31 December 2023 - Eldar project revisited

Part of the Fantasy 2024 Makeover Project includes this display job. This piece is from around 2018, so it's over five years old. 

Part One was the Eldar standing defiant in the face of what approaches; it is his last stand. The banner is a flight of fancy by me. And I still like it. But there is still work to be done with the figurine. And finding the beast is important as it's what's needed to complete this display. But finding the right one is the issue, plus I never went beyond finishing the pennant banner.

It was the banner itself that is the focus of this and it is what got me interested enough to move onto painting to which I joined an online painting community and ended up painting bird cards. So, it has a sentimental value for me. But it needs a lot more work on the final detailing to be considered finished. Now that I've learnt a little more about colour values and mediums (not the psychic type either!) it should be a little easier. No?

Have a safe and prosperous New Year. Cheers.

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31 December 2023 - The Hunt for the Albatros continues...

As the title states, went into the studio even though I was feverish with the flu. Ended up rummaging about after more painting on the Harbour set. Then I pulled out the 1/700 Waterline capital ships I had assembled around the same time as I had started the Harbour set just to gauge the dimensions for piers to be made. 

 

Yamato and her sister ship Musashi. Figured Yamato is the finished build (bottom of two ships). Later I went hunting for the original kit boxes...and found them. Never throw away anything until completely done with them, so I've learned. But that's just me.

Also pulled out two British battleships - Rodney and Nelson - as they occupied the same shelf.

 

Compared to the Yamato, these two look like cruisers size-wise. 

 

Also found these two Japanese destroyers on the same shelf. Forgot they were there, to be honest. Know of the Akatsuki from playing it in World of Warships. Top ship.

 

The Sakura is not known to me but was part of the same purchase back when...

 

The back of the kit boxes is very hand because it itemises the pieces. With the Tugger set it shows the ship types and provides a basic colour scheme. Very useful.  Correction: they are floating piers while the missing items are mooring buoys. Found the buoys during a quick tidy up.

 

The aircraft are part of the Waterline series. Found more aircraft which are either the same Tamiya or Dragon as I originally believed.

By the way, still haven't located my Albatrosses.

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29 December - Canvas Eagles - Multi-plane scenarios 1 and 2

Chatting to my gaming buddy the other day got me thinking about likely scenarios for our next matchup. The scenarios presented below represent what those mulling options spewed forth. Apologies in advance. 

Scenario 1: Late Night Bomber (I'll be home for breakfast)

Backstory:

A night bomber is late returning from a night mission over northern Germany. A malfunction causes the bomber to fly low whilst detouring away from enemy positions. Unfortunately there is a miscalculations with the navigation and the bomber ends up flying directly over enemy lines who awake to hear the thunderous sound overhead. Alerted, the enemy react. Meanwhile, Allied command, aware the bomber is overdue, orders the forward air units to be on the lookout and safely escort the bomber home for breakfast.

Forces:

• 1 Allied bomber - Handley Page (1)
• A flight of Allied Sopwith Camels (4) 
• Enemy interceptor planes - Fokker DR-1s (2-3)

Conditions:

• Early morning (around 6.00am). Dawn reveals clear visibility to all on this fine spring morning. Hardly a cloud in the sky.
• Bomber starts on either short map edge and must moves the length of hex map to safely exit the opposite end. Doing so safely while still active in the air is deemed a moral victory for the Allies. But winning the match is counted using the Victory conditions (see below). 
• Allied fighters must RV and then safely escort (or defend) the lost bomber. Roll d6 to determine arrival and spawn point.
• Enemy despatches a flight (2-3 aircraft) to intercept and hopefully shoot down the bomber. Their arrival will be diced for on first turn. This includes deployment location and the turn on which they arrive. Their mission is to down the bomber and drive off the escort.
• No Allied plane may spawn to the rear of the bomber relative to its current location. Likewise, the same applies to the Central Powers interceptors who may not spawn forward of the bomber's current location. 
• No aircraft may spawn within 6 hexes of the bomber on dice roll. If this happens, reroll for new spawn point.
• Spawn point and arrival time are determined by a either a d6 (simplified) or d10 (standard) roll for every fighter/scout plane on Turn 1.

