[willz]

Just enjoy posting, all the boards are interesting I like some more that others but I look in most over the week.

Post and be happy.

[willz]

Just hot of the painting table.

Crann Tara Miniatures, started life as civilian gentlemen, with a wood sword, paper horse blanket you have a French brigadier 1740-ish (grey) and a senior French officer 1740-ish (blue).  These figures are a joy to paint.

All I need to add to them is a drummer / ADC for the senior officer and drummer / sergeant for the brigadier.

Just noticed I forgot to paint the metal bits on the brigadier

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[willz]

I have been wearing classes for 12 years now and I like you Jeremy had to learn new painting technique.  I have found using an arm mounted magnifying glass with  interregnal daylight lamp works for me, it required me to relearn distances and use different skills to paint my figures.  I know you are not wearing glasses now but tis might work for you.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/22w-fluorescent-daylight-magnifier-lamp-a29ff

Plus its now cheaper than when I bought mine.

[willz]

I picked up “Blot Action” as a Crimbo present, read the rules, not played yet, they are strait forward and the reports I get they are fun.

Why not do the usual war-gamer thing and cherry pick the best bits you like of several different rule sets and combine them to a game you want to play.

[willz]

Yes Keith that would be “Honours of War” my bad spoiling is blame

[willz]

“Nick wrote” Same here. We used RF1 a lot, then got RF2 when it came out, played a couple of games, then went back to RF1 again. Part of it was that we were so used to RF1 that we didn’t have to look stuff up, I think, whereas we did with RF2, and we’d occasionally get something wrong because we were remembering from RF1 rather than RF2, so rather than have games where that happened a lot, we just went back to what we knew.

Strange that Nick that’s sounds exactly what has happened to me and Andy.  We play RF2 when gaming with other people (however we keep slipping back to RF1 and that can be embarrassing).  We have got a bit bored with RF2 lately so Andy and me are moving RF1 now as it is simpler more flexible and more fun.

[willz]

My gaming buddy Andy and me actually prefer “Rapid Fire 1” as we found it simpler, more flexible and better fun than “Rapid Fire 2”.

[willz]

“Tassie wrote” Can anyone recommend a fun set of WWII rules (preferably with an index) that are easy to play and remember, are a reasonable facsimile of squad to company level combat in WWII, that doesn’t restrict what you can field and is really inexpensive or free ? A tall ask I know.

I would recommend “rapid fire 1” first version circa 1990 it has an index unlike second version, just think of the battalion and companies as squads.  You can make up your squads and companies any way you want as there is a point system in the book.  I have played this version loads of times as I figure = 1 man and 1 tank = 1 tank its worked well for me.   The rules sell for under a £10 on flea-bay.   I did find a web area with these rule for free but it appears to have disappeared now.

This was the link http://www.scribd.com/doc/51526247/Rapid-Fire-Fast-Play-World-War-2-Wargame-Rules-by-ElfFriend

[willz]

 Oops I meant Crann Tara Miniatures.  Finger problems doo

[willz]

I agree with the last several comments above, I would like to purchase RSM Miniatures but sadly there is no European supplier and trying to have them posted from America is cost prohibitive thanks to HMCR.  The best figures I have found that match and tie in with the few RSM’s I have are Crana Tann Miniatures.

[willz]

That looked fun, thanks for sharing.

[willz]

Apple are you mad.

An’t rich only poor old Windows and Chrome.

 

[willz]

This keeps appearing ever few days and stops me accessing the forum.  Its really annoying.  This does not happen any where else, my security system are up to date.

 

We have detected that you are using internet Explorer 7 a browser version that is not supported by this web site.

Internet Explorer 7 was released in October of 2006 and the latest version of IE7 was released in October 2007 it is no longer supported by Mircosoft.

Continuing to run IE7 leaves you open to any and all security vulnerabilities discovered since that date in March of 2011 Mircosoft released version 9 of internet explorer that in addition to providing greater security, is faster and more standards compliant than Versions 6, 7 and 8 that came before that.

