A once in a lifetime sale.

 I have too many armies. I admit it. Something has to give before my joists do. So I intend to sell my English Civil War collection. Sadly it isnt being used and probably never will. I expended a lot of love creating both sides of the conflict but on top of that, I wanted to create the armies that John and I used in the 1980's.

                                       Like most projects I do I went over board with numbers.

There are 936 infantry and 328 cavalry. Naturally, there are a lot of commanders and artillery pieces. I also painted up a couple of regiments of peasants and will include them for free. I will also throw the guns and commanders in for free. The majority of the figures are Hinchliffe, naturally, but there are smaller numbers of Mini Figs, Garrison Miniatures and the odd figure from Eagle Miniatures. Additionally, I managed to source a couple of foot regiments owned by the late great Stuart Asquith.  

I am not giving them away, well apart from the peasants, generals and guns but would like a reasonable return on the figures. That means a fair price. So if anyone would like to contact me, lets see if we can come to an acceptable agreement.   

I will be attending the York Wargames Show unless the weather strikes again, which would be a great time to talk through a deal

                Foremost figures are probably still the best for animation.

                                                      Lovely Hinchliffe goodies.

                              These peasants will be free, something you rarely get nowadays.

                                                                  Mini Figs. 

Good Riddance 2024. Please let 2025 be a much better year.

                          Good Riddance 2024. Please let 2025 be a much better year. 

Usually, I would write a decent review, well I think so of the year that was going. But in a lot of respects, it would be a pretty miserable and negative thing and that's one thing we definitely don't need.

   One can only hope things are a lot more positive this year. However, in 2024 there were two great sets of wargame rules released. One was the Never Mind the Billhooks supplement, Fantasia which I have really enjoyed, especially building a large old-school fantasy army. And then we saw the release of MIDGUARD, written by James Morris. I knew they would be good after talking to James several years ago, and they are for so many reasons. They are fun, very playable and offer some great opportunities for wargamers to use obscure armies. Yes, that includes me. I have always wanted an excuse to game the Trojan Wars and Midguard is perfect. 

 The painting of these armies will take longer than usual, courtesy of my back, but I refuse to give in to the damned thing. I will get there. The figures I am using are naturally the lovely range from Redoubt Miniatures and because of James Morris, I invested in a few Lucid Eye figures, which my wife bought me for Christmas. Luckily there was a great sale before Christmas so I could choose a few extra figures.

  I know it's the New Year but I will not be making any promises, predictions or new resolutions that will never come to fruition. I've let myself down so many times that it's pointless saying I will do this or that, knowing full well I won't. 

I do hope to intend more wargame shows this year, starting with York, naturally, well unless the sky falls in again like Middlesbrough. So this is the briefest of reviews, sorry.

I saw this image and it reminded me of yesterday afternoon when I finally got to have a decent drink. Sadly there was no semi-naked dwarf, but there were some very strange apparitions thank God. Because of illness, all Christmas plans were cancelled, so I had to make up for a lot of enjoyment in one afternoon.

Trend setter? Me?

 Ive no doubt I give the impression that I am a wargamer trapped in the past. To a certain extent thats pretty accurate. Certain old ranges of wargames figures I find delightful and somehow are pleasing to my eye. It helps if they are painted well but I do love an old school army. 

  I also enjoy simple wargames rules to use with my armies. I no longer want a headache from working out factors, agonising over definitions and arguing about what the rule writer actually meant. Phil Barker was the master of confusion where definitions in wargame rules were concerned. And yet I still used the WRG rule books, but I didnt really enjoy them and when DBA was released I was really desperate to find alternative rule books.

 Thats why I enjoy Blackpowder in all its many formats. I particularly enjoy the new Hail Ceasar ancient rules which do capture the period whilst not being too onerous to use. When Never Mind the Billhooks came along and then Fantasia I really embraced their ideas. Basically common sense, simple rules that punish bad commanders ie me who dont stick to historical tactics or chance their arm with reckless manouvres.   

