Up the cut without a paddle!

Monday saw our return to the VBCW here in GHQ, a decision prompted by my having collected a set of canal pieces which Andy at The Last Valley had made for me. I still need another two sections and a longer gentle curve, but for now we can make do with what we have ~

The Socialist defenders are stretched thinly along the front.

I've got several things on the go to enhance future games, one of which is a gasometer I picked up cheaply in a model train shop we frequent from time to time. The game sees the Government forces of Lord Rawnsley in a two pronged attack, seeking to carry off supplies before the barge can set out and to destroy the Corporation Gas Works if they can. The Socialist forces lead by the Manders will do their best to thwart the facists' plans of course. As is my wont an annotated photomontage telling the story of the unfolding action ~

The forces of oppression muster for the attack!

The 18lber is an early victim of the once a

turn randomly generated event card, drawn

on the 'red dice of doom'!

A duel develops between the armoured cars of both sides with
the Socialists' Heath-Robinson version having the better of it.

A prototype Matilda leads the South Staffordshire veterans

across the railway line despite fire from the defenders' mortars.

The 18lber engages the enemy Rolls Royce

armoured car in support of their own's 
efforts.

The forces of oppression are moving forward on their right,

while the centre pins the defenders in place. On the left their

attack has stalled thanks to accurate fire.

The thinly defended Socialist left flank is in danger of being
overwhelmed. Heavy mortar fire can only target the Tettenhall
Militia in the defenders' support. The gasworks is in real
danger.

The Socialists' right flank is secure, the enemy will not be able
to cross over the canal bridge.

This allows the reserves from St Edith's to be transferred to
reinforce the threatened left. They 'run' for all they are worth!

Phil is having a field day with these Random Event cards! The
18lber's effectiveness was sadly much reduced this way.

Regulars from the South Staffordshires make use of cover to
harass the defenders in the Socialist centre. Their Light
Machine Gun was especially troubling.

Despite its unreliability {the best random card I had the chance
to play} the prototype Matilda reaches the canal. Without any
readily available anti tank support the Socialists' left flank and
the gasworks appears doomed.

St Edith's finest are rushing to the aid of their comrades! They
may be too late to save the gasworks, but the supplies may
yet be saved.

Desperate times in the defence of the left flank! The men are
doing all that an be asked, but the situation on the left is critical!

The heroic mechanic is doing wonders to keep the Matilda in
action!

With the defenders of the gasworks overwhelmed the forces of
repression do their worst and set it alight! You an just see the
lads from St Edith's arriving in time to save the supplies stored
on the canalside.

We ran out of time in Turn 9. The game ended in a draw, with the gasworks in flames but with the barge and the supplies still firmly in the grip of the Socialist Heroes! Not that I'm biased of course. Next games in GHQ will be two SYW games in early April.

The future’s not ours to see...

I’m probably something of an ‘old fart’ if truth be told, but I really do try to keep up with all that’s happening in our hobby; it’s just that things seem to be rather more nimble shall we say than I’m proving to be. I’ve been having an ongoing conversation with Matt for a while now centred on some of my views on the seemingly inevitable rise of the ‘Goldfish Gamer’ and the associated never ending line of ‘games in a box’. No doubt some of these ‘games’ are good fun; but, are they wargames at all and do they lead their exponents onto more traditional forms of the hobby?

I suppose I’d better try to define my terms first. The ‘Goldfish Gamer’ first; an individual with a limited hobby attention span, finding it hard to focus on anything for a sustained period, the wargamer’s equivalent of the millenial, needing instant gratification in their hobby as in their life. The true devotee of the ‘50 figures is an army’ brigade. They are tied inevitability to the bijou ‘game in a box’, offering a shallow gaming experience needing no knowledge or interest beyond the boxed contents. These are the sorts you encounter on Forum Boards and such asking for ‘support’ for this or that game, never thinking to read a bit of history and work it out for themselves. Or asking, as I saw once, if such and such a unit is ‘legal’ in a game. The latter left me speechless with laughter. Were they expecting a knock on their door at midnight from some Game Marshall or enforcer? Were they afraid of being sent to the Re-education Camp?
I’m sure now you see where I’m coming from. So, do these games and associated gamers qualify as wargames and wargamers? Matt tells me that they do, but I’m not so sure I can agree. His argument is that I and my generation are 50 years plus down the hobby timeline and have therefore accumulated largish armies in several periods, while the younger gamer just starting out may be daunted by years of painting required to build a decent sized army. The bijou game offers an easy point of entry, with manageable numbers of figures, limited terrain and a structure to game within. In many ways it’s a persuasive argument, but, is it inevitable that they will make the transfer to mainstream wargaming? I’m not so sure on that point, any more than I am on the transfer from games of space fairies! Of course, I won’t be around I expect to see what happens in another fifty years...
There is an advert running on TV at present for an insurance comparison website, it’s relevant here because it sets itself up against too much choice with scenes of excess that might be out of some dystopian future. It’s a decent metaphor for our hobby at present: mushrooming companies, endless kickstarters, new rule books, more MDF than you can shake a stick at, and so on. Is this a sign of a vibrant and growing hobby community? Or is it simply more folk chasing the same hobby pound? Pick up an old wargames or military modelling magazine and count all the companies that are no more. I know which option my money’s on here.

