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Winter Project.

November 5, 2019, 3:18 am
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As I have mentioned before I am quite fortunate in having a 4'x4' gaming table in my loft/study which can extend to 5x4 if needed - it's been ideal for my resurrected interest in board games, the occasional 28mm skirmish and 15mm Ancients.
For this winter inbetween painting more 18th century figures I want to try something else.
I've always fancied taking up Napoleonic again but large armies, lots of figures discouraged me except for the much overlooked War of 1812 in Canada.
Small armies, limited cavalry and Indians !
So as a test I bought some Blue Moon 18mm.
The results I'm happy with

Apologies the photos are a little dark - bad light today.
In addition I'm going back to the old WRG 1685-1845 rules as a tester!

My intention initially is to paint the two forces for Chippewa and then add more figures to the battalions to go from 1:40 to 1:20 if the project works I will also paint some individual pieces for the very small actions.

It will also allow me to use the 1:700 ships I've been printing for the actions on the Lakes - I sill think frigate actions give the best games!
Onwards and upwards then.
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A weekends wargaming - Mollwitz

November 17, 2019, 1:12 pm
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I've just returned from a most excellent weekend at Charles Grants residence. As usual Charles and his wife Liz are most excellent hosts and as well as the game Saturday night was spent putting the wargaming world to right and reviewing where Crann Tara miniatures go next year!

On to the game - on this occasion neither John Dougan or I had any idea what game we were playing, I have to admit I anticipated fighting a couple of small actions, so it was a most pleasant surprise to discover we were to refight Mollwitz. Next to Fontenoy this is a battle I've always wanted to do and as I said to Charles the original game in his fathers book The Wargame provided me with so much inspiration.
In all my previous engagements whenever I have been the Prussians then I think it's fair to say Frederick has been far from Great 😀 Could I redeem myself?
A very hard fought game, on this occasion the Prussian cavalry on the right flank ably supported by two converged Grenadier battalions ( one did break early on) advanced against the superior Austrian horse and managed to prevent them deploying their strength with the result that whilst the Prussian Cuirassiers fell in droves the Dragoons and Hussars managed to hold the enemy and the Grenadiers managed to provide limited fire support causing a steady attrition on the enemy.
The Austrian foot despite being outclassed in their fire drill stood toe to toe against the Prussians for a considerable period of time but it was at a cost Officer casualties were high causing units to break .
An excellent game and one in which I gave Frederick his first victory - and yes he stayed on the battlefield.
Below in no specific order are some pictures of the game.






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Small ! Disruption to service.

December 4, 2019, 7:43 am
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Apologies for the quiet spell this has been largely due to an unforeseen turn of events - when we lost our last dog in August my wife went to great lengths to explain to me how we should take a time out, maybe a year or two before we considered another dog and if we did it had to be small as she wasn't used to large dogs!
Meet Oscar

A 6-8 month old 
Romanian Mountain shepherd dog. !  He's not a small dog and I don't think a year or so has passed but he's a rescue dog which my wife fell in love with and told me we had to have him.
Considering how badly he's been treat he's settled in really well and is responding to training just he's my shadow and at the moment he has declined to follow me to the loft where the paint table is!

Other than that last weekend was the Battleground show at Stockton - organised by Leon from Pendraken miniatures the show has gone from strength to strength and certainly punches above its weight. I was trading sodidnt really get a good look around but everyone seems to have had a good time. For more informative reports visit the Grimsby Wargaming blog or Colin's   Carryings on up the dale blog.

Having said that a couple of pics I took and it was also nice to see the return of Jaclex miniatures- I'd forgotten how nice they looked in their simpleness of design. '














Finally since I'm unable to get to the paint table then I've been putting transfers on the shields of my 15mm Macedonian pikemen 48 bases down 8 to go! This is a real pain hence the delay in putting off - but I guess it's better than painting them!









