What have I been painting?

I have been busy with the paintbrush over the last 6 months despite my lack of posts. The major project has been a slip to the dark side and a major investment in GW Lord of Rings figures, all bought from Maelstrom Games in the UK (post free worldwide and at least 10% off list prices). I have really gotten into the new WOTR (War of the Ring), and spent about $2500 over the last 6 months on figures. The rules have many similarities to Warmaster but it has a major input from character figures (Heroes). It is not for everyone but for someone who has been seriously hooked on Tolkien's world since I was 13 (27 years ago) I really rate it as a fun and gameable set of rules. I will post photos of what I have done if anyone is interested as I like to keep this a historical (hysterical?) site.

Aside from WOTR I have been very busy doing loads of figures for an upcoming campaign set during the early Italian Wars (1498-1525). Having been inspired by the website and campaign rules (Pike and Plunder) of James Roach, Robert Fletcher and myself will be doing this in style and a big way in 2010, stay tuned for photos of this in the New Year. This period and the Mutineer period are having a renaissance (bad joke) as ther seem to be lots of very nice figures coming out, the new stuff from TAG (very nice figures but slowwww service) and a new range from Artizan. I have loads of TAG, bought 40 of the new Artizan figures and 10 packs of the Old Glory range. Should be a good year to game in 2010.

Black Powder and a last Hurrah from the Sudan

Had my last game with my Sudan collection last night as I have sold it to my good mate Nathan Vinson as I needed some ready cash for other project (but I have bought an even larger lot of Sudan metal to replace it). The game last night was against Mark Piper who palyed the British Imperialist and myself playing the poor and misunderstood Beja. The battle was el Teb using the new rules from Warlord Games 'Black Powder' and I must say we had a cracking game which was over in 4 full moves (about 3 and half hours). The rules are fast fun and seem to give the flavour of the colonial period, not sure how they will work for Napoleonics but I will try them with my Wellington in India project. Highlights of the game for me, the breaking of a Highlander line with a Beja unit and the capture of a Gardiner gun however despite these valiant efforts I got my butt kicked but and this is the most important for me it was fast, fun and furious (perhaps not for the more rule inclined lawyers). Cheers Scott

Indian Mutiny figures

Finally, finally I have taken some photos of my Indian Mutiny figures that I have finished painting around 6 months ago. I will be getting back to this project with a vengance in the New Year as I have to have it ready for Gerry Webb's Muster in the first quarter of 2010. The figures are all Old Glory and paint up very nicely with the Army Painter (not the best I can do but 4 to 5 quicker). I see that period is having a renaissance at the moment with some very nice games on the web from the UK and the tasty new options from Mutineer Miniatures. One thing that is worrying me over the last few years are the very nice but over priced figures coming from small UK manufacturers, Musketeer and Mutineer come to mind. I know that it is hard to make a liveable profit from figure making companies (I had Elite Miniatures here in Australia) but charging 1.50 pounds for a figure is a bit rich. The Old Glory range of Mutineer figures are fantastic and only cost me $30 a pack Australian to my door with Old Glory Army discount. Some British and Sikh loyalist troops next. Cheers Scott

A good mate

Hi guys finally getting around to doing some posting on the Blog. I know that I have been very slack but this last few months have been busy and emotional with the death of a very good friend and inspirational gaming buddy. Those Australian gamers who knew Kevin Jowett from 'Battleline Scenics' do not have to be told that he was a great guy who loved everything about the hobby and after a game (or during) a good beer or wine. Kev was a man who just grabbed hold of his hobby and pushed it the limits, I would talk to Kev about a period or range of figures and a few days later he would ring and tell me he had bought another painted army or got another range of figures in stock. Just last week I unpacked a load of Wargames Foundry blisters (SYW and FPW) which Kev had ordered for himself and other customers. Kev will be missed and it is a great pity that I only got to know the man 4 years ago because he was as they say just a good bloke. See ya mate and I hope you are still pushing the lead around the table.

Lack of Posts

Hi guys, sorry for my slackness over the last couple of months but many things have ensured I have not had the time or inclination to post anything. Luckily this has passed as my 5 month old daughter is sleeping better and I will try and post every few weeks. I have been painting loads of Lord of the Rings figures for WOTR and lots and lots of Indian Mutiny stuff, so I will post photos ASAP. Cheers Scott

Easter Weekend game photos

Well the Easter Muster has come and gone once again. This year I felt was very poorly attended compared to last year, it is a funny thing that wargamers are always complaining about a lack of events yet fail to turn up when these events are on. I had fun despite having to do a 3 hour round trip both days and run the game. Anyway Nathan and I enjoyed the game and it was good to catch up with other gamers I haven't seen for awhile. The photos below show the course of the British relief column over the 2 days, note the fantastic scratch built paddle steamer lent to me by Mark Temple for the game, I tried to talk him into selling it but no luck. The fort is a Hudson and Allen kit which I painted for Kevin Jowett who imports them into Australia. Enjoy, Scott

Easter Weekend game

Nathan Vinson of Elite Miniatures Australia at the first Easter Muster 4 years ago

