Monday 28 April 2014

Choices of the week #17

Hello everyone. I'm back from the tournament, and it felt good to meet people playing the same game, in a good mood, sometimes talking nonsense. I managed to finish my army in the nick of time, doing the flocking in my hotel room on Friday night. Here is the proof:


I played a Syracusan army, with more or less success. I'll tell you more about it later, I still have the pics to sort out. And now, I have to paint some stuff for another tournament next week-end, in Lyon. Yepee. But before that, let's do our weekly review. At least, if our internect connection allows me to do it... Bugger


Thursday 24 April 2014

1 day to go, how far can I go?

All right. I've been busy and tried to paint as fast as possible. A lot has been started, and this lot is now finished: two bases of javelinmen, and one of cavalry. The horsemen are from Essex, I had them in my pile for a few years now. Honestly, they're easy to paint, but the faces were a bit flat. Bah, at least they're done. Oh, Forgot to mention: I have more horses on the way, but not as much as I wanted to, since I appear to have lost/ forgotten some riders. So I now have a few riderless horses. Erm....

The javelinmen are from Xyston. And so are the dead...

The three Essex riders of the Apocalypse



Back to the brushes!

Wednesday 23 April 2014

The clock is ticking: painting an army for Saturday

You've read correctly. I need to paint an army for a tournament this coming week-end. Fortunately for me, I already had bits and bobs to soften the pain. For this tournament, I need 200 points of  ******* ( shhh, some might read this blog), and I picked up enough troups to reach 88 points.  So I still need to paint 112 points. i had put some paint on some miiatures last week, but I really need to rush things up, meaning I wil rush my painting a bit.

So far, here is what I have done:






5 bases of light infantry, and 2 of heavy infantry: 26 miiatures so far. They're varnished and based, but I still need to finish the basing. Yurk. I think I will need to work up unitl Friday night.

Cheerio.

Monday 21 April 2014

Choices of the week #16

Once more unto the brush, my friends!
Seven weeks after the last ones, I'm on holidays with my daughter, enjoying the sun with my parents. It has therefore been a bit chaotic to catch up with all the blogs for the past few days, but here we are. Just for you, I take the time to do it, although I should paint the army I'll play next week-end. Fortunately for me, 40% was already painted, here and there in other army boxes. But still. i have a lot to do, and I'm certainly rushing it. Anyway, back to the past week best posts.


Belote, rebelote et dix de der. Me voila de nouveau en vacances chez mes parents avec ma fille, profitant du soleil et du temps libre. A cause du voyage, ce fut un peu chaotique, et j'ai pris du retard dans la lecture des blogs, mais je rattrape le temps. Et pis, il me faut aussi peindre une armee pour un tournoi dans une semaine. Heureusement, j'en ai deja environ 40% de pret, en piochant par-ci par-la. Bon, faut pas que je traine, et ca va etre bacle, mais je devrais y arriver.


Monday 14 April 2014

Choices of the week #15- I Salute you

Right, I know I did a poor play on words, but honestly, if you don't know about Salute, what are you doing here? Indeed, the main event this past week was the Salute from the South London Warlords. Instead of giving you a full listing of posts, full of pics, I'll give you only one. One? Yes, but this blogger did all the job for me and he compiled all the posts about the event. Thanks mate!
http://wargameterrain.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-big-salute-link-and-picture-report.html

So, now that is done, what could we expect this week? Well, I must say everyone was fixed on this event, but I managed to find some good stuff.

First of all, there happened to be, last week, a convention in France, and we have some nice pictures:
http://figs.over-blog.com/2014/04/petites-guerres-2014-en-images.html

A nice batrep between Galatians and Seleucids, using Hail Caesar, in 28mm:
http://satrapminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/galatians-versus-early-seleucids.html

A nice, if small, batrep in 28mm using Fire and Fury:
http://baronvonj.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/acw-thursday-fire-frustration.html

Another batrep set during a Longstreet campaign:
http://wargaming.info/2014/marching-on-richmond-virginia-farm-1864/

And another one, with Black Powder, set in 1866, still in 28mm:
http://carryingsonupthedale.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/1866-battle-for-frontier.html

Some SYW using Maurice (for Kolin):
http://palousewargamingjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/batrep-battle-of-kolin-using-maurice.html

Some good ol' West:
http://herkybird-richardbradley.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-hot-day-in-ol-arizona.html

A last one, between Rome and Pontus:
http://janwillembootsblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/veni-vidi-vici-again/


Time for some WIPs and tutorials. Shall we start with someone who made an armoured train for the VBCW:
http://shedwars.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-armoured-train.html

 I didn't know those vids existed. Now I'm feeling less stupid, with these how to's:
http://troubleatthemill.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/painting-videos-from-wss.html

A new German brand of primer has been tested. Convincing:
http://massivevoodoo.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/mu-44-model-mates-primer.html

And here we have a review of the new Vallejo paint sets:
http://www.coloureddust.com.pl/2014/04/vallejo-painting-sets.html

Jim continues his reflexions about Fall-Out:
http://arlequinsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/fallout-as-miniatures-game.html


