AHPC15 not only saw me make progress with my mid C19th century armies. Much delayed Fauxterre 1930 or my Lockdown Bricks and Mortar Shop project actually got in on the act.
Back in Covid times I decided on a whim to try and build some WW2 armies by walking into shops and physically buying stuff! Yes I know this is a bit of an old technique nowadays. At the time the logic was “get out and about”.
As it happened I had found a book in a shop window and snapped it up by………walking in and buying it. At the time shopping was a weird but satisfying escape. Sold as a vintage item it was Charles Grant Snr’s Battle! Practical Wargaming (B!PW)
Now this book gave me a way into WW2 on the limited basis I was looking for. Also Grant was quite happy to use german and US kit for his Russian forces – in other words country kit for that country only was not that important (of course the Russians used any kit they could lay their hands as did the germans) and indeed his forces were RED v BLACK – pure fantasy. Ok so that meant Russians versus Germans in reality.
Now this fed my need for a “fantasy historical” WW2 set up. I would use the technical aspects of the period but mess up the actual forces involved and of course the countries would be make believe. Thats Fauxterre. Sorry no zombies or rayguns.
In keeping with a theme I had developed, Fauxterre 1930 started to take shape. Why 1930? Well I had on this particular journey become more and more interested in the early war set up and less and less the final years. This escalated into pre war when I started to look at aircraft. I was quite taken with the transition from biplane to monoplane. And before you know it I was looking at AFV technology.
Did you know – the fairy swordfish biplane flown by the British Royal Navy fleet air arm in the 1930’s was still in combat duty in summer 1945 armed with rockets! so much digression….
The net result is I am trying and failing to get Fauxterre 1930 off the ground. My Plastic Soldier Company US and Russian troops were my first choice for figures when it was Fauxterre 1940 and are fine for the early war period but somehow I don’t like the figures if I roll back a decade. I do like them but not for Fauxterre 1930! They work for Fauxterre 1940 so would be ok but that is parked for now.
On a trip to a toy show I picked up some bin end corgi trucks.
And before you know it I had added to my Fauxterre 1930 logistics kit.
Lets face it the channel system is alive and well when it comes to the Arts. Take York Open Studios for example – you will not see gaming miniatures on display.
As the front of the brochure says – you will see fabulous art in ceramics, collage, digital, illustration, jewellery, mixed media, painting, print, photography, sculpture, textiles and wood.
Of course wargamers can claim a few of those techniques for themselves.
The work on display at open studios is fantastic. They are clearly successful in their business – as long as they keep producing. And this production need is often at loggerheads with the creative drive or passion. Imagine making a piece of art as a one off then discovering its a best seller – yet it is a subject and technique you have only passing interest in while your passion garners few followers – what to do?
May be the wargamers equivalent is finding out they enjoy painting figures for the period they least like to game…………
The channel system is extremely helpful simply because art by definition could be anything. It helps signpost what’s in store. In the same way, Gamers would probably not value sculpture or oil paintings for sale on stands at a wargames show simply because of some “miniatures” aspect – whats the point.
So its horses for courses or channels, perhaps “categories” of art might work better. The art on display at York Open Studios is mostly to be used solely through its visual impact. Whereas gaming miniatures have a visual value of course but are then primarily to be handled in a gaming situation. I am excluding “models” made for viewing – ship and aircraft models spring mind here.
I have always found a visit to Open Studios rewarding not least because you do get to see peoples work areas and even the mess they operate in – kitchen table – often the neatest simply because of necessity or a fabulous dedicated work room. One particular artist I missed this year had years of oil paint embedded in some carpetted rooms along with the fragrance of turps. Their work was fabulous for me – and thats what matters.
Thoughts this year?
With over a hundred studios open I can only offer a very few of those I have visited.
Ala Jazayeri operates from the South Bank Studios, Southlands Methodist Church, Bishopthorpe York YO23 1NX. Her oil paintings are best seen in real life as the colours and textures differ from the digital image. I enjoyed viewing her work.
Donna Maria Taylor also operates from the South Bank Studios and I really liked some of her winter landscapes. Her approach includes acrylic, watercolour, collage and inks – truly mixed media.
Peter Baker also at South Bank Studios uses wooden blocks to create installations. I thought his work was great fun.
Playful interaction- look through the holes to view this artwork Ok – so you have to go and see yourself!Impromptu York’s ice creamery narrow boat with its own cow!
