Sopwith Camel

The second of my aircraft for the Wargames Forum April 30 Day Group Build was an Esci Sopwith Camel. I applied quite a simple paint job so I can use it for operations in the Middle East.

There were no decals with the kit so I use some left over WW2 versions

Fokker D VII

I constructed the kit for the Wargames Forum April 30 Day Group Build. As it turned out that was the easier part as I then had to paint the little Fokker! Now completed.

Another problem was sourcing a replacement prop, I ended up using a couple of WW2 propellor blades of the correct size fixed to a circular piece of plastic rod

The underside reveals the real painting problem and the screw used to fix the aircraft to the magnet on the stand.

Napoleonic British Cavalry for the Peninsula

Well that's the two units of British Napoleonic Cavalry created out of the HaT Napoleonic statrter pack each of eight figures.

The 16th Light Dragoons were based up for skirmish games such as Rebels and Patriots, Sharp Practice, etc and the basing matches my Peninsula skirmish figures.

The heavy cavalry is the 4th "Queen's Own" Dragoons, but this time based to fit in with the bulk of my Napoleonic figures. Although the moulding of HaT figures has improved the plastic is still quite flexible

On the Workbench - June 2025

Given the over two weeks away I have managed to catch up a bit on plan, and at least I managed to finish the Napoleonic Austrian rebasing. So along with other interruptions I will be working on.

• Painting the couple of biplanes from the Wargamers Forum Group Build - just started
• British Dragoons and Light Dragoons for the Peninsula, the later will be for skirmish games. - now well underway, fixing the loose arms and carbines was a PITA
• Work on "El Cid" figures to modify my existing Crusader armies to Spain - started and assembled
• Start up the FDM printer and create some hooches for Nam68 - Have set it up, but I'm not sure about the hooches that I would have printed as they don't seem to be well designed, maybe because the file were cheap, I need to decide how to proceed. but I've still invested in another kickstarter with STL buildings for WW2 France
• Start assembling the 28mm "Gangs of Rome" figures - still unstarted
• Bystanders for "What a Cowboy" - already undercoated
• WSS Danish Sjaellandske Cuirassiers - using the Strelets figures
• As the temperature has risen I have the start preparing to restart the reisn printer

I'll also be at the Phalanx show in St Helens, where Beacon Gaming Club is putting on two games, a WW2 D Day 1944 scenario under the club banner and the battle of Arsuf 1191 in conjunction with the Lnce & Longbow Society. Please stop by and have a chat.

Last Napoleonic Austrians rebased

A final push and I have rebased the last of my Napoleonic army, these are another couple of units of skirmishing Grenz and some Landwehr. The Grenz are Karlstadt (yellow facings) and Wallach (green)

The Landwehr were originally conversion of Springwood figures into Jaeger, but I later replaced these with metal figures, so they became Landwehr. For the rebasing I added some staff from leftover HaT Landwehr painted to match.

Bamboo clumps for the jungle

Most likely for Vietnam games (link), but also for South East Asia in WW2. I was struck by the look of some clumps another wargamer had made and had to copy them.

I have not made the clumps quite as thick and also not bothered to paint the stalks darker, but they give a good general effect.

Napoleonic Austrian Grenz

Although they really had stopped being effetive as irregular infantry by the Napoleonic Wars I have continured to base them as such.

The units represented are Banal (crimson facings), Warasdiner (crab red) and Banater (light blue)

Back again with Napoleonic Austrian Grenadiers

After two weeks away with almost complete communication blackout in the Scottish Highland I'm back. At least have finished the Austro-Hungarian Grenadiers.

As before the majority are Springwood hard plastic plus Newline officers

On the workbench - May 2025

Still slow progress (for me), and as I plan to spend quite a bit of May away, I need to focus on my plan. Some progress has been made, at least on rebasing the Austrians, and the WW1 aircraft that I had been putting off making have ben assembled. So in May I will mainly concentrate on finishing what I've started or planned to start.

• Napoleonic Austrian Infantry rebasing - I need to get them finished
• Painting the couple of biplanes from the Wargamers Forum Group Build
• British Dragoons and Light Dragoons for the Peninsula, the later will be for skirmish games. - I should get on with this now they are assembled
• Work on "El Cid" figures to modify my existing Crusader armies to Spain - not started, although I have found the figures
• Start up the FDM printer and create some hooches for Nam68 - not done, I need to get going on this
• Start assembling the 28mm "Gangs of Rome" figures - another one I have not yet started
• On a whim I did start on some bamboo thickets for Nam68 etc.