Victory:

• Bomber safely exits map = 3 victory points for Allies
• Enemy interceptor driven off or shot down = 1 victory point per interceptor for Allies
• Bomber shot down/crashes = 3 victory points for Central Powers
• Allied escort plane driven off or shot down = 1 victory point per escort for Central Powers
• Compare differentials with best differential wins. 

Spawn:

• Position is ALWAYS relative to the bomber's direction of movement. So, if moving from right map edge to left map, the bomber's right wing tip (from bomber pilot's perspective) is always "north" while the left wing tip is  always "south". Central Powers aircraft can never spawn forward of the bomber. And Allied escort planes can never spawn rearward of the Allied bomber. 
• Note: if the players decide to have the bomber fly from left to right, then the notations are reversed, i.e., bomber's left wing tip is now "north" while the right wing tip is "south". Got it? Good!
• Using basic cardinal points that match with die roll. So, if bomber is flying from right to left then "1" would be "north", "2" would be "north east". "3" is "east", as follows:
• 1 = north
• 2 = north-east
• 3 = east
• 4 = south-east
• 5 = south
• 6 = reroll
• As above so for the Allied escorts arrival only in reverse for die roll 2 to 4. 1, 5, and 6 remain the same. Therefore:
• 1 = north
• 2 = north-west
• 3 = west
• 4 = south-west
• 5 = south
• 6 = reroll
• If bomber is flying left to right, for the Central Powers spawn point is as follows:
• 1 = north
• 2 = north-west
• 3 = west
• 4 = south-west
• 5 = south
• 6 = reroll
• As above but for Allied escort planes:
• 1 = north
• 2 = north-east
• 3 = east
• 4 = south-east
• 5 = south
• 6 = reroll
• Spawn for either Central Powers or Allied escorts triggers whenever d10 rolls greater than 5 for either side. Let's hope the Allied have a non-incident free flight then and they can get home to a hot cooked full English breakfast. 

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Scenario 2: Reconnaissance over the front line (I see you!)

Backstory:

Captain James "Lofty" Chambers and Lieutenant Egmont "Treetops" Hassler have been ordered to locate the positions of the newly arrived 165th Artillery regiments near St-Iglaire flying their B.E.2c "Checkers". Accompanying them flying covering escort will be a single fighter flown by Lieutenant Thomas "Over the top, boys!" Marchelton-Shivers either in one of them "new fandangles foisted on us by the Air Ministry" DH-2 or his old but reliable Sopwith Triple "Betsy". This is an afternoon flight. The early summer day has been warm for the most part but it looks like "clouding over, so the Met boys believe so". Can the duo find their elusive prize or will it be another empty unrewarding afternoon mission over enemy lines. Lofty hopes so. 

Forces:

• 1 Allied scout/reconnaissance aircraft - B.E.2c (variant to be clarified in batrep)
• 1 Allied fighter escort - Airco DH-2 or Sopwith Triple
• 2 Central Powers Fokker E-IIIs
• 3 German ground artillery batteries (1 gun model represents battery)

Conditions:

• Suitable hex map board (3 x 4)
• Artillery gun models (representing batteries)
• Allied aircraft appear anywhere along a long hex map edge flying towards enemy lines. Dice for altitude of both planes. Both planes start no further apart than two hexes.
• Enemy aircraft will appear once the first artillery battery location is revealed. They may enter only from the map edge up to the AO limits (see further down). Aircraft arrive as one group. Normal altitude die roll takes place for every aircraft. 
• Recon aircraft must locate every enemy battery. These remain hidden until revealed. Their hidden location is written down by player controlling enemy guns PRIOR to start of game and only disclosed once the Allied recon plane enters the individual battery's arena of operations (ARO).
• Enemy battery guns cannot deploy within 3 hex radius of each other nor may they deploy any further apart from one another more than 7 hexes apart.
• The artillery regiment's AO (area of operations) limits cannot be closer than 4 hexes from the Allied planes map edge. 
• Once the recon aircraft enters anywhere inside an enemy battery's hex arena (3 hex radius), the enemy player immediately reveals its location by placing said bty model on board in its true location. 
• Allied player MAY then choose to bomb it (B.E.2 carries one hand-held bomb dropped by observer) if able to. Otherwise, it will record that location and move on to the next location. If successful in bombing bty, result counts towards final victory (see below). 

