Tuesday, 7 April 2026

Storming the Senti Gefyra ( part2)

 


Overview of the battlefield The Sublime Porte on the right and the Helenyka on the ridge left .(would have been better if I had removed the playsheet before taking photo !)


Much needed reinforcements arrive for the Republic in the shape of two units of  Heavy Cavalry.


The Sublime Porte has formed it's Infantry into Attack Columns and abvance boldly towards the bridge.


A view from behind the 'Black Hand' forces on the ridge .


The Republic Artillery comes under fire and suffers heavy casualties .


The Sublime Porte columns advance ., while their Artillery shells the ridge.


The Helenyke Republic counter attack and the Heroine Tringe Smajli leads her troops against the enemy column.


The combat is drawn and both sides retire disordered .


Total chaos at the bridge as the Cavalry try to advance and form up ready to charge. Part three to follow soon  ........

















Friday, 3 April 2026

Easter Weekend Battle - Storming the Steni Gefyra !

 


Decided to set up a game as the weather is typical Bank Holiday mix ! . A scratch force of the Helenyka Republic have been sent to hold the Simantike Perasma from an invading force of the Sublime Porte . I will of course be using 'A Gentleman's War' rules and my Balkans war Imagination 40mm collection .


The Sublime Porte column marches onto the tabletop using the main road and their Commanding Officer sets up his command post at the Old Inn ..


They have brought along their Heavy Artillery which opens fire with effect !


The Sublime Porte's Commander Omar Sharif Pasha .


Prince Ludwigs Bavarian Volunteers (semi flats) sent by Bavaria to aid the Helenyka Republic .


Members of the secret 'Blacl Hand' revolutionary group have responded to the Republics call for aid ! . The only Regular Helvenyk unit is a Artillery Field Gun and crew , they are hoping for reinforcements before the enemy can attack in force .


Sublime Porte Border troops try to sneak up on the defenders - I will report back when the action starts ......














Tuesday, 31 March 2026

First fruits of the brush .

 


Started painting my 28mm plastics , first up I have painted my two Officers that will command my forces . I'm going for the Thirty Years War as this allows me to add some of the more exotic troop types.


I've also got a base of Musketeers done (the base needs more work on it) these will be a unit of Imperialists . I will do alternative units per side - thing it will be a long haul but worth it.



Saturday, 28 March 2026

The 'Greate Glueing' or 'The Mother Of All Gluings'

 


Just recently I've been helping an neighbour with some house repairs - mainly fetching and carrying and holding the ladder steady and as a reward he gave me a Amazon Gift Card (I refused money as it was helping a mate) . I was then presented with the problem of what to buy !? . I noticed Amazon was offering a good deal on the above box of plastic 28mm ECW figures and on a whim I bought them .


Then began the Great Gluing Up ! . Lucky I find gluing up plastic figures therapeutic - but Oh my ! there was a lot of them .


The figures are nice and the pieces fit together well and not too fiddly .


Here are about half of them completed . I am basing them for 'Pikeman's Lament' .


And here are the other half ! undercoated and ready for painting , with a couple of packets of metal for command and artillery . This is going to be a LONG project and I may start playing games using the undercoated figures . 

PS Sadly due to family commitments 'S' couldn't make the game on Friday so I will report on more of the 'Brickskrieg' when we reschedule the game.









Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Featherstone meets Lego .

 


So I bought this as a late Christmas present  (only 3 months late) - I was intrigued by the quick build/no painting and the very simple free downloadable rules that have overtones of the Featherstone WW2 rules .


A unit of German infantry the base at the rear withe the 'pole' is the commander .


2 German Panzerfausts sneak up on their prey using the cover of a wall. 


A British unit with an attached PIAT (on the left rear) advance towards some shelled buildings - again made out of Lego type blocks.


German Panzer mark IVs Blitzkrieg down the road - again made from bricks - they come with downloadable building instructions.


They are totally unaware of the hidden British Churchill tanks .


I bought the rulebook as well which has rules for artillery and aircraft - again very simple . The box came with dice (D6) and a rather nice tapemeasure , each of the units have their stats on handy cards so you have all the info you need for playing the game . I've played quite a few games with the starter set and think I have a good grasp of the rules . so 'S' is calling round for a game this week and I will report back on the game.













Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Shinny figures in the sunshine .

 


In my quest to empty my "to do" box these were the next up for painting . 54mm ECW Replicant plastic figures , some dynamic poses there which hopefully will appearing on the tabletop in 17th century Borsetshire .


Here they are disporting themselves in this mornings sunshine , unfortunately the better weather also means starting work on tidying up the garden which may curtail painting !? 



Sunday, 15 March 2026

A bit of painting (and perhaps a new side-project)

 


When I was clearing the shed out I came across a box with some 40mm Prince August homecasts,  I don't remember castings or undercoating them . They are Swedish for the Great Northern War , so I'm going to paint them up and see where they take me ! . 

PS 
Had a bit of a think and wondering about initially using 'Pikeman's Lament' rules with these figures , as they use units of about twelve figures for foot and six for mounted , with about 5-6 units per side and as I have all the moulds I need it would be a do-able project - we will see !?