Last for April - more Napoleonic Austrians

Another batch of Napoleonic Austrians rebased

First battalions are distinguished by carrying the white Leibfahne

The mjority this time are Hungarian

Just in time - WW1 Aircraft

Just in time for the Wargamers Forum kit 30 day build

An Esci Sopwith Camel

and an Esci Fokker D VII

Apart from the missing propellor the biggest challenge was finding where to locate the supports after applying the decals, hence the damage

The painting will be tricky

Napoleonic Austrians now being rebased

Well after some delays I have got started on the next rebasing project, the Austrian Infantry. Here are the first five battalions I have rebased accompanied by a couple of units of Jaegers.

The majority are Springwood hard plastics but the officers and Jaegers are Newline metal figures

Wirral Warboot

A quick run up the Wirral to the Wirral Warboot being hald in New Ferry Village Hall. Loads of Science Fiction and Fantasy, but very little historical. I picked up a few bits.

The islands will be used for Cruel/Black Seas games and the Wild West Farmers for bystanders in What a Cowboy

28mm Woodland Indians

It took a while, but I've now completed Warlord's plastic Woodland Indians, I tried to keep the colour scheme relatively simple.

I'm not completely happy with the final wash as I used the end of a bottle of AP Strong Tone and it dried a bit blotchy in place, but not bad enough to require repainting, phew!

At some point I will probably buy or print some American Militia to boost the limited numbers that I have at the moment

Progress against plan 1Q25

A very slow satrt to the year with only 321 items completed, I normally would have completed over 600, but there have been various distractions, Hopefully I can get back on track in Q2

Progress on my broad themes:

1. Enhance existing armies - Underway
2. 3D printing terrain (FDM) - Nothing done yet as I had to move the printer and I haven't reassembled it yet
3. 3D printing vehicles and figures (resin) - Nothing done yet as I'm waiting for the warmer weather
4. Continue to clear out all unwanted items, including painted figures - Nothing done yet
5. Enjoy Games & Shows - Off to a good start

Amplifying the above:

1. Enhance existing armies - already planned are

• Continue rebasing the French Napoleonics - Well underway with new units added to replace older based units that will be "retired"
• then I will start on the Austrians - Nothing done yet - but about to start
• 28mm Female Gunfighters - Completed
• 5 units of Napoleonic Spanish round hat infantry (1 of which will be skirmishers) - Completed
• 4 units of Napoleonic Italian line infantry - Completed
• 3 units of Napoleonic Young Guard skirmishers - Completed
• WSS Danish Cuirassiers - Nothing done yet
• Hanoverian limbers for the SYW - Nothing done yet
• Some Spanish medievals for the El Cid period - Nothing done yet
• plus the figures listed below to be 3D printed - Nothing done yet

2. 3D Printing Terrain (FDM)

• Test printing a Horsa using FDM - Nothing done yet
• Vietnamese hooches - Nothing done yet
• Western European buildings - Nothing done yet
• Spanish/Mediterrainean buildings - Nothing done yet
• New bridges (all eras) - Nothing done yet

3. 3D Printing Vehicles & Figures (Resin)

• Napoleonic Saxon and Westphalian Infantry - Nothing done yet
• Napoleonic Russian Artillery & Gunners - Nothing done yet
• Napoleonic Polish Lancers, French Guard Horse Grenadiers and Chasseurs a Cheval - Nothing done yet
• WW2 Russian paratroops - Nothing done yet
• Gradually replace existing diecast and other poor quality AFVs in my collection - Nothing done yet
• Working on more figures with the Resin printer using the more robust resin I have found - Nothing done yet

4. Continue to clear out all unwanted items, including painted figures

• Re-assess each existing period, army, and units to consider if I am really going to use them - Nothing done yet
• Maintain stash (figure and plastic bits box) at 3 crates and hopefully reduce the numbers - Nothing done yet - but nothing substantial purchased
• Consider the future for my 1st version Springwood figures as I have the capability to replace them with more compatible figures to the 2nd edition - Nothing done yet - but I am tending to favour selling them

5. Gaming

• Continue supporting the Beacon Club and attending as many weekend events as possible - Well underway with additional periodic games at Si's "Officer's Mess" during the week.
• Try to attend the same number of shows as last year - Off to a good start with Vapnartak, Hammerhead and WMMS

New painted troops in action

A quick outing for my newly painted Napoleonic French Guard and Italian Infantry against my Spanish last night at the club

It turned out a marginal victory for the French commanded by Ian.

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