On the agenda today............

Now that all of the Punic War figures have been painted (http://olicanalad.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/punic-wars-figures-painted.html) I am casting my mind to what I want to do next. Surprisingly perhaps, or perhaps not, I am not going to embark on a new project. Instead I am going reduce my lead pile and revamp some old collections and finish some non-projects. I'm not going to tackle any of them start to finish. Instead, over the next two or three years, I'm going to swap from one to another as the mood and scenarios take me.

First lead pile. This is my WWII non-project. Things for the Desert November 1941 - January 1942.

This 15mm scale collection, which is short the Italians at present, was supposed to fill the times when I am bored of painting 28mm men. I've painted about 60 packs since this photo was taken. Unfortunately, I've added at least another 60.

The second lead pile. Italian War collection additions.

Until Christmas last, when a kind relative gave me 100 new TAG Italian figures, this pile was almost exclusively purchased from ebay. There are about 450 figures here. They are mainly Italian pike, and arquebusier and crossbowmen of various types. To this pile I will add about another 50 cavalry (mainly light) and another 250 or so pike.

The third lead pile. 1:144 World War I aircraft and 1:600 gallies. Another non-project (WWI) and some fleet additions. 

45 models all told. The aircraft have been sat in a box for over 5 years. It's time I did something about them. 

The fourth lead pile. Seven Years War collection additions.

Like the Italian Wars stuff, this lot was obtained from ebay over the last 5 or 6 years. They are Foundry with some Front Rank. Initially I was collecting stuff to build my existing infantry units up from 16 to 24 man units - keeping army size the same. I went a little mad. There are about 700 infantry and 125 cavalry here; to which, to balance up the armies (Prussia, Russia, Austria) I need to purchase another 150 infantry 10 guns, and 72 cavalry.

Of all the piles, this is the one I'm most looking forward to tackling. This is partly because, at first, I will be adding to existing units (I only need to paint 8 figures to get a unit of 24). But, mostly I'm looking forward to reducing this pile because I have a hankering for some big horse and musket battles.

I'll tackle the Prussians and Russians first. The infantry figures I still need to purchase are entirely Austrian. I wonder if Austrians don't appear much on ebay because I miss them; because people always paint the Austrians they buy; or because people don't buy Austrians so have none to sell - one to ponder.

This morning, in a rare spare moment, I spray undercoated 16 Prussian infantry and hand undercoated (in Humbrol 225) 12 Panzer tanks. We are underway!!!!!

I'm an idiot....

I'm an idiot and I apologise. Before downloading the pictures from my camera, with all the battle shots of "Telyermum", I accidentally erased the entire memory on the stick thing. Consequently, there will be no battle report - Sorry!

The battle was closer than expected and the Gauls put up quite a show until they ran out of army morale and collapsed. It was quite a game; and a good looking one; and I'm rather miffed at losing the shots. Peter and I will re-run the game at some point in the future.

Next week Peter and I will play "Hannibal: Rome Versus Carthage" the board game. We will do this with a view to using it as the basis of a table-top campaign.

Blog news.

Poll

What would you like to see here? I have not asked you all recently, in fact the last time I asked there were only a couple of dozen (if that) people following this blog. Since then the numbers have mushroomed somewhat. Time for a poll!

Punic Wars Project

My summer has been a whirlwind this year, and for the first time in many a year I have fallen behind in my project work - namely the Punic War armies. I'm a few months behind schedule. I have only painted 1800 figures out of the 2100 or so I had to paint by the end of this month (still not bad for two years work). In the past I have been very strict on deadlines but, as there were events occurring beyond my control (including the suicide of my sister), I have decided to give myself a break. The project has a new deadline. It will finish before the end of March 2012. That should be enough time to finish the Spanish army (approx 350 done, 200 to go) and the last bits of the African side of the Carthaginian army (approx 270 done, 100 to go) plus some odds and sods including terrain.

Ager Sanguinis Punic Wars - Ager Proelii

Ager Sanguinis Punic Wars is currently at Miniature Wargames. All of the writing and photos have been done and handed on to Andrew Hubback. I think it will be published in the next couple of months - probably for Christmas. This is a full set of rules weighing in at 12,000 words (there or there abouts) that are to be published as one article (centrefold pull out) with cover page and card stock. It will be published under the title AGER PROELII (Field of Battle). If you liked Ager Sanguinis for the Crusades this is well worth picking up for upgrading that set of rules with some new and interesting ideas, many of which Peter and I used when fighting our recent Crusades campaign on the Isle of Fob. 

Next Year

Next year I will be project free. In the last six years I will have painted over 5000 28mm figures for myself plus several other bits besides. This does not mean I'll be idle though. My plans for next year (and the year after?) include the following:

7th Armoured Division November 41 at a ratio of 1:5 in 15mm (figs purchased).

15th Panzer Division November 1941 at a ratio of 1:5 in 15mm (figs purchased).

Seven Years War collection upgrade, including a total rebasing and increase from 16 to 24 man units, plus the painting of about 500 new figures (figs purchased) to beef up the unit numbers. This collection was created in my pre-project days.

Italian War collection upgrade. This is mainly a rebasing job, but somehow I've managed to pick up about 300 extra figs on ebay over the last four years so a bit of new painting.

Ancient Naval in 1:600. Just a few Xyston bits and pieces to do for this including about 20 ships to bring the fleet up to 120 vessels. I actually have to put my hand in my pocket for this one.

Project planning: Peninsular War. I'll be starting to collect the figures for this shortly. My plan is to part fund the collection with some article writing.

Thank You

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement in the comments section, not to mention the page hits every month; which are currently averaging over 8000. They have kept me at it this year - especially at some of the hard parts.

James Roach

Bir El Gubi 1941 wins best demo-game

Bir el Gubi went down well at the York show on Sunday. The game was awarded the prize for best demo-game. We've been doing demos at Vapnartak for years and didn't even know there was one. Our table was in a prime spot, with good light, and was slightly off the thoroughfare - it was very comfortable (compared to some). More pictures of the game, and the scenario notes, can be found below in previous posts .

The show was very busy in the morning and stayed busier than usual all day. The racecourse is a very good venue and everyone at the show seemed to be having a good time - even the traders were happy.

Thanks, to everyone who stopped to look and say hello.

Blog passes 100,000 hits

I've had google analytics running on this blog since quite early on. It provided considerable encouragement and I still, if a little vaguely, remember the first time it passed 1000 hits in a single month - I was amazed. These days it averages over 3,500 a month; it once touched 7000.

Recently, I've been watching it creep up to the 100,000 total hits count. This morning it heaved itself over. I thought you might like to see the breakdown.

Total hits: 100,039
Page views: 297,070
Average time on site: 00:01:59
New visits: 39.32%

Referring sites: 70.29%
Direct traffic: 23.22%
Search engines: 6.22%
Other traffic: 0.27%

Countries: 123
Top 20 countries (in high to low order): UK, USA, France, Canada, Australia, Germany, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Japan, Greece, Finland.
Obscurer countries: Azerbaijan and the Dutch Antilles make a good showing with 3 hits each, whilst it seems only one gamer in Mongolia has had broadband in his yurt.

Thanks to everyone who has visited this blog since 28th April 2008.

Best Regards to you all,

James Roach

Some bits and pieces

Recently I have been emmensely busy with work, the chaos caused by having the builders in (and subsequent decorating by yours truly with a much bigger brush!) and family life in general. I've also been putting the finishing touches to an article or two - the first, my rules for ancient naval warfare " Fleet of Battle" will be out in Wargames Illustrated next month (complete with playing counters). Consequently, this blog has been neglected of late - it will be for another month or so. But I have had time, just, to take a few shots of the basing I'm using for my desert stuff.

Bases are 2mm MDF (bought in 4 x 3 foot sheets - 5 for £20 - from a picture framing materials supplier), with painted 'sand and glue' texturing, woodland scenics coarse turf, and grass tufts by Mininatur. Minis are FoW.


First up, a British 'battle group' HQ stand - my C-in-C.

My first Germans - 2x 8.8cm flak guns and prime movers.

FOR SALE - English Civil War collection

Elvis has left the building - SOLD

This is a fully painted and based English Civil War collection. It is, except for 1 gun, 100% Wargames Foundry miniatures. All figures were painted by myself, in enamels I think. Before you look further, I'll be up front about the price - I want £1675.00 for the lot. I am not open, to offers for less than that, or offers for only parts of it.

My reason for sale is simple enough: I never play with it.

The collection comprises:

Foot:

5 Regiments of foot - Parliament.

5 Regiments of foot - Royalist.

1 Regiment of foot - Either, the officers do not have sashes.

1 Regiment of dismounted dragoons.

Horse:
13 flags (7 Royalist, 6 Parliamentary)

111 cavalry figures

Command:

15 foot and 10 mounted officer types.

Artillery:

5 artillery stands with 7 interchangeable guns, and 23 crew. (There are also two unbased limbers and an 'unbased' petard stand of 5 figures - not pictured or counted).

Totals:

Foot figures - 284

Cavalry figures - 121

Guns - 7

At £3.50 for foot and £5.50 for cavalry and guns this would come to £1697.00. Considering my average charge for painting (commissions) a foot figure is £5.50 (not including the miniature) this is a real bargain.

Here are some closer shots of the painting quality.

If you are genuinely interested in buying this collection I can take payment by cheque (made out for Pounds Stirling only) but would not dispatch until after the cheque cleared. I can take Pay Pal (including credit card payments, from memory) but you would pay any banking charges. I can take cash of course, but only if you will collect.

Any package and postage charges will be at cost - Royal Mail Special Delivery inside the UK. Other destinations by arrangement. You can pick up the collection in person from my address in West Yorkshire if you prefer.

New Poll

As I'm unable to post much at the moment, for one reason or another, I've added a new poll. This is mainly for the regular readers. I'll give thought to your verdict and add some relevent posts in the near future.

Moderated comments

I'm afraid that I've had to press the moderate comments button. This is due to spammers leaving 'blue pill, etc.' links in the comments section. I hope this will not deter you from posting your comments as I look forward to reading them - it also answers that perennial question: Is there any body out there! I'll try to approve any comments ASAP.

Lights, camera, action! Dan of WI pays a visit.

Wednesday was an interesting day for me. Dan (UK editor / photographer) of Wargames Illustrated came up from Nottingham to pay me a visit. It was not a social call, he had work to do for an article on 'The Battle of Dorylaeum' for the magazine's upcoming issue themed on the Crusades. Dan is definitely a perfectionist and his photography put my happy snapping to shame. The shoot took about five hours - from which he obtained over 100 shots. Here he is in action.

It was a pleasure, I was proud to help out, and I hope to see Dan again. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the results.

Pike and Plunder - News - Version 2 coming soon

Two years ago I said that I would rework my Pike and Plunder campaign rules (a four player Italian Wars map and table-top campaign system) following intensive play testing. Unfortunately, due to more pressing projects, work on Pike and Plunder virtually ceased. As you may already know (I'm taking a year off new projects) time has now become available to revisit unfinished work; Pike and Plunder has been first on my to do list.

I have changed much of the Pike and Plunder to make it a far more flexible campaign system. It will be a two to four player campaign (originally it was for four players only) and will be usable with any set of table-top rules. It is, following a reworking of the the turn sequence, playable by mail; thus allowing players to save valuable gaming time, by concluding campaign moves, before meeting up to fight the table-top engagements. Several other elements have also been tightened up and expanded upon. The original version of Pike and Plunder gave a very enjoyable campaign, but I think it is a much better, and totally different looking, beast now; even the map / playing board has changed.

It will, if all goes to plan, be ready in about a month or so. When it is, I will pass it on to Martin Stephenson of Vexillia Miniatures for final editing and publication. Then it will, though much later than I'd originally planned, be available as a download. Version 1 was, and will be, available as a free download, version 2 will not be; though we will endeavour to keep the cost low.

If you have been unaware of Pike and Plunder, and the Ilkley Lads Italian Wars campaign before now, you can take a look at it here:

http://pikeandplunder.blogspot.com/

Our Sheffield Triples Game - Preview

Sheffield Triples 09 is approaching faster than s*** flicked off a long stick. It is time to start seriously thinking about what the Ilkley Lads demo game is going to look like. The Ilkley Lads will be short in number for the game so this blog post is also a chance for some volunteer players (The Udder Lads from 'uddersfield) to get a glimpse of the set up before the day - thanks lads.





The Ilkley Lads are playing the game over this week and next to make sure that I have the balance of command quality, deployment, and terrain correct for the big day. The command quality (the randomness that really counts using Ager Sanguinis) was determined randomly, as was morale card draw. The former looks very good (all the command groups are up for it) but the morale chip draw might be tweaked (within the scope of the rules) before the actual demo-game.

The game will be fought from start to finish on each day of Triples 09 (we believe in 1 day games) so if you are attending on the Sunday, don't worry, you are not only going to get the scruffy end of it. Ager Sanguinis is well capable of delivering a result in a game of this size in 4-5 hours.



Anyway, I leave you with some end of first nights play shots to wet your appetite. The only thing missing from the set up at present are the baggage elements, two command stands including the infamous 'Islamic' Band Stand which are currently on the production line, and possibly a few more trees. If you are coming to Triples 09 be sure to pop by and say, hello. I'll be glad to field any questions regarding Ager Sanguinis and where possible, with my knowledge and ideas about Crusader warfare (I'm not an academic), questions about the armies and such, painting tips, terrain construction, etc.