Merry Xmas 2023

Space Marines can also be used as Xmas decorations (see below, which is my excuse for keeping them in a box in the loft): 

Merry Xmas 2023 to all!

Some leftover Christmas trappings with Wargaming Potential?

You may see Xmas stars left over from the craft table waiting for next Christmas. But I see "Objective Markers" for the likes of Chain of Command or Command Decision? (see below, all they need is some paint - Red [Soviet or 'generic bad guys - aka the enemy'], Black [German], Green [US] and Blue [British or generic 'good guys' - aka friendlies]): 

Meanwhile .. er, some more Xmas "tat" leftover from a trip over to see The Works, a bargain semi-craft shop. I see a "Road to Moscow" diorama in 15mm (see below, I must confess I did have this alterative notion in mind at time of purchase, but I put it under Xmas cake decoration to get through security): 

Waste not want not! Remembering also that someone's efficient recycling is another person's clutter.

Merry Xmas - 2021

Wishing you all and your families a very happy Christmas

I hope it can be a peaceful one

Stay safe

I have started .. eating .. Mince pies!

I think "they" have appeared in the shops very early this year! I have a theory, maybe it is because of the disrupted logistical network so .. they (fancy people in marketing suits) are shipping anything they can sell to fill up the shelves and making Xmas come early this year. Whatever, I am eating the pies whatever with a nice cuppa (see below, scene of the crime evidence - that has since disappeared):  

Merry Xmas!

Merry Xmas 2020

 I just hope everybody has a SAFE and HAPPY Xmas

Gaming Xmas Presents

I now have a new brand hobby mug to make the essential "painting brew" to keep the spirits up during those long painting sessions of 2020 (see below, a sporting theme in honour of England's ODI World Cup win!):

A new board game, playable solo or up to four players, "Escape The Dark Castle". A cooperative style of game play - everybody gets out alive to win or nobody wins (see below, a Gothic atmospheric fantasy - variations allow for three boss monsters and 45 story cards (15 needed for a game) making for many combinations on "Game Nights" ahead):

Plus the first expansion pack, "The Cult of the Death Night" (see below, ideas for many D&D spin-offs into my dungeons methinks):

Game on in 2020! And not to forget that I an reading a very interesting book (see below, which could have an alternative title of "What I learned during my life and times as a promoter of, and an active professional wargamer"):

2019 has ended on quite a high!

Merry Xmas

To all my wargaming friends wishing you a wonderful Xmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Xmas 2018 - Have a Good One

Hope you have a Good  One:

Peace and Good Will to All

Happy Xmas Everyone

I hope you have a Great Xmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year in 2018
Peace on Earth.

PS: Hope Santa brought some nice toys for everybody ;)

January "Big Battle" in Seventeenth Century ... somewhere in the 'Low Countries' (Part 1)

The 2016 great Xmas game from my Redcar wargaming friends was delayed to an alternative mid-January start because of conflicting diaries and social engagements, but if truth be told I think it was an all the better game for it. It was one of those spectacular double digit player games that leaves you chilled and happy. Glorious scenery, figures and a very chilled gaming experience. All I know was that I was in command of part of an Allied army somewhere in modern day Holland (the correct historical term was hotly disputed all day by the two opposing sides) facing a large body of angry French troops who thought we had no business being there (see below, a large body of annoyed French Infantry .. there was also rather a lot of annoyed French cavalry lurking just in top-left camera shot too):

The good guys (aka the Allied army) promptly hid behind defensive earthworks and buildings. In fact take a look at those scratch built 25mm scale buildings they are absolutely fantastic (see below):

In fact the Allied army lay behind good defensive positions and it was not going to come out and play with the naughty French boys despite all that taunting (see below, again note those beautiful scratch built buildings):

The full extent of the French Army, superior in foot and horse at about a 3:2 ratio, running ten foot along the table edge (see below):

My particular command was of two brigades of infantry and a field piece behind sturdy defensive fortifications facing off against "thirteen cavalry" (yes I said "thirteen") regiments. However despite their daunting numbers the cavalry had no real prospect of "charging the defences" while manned by my stout infantry. The cavalry were there in fact to "pin" the infantry in place while the French infantry threatened another vital sector. If the Allied infantry moved the way would be clear, if they stayed the door was firmly closed on the French. In the meantime my artillery had some fine target practise (see below):

My last "Ace" was three regiments of my own cavalry, fine looking fellows. The sheer mass of the French cavalry can be seen at the top of the photograph (see below):

These three cavalry regiments were my "shock" troops that could (should or is that would) react to unforeseen events to my left or right. The whole battlefield was certainly one spectacular sight! I also look a fine sight in my resplendent finery a top of my white steed in the middle of my front two cavalry units (Note: The generals did not seem to be true generals unless they wore large foppish wigs, maybe it kept them warm!).

Next: Let battle commence!

Merry Xmas

The strap-line says it all
I hope you have a good one
To one and all

Merry Xmas

I hope you are spending this Xmas with the ones you love
Keep them in your heart

Xmas Present Review

It may seen kind of late but this is what I got for Xmas on the modelling front (see below):

Courtesy of the Airfix "Black Friday" discount promotion when I 'hassled' the family about "What dad thought was cool for Xmas". At £20 instead of £50 it seemed a bargain. I think I have re-learnt this trick from the kids. I didn't stop there as I went a tad nautical crazy and picked up an E-Boat for £10 instead of the usual £35! (see below):

Last but not least was the Saturn V Skylab (£15 instead of £40). It'll come in handy for a Science Projdct honest! (See below):

I was then tranqilised and sedated but not before I had clicked on the Cutty Sark Starter Pack (£2.49 instead if £8), a 1/350 spare RN Helicopter and Sea Harrier pack (£0.99 instead of £4.99) and an M3 Half-Track (£2.49 instead of £8) all just to qualify for the free P&P and perversely save me money on the order!

