On the workbench - April 2025

Well a fair amount of time was taken up painting last month, but it wasn't the usual as I was helping with our local community pub refurbishment, so a slight drop in progress, but I plan to get working on the following before some family visits

• Get started painting the Woodland Indians now they are assembled
• Napoleonic Austrian Infantry rebasing - I must get started as it is a big task and it has to be done
• Continue working on the bits and pieces
• Assembling a couple of biplanes for the Wargamers Forum Group Build
• British Dragoons and Light Dragoons for the Peninsula, the later will be for skirmish games.
• Work on "El Cid" figures to modify my existing Crusader armies to Spain
• Start up the FDM printer and create some hooches for Nam68
• Start assembling the 28mm "Gangs of Rome" figures
• As a background task I am working on (re)creating my Napoleonic 3rd Croatian Regiment for future Resin printing

Francis Marion - The Swamp Fox

This was one of Wargame Illustrated's Giants In Miniature produced during their brief excursion into producing STL files. I printed a foot and mounted version of Francis Marion, the swamp fox in 20mm but as can be seen with the comparison with my old Airfix general I should have increase the X and Y dimension slightly. Maarion mounted is on the right dismounted on the left.

I based my colours on an image of Francis Marion in uniform , but I suspect most of the time he was not so brightly or smartly dressed

At least he adds something unique to my AWI rebel forces.

WMMS 2025

An especially early start with the clock change saw Andy, Si and myself trek south to the West Midlands Military Show. I was completely underwhelmed by the traders and ended up with no booty at all. Andy and Si did manage to pick up some bits especially from Tiger Miniatures, which had some interesting sets of figures (link)

At least this year I didn't forget my camera or phone, so on with some pictures.

Battle of Bras - Operation Goodwood with Rapid Fire

Battle of Raab 1809, nice to see some Italians in action

Vietnam action in 28mm

Normans in Sicily

AWI, mainly British and French

German Peasants War, had a good chat with Simon Chick

Seven Years War

Russian Civil War

Tony Dillon's take on Plancenoit played with NapPoker

Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck

Wehen I came acroos the STL file for Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, the "Lion of Africa" I knew I had to add him as the commander of my German Askaris. (wikipedia)

The figure cam with an askari trumpeter pointing something out so a great combination

File can be found here link

More Napoleonic skirmishers

Another batch of Napoleonic units completed, all 3D printed and they seem quite robust with the exception of the few bits I inadvertently damaged while removing the supports.

French Flanqueur-Chasseurs of the Guard

Italian 2nd Light Infantry

Tirailleurs of the Guard

Voltigeurs of the Guard

The Guard units will obviously be used to replace my existing HaT figures that I have been using and the Italian light will go with my new Italian brigade.

More Napoleonic Italians

Another pair of battalions to add to my Napoleonic Italian Brigade, now up to four battalions.

That complete two battalions for each of the 1st (on the left) and 4th (on the right) Italian line, now all I need to add is some skirmishers

Just spotted while posting, I forgot to paint the drumskins, now fixed

New Napoleonic Italian Line Infantry

The latest 3D printed "replacements" for my old Springwood figures is a pair of Napoleonic Italian Line Infantry Battalions from the first and fourth Regiments

On the Workbench - March 2025

Very slow progress in February, due to a week spent clearing out my mother's appartment, then followed by a week with a bad cold and I wasn't capable of doing much.
So I'm working on:-

• Some Lord of the Ring style figures - slowly getting painted
• Robert Marion, The Swamp Fox - just need a bit more attention
• The test Aztecs - base colours applied - still no progress
• Lettow Vorbek and askari command stand - almost complete
• two units of Italian line infantry - I have almost finished
• two more units of Italian line infantry and one of skirmishers
• Three units of Napoleonic Imperial Guard skirmishers to replace some old HaT plastics
• Some 28mm Warlord Woodland Indians - I had hoped to start assembly while I was away but I have now assembled a few

Hammerhead 2025

An awayday and a bit as five of us stayed over on Friday night in Newark before the show. We turned up at Friday lunchtime and spent most of the afternoon and evening boardgaming. Saturday was bright and sunny and we headed off to the show getting in quite early, and headed off to the table sale. We then acquired three mats for the Beacon club so I took them back to my car before settling down to a tour of the traders and then the games.

None of the participation games tempted me this year but I did like the terrain on a few of the tables, starting with this 10mm Kelly's Heroes game - spot the tigers!

I was then struck by this small village set in one corner of a Midguard game

I did like the simplicity of the river edges used in the Boondock Sayntes fantasy game

Then I spotted the longhouse

And another building. Thanks to Graham from the Sayntes they are the modified version of the Games Workshop Rohan house or Stronghold set.

Another Midguard games set in the Trojan War

Finally the excellent terrain for this Zombie games the same as I saw back at Recon in 2022 (link)

I only succumbed to two purchases during the show and picked up a box of Roman Citizens for Gangs of Rome, which should go with my gladiators to give me another skirmish game option, and a sample box of HaT Napoleonic British Peninsula Cavalry.

Overall a great weekend and spent lots of time chatting to old friends

Italian CV 33/35 Lancia Flamm

A pair of Italian CV 33/35 Lancia Flamm that I 3D printed to replace my current odd pair of the same vehicle. Although sized for 15mm they look OK at 1/76 although the rivets are rather prominent.

That finishes off my output for February as I am off to Newark shortly and will be at Hammerhead tomorrow.

Female Gunfighters

These are the Dead Man's Hand figures that I acquired to give some variety to my existing gunfighters

Quite a nice bunch of figures and it tempts me to get some more, maybe Mexicans or Indians

Maybe I should call them the ladies of Hickup County after a comment from friends that I was "Wild Bill Hickup"?