500 Miniatures painted and counting.

So it’s happened I’ve painted my 500^th miniature this year. In fact, the total has now risen to 505. I’ve got some basing to do now to make sure it happens, but with the Christmas break looming. I can see get some more models done.

Sorry for the picture.

So what was the 500^th miniature to be painted? Well, it was an Aly Morrison Chaos Champion, that I originally purchased in 1997. Bizarrely I can even tell you where I purchased it as well. It was from the Games Workshop store in Coventry. I painted it back in the day to be a leader of my Khorne Berserkers and, I think, last year he got stripped in a bath of Dettol and he’s been kicking around my desk, waiting to get repainted.

So I did, I stuck true to his Khornate heritage and painted him in dark red and brass. I think he has come out okay. However, doing some research into this model has led me to realise that I made a mistake. When I brought him, I just assumed that he was a champion of Khorne. I was young and he has a big chain sword, however, I have now learnt he was just a standard Chaos Space Marine Champion. I am starting to think I need to purchase a proper Khorne champion to lead my squad.

However, there is a down side, the difference between the amount painted and the amount bought this year is quite small, and so I need a big push next year to try and clear down the back log as quickly as possible. Hopefully I will be able to get a large number of Germanic Tribesmen painted up in the next few weeks to increase the gap.

Repainting this classic miniature, and hitting the 500 model mark, has got me thinking of plans for next year. Firstly, there will be the continuing project of Middle Earth. I now have less than 200 individual models to purchase, so that I can complete my goal of having, at least, one of every LOTR model GW has released.

Some of my recent purchases.

This project also involves me getting enough models to be able each published scenario, either in a rulebook, source book, or White Dwarf. This is a slightly larger total of 980ish models. This is a long term project, that I am going to be plodding along with. I am trying to work through one source book at a time, whilst buying miniatures to bring down the need for the Hobbit scenarios. The next book to do is Siege of Gondor. I’ve got some mounted Royal Guard, an Uruk-Hai Ballista and a Mordor Troll to collect for that one. 

Further than that, I’ve been inspired to start a project on my beloved High Elves again. Earlier in the year, I was given a large number of models from a friend who used to play and was getting rid of stuff. In it was a large number of High Elves from the 4^th edition days. These were the models of my youth that I never got but have always wanted.

So, where to start. Well I made a decision to try and collect all of the models from when I first started, September 1996. I headed on over to the website Stuff of Legends and headed to the catalogue scans for 1995 and 1996. Any model shown on these pages is where I am going to start with. Thankfully, I know that I have a load of the original plastic archers and spearmen from back in the day. However I’ve acquired

ten unpainted models from my friend's lot, so I’ll start with them.

Going through the scans has reminded me of how many models I already have. This allowed me to make a decision. I want to be able to have valid units on these. Therefor all foot troops will be units of 20 strong, with the exception of archers, which will be 10 strong.  Cavalry units will be ten strong with the exception of Reaver Knights which will be five strong.

The only other exception is command units for Archers and Reavers. I don’t like giving them a command unit, except a champion, and so these models are therefore for nothing more than for me to being a completionist.  I am now going to spend some time hunting on eBay for the High Elf Sorceress riding a Unicorn, as well as a cheap, unpainted Warhammer 4^th edition box set for lots of plastic spearmen.

The other project I am going to be working on is the forces of Henry Tudor at Bosworth Field. I’ve already started owning some of the Perry plastic box sets and, as you can see from the photo on the left, I’ve already started to paint them up. This is going to be a difficult project as there are not a lot of lists or references to help me say I need to go and get X and Y.

However, there are places that I can start. I’ve ordered the Osprey campaign book on Bosworth, which has arrived and I’m going to read that and take some notes and start planning. Hopefully, this will lead to a good sized force, that I’ll be using with Hail Ceaser.

That’s all for now, and yes, Tanks are coming. Here is a picture of the Allied tanks for you.

Coming Soon

Tanks lots and lots of tanks

Dark Ages

The Vikings line up.

   So, the other night I took part in a quick game of Hail Caeser, playing a simple Viking raid on a Saxon dwelling. We had two divisions sides with a mix of Thegns and Hirdsmen. Terry and John took the Vikings Jim and I took the Saxons. Lines were drawn and here is a quick recap of what happened.

  The Vikings moved forward, chanting their war cries and shouting curses from Odin on their foes. The Saxons, however, remained resolute, fixing their shields into the customary shield wall and waiting for the enemies to arrive.

The Saxons engage Shieldwall manoeuvres 

  The moment came and with a great cry the Viking warband, led by Terry, charged forward into the mass of troops led by myself. After a quick exchange of blows, the Vikings found themselves not only being forced back but quickly set upon by their foe. 

It was the second Saxon turn and on the right flank, combat carried on with the Saxons taking the upper hand and forcing the Vikings back again. However, on the left flank, their glorious leader, Jim, urged them to charge forward, to gain honour and glory, to protect the women and children.

Only for the men to go. No. 

At this point, Terry’s division had become broken. His two units of warriors had suffered many, many casualties, but the Saxons kept in combat with, doing their very best to wipe the invaders of the land. However, with the other divisions being remaining largely untouched. The battle hung in the balance.

