Too much of a good thing?

I went to The Other Partizan held at The Newark Showground yesterday. I have always enjoyed both annual iterations of what has surely become the premier wargames show for the historical wargaming hobby. As the old body has aged I've found problems in coping adequately with its demands, mainly being on my feet for a few hours with no where really to sit and chat with friends while we take five! I've spoken about this before, I know, and have raised it several times with Laurence and/or Tricks, but to no avail as yet. Yesterday's experience really pushed me over the edge. How, you may ask? Well, bluntly there are simply too many games to take it all in ~ you'll see where I'm going with this when it comes to pictures later. Firstly, and this is a purely personal position, there are too many Participation games. Cutting them by half would free up some space for seating. Secondly, and this will rile even more folk I'd think, there are too many Demonstration Games crowded in, leaving little space for moving between them and appreciating the marvellous examples on show. If culling is too painful then perhaps a size limit might work better? Thirdly, the 'Catering' needs some attention in choice on offer and more importantly seating in the Bistro area. As I said, purely personal opinions which you are all free to disagree with to your heart's content.  I still enjoyed my day out, but it could be so much more comfortable.

The games then: very high quality as you'd expect really but too many, too big, too crowded to properly appreciate. I gave up taking pictures for those reasons. Those I did take ~

Three pictures of a very large WWII game featuring four separate encounters from the Arnhem Campaign presented by The Old Pikeys.

Two shots of The Bodkins' 100 Years War game, one showing the effect of masses of figures, the other the small details creating the scene. Worthy trophy winners once again.

The Black Ship, a small but beautifully formed Samurai game staged by the Iron Brigade. The first showing the effective backboard to frame the game, the second the small details which create the feel of a period.

Two late C17th games featuring the North Star range for the period in the first, and The League of Augsberg's Warfare range in the second. I always enjoy seeing historical games showcasing periods outside the mainstream.

Lastly, a big medieval game by James Morris and chums showcasing his Midgard rules. I thought the ploughed fields made an interestingly different tabletop battlefield, and I also liked the tents and vignettes dotted about. But pretty much I gave up after these, simply not an enjoyable exercise in my view...

Now, turning to Retail Therapy, probably the main reason many of us visit shows if we are honest. Sue kindly gave me her blessing to buy some figures. Only quietly urging me not to spend too much as I left for Phil’s! Too much? We laughed; no such thing! Here's my Loot to bear that out ~

'Six packs for five' of Gamers' Grass Tufts from Great Escape Games. A box of Perry Miniatures plaaaaastic Wars of the Roses figures from Dave Thomas - sound chap!

Two sheets of flags from Freezy Water. Are you seeing a theme in these purchases yet?

A few packs of Perry Miniatures metals figures for the Wars of the Roses again, in case you think I've gone over wholly to the Dark Side. Again from Dave Thomas - good discount too, sound chap as I said! Also two packs of mantlets from Wargames Foundry, no discount sadly...

From Andy at The Last Valley three rather splendid Banjan trees to grace our games set in the sub-continent theatre. At £10 a pop they represent really good value for money.

Now though for context, in total time spent: nearly three hours to get there, thanks to  a diversion, three hours in the show, two and a half hours home. Did the pain outweigh the joy? I am getting too old for this Lark? I do really wonder if it is when I wake with aches and pains all over, but especially in the old legs, but then I recollect the sheer joy of total immersion in our wonderful hobby. I will be back, as Arnold might say...

"Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood!" #2

Things have mostly dropped back into their usual place now we have been back home for a week or so. I collected the 9 finished horses from Phil on Tuesday when we met up for our usual game. They have therefore been the focus of my efforts with the old Brush of Doom in in the intervening days, meaning that I can share with my loyal reader the finished results of our joint efforts ~

The nine figures comprise seven metals and two plaaaaastics. They are based up in threes as were their earlier companions. One base is painted and flagged to portray Sir John Neville, Marquis of Montagu, and joins the Yorkist cause; the second and third bases shows no aaffiliation for either faction and so can be deployed for either in a game as the scenario demands.