Victory:

• Enemy battery successfully located = 1 victory point to Allies
• Enemy battery successfully bombed = 1 victory point to Allies
• Recon aircraft safely exiting map board on own side = 1 victory point to Allies
• Recon aircraft shot or crashes = 1 victory point to Central Powers
• Enemy battery not located = 1 victory point to Central Powers per hidden bty
• Enemy fighter driven off (exits map board) or shot down = 1 victory point to Allies
• Compare victory points. The side with the better differential.

Cheers.

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29 December 2023 - Japanese naval base in the South Pacific

Went into studio today to attempt to locate my missing WW1 Albatros D-IIIs & IVs. Did not get far. Instead, I revived this old project started many years ago. It is based on the Tamiya Harbour set designed for 1/700 waterline ships. Not sure if I bought the one kit or several as the basic kitset these days features only the one large crane.

Adding this project to my 2024 Makeover Project.

Remembered that I bought a Tugboat set consisting of several harbour vessels easily found in a bustling seaport.

 

And a box of auxiliary vessels to complete what was conceived then as my grand plan for a Japanese naval base set somewhere in the Pacific. Target for a US naval force to attack using my General Quarters III ruleset.

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Started colouring-in the windows on the storage/workshop sheds.

 

Used black texta fine tip pen. May repaint the building but then it looks good enough for now.

 

As seen I have three large cranes and three storage/workshop buildings which leads me to believe I acquired three kits. The group of four structures to the right are scratchbuilds using off-cuts of balsa. All I've done today was apply a thin wash of watered-down black acrylic primarily to give definition for the next stage of painting.

 

Lots more scratchbuilds. This time I create towns/villages built-up areas to both surround the port and showcase centres of population. Fuel or storage tanks are to the right. And to the right of those three tanks are four more "proxy" storage/fuel tanks - actually old plastic lids from large litre containers. Necessity is the mother of invention, they say.

 

Floating moorage buoys(?). Missing little orange round items (description eludes me at the moment). I know they exist but can't remember where I placed them. 

 

Combination Tugger and Auxiliary kitsets given black wash prior to further painting. 

==================================

Got a bit carried away as I decided to bring out the 1/700 airplanes that go with this project. Did not realise I had so many. 

Corsairs on the left and Mitchell bombers on the right. About two squadrons in total. Part of the intending US attack group.

 

Silver-coated Dauntless torpedo/dive bombers on the left. To the right are the Hellcats. Again, around two squadrons worth.

 

Have to excuse me as my Japanese aircraft recognition is poor to non-existent. I only know just the one aircraft - the famed Zero (left). As for the others, I've had to do some quick internet searching, and make guesses. Please correct me if I am wrong. The two groups in different colours to right of the Zeros are what I reckon are Val dive bombers. The wing tip shape is my clue to believing this so. One group is in Japanese Army colours while the other is Imperial Japanese Navy. 

A number of Vals are missing their aircraft markings (did not have enough decals at the time). May simply apply red dots using a suitable paint pen. 

 

Second group (above) are what I believe to be Kate torpedo bombers. Both Army and Navy versions. Enough for one combined squadron. On the foam strips are two groups of mostly Val planes needing completion. Ran out of 20mm round plastic bases hence why they're still on their foam strips. 

==========================

Objectives: 

Two parts. Part One will be to finish off what's started. This involves painting up the harbour vessels, finishing off the dockyard facilities - workshops, storage, and administration, completing the airplanes and finishing off their basing, and finalising details on the local accommodations and associated village/town buildings. 

Part Two will be to construct or create an occupation harbour along with constructed piers able to handle large military vessels. Maybe even have a large cruiser docked taking on supplies and making repairs. 

Thoughts: 

It's still the tail-end of December so I am definitely jumping the gun. But the early bird catches the early worm, as they say. And I kind of feel there's a quite a bit of work involved to get the momentum happening. Once that happens, then the project will generate its own momentum; it's just getting started.  

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Multi-plane Canvas Eagles game - 27 December 2023

 Caught up with my gaming buddy for our first multi-plane game. Four-vs-four.

 

After selecting sides and start zones, we deployed.

