2018: Hobby Plans and Goals

 Now that 2018 is upon us, I have devised my plan for 2018.  It will be dramatically scaled down as my painting business, Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles, will be taking the majority of my painting time:

1. Two units of Scottish infantry for the English Civil War.  They will portray both Covenanters and Royalists for Montrose's army.  All my English Civil War forces are based for Victory Without Quarter which I think are the best ECW rules out there and they are absolutely free.

2. Two units of Scottish cavalry that will both Covenanters and Royalists.

3. One Scottish artillery gun.

4. French Foreign Legion company for In Her Majesty's Name.

5. Sky Pirates company for In Her Majesty's Name.

Modest but doable.

2017: The Miniature Year in Review, Part 5

How did I forget this?
I'm honored to have some of my Afrika Korps miniatures featured in one of my favorite rules authors Daniel Mersey's latest book A Wargamers's Guide to The Desert War 1940-1943 available on Amazon and at other fine retailers.

It's humbling to see miniatures you have painted in the same company with Michael Perry of Perry Miniatures, Wargames Illustrated and Big Lee himself!  (If you have not seen Big Lee's Miniature Adventures, you are in for a treat!)

Afrika Korps 88mm Gun featured in the book

If you want to see the other photos, you have to buy Dan's book!  Here is the summary: Continuing this exciting new series of guides for wargamers, Dan Mersey gives a wargamer's perspective on the North African campaign of World War II. Dan gives an overview of events from the opening British successes against the Italians, to the famous duels between Monty and the Rommel (the Desert Fox), right up to the US-led invasion of Operation Torch and the eventual defeat of the Afrika Korps, and offers advice on how to recreate these on the gaming table. Daniel Mersey discusses factors to consider when choosing an appropriate set of commercially available rules, or devising your own, to best suit the scale and style of battle you want and to capture the flavour of the period. The relevant ranges of figures and vehicle models are also reviewed. Analysis of the forces involved, organization, tactics and strategies will help with building your armies and there are interesting scenarios included. Whether this is a new period for you, or you are looking to refresh your existing interest in the period, this handy guide is sure to hold much if interest for you.

2017: The Miniature Year in Reveiw, Part 4

I had decided to go back to my gaming roots.  It was the plastic 20mm (1/72 Scale) Airfix Napoleonic figures that first really got me interested in gaming and collecting soldiers as a kid.
Then I discovered Bruce Quarrie's Airfix gaming guide, that eventually became Napoleon's Campaigns in Miniature that got be hooked on real wargaming with toy soldiers when I was a teenager.

In tribute to my first love of gaming, I had decided it's time to go back and do 1:72 scale; not only to save money and space, but also as I have recently discovered the unbelievable quality and variety of 1/72 scale figures and periods.  I used to have a 15 mm Zulu army and now I have decided to do both the British and Zulus in 1/72 scale soft plastic figures. 

Lieutenant Colonel Redvers Buller, VC, leads the Frontier Light Horse through the gauntlet on Hlobane Mountain. 

Mounted Infantry

 The Edendale Contingent of the Natal Native Horse

The 1/72 plan for the Anglo-Zulu war came to an abrupt halt when my lovely bride of 31 years asked me to teach a Wargaming Class for one of the local Home School Co-ops.  All of our wonderful 5 boys have spent the majority of their school time in home school and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Honorable Son #1 is a librarian in a major university and is married; Honorable Son #2 is a lieutenant in the US Army and is married; Honorable Son #3 is a chemical and biological engineer and is married; Honorable Son #4 is in Cow College (yeah, I'm an Alabama fine) and is in Construction Science; and Honorable Son #5 is a junior in high school and just finished his calculus in college.

I decided to do my class One-Hour War Games: The American Civil War. I used the One-Hour Wargames book written by Neil Thomas and it worked out perfectly for introducing medical and highschool children to wargaming.  It took me a couple months to paint armies for the Union and Confederate armies as I was also working on other projects.  There were a total of 10 battles for a campaign and the Union forces pulled out a victory with a narrow victory.  The class for so popular I will be doing another class but will be doing the 17th century.  In a future date I will take pictures of the 1/72 scale American Civil war forces from last semester and the new 1/72 scale forces for ImagiNation armies for the next semester.

2017: The Miniature Year in Review, Part 3

I've gamed World War II in 15mm but never in 28mm so I decided to give the painting a go for my business on eBay.

British Airborne Squad from Artizan Designs.

Late War German Panzer Grenadiers from Artizan Designs

Late War German Farschirmjagers from Black Tree Design

Mid to Late War German Infantry from Black Tree Design

   Farschirmjager Flamethrower Team from Warlord Games

 American Airborne Pathfinder detachment from Warlord Games

US Airborne Squad from Warlord Games

 

 US Airborne Platoon HQ from Warlord Games

Bazooka Team

 60mm Mortar

  

Farschirmjagers 81mm Mortar team from Warlord Games

 

Farschirmjager Panzerschreck Team from Warlord Games

 Farschirmjager Sniper Team from Warlord Games

7.5 cm Pak 40

 

 I have now painted Black Tree and the plastic Warlord Games Faschirmjagers.  I have not tried Artizan Designs yet but so far my favorite figures are the metal sculpts from Warlord Games.  Here is their Faschirmjager squad blister pack

In the conclusion in Part 4, let's talk 1/72 scale.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles!

"Must be fireworks for the New Year."

Huzzah!!!