of the new job, and haven't even looked at my miniatures since arriving back from North America. </div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-64601851087095076512016-07-08T10:47:00.002+01:002016-07-08T10:47:49.370+01:00Some French Line Infantry CompletedI finished these fourteen line troops recently. They had been sat just awaiting basing, which has now been done.<br />
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As you can see, three bases of four, which are nominally "companies," plus a couple of skirmishing Voltigeur. I'll need another box of those fine Perry French plastics to round out my 24 man battalion. With another box I should get this battalion up to full strength of six companies/bases and then complete another battalion too.<br />
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Gains. Small, but nevertheless there.<br />
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<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-67807267231489043762016-07-01T21:23:00.000+01:002016-07-01T21:23:14.730+01:00Some 40k ProgressBehold! A completed 40k miniature!<br />
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I finished this scout over a short while, no major effort really.<br />
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I was inspired to play my new Lost Patrol game, and rather than paint the plastic minis in the box, figured that I could use my Dark Angels scouts instead.<br />
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Next up is a Heavy Bolter wielding chap.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-19144483795877409052016-07-01T21:19:00.002+01:002016-07-01T21:20:07.747+01:00Beginning of a US Infantry Platoon<div style="text-align: justify;">
I completed my first lot of US Infantry today. These fine fighting fellows were bought for me by the lovely Lady K, and so I have enjoyed painting them up and sharing the experience with her. </div>
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I am building my platoon to the guidelines in <i>I Ain't Been Shot Mum</i>, so three squads of ten men. These squads are made of two big bases with four men each, plus a small base with two men. As you can see I am a little shy of the full platoon at the moment, the six two man bases are on the desk and getting attention. Once done, I will do a proper shoot of the whole platoon. </div>
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I like the way they troops look and I am pleased with the basing scheme. These chaps will eventually land in Sicily and fight their way through Italy. Of course opposition will need to be purchased, but this project is not very high on the priority list and painting these figures is more a labour of love for me. </div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-47793935100974280772016-07-01T21:10:00.000+01:002020-01-02T00:07:22.148+00:00Heer and Gebirgsjäger Paint Scheme Tests<div style="text-align: justify;">
The painting bureau is currently covered in a whole bunch of Poles and progress is good. I have almost completed the figures required for the Operation Squad game I have planned. The Poles will, however, need an opponent. To that end I have started thinking about the Germans. </div>
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Now, I have never painted German infantry before, so this is new territory for me. That said, of all the belligerent nations of World War II the forces of the Third Reich are well provisioned with painting guides and I have saved myself from the insanity of painting awesome looking, but suicide inducing, German camouflage! </div>
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Luckily the Early War German army has a sharp and simple colour scheme that shouldn't prove too time intensive. The most useful resource in this instance was from the Flames of War website, who have <a href="http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=2138" target="_blank">this rather handy pictorial guide</a>:</div>
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I decided to do one Gebirgsjäger trooper (a <a href="http://eoeorbisuk.com/" target="_blank">Black Tree Design</a> figure) and one regular Heer infantryman (from <a href="http://www.crusaderminiatures.com/" target="_blank">Crusader Miniatures</a>). The Crusader fellow is a tad taller and bulkier than the Black Tree fellow, but they seem happy enough alongside each other. </div>
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The Heer chap is sporting the standard tunic, while the mountaineer is wearing his reversible anorak. This was white on one side and grey on the other. The cool thing about the Gebirgsjäger is the variety of their uniforms. <a href="https://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Ally" target="_blank">They are quite an "ally" outfit</a>, as the photos below attest:</div>
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During the research phase for this project I spent an awful lot of time trawling for photos or drawings of German mountain troops. And I found a few colourised ones. The one above is from the Caucasus, so after Barbarossa was launched.</div>
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The photo below is from Austria in 1939. It is clear that these chaps weren't much for regulation kit, and I love the way that colours change almost randomly. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPG1ZwmhiMc/V1AaOoLL7QI/AAAAAAAAJ6E/TX4ieM7sJNkeBEALfPQ-_mEd-jmCxz4YgCKgB/s1600/IMG_8760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPG1ZwmhiMc/V1AaOoLL7QI/AAAAAAAAJ6E/TX4ieM7sJNkeBEALfPQ-_mEd-jmCxz4YgCKgB/s320/IMG_8760.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The drawing below is a helpful painting aid for the wargamer keen to field Gebirgsjäger</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq7ijjgkfCE/V1AaeuDYyeI/AAAAAAAAJ6E/9joEJCQaB-wqjbBAvI1xxZBdaMUC4hgPACKgB/s1600/Gebirgsjager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq7ijjgkfCE/V1AaeuDYyeI/AAAAAAAAJ6E/9joEJCQaB-wqjbBAvI1xxZBdaMUC4hgPACKgB/s320/Gebirgsjager.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Additionally, I used this fine little volume to help me along.</div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2MHtv95" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1841765538&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=thbrbl-21" width="237" /></a></div>
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Using all the information I had gathered I had a go at painting both the miniatures and ended up with this:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lwg29w50Bs/V3bLYTlCYPI/AAAAAAAAJ9o/8D2kXxjfZRwiAqGXs4iziR5fAxWM_LOwACKgB/s1600/IMG_8908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lwg29w50Bs/V3bLYTlCYPI/AAAAAAAAJ9o/8D2kXxjfZRwiAqGXs4iziR5fAxWM_LOwACKgB/s320/IMG_8908.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sp3xrSSN0Cw/V3bLYcfbsRI/AAAAAAAAJ9o/X-ytyKDezrUoXi-rdsjqZq3t0PVpA537wCKgB/s1600/IMG_8909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sp3xrSSN0Cw/V3bLYcfbsRI/AAAAAAAAJ9o/X-ytyKDezrUoXi-rdsjqZq3t0PVpA537wCKgB/s320/IMG_8909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The photos aren't that great, just some quick snaps on my iPhone, but I think it get across the idea of the uniform. I am quite pleased with the results, although the basing isn't done yet. Once they are complete I will drag out the lightbox and take some better pictures. </div>
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I will cover my method in a separate post later, but in simple terms I simply blocked the colours, then washed with black ink, followed by a highlight. I did a little lighter highlight on the green of the collar, helmet, and gas mask canister. I also realise that I haven't highlight the black yet, but that is just a case of completion really. For the purposes of a test model I am quite happy with the results I have achieved. </div>
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I have decided to stick to do the bases of my Germans similar to those of the Poles, though I think the Gebirgsjäger will likely be a little more rural. As usual, the author is grateful for the opinions of readers.</div>
Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4238054921482197400.post-44598926410269825222016-06-30T10:35:00.001+01:002016-07-01T21:12:17.889+01:00Review: Agema Miniatures VelitesI purchased this plastic boxed set some time ago from Northstar, during one of their sales no doubt.<br />
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Having painted up a pair of miniatures I thought I would share my thoughts on these figures. YouTube video below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Eqg6PBUaZvM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eqg6PBUaZvM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Here are some pictures of the painted miniatures for the record. Apologies for not light-boxing it.<br />
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<br />Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09559298904294291872noreply@blogger.com0