A blast from the past !

 

Busy clearing out my cupboards and amongst the rules and paperwork I found this poster, I think it was given away by 'Miniature Warfare' magazine probably in the early 70's in that brief period when Wargaming clubs seemed to flourish and the hobby even appeared in the media (as the media was then - not the modern media) , the odd film or even TV series (Callan) , before disappearing again. I have just noticed that there are two thriving Gaming Clubs in my locality , both specialising in Fantasy and 40k and even a small shop that deals in card and board games again with a heavy bias to the Fantasy and SciFi .

Just noticed this on their Facebook page - queue of fans awaiting the shop to open , evidently a new issue of Pokemon cards (!?) (2) Facebook - It makes me feel old - Oh ! I am !!! - a ever changing hobby !

Wargaming humour No.67

 

Are we in the bottom  photo ???🤣

One of lifes little pleasures .

 

I do like returning from holiday to find a parcel awaiting me ! . I must admit I had forgotten I had placed a bid on some figures on eBay - which I had won !!

Luckily I alerted my ever obliging neighbour who kept an eye open for the postman and kept it safe for me . It contained six old hollow cast mounted Officers - but the interesting thing is each had been converted by their previous owners with head sawps and paint jobs .

I do like second hand figures with a bit of history with them ! . why were they converted - battle damage ? , how many battles have they seen ? . I am going to only repair any slight damage to the paint to keep their individual character and find someway to attach them to bases so they can appear on the 'Tabletop of Mars' . I will report on their progress.

Preparing the next batch of Imagination .

 

Whilst doing a Spring clean (of which more later) I found these 40mm semi flat cavalry I once got from eBay .

So they all got a Dettol bath to remove their paint .

Cleaning off the gunge using an old toothbrush and disposable gloves .

First batch cleaned and based ready for an undercoat.

Next batch, I was short one figure so I cast one up , and mysteriously he is slightly bigger , Think it might be a homemade mould hence the size difference ? , hopefully not to noticable when they are painted and on the tabletop. I have no idea which armies they will be joining yet .

If only I could have bought these .......

 

Found these on Facebook , the hours I spent looking at them as a youngster (1960's) they were in Superman comics etc passed on to me by our neighbour - a quiet bald moustached Postman who you wouldn't think would read that sort of thing. 

I especially wanted these, but I didn't even know what a Zip code was let alone sending a postal order to the USA . I now know they where cheap plastic semi-flats but they were exotic unobtainable treasures to me then.

We go Hi-tec !

 

So I have been painting up some 2D Ancient / Hyperborean flats - and finding it hard going ! . By and large I have quite good eyesight (for my age) I think, but the flat 2D Zinnfiguren have very slight definition - being only 1mm thick I suppose doesn't help . So I purchased the above magnifier and light and am trying it out .

I have tried magnifying devices before but they where free standing glasses on plinths and didn't like them , this head mounted one seems easier to manage - and makes you look like a minor Super Hero !

Here is the first figure I have manage with this devise . I won't be painting the rank and file to the same level . I'm quite happy with the results but think his trousers could have done with a bit more shading .People that paint Flats as a hobby tend to use Oil paints so they can blend them better , but I will stick to my acrylics and practise a bit more.

The Meteor of Doom - the Finale .

 

The opponents close for action !

The Hyborean Light Camelry shoot at the enemy but with poor results 

They are charged by the Hyrkanian Light horse and after a brutal melee are forced to flee - both sides being unarmoured was responcible for the heavy losses.. The Stygian mercenary archers move to open fire on the Heavy cavalry .

They cause heavy casualties and killing both Officers results in the cavalry retreating - luckily Gayomar was handy to rally them.

Unfortunately the Imperial Archers move up and unlease a barrage of arrow and the Stygians being unarmoured  suffer great losses.

They break and flee !, Count Valenso was able to hold the Thurn Infantry from joining them , but with only this unit left he was forced to retire leaving the field to the Hyrkanians . The Hyrkanians hold the Meteor - for the time being anyway ! . A short game but it was bound to be with so few units on the table, but it was nice to get these troops back into action again and I hope to use them more often .