 

[willz]

Go on General Slade have a go at painting them, I had the same disappointment with Spencer Smith miniatures when I bought a sample pack in 1978 a bag of poorly defined plastic miss-shapes turned up, “boy was I disappointed”.  Recently I got an E-bay purchase of 228 Spencer Smith cavalry  and with a little work they turn out as nice figures.  In 1978 I did not have the modelling and painting skills I have now, so in hindsight I wish I had purchased several thousand but that’s life.  After 30+ years of painting and modelling maybe we can look on older figures with more experienced eyes, oh and nostalgia.  Go on use your tried and tested painting skills it might surprise you.

[willz]

He has turned out nice.

[willz]

Stop press, game at the Mill cancelled this week.

Due to an assassination attempt by the cowardly Prince of Plymeton during King William Tiberius Agustas III army review.

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Yes this horrific attempt on the kings life happened this morning while the King was reviewing his troops for an up coming campaign against Prince Andrew of Plymeton forces.  Luckily a quick witted ensign spotted the would be assassin and shot him between the eyeballs before he could carry out his vile deed.  The King is safe and has dispatched a strong force to teach the vile perpetrator of this evil deed a lesson.

The king reviewing his cavalry with an ADC leading the cheer.

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Inspecting the artillery park.

 

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Reviewing infantry.

 

More photo’s of the review can be found over on this web site in the barracks section.

http://www.societyofgentlemengamers.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=9367

 

[willz]

Once again Will lovely work, I must get around to building and painting some American anti-tank guns.

[willz]

General Slade “wrote” And if the machine could take me far enough back I would un-buy those Peter Laing Carthaginians that I ordered sight unseen. Boy was I disappointed when those dropped onto the doormat.   

That’s what e-bay was invented for to get rid of disappointments.

religon “wrote” Some of the old Citadel Medieval villagers.  

I forgot about the Citadel medieval range only ever bought 60 odd, by the time I wanted several hundred they had stopped producing them.  I have just remembered Lamming miniatures (yes I know they are back in production but its a  price thing, though I suppose the cost of building a time machine would out weigh that). 

[willz]

I went to this club in 1977 whilst I was working in Barrow-in-Furness as a young man.  Very social.

[willz]

Adam Hayes wrote” 

Perrys’ AWI figures are the exception I would have to say. Almost make me want to do an imagi-nation just to have a use for them!

I do not disagree with the quality of the Perry figures but they are AWI figures and I don’t want to spend an age to convert them back 30 -40 years to be French 1730 – 1760.

[willz]

Cheers Nick, that was an informative and useful report.

[willz]

I have not played a Napoleonic war-game for 38 years now (painted loads of figures though) but this idea could tempt me.  I like the concept well done.

[willz]

I know commenting on how good rules are is a subjective mater, but what’s “Maurice” rule set like to play.  Could I play it on a club evening in 4 hours.

[willz]

Henry wrote Mike – it’s happened again. Just replied to a post on the Napoleonics board in reply to Jonathan Reinhart’s question and my reply has vanished – annoying as it took quite a while to compose.

An old blogging trick I always copy long posts before I post them, it reduces the frustration.

[willz]

Thanks Green Knight a couple of lovely looking games.

[willz]

Very nice Nick, I have never tired that small a scale.

[willz]

Well done Mike excellent idea.

[willz]

Graham and Tassle thanks for your kind comments, yes it was a fun game Andy and me are just getting our minds around SYW rules (we have played far to much WW2 and need a break).  The early war-game rules a great fun.  Hopefully we will get a game in next week.

[willz]

You noticed Henry, thanks for your kind comments.

Just for you.  All waiting to be painted.

[willz]

Whilst at Bovington war-game show this year I was talking to the “Warlord games” rep and he said they had plans to release 18th century figures.  Now I am not sure if this is true of just polite sales talk to get me to purchase some of their products but it would be nice.

Strange with the explosion of hard plastic figures that no decent 18th century figures have been produced (sorry “Wargames Factory” but your figures just are the wrong shape) what’s even stranger the only decent 30mm plastic figures are Spencer Smiths (yes I know they are not the best cast, but come on 1960 odd they were produced.  We are in 2014 now).  So please sculptors and figure producers take the bit by the horns and produce some correctly proportioned 28-30mm hard plastic 18th century figures.

[willz]

Adam those cavalry are very nicely done.