Two plaaaaastic figures flank a metal figure on the Third base. The metal knight was originally Richard III but I filed off the crown from his helm as I already had decided on Edward IV as my Yorkist leader. It will surprise my loyal reader, as it has yours truly, but I preferred painting the plastic MAA here, so much clearer details than the metal figures for my old eyes. 

I've not been as productive as I'd hoped though this week, having a bit of a reaction to my joint Flu & Covid boosters which left me tired and listless for a couple of days. I've not felt able to tackle either of the bases of 'Scots' figures which plopped on the mat from Perry Miniatures earlier in the week. Hopefully The Other Partizan will give me a welcome boost in motivation!

"Come hither, you that would be combatants."

 As I mentioned in my previous blog entry, next up on the painting desk to suffer under the ministrations of the Brush of Doom are a base of MAA on foot. The base represents the Household of Sir John Neville, Marquis of Montagu, with his heraldic banner provided by Pete's Flags via Ebay.  The base consists of six Perry Miniatures from the MAA Attacking set, one from their set of Standard Bearers, and one which was a Partizan Freebie back in the mists of time. ☆See if you can spot him and say who he represents!

Phil has finished painting the remaining nine horse for me and so the next target for me will be to paint the mounted MAA to finish that aspect of the project. There will remain then a base of Scottish spearmen and another of Scottish rabble with big choppers and such, the latter using the Kern figures. I do have enough figures remaining for a further base of Billmen and for a Retinue Command stand, so just a base of Archers would be needed to complete yet another Retinue!!!!!! I may just bite the bullet and pick some up at The Other Partizan on Sunday.

☆Oh, just in case you didn't recognise the Freebie I included on the base it was representing Lambert Simnell of course, sporting a cooking pot helmet from his days in the Royal kitchens as a scullion!

Once more unto the breech?

We are back home from our sojourn 'Oop North with Phil and Di, so I'm once more back in action wielding the Brush of Doom over some new figures for the Wars of the Roses project. In this instance its my fourth light artillery gun and crew, from Perry Miniatures this time. Not a great deal to say about the set really, other than it depicts a breech loading piece being readied to fire ~

Next up will be a base of MAA on foot, but boasting an unusual figure amongst the more expected offerings. I'll leave that there for now until they are finished off...

I put in a small order to Perry Miniatures while we were away to bring the project to its planned conclusion, and to avoid the unwelcome declared price rise! I expect that I was not alone in putting in an order so unsurprisingly they were not delivered until this morning! Unusually for me I do think that will be that when the new figures are processed to completion...unless I see something that takes my fancy at The Other Partizan on Sunday that is!

The Dawn Patrol!

As you might recall Sue and I have been away enjoying some R&R in the South Lakes area with Phil and Di. Showing more forethought than yours truly Phil brought along his Wings of War game complete with two splendid models, after all we had to have something to while away the hours while the ladies took in Strictly Come Dancing. Cue Saturday evening and the first encounter on The Dawn Patrol, a duel between the dastardly Hun Ace Baron von Röbensahn in his Focker triplane and that clean cut hero Flying Officer Bicclesworth of the RFC in his trusty Sopwith Camel! We settled on a best of three games to determine the Ace of Aces!

Baron von Röbensahn takes to the early morning skies somewhere over the front line. He is confident he will make short work of his upstart opponent.

Our clean cut hero in his trusty Sopwith Camel is up for the challenge ahead! Dakka Dakka Dakka...

After much pointless manoeuvre on both sides and some passing damage to both planes a lucky shot sees von Röbensahn's Focker explode in a ball of flame! 1-0 to the good guys!

On to Monday evening and the second iteration of The Dawn Patrol. Somehow von Röbensahn has survived the explosion at altitude and claiming a new plane has sworn revenge on the upstart Biccles!

Sadly from the off Biccles has the drop on the Hun! Despite the Baron's twisting and turning he cannot shake off our hero. Dakka Dakka Dakka...the guns roar out shredding wood, fabric and flesh alike!

