Wow!

Just received my pre ordered copy, the title of the blog says it all. Not cheap (is any printed matter these days?) but worth every penny, apart from Graham's magnificent art work there are supplementary images of manuscripts, artifacts and historical sites and text that outlines the complex course of events and people in this most bloody conflict.

 

TTFN & KBO

Bring Me Sunshine

Eric and Ernie compare notes, this years Partizan figures, Earnest Hemingway and Eric Blair aka George Orwell.

I thought while I am posting I would include pictures of  the progress of my semi-historical Wars of the Roses project.

First up, Eddie's mob.

One more base of Yorkist men-at-arms to do, then I will return to do the same and some bill men for Maggies crew, who only has some archers and a solitary mounted knight at the moment.

Figures are Perry plastic and metal figures.

TTFN

Pics From Carronade 2017 Part I

The first batch are exclusively from our chums Kevin and Peter's (AKA The Iron Brigade) rather splendid Wars Of The Roses game, which deservedly won the best demonstration game award.

The Scout

The Falling Knight

Brother Byleigh

The Arty Farty Pic

Projects Progress

With no games to report on and little of my own figures painted up to show I thought I would post the customary review of the year.
Where did I get to project wise, here we go, last years words in bold .......................

First Carlist War 
Up next is another 8 figure cavalry unit for each side, target for completion by the end of February, this will leave two more Isabellino battalions and a cavalry unit to do plus one more Carlist battalion and a mountain gun for each side.
I have 2 figures done for each towards the eight, so not much progress on this one.

The Great War 
Support weapon wise I have a field gun for the Germans and a 3" Stokes mortar for the British, I have just finished a Minenwerfer for the Germans and I have signallers for both sides in progress at the moment which I plan to complete by the end of January. I also have half a dozen British cavalry to do at some point.
The above were done apart from the Stokes mortar and the cavalry, I have actually added some dismounted cavalry, these are the early war ones, I have bought some Woodbine Designs heads and will add Green Stuff gas masks to them, as its most unlikely that Great War Miniatures will make any. I got these via Colonel Bills together with some more British infantry, there was a figure Dave was after amongst them and it gives me another section. Earlier in the year you may remember I picked up some Renegade Germans at the Penkridge tabletop sale, at Derby Worlds I also got some Brigade ones, all these at 50p figure, you have to get them don't you? As well as adding a MkIV to the German force I have also completed various terrain items, so all in all a good year on this one, now on to the early war.
That covers the late war, for the early war project with Dave I am working on the battalion command to finish the third one, we decided to add another battalion so I also have that and another gun to do in the new year.
The above is done, however I realised that I have only done one HMG for the jaeger battalion, I have one already, Renegade figures again from Colonel Bills. I will await the release of a Mutton Chop one for the third and I really need some hussars, but flatly refuse to get any until there are dismounted ones available.

Arthurian ( for want of a better word ) 

Although I only need to paint another 18 figures now, so 2016 is a possible to complete. Although I did buy extra figures to double up the size of the units for Lion Rampant.
I think I have done about four figures towards the eighteen.

Wars Of The Roses 

A bit of a saga this one, but I have decided to keep the figures and eventually paint enough for Lion Rampant games, this is still on the back burner at present though.
No change, these figures will probably be sold off in the new year.

Third Century Rome

My retirement project which I have started on the basis that it is doubtful I will ever fully retire, again I will pop paint on these over the year. To date I have three Roman foot units and two cavalry units for the Goths I have two infantry units and I have started a cavalry unit.
Made great strides with this one, seven units of Romans completed and six units of Goths, together with a general for each, I fully intend to make them up to seven for game of To The Strongest in the new year as early as I can.

Spanish Civil War 

Again a project on the back burner.
Having said that I did add half a dozen figures and a couple of Grand Manner buildings to the collection
.

World War Two

Probably my first love and a period that can never be really completed the odd one or two vehicles can change a game. I have bought several more vehicles, aircraft  and figures since the purchase of the excellent Battlegroup rules. I always have something for this period on the stocks and 2016 will be no exception.
Yup did add various pieces, tanks, planes, terrain items and I am well on with a volksturm platoon, this will be completed soon as I need them for the Battlegroup Campaign weekend at the end of January

On reflection despite being very busy with the commission work, a very productive year, now what project to start next ;~)

 Merry Christmas

Joyeux Noël

Fröhliche Weihnachten

Buon Natale

Feliz Navidad

счастливого Рождества

Where Did It Go Again?