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On the table

December 5, 2019, 4:57 am
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Whilst I haven't made it to the paint desk I'm seizing the opportunity to catch up on lots of minor tasks.
Today it's basing the dismounted Languedoc Dragoons. I really like these figures 😀 And Steve Allen has done a nice job on the painting.
Tomorrow I'm hoping to start on the horses for the next two squadrons of the Saxon Cuirassiers.


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Seasons Greetings - Those were the years.

December 27, 2019, 11:55 am
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Well I hope you have all had an enjoyable festive break, I had hoped to get a couple of posts in before but many things prevented it.

My daughter requested a couple of photos of herself when she was little to show her daughters and whilst sorting I found a pile of photos of all the demo games I have put on over the years with Gordon and Lee - I don't intend to bore you with them all but selected a few pics at random.
All of the games bring back fond memories for one reason or the other and I can honestly say that all the collections featured have gone - some pieces to the far corners of the world!

Regrets ? none - the armies were painted and built for a reason and saw good service and provided much enjoyment but I could see no reason to horde for the sake of it. For example the War of the Roses collection after being used for Stoke |Filed in 1987 sat in their boxes for almost 13 years before I decide to sell.
Any way without further ado.

First up out very first demo game Marston Moor in 15mm using Minifigs and Peter Laing (the minifigs were the originals on strips!) Must have been late 70's - I had to go to work for four hours 6-10 and dad got up when I went to work to finish flocking the figures bases!
All the figures were painted by me and terrain by Gordon
Next up a few pics from our Battler of the Boyne game at the Sheffield Triples can't remember the year.
Then there were a couple of impressive pieces Gordon did one was our take on the Charles Grant Scenario of the Romans crossing the Rhine and the other was a Medieval siege


Possibly one of my favourites an Indian Mutiny game we cobbled together for one of the Warcon weekends - great show and this was the games only outing



Finally a couple of pics of the afore mentioned War of the Roses Battle of Stoke Field at Partizan in 1987. We started with Bosworth in 1985, then Tewkesbury and finished with Stoke.
That's a pretty impressive number of figures painted over the years by Lee and I!!!
But no regrets just good memories.
I have noticed on quite a few blogs some of us oldies talking about focus, getting rid of some of the lead etc. as most of you know I've been doing that for some time and pretty much all the 28's other than my own range have gone..
doesn't stop me dabbling ass I dip my toe into a few periods in 15mm but the key is to focus on a main project to completion something I doubt I will ever learn :)

Can I wish you all the Best wishes for 2020 and may your dice always roll high ( unless you really need a one)






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Happy New Year - Let's keep moving forward

January 2, 2020, 7:58 am
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Happy New Year to you all. I hope you have all had a decent festive break and that this year is kind to you all.

I know a lot of  people tend to look back at what they've achieved or not and whilst it's important to always know where we've come from and how we got here, I tend to think that looking forward is where the time should be spent!

If I started looking back I'd only get worked up on what I didn't do anyway 🤣

My main priority for this year has to be finishing the Jacobite project, I need to finish the forces for Culloden and add some individually based units for some of the smaller actions I intend to fight.

Charles Grants forthcoming book on small actions of the Seven Years War will see me painting Freikorps, Hussars etc to fight these actions and it will be nice to see some of the exotic and colourful pieces get a real purpose.

This year will also see me take Crann Tara full on itnomthe French Indian War and I would really like to try and paint these units as they are made, with the forthcoming release of  the second edition of musket and tomahawks I'm really looking forward to getting back into this - but on this occasion using my own figures 😀

As you are aware I've spent the last few years disposing of large chunks of my 28mm collections and terrain partly as an exercise in refocusing and reducing the number of periods etc I play.

I aim to continue painting the 15mm Ancients, War of 1812 and ACW as side shows - with the exception of the Ancient- I'm painting figures for set battles/scenarios and upon completion will move onto the next ( eating the elephant) (can I still say that?)

I would also like to find some more time to getting back to some board gaming - I have a pretty good collection of games and they can provide a nice diversion to figure gaming.