Do you have a flag?

On the left flank, the Vikings were close enough to charge. They just need a successful test to give them two moves. The dice were rolled; they passed, but could only move forward one move. Leaving them with the jeers of the nearby Saxons ringing in their ears. 

On the right flank, more of the same continued. The Saxons, with a plus one for winning the last combat, pressed home the advantage, but the Vikings were now beginning to fight back. Wounds were beginning to mount, and for one unit, they were getting dangerously close to breaking. 

Things are starting to look bad for the Vikings

This was the turn, charging forward the Saxons engaged with the Vikings interlopers, hoping for a quick and decisive battle, like their brethren on the left flank. However, it was not to be. The Vikings, eager to take revenge for their fallen brethren, or to burn some houses, were not sure which, cut down the Saxons as they charged in, and pushed them back towards the homesteads.

Worse for the Saxons, the left flank started to fragment with one unit managing to get the upper hand but took a heavy beating from the Vikings in return. And the other pushing forward, driving back the enemy again. Things were starting to get precarious.  

The final turn for the Vikings began. It was a game of combat now, however Terry’s unit of archers shot and took a small unit of slingers to their breaking limit. On the right flank Jim’s Saxon’s disappeared under a wave of axes and swords. There was one unit left, engaged in combat.

However on the right, the Saxons were beginning to falter. The unit taking the heaviest damage fell back, whilst the other units bounced the marauding Vikings back once again.

Or maybe not

The final Saxon turn arrived with a few quick charges and we were into the combat phase. The Saxons, on the right flank, thought bravely, and despite managing a high number of wounds, were unable to see of their foes. Jim’s Saxon’s on the left flank fought bravely, but no made indentation into the Vikings.

And with that the turn and the game came to an end. It was a highly enjoyable affair with two great armies, and everyone came away happy. What more could you want from a game. I felt that Terry suffered from some poor dice rolls, which stalled the Viking charge on the right flank, and that I was blessed with some very good roles, that enabled me to bounce Terry’s forces backwards. But’s that what Hail Caesar, and all wargames are like, a series of bad dice rolls and you’re scuppered.

The positive outcome of the battle, unless your my bank balance, is that I know want to buy Saxons and Vikings.

Horus Heresy arrives.

   Recently Games Workshop released their latest game, based on the battles of the Horus Heresy. It’s an interesting direction for the company to take. Forgeworld have been producing some fantastic miniatures based on the background that has been created by the writers over at the Black Library.

   But is it a good game. Firstly, Games Workshop has outdone itself again. I am quite happy to say again that they produce some of the greatest looking models for a box game. The models they can now produce out of plastic nowadays have come along way from the monopose models I brought as a teenager.

  Despite the game being based around the battle of Calth, Games Workshop have been very clever by creating models that are featureless enough to allow a player to paint them as any of the eighteen legions. This is great, but it leaves me with the problem of which legion.

   I’ve been a diehard Space Wolf player for twenty years so do I carry on with them or do I decide to go something a little more heretical. Over the years both the Night Lords and the Alpha Legion have inspired me. Do I go with them? I guess owning Armillys Dynat, an Alpha Legion character, gives me a good incentive to go for them.

   I do find that the terminators are a little to Ultramarines for my tastes. They match the Terminators that Forgeworld have produced, which is great. But if I want to go with Space Wolves then I need more fur and wolf tails than straps of leather. This, to me, is the only downside of the models.

   Once you open the box you get, as you would expect from Games Workshop, a vast amount of things. Aside from the sprues of models, you get dice, floor tiles and the rules. All of which are fantastic looking. I am a big fan of the fact that you rearrange the tiles in different patterns to play the different scenarios.

   The rules are straightforward and well presented. I’ve read all sorts of rulebooks. The best ones are clear and concise. The worst rule books are the ones hides rules in lengthy text that stretches over several pages. Here we get a good document that takes us through how to play the game in a nice simple manner. There is also the bonus of its layout matching the design of the Forgeworld Horus Heresy books.

   The use of cards is a great little touch. It allows us to have all the details we need to hand, without having to constantly consult a book or endless pieces of paper.

All in all this is a great little box set and I can’t wait to add it to my collection.

Back, and about time to.

So sorry, real life got in the way and I’ve not blogged in a while. I have, however, been painting. My current status stands at 444 models painted this year. I am trying to get to 500+ in a years. It’s an achievement, but I doubt that I’ll get there. It's touch and go at the moment. It's another 57 models, and I do have two weeks off. Maybe it is, but real life has a knack of getting in the way. 

 

  So what have I been painting. Well a couple of Panzer 4’s for my WW2 German army. My gaming friends and I are soon to be playing a large tank battle. These are my two contributions. They are nice models, with plenty of detail. A quick spray, and some metal work and camo stripes and the models are done. One, as you’ll notice has a tank commander. I intended to get a third, and possibly a . I’m coming down with a nasty case of Maltmanitis* and want lots of tanks.

  My US Airborne are now done. They went to the gaming day, that I was working towards, and performed admirably.  I prefer using them to my Fallschirmjagers and so I’m wondering if there needs to be some tinkering with my list. The recent release of plastic Fallschirmjagers from Warlord are a good incentive to look into fixing these issues.

