My first Italian infantry and semovante....

I had a right chew making up the semovante,as I managed to put the tracks on the wrong way. It is a long time since I used tanks so I have an excuse. Anyway I am pleased with the result,only the rest of the army to complete.

Onwards and upwards.

I am waiting my first order from Flames of War,and I am intrigued to see how the figures compare.I enjoyed the painting,I only hope I can continue in the same vein.

Jackdaw Miniatures,SYW British.

Last night,while buying Old Glory WW11 Italians,Andy Copestake showed me his latest releases from Jackdaw. These figures are just getting better,and consist of SYW British. The figures dont have loose arms which need glueing, and are excellent,with loads of character.
They are designed to look like Willie figures,but are better anatomically,but still have the charm of Willie figures.Andy also had a few French grenadiers in bearskin and some women camp followers which I cant wait to paint.
He tells me the French dragoons are nearly ready for release,there goes my pin money again.

I have returned!!!

The title sounds momentous but I have been really busy at work, which is a bit confusing as I was officially able to retire on the 10th March,so I thought I should be winding down,but anyway, I go on.........
I dont know how its happened but John my long suffering wargame opponent has talked me into taking up the WW11 mantle. It is years since we gamed this period,when we had really large Airfix armies with some really well painted armour, [where are these models now].
I can remember the periscope that we had to view the line of sight,an innovation at the time.
Anyway loving the underdog I have opted for the Italian Army in 15mm,and have bought the Old Glory infantry packs and some Semovante to start. I have also been talked into going the Flames of War route rules wise,the idea being they are simple to use and enjoyable to boot.
Now all I need are the tanks,artillery wagons and Foglore troops....and more importantly some time.
Whilst I have been under pressure at work, I try to unwind by escaping into wargaming literature,invariably I grab my well thumbed copy of Harry Pearsons 'Achtung Schweinhund, and read it again for the umpteenth time.
Being from the same neck of the woods as Pearson, I find it uncanny that I can empathise and identify with most of his writings.In fact this should of been the book that I should have wrote,the only difference being that I got the Napoleonic bug early on, and am a great admirer of Steve Hezzlewoods modelling skills and I dont come from Smogsville. Like all of Harry Pearsons work it is both funny,informative and full of pathos [ I should be paid for this] the book should be handed to all wargaming widows to read,digest and then discuss with their respective partners. Anyway now to go looking for some suitable paint for the Lybian desert.....

The trouble with Windows 7.

I have a bit of an annoying problem at the moment,I got a new pc last week,and when I came to add my camera software,windows 7 really didnt like it and crashed the system!!
I have now got the computer running,but have no photographs to add to the narrative.So please excuse the current lack of eye candy,I hope to resolve this soon.
I fought my first ever Russian Civil War game this week using the Two Fat Lardies rules.The game ran very well,albeit I lost,but nothing new there.
The figures were all Colins and were a fine array of Copplestone,Foundry and Old Glory.
Anyway Ia m away for a week with work,so this short note is to just prove I am still in business,happy gaming.....

Worst Wargames Rules

Moving on from the best rules list,I thought Id better balance this with a small list of rules that I found pretty poor.I would stress this is a personal opinion and I am not paid to promote one set over another [ I wish].
One set that always struck in my mind was Bruce Quarries Napoleonic rules,which I must admit I fought with for at least a year before I gave up on them. They were released originally in 1974 and then expanded on from there into quite a tome.The rules attempted to show that wargamers should be taken seriously and that we didnt just play with toys.Hence Bruce introduced the thorny subject of national characteristics,which caused endless arguments and on one occassion I can recall, nearly coming to blows over the abilities of British riflemen. Looking back it all seems very embarrasing but at the time it was important.The rules catered for every eventuality and while I still keep a copy,just to reminisce over I think they were pretty naff rules. A more modern set was the recent release, Minden Rose which I used only last year, I really disliked these rules, if only for the fact that they heavily penalised everyone but the prussians [syw]. I also disliked Kreigskunst again purely for the fact that they favoured the prussians, the only question I have got about the Prussians is,if Frederick was so great why did it take seven years to fight a war to a stalemate!!
The IWG was born out of a reaction to the then domination [in the 80's] of the Wargames Research Group who tended to dominate all wargames rules at one time. There is a pattern forming here I know,but I remember feeling lucky to escape injury when having been invited to a refight of Wagram using WRG napoleonic rules where a serious argument broke out about the use of Austrian 'masses' [ I would like to say it had nothing to do with me] the rules to be fair were well put together but were definately for the competition minded gamer, which I am definately not. John and I used for several years their renaissance rules by George Gush.
I have always liked Gush and his style of writing but the endless use of tables created long periods of inertia. My final naff rules have to include Peter Gilder's, In the Grand Manner.I have used these in three battles and each time have come away promising never to use them again. I hasten to add I only use them when I go to the Wargamers holiday centre in Scarborough,which I love,that is until I play with the rules. I think it is obvious that I like simple rules,with the emphasis on playability. Anyway just something to mull over...............

Vapnartak 2010

I try to attend as many wargames shows as possible,from my base in the North east of England.
This year 2010,is no exception, and the first of the year was Vapnartak,the York Wargames show.
Wargames shows in the United Kingdom usually follow a common trend,of trade show first,wargames second. I once attended the Napoleonic Fair in London,which technically was not totally a wargames show,but had a lot of nice figures on show,coupled with some good games. The best thing however was the series of guest speakers,led by Colonel Elting,[Swords around the Throne] These talks were both informative and entertaining,something that seems to be lacking at typical wargames shows. Now I am not decrying the ability to handle and then buy wargames figures,I just feel there is a need to do more at these gatherings.
I digress from my visit to York,but it would be nice [ a bad word] to say have an additional reason to attend a show,ie a guest speaker talking about their latest rules, a noted figure designer explaining how he designs the masters, an editor of a wargames magazine telling us about the business etc.
I know its easy to pontificate when I dont have to be part of the organisation of a show,but these are purely ideas.
Anyway on to York show......
I really enjoyed this years show,there was a definate excitement about the place,probably caused by the fact it was packed to the gunnels with gamers young and old.
The show has built upon its sucess and with a good location has created a big event,so well done to the York wargames club. I particulary liked the Battle of Pavia in 28mm, a 28mm battle based around Mesopatamia 1914,a 15mm battle of Antietam and a 28mm battle of Raphia.
There other really good quality games,but I didnt record their details. The trade was as prolific as ever,with a wide range of stalls selling everything a wargamer would want,except 28mm Seven years war collectors.
I felt sorry for people attempting to place figures in the bring and buy as it was mobbed all day.
I was really tempted by a box of 54mm Irregular Miniatures franco prussian toy soldiers,but I am determined to complete my syw project first.I was also able to see first hand the new Perry twins, Wars of the Roses personalities,and these are lovely figures,crying out for a decent paint job,[any chance for a Charles the Bold chaps!]
The food was good quality if a little pricey, and I understand parking became a problem due to numbers,but all in all a very good show.