Friday, October 22, 2021

ZULU DAWN!

 Zulu!

As I have started to plan projects for next year to add to the build project list I am thinking of revisiting some colonial gaming, which I have not done for 7 years at least. With that in mind I dug into my drawers of unpainted kit and come up with two pieces that would be fine little dioramas for my new display case in the "Salon de Guerre!" and give me a taste of future thinking and a taste of things to come. I enjoyed the flesh tones on the Zulu figure and with a bit more work I feel I would get it very close.

Salute Zulu diorama

Empress Miniatures







cheers
Matt

Friday, October 15, 2021

Soviet Motostrelki Motorised Infantry part 2

 

 Soviet Motostrelki 

Finally after finishing some more house renovations I have managed to sit down and complete some miniatures. last week I completed another soviet motorised battalion for my cold war collection. The figures 20mm from the Elhiem Miniatures range, I plan to paint another three battalions to complete my Armoured Division collection. Taking a break from camo this week as I get back to completing Prussian and Baden Napoleonic Infantry, plus a few medievals.

My cold war collection is growing rapidly and may soon surpass my ww2 collection for "completed kits" and figures. I am planning a big Able Archer game, multi divisional gaming weekend in Autumn 2022 for four to six players hopefully in the apartments with a 26-30m table, over a full weekend of modern wargaming. I will release the details in November for the event and our 2022 calendar. 

Soviet Motostrelki Command


Soviet Motostrelki Elhiem miniatures

Soviet Motostrelki

Soviet Motostrelki

Soviet Motostrelki

Soviet Motostrelki


I need to add Anti Air, 81mm and 120mm Mortar and HMG coys 

cheers
Matt

Monday, September 20, 2021

Aragonese Mercenary Crossbow Guerre-Folle

Aragonese Arbalète - Crossbow

 At the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier, Aragonese contingents were sent by Ferdinand of Aragon to support the Breton Cause. The documents have 1000 mercenary Aragonese landing at Quimper to join the Breton Army under two captains, Pere de Queralt commanding a unit of Arbalète and Gimenez  Soler (a Aragon Jewish captain who had fought with Edward Woodville) a unit of spear men. The crossbow unit are complete and the spear unit not far behind. I have used the red cross on a green field the field sign of the Aragon contingents at the siege of Montpellier in 1479.

Again Perry miniatures based for impetus

Aragonese Arbalete -Crossbowmen

Cheers

Matt

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Terrain Tuesday Tree Renovations - Part 11 Bigger is Better


Bigger is Better when it comes to Trees

As my collection is predominantly 28mm (4500 odd painted figures) I have decided to up my anti and build 28mm scale trees particularly for my Gaulois collection and dark age/early medieval before the fields really started to be tended locally, plus really good for my larger forest stands. These trees are made using my usual practice of oven dried hedge clippings then rubberised horse hair and then woodland scenics powdered flock, basing products, and a large washer on a 50mm base so it fits the magnetic tree base.

Very happy with the first six, now I need some more flock !



28mm Trees



The Bigger trees are from 18-26cm tall, with magnetic bases to go into the forest bases.


Cheers
Matt

Monday, September 6, 2021

Caesarian Roman Project Part 1 fort


Caesarian Roman Project 

Part 1 Fort/Encampment

One of my major projects this year is a Caesarian Roman army to match my Gaulois project from last year. My plans are to build 28mm Caesarian Romans additions to my current republicans, I want to do another legion.....either the 6th or 13th, I have purchased most of the figures but need a box or Warlord figures and some artillery additions.

When you play impetus you normally need a camp for your table that the enemy can assault and take, I like to build pieces for all of my armies normally with a small scene that tells a story. With that in mind I purchased some figures and the wall pieces from First Corps Miniatures to make this encampment, with legionaries replacing a wall section and digging the trench deeper as a new centurion has arrived "and we must keep them men busy".

Roman Marching Fort

Roman Fort, the walls are interlaced wood filled with earth


The Roman ditch workers, accessories scratch built

Roman soldiers digging


I do plan on adding the 6 remaining walls and four corner towers and two gates at some stage in the future to make a complete square marching camp for my Punic wars and Gallic Wars roman armies collection. 

We have the remainders of three marching camps from the Gallic wars and Caesar's conquest of western Gaul within 40 mins of the Maison. Two in particular are impressive and were used by successive armies up to the early medieval period. One was located in 2010, the clearing of a forest found the remains of the walls and ditches, they suspect this was the fort that was sieged during Caesar's invasion of the west...... A guided tour is available to visit these forts, the Roman Museum and also wargame the Gallic wars at L'hotel de Hercé in our "Salon de Guerre". 

Full details are here

"walk the battlefield in the morning and wargame in the afternoon"


cheers
Matt

Friday, September 3, 2021

5th Chasseurs a Cheval

 5th Chasseurs a Cheval

A reconditioning of a old unit that has been in the collection for 20 odd years now, rebase, touch ups, highlight of the horses, and added the 5 to the portmanteau. I left the flesh which is the original GW flesh. I have also added a new GMB flag to replace the old Nap Flags one.

Happy with the results, I have another chasseur and one Hussar to complete my light division for my 1805-09 army.

5th Chasseurs a cheval 1st squadron

5th chasseurs a cheval

5th Chasseurs a cheval

5th Chasseurs a cheval close up



cheers
matt

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Airfix Henschel HS129 build part 1


Airfix Henschel HS129

In September we have a Nostalgia build for kits or figures designed pre 2000 and no longer in production. I have elected to build a Airfix Henschel HS129 kit. I actually already have two kits built for this aircraft, one 20mm cannon and one 75mm canon. This model will become a photo reconnaissance aircraft that was shot down east of Laval in August 1944.


Looking forward to the build if you want to join us here






Cheers
Matt