Well, the 4th of July has come & gone and I had a BBQ & fireworks party here, and got a fair amount of people to show. Tim & Lynda, Hugh & Janice, Mark, The Williams, Mary & Steve, Steve Allen , Harold, his son Byron and Genie & her sister. Far too much food, LOTS of fireworks and I believe a grand time was had by all. Got so good photos of us all, having to delete only 1 photo of Mark being a dork while the picture was taken.Been a long time (far too long IMHO) since we all get together for a BBQ or the like.

*** The Sword and the Flame 28mm***

Almost finished my first batch of British, I have to paint the base then clear coat and they are done! Then start another batch of 6-8.

*** Patrols in the Sudan 15mm***

The Naval Riflemen and Nordenfeld gun crews are just about finished, which I believe finishes my current list of forces and we can play! I have some Egyptians, but I'll start on them later. I have other figures (Wargods, etc.) on my painting desk to finish.

TTFN

Entry for June 20, 2008

A quick update.....

***28mm TS&TF***

The Madhists are finished. The Banner bearers are done as well the musician's (drums). The first batch of British will be finished very soon. a sample of OG British are on the way, I found that OG had British other than Zulu period British, from the Boer War. If useable, they are cheaper than the Perry minis (30 figure for $24.00 from War Web vs. War Store Perry's which are 6 for $13.99)

***15mm PITS***

Need to get back to them. The Gardner gun, crew and Naval Infantry are almost finish. That means I have all the figures for the list done. I have extra figures (British, Egyptians & Fuzzy-Wuzzies) to add to my forces. I also need to finish my dead British & Madhists markers. Oh yeah, Scouted & Jammed markers as well, but I can proxy them for now.
Also I have been getting the bulk of my figures in foam trays for easier storage & transport. Most of my LOTR figure are done, I need to do the LOTR cavalry and start getting my Sci-Fi figures in trays. But I ordered more from The War Store as getting them from Brookhurst is spotty at best. I am also ordering via the Internet more of the right type of storage boxes for the foam trays.

It's also bloody damn hot (triple digits)...and I don't want to do anything.And a rash on the left wrist isn't getting any better.....

TTFN

Entry for June 08, 2008

GAMEX 2008

Gamex 2008 has come and gone with another great game - LOTR this time. Lots of nice photos and everyone had a good time.

First batch of 28mm Perry British are almost done. Last of the Fuzzy-Wuzzies are there. The two flag bearers have been given flags as should be done ASAP! Then it's on to the rest of the British and I HAVE TO finish my 15mm...too many bunnies!

TTFN

Entry for April 24, 2008

*** BOOK REVIEW***

The Mahdi of Sudan and the Death of General Gordon by Fergus Nicoll
Interest book which covers the life of the Mahdi from all sources, even his biographers, after filtering out as much of the PRO/CON of whoever is writing about him. One of the best parts of the book is the information on early life of the Mahdi and battles fought, which are for the most part ignored in other books, giving a wargamer such as myself information to use to re-fight these battles, of which there are several. The part about General Gordon is brief, as so much has been written about him by other sources and what's in the book is about the interaction of the Mahdi and Grodon's correspondence as they wrote a couple of letters to each other during the seige of Khartoum.

***The Sword and the Flame 25mm***

All the Fuzzy-Wuzzies except the 6 riflemen and the Command figures are done. Currently working on 2 batches (2 x 10 figs) of British as a charge of pace. British are easier in some ways as that "paint all the white, all the black, etc." on each figure. I have approx 30 (?) British infantry and then the Gardner Gun. Oh yeah, the 3 mounted Amirs for my Mahdists.

***Patrols in the Sudan 15mm***

Finished the 2 British Officer Command stands. Now the Naval Riflemen and the Gardner guns and everything on the list is done. Then on to he all the extras, such as Egyptian and Sudanese infantry and painting all the all Fuzzy Wuzzies Hugh gave me. With the Egyptians I can do the Egyptian Uprising in 1881.

And for those wondering about the photo, it's a Call of Duty 2.

