Photos from Triples 2011 - Marlburian battle

At the Triples last weekend I came across this big battle of Oudenaarde run by the Grimsby Wargames Society. I thought I would share, apparently there are WF figures in these pics but where I could not say. Lovely chaps, the rules they were using were home made and they had a pile to hand out to anyone interested.

These are 1200 pixels wide pics so if you want the big version just click on them to get the big version of the picture. They have been reduced from 4000 pixels wide.

These are smaller pictures

Carthaginian project

For the next Toy Soldier tournament (Manchester 23-24th July) I have decided to use a Carthaginian army. One of the advantages of Carthaginians is that they tended to use mercenaries from other nations, so if you have armies of that period then you use those figures rather than buying new. So most of the army I have already got. But there is one troop type unique the the army, Libyan mercenaries so I am going to have to do a couple units of those for the army. Like most people who live around the Mediterranean, the skin colour would be dark but not as dark as central Africans. Clothing I have assumed as fairly simple, I think the main reason that the Carthaginians employed those soldiers is that they would be cheaper than using Greek mercenaries (cost-benefit was an important part of war for the Carthaginians).

Now one wrinkle was that I wanted to see if the Wargames Factory plastic Numidians could be made up to look like spear armed close order infantry. They were made for skirmishing infantry but there were enough bits on the sprues to make a stab at close order infantry and so it proved. After a few efforts I found the best looking option was a helmeted head, two arms held close to the body (one for the shield and one for the spear). There are 4 different body variants in a set, two of these made a good spearman and the others could be made into spearmen at a pinch.

My first step was to build the figures in the movement trays. I do it this way to make sure that the units will rank up when formed. Each unit was 20 figures strong with leader, musician and standard bearer but I also made up a couple of spares as well for just in case. The white stuff around the plastic bases is flocking gel which I left to dry out overnight.

Once the figures were assembled the next thing was to put the figures (which have magnetic bases) onto a 'stick' of heavy card faced with steel paper, that allows the figures to be sprayed with primer without being touched.

you can even spray them upside down

Close up on the figures after spraying

Then after spraying. I decided to go for a dirty white shield using my own transfers (a large horse head designed by Kit Burroughs). The rank and file are dressed in unbleached linen tunics, the officer in red. For the next unit I think I will use grey and dirty white (inspired by the film Gladiator). I also decided on iron helmets, rather than bronze. Iron was in general use in the period so should be cheaper to make, if more difficult and the helmet would be stronger. The figures were varnished with Ronseal varnish with a touch of brown paint to give a bit of shading. In the shields I used plain (non-coloured) varnish before applying the transfers. Then at the end the whole of the figure was then varnished with a brush-on matt varnish.

And view from the rear

And who noticed that I glued the standard on back to front? Will I did after building the figures but decided to let it ride.

OK second unit coming off the painting table - just painted the bases so they are still wet!

Lessons learned from the first unit; mix up the colours of the tunics and inspired by the film Gladiator I have gone mainly for shades of grey to almost off white. The shields are a red centre, yellow rim and a jolly little white elephant transfer.

I also (because I mix the skin colour) lightened the skin tone and that way the shading in the varnish stands out more.

So from the front

rear view

Thursdays Warmaster Ancients battle Romans vs Ancient British

Steve and I played a 1250 point game of Warmaster last night. Both armies were supplied by Steve and after seeing his Future War Commander figures I was looking forward to seeing these, I was not disappointed.

So Romans vs Ancient British (with me taking the British) lets look at the armies.

Romans

 

And the British army

In the centre the Romans advance against very little opposition. I decided to mass the British on my right flank and overwhelm them

So on the right I move forward more infantry and massed chariots

An attack on the Romans on my right breaks up their formation but at the cost of half the infantry involved. That seems to be the problem with the British, with no save, any combat sees them die like flies.

The Romans counter-attack, attacking from the front and left at the same time. The British were slaughtered but proved a good example to show Steve how the combat rules work.

In the centre the Romans advance over an empty battlefield.

The Brits were demolished, losing 10 entire units of infantry, 30 bases worth. This battle really had the proper flow of a Roman vs barbarian battle. Masses of enemy to start with and a couple of moments where the warbands threatened to overwhelm the Romans but in the end beaten by Roman discipline and superior equipment. Good game.

Golden Troll 2010 40K event

Played in November 2010 at the Chorley wargames club (CACK)

Some of the pictures I took - great days gaming.

Pics of the event and other peoples armies

Some of the tables and gamers

A lovely Tyranid army

Imperial Guard

Marines - sorry that one was a bit fuzzy

Tanks of the Legion of the Damned

One of the CACK members armies, still WIP Blood Angels

Pics of my games (I was using Tyranids but I am afraid that most of the big models just have enough paint on to classify as painted. I would like to take my time and paint these guys right).

1st game against a Space Wolf army - yes they are Space Wolves looks impressive but was a total failure, I lost all my army except one model!

2nd game vs Chaos Marines

It all went terribly wrong for the Chaos forces. Advancing against Tyranids is not a wise move. The nids rampaged through the enemy tanks and then cheerfully took out the infanty - cos thats what Nids do.

Third and final game against another Space Wolf army. I only had a limited number of my army on the table. The big monsters relying on the Venomthropes to give them a cover save. No easy targets there. The rest of the army was coming on from reserve with a lot of them Deep Striking.

Lictor and Raveners arrive behind the Wolves, they were all wiped out.

But my army advances on the right

and this is what I was facing, a wall of tanks

Luck is important in a game and in this one I got about as lucky as it is possible to get. Just one of many good rolls I had. Need 6's to hit (fast moving vehicle) well how about 5 out of 7 dice getting 6's!