 

 

Pilots for Central Powers are based on historical figures - Jacobs, Voss, and Kleinke. Von Braun is fictional name. The three historical planes are Fokker DR-1 which are C stability meaning they can turn either way without penalty. Von Braun is A stability meaning he will have to fly straight before turning in new direction. Got it? Good!

 

 

The Allied pilots are fictional names. The two Italian airforce pilots - Luigi and Manfredi - are flying SPAD VIIs while Derek and Monty are flying SPAD XIIIs. All four planes are B stability which is like A stability meaning they need to fly straight before turning in any new direction. Map is custom-made. 4" hexes overlaid on a desert satellite image.  

 

Image doctored with background rubbed out using Paint. Next time we are looking to setting up screens painted up as sky for better photo taking.

 

 

Another doctored image using Paint brushes/spray tool achieving same result as previous photo. This image shows all four Central Powers aircraft entering combat at various heights. 

Herein the batrep is fairly simple and straightforward. I, playing the Allies, found myself assailed quickly by my more aggressive and wily Central Powers opponent spearheaded by the legendary Voss. For much of the remainder of the game, the Allies were on the bad end of a hammering. Out-maneouvred. Out-played. But they hung in there until the end when my opponent eased off on the thunder hammer. 

No crashes. One spin-out on my side but he recovered quick enough. Guns jammed a few times on both sides but did not hamper play apart from easing off on the throttling by Voss. Damage delivered was telling (on my planes) and Manfredi would later claim his aircraft was only held together when he landed by his constant praying.

Next match up will feature more multi-planes including a Handley Page bomber painted up in night bomber camo. Thanks again to Simon for being a great sport. He is proving a deadly and focused opponent. We both agreed beforehand though that the planes looked impressive. 

Until then...

Boxing Day 2023 - Studio visit in many months

Went into the studio to prep some minis for a get-together tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Allied Powers flight - two of each SPAD VII & XIII. The 7s are Italian air force.

 

 

 

Two Fokker Dreis based on historical figures - Voss and Kleinke. Fokker D-VI in hand-painted Bavarian Home Defence camo colours.

 

 

While there I began searching for my Albatros D-IIIs and IVs which are my favourite designs. Cigar-shaped but quite attractive. But no luck. Next time lucky? While searching I did come across many components of my official 2024 Makeover Project idling in my display cabinet.

 

 

My 1/72 WW2 aircraft collection originally intended for Rapid Fire. Going to mount them as I have done with the Typhoon.and Stuka. Not sure about the Soviet-era tank (scale or purpose).

 

Mix in the photo above but it's the Me-109E (repair and painting) and the two German WW2 destroyers (painting) that warrant attention and inclusion in my makeover project. Interesting contrast between the blue-based 1/700 Japanese aircraft (Dragon, China) and the black-based 1/600 German aircraft (Tumbling Dice, UK) located behind the destroyers.

 

1/100 (15mm) modern-era aircraft mix. All for mounting. Earmarked for a couple of games.

 

Vietnam War riverine force and one tank. Part of the 2024 makeover.

 

More Vietnam War models for makeover. Helos and armoured vehicles - tanks (both Free World and NVA) and Free World APCs. For Charlie Don't Surf rules by Too Fat Lardies.

 

What is a naval fleet without capital ships. Two are the Rodney and Nelson. The other I can't recall. Much painting. There is also an aircraft carrier included in this group. 

 

=========================

Looking ahead to 2024

Reviewing the previous post, I eventually realised I had more than enough to run my own "slow grow" project for 2024. Unfortunately it is another MASSIVE project. Not intentional but there you go.

It is made possible because I will no longer be distracted by my ongoing participation in an online PC game begun back in 2020 where I have been playing daily for several hours on average. That involvement is now winding up as I near my two personal goals. Now I can fully devote time and energy to my tabletop wargaming and general hobby interests without any distractions whatsoever. Or at least make an honest attempt at it. I may discard or ignore some objective mentioned in my last post subject to priorities. 

For now I am writing up a simple straightforward timetable schedule to get me staring in the right direction. This, of course, is subject to amendments and revisions as the projects unfold. Cheers.

JANUARY - MAY: Complete as many Historical projects as possible. Note: time for actual tasks given where possible. The longest time though, as most will know, is gathering the necessary materials. 

