Friday 13 August 2021

Billhooks Bash.


                                                  Billhooks BASH

          4 September 2021 at BOARDS AND SWORDS HOBBIES, DERBY DE21 4BJ

Firstly a quick plug for this wargames event which I am attending. Last year Andy Callan produced a brilliant set of free rules aimed specifically at the Wars of the Roses. They were a giveaway supplement in the Wargames Illustrated which spurred [see what I did there] me on to collect a WOR army. Now there is an event inviting wargamers to a day of WOR battles against other keen wargamers but all in the name of fun. Apparently there is still a couple of places free. Peter Harris of Boards and Swords is staging the event and should anyone be interested then contact him via the shop website. Fancy, wargaming with like-minded enthusiasts!

Like others I've struggled these last few weeks with actually painting figures. I don't know if its a post Covid inertia or that the weather was decent enough to job around in my garden. Either way my painting has suffered and its not like I haven't got a few things to work on.

 People should know that in order to pad out my ECW armies I am prone to buying up old and unloved figures from E Bay. I not only find it a good way to increase my output exponentially I have also found that some of the unloved figures are really well painted and deserve a new lease of life. Anyway I picked up three poorly painted/ unloved ECW regiments made up of old Minifigs. To be honest I do think the ECW ranges from Minifigs were pretty decent, yes in the main unhistorical and perhaps a bit too well equipped but I like the 'look' of them, very 'Cromwell' in style. [The film that is.]  

No I didnt need them but yes I wanted them just in case. Im never certain what the 'in case' means but one never knows. Usually I use the better armed as Parliamentarians and the less well dressed as Royalists but in the interests of balance I have re painted[ touched up] one unit as rebels and one as Royalists. I did have to add a couple of Hinchliffe figures to carry the standards etc, but I like the look of them. I found a wash of Contrast green ink helped make the Green Train Band stand out followed by a bit of touching up.




Finally another couple of Marcus Hinton figures kindly donated by Iain Macmillan. By the way if anyone has any 'spare' Hinton ECW's for sale or needing a good home, let me know. Iain is keen to build up his forces.
So no observations this post and no worrying about the future, maybe the painting helped.



  

10 comments:

  1. It's great to see old figures given a new lease of life

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    1. I do like to recycle them Neil, especially if they are half decent to start with.

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  2. Good luck in your games and your new additions look good. Very economical to pick up old figures for "recycling."

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    1. Thanks Johnathan. Ive been looking at some badly painted Scruby figures simply because I dont possess any and thought I should have some, sadly the postage from the US is currently prohibitive.

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  3. Good to hear of a wargaming event actually going ahead, especially a WotR focussed one. My painting has slipped, but returned the past few days and I think we can safely put that down to the weather and silly temperatures of a couple of weeks ago.

    I like the idea of doing re-furbs on e-bay figs to boost forces.

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    1. I recommend looking at older and badly painted figures Norm. Most wargamers strip them of their paint, but I simply paint over the top if they need touching up, as long as no one examines them too closley they look fine.

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  4. Painting generally does help deal with life's lemons I've found. I remember those Minifigs ECW figures, though not with your enthusiasm I must confess. Hope you enjoy your WotR day out next month.

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    1. Lets be truthful David,when we were young we bought what we could afford and what was available. I was always attracted to Hinchliffe but because Mini Figs were available in our only wargames shop thats what I originally used.Now Ive discovered the charm that is Minifigs. Its nostalgia all the way Im afraid.

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  5. I know what you mean about 'just in case'. I am on the last unit of my shiny Hinchliffe's (Dyve's Foote) but already considering a siege trayne, a camp and some vignettes for the latter. I already have more than will fit on my table so I guess the 'case' is some them going AWOL?

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    1. Not only did I paint up a siege train I also found I needed a lot of wagons, just in case Rob.

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My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating