wargaming is everything from gaming on the table top with dice, painting figures, reading history, collecting figures, scenery and rules through to geography, politics, art, crafts and imaginative writing……..
This is my first contribution to this winters “paint what you got” by Dave Stone. Last year I managed to get going by 7th January so it’s even slower progress this year.
Anyway this post also marks the switch to “painting portraits” after the demise of the “painting pedestal” before Christmas – it has a nice new home – just not mine.
The portrait approach should enable me to show scenery as and when it appears.
First up then are 7th line infantry of Bavaria who were sent on behalf of the north German federation to fight in support of the Schleswig Holstein rebels against the Danes.
The 1848 war was a victory for the Danes.
The figures are in fact Newline 20mm Prussian Napoleonic Landwehr. I simply trimmed the hat top and used some liquid green stuff to mask the officers coat long tails.
I must say these figures were a pleasure to paint and I really like the colours I chose in the end. This makes it all the more surprising in that I actually primed these figures back in March 2023!
The building is total battle miniatures bought ready painted – still my favourite piece – it no longer features as the range has changed. I think it was from their 15mm range or old 25mm one now they advertise only 28mm or 15mm.
The trees are mainly S&A Scenics by Lancashire Games. Again some of my favourite off the shelf pieces.
Finally I tend not to do flags straight away so came up with a furled flag option using some black tubing and a ball topped pin head.
Ralph Weavers’ book on the Hungarian Army of 1848/49 was my source for this unit or rather legion. They represent the Romanian or Rumanian legion who fought for the Hungarian side in the war for independence. The Austrians crushed the rebellion as they saw it but the empire was diminished.
The Romanian troops came from ethnically Romanian areas that ultimately became Hungarian ruled in the Transylvanian region after World War One ended the Austrian Empire.
Again I have used Austrian World War One infantry turning a blind eye to ammunition pouches etc.
The flag is homemade and again it suffered some bleeding when pva coated.
A trim of the peaked cap and a paint job gives me what I wanted. The fact is I bought these Austrians speculatively during lock down when I was in the hunt for capped infantry. The 1840’s is a difficult period to model as you often get the right hats with the wrong uniforms or vice versa!
World War One era figure ranges are useful if you ignore the equipment errors.
The uniform was a bluey purple so I tried contrast paints and was very happy with result.
Again I used Ralph’s text to help me decide on uniform details – the flag says Justice Fraternity.
This basically clears the decks for two painting challenges. AHPC15 started last Friday and “paint what you got” starts Boxing Day. They finish 21st March and 28th February respectively so will keep me occupied.
It’s been quite a gap since June when I posted the last of my AHPC14 miniatures – Danish artillery 1848. And I had not clocked a pedestal moment since my French cuirassiers appeared in May.
In fact the pedestal has physically moved on to a new home but I plan to keep the post title for now.
Today on parade are some irregular miniatures I painted as part of a challenge I did with John@justneedsvarnish.
The figures are actually 20mm Austrian World War One infantry.
I like irregular’s style of figure which works for the relaxed 3 figures per 40mm square basing I use for my nineteenth century armies
I trimmed the peaked caps and a paint job later I got my 1st Roman Legion (who became the 10th line infantry) of the Roman Republic.
My reference is Ralph Weavers Garibaldi and the Siege of Rome published by Partizan Press. I used his text description which differs somewhat from the colour image in the book.
As I mix old 25mm, 1/72 and 20mm figures from different manufacturers basing sometimes includes height adjustments.
2mm washers help these 20mm figures blend in.
The flag is homemade and the emblems in ink bled when I pva coated them! So that flag will need replacing-one day!
Finally the background tree was a bring and buy find while the two very nice trees to the fore are from “scenics ?”. The cottage is one of my very old airfix models given a makeover during Dave Stones season of scenery this autumn.
The last wargames show of the year for me is Recon. It takes place at Pudsey Civic Hall. It used to be run by Wakefield Wargamers but since last year The Pit Gaming Shop have taken over. While it is one of the smaller shows its still a great day out and in the case of the venue you get free parking on site, level access to a well lit two storey event space with civilised toilets (yes I have been to Partizan many times….) and a decent licensed cafe bar on site selling a good hot food range.