My excuse was that I was doing the family a favour and saving them all from hours at the "shops the ladies hate!"

Merry Xmas 2014

Hope you all had a good one!

;)

Is it just me ... but a useful thing about Xmas is ...

The availability of "goodly proportioned" biscuit tins (see below):

This one is just tall enough for 28mm cavalry provided their lances are not raised or halberd wielding infantrymen.

Christmas Haul ;)

Well the scale is large to fit in with the rich history associated with the legendary aircraft. An "Airfix 1/24 Scale Supermarine Spitfire Vb Starter Kit". Time to use the bigger size brushes for this one (see below:)

The other 'name' was a big one too, none other than the mighty "KM Bismarck, 1/600 Scale" again from Airfix (a handy manufacturer to find in the shops at this time of year). I will have a bit of work with this one as I want to create a 'waterline version', so it will be out with the hacksaw in the New Year, sanding and gluing a plasti-card bottom to her (see below):

Yes both kits are totally impractical for the "wargame table", but I suppose the KM Bismarck could make it as far as the "wargaming lawn" (one day), however that's not really the point of the gifts, as it is more for pure modelling pleasure and fun in traversing "memory lane"

;)

Hope 2014 is a good year for everyone!

Merry Xmas

Festive Greeting to One and All

:)

Merry Xmas 2012

Merry Xmas

Looking forward to 2013 and reading the 'festive' game reports on many a blog ;)
I hope 2013 is a good one

Airfix Advent Calender :Free Gift Competion

Just discovered this :)
God bless Airfix: 

http://www.airfix.com/advent-calendar/?utm_campaign=Airfix_Newsletter_154615_2013_Preview_Advent_Calen&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=CM_hornby-airfix

Good Luck ;)

Note: I think the pictures on each day are a snippet of a "new" 2013 release as they are not related to the question (as far as I can see)

For WWII AFV modellers while doing some refurbishment I dare you to try this
I am going to have a go over the Xmas break ;)

Rough cast looking armour and Non "cracking" of decals: 
http://www.airfix.com/top-tips-and-advice/modelling-tips/advanced-modelling-tips/

The Xmas Haul

I must have been a very good boy this year as Santa brought me some "clanky tanks" and much, much more:

These are two SHQ metal "early war" tank kits. The first being a French Char D2 (see above left) a French 1940 Infantry Tank (aka slow), a decent 47mm AT gun in a relatively medium/well armoured body, like a Char B1 bis without the 75mm hull gun. The other is the wacky German (original, see above right) Panzer V (no not the Panther aka 1942/3) but the 1940 "Propaganda Tank" version as shown in newsreels of the time. These were (three) mild steel prototype of the land-battleship multi-turreted "tank-ship" discounted from mass production and combat use after poor evaluation reports. The three fought as a unit in the Norwegian campaign, one being destroyed by German engineers after it bogged down in a Norwegian river blocking a German column. The "Propaganda Tank" was thought "so little of" by front-line troops that it was simply blown up "in-situ" rather than face a challenging salvage. The other two were sent back to Panzer training schools in Germany as static displays. I've always wanted them both so I am a happy lad. 

 
An unexpected model kit from my eldest brother, a 1/144 "Herky Bird" (see above), from Vietnam, to the Falklands to the realms of AK47 African and South American despots, a very, very useful acquisition indeed!

Something er, French from the wife (see above), I had asked or rather pleaded with her to pop by a local retailer who had unexpectedly started stocking a range of wargame period kits if she was stuck for a Xmas present. Imagine my surprise when I get a garbled telephone call while at work from wife in the said shop and I had to "talk her in on instruments" to the model isle and decipher the right ones from the wrong ones (if there is such a thing). I had mentioned my Napoleonic interests so I suggested something French and got the above box from Victrix. This is a long term 2012 project inspired by the artwork and painting prowess of Iron Mitten and other talented bloggers.

What I did not expect was that each of my children were also getting in on the act (the youngest son too young to choose was pitched in with the wife and the early Napoleonic French) and my daughter had selected a 15mm Flames of War piece of kit, Wittmann and his Tiger (see above). This puts me in several dilemma's, one scale 15mm versus 20mm, the Flames of War rules-set is one I don't possess (and has received many a bad comment in the press and wargaming fraternity, a game but not WWII simulation) and I do not knowingly chose to paint Waffen SS. Well I shall keep the model for "diorama" purposes and with an eye to acquiring15mm Plastic Soldier products and Zvezda 15mm vehicle kits for FoW and BFWWII, if you cannot beat it join it. Hmm, we'll see.My eldest son pitched in with a deliberate and well thought out purchase (see below):

I have dabbled in the kits for Warhammer 40K, out of more interest in the Sci-Fi figures than game system and my eldest son was always interested in my "good" reptiles (Tyrannids! Blame that on CITV and the animated karate dinosaurs and 'the like' for being "goodies", wait until Tyrannids start killing his Space Marine patrols is all I'll say!), in fact viewing them as part-ownership rather than Daddy's. He always liked the look of the flying ones and thus a squadron of Gargoyles.

All-in-all a bumper Xmas haul, watch this space for the pilgrim's progress  ;)