Bounty Hunters?... We don't need this scum!

Two posts in two days...must be on a roll.

So going along with the general Star Wars hype back in December (deserved the previous two years, a bit of a let down last year), and wanting a project tat I could try varying military modelling techniques, I splashed out on the Revell model of Slave 1. Who wouldn't want Boba Fett's Ship?

En-route to collect the bounty on Han Solo

I'm relatively pleased with the model. Easy to put together, detail is crisp, the model easy to put together and paint. Was going for an image of the engines being lit, but a previous blackwash bled into this. Something to watch out for. Also frosting on the canopy means from now on using Tamiya Thin Cement from preventing this from happening next time. A solid little model, I've now got eyes on their model of the snowspeeder. Watch this space.

Elrond Halfelven, Ereinion Gilgalad, Elendil the Fair "Elf-Friend" and Isildur

Wargames painting continues anew, with the leaders of The Last Alliance making it to the Table. Sculpted by Brian Nelson, they were an absolute joy to make, the detail absolutely stunning. Finished off with gloss varnish, picking out the shine of the armour, these are still some of the best minis I've painted in a while.

Detail on Gilgalad's cloak.

Finally, to fill in a hole in my 28mm WW2 German collection, I've painted up a downed Luftwaffe fighter pilot. More for Scenario play than general wargaming, the ability to basically play capture the flag with pilots is quite common. Now need to find a reciprocal RAF fighter ace. Lovely model to paint, again the leather jacket and goggles have been picked out in gloss, to show their shine.

Finally WIPs. Currently finishing off a 28mm German Heer 81mm mortar and needing to take the final steps with my Tamiya 1/35 Panther Ausf.A with Panzer-Grenadier crew. Just need to make up some scrim to cover a slight fault. Still trying to decide how to display- diorama base, plain display base, or no base. Any thoughts?

Drums In the Deep

Recently painting and gaming time has been at a premium. Real life, job, driving tests and continuing research towards a new publication in the future have meant that hobby time has been severely limited. Who would blame anyone when their work involves umpiring wargames 6x a day, four days a week, the gaming mojo is going to come under fire.

However coupled with a recent spate of rereading Tolkien, plus a growing wargames calendar (three events and counting, with the possibility of more) growing, the paint brushes have been brushed off and the paint restocked.

Fantasy isn't my typical domain, the macho-impending doom, skulls, muscles and big guns of Warhammer never really floated my boat. However, reading The Lord of the Rings at Age 10, the advent of the film and the discovery of the then to be released GW game, with beautiful miniatures designed by my favourite Sculptors, The Perries I was hooked. Looking back now, this was the school of my painting (a lot to be desired back then), and certainly then with many of the models outside my price range, it is quite nice to return to these exquisite miniatures, albeit trying to avoid extortionate eBay prices.

Initially hesitant with the blending on the troll, I think I've done a rather good job. It might well be due to a now good source of natural light (ironic for a troll, certainly at a premium in Scotland) it may well also have something to do with a larger miniature.

This is a temporary lapse, I haven't converted completely to the Black T-shirt club, a recommencing of all things historical will be along soon, along with a semi regular book review section (Helion Century of the Soldier may be prominent) and maybe the odd battlefield walk. We'll see

A New Start

So reports of my death have been exaggerated. A combination of work commitments, moving house and generally real life getting in the way, have meant that hobby pursuits have been on the backburner.

Obviously, with free time being at a premium, priorities need to be made. Currently looking for wargames clubs/modelling clubs that meet during the day over weekends. Currently leaning towards GDWS to fill this niche. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very interested to hear. Can't say I'll be a regular, but can make up in enthusiasm☺

Having treated myself to a tablet over New Years, I feel the gap in filling out progress in modelling and wargaming commitments can be more easily fulfilled on the go.


In terms of wargaming projects, as a large amount of it still remains boxed up 6 months after the move, reliance has indeed turned to Peter Dennis and Helion & Co. Paper Soldiers series. Hopefully some posts in coming weeks about rapidly finishing Norman Conquest project. I'm particularly looking forward to their Scots Wars of Independence book due in February (I provided a bit of Inadvertent Advice on this)

Hopefully will be posting up here on a weekly basis. Miniatures bug still not sated though, so for your delectation, a WIP 1/35 Tamiya Panther Tank Crew 116 Panzer Division. Enjoy

Border Reiving and Bannockburn

Apologies for the lack of recent posts. My new job as battle coordinator at the National Trust for Scotland's new Battle of Bannockburn Heritage Visitor centre has meant that hobby time has indeed been severely reduced. Ironic that I spend a large amount of my day running wargames for members of the public/talking about the history of the conflict, but hey they are paying my wages. However if you're in the area anytime soon, would like to participate in a light approximation of the battle and see some cool technology at work, please come along, participate and say hello.

The Claymore Rampant day, run by the above manufacturer of all things Scots War of Independence, went very well indeed. Although low on numbers (only about six of us turned up) it proved to be a very fun, laid back and enjoyable event, largely focused on a series of cross border raids in the 1340's. I just fell short of pipping the top spot by half a point, but nonetheless the victor well deserved his position. I really hope some more similar events are run in coming months, I'd certainly be up for them.

Recently my painting efforts have been focused upon painting up Border Reiver's for Glasgow Phoenix Wargamings "Not Too Hot,or Too Heavy" (to quote GM Fraser, who I am reading at the moment as background research) campaign, using Osprey's new set of rules En Garde, the miniatures have been made by Hoka Hey, using the old Graven Images castings and they are very nice indeed. Crisply detailed, with lots of research into period details they almost tick all my boxes. Hard wearing and not prone to broken spears or bent weapons, I also found this was one of the miniatures down points as they must have cast the pewter with antimony as it made them extremely difficult to trim sparing mould lines off. Equally (and this is me just nit picking) there are a couple of instances of belt buckles and baldricks that can be clearly seen below the belt, but do not extend over the shoulder. Now maybe it is just me, or they are meant to be portraying a hanger rather than the above, but it is slightly annoying, but a good bit of modelling putty/plasticard will easily rectify this. A solid 4/5 from me.