In Franklins Yard off Fossgate YO1 9TA some fascinating artwork exploring rust and verdigris on plaster and wooden panels – demanding reflection. Alongside were screen prints advertising music bands – great colour – fun.
This view will soon be gone – redevelopment in York is a pacey affair Same here, the view will soon be different Live action art – in this case wall artSign of the times – bricks and mortar shops in retreat probably to become another eatery or coffee shop
Pica Studios in York Centre – on Grape Lane YO1 7HU – lots of strong prints with vibrant colours – but again I opted to picture their tools and paints.
You also get to see some interesting back areas
Not far away at 16 Feasegate York YO1 8SQ is Lincoln Lightfoot who has some fantastic work. In my view something both refreshing and reassuring.
Then over in holgate was
Mountain man
In the reflection is a large print (see runner above) of the great boar fight at Bradford back when it was just a hamlet More work in progress Paints
I suppose participation in the annual analogue hobbies painting challenge (No15 has just finished) has affected my normal year end musings.
AHPC15 started in December and finished in March. It meant I was heads down painting for that time – so no looking in the rear view mirror let alone out through the front wargamers truck windscreen at the turn of the year.
This maybe explains why I suddenly had the need to look at my plans for 2025.
Out of the blue I created a sharp pencil production tool.
A sensible flow
Really it’s a funnelling idea with the visual aim to get to the point!
Of course I have two versions already…..
Just chuck it all in
Of course the second image could be a virtual “log jam” with nothing getting through as they say……
Hector Berlioz Hungarian March played on the country’s national day in Budapest
For classical musics fans who like popular sounds and of course just the best bits of a piece you can’t beat the UK Classic FM chart which captures the listeners favourites once a year.
The chart closes tonight and is broadcast over three days this Easter.
This year I even voted.
Radetzky March by johann strauss senior
Von Suppes light cavalry
Hector Berlioz Hungarian March
Seems a mid century marching theme is emerging here!
It’s ironic that a book about US naval activity in the Mediterranean at the end of the Napoleonic era helps you understand that US policies in its early years were most concerned about defining its own sphere of influence in the Americas.
Beyond that small matter the book is a great read and provides a superb counterpoint to the European aspects of the Napoleonic wars.
Given the US/British wars in North America at the time the story of the US naval fleet actions in the Mediterranean is studded with political and military risk.
The author takes us along at a good pace yet not without plenty of detail.
Given its trans national terrorism theme this is not a dusty old story to be consigned to a historical backwater.
New year new ideas. Over at westbury wargamers https://westburywargamers.com I like their monthly game wrap ups. Now my games are very erratic to non existent at the moment, so my equivalent posts would be pretty much empty. My postings have tended to be model or painting specific yet there’s quite a lot of other stuff whizzing round in my head.
So for now I am going to try out this posting of bits and bobs. I could have called it that or indeed meze or tapas – you get the drift.
I have settled on “fragment”. We will see how it goes.
And of course I am going to break my fragments rule by having the first post consist of just one subject! ok one fragment then.
The year has started with me picking up a number of print magazines. It’s something that has caught up with me. During the Covid era I inhabited bookshops where possible as part of lots of walking and getting out. I gave magazines short shrift as a result.
In 2024 my book buying declined – well it fell off a cliff. And in 2025 I have shipped out fifty books I have read or will never read and which are not useful for future reference.
I still have plenty of reading material to go at.
Those magazines purchases – what’s going on? Somehow I have reconnected with the mix you get in magazines and especially I will read about aspects of the hobby I don’t follow. It’s a fascinating hobby because of the many tentacles it has.
Magazines are in effect a form of censorship on the information you get. Once upon a time like newspapers such control was significant. This was especially true in niche areas such as wargames. The World Wide Web changed all that. Now we are all rigorously self censoring or should be.
A key selling point gone, print magazines should have long gone with vinyl and cd’s.
Somehow they have survived and you can even get three magazines for general consumption.
Do I have a favourite? Well yes and no. My favourite magazine is the one that has just the right mix of articles. That means I buy these on the high street and look before I buy. This is why all three print titles remain my favourite!
Do I tend to buy one magazine more than another over time? Well yes I tend to buy Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy more than Miniature Wargames. I buy Wargames Illustrated least. This is because WI run thematic editions and so it is easier to leave those on the shelf if the theme real does not appeal.
WI and WSaS have superior print quality over MW. And yet MW does run some intriguing subject mixes.