I the meantime here's a couple of pics of pieces that I've finished basing.
The Austrians are a full battalion of resin printed figures - that includes the Mounted Officer - they've painted up ok I think.



Then there's the dismounted Languedoc Dragoons - the horse holders are on the bench. These chaps will be seeing action shortly!




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Workbench cornucopia

January 20, 2020, 6:27 am
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As is my usual m.o. I keep my interest and mojo! going by doing a variety of projects so since New Year I've spent some time doing 3d printing -
In 15mm the Hummelbaugh farm from Gettysburg, and some Viking Longboats

In 28mm I've started printing the Trostle House from Gettysburg. I'm also determined to finish the Jacobite rebellion project this year so I'm back to painting Highlanders.


I also couldn't resist trying some of museum miniatures new 15mm Z range Greek hoplites - these guys are computer designed, moulded and cast in metal. They are lovely to say the least I also got a few Indians to add to my army - excellent.
Couldn't resist doing them as Spartans in homage to the original 300 Spartans movie 😀



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This War Without an Enemy

January 21, 2020, 9:48 am
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Steve and I dabbling with doing some ECW !!! and were discussing a campaign system, now it's not often I point people to purchases etc but this Kickstarter looks interesting and the graphics are nice etc.
It may adapt very nicely to a campaign for figures.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/483438961/this-war-without-an-enemy/description

It's only running two weeks but for those ECW enthusiasts maybe worth a check?

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Lots of new toys

January 28, 2020, 1:39 pm
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Today saw me receive 32 kilos of metal from Griffin moulds! That's a lot of figures believe me.
The vast majority are the new releases for Crann Tara Miniatures- the biggest addition being Scheithers Freikorps to accompany Charles Grants forthcoming book on small actions of the Seven Years War.
With the upcoming release of the second edition of Musket and Tomahawks and the ever popular Sharpes Practice I can see me painting quite a few of these to play some alternate Seven Years War battles.






In addition Richard also made the first two,pieces for my charging French Infantry - I can see me putting these to good use in the French Indian War - speaking of which work has started on the Hurons.🤣
I guess one advantage of having your own figure company is that you can indulge yourself a little - to that end I did some conversions - Government Highland Grenadiers and French Dragoons ( Mounted and dismounted) in tricorns. Now whilst the Highlanders are nowhere as near as good as Richards Sculpts I'm happy with them and they will fill some gaps all in all quite a good end to the month - next task is to paint some!





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Off the bench

February 6, 2020, 6:40 am
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Whilst I'm printing some 40mm Napoleonic Naval gunners for Ian Smith I've taken the opportunity to base up some figures ( don't like to work in the same room as the resin printer fumes aren't pleasant)
So I've based up the first of what will be my Dutch contingent for the WAS - I've used the generic Musketeer from my range and converted a couple of figures for command and will get some cast.
Steve Allen did me proud in painting up some of the new French Marines for the French Indian War so these with the forthcoming Mohicans and Hurons will start to set me up nicely for second edition Musket and Tomahawks



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French Indian War

February 15, 2020, 2:15 pm
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Some great progress on this front has been made. Jim in his Fife and Drum range commissioned Richard to do Mohawks for the AWI Saratoga campaign, these chaps will also serve for the FIW and I will be stocking them.
As a result Richard focused on doing Huron’s for me they will be finished for me this weekend ( photos show the Huron’s still needing work on the leggings)
Both of these sets should be available by the end of March and I have started putting some pre.order offers on the web site.
Next up will be the Rangers and a few Provincials.
First up the Mohawks



Then the almost complete Huron’s 







Finally the remainder of the charging French Regulars


Exciting times 



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Back to the printer

February 23, 2020, 9:14 am
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i haven't really done any printing on the Prusa for a while so this week has been a bit of a full on event.
I finished the barracks for the Vauban - this guy is big and I've printed at 90% of normal ! There are also som extension pieces ( stables etc ) that I aim to do.