Well we fast approach the end of 2015, have I been productive? Well I do not really know, I should really keep track of what I do complete, I could trawl back through the blog and check, but no I will list list here where I have got to
First Carlist War 
Six 20 figure infantry battalions a side plus a skirmish unit of 6 figures per side
One cavalry regiment of 8 figures per side
Three command figures for each side
The Carlists have a field gun whilst their Isabelino adversaries have a horse artillery gun and a rocket
Up next is another 8 figure cavalry unit for each side, target for completion by the end of February, this will leave two more Isabellino battalions and a cavalry unit to do plus one more Carlist battalion and a mountain gun for each side.
The Great War 
All the infantry are done, but I still have the odd officer and LMG team which may get done during the course of 2016.
Support weapon wise I have a field gun for the Germans and a 3" Stokes mortar for the British, I have just finished a Minenwerfer for the Germans and I have signallers for both sides in progress at the moment which I plan to complete by the end of January.
I also have half a dozen British cavalry to do at some point.
That covers the late war, for the early war project with Dave I am working on the battalion command to finish the third one, we decided to add another battalion so I also have that and another gun to do in the new year.

Arthurian ( for want of a better word ) 

Now you may recall I started these back in 2012 for use with Dux Britanniarum on the basis that as you only needed 40 - 50 figures a side I could get them done during the year, yes you guessed, still at it. Although I only need to paint another 18 figures now, so 2016 is a possible to complete. Although I did buy extra figures to double up the size of the units for Lion Rampant, we did in fact use what figures I had done to play a Lion Rampant game earlier in the year. I plan to keep plugging away at this.

Wars Of The Roses 

A bit of a saga this one, but I have decided to keep the figures and eventually paint enough for Lion Rampant games, this is still on the back burner at present though.

Third Century Rome

My retirement project which I have started on the basis that it is doubtful I will ever fully retire, again I will pop paint on these over the year. To date I have three Roman foot units and two cavalry units for the Goths I have two infantry units and I have started a cavalry unit.

Spanish Civil War 

Again a project on the back burner, although I have enough painted for the odd game. I have yet to find a set of rules to relight my enthusiasm, although Chain Of Command seems to be the set that may do it, for this though I need to paint more figures to make my different "factions" up to strength. Perhaps the threat by Empress Miniatures to release new figures may also do the trick.

World War Two

Probably my first love and a period that can never be really completed the odd one or two vehicles can change a game. I have bought several more vehicles, aircraft  and figures since the purchase of the excellent Battlegroup rules. I always have something for this period on the stocks and 2016 will be no exception.

So I could actually complete a project next year, but wait what's that fluttering I hear?

All being well back to gaming  next week, a further foray into Rhanzlistan I believe.

TTFN

PS. 

Forgot to mention all the terrain bits I have to do also, can I have 2015 back please.

I've Got Bills

If you remember a previous post I mentioned that I had bought a copy of Lion Rampant to see if it could reinvigorate my stalled Wars of the Roses project, we used the rules for a early Dark Ages game and were suitably impressed. A few days later I set too unbasing the WotR figures I had done and redoing the livery and adding livery badges where necessary. One of the reasons, apart from the prospect of painting two large forces of basically the same troops I got frustrated with the different liveries, badges and flags. This time I am determined not to, so don't tell me my "murrey" is the the wrong shade or my livery badges to big because I don't give a fig :-)
I would have posted pics earlier but I deleted them in error, I have now took new ones and in the meantime have added some men at arms. The figures are all Perry Miniatures, the flag is from Pete's Flags and grand they are too, check them out on EBay.

     I have also recently completed a Saxon standard bearer for my early Dark Ages project, the figure is from Footsore nee Musketeer Miniatures

 Next game at OHQ will be a WWII Eastern Front game using Rapid Fire rules, our recent foray into WWII can be viewed over on Dave's blog, Tales From GHQ.

Finally I dedicate this blog entry to my mother in law who sadly passed away at the weekend, a wonderful and kind lady who was always enthralled to see my latest painting efforts, so much so that I had to paint a small vignette up for her, which she proudly showed off to all visitors.

Ivy "Audrey" Walters Nee Tyler

10.08.1930 - 11.07.2015

Probably The Best Mother-In -Law In The World