Now for the eye-candy. I'll start immediately with a superb Kingtiger in winter camo:
http://rustandthecity.blogspot.ca/2014/04/winter-king-tiger.html

Then we have Anne's new paint jobs, with a special liking the car lady:
http://fortwitter.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-new-direction.html

Monty is still painting his Spartan army in 15mm:
http://twincitiesfieldofglory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/spartan-army-continues.html

Next, we have some sheer Prussian porn, with Criag's 15mm Napoleonic brigade:
http://napoleonicsinminiature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/craigs-prussian-1st-brigade.html

Marc has started painting a Mughal army. His elephant is gorgeous:
http://marcofwar2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-book-that-rule.html

And I'll finish with a splendid 28mm vignette, showing Gonzague crossing the Taro (set during the early Italian wars ):
http://gewalthaufen.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/gonzaga-crossing-river-taro-vignette.html





Saturday 12 April 2014

My not-gone-to-Salute paint table Saturday

Hi everyone. If you don't know today's is one of the most important for us gamers, where do you live? Indeed, many wargamers have gone to the Excel center in East London,to attend to Salute 2014. Lucky you. I won't go this year, partly because I'd like some family time, and partly because, even if I'm dying to meet my friends and bloggers pals, and play some games, I don't feel happy to go, don't know why. Must be the weather.

Anyway. I'll spare some cash and some free time to paint a bit, hopefully. And since we're Saturday, let's see what I have on my painting table:






Some Essex and Xyston Greeks, for an army I intend to play at a tournament in 2 weeks. Though it looks like it will be another period. Ah well. My ACW stuff is almost finished (only the flqgs and tufts to apply).

Cheerio

Monday 7 April 2014

Choices of the week#14

My my my. My week has been pretty exhausting, with a very short wee-end, since I worked on Saturday. I have some ACW stuff to finish for my game on Thursday. And after, long live the Greeks! I have to paint more stuff for a tournament, and I don't know if I'll have enough time. Anyway, back to the review!


Ben mes aieux, quelle semaine. PAs mal de boulot, et surtout un court week-end car j;ai bosse samedi. Il me reste des trucs a peindre pour ma prochaine partie de Longstreet jeudi prochain, et ensuite, plein de Grecs en jupette, car je compte participer a un tournoi. Zou.


Wednesday 2 April 2014

[A Bloody Affair] The battle of Crescent fields - May 1862

To Mj General Mc Clellan

Sir,
Following your plan of advance towards Richmond, probing our right flank, I managed to advance to a place called Crescent Fields. There I encountered a delaying Confederate force under Brg Leigh Eswell, waiting for me. He had a small battery deployed on hill, covering his center, while the 6th Alabama was guarding his left flank.

It appeared he wanted to repeat the Austerlitz plan by attacking strongly on his right, with the veterans of the 6th Louisiana and the 5th Alabama, supported by the 5th SCarolina and the Jenifer's squadron.

His position was strong, covered by lots of cornfields which covered his approach. I mirrored his deployment, sending my superior artillery in a hill in my center. The veterans of the 14th Brooklyn would advance on my right, while the regulars would held the center. The 15th Wisconsin, 27th NY and the regular cavalry would screen his right, ready to take action should the need arise.

My superior artillery, including our new rifled guns, managed to silence the opposing artillery, meaning I could then support my infantry with deadly fire.

Even though we got some local trouble, especially because of false informations from the local, I will insist on the remarquable fighting capabilities of our troups, who managed to use to great efficiency the skirmishing tactics I taught them thanks to my experience during the Indian wars.

The Confederates under heavy pressure charged twice, but were repulsed, and we achieved a crushing victory with a devastating charge when the time was right. This brigade has now been spotted routing towards the west, and we are in pursuit.

Your devoted

Col J. M.C. Lane

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Indeed it was a great victory for the Union. So far, 1862 is a good year for us, with three victories in a row. But remember, all that matters is honour! My scout skill was very useful, because each turn, one of my units could skirmish further than Leigh's units, so even if it's less effective, it can be deadly if sustained for too long. And my Rifled guns managed to destroy one gun section, forcing Leigh to move his battery behind his hill's ridge. I could then move my artillery to canister range, to great effect. I lost 5 bases, but the after battle gave me back three of them.

Now for the pics

Initial deployment. Confederates on the left

THey seem ready to attack

Oh yes, they're eager all right

their artillery is on the hill

Yup, black troups. They need some colour

My units, ready to move: 27th NY, then 15th Missouri and the regulars

The regulars, supported by my artillery, ready to move forward

And we advanced, confident

The cavalry attempt a flanking manoeuver

THey're in the cornfields


I am now fully deployed in line, using cover and skirmish fire to great efficiency

The Confederates are forced to attack



Fire at will men!

Ouch, this is going to hurt a bit


The blurry charge



Confederates' only success: the 15th Wisconsin has been repulsed

But everywhere else, it's an other matter ;)




My shooting has proven decisive


Hey! where has the 5th SCarolina gone?

Where is the cavalry?