The show supported “models for hero’s” who were at the entrance – no queuing as the show is FREE entry. You could make a donation as I did and also Pit Gaming ran a raffle.
Pit gaming had a good range cowboy skirmish material – notably dead mans hand
And if thats not enough a great range of traders and lots of participation games were to be had not to mention some life size sci-fi warriors wandering the aisles.
Hopefully The Pit Gaming Shop will host this enjoyable, relaxed and friendly wargames show again in 2025.
No apologies for pens – this was a to be played game not a demo.
This year I managed to take part in two medieval games at the lance and longbow stand. They were very enjoyable with veterans and beginners playing a modified version of Lion Rampant.
The game was designed for a balanced play and it delivered with both battles being close run affairs. It is always a challenge to design a scenario that gives enough opportunity without a walkover by one side. “Show” games are peculiar with the dynamics of unfamiliar players, unfamiliar rules and the distractions of other games, demos and traders. So they need to be interesting.
In this case the heavy mounted knights (attackers) looked like they would steam roller the bow and bill (defenders) albeit behind stakes. However in the first game just as the defenders looked to collapse the knights leader fell to his death and the attackers lost their will to press home the attack.
In the second battle the defenders were again overrun but no lucky leader death seemed forthcoming when the battle ended – so a sort of draw maybe:Exciting to the end though.
At the end of the day I had plenty of enjoyment from these games.
In fact I neglected to take many photos around the show.
Yarkshire gamer brought 1867 Italy – garibaldi trying to knock over the papal state despite French resistance You can never have enough red shirts!
There were plenty of traders but at the moment I am on a clear the iron mountain and plastic pit push. Of course impulse buys override such plans and I indulged at blotz.
28mm (but in 20mm) Bronze Age fortress starter pack made up there and then with a nice discount-thanks blotz
To be fair I had previously gazed at their Bronze Age fortress yet held off. Now though I have some converged plans which mean the fortress bit the dust or rather my wallet did!
As another month slips by scenery has remained centre stage.
The net result has been quite a number of scenery pieces have appeared on the work bench.
The reality is little has been completed.
So lots of starts but so far only one more finish since I posted “afterglow”.
The finished piece is an airfix cottage which I have repainted after its long life with a bright yellow thatch.
I have opted for more muted colour and some dry brush work.
Almost complete really because I think the chimney will need a bit of smoke effects.One cottage had lost its chimney I started a production line which is always dangerous A few bits of model wood A bit of cardJob done
The question is whether the scenery phase has now run its course.
Autumn sees me on the move – the other partizan is done and now it was the turn of Fiasco in Leeds.
In contrast to the Newark show I reckon I was about fiftieth in the queue despite arriving about fifteen minutes before the doors opened.
The dock hall is a sombre black lined but very high ceiling cavern! Today there was plenty of space due to less traders and some missing games and others, compared to previous years.
Maybe it was a bit of half term effect as numbers held up during the day?
I was done trader wise in thirty minutes in terms of checking out who was there and what was on offer. So I could then home in on those traders that took my fancy.
Caliver books and Dave lanchester books absence meant that the show was book free except for some stalls typically selling old ospreys.
There were plenty of games being played and in that sense the show was vibrant. Few straight demo/display games or showstopper demo only tables but again every table that set up was playing as far as I could see. Gaming tables for gaming and there was plenty of variety on offer.
Some traders were clearly doing excellent business while others looked a bit too quiet from their owners early doors looks.
Now I went back in the afternoon and I reckon it was still as busy as at ten. You don’t get that at other shows where there is an initial rush and then numbers dwindle.
Fiasco was enjoyable as you could shop without the scrum at many of the big names traders.
I had no particular buying plans for what is really yet another convenient Yorkshire show.
I ended up buying a few things that were wanted plus some surprises.
A few tables caught my eye.