Haven't posted anything for the last month, combination of new baby, school and just being plain tired (a little baby is hard work). Today is Friday and I am putting the final touches to the terrain and some figures that I will be using over the weekend at the Easter Muster. I didn't finish all the figures that I wanted but there will be over 500 28mm figures on the board so it should look alright. I have finished a 12x2 foot section of river which will represent the Nile and Mark Temple has lent me a superb scratch built paddle steamer that will be protecting the flank of the British column and hopefully get to the fort before it falls to the Mahdi. The whole set is 12x7 foot and has loads of terrain for the Mahdi to hide in and suprise the British. We will be using 'Science versus Pluck' and I will be using a Freekriegspilling appraoch on both days. I will post loads of photos of the game and other demos from the weekend next week. Cheers Scott

1st Sudan game

Finally got to have a game with my Sudan stuff last Sudnay and had a ball. We used Command Piquet for the game and really enjoyed the rule system except for the dice roll for turns. I like 90% of the package that is Piquet but the D20 Command dice roll off really leaves me cold, suffice to say that the British forces had verrrrry bad rolls and ended up reacting to everything the Fuzzies could throw at them. It was fun but sitting back and not doing anything except reacting to an opposing army gets a bit tedious, I will use the FOB rule next game as I feel it will give a much more enjoyable game.

Indian Mutiny painting has been going pretty well, I have finished 100 figures in the first month. I have yet to do the terrain details on the bases on these as I have had serious thoughts about the level I want to play at (Battalion or company). I have based them twice already and have finally decided to go for the original idea of companies on 40mm square bases, 4 bases a company much like the Sudan British. I was going to base these and photograph them this weekend but my better half decided to have a baby on Saturday, so I have had my hands a little full with our baby girl Sofie. Cheers Scott

January painting total

Not much to report really except for my monthly painting total. I painted the following 28mm figures in January:

16 Swedish cavalry for the Deluge (about 100 to go).
60 Indian figures for the Indian Mutiny (40 Sepoys and 20 civilians, lots to go).
5 Swiss for my Italian Wars project.

Not bad but I aim to do 10-15 Indian Mutiny figures every 2 days for the next 3 months to get the project finished (our first baby arrives in 5 weeks which will upset the painting schedule somewhat I feel).

The Italian Wars figures look very effective with the Army Painter, I have undercoated them white, painted the base colours and then hit them with Strong tone, when dry Matt spray them and then highlight the uniform colours. The plastic GW figures look the part and I am not that picky about very little details. I look forward to getting a French army finished to use against Kevin's Imperialist force (I have around 200 foot, 28 cavalry, 2 guns and hopefully another 150 foot on their way by the end of this week). I will post photos of the finished figures this week as well as pictures of my first large Sudan game using the virgin collection, we will be using Command Piquet which I really like. Cheers Scott

They're here: or Indian Mutiny

Got my 30 packs of Old Glory yesterday and sat down and organised them all into their respective units. I have cleaned up 40 Mutineers (enough for 16 bases) and have started to paint them already, I will post photos of the first unit on the weekend. I have used a white undercoat and block painted the colours, used a brush to apply Army Painter (Strong tone), Matt sprayed this after 12 hours drying and then highlighted belts, rifle slings, shoes and headgear. They are looking pretty swell and the Old Glory Mutiny range is a joy to paint. I know some Old Glory ranges are average but this range and the Eastern Renaissance range are some of their best work and 30 packs for 30 bucks Australian is not to be sneezed at. I still think that the cavalry need work though, I tend to add a saddle cloth of greenstuff to ensure the figure sits properly upon the back of the horse.

For those who are wondering about the Deluge, fear not I have been busy painting Swedish cavalry and have finished 16 so far this week and have undercoated another 48 which are in various stages of painting, will post photos after I have finished the lot (including basing them. I use Bicorne, Renegade, TAG and Redoubt Miniatures in my collection as I love the larger figure, the first 3 ranges are all designed by Nick Collier who has just gotten better and better. The purpose of this ramble is to tell you all that Renegade UK are selling Nick Collier designed ECW (TYW) regiment packs of 24 infantry or 9 cavalry for the bargain price of 12 pounds (buy some). Back to painting

Deluge game: Victory without Quarter

Finally had a game set in the Deluge period on Wednesday. Mark Temple came over with with 4 units of cavalry and a couple of guns. The rules used were Clarence Harrison's 'Victory without Quarter' (Quindia Studios), with a few extra modifications to cover some of the different Eastern troop types (bow, lance etc.). The Poles had 4 brigades and the Swedes had 3, so they were easier to control. I must say that they were very easy and enabled us to finish a large game in 4 hours (with chatting and coffee in between). I like these rules and will continue to play them when we all get together but I am looking at Piquet's 'Anchor of Faith' which need proper army lists for Eastern Europe. The new army lists are being done in the style of 'Band of Brothers' and I have taken the ideas from the 'Pike and Plunder'Blog (fantastic site on the Italian Wars). I will post some of these in the near future, so if you are interested leave a comment on the site. Cheers Scott