• Ancient naval ships - Battle of Salamis fleets touchup. Painting. One day for task. Plans to run another small solo engagement set in the same time using an alternate ruleset yet to be determined. Future of this venture? Unknown at the moment. It was a foray in the first place, something that piqued my interest back when. Probably a one-off.
• Anglo-Dutch Wars ship - single ship or two? Complete build from start to finish. Two-three days allocated for build. Still for display purposes. One of many to-do challenges I've set myself over the years that got started but never finished. Perhaps this time round? It will really challenge me given I'm not that skilled a modeller and because I've always been lazy.
• WW1 planes - Airfix duo set build. Also a complete build to completion. Two days for a comfortable endeavour. Spruce up both groups for a multi-plane game later in 2024. Still interested in taking multi-plane gaming further. Ran a published campaign associated with this ruleset (Canvas Eagle) back in 2022. At the time it was purely graphical - no models. Now I would take it a step further using actual models. Got the equipment and table. And a live opponent who is eager and willing to participate.
• French Foreign Legion fort. Interior layout of fort needs completion. A project began many years back. Exterior structure completed. Got bogged down in details at the time. Now I want it finished. Three days total alloted.
• Russian Civil War - armoured tank acquisition and build. Low priority at the moment while I research scratch-building to scale which is the real challenge. Unlikely to see light of day to be honest; it depends on how well I am travelling with the other projects. No time limit as project not started yet.
• WW2 planes - 1/600 & 1/700 sets - decals and mounting. Probably take a day or two to fully complete. Two different scales for use with two different rulesets - Bag the Hun 2 and General Quarters III. The latter because of carrier air ops. One day.
• WW2 naval ships - 1/3000 - paint and mount the surplus ships. Most US and Japanese vessels from the Pacific theatre of operations. One day.
• WW2 land vehicles - Willys Jeep build - wheels and accessories attached - painting - decals. Integrate them into an airborne force or existing Allied forces supplied by the American war machine. Mid to Late war period. One day. 
• WW2 Kelly's Heroes terrain board (modular) - Very big project - mostly complete construction of the various modular boards - train tracks - trains - buildings - cars - etc. This will take up the bulk of the time allocated. Expect to make some inroads and possibly complete one or two modules. It may become an ongoing long-term task. Giving a week for this endeavour.
• 1/100 scale jet planes - small task - various periods and nations. One day.
• Vietnam War riverine force - rivercraft build completion - decals & painting. Being generous with myself and giving it two days the entire flotilla.
• Vietnam War aircav helo - small task - decals & painting. Aircraft assembled and mounted on wooden stands. May search around for clear acrylic rods as replacements. One day to complete the task - decals and painting and replacing rods. 
• Vietnam War Free World transports and armoured vehicles. A day for the whole group - painting and basing. Including markings and figures.
• Vietnam War terrain boards and buildings. Three days.

JUNE - AUGUST: Complete as many Fantasy projects as possible. Lower priority than Historical at the moment.

• Burrows & Badgers warband - acquire and paint up more figures (if possible) - low priority small task as more figures are bought and added to existing warband. Subject to availability too.
• Ogre Kingdoms list (6th edition) - big project - painting. I have a decent bitz pile to kitbash various combinations in order to fulfil objective. 
• Beastman list (7th edition) - small task - painting. List already created but will review and amend given I sold off the most valuable items - charioteers (why?) and giants (again, why?). 
• Lizardmen list (7th edition) - big project. Time consuming simply because this is my most incomplete list. Lacking Cold Ones and a few other support units.  
• High Elves list (7th edition) - small task - paint touchup and completion. Mix of figures from two editions. Lacking firepower. For now finish what's there and add as required and/or as available.
• Warhammer Fantasy Lizardmen presentation board - big project - painting makeover, repair, and completion. About 80% done regarding general layout and presentation. Replace items removed (such as palm trees)

SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER: Complete as many Sci-fi & Other projects as possible.

• 40K Eldar grav-tanks complete paint makeover - big project
• 40K Eldar list or collection - main Eldar force. Points size irrelevant. Aim is to include most of the Shrines with support vehicles and weaponry - big project
• Early 20th century urban modular terrain build - complete to tabletop gaming standard. Quality will be 5 out of 10 - big project
• Dsiplay aircraft - small task. One day allocated. 
• Truck rig & display board - big project. Keen to finish this off and have it on display. One week devoted to it. 

