April 2025 - Part 2

English Civil War

Finished off the baggage train...

Then the cannons...

Next the cavalry...

Trimming and filing and repairing a common theme with this group. Not happy with some of the models (bent legs on the horses, excesses flash and trim as well). 

King's Lifeguards before their issue of new uniforms. Making them 3 per stand to give them weight. Know nothing regarding their battle history and/or performance yet still giving them a stronger complement as opposed to the Northern Horse below who are 2 per stand. May increase the number of stands though to twelve for the unit. Lots of trimming excess flash and mould lines.

Then finish with the commanders.

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Terrain Build 2025

Next month I am planning to make a start on a desert-style village for a future game. For now, I have sketched a planned layout (subject to change, of course). Given it an imaginary name. This oasis is a small cluster of building sitting atop a small knoll consisting of a merchant, headman, blacksmith and several villagers. Eventually I will add a few more building clustered around the village itself.

It will join the Beau Geste-style Foreign Legion fort I created long ago but never quite finished. Imagining it as a service centre for the fort and its garrison. Nearest civilised town is several days march so the village is fairly important. More so since it has a deep freshwater spring-well that had been a mecca for miles around. 

Based the plan on several existing Middle Eastern/North African style buildings that are available commercially. 

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World of Warships

ANZAC Day was yesterday. Weegee, to my surprised, introduced an ANZAC Day-themed event within it's Common Mission mode. The naming is a bit misleading as the landing at Gallipoli was just one small part of the broader Dardanelles campaign that involved other landings and naval engagements up the Dardanelle straits. And they have a Dardanelle campaign flag as one of the reward items along with a patch. 

There were multiple landing by Allied troops over the two years of this fruitless failure; it was not just the ANZAC Corps (not "corpse" as one local tv journo broadcast nationally) who beach landed. Admirable effort by Weegee but it would have been better to name it the 1915-17 Dardanelle campaign event instead. 

ANZAC Day is specifically attributed to both Australia and New Zealand, and has greater significance to both nations than anywhere else in the world. There were however televised dawn services broadcasts in other countries like PNG and Thailand as well as serving locations. And of course Gallipoli. 

The day itself has now shifted from celebrating the service of those from WW1 where all the vets are now all gone to commemorating the service of those from WW2 and on to more recent wars. In ten years time the focus will shift on to the Korean War and then Vietnam. And so on. 

Australia and New Zealand also celebrate Remembrance Day (November 11), another throwback to World War I. But the significance of ANZAC Day (so we are told) is greater to both nations than any other commemoration because of the heavy losses suffered and the identity forged in war together by both young Dominion nations. 

On the gaming front, I managed to upskill my Italian legendary commander, Sansonetti, to 21 point last week. Currently grinding Auboyneau and Honore, using premiums - Strasbourg (battleship) and Toulon (cruiser) respectively. Also got Tier VIII versions (Picardie and Bayard) if I get tired of the Tier VIIs. About halfway through Auboyneau's journey to 21 point. Honore is on 18 point. 

As forewarned, am skipping the insane offer to purchase the overpriced ships. And the crates-within-a-crates event (name forgotten).

The Battle Pass event (second stage) kicked off a couple of days ago. The Agincourt is the only ship reward. I have it already. 

Paid for the unnamed sequential bundle event in the faint hope of a rare ship but was rewarded with none. However my low resources were boosted so I wasn't complaining. And for just over AUD40 it was worthwhile. Like I said above, I was able to fast track Sansonetti's rise to 21 points as a result. 

Weegee announcing a new map competition is both welcomed but maybe too late. Subs and carriers are still OP. More and more I'm watching favourite YT streamers and their adventures on Lesta (Russian) servers. They certainly are having more fun. 

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BrisCon 2025

Attending this annual convention. Will post attendance report and hopefully some pictures. Cheers.

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March 2025 - Part Three

14 March 2025

Late Medieval Balkans read

Finished Chapters Four and Five in one late night sitting. Found another interesting battle to game tabletop-wise. 

The Battle of Klokotnitsa was fought in 1230 and involved the forces from the 2nd Bulgarian Empire under Ivan Asen II and the Thessaloniki Empire under one of the several 'Byzantine' Emperors, Theodore Comemnus Ducas. The Bulgarians won a major victory and expanded their territory to include much of Macedonia, parts of Albania and of course Thessaly. And they now were a major player in the region, and a threat to both the Latins who held Constantinople and the rival Nicean Empirate in Anatolia. 

As I don't have the models, I'm looking at paper 2D models. Currently looking at options because I would like to get back into Lion Rampant some time this year. 

16 March 2025

World of Warships

Currently grinding the new Dutch light cruiser line using Michiel de Ruyter, the only Dutch special commander in the game (as far as I know). Finished the Jaarsveld yesterday, upgraded, and began grinding the M. van Coehoorn. Last ship in this line will be the Utrecht. 

Not sure about the release of the new Soviet subs. As one well known YT streamer pointed out, what's the obsession with submarines. Part of me doesn't understand either, but another part has a theory and it's not complimentary to the creators. 

19 March 2025

World of Warships

Decided to continue playing the experimental ships partly for rewards. Coal plus rewards for other events (Soviet subs reward tokens that can be exchanged for crates). Not going to fast track to the Oregon however. So it's the slow grind to accumulate the requisite Action reports. Each day it resets and the maximum obtainable is 45. But each ship has around eight modules costing 150 Action reports per module plus so many credits. The only way is to spend 10,000 doubloons (nearly AUD60). Will therefore take the slow grind approach. Already completed two mods. Six more to go.  

Managed to upgrade from the M. van Coehoorn to the Tier X Utrecht, plonked orange camo on it and ran it for a couple of games. Another tech tree line done.

Priority this year will be to upskill as many special commanders (Legendary and Seasoned) to 21 points. 

Foregoing going for the Gonzaga and the Monmouth. They simply cost too much dollars (in the hundreds now). There are other "new" ships being promoted but will most likely skip them if they're being made available like the aforementioned two ships.

Phone Games

I only have the one phone game - Triple Tile 3D. Found it on my wife's phone some time last year and was instantly hooked. I love it because it's a rapid hand eye coordination reaction game. Got up to level 1820 before I decided to install it on my phone after vigorous complaints over the hogging of her phone. Anyway, I noticed a few things about this addictive (for me at least) game:

• Upon completing the level in the time alloted, the remaining time left is converted to gold. However, it's misleading to believe the time remainder converts fairly. The gold converter cycles faster than the time remaining conversion rate. For example, you might complete a particular level with 2 minutes and 07 seconds remaining. Your gold earned is, say, 175. If you watch the conversion process, you'll notice the gold counter clicks over much slower than the time remaining reduces. Which is not that important if you have an abundant amount of boosters and gold accumulated. Just be aware though.
• Every ten levels completed rewards you with a new set of tiles which normally follow a theme like toys, hats, flags, plants, tools, fruits, etc. But this only seems to work up to just past level 2200. About here, the reward tile set starts to randomize in that you'll get repeats for a while. Then the odd new tile set. I suspect this might be a glitch or something because the new tile sets returns after a while. 
• The shortest alloted time limit is 4 minutes which isn't too bad while the longest can be near 8 minutes (enough time to make a coffee and still finish in time). Playing it though means total concentration and not allowing yourself to be distracted. That's where the boosters come in. 
• Of the boosters, there are four lots: two in the pre-game startup, and two in-game. The magnet one is meh in my opinion but handy for clearing a first few. Used with the time bonus booster which adds 1 minute to your time allocation, you can get a good starting run. Which can be useful especially if you're up against the dreaded 4 minute timer. Once you begin play, there are two more at the bottom of your screen. The left one randomly removes a 3-tile set (useful if you're having trouble finding or focusing and you delay longer than ten seconds). The right one is the freeze time, and is pretty handy and often used once I'm down to thirty seconds and still got loads to clear. Once these in-game boosters run out, you can pay using the gold you've earned to purchase more. Unfortunately, you can only purchase just three at a time, and you cannot buy repeatedly while you still have boosters. A pity. 
• The game periodically provides opportunities to earn more boosters and gold. There are twenty such opportunities. This is where you can start building a decent amount of gold and boosters. Temptation is to use boosters initially because you haven't got your "eye in", so to speak, and you're still adjusting to the pace of the timer. Don't worry. It soon improves. And it appears regularly: the timer will inform you when the next set will appear.
• Of the object sets in the random tile pile, some are easy to identify and some not so easy. The not so easy moments occur when colours are fairly similar between objects or the objects are very tiny, such as children's toys, or when come up against tiles that are similar in shape and colour like red flowers that are of two different types but look similar to the sweeping eye. 
• With practice you can easily finish the 4 minute timer in under 2 minutes if you focus. And learn to use all your fingers (like guitar finger picking). 
• Try to avoid clusters that are lodged side-on along the edge or close to the edge of your phone screen. The remedy is simply slide a finger down the side affected to release it. May have to do it several times to dislodge the offending tile. Tiles directly on top of one another can also be tough to dislodge, especially if it's the last tile set. But you'll find a way. It does claim to be randomly dropped but I've found that there are usually three fairly standard patterns: (1) grouped close together, (2) horizontally and/or vertically aligned along the entire length/breadth of the pile, and (3) one will be at the opposite end of the pile compared to the other two. Also, triplets are dropped at the same time so you will find them layered unless get spread wide during the drop. Once you get used to playing it, you will know instinctively these patterns.
• After you've completed a level, there is the screen that shows two sliding bars sliding back and forth. This is the claim window. Click the bottom one any time to advance your progress by five. It's an automatic increment. Thus five times twenty equals one hundred which represents one advancement level at the end of which you receive a new set (of eight new and different tiles - I think). In other words, you need to succeed twenty times in order to receive the new set of tiles. The top bar provides an opportunity to multiply your earning by whatever number you click on. Usually this is five (max) for me. But you have to wait a short time (usually thirty seconds) for an ad (or three) to play through before you can claim your multiplied earnings. Three hundred multiplied by five is a better reward by far so I sometimes click it. Of course, you have to be using either wi-fi or have data usage activated to make this happen. 
• There are 48 sets of triplet tiles to clear in each level.
• Somewhere between levels 2650 and 2700, the countdown (new tile sets) stops altogether. Instead, you keep getting the message "New pack is coming soon...?" instead each time you finish a cleared set. But when that's likely to happen is anyone's guess. Currently at level 2941, and there is no update on the new pack coming soon notification. So, it's possible to believe the app game is done which is what I suspect. Maybe it will happen once I crack the 3000 mark? Doubt it however. But one never knows...
• One more thing: do not use wi-fi connection as your playing time will be bombarded by ads. Also turn off data usage and you can have an ad-free time playing this game. Battery life? Played it solid for over two hours, and battery usage was around 30+%. Cheers. 
• UPDATE: Currently at level 3100. Yeah, no new pack...so game is pretty much finished between 2600 and 2700. 
• UPDATE: Highest score for stars is 440. Average is usually in the low 200s. A good session is around 300 but that's generally uncommon. So 440 is exceptional. 

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21 March 2025

ECW: Baggage train and others

Resumed work on the baggage train along with some of the command elements.

A couple of the carts and in the background the donkey train.

Still to add the top part of the water barrel. Wheels painted up don't look so bad if you don't look too closely. Still too big but it's not going to matter anyway, so it'll do.

King Charles (on the grey), three aides (red cloaked) and one of the Royalist generals, Lord Astley, who commands the infantry overall. His son, Sir Bernard Astley who commands one of the tercios, was painted earlier.

