Back from Salute!

Well, after a pretty exhausting day on Saturday, I arrived safely back home having ‘done’ Salute.

It was a great show. Far more to see and do than is possible in one day – in fact, I’m seeing pictures of the show on the Internet of games and traders that I didn’t even know where there. I suppose that’s a good thing, because it actually saved me some money!

First up, I must present some pictures of the game Awful Green Things from Outer Space, that Scimitar Wargames Group put on for the day. It has to be said, this had several gamers all misty-eyed with nostalgia!

Secondly, many thanks to everyone who popped along and said ‘Hi’. It was great to meet and chat with everyone!

So, what did I buy?

Well, following on from the disappointment of the new releases from Spartan Games not being available, I sort solace elsewhere.

So, firstly I collected my prize from Peter Berry at Baccus Miniatures – a free pack of Command Horizon infantry plus I also bought a Heavy Tank battalion. Following on from that, I picked up some of the new figure trays from Figures In Comfort – specifically the trays for my Uncharted Seas fleets, plus trays for 60×60mm bases of Command Horizon miniatures.

Then I picked up some figures I’d been promising myself for a while…4 packs of 40mm Sash & Saber Napoleonic British Riflemen and French Voltigeurs from Old Glory.

Then it was time for a couple of unplanned purchases – first up was Cold War Commander. Now, I bought the Future War Commander a few weeks ago, and I was really impressed with them. Well, I sat down at Salute with Andy, and we started talking about possibly playing Cold War Commander…and the next thing we know, we’ve both bought a copy.

Later in the afternoon, we were invited over to have a play of the demo game of the new rules from Too Fat Lardies – Through the Mud and the Blood. I must admit, whilst I’m a big fan of skirmish games, and I like the rulesets that I have from TFL, I’d not had much interest in WW1 before. Suffice it to say, having played a turn and a half of the game, I’d decided to buy a copy of the rules. In short, they are really good. They give a great feel for the period, whilst being easy and intuitive to play.

The problem is, of course, that now I have two more periods to play, so more decisions to make about scales and figure ranges.

Sometimes this hobby is never ending, isn’t it?

Going to Salute?

Well, tomorrow is Salute one of the biggest dates in the UK wargaming show calendar, and Meeples & Miniatures will be there…

Look out for Jere & I – we will be with the Scimitar Wargames Group, who are hosting a game of Awful Green Things From Outer Space on table GF03

I will be the large dark haired gentleman sporting the rather fetching black Meeples & Miniatures polo shirt, whilst Jere will be the young, dashing fair-haired lad who will be constantly flitting off to the trade stand next door for fixes of Warmachine.

If you’re there, please pop along and say “Hi!” – if you’re unlucky, I might even get you recorded for the next show!

Meeples & Miniatures – Episode 48

Download Episode 48

Just a ‘quick’ show before Salute!

In this show, I am joined by Jere Koskela, and we discuss various gaming subjects, including:

• The new releases from Privateer Press for Warmachine & Hordes
• Using Elves in Uncharted Seas (or how not to use them!)
• Successors – a board wargame from GMT Games
• Using different undercoats when painting miniatures

We also discuss our imminent appearance at Salute, and launch a new competition.

You can download the show directly from the above link, or it’s available from iTunes

Baccus Painting Challenge – Finished!!!

Yes, though I don’t quite believe it myself, after a concerted effort last night to texture and paint the bases, I actually finished the challenge!

I will put up more detailed photos of each base, and go into how everything was painted tomorrow, when I get some time to take some better pictures.

However, I just wanted to post this photo as proof!

I’m off to email that nice Mr Berry.

Uncharted Seas – Thaniras Elves

I recently finished painting my Thaniras Elven fleet for Uncharted Seas. I decided on a slightly different colour scheme from what Spartan Games recommend – especially since my Dragon Lords are a dark grey and red.

Though I say so myself, the colour scheme actually came out quite well.

The hulls of the ships are painted with a base coat of GW Ork Flesh, and then shaded with Dark Green Ink. Highlights of Coat d’Arms Camouflage Green and Pale Green were then drybrushed over the base coat.

The sails were painted with Coat d’Arms Linen – several coats to ensure an even finish. The masts were painted Coat d’Arms Wood Brown, and then shaded with Coat d’Arms Super Wash Light Brown.

The detailing on the hulls was drybrushed with GW Shining Gold, and then a thin wash of Coat d’Arms Super Wash Light Brown was painted over the top to pick out the details.

Finally, the orbs were painted with GW Polished Blue, and highlighted with GW Electric Blue.

Once the model were dry (and after these pictures were taken) the models were given a coat of Matt Varnish.

Baccus Tanks – bigger pictures

Countzero was asking for some bigger pictures of the Baccus tanks – so here they are.

These are finished – though the turrets look somewhat dull, so I might give them another drybrush of yellow to brighten them back up again.

To be honest, the tanks do look a little ‘muddy’ up close. I’m holding out judgement until I see them on their bases – but I suspect that I might have to revist these at some stage.

Count Zero was also asking what scale these are – they are 6mm, or 1/300th scale.

Baccus Painting Challenge – getting there

Well, just to say that I think I’m in with a fighting chance of achieving the challenge that Peter Berry set me 13 days ago.

I finished the main detailing on the tanks tonight, so you can now (hopefully) see the effect I was trying to achieve with the colour scheme.

Not quite finished yet – they need a weathering drybrush, and then a shading wash to bring out the details (like those on the turrets, for example) but these should be done in the next couple of days.

And then, it’s onto the basing…

Meeples & Miniatures – Episode 47

Download Episode 47

In packed and varied show this month, I chat about my recent visit to the Hammerhead show, and review the latest releases for Impetus and Uncharted Seas.

I’m joined again by Henry Hyde, and we discuss the latest issue of Battlegames magazine, Trafalgar from Warhammer Historical and the recent sale of Wargames Illustrated.

Finally, I chat to Colin Hagreen, one of the South London Warlords club, about the logistics of organising Salute.

Enjoy the show!

00:00 Intro

04:40 Rumblings – New Gaming Podcasts & Hammerhead Wargames Show

16:10 Review – Extra Impetus 1

26:45 View from the Veranda – with Henry Hyde (Battlegames 16, Trafalgar & Wargames Illustrated)

89:00 Behind the scenes at Salute, with Colin Hagreen

103:15 Review – Thaniras Elven Fleet, Uncharted Seas

116:00 Closing Comments

UK Gamer Podcast

Here Be Gamers Podcast

Hammerhead 2009

HLBS Co

Impetus

Battlegames

Warhammer Historical Trafalgar

Magister Militum

West Wind Productions

Salute

Uncharted Seas