I think I need to get the rest of the fortress finished!
I've also been printing some 15mm ACW stuff for my sons forthcoming visit in March I've done a couple of farms and barns, stone walls but this weekend thought I'd do a covered bridge. - not finished yet still printing the roof but I think it's going to look pretty good.

In between all this been painting mote Highlanders! But the Mowhawks arrive next week and I feel a diversion coming on 🤣

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InterestIng times!!! What's on the bench?

March 18, 2020, 1:09 pm
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So I'm not going to ramble on about the current crisis and is it over reacting or not - bottom line is whatever the issue a lot of people are going to suffer.
So now that Salute is cancelled and I suspect most other shows until at least July/August then as far as the business is concerned the pressure is off in terms of show prep and as long as the money comes in then business will continue.
The paint bench is back to its messy self and this weekend there will be a tidy up, priority is the Jacobites and my new French Indian War figures.

I was due to go to Charles Grants this weekend for a couple of games that will appear in his forthcoming book however we have decided to cancel that, but on the upside we are doing a pbm event instead so tonight over a malt I shall be pondering over the maps and issuing orders for my Hanoverian force.

In addition Alex Burns on the Seven Years War convention Facebook page was looking for volunteers to sign up for a PBM game of the Jacobite Rebellion how could I resist - kicks off Sunday.

Finally I think this Kickstarter is worth a bit of  a highlight https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1527901373/steel-fist-miniatures-english-civil-war-in-15mm/comments
Oliver James is a self taught sculptor and these 15mm are super and compatible with Peter Pig, there's a few days left so be tempted.

Keep safe everyone and at least our hobby is very conducive to self isolation 😀






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Action at Oberelsungen

March 25, 2020, 2:00 pm
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I mentioned in my last post that I was due to meet John Dougan at Charles Grants last weekend to fight a couple of 'small actions' for his forthcoming publication.

As we had already decided to cancel Charles suggested a PBM so I found myself in command of a Hanoverian advance guard consisting of Freytag Jaegers ( mounted and on foot), 2 quadrons ofvScots Greys, 2 squadrons of 4th Dragoons and Grenadiers and Highlanders.

The Jaegers were already on table the remainder of the column had a variable arrival. What lay before me was unknown but the task was to take the village as swiftly as possible and inflict damage on the French rearguard.

I don't intend to disclose what happened as the engagement will be published, Charles sent regular reports with photos ( one of which appears below).

Over 20 bounds were played and I'd forgotten how good PBM games are, limited intelligence only reacting to what you're told or can see from the photos all damn good fun and of course Charles enjoyed himself.

With regards the other PBM based on the Jacobite rebellion I've ended up as General Cope, currently sitting in the highlands looking for Jacobites 🤣.
I hope to start catching up on some painting- I anticipate a full lock down shortly judging by the number of idiots who have decided to ignore Government advice. Even locally the Police were abused by people walking on the seafront when being advised to conform. 
A generation of people who have just done what they want and when and can see no reason to change because they only think of themselves.
Rant over

Keep safe and carry on painting




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Time well spent

April 1, 2020, 8:24 am
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in between clearing orders for Crann Tara I've seized the opportunity to catch up on a number of things that need finishing.
I am hoping to bring my Culloden project to a close this year and put the game on at the Other Partizan to that end today I've finished and based another 48 Highlanders - puts me past the half way point somtheres still a bit of a mountain to climb but the next set is on the desk.
I usually paint these in groups of 16-20 figures and then when I have 3 or 4 sets done I mix them up in the basing process!





So whilst more tartans are being painted next up will be the horses forvtwo more squadrons of Saxon Cuirassiers - at least my paint stock levels are high! 