It's all up for the gallant Hun as he breathes his last in a wreck of a plane plunging inexorably towards an abrupt encounter with No Man'sLand! Its 2-0 to the clean cut hero of the RFC! Biccles triumphs once again!

Wings of War really is a cracking little game to fill the odd hour. If you don't know it [ Wings of Glory in its more recent variation] I'd recommend giving it a go!

"Buckingham, and all the crew of them..."

Somehow I omitted to pass all of the mounted Knights/MAA over to Phil for horse painting! {It must be due to old age and memory loss Sue says to cheer me up!} Nothing daunted I have tackled these three figures entirely myself rather than wait until Phil can fit them in. The figures are from Perry Miniatures but in this instance the Standard was made for me by my friend George Anderson. They will represent Buckingham and his mounted Household element in our games. Like all the other bases of mounted figures they can also double as Command Stands in our games using Midgard or Hail Caesar, or even as Champions in Midgard ~

Buckingham take post in command of the Lancastrians' right.

All being well the next element to pass under the brush of doom will be a further light artillery piece and crew, though not for a week or so now as Sue and I are enjoying some overdue R&R in the South Lakes area in the company of Phil and Di. So by way of a bonus here is the complete collection to date drawn up on the tabletop battlefield here in GHQ ~

And that's it, for the present at least,  time for some R&R is calling ~

"Have with thee, Pole!"

As I mentioned at the conclusion of my previous blog entry, the next figures to pass across the painting desk and muster into GHQ comprised a base of Billmen and MAA to complete the Retinue for John de la Pole. The figures for this Retinue are from the small Eureka Miniatures range and from Perry Miniatures' European Armies range stiffened by a couple of MAA from their War of the Roses range, one of whom bears a de la Pole Banner from Pete's Flags via Ebay. 

Figures on the Retinue command base are from Eureka Miniatures supplemented by a MAA from Perry Miniatures' War of the Roses range and a drummer from their European Armies range.

The base of Bowmen are from the small Eureka Miniatures Medieval/C15th range. They are at the pricier end of the available figure ranges but for my money are worth it. Both the sculpting and the casting are superior to the metal figures from Perry Miniatures, in fact if the range were ever expanded I'd certainly add more.

The base of Billmen are from Perry Miniatures,  the bills from their European Armies range and the two MAA from their Wars of the Roses range. The banner is from Pete's Flags and the base from Warbases as ever. 

As I had completed the last of the nine mounted Knights/MAA where Phil had painted the horses and I had the Standard of John de la Pole still unused it seemed only proper that he should join his Retinue.

So here they all are joining the Yorkist ranks just in time hopefully for our first run through in mid October, once Sue and I are home from our jaunt 'Oop North' with Phil and Di. Meanwhile, I see that Perry Miniatures are hiking their prices from the beginning of October. Time to stock up I think while I can afford it...

"Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood!"

Phil has very efficiently processed the first group of horses I passed over to him for painting. So far then I have managed to complete six mounted Knights/MAA as a result alongside another Retinue I've been working on - more on that in due course. There are two groups of three figures representing respectively Warwick and Edward, Prince of Wales ~

'Warwick The Kingmaker' figures from Perry Miniatures, Banner by Pete's Flags and the base from Warbases of course.

Edward, Prince of Wales, with figures from Perry Miniatures,  Standard and Banner from Pete's Flags and base from Warbases once again.

Next up under the Brush of Doom will be a base of billmen to complete the Retinue of John de la Pole. There is also a base of Knights/MAA bearing his Standard waiting patiently in the queue.

That leaves about a dozen mounted figures which are currently with Phil, who is painting the horses you may recall. In addition I have a base of MAA on foot to join Warwick's forces I think, a further light artillery piece and crew, and lastly a partly staffed base of Scots spearman, the rest of which I'll hopefully pick up from Dave Thomas at The Other Partizan🤞I've an order in with Flags of War for some suitable banners for the Scots, then we are done I think.