DECEMBER: Final report of goals tallied up - done or not done.

Of course this timetable schedule runs in conjunction with gaming activities undertaken throughout the year. 

It's December

Not keen on starting another massive painting project again in the immediate near future. For me the Borodino project cost me a lot in terms of time, energy, motivation, enthusiasm. More than three years on it's still exerting its hold on me with the refight itself still unfinished. The refight was never intended, but once the list was painted up, what was there left to do but put them to use on the tabletop.

Despite the recent interesting promotion from my local hobby forum site for its slow-grow 2024 painting endeavour, I will not be actively partaking of it. However, it has planted that irritable tiny seed of interest. Perhaps I might work alongside but do so on my own terms. I no longer can post pictures as I've somehow used up my quota allowed. And people, for the most, like visuals as much as they don't mind long-winded explanations.

Like so many others involved in this hobby, I have a storage space full of miniatures of the tabletop variety in varying stages of completion. Slowing dusting away and ignored. Wife would like to see me sell off my modelling collections. For now I am resisting her pleas even though I know I am fighting a losing battle knowing she makes perfect sense. 

HISTORICAL MINIATURES

There's quite a large amount of unfinished or not-started models covering all three arenas of operation - air, sea, and land. To simplify matters for me therefore I am alloting every project that I can remember off-hand into two groupings - Big projects and Small tasks. It doesn't mean squat though, but it's nice to have them categorized. 

Big projects simply mean those that are either still new in their boxes, or are opened but unassembled. 

Small projects are just unfinished projects already started and/or are in various states of completion. 

The listing below, no doubt, will miss a few as I am relying solely on memory alone to identify. So this listing is neither final or comprehensive. No doubt I will add more as they are rediscovered over the coming months and years.

Air arena

Big projects:

• 1/72 WW1 aircraft. Airfix duo starter sets: Fokker Dr-1 vs Bristol F28 Dogfight double. A pair of kits. Mission: Assemble. Purpose: Part of my planned squadron-level multiplane combat missions for 2024. Unfortunately I won't be able to access those kits until after Christmas as they are presents to me by me via my wife. Don't ask for an explanation; it's just how it is in our household.

Small tasks:

• 1/72 WW1 aircraft for Canvas Eagles game. Mission: Repair those broken from game play. And there are few, mostly wheel carriages and propellors. Gaming buddy mentioned using soft clear plastic circles which sounds good enough for me. Unless I can either 3D print or hand sculpt. Have to wait and the see the outcome.
• 1/700 plastic WW2 aircraft for use in naval air ops with either SMR or GQ III rulesets. Mission: Repaint and mount onto bases the remaining few. Mainly roundels and aircraft markings. These are by Chinese maker Dragon. And found by accident whilst browsing my local go-to bricks-and-mortar hobby store. Ideal for my 1/700 naval ships, especially my one Japanese carrier.
• 1/600 white metal WW2 aircraft for European/Western Desert theatre of Operations (Bag the Hun 2). Mission: same as for 1/700 aircraft above. Mostly painted up but no decals applied. A few unpainted though. Keen to get back into BTH for some squadron-level action.
• 1/100 (15mm) helos for Vietnam War. For use primarily with Too Fat Lardies CDS rules. Mission: Decals and final paint touches. Got a couple of excellent historical source references, ideal for creating scenarios and the like. 
• 1/48 WW2 aircraft of the display kit variety. Mission: To be mounted properly for final display in my display cabinet.

Naval arena

Big projects:

• Anglo-Dutch ship build (including rigging). One ship I believe but need to verify if there is not another although my memory of the purchase made is decades ago and thus currently unreliable. Will eventually become display model as I don't have the time to devote fully to the period unless I meet someone equally interested. Scale: 1/1200. Models by Langton Miniatures (UK). Ruleset is Tiller & Whipstaff.
• World War 2 1/3000 white metals ships. Formerly Skytrex (UK). Mostly US & Japanese ships for Pacific theatre of Operations (leftovers and others from a local buy years ago). Many duplicates. Most probably paint them up either as sister ships or as spares. I believe Navwar (UK) now own the moulds and are retailing the Battle fleets in smaller nation lots. Plus they are also now pricier. Regret not buying the Battle of Jutland battlefleets (both sides) back then when I had the chance. 