Medieval Balkans

Finished Chapter 4 - The Latter Half of the Thirteenth Century. The author jumps from region to region which can prove disruptive especially when trying to absorb the wealth of information. Not complaining however because the historian/author tries to provide solid facts and/or reasoning behind the information provided. If he doesn't know or there is scant information, he says so. Which I like. Any speculation is grounded upon analysis of the most available reference material, the veracity and authenticity of which is reliant on the quality of the reference source cited.

It also pays to have a map of the area whilst reading to identify various locales mentioned. The book provides two maps: the first lists all the main towns and cities, while the second lists the political regions, geographical features including main and tributary rivers. This appendice is handy but suffers from the issue of being two pages in size meaning the spine gets in the way. One could easily photocopy the two halves, or else obtain another reference source map of the area such as an old German language area map from the late 19th or early 20th century. 

Chapter 4 mainly focused on the machinations of Bulgaria and the various Dalmatian coastal regions such as Hum and Dubrovnik. Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia, and their endless upheavals and power plays raging back and forth between the major players of these regions as well as the continued interests by the Venetians, Byzantines (and the Genovese allies) as well as the ongoing incursions and raids by the local Mongols. 

As per usual, rulers and regions come, and go fairly quick. Local families rise to prominence, endure for several generations, and then as quickly as they rise they fade into obscurity. Towns change names and allegiance so often depending on whoever rules them. 

Starting a new century (the fourteenth) with Chapter Five. And settling on a suitable timeline to game.

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March 2025 - Part Two

4 March 2025

English Civil War

Started detailing the Oxford units. 

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Pulp Fiction

Earlier tonight revised the two gaming sheets for my new scenario - The Vine Street Bank Heist. Happier with the new revised Profiles for the participants after paring down the Special Abilities (had too many for a first game). 

As I go along, I am also developing the scenario. So far I've got the following "facts" down. 

(1) "Boss" Lambert's gang are about to rob the 2nd National Bank on the corner of Main and Vine Street in Biggstown, a large city in the central mid-west. His gang are out-of-towners and have quietly infiltrated the city with many staying at the Cherry Street Hotel, a couple of blocks from the bank. The gang is well known in several districts so laying low is essential.

(2) The downtown district comes largely under the metropolitan jurisdiction of the 27th Precint led by the competent Lieutenant Ed "Bullrush" Zelski. Because of the way I've set this up, both parties has a Grade 3 (the head honcho), two Grade 2s (lieutenants or deputies), and two teams of Grade 1s. For the 27th Precint, patrolling Main Street and the off-streets branching from Main (up to Hopper Street in the south-west) and the Industrial Estate (north-east corner) keeps them busy. 

(3) The Second National Bank handles the financial affairs of the city and is located on the junction ofAt this time of the year, it prepares to remit a large shipment of cash to its corporate headquarters over at Centerville by rail and road. This is the payout Lambert is planning to hijack. 

(4) Conducting the recce of the bank and its environs is Whitey Zoots' crew consisting of himself, Petey the Gat Gowlinsky and Leo "Cracker" McGerkin. Attached and especially brought in for the job is the driver "Wheels" Kross. Meanwhile Boss Lambert's other crew, led by Moray "The Snake" Feisty, is gathering info on the bank personnel. Assisting him are "Bugsy" Sickle and "Sloppy" Wynstein.

(5) New enlisted Patrolman Meyer is familiarising himself with his patrol route. He is accompanied by the veteran Eli "Knocker" Pound. 

More to follow...

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English Civil War

Rupert's "Blew" regiment figures glued to bases. Some detailing done on the headquarter element. Basecoated bases for later flocking and "decorating".

Both units (Oxford army) done and ready to enlist into the Reserve. 

Work on Talbot's and Duke of York's tomorrow - cyclone willing. Cheers.

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6 March 2025

English Civil War

On a slow roll of sorts.

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13 March 2025

Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Power was finally restored after going dead Sunday. Dumb authorities kept telling those affected to go to their effen website. Problem is no one had power nor comms nor internet so couldn't access the effen stupid website. And I hear we're getting billed more with our power. Third-world country.