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More progress

April 12, 2020, 6:53 am
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Continuing to seize the moment to finish all the bits and pieces that have been on the bench for too long as well as painting some new pieces.
This week I managed to do the horses and base up the second 12 Saxon Cuirassiers which now completes the regiment.
Likewise I did the horses for the charging General vignette.
New pieces I finished off painting the Fife and Drum Mowhawks which are available in my web shop (next up Huron’s) and in the background you will see another 20 highlanders have been completed.
The next 20 are on the bench - a further 20 will follow and then the 60 figures will be mixed up and based!
The photos never end up how they’re supposed to - apologies







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A game at last

April 26, 2020, 9:59 am
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After much last minute painting ( incl 24 figures in two and half hours) I managed to pull together enough 15mm figures to do the first scenario of my Gettysburg project!

The game pits Archers and Davis’ brigades of the Confederate army against Cutler and Meredith of the Union.

The game starts after Bufords cavalry have withdrawn. The Union have the Iron Brigade who are all rated elite and slightly better command and control ( I was using Pickett’s charge for the first time so the confederates lacked a commander so only 2 staff officers)
I’ve only taken a couple of pictures as my son and I got too engrossed.

Off board Confederate artillery proved to be annoying  the 5 four gun batteries even at long range kept adding niggling casualties which in the long run hurt the small units in Cutlers brigade.

The 42nd Mississippians got chewed up as in real life , but this time they didn’t quite make it to the railway cut.

As it was Davis’ brigade managed to force Cutler back to the base line, the brigade just about held even though they’d lost half of their regiments and the remainder were pretty roughly handled.

I didn’t do justice with the Iron brigade  - a couple of failed command rolls, but they pushed Davis’s brigade back over Willoughby run and pretty much fought each other to a stand still so at the end of the game both sides held pretty much the ground as in real life.

So now to paint some additional troops and resume the Confederate attack at 2.30!



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Bits and pieces

May 9, 2020, 12:13 pm
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last week my son and I played a couple of games of Command and Colours AWI, he enjoyed it and asked if we could do more but link it to something.
Therefore starting this week I'm using Give Me Liberty as the framework for a campaign setting and using the Command and Colours to fight the battles. I just need to give some though  to translating it over but should be good fun.
More pics next week as we kick the campaign off.
In addition I thought it was about time I returned to somevresin printing, Dan has done a great job on some Prussian Jaegers for me - printed these and then realised I'd missed one ! 



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New figures to play with

May 23, 2020, 7:43 am
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Well whilst this post is about some new pieces for my Crann Tara range they are here as some will be hitting the paint bench immediately.

Rogers Rangers are Richards latest sculpts for me and I'm pleased with these. So a unit is undercoated and on the bench. He also did some Provincials for me so once production moulds are done they will be appearing. Why one figure different to the rest - easy he moved into the wrong pile of figures and as I'd taken stock to the hub I didn't have a spare to ink up!!!







The Culloden project moves on - I've finished another 12 bases of Highlanders - just 22 more bases to go -(around 100 figures) so the September deadline is still on track- lets see.
Keep safe everyone this madness isn't over yet.
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It's arrived

May 26, 2020, 10:44 am
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Charles Grants new book 'Refighting History Volume 8 - The Seven Years War Western Theatre, small actions' was released a couple of weeks ago and on Monday 18th Dave Ryan at Caliver books duly posted the initial orders first class post.

Well I've sat all week waiting for mine, reading everyone's comments on forums etc about how good it was, even Arno ,who lives in Germany, who has sketched the wonderful illustrations in the book received his on Monday.

Just as I was about to give up Royal Mail delivered today!




Now I haven't read this yet but Charles never fails to deliver, in this one there's 192 pages of quality. 9 actions are refought the majority using Charles' rules with suitable tweaks but Sharpes practice receives a nod and would be eminently suitable

The Little Wars of the Seven Years War are often overlooked in particular those in the Western Theatre so here's an opportunity to engage in actions involving French light troops against Hanoverian Jaegers, Highlanders etc and avoid having to paint hundreds of figures for thecset piece battles.
Now of course I'm totally biased as a lot of my figures appear in the book, I had great pleasure in making a lot of the troops required for the actions.
So tonight sitting down with a malt and having a good read.
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