So, having chewed a bit of fat and exercised my old fart credentials a tad, where does that leave me? Well, I’m prepared to admit that my hobby might not be yours, but both are probably equally valid within their communities. The vibrancy of our hobby at present owes a good deal to these new forms of games, leaving aside the moot point of whether they be wargames at all, anyone at Hammerhead or WMMS in the past two weeks couldn’t help but notice that! Against that, there were a large number of more traditional wargames as I understand them, proving just as popular with visitors but in different ways.

Having wrestled with this question of the hobby’s future direction, Matt has challenged me to do something outside my comfort zone. There were any number of choices, but in the end I plumped for a modern game, in plastic and in 15mm! Next year should see the emergence in GHQ of Cold War Gone Hot 1983 wargaming. I’ve acquired already the basics for the game: a BAOR force who will be opposed by East Germans. For rules I’ve been looking around the net for free offerings, so far finding a Rapid Fire spin off and a Battlegroup offering. I’ve also acquired several sets of MDF 15mm buildings, aiming to build a factory complex and a couple of farms to break up the table and provide objectives. Still a long way to go there, but I’ll keep mooching about for suitable items. I'd like to have the initial project on the table in time for my 70th birthday next May, but we'll have to see how that goes.
I'll  keep you up to snuff as the project develops, but for now it’s more SYW and AWI units first, so plenty of time for other hobby stuff in GHQ...

2nd Horse for the SYW British

The latest additions to the SYW expansion project are the 2nd Horse. The figures are from Foundry as ever. I dispensed with the drummer from the Command pack (I made use of him with an odd General figure to make a second Commander base in Black Powder for my British cavalry.) Here they are drawn up for your appreciation ~

The standard is from the range offered by GMB Designs, whose service I've always found first class. (Other SYW flags are available from Flags of War in the F&IW range.) The bases are from my chums at Warbases; the ground texture is three grades of railway buff ballast from Woodland Scenics; the tufts are from Gamers Grass via Great Escape Games ~

Despite a very busy few days, at least by the standards of we retirees, I've also started the figures for the Orleans cavalry for my French army. Some flags I'd ordered this last week from GMB Designs arrived yesterday too. They are for Robinson's Foot, the 45th; the Royal Bavarie; and the Garde Lorraine. The latter I intend to paint in yellow coats faced black, very Wolverhampton! Meanwhile, the Cavalry General and his drummer ~

WMMS 2019

I've been to WMMS today, in the company of Phil of course, and with William our second eldest grandson. He was much taken with the large Star Wars participation game, while I just enjoyed the sit down ~

I thought the show had a real buzz about it, lots of different games to view or join in with and a host of traders ready to take your cash for new toys! I took a selection of pictures of some games, those which were related to my interests or those which I thought others night like to see ~

As you do, I came home with a bag of new stuff. Nothing too startling as I was at Hammerhead last weekend after all. A couple of new brushes from Coritani; two small MDF kits from Sarissa; some bits for next year's project - well outside my comfort zone in both scale and materials; and finally, 5' of bespoke canal sections made for me by The Last Valley. Look out for the latter on the next VBCW outing next month! 

It keeps you on your toes I've found!