Small tasks: 

• Galleys from Ancients period (Persian/Greek/Spartan). These are 3D printer files I downloaded some time ago for a refight of the Battle of Salamis using He Hemetera Thalassa, Mare Nostrum rules. Vessel scale is forgotten but a guess might be 1/6000 because I wanted to field single ships instead of stands representing groups of ships (doesn't give that grand sense of scale and magnitude). Complete with a rework with paint.
• WW1 paper ships. Always wanted to refight the Battle of Jutland or its opening situations. Rather than miniatures which now cost a lot I chose paper models backed onto plantation-grown paulownia wood (option instead of balsa). Mission: playtest the rules - Admiral of the Fleet by Seekrieg (USA).

Land based

Big projects: 

• Napoleonic. Finish the Battle of the Borodino solo refight according to plan. This happens to be the main priority between now and the new year. It comes downs to motivation and time.  This remains the #1 priority.
• WW2 Willys Jeeps - a large collection of 3D printed from own design sit idle in several storage boxes. Some assembly still required to complete. Part of an abandoned WW2 Battle of Arnhem project. Scale: 1/72. Designed to be used with Rapid Fire (UK) ruleset. NB: Rapid Fire 2 is the current meta.
• Repaint makeover Lion Rampant 1/72 medievals in preparation for returning using the latest 2nd edition rulest. Maybe revive my solo campaigns from a few years back is on the cards.
• 1/32 Truck rig kit. Mission: complete assembly including final painting, decals, and display stand. I have a mental image of how I want to display it. Finding the time and assembling all the materials needed to finish it in a few modelling sessions is the major problem.
• 1930s terrain - inner city. For use in gangster wargames. Translating the mental image inside one's head can be difficult. Lacking the appropriate modelling skills and knowledge adds to that difficulty. Would love to finish it however to gaming table standard.
• Copplestone car. For use with .45 Adventures ruleset. White metal car with figures. Unassembled and unpainted. A task for the spray gun?
• WW2 terrain board. Modular system. Italy 1943. Many pieces incomplete. Was hoping to one day run a big Rapid Fire game on it when I was in a local gaming group. "Hoping" being the operative word as I ran out of steam after several months. Then quietly and conveniently forgotten.
• Tin Tin & Snowy. A childhood aspiration that is still wishful thinking. Seen a few retailers of suitable figures. But looking for something appropriate of that era for the European-style nations of the early twentieth century. A thought might be to convert European figures from the mid-19th century as they look similar to some of the nations from the Tintin universe. 

Small tasks: 

• Part 1: Vietnam War Riverine fleet. A group of half-finished Tangos and Monitors. Scale: 1/100 (15mm). For Too Fat Lardies fun Charlie Don't Surf ruleset. 
• Part 2: Vietnam War land forces. Both Charlie/NVA and Free World. Same ruleset. US aircav units (helos) needing decals added.
• 1/72 Russian Civil War collection. Primary ruleset: Red Actions. Wanting to add a modified armour train from the period.
• Large presentation board of a Lizardman open temple with a mountain facade. Would make an excellent backdrop for a Fantasy game.
• Burrows & Badgers skirmish game. Assembling more figurines for the two small playtest warbands. Project of fairly low priority.

MINIATURES - FANTASY & SCI-FI

Primarily GW in origin. Interest began back in the late 90s when I got involved while living in Sydney. First list was Chaos Space Marines. Over the years I've become more interested in Eldar although I did branch out into Warhammer Fantasy. Interested mainly in High Elves, Beastmen, Ogres. Many many projects, big and small, sitting gathering dust.

Fantasy genre

All are from a certain period (c. 2007-13) when I was first entered and then immersed myself within Warhammer Fantasy universe. As with the 40K component, many of the worthy or "good" models were sold off (such as my then-expensive Forge World Eldar Phantom Titan). What's left is sitting on my shelving or dumped in boxes stored away. 