Recycling partizan……
Ok so I forgot to snap this one in the dock hall lucky for you I caught it at partizan
Winter…….
Ice flow was a favourite board game of mine but no one else liked it so it got the heave ho – wargaming on ice anybody? This looked an engaging fantasy game with bespoke rules
The Yarkshire Wargamer presented his Italian wars game nineteenth century style. Think ACW with vineyards and garibaldis – no not the biscuits!
The French Papal zoaves Garibaldis hordesArtillery and a machine gun?Garibaldis menLive recording as Yarkshire man throws a double six seemingly to order….Earnest efforts all round1867 and all that
I chatted to the what a cowboy gamers who were typically happy to converse over their lunch break hence no fighting on the board…..
Warlord game – boardgame/wargame crossover? Maybe a take on what Zvezda art of tactic sought to achieve?
Buying wise I am still looking at nearly mechanised….
Airfix trusty old kit
A Japan surprise from EWM
These vehicles I bought from the friendly helpful guys at battle zone games
Grubby tanks yielded this ancient Tower in more ways than one from one of their bits and pieces boxes.
I had a chat with Mr Grubby himself as ever willing to talk to his potential customers and just not sell even though he was very busy. He has now selectively cast SHQ/Kennington and has sold them on request. So I need to get an order in for some 1848 Saxons!
Artillery feature at actual size miniatures. I found a miscasts box – bag ‘em yourself for 1 pound – a bargain I reckon. The owner even helped me match the barrels to the carriages! Chapeaux as cyclists say.
Well that’s it or would have been except Fiasco has a fantastic addition. The royal armouries is a minute across the square.
A decent range of traders and games means this show is worth a visit in 2025Unlike partizan (an agricultural show facilities wise) Fiasco has tons of food options – even gluten free – proper tea for one yes two Yorkshire tea bags in that pot: And table service. The wrap? I was technically late for the breakfast menu at the museum cafe but they knocked me up a gluten free bacon sandwich with some imagination-the wrap was “loaded” with bacon.
Part two properly covers my museum trip. But you’ve read that already – probably…..
Footfall measure? – last valley still had stock on the shelves a couple of hours in. But at least you could shop like human!
Next up……
New venue……Nice to see 1848 Danes on show in the promo flyer
Next door is the national armouries https://royalarmouries.org/leeds and if you have never been it’s fantastic and even if you have been it’s worth a revisit every now and then.
I did a selective tour to fill out my visit to Fiasco wargames show next door in the dock hall.
Lots of medieval kit on display Arrow storm Central armour display Dioramas featureThere are slots round the edge so you can view the diorama at ground levelA lot of figures1840’s revolver 1911 self loading rifle Swiss built Mexican 1891 design – below is up a Lewis air service machine gunLots of mechanisation Triang, minic cars, frog aircraft and sten guns…….All the weapons a platoon (German and here British) had plus the occasional rationed item like the piatA bit of renaissance Pom Pom A Gardiner is in the background Diorama from floor above I noted the two in the middle to back centre……OutsideLooking to dock hall centre leftLocation-rejuvenated canal areaThe arms tower – take a closer look
So take a trip to Fiasco 2025 and get a free entry military museum into the bargain.
Having missed the spring partizan show I did not want to miss the autumn offering.
The crowd descended on Newark in a leisurely fashion arriving half an hour after the gates opened. We expected a shorter queue but no it was still the length of the building and some.
Once inside (fairly quickly as it happens) the place was heaving.
So my first comment is it was too crowded to take in all the excellent displays. I am not sure what you do – if the show is less congested people will feel it’s not thriving etc. I don’t think we will see a return to the two venue set up that saw competition games plus more traders in another hall?
In short maybe it’s me but it felt busier than ever?
So overall a busy, popular and I expect successful show.
The congestion also deterred me from taking as many pictures.
Turning to the retail side – all the usual suspects were there but just maybe a few less new offerings and less 3d print offerings visible?
There were no showstoppers in retail as far as I noticed.