TTFN

Entry for April 13, 2008

Just a quick post about the Flames of War Tournament I went to at Aero on Saturday <4>. I made it through all 3 rounds (it was a very HOT day in the store) and won at least one battle, the last one. And of a possible Minimum 3 / maximum 18 points, I got at least 8, maybe 9. Not bad. I had a couple of tactical mistakes, but I learned alot.

Mark made it round 2 and had to leave (too bad). Harold didn't make it even to watch. My other troops didn't do too badly, but the M13/41 tanks I need to find a better use for. Their gun isn't up to the task of dealing with American tanks, at least on front-on shots. I have the maximum amount of Semovente 75/18's SP guns I can have. HHhmmm......

TTFN

Entry for April 03, 2008

BOOK REVIEW!

"Imperial Vanities - The Adventures of the Baker Brothers and Gordon of Khartoum" By Brian Thompson.

This book is about the entwined stores of these 3 Victorians. 2 of them were brothers, Samuel & Valentine Baker and of course Charles "Chinese" Gordon. Mostly about the Baker brothers, very much the "Gentlemen Adventurers" it is a interesting look into the events that shaped them and Gordon. The fate of Valentine Baker and Gordon were entwined in the Sudan, Samuel in Africa. Also making an appearance is Fred Burnaby, also a "Gentlemen Adventurer" in his own right, who dies at the battle of Abu Klea in 1885.

Overall an interesting book for insights into the Baker Brothers & Gordon.

*** PATROLS IN THE SUDAN 15MM**

A little bit more done. The 4 stands of British Foot Scouts are 90% done, and the Officer stands are 75% done. Then I need to do the Gardner Gun stands. I am also making extra Fuzzy Wuzzy stands from the figures Hugh gave me. I got some Egyptian Infantry to make later, in case I want to use them with British Officers or battles from the Egyptian Revolt in 1882.

***THE SWORD AND THE FLAME 25MM***

The next to last batch of FW spearmen are 90% done. Then the Command and Riflemen. I am also working on my Tuareg Arabs from Askari. They are maybe 70% finished.

***FLAMES OF WAR 15MM***

I need to put my Italians back in to work schedule. I have my 88's, finish up the DAK tanks I got from Tim, my German AT guns and the extra Italian tanks I have. Also several aircraft are whining at me. After I finish the Fuzzy Wuzzys, the Italians need to be put back in.

TTFN

Entry for March 25, 2008

Book Review!

"Operation Albion -The German Conquest of the Baltic Islands" by Michael B. Barrett
Very interesting book on a little known operation in WWI. The Germans perform a amphibious operation to invade the Baltic Islands of Osel, Dago, Moon & Worms. This operation involves German Battleships, torpedo boats, Zeppelin's, bicycle troopers. The Russians are currently suffering during a provisional government just before the Bolshevik Revolution, and army morale and willingness to fight is very low.

Well written with enough info for wargamers, I recommend it for WWI fans.

***Patrols in the Sudan 15mm***

All my Dervishes are finished (for my starter army) and the British are almost finished. I made a small boo-boo as the British units can be up to a maximum of 7 bases, PLUS the Sergeant & Officer stands. In the Dervish units the Leader stands are counted toward the maximum number of bases allowed in a unit.

I have a lot of Fuzzy-Wuzzy's in 15mm (Hugh gave me a bag of them) and I might use Old Glory for more Brits, Egyptians & Sudanese to add more bases in case I want a larger battle.

***The Sword and The Flame 25mm Figures***

Almost all of the spear armed Fuzzy-Wuzzy's are done. The next to the last batch is 80% done and then one last batch of 8 remain. Then a group of 8 rifle armed figures (do I need more riflemen ) and the Command figures, the Leaders, Drummers and flag bearers. I need to try to get better pictures of them. If I want more figures for this army I might use figures other than Perry Miniatures, such as Castaway or Old Glory (for more Dervishes, Sudanese & Egyptians).

***Flames of War***

Tim went up to a private tank museum up north (Lucky Dude) and is in a FoW mood. I need to get back to my FoW figures to pad out my Italians . I have more aircraft, 88's, and other AT guns. After I finish my 25mm Colonials, I will get back to them. Need to list what I have & need to do in what order....

***AT-43***

I have almost eveything I need for my Therians, a couple of more types of Golgoths, a couple of Infantry types & I have enough. Time for a list....

TTFN