Galleys

 Possibly one of the smallest ships I have painted for some time (around 1cm long) , these galleys have been in my collection for 10 years or more as a sample purchase for looking at scales for galley warfare during the Greek wars. I have painted them for “The Wargamers Forum” summer build which finishes next week. I hope to also complete some other naval pieces for the build also. 

Not sure what rules to use, but will complete my larger ships first before I dive into researching rulesets as I would prefer small fleet actions rather than huge battles. 

Cheers

Matt

Gestapo types

  I was looking for some pieces from my drawer of 20mm bits (I was looking for some MMGs  and 81mm mortars) and found these lurkers in one of the box’s and decided to get some paint on them whilst I am on holidays. 

I think they are Battlefield miniatures a simple job of grey, black and brown, a wash and then highlight. I elected to do simple dirt basing which can double for streetscape or countryside. They can work for armed civilians, secret service types or gestapo. Happy with the results 

Cheers

Matt

Photo Booth upgrade

You may of noticed over the last few weeks I finally updated my Photo Booth which I have been putting off for some time. We happened to be in IKEA recently and I spotted a ideal box size and when I returned home I decided to order some model railway backgrounds terrain, buildings and sky.  When they arrived I placed them onto cardboard backing and printed a science fiction one also while I was at it. 

I then purchased some daylight serial led light strips form our local €2 shop. I assembled the box, added the removable backgrounds, and then tried a few photos and worked out I needed to lift the models to blend in better with the shrubbery or buildings in the background. So I then decided to build a platform to lift the models to blend in better with the backgrounds, adding flock the base to match my basing. Also I built a small pin platform so my aircraft and space ship models could be lifted up too. 

Really happy with the improvements, although I could of purchased a bigger box for artillery limbers and large regiments …… next one I guess. 

Cheers

Matt

Prussian Artillery

 Completed a Prussian artillery battery from the Prusse Regiment, the white epaulettes are the only distinctive element from 1812-14. Miniatures are 28mm from the Elite Miniatures range and are part of my second Division for my 1812-15 army.

Cheers

Matt

Scottish Archers unit 4

 Scottish archers 

My third unit for my later Scottish HYW army, again plastics from Perry Miniatures, based for impetus or Test of Resolve. Two more units to go, then onto man at arms and nobles. 

Cheers 

Matt

Scottish Archers unit 3

 Another archer unit off the desk, for this unit I have painted a Saint Andrew on the cross on the banner, not historical at this time (much later). 

Two more units to go, again perry miniatures 

Cheers

Matt

Norman casualty markers

Casualty Markers 

I have commenced holidays for two weeks and now have an opportunity to complete some workbench projects. First up some Norman mounted casualties from conquest games, they have been in my project drawers for a long time! 

 

Wip Wednesday ww2 buildings

Work in Progress Buildings 

 Back to upgrading some buildings this week as I want to start basing and adding walls and outbuildings, gardens etc to my layout. I have about thirty to refurbish for my Mayenne/city table, some will not take much, other need a lot of work. I have been breaking up bricks, cork and tinting kitty litter with washes to make bags of rubble. 

First up a old warrior, possibly 20 years old, I have a number of these I think from Queens Hussar (could be wrong) I will bring the brick up to the normal bright red orange of our region, then add a few bits of interior pieces, damage, rubble, signage then add the yard and out buildings on a base to fit my town tiles. 

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday - Hay Stacks

 Hay Stacks 

I have been meaning to paint these for some time, the first 4 are complete and I have 16 more to complete the lot. Quite happy with the result and they match my fields (door mat) much more to come 

Cheers

Matt

HYW Scottish Archers unit two

 I have finally commenced my Scottish Archers for the battles of Fresnay, Baugé and Verneuil. I have 30 to complete them before I start the MAA. 

Again from the Perry range of miniatures, I have painted them with the recorded badges of red field with yellow saint Andrew’s cross. I am planning a big anniversary game next year so

I had best get a wriggle on and complete some more foot. 

Scottish Archers

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday -modern courier station

 Courier despatch building 

Completed the first of my model train HO scale modern buildings, I am quite happy with the result, I would like to add signage from 1980s West Germany, I was thinking Hermes perhaps. Also thinking about a magnetic one so I switch it out for several locations . 

I commenced by painting the brick with red and and the concrete in grey. I then used a sponge to put splotch's with lighter colours. Then a ink wash to bring it together. I then use Tamiya weathering paste and made a heavy wash to push into the brick work, then wiped off with a QTip working in sections, the guttering, down pipes and windows then were done. Finally a green wash to show moss then some flowers and shrubs. I made the roofs removable for figure placement. 

I am considering also building a security fenced yard and carpark, plus add box’s pallets etc and a garbage bin. 

Onto the next lot, iconic WW2 DDay buildings next. 

Cheers

Matt 

Whiskey on the Rocks -Cold War Wargaming Weekend event

 

French Wargame Holidays Wargames 

Campaign Weekend May 2024

Summer 1981 - “Admiral Ivan Kapitanets was relieved the briefing was over, finally the commands to launch the offensive against the West.  The political animal Major General Vladimir Platov’s 11th Guards army is to take the Swedish mainland. The Naval Infantry to the island of Gotland; the key to the eastern Baltic. Then there establish the installation of  Surface to Air missile batteries, controlling  the skies over the baltic and Northern Europe.” The Russians are coming….