[willz]

Paul wrote  Don’t tempt me, mate. Hobby budget for this month was exhausted long ago and next months is earmarked for Black Hat Tales of the Dragon Kings. Or em4 barbarians. Or Copplestone Darkest Africa. Or Wargames Factory zulus. Or Perry Samurai. Or 15mm.co.uk Judge Dredd look-alikes. 

You lucky sod you have a hobby budget , mine normally involves the quiver of my lower lip and big sad pleading eyes at my wife.  (Lower lip quiver taught to me by my granddaughter).

[willz]

Cheers for your kind comment Henry.

Meant to post these at the beginning of the week finished them Monday night.

Figures old Front rank, one Ebor, one Elite.  Painted as generic French cavalry 1740-ish with standard that can be changed.

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[willz]

That’s why I do not paint smaller than 20mm, don’t get me wrong there are some lovely 18, 15, 10, 6mm figures and equipment out there but a man can only paint so many things in on life time.  I swap between various scales 20mm -25mm-30mm (sometimes 54mm) to keep the mojo following,  I tend to paint in small batches of 30 – 40 figures of one scale whilst working on figures or equipment in an other scale.

Variation of tasks to keep the interest level high.

 

Irregular 28mm French was / SYW

20mm Airfix, ESCI, Revell and caed model Merit walls.

 

30mm Spencer Smith

Die-cast conversion and Britannia 20mm figures

Just several items I have been working on over the past few months.

[willz]

Not the best post I still have not perfected the use of the forum tools, “doo”

Duke Andy won the battle.  We game in a skittle alley so no natural light, I have not got the correct setting on my camera yet.

I have posted a longer report on this web site http://societyofgentlemengamers.org/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9346

 

 

 

[willz]

Oh they are very nice.

[willz]

Are you on about Artillery gun crews, anti-tank gun crews or battalion gun crews.

Different training , skills and missions.  Battalion gun crews were primary infantry trained and then specialized in battalion guns.

Artillery as it says on the tin with infantry training, anti-tank crews probably a mixture of both as a generalization.

I would of thought using gun crews to fight other than their dedicated mission work well for a skirmish game (Bolt Action) but maybe not so well for the larger style games (Command decision).

Speaking for Rapid Fire games generally my artillery/ battalion / anti-Tank crews do not get close enough to the shooting to use their small arms, if attacked they can defend themselves with small arms, however they would not be able to fire their main gun or if they had fired their main gun they would not be able to fire small arms that turn.  As for re-deployment that would have to be written into the mission brief before the start of the game.

The question is what are the mission priorities, fire big gun or shot small rifle.

I am with you I would have thought they don’t magically transform into an infantry squad unless you are playing a Kelly hero’s style skirmish game.  Using these crews any other way is just being an over active war-gamer falling into the habit well are all guilty of at some time or other, I want to shoot so I am going to shoot.

[willz]

I am using Charles Grant “The Wargame” or Brigadier Peter Young’s “Charge” at the moment.  I am having a look at “Honor’s of War”.

To night my gaming buddy Andy and me are having a game using “The Wargame” rules.

[willz]

Beautifully  painted as usual Piers, the only true scale for WW2 gaming is 20mm, 1/72, 1/76.  I know 1/300 you can get lots of tanks in the same space, but for me its the 20mm scale.  I suppose its a hangover from the sixties when all that was available were Airfix, Roco etc.

Yes there are some lovely figures and models in other scales but with several thousand 20mm WW2 figures and 1200+ tanks, vehicles what other scale could I promote.  I have got bolt action set of rules which I intended to play in 2omm as I just can’t be bothered to paint 28mm / 1/56th figures or vehicles (that scale is for 18th century or medieval).

[willz]

I am with you on your last post Henry, some people do take this gaming hobby a bit seriously after all it’s not real.

Imagi-nations are made up but you could argue that all war-gaming is made up as it’s a subjective or is that objective mater of concept.

Having been an umpire on several large games, it helps to have active and fun umpires.  The hardest part I have found with using large tables is that war-gamers tend to stick to a 4 – 6 foot space, they can’t get their heads around large spaces and maybe that’s why some games can stagnate.

My rule is enjoy this fascinating hobby and have fun.

[Author]

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