Big projects:

• Ogre Kingdom. Main reference: 6th & 8th editions. A few units have been assembled that are at least painted to bare minimum tabletop standard. Loads more unassembled in my bitz pile however. The usual Ogre type include:
• Tyrants
• Bulls
• Bruisers
• Butchers
• Ironguts
• Leadbelchers
• Maneaters
• Hunters
• Associated creatures include:
• Gorgers
• Gnoblars
• Yhetees
• Slavegiants
• Sabretusks
• Rhinenoxen

Small tasks:

• Beastmen. Main reference books: 6th & 7th editions. The usual types. Lots of surplus in bitz pile, mainly accessories (weapons, shields, arms bearing weapons, etc). As it was my first Fantasy army, it's fairly complete but a bit shabby nowadays from neglect and wear. Definitely in need of a makeover as does my entire Warhammer Fantasy collection.
• Bray-Shamans
• Wargor
• Gors
• Bestigors
• Centigors
• Ungors
• Minotaurs
• Warhounds
• High Elves. Main reference: 7th edition. Smallest army list created. Several loose units that are incomplete. Includes:
• Ellyrian Reavers
• Swordmasters of Hoeth
• Lothern Seaguard
• Elven Archers
• 
  
• Lizardmen. Small and limited to:
• Saurian units
• Temple Guards
• Skinks 
• Stagadons
• Krexigors
• Cold One cavalry 
• Slaan Mage Priests

Sci-fiction genre

See comments above in the Fantasy introduction.

Big projects:

• 40K Eldar. Several groups that include specialised foot units and combat vehicles. Mision: major repainting of the vehicles and assembling the figurines. Mounting on to bases is another task.
• Eldar grav tanks - I have a small group of Eldar Falcons painted in what I now call "hippy" style. Looking to improve on that loose and carefree style by changing it something more elaborate, deliberate, and thereby fitting to a perceived Eldar style. Problem in the past is deciding whether to align with an existing Craftworld or generate a custom one. Still undecided. Alos looking to modify a couple into variants such as the Night Spinner and Fire Prism.
• Wraith Knights - only one left. Other one disappeared when I loaned it long ago to a gaming associate but it was never returned. Repaint or touch-up with remaining knight? Not sure yet.
• War Walkers - two that need a definite repaint of both walkers Was more interested in painting their bases at the time and therefore gave scant regard to the Walker's colour scheme and painted something temporary.
• Storm Guardians. Far too many within this group. Idea is to paint in either standard Eldar craftworld colours or distinctively unique colours. That's the plan for now. More as it unfolds. 
• Warrior Paths - I don't have the complete set. Maybe this might be a nice sidepath mission to undertake in 2024. I do have:
• Dire Avengers
• Stinging Scorpions
• Warp Spiders
• Shining Hawks
• Howling Banshees
• Fire Dragons
• Dark Reapers

Small tasks:

• Xenos Rampant. A new project that is still in infant stage.
• Dragon Rampant. Adapt more figurines from my GW surplus. 

BOARDGAMES

I have a few boardgames. I am not a collector however. Main objective would be to play those boardgames that have not been opened.

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BORODINO REFIGHT (Solo wargame)

Situation at the end of Turn 6 for the French. These are selected images that weren't shown at the local forum site. Russian Turn 6 is next. Time is 9am. View is mainly from behind the Russian defensive lines as they await the French assaults. The French artillery, for their part, are trying to correct their inital deployment mistake.

At the second table, Tuchkov's request for help is being answered as Duka's cuirassier division is heading south and should provide an effective counter to Latour-Marbourg's cavalry corps now assisting Poniatowski's feint on the Russian far left. Duka's arrival is just in time too as the Polish light cavalry are wreaking havoc in the Russian rear as the photo below shows

North of the Grand Redoubt the French are amassing in greater force after being repulsed initially. Units from Ney's corps have joined the attached divisions of Morand and Gerard. Meanwhile Eugene's command is pressing their initial success in taking Borodino and capturing the main bridge across the Kolocha by moving up the New Post road toward Gorki.

Yes, it's been a very long time since last played. It is a sincere wish to grab a few turns between now and my next Nap game with the new gaming group in January 2024. However I won't be overly upset because I can return to the game any time I like. Part of the joy of solo wargaming. Cheers.

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