I did throw some dice at Chris Kemp’s NQM game – I failed to drive away the Germans from longstop hill…..Chris uses on board indicators to avoid lots of rule checking and I think the scenes are intended to look congested so it’s abstraction might not suit everyone. The important elements are the variety of components that work together to enable the fighting elements to launch and sustain an attack or defence…….a neat grid game which is now a published ruleset.
Brits under the kosh Bring up the artillery – that was only partially successful Excellent table set up for participation with simple visuals.
So what about the table glamour…….
Omaha was excellent giving some true perspective Not your regular ww2 tank fastOk there were some behind that building I can never resist the kriegspiel style Quirky but popular participation gameOmaha again An engaging gameUnusual subject The game presenters included bramley barn wargamersSome interesting background Some excellent aircraft Early tech on show as well Despite two giant tanks of coffee the allies seemed to make little headwayPaper soldiers-fantastic Best show backdropHobbit warsAnd behind the backdrop useful vertical display space. Popular with Railway Modellers yet not popular with wargamers but here it works a treatYarkshire wargamer with serious amounts of plate on showThose planes again! Kept coming back to this gameMore paper armies ACW this time A traditional? 28mm game seven years war? With some great sceneryThe castle was a gemYep 1-72 Greeks 1941The Greeks holding off the Italian assault Italians make a bad job of itItalian armour about to get pummelled Wonderful aircraft again Plenty of source material on show for a rarely gamed front in ww2?Another excellent aircraft to give period flavour Soon the big guns will open up
That’s it except to say a well organised and enjoyable show means I plan to return.
Nothing like scissors, paper, pens and in this case pins for a bit of craftwork.
As it happens it’s world mental health day today. I am not a great fan of the idea/method/mechanism except (originally a few days per year was memorable….) to remind us that there are many more than 365 worthwhile things to celebrate or promote.
Mental health is especially important though. The modern world makes massive demands on our number one muscle and it needs continually looking after.
So simple hobbies like craft, art, imagination, writing – not to mention gardening, music and travel – in fact anything that gets you away from your device – mobile/tv/screen is worthwhile – and which releases your creative side is to be welcomed.
Today in my case it’s creating some map pins so I can experiment with map games.
Upside down maps instantly adds to the fantasy aspect!
Well back in Spring if you said to me scenery would be centre stage for three months while the miniatures paint brushes holidayed then I would have said no chance.
Yet July, August and September have seen a positive glut of pieces appear from the pit of scenery.
This post is about completions.
First up are my troublesome timber defences. These are very old resin castings. And initially I had painted them in dark and then deep colours with contrast paint. All to no avail. I did not care for any of it.
Finally I went for more neutral browns and slightly washed out. Narrowing the colour range has helped here. I also decided the soil was just that, despite the temptation to grass it.
So these are fresh defences and although I suspect they were sized for early 28mm medieval fantasy i.e. games workshop they are my only ones so will need to do service across the ages.
Much delayed bank and timber defences
Next up is a very pleasing Alera destroyed cottage.
I kept it simple with craft paints sienna on the roof, and the wall damage, then stone colour on the walls, dark gray interior and chocolate brown timber. I dry brushed some blast effect around the wall damage but at three feet it’s not there…..
I did not take John at just needs varnish advice about card basing, sloshed one side in craft paint – it curved. Then I sloshed the other side the next day and while still slightly damp got it flat. Short cuts………..
Then of course when I stuck the cottage on plus the static grass it curved again. This time only the free end which with overnight weighting flattened enough.
The dreaded curl – I’ll live with that for gaming Blast smoke almost visibleOne coat craft paint washes used for what will be a very functional piece of sceneryI even used up some unloved static grass
I had planned some rubble or a tree/shrub for the grassed area but for now it will stay plain.
Finally I had reservations about the walls being simply hollow.
Unpainted the hollow walls look jarring and the base was behaving itself at this point….
Then when I painted them the lack of thickness just disappeared.
I wonder what’s next – maybe the miniature brushes are back from their long holidays?
The Wargaming Erratic 