In the interim, the power outage allowed me to finish off the ECW foot, all seven units. And a couple of commanders. A few minor detailings to go and base flocking. Hand made the 60mm bases for the commanders from MDF. Quality of the material is shite but what do you expect from Bunnings?

Today I began the baggage train. Found one item (water cart) has no wheels so am hand crafting them. Because I had no reference (no internet) when I made my start I soon realised I had made the wheels too large interfering with the water barrel. No problem as no one is really going to pay attention to a high sitting water cart. 

Also one of the horses was so flimsy that it broke as soon as I pushed it to straighten its hind leg. Viewed from the front, the legs of the creature are not properly formed. Poor creature has more in common with those 2D flats than viable 3D. Oh well, it is what it is; too late crying spilt milk. 

There are several ways to dress this farcical attempt up. Lots of dark paint and foliage is one way. Hide it at the back of the baggage train. Or never have it come on; just claim it's refilling at the nearest lake or pond. And so on. Lol.

Reading List

With little to do in the blackout, I took to reading the Medieval Balkans history book. Chapter 2 concerned the Fourth Crusade and its influence on the region in that Byzantine lost Constantinople to the crusaders. The establishment of a Latin Emperor in Constantinople also saw expansion into Greece so much so that little fiefdoms and principalities were established by the crusaders (Franks mostly) throughout. Thessaloniki, Morea, Epirus are some of the more familiar states established by the crusaders and their descendants. 

The amount of treachery by the rulers during this period of upheaval from Latin, Byzantine, Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian, Hungarians - is phenomenal. Here I was thinking the modern Middle East and Near East is the byword for turmoil. Yet it was so common in the 12th and 13th centuries so much so that the only way to know who held what is by historical accounts and records. And even they can be misleading or vacant on information. 

I am so looking forward to the Ottomans finally capturing and establishing their empire. But that's several chapters on. Chapter 3 - The First Half of the Thirteenth Century - was a whirlwind of political intrigue, usurpation, fragile or broken alliances. And forever back-stabbing. Had to pause to absorb much of what was happening in the various regions.

I am now wading through Chapter 4 - The Second Half of the Thirteenth Century. I am chuckling though at how devious some of these players are. For example, the importance of having documentation securely stored away can never be overstated. Which comes handy in disputes such as one town's claim over religious authority were nullified when the claimant failed to produce the authentic documents supporting their case. Of course, during their disputes these were missing, destroyed by the rival side when they captured the town before it was recaptured by the claimants.

Towns would change hands many times over. Much like a merry-go-round. A veritable carousel of "sea changes".  

There are ten chapters in all. So far, six to go after tonight's reading. Of course, I now have a wealth of new wargaming inspiration. Maybe look at familiar rulesets covering the period. Certainly enough new source material to resume Lion Rampant. Or even bigger if I can source suitable minis. 

NOTE: A lot of little wars going on, some documented, others not, is rampant throughout the thirteenth centuries. And quite a few are never even known about except as hearsay or through fireside tales. The amount of interference from Hungary is quite common given it bordered the Danube. And the Venetians are also right in the mix for meddling in the affairs of the region. A real hotbed of intrigue and greed. But then that's much the spice that is history.  

Games

Recent power outage (storm related) has affirmed the need to get games happening on spare tablets and laptops. So am ready for next time because there will be a next time with some sort of natural disaster emergency. Still don't have full comms (mobile phone coverage). 

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March 2025 - Part One

1 March 2025

English Civil War

I much prefer the journey rather than the destination these days. Getting there is so much more fun than seeing the final end result which is cool in itself but doesn't provide the memories whenever viewed as much as the struggles, modifications, adaptations, and so on.

Found some basing material yesterday and thus spent tonight cutting them for my units. Still need to basecoat several units like Hopton's and Bard's. Started detailing Duke of York's and Talbot's. As stated, King's Lifeguards and Prince Rupert's Blew regiments are very much done with only the basing, flocking and some minor final detailing to complete them out. 