  And now I have Midgard. Well I will when Christmas Day arrives.Ive been waiting for these rules for several years after I had a converstaion over a pint with their author James Morris who turned up at a Bllhooks weekend. James's ideas seemed exactly what I had been wanting and he stressed that they would be simple to use.Everything Ive now read after their release seems to confirm that aim. 

                                            
So my sister is buying me the rule book plus extra stuff whilst my wife is buying me some new figures ie Trojans and Classical Greeks. I have always been fascinated by the Siege of Troy and the myths and legends around the tragedy. I know Im not the first and certainly wont be the last wargamer treading that path but I am looking forward to painting up Hector and Menelaus etc. I hope to play my first Midgard game on Thursday when John will stage a game for me. Hopefully I will enjoy the experience and not end up selling off my ancticipated Christmas presents. 

  

Some more Fantasia goodies.

I thought I should post the final units of my Never Mind the Billhooks, Fantasia army. I am nearing the comp-letion of the army which is a shame in some respects as I have enjoyed painting the figures, but I have more than enough units to fight really big battles as it is.

I attended Fiasco wargames show the other week and picked up a couple of interesting 'old school' figures from Colour Party Paints who is selling off some of his father's creations. He was a respected figure sculpter. I already have a few 25mm 12c knights but picked up two lovely 75mm figures.

The first was this lovely female executioner, unpainted. I was assured it was a one off and was never commisioned or replicated. All I had to do was refix her head and paint her. She was very enjoyable to paint and will be one of my champions.

 

I placed another order with Rob Young who sells the Garrison range. He very kindly included a couple of figures I didnt have, including this wacky chap. He reminds me of a Brughel  demon. In Fantasia you have the option of summoning either a demon or a dragon. Naturally I now have both options.

 But I still havent located a genuine Garrison dragon. 

                             I fancied a unit of wild beasts ie. tigers for my Amazonian contingent.

Rob created a 'new' Amazonian. Naked but with spears and shields. Naturally I had to have some.

Another unit of heavy cavalry. One can never have enough. These are Tauren I believe.

I picked this figure up at Fiasco. Yes he is a brand new figure, but I cannot remember which company sold them. He was too good looking to ignore.

          Another 75mm figure from Colour Party Paints. I just liked his old school look.

Rob sent me a spare wizard and I thought he was too good not to command my new archers.

So all I have left to paint, are two Amazonian maids on pegasus and a unit of Tauran heavy cavalry. Yes Ive gone over board again, but the project was a pleasure to paint and collect so it served its purpose. 

Warlord Ancient Epic Armies.

Last time I touched upon a project that helped me reconsider retiring from wargaming. That project was the release of Warlord Games Ancient Epic armies. John already had two lovely Thirty Years War epic armies and when I saw that Warlord were going to release armies for the Punic Wars I was excited for a change. 

When I say my project, can I now state I didnt paint any of the many thousands of beautiful figures that Warlord released. Both armies are entirely the work of John Reidy, a man of far greater painting talents than me. He is also very disciplined and doesnt flit about like yours truly. We split the actual ownership of the armies and John chosethe Romans. 

So these badly taken images are all the work of John and will be seen at the Battleground Wargames Show at Middlesbrough in two weeks time in splendid full colour.

Elephants! Dont think they are a battle winner because up to now they have been a very pretty chocolate fireguard. But I do like the novelty.

These images do not do them justice and sadly my command of the Cartheginians doesnt do Hannibal justice either. I just cannot find the right way to command such a disparite number of troops. But I am learning, just very slowly. I must admit the Hail Ceasar rulebook that is included in their army box is an excellent set of rules that cetainly captures the period and I think is the first set of ancient rules that captures the Roman way of fighting. The Romans are tough to break and their ability to switch units in melee is really well done without being too clumsy or to powerful.

If you want to see the rules and figures in action, pop into Battleground, its a great show,with free parking and entry and is easily accessible from the main roads and train lines.

            The new releases from Warlord, two command groups, both lovely models.  The big pink token is to show the camp was an objective in my latest defeat. I never got near the damned thing.