Equally, a lot has to be said for the En Garde ruleset, it has the feel of a mix of RPG, a bit of Mordheim with a dash of Dumas. Play alternates via an IGOUGO system, whereby the model/individual in question can do one of a series of action, move, attack or shoot. Very simple in nature, combat is based upon a combat pool, with the individual of the higher rank taking priority. Points in the combat pool can be spent on individual fencing actions that might get an individual out of a sticking situation which is quite innovative. With often only singular attacks available, a clear strategic undercurrent lies in the game. Morale falls after half a side is killed, and indeed in this respect it can prove fast, furious and indeed bloody. Needing only 6-12 miniatures a side at the most, it works perfectly for a quick game or for those strapped for time. I’m certainly going to be using it for the ECW.

I’m certainly now looking at raising a force to act as government march wardens to oppose my reivers, as well as raising my stock of livestock. However focus is very much on getting my ECW collection finished now without interruption. I am hugely looking forward to Bicorne Miniatures/HelionPublishing’s The Kingdom is Ours, so major time is now going to be set on finishing my favourite period. Incidently anyone rearranging their storage facilities for miniatures may well be interested that Poundland is currently selling magnetic tape. I have based about half my collection with it and it works perfectly. Check it out.

More soon.

Chevauchee bound for Edinburgh

The effect a course of good weather, practice and tinkering makes on your miniature photography is immense. For once haven't had to spend a couple of hours editing photo's for the best result. Hopefully this shows.

Sir Robert Davidson Bearing the Campbell banner. 28mm Irregular Miniatures.

Anyway the last week has seen a frenzy of medieval shenanigans, with a well fated battlefield walk on the field of Bannockburn, (followers of my other blog Traileth Thou the Puissant Pike, keep your eye's peeled in coming days), coupled with finishing off my retinue based on the forces of the Earl of Mar for the Claymore Rampant event, run by Claymore Castings of Fife next Sunday, has meant that the Anglo-Scot's Wars of the 14th century have very much been on my mind recently. Obviously having supported SBT's wargames event so well earlier in the year, I only felt it was kind enough to reciprocate in kind, while also persuading me to get some miniatures off the painting desk.


I've been playing a number of games of Lion Rampant in recent weeks, being slightly worried about getting back into the rules after a year, but it seems I have taken to it like a duck to water and am looking forward to a series of chevauchee's being waged next weekend. The following miniatures are a mix of Perry HYW plastics (originally intended for an Agincourt  project but financially recycled for a smaller campaign) and Irregular Miniatures, I think I have provided them with a fairly decent paint job. Inspiration and colour schemes were taken from a mix of Ian Heath's WRG Armies of the Middle Ages (1982) and Peter Armstrong's Osprey book on Otterburn (2007). Flags are a mix of the ever brilliant Flags of War and Ray Roussel's from his blog. Armour has been finished off in gloss varnish, while the flock for anyone asking is actually made out of dyed saw dust, from a past issue of Battlegames.

Anyway here for your delectation and delight is my retinue, representing the Earl of Mar's Forces at the battle of Harlaw 1411. It is my hope to soon extend this collection with a retinue to represent the forces of The Lord of the Isles, using new Perry HYW French MAA.

The Earl of Mar's Personal Schiltrom, 28mm Perry

A note of advise. Too often it gets commented on the fact that Scots were distinctly different from their southern neighbours. Certainly I have never seen any evidence to suggest this and just like the Welsh, the difference between the rest of the British Isles in clothing is often negligible. Only by going into the Highlands, with definite Irish and Norwegian influences, did clothing differ drastically.Certainly in terms of arms, documents from the 12th century Assize of Arms portray Scots armaments as being a generation behind the English. However, the fact that relative economic stability, with conflict becoming more infrequent except for clan disputes and with Scot's still being recruited as mercenaries to serve in the French Army, it is likely any lowland Scots force would look just the same as anyone else.

Irvine of the Drum's Schiltrom

 Scot's Archers-note a lack of difference between Scot's, Welsh and English Warbow's.

Armoured Sergeants of Sir Alexander Leslie

Note a preponderance of Gerry Embleton lookalike's within Perry Miniature's Sprue, far left.

Knight's Retinue under the flag of Hay, Earl of Erroll.

Armoured Retinue of Knights, under the guidons of The Earl Marischal.

I think the number of photo's taken speak for itself the pride I've taken in building this retinue. Hopefully it plays as well as it looks on the battlefield.

So onto the next project, where The Stanehouse's will go Border Reiving, using Hoka Hey. Reviews forthcoming

The Bunker

Spoilt for choice this week, with two posts in two days. Obviously everyone wants their battlefields to have big armies and big terrain features and defences to complement them. Looking at continual battles over heavily enclosed French fields is all good, but minds do wonder to Stalingrad, Berlin,               D-Day, Merville Battery, factories, ruins and more besides. Therefore I felt a bunker was the natural starting point for this month's terrain project. Built using the following tutorial Link, it was scratch built using copious amounts of foamboard, air drying clay, hot glue and filler and does the job just marvellously. I think price just came in at £2 as much of the stuff was lying around the house and the foamboard was given away by Dad's work from architectural drawing plans. Many a game of Bolt Action will be played over it and I now hope in the coming weeks to complement it with a steady supply of minefields, tank traps, craters, obstacles and marshes.