Tweaking the numbers, I was able to accommodate adding Talbot's Foote without forsaking the original listings which is a good thing. All that's missing from the above list therefore is Shrewsbury Foote. This would give the Royalist seven complete infantry units (regimental level). Excluded but next on the painting program are the Forlorn Hope, the firelocks, and dismounted dragoons. Cheers.

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2nd March 2025

Some .45 Adventure gaming

Tidying up the studio of late and happened across some old terrain/buildings from my 28mm gangster era. Decided to have a quick game of .45 Adventure to pass the time as the power went out throughout the area for over an hour. Wasn't a real game as such but more a reacquaintance. Didn't go into the details of the ruleset but skimmed over the basics of the game.

Scenario was rivalry between two local gangs - one American-style gangster with the flashy suits and violin cases coming up against an Asian-Triad style criminals - that had finally reached boiling over point with both sides declaring a spontaneous turf war in the industrial area outside of Biggstown. 

Outcome was less important than simply enjoying a simple hour of gaming, as it should. 

Going to continue reviving this fun game into the week. Next scene will be a Main street scenario with cops and hoodlums. Will print out some game sheets as well. And hopefully provide a more detailed batrep rather than the result. Should be interesting. 

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3 March 2025

Studio tidy up

Resumed tidying up the studio. Realised that I have loads of stuff to finish and complete. Will try and take the same approach as I did with the Battle of Borodino project. Which is focus on one element of the project and bring that part to completion.

The list of projects as part of 2025 builds are manifold however.

1. Kelly's Heroes table. Large project. Easily the largest since the Battle of the Borodino in scope and size. Begun long ago (back in the 2010s). Made a passionate start. Interrupted thereafter with half-pie efforts over the decade. At around 30% complete with a fair number of structures mostly completed. Lot of final work needed to bring it to full completion and use. Still on the lookout for a tiger tank (a main character from the movie). Should take the whole year.
2. Generic terrain and structures items. Many started but never finished as something new popped up to distract me (as you do). Low priority but still needing completion.
3. Pulp Fiction. Main Street, USA, from the Prohibition and through to the Great Depression era. More interested in this period from the small scale gaming and narrative one can weave.
4. American Civil War. Final last fling. Red River campaign and rulesets to be finalised. Flitting with several but nothing has firmed. Terrain and buildings are few and will probably require some constructions. Priority is low though so it may never eventuate (the buildings and terrain elements that is).
5. Shelving. Need more shelves for storage. Finding the right shelving is important so I understand.
6. WW2 modular terrain (see further down). An unfinished project. Ran out of steam while putting it together. 

Shown above are a couple of pieces (right) with the train line emerging from the mountain tunnel. Also in storage is the Lizardmen temple display board that I hope to get some usage using the old ruleset. And then there is a French Foreign Legion fort that is something I've always wanted to build but I have no figures. Maybe use it for an updated WW2 desert scenario for Rapid Fire perhaps? Wait and see. At least now I can place stored items once again in this closet space.

Various modular pieces belonging to the Kelly's Heroes table. Eight pieces counted thus far. The table therefore will be large. Already attached polystyrene as basis for landscaping and the overhead railway that is meant to pass through the town. Was able to mark out the locations of the various buildings after designing the layout. 

Part of the town centre. Loads of buildings. Built card buildings. Lots and lots of detailing still remains (inset doorways, balcony, window framing, walls, etc.) to bring it up to scratch for the game so I reckon. A good two months work here (given my snail pace progress). 

There are a number of terrain boards (hills, surrounding landscape) in this project that still need constructing, not just finishing. Various notable structures, such as the ruined castle (above right) on the outskirts of the town, are basically done. Or started. The Sanitorium is not shown but is also almost done.  

Never going to win awards for my construction skills. Or even design work. Doesn't really matter: as I stated so many times before, I enjoy getting to where I'm going. I don't mind reinventing the wheel. Or relearning skills or techniques already learned or known. It's the enjoyment of filling up time doing something I like doing. 