  So next up on my paint table is a selection of historical and fantastical. On the Historical side, I’ve got a second unit of Hanoverians for my Napoleonic’s. I’ve just finished one unit, so the second won’t take long. I ‘ve got my colours all lined up. Further down the line we’re talking about going back to Romans vs Celts (or German’s in this case) so I’ve recently purchased a unit that I’ve wanted for a while, Celt Archers and their more hairer Germanic twins. I’m looking into digging into these two units.

Fantasy side, I’ve got lots of little odds and ends, that I’ve bought this year and not painted up for Lord of the Rings. You can see and Orc Siege Bow at the bottom of the below picture. Plus, I want to start adding to my Tomb Kings army.  It got stalled around the 2000 point limit as I ran out of enthusiasm but with the recent release of Age of Sigmar I’m excited to go back to it.

I did mentioned that I would discuss Age of Sigmar. I like it. It’s not Warhammer, but it’s not meant to be. If you want to play Warhammer, there’s eight editions for you to play. Choose your favourite and enjoy (mine’s sixth). But if you want something different there’s now Age of Sigmar.

Of course, I've yet to mention Warlords recently announced Doctor Who game. I can't wait for this to come out. I think it might cost me quite a lot so I better invest in a new, better paying, job then. Nothing wrong with owning a couple of hundred Daleks is there?

Bye for now.

*Maltmanitis: Noun – a condition that cause the patient to buy tanks in large numbers.

Sorry about the delay.

Welcome back,

  I’m sorry about the length of time between blogs, work trips and an active social life has left little time to blog. My main focus has been painting. Since my first post I’ve manage to play

two more games of Bolt Action.

  Firstly my Fallschrimjagers took to the field against 750 points worth of Brit Commando’s and were well true and driven off the field. Model of the match was the sniper who took out my opponents MMG with his first and only shot of the game. My friend then blew him into many small chunks with a  well placed mortar shell.

More recently, my ‘Mericans took to the field and though they lost the game, mainly caused by two rounds of fire from a Stuka Zu Fuss which did lots of pin markers. Despite this the game was highly enjoyable and I’m looking forward to using them again.

This is despite my air observer deciding to ignore the big scary tank but get the plane to attack his own forces and my Bazooka spectacularly failing to do anything against such a big tank.

The force is now getting closer to being finished. At the time of writing I’ve got a squad and a half, an anti tank gun, and a machine gun team and that’s a 100% painted. From there I will be adding to add some shermans in. Tanks 

Other than that, recent projects include slowly working through my mass of Lord of Rings models. 1 Eagle, some High Elf Swordsmen and Rangers of Gondor have gone through my painting table. Nothing spectacular but nice to get some more models done.

No basing yet, I’ve got a large number of models to base and I’ve got an upcoming week of where they’ll get done. I don’t enjoy basing, but once it’s done the models are improved.

More excitingly I’ve managed to win three Grey Company models of Ebay. These were only produced for a small time before GW removed them L and so go for a price on Ebay. Not as bad as Halbarad, which was produced at the same time which I saw going for £400, for one single model, shocking.

My Lord of the Rings project has two aims. Firstly, to get one of each variant model produced. This is going quite well and I’ve got just over two hundred models left to go, which is falling rapidly.

The second aim is slightly harder and that’s to have enough models to play through each published scenario. This is slightly harder and contains over seven hundred models to go, but the number is falling and I’m quite glad that GW have stopped releasing new models as it means I’ve got chance to catch up.

  Throw this into learning how to use my camera to get the best looking photo's. Would help if I painted to an Evay Metal standard as well.

And with that I’m off to paint.

Next time Oldhammer and the Age of Sigmar.

Welcome

Hi,

  Welcome to my blog. Over the years this is going to my record of how I deal with my lead mountain. Well, lead, white metal, plastic, and resin mountain. I'm a war gamer with lots, and lots, of unpainted models.

  So we're going to start with the current project.

  So this is project number one. Our current wargaming project is a series of games based around the D Day landing. For this, I'll be using a US Airborne army. We're using Bolt Action as our rules set. Honestly, this is not a game that I like. I have issues with the dice pulling mechanisms. Apart from that, it's a good little game.

Now, this is my whole force, around about 1100 points. The core of the force is 4 squads. 3 squads are 8 men and the fourth squad is a ten man squad, with various support choices. Long term plans for this army is tanks, lots of tanks. I can see some M3's on the way.

  Other projects I have on the go is Lord of the Rings. I'm a massive fan of the books and the films, so I was over the moon when Games Workshop begun producing models. I've got several thousands models and more to come. This includes a Smaug. So watch out for them.

I'm going to start on a Tomb Kings / Vampire Counts army for Age of Sigmar. These will be on a square base to allow me to make them backwards comparable for older editions of Warhammer as well. 

This is a brief overview of current projects. I've got more projects on the go. Romans, Napoleonic's, Tau, Space Wolves, Alpha Legion, Pirates, Cowboys and ACW, to name just a few. 

See you all soon.