I have been thinking about the Cold War and new Wargame to open the 2024 Wargame Holidays.  A Long weekend of Cold War Wargaming. The weekend gaming scenario - “What if the invasion of Gotland circa October 1981?  For those with long memories a Soviet Nuclear Whiskey class Submarine S363 grounded itself  off the coast of Sweden in October 1981.  The Swedes decide they want to to keep the grounded submarine and stop it from departing until investigations were completed. 

The game plays out the scenario’s :  The Russians commence operations to recover the submarine and invade Gotland and Mainland Sweden. The game will concentrate on the Russian invasion of Gotland, with airborne and amphibious landings.  The goal to take out the Swedish early warning radar, air assets, and the Naval gun 152mm emplacements defending the ports and channel. Capture the port, airfield and barracks of Visby, Närs coast guard base, the island of Faro with its anti shipping missile batteries and take out the Bunge airfield, all before the Swedish Marine and army reserve can arrive to tip the balance. 

I have researched available 1981 orders of Battle to create the game. To expand the scenario to a weekend game, some elements will take place on the board game ‘Next War, Deadly Northern Lights’. This will track off table Air assets, naval combat and reserves before the game commences etc. The table top will fight the ground actions with or without air support as per earlier map movement.

Gaming across 3 - 4 tables, broken into three phases, the opening moves are VDV spetsnaz assaults on radar installations, electrical supply, communications and the air bases. Followed by missile bombardment of the air bases, the VDV parachute - air landing assault, and Marine Sea landings. Each will carry over casualties and losses so the order of battle will be fluid. Each phase has the possibility to include a reinforcement phase for each side.  

Sign up to my blog to stay tuned for my next article covering 

 # The breakdown of the Orders of Battle

 # The tables layout using Force on Force 

 # The order of Battle for the small element games

 # Rapid Fire Able Archer for the larger games. 

To enquire about booking contact me 

Email lhoteldeherce@orange.fr 

FB Messenger

Mobile - +33 06 45 40 30 50 & What’s App

Www.lhoteldeherce.fr

Cheers 

Matt Williamson 

Wip Wednesday

 Working on some bridges I purchased at Partizan and a building I picked up at a local Model Railway swap meet for modern gaming. 

A A shipping business, I will strip off the flower beds, base coat the brickwork and roof and add details 

Bridge will be painting to suit our area and western Normandy 

Cheers

Matt

VW 181 Kurierwagen 1/72 Germania Figuren build

  As I start to complete my Bundesgrenzschutz units I thought I would find a 1/72nd scale VW181 to complete my command platoon. 

The Germania Figuren vehicle is made from resin and upon inspection is a very nicely cast model. Hardly and flash and no bubbles. It comes with two options roof on or folded back, plus driver (which is a bonus) with four head variants. It was a little pricey at €16.50 plus shipping but I added some more pieces to my Swedes which reduced price per unit shipping. I will post the Swedes in the coming weeks after I complete my American ww2 airborne build. 

I hope to get it together this weekend and get some paint on it this coming week as we have rest before the next Wargame Holiday tours and Wargaming. 

Cheers

Matt 

Dust and Shadows part 9

 Additions to the gladiator collection, again foundry miniatures 

Cheers

Matt

Dust and Shadows part 8

 More additions to the gladiators, again foundry miniatures 

Cheers

Matt

Dust and Shadows part 7

 My next additions to the gladiator collection, again foundry miniatures 

Cheers

Matt

Dust and Shadows part 6

 I purchased these at Partizan this year, some more Foundry miniatures Gladiators, the miniatures really do stand up to the time test. More  to come this week. 

Cheers

Matt

Praetorian cohort - Imperial Roman’s

 Praetorians!

These chaps have been hanging around at the rear of my painting desk since February awaiting Foundry shields and transfers from LBM. I purchased both while I was in the UK at Partizan and I completed them last week. I have a second cohort which just needs the command to be painted and they will join my Imperial Roman's also. The figures are from the foundry range. 

Cheers

Matt

Baden Guard du Corps

 Baden Guard du Corps

The next instalment really is a bit of a folly for my Baden Army is the Ducal squadron of the Dukes bodyguard. The two companies accompanied the duke throughout the duchy and did see action in 1809, rounding up prisoners of war and guarding the river at Strasbourg.

Uniform 

Black leather Raupenhelm, white metal fittings, ducal badge. White comb for Officers and Ors,  red comb for trumpeter. White coat in a Prussian cut, with two rows of 5 bottoms , red facings, collars, cuffs and turn backs, white epaulettes piped in red, buff breeches,  white belts, red leather cartridge pouch with ducal badge in silver, tall black boots, white sword knot. Officers, red and gilt sash for officers, epaulette fringes and Aigulettes, sword knot gilt, white breeches. Trumpeter red epaulette fringe, five laced pointed gallons, five inverted chevrons, red cords to trumpet, buff breeches.  

I have four figures to convert from the eureka miniatures Garde du corps, I have added them to the line up to be painted in the next month or two. 

cheers
Matt