With WSaS having plenty of writing while WI offers lots of photography you could say they have managed to differentiate the market.
Quite how long the hobby will support three titles I have no idea. I would say I had thought they would all disappear when the social media onslaught took place over a decade ago.
So what caught my eye and liberated my coins?
Wargames Soldiers and Strategy issue 133 themed charging into combat. The theme is more about tying together disparate periods rather than discussing the mechanics of charges and wargame rules etc. It worked for me and I was actually taken with Bouvines 1214 – French Cavalry charge fails due to disorder. The rest of the magazine was mildly interesting for its subjects but especially Von Bredow’s charge at Mars la Tour 1870 and again in my current period of interest the item on charge of the light brigade. Despite its fame? It seems to get little coverage in wargame publications.
With WSS you get several written articles which I generally find worth a read. That is something you don’t get in Wargames Illustrated.
Wargames Illustrated 445 January 2025 ran a theme of painting and modelling.
The content was eclectic if nothing else. However an article on Airfix 1/72 in arguably the premier 28mm picfest hobby magazine caught my eye and yes – there was a Crimean article – I somehow had missed part 1…..
The article on MDF scenery was interesting in the sense that it showed what “low relief” modelling can offer as well as the benefits of “abstract” modelling. In both cases the human eye is actually very good at filling in the blanks so if the eye knows well an oak or alder tree in all their 3D glory it can imagine the missing bits of a model – enough to please the eye.
The Airfix article included some modifications to the 40 odd Napoleonic Highlanders box of figures. A good paint tutorial for these venerable 1/72 or 20mm plastics followed.
The theme sort of worked although you can simply argue it was a magazine full of variety!
Next up Miniature Wargames 501 January 2025. Really simple – I bought the magazine for the free hobbits sprue. And that was because I am taking part in the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge – AHPC15.
The magazine enjoys a seelction of regular writers so if like WSaS their not your cup of tea then the magazine might feel samey or poor value if your interests are left with just the specials.
I enjoyed the range of articles – wild west through fantasy and WW2 and into pike and shot. Scenery modelling and free rulesets always get a look in.
So on to February and Wargames Illustrated 446 February 2025.
Again the freebie won my money – valour and fortitude marches into pike and shot. Yes I have played just one game with the original rules yet could not resist a read up on their adaption to a period sometimes considered a bit awkward to game. V&F is aimed at bigger wargame battles but my aim is to shrink them for 6×4 or 1.8m x 1.2m max. Probably a stupid idea?
I did find the Black Bands for Giovanni – a 16th century italian warband a good read and even a possible solution to the devilry going on in AHPC15!
Finally we get to Miniature Wargames 503 March 2025. This was the least compelling purchase of the lot. Although ACW is slap bang in the middle of my current “in vogue” period – 1840 to 1877 I am primarily interested in European conflicts at that time, especially those in Schleswig Holstein and the Italian peninsula.
So McPhersons ridge sprayed across the cover just about did it. I did enjoy the Turkish Wagenburg scenario.
So thats a 2 month window where you get 2 MW and 2 WI but just one WSaS. If I had to choose I would settle for WSaS once every 2 months simply for the reason that their mix most often chimes with my interests.
I could save money and buy online using a subscription. I actually prefer to look at the physical cover and make a judgement. The act of a physical purchase just like figures and kits is something I grew up with and still enjoy.
And as you can see I would probably need to take 3 subscriptions to satisfy my print interests!
The three magazines remain sufficiently different to see that they can coexist. Whether the uptick in print sales across the book market sustains these magazines remains to be seen.
The figures are hat Nassau Napoleonic infantry. 1/72 or 20mm plastics.
I picked them because they have the nearest shako look for the Dane’s bell shako.
I have started to use a furled flag approach as invariably my flag production does not match my figure painting!
I could do some head swops to get other sets in on the act but wanted to try a straight paint job here to see if I liked the result.
The basing is my standard 40mm square mdf with budgie grit pva then 3 colour brown, ochre and yellow/white highlights. As it’s nearly spring the grass is dead tufts from gamers grass over Javis sawdust green.
Different day!Very messy sunrise Not an abstract Not many frosts this winter although it’s been consistently cold.Whispery cloudsFlaming sunrises have been more common I think this was a snow cloud We had a decent snow fall – now a rare event We have also had some very big clear skies when the moon is visible even when it’s quite small Nothing like the red orange grey blue contrast in this sunset
The Wargaming Erratic 