It’s been a busy few days for both me and for GHQ too. On Saturday I visited Hammerhead at Newark Showground for the first time, being snowed in last year forced us to cancel our visit, my take on the show has already been posted on this Blog. Monday saw Phil and I playing out a Pike & Shotte Italian Wars game, which Jon and I replayed on Wednesday evening. The reason for the replay? Well, Dan from Wargames Illustrated was here on Thursday taking pictures of our two collections to accompany a piece I’ve written about the project for the magazine, which piece will appear later in the Spring I believe. Some pictures from the day to wet your appetite hopefully ~

As ever, so many pictures are taken, yet only ten or so will make the magazine, a few more making the digital version of course. Dan must take several thousand in the course of a year I would think. He must motor a fair few miles too in the course of the year. There is much more to this editor lark that most of us realise.

Casting Room Miniatures

Well the midst of all the SYW additions I've been working on for what seems like an eternity on  occasions, I've been painting up a few figures for our Italian Wars project. The reasons for this diversion will become apparent later in the week, so I'll ask you to bear with me for now.

The very first figures I painted for the Italian Wars project were a Command set of a mounted figure and two retainers on foot by Casting Room Miniatures, the seemingly poor relation of Wargames Foundry. They had been a gift from Phil, along with one mounted figure he had kindly painted for me. Like the figures from TAG, they are very paint friendly I found, though perhaps the sculpting and pose of the figures is of a different style. Despite this, they have a certain charm, paint up really well, and the range is quite extensive with many character and special packs lacking in other ranges. They are an underrated gem in my opinion and deserve a wider audience, but that is just an opinion of course .

The set I've been working on represent a group storming a defence and comprises two figures rushing forward with a ladder; one figure climbing a second ladder, with two supporting infantry waiting their turn to climb, all armed with swords and carrying round shields; and lastly, a lone crossbowman posed firing up at the defenders. I've added a Wargames Foundry medieval mantlet to his base as the pose just fits him firing over the top.  As you can see from the photos, I painted the face of the mantlet in alternate red and yellow ochre sections, to match the one on the light gun already in the collection. The figures are posed on three 40 X 50mm MDF bases, from Warbases as usual. I find painting difficult sometimes now as you know and the thought of struggling with designs on the shields was daunting. Luckily I had an old sheet of Skytrex WWII British Divisional signs in stock and amongst them were several designs I felt I could use with a clear conscience. I opted to paint the shields in yellow and white quarters, using the black bull design on the yellow quarters. I'm chuffed with how they turned out, even though I know the bull would be better off red than black! 

As a side activity while paint drys and hardens I've also been painting up the scenic bits and bobs I bought from Irongate Scenics at R.O.B.I.N. last month. They will make nice additions to the buildings I've made, giving a more lived in look. They are a bread oven, a small flour mill, and the bakery ephemera. I've also finished the last of the tents I scored at the Penkridge TT sale back in January ~

Now though it's back to the SYW and the 2nd Horse for my British army. 

Hammerhead 2019

I went to the Hammerhead wargames show over at Newark Showground today. Actually I went yesterday and stayed at the nearby Premier Inn, it makes for a more relaxed day for me than driving both ways from Wolverhampton. I met quite a few folk I know and had a good chat about our hobby, but I also spent some cash, as you do...

I'm not a fan of Participation Games but they were certainly popular with other attendees. While I was wandering round I took a few photos of the games most in my areas of interest. You have to admit they are of a good standard, well up to Partizan's level. Speaking of which, the show looked busier and was over two halls rather than one. Two Traders I know said it was second only after Salute for business. Clearly an event of the first division! Will I go next year? It all depends on health and happiness I expect, but I don't rule it out. Some pictures to end with ~

Wellington in India

Just loved the Red Fort

VBCW

ACW and chum Colin Ashton

Cold War Gone Hot, in 10mm I think. 

I thought the table was very effective. The explosion markers

were really good.

The town really caught my eye.

The Haitian Revolution. I've been following this project on his blog! Matt
mastered many of the figures for Trent Miniatures.

Paper Soldiers from Hellion & Co. Very effective.

Attack on a French Chateau by the Red Devils. I just loved the V1!

Action from one of the all too many Middle Eastern Wars ~ can't you tell i
forgot to look?

On balance I had a good day: enjoyed the stress free overnight stay and leisurely trip of under two miles to the venue; was happy to be able to buy almost all I wanted; bagged two bargains in Foundry's Sale; put the hobby to rights with chums; learned that The Last Valley have finished my canal sections and lastly, got home safely! Next week, DV, its 1.4 miles from our front door to WMMS; more great games and traders to spend my money with!