Six modular boards. Originally designed for WW2 Rapid Fire. Setting: Europe. Possibly Normandy bocage region. Includes a small lake/pond, destroyed village, hedgerows, undulating ground, docking area, hamlets, and so on. 

Shown this before. Unopened boxes of minis. Wife really wants me to sell them off. Contemplating it although not this year. Most are 1/72 Napoleonic, a period I'm done with for now. Medieval as well (for Lion Rampant). Forming part of my various piles of shame located throughout the studio.

More Piles of Shame. Many are opened and work begun on them but not finished. Mostly 15mm, 20mm and 28mm. Not shown are two house moving cartons filled with 40K and Warhammer Fantasy (before the renaming due to copyright claims). There are odds and sods from other interested periods, mostly naval and airwargaming. So it's not just land warfare materiel.

Any drawer space is crammed with minis. These are part of my WW2 collection. For Rapid Fire. 

Sometimes I run out of drawer space for my minis. 

Ran out of small storage cells and tubs for my Borodino project. What I could fit, I did. The rest found space on the shelving in the bathroom (see below).

These buildings are from the La Haye Saint set for the Battle of Waterloo. Made a start. Time to finish them off.

Minis stored away that haven't been used in a while. Sitting atop a cabinet with mostly accessories - dice, small terrain items, mats for naval.

About halfway through cleaning up the studio. But already it's yielded much. So much that I really have no excuse not to be doing something hobby-wise. Should be an interesting year therefore. But I've said that before as well. Wish me luck. Cheers.

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

Moved lots of modular boards out of the cluttered closet space (previous photo) and restored them in a spot more accessible as this is another major project for this year: (2) WW2 European battle board. Six boards I believe. Without measuring, I'd speculate the boards make for a 6' by 4' table. 

February 2025 - Part Four

18 February 2025

English Civil War

Finished the Oxford foot units apart from the final basing and flocking. Started two more foot units - Bard's and Hopton's Foote. Bard's unit replaces Page's Foote and grey coats and Hopton's Foote wear blue uniforms. The tercio is still under the command of Bernard Astley, son of Lord Jacob Astley so I have since learned.

20 February 2025

World of Warships

My Steam WOWS account is playing up. Keep being disconnected. By sheer coincidence, I receive notification of the glorious opportunity to sign in directly with WeeGee. It means my old Steam account with my 600+ ships cannot be transferred over. It would mean therefore starting all over again. Shame...

21 February 2025

World of Warships

Follow on from last night. Logged in after reinstalling and everything seemed fine. Today, logged back in and no problem whatsoever until... 

First sign something was up was being disconnected from the server. Sure enough, WeeGee was trying again to woo me to sign up directly. But this time luckily being disconnected only happened once. The notification is still there when I logged out (I had done my daily grind anyway). 

Read the latest news regarding developments. New events and bundles being offered. Fortunately for me they are ships I already have so happily won't be bothering too much. Even the next Battle Pass which is a Russian one features two ships I've had for ages - Tallinn, a tech tree ship and one other whose name eludes me at the moment. May be the Markarov which is a premium.

Watched an interesting YT video a couple of night back by a veteran of WOWS. In it he mentions that WG are running out of ideas for new ships whereby the assets they received when it and Lesta split (Ukraine war) have all been used up. And every new ship since is simply a clone of an existing ship.  Lesta, on the other hand, are going gang busters with new maps and ships. Seems the art and design departments went with Lesta.

One good piece of news from WG however. They are no longer incorporating Secret Documents into Random battle mode for the next two Updates while they figure out how to do without being overly blatant and upsetting the playing community. So while it may seem they've listened to the many complaints, they haven't entirely removed it altogether. As someone pointed out, it's not happening...for now!

22 February 2025

English Civil War

Hobby day...sorta. Taking a break from yard work (clearing the slopes of all those noxious weeks can be draining physically not to mention also dangerous with the steep sloping ground and poor footing traction). Anyway, I finished cleaning and priming Talbot's and Bard's regiments yesterday. Continued with the remaining foot units - "Shrewsbury" Foote with their mostly green uniforms and Duke of York's Foote with white/grey uniforms. 

This now gives me a total of six complete foot units. Will commence the cavalry next week but first gather the forlorn hope and the firedrakes. And dismounted dragoons.

23 February 2025

Grandson's Football Scholarship

Yesterday learned my grandson's football (American football) scholarship in Santa Monica, California is now official. Starts schooling in April. Expect he will be gone (if he succeeds) for the next two years which should give him time to adjust and learn the game proper. Happy he's about to forge his own unique path. 

Meantime he's getting plenty of rep football happening both in American football here and rugby league in the meanwhile. Proud of his achievement and grateful for the opportunity being presented. Here's hoping he's smart enough to make it work. 

English Civil War

Easy relaxing Sunday so it's time to work on minis. Painting finally started on Talbot's units and Duke of York's regiment. Yellow is always a tough colour to get right when displaying, so I've found. Below is Talbot's yellow-coated regiment. Started with Yellow Ochre over the priming coat. Then added Something Yellow. Will highlight with Lemon Yellow before applying first wash. 

The coat colours of the Duke of York are speculative at best, according to the various sources consulted. Going with the generally accepted promotion that white was the most likely colour for units from the Yorkshire region. But it's the flag though that has attracted this unit for me. And the gryfonny flag make a nice contrast to the white uniforms.  

Postscript: Did some further online research and have pretty much verified the uniforms for the listed units. Swapping Hopton's unit with Duke of York because I want a contrast in uniforms. So, all I have to do is just copy and not stuff things up (as sometimes happens). Cheers.

25 February 2025

Madness

Too exhausted from long-neglected yard work and general maintenance around the home to bother with minis. My fault really for ignoring the obvious fact that the homestead needs constant maintaining. Now I'm paying for it. But it's good in a way; gets my lazy self moving again. Hoping the body can handle it. Pacing myself but it still feels like running an RFL every day! Sweating profusely while working but that's also the Frusemide kicking in (trying to lose weight to a livable and manageable 145 kgs). And the constant joint aches, declining physical health, it's becoming a real challenge. 

All day while I was trimming the bush tree that had overgrown at the letter box I kept hearing Madness' Our House". Been playing on and off all day in my head. Tonight I happened across another tune from their latest album Theatre of the Absurd C'est La Vie. Heard other tunes from the album (Round We Go, C'est La Vie, No Reason, and Theatre of the Absurd Parts 1, 2, 3)  the other night but this one is a "new" one and starts off on a familiar opening riff. After a few frustrating moments, I realised it was very similar to the keyboard opening from the Michael MacDonald and James Ingram collaboration, Ya Mo Be There. Link. 

Hour of Need

Odd thing is that I really like the tunes I've heard so far on this album. Hoping to buy it later and listen to this six-piece while painting. Still very much the same line as the original 70s start up. This album, so far from what I've heard, is not a rehash but a sign of their maturity as musicians. Suggs is still in fine voice. And that sax solo is choice, eh bro! 

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February 2025: Part Three

10 February 2025

PC problems

Unrelated to wargaming but important given I use my PC to generate material for my wargaming hobby - batreps and design work especially. The current Windows 11 update, version 24H2, has been fraught with problems so I've been informed, and am now experiencing. 

Noticing problems whenever I switch it on every day to begin my session. Logins are slow. Thumbnails sometimes do not display on video platforms like You Tube. Errors logging in to my email accounts that take a while to resolve (either restart PC or wait several minutes). And those errors extend to the overall performance of the PC itself which can be frustrating and stressing.

Gaming issues are also affected although I suspect that one specific game that's causing me angst is itself contributing to the constant in-game dropouts. Tried another game and no issues whatsoever with performance in-game.  

But back to version 24H2, rolