Adventures on the Wargames Table

I’ve had a few queries about how I’m storing my (mainly plastic) DAK and 8th army, so here it is. The figures are based on 1p coins - the magnetic ones 😉 Box liners:  https://www.charliefoxtrotmodels.com/collections/miscellaneous-tokens-templates?page=10 Magnetic sheets:  https://magneticdisplays.co.uk/magnetic-displays/lightweight-range/mag-sheets-200-150 The box liner is designed to hold the figures in place using 4mm rare earth magnets.  They are quite powerful and that’s great for metal figures as they’re heavier and more robust.  But the plastic figures are obviously a bit more delicate and I could see the rifles, bayonets, etc getting broken as they’re removed.  So I ordered some lightweight magnetic sheets.  These hold figures well but not too well if you see what I mean. The larger based figures are stored like this. The compartments are made with little strips of sticky backed foam.  The bases have some thin “steel paper” on the ...

I fancied a change from painting the 8th army figures so I turned my attention to some rocky outcrops for jazzing up the battlefield - not to mention giving the chaps somewhere to take cover! These (the five pieces in the foreground) are resin items from Model Scenery Supplies , under the category War Terrain, thank you to George for the tip.  They're made by Javis and I'm very pleased with them.  Painted as per my usual desert basing style - see 'Painting' page link under the blog banner if you're interested. Tip - a couple of these were slightly warped when they arrived so, to fix this, I soaked them in very warm water for about 10 mins then used either some small G clamps to hold them flat to a bookshelf, or simply put a book on top.  An hour later they were cool and, most importantly, flat and level. These just about fill a 6 inch cube as per the Painting Challenge guidelines so that's another 20 points bringing the total to 145 points.

More 8th army ready to take fight to Rommel's men. The second section Bren team "I see you found the bipod, Eric" ... "Shut up Stan!" The Radio Operator, which I’ll probably use as a FOO in CoC or part of the HQ team in BA I really like this figure as it’s packed with character (Warlord Desert HQ pack). That’s another 55 points for the challenge bringing my total to 125.  So it’s about a third of the way through the challenge and I’ve reached the halfway point for my target!  There’s a few things well underway on the painting table too.

The first full section for my Desert British are ready for action! Corporal and Rifle Team Lance-Corporal and Bren Team For the painting/basing recipe please have a look here .  That's another 50 points for the AHPC bringing my total to 70.

Inspired by George over at "Musings on Wargaming and Life" I'm taking a brief look back over 2019 from a gaming perspective... It's certainly been quite a varied year of painting & modelling projects!  World War 2 has been the front runner with my DAK army getting ever larger.  Plenty of new additions for my desert terrain too.  Really enjoying this project.  Plus I dipped my toe in to Eastern Front gaming by starting to pick up a few figures for a Russian army.  Some of my "French/Belgian" scenery got a bit of a makeover and several new buildings were added.  I have quite a lot of scenery for this theatre but it's still good to keep adding more; Colin at Charlie Foxtrot keeps me well supplied with kits.  Also, my existing WW2 forces (Paras, Panzergrenadiers and British Regulars) all got a few bits and bobs - no army is ever truly complete! I briefly dallied with Warlords of Erewhon but after a couple of games I decided that it wasn't my thi...

The first of my 8th army roll off the production line.  That’s really how I view this painting project; a production line.  But in a good sense, as it’s quite enjoyable.  Here are a light mortar team, a medical orderly and a junior leader. These first figures are really a ‘test’ in that I’m figuring out which colours to use for the various items of uniform and kit. Base colours before the wash They are very much painted in the “three foot away on a nice gaming table” style 😉 and I’m very happy with that. Paint recipe: Flesh - Foundry 5B Shirts, shorts & helmet - VMC Iraqi Sand Helmet also in Foundry 11B Webbing - 11B or English Uniform or Dark Sand Bags - 11B or Dark Sand Jumper - English uniform Socks - 11B Puttees (?) - Iraqi sand Can use other colours for socks, puttees? Weapon stock - GW Scorched Brown Boots and weapons - black Wash with Agrax Earthshade, then highlight with original colours.  Webbing can be painted in Iraqi Sand w...

It’s that time of year again... Here are my 8th army figures ready for painting as part of my unofficial entry in to the 10th Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge!  I’ve set myself a very modest target of 250 points. This consists of Lieutenant  Platoon Sergeant 2” mortar team Boys AT rifle team 3 sections of 10 men, each including a Bren team This is a basic platoon for Chain of Command.  Most of the figures are Perry along with a Warlord command pack. For support there is Medical orderly (with stretcher!) Boys AT rifle team Forward Observer (chap with a radio) Universal Carrier with a JL and a Bren team The figures were prepped recently and I’ve just completed the basic groundwork.  I also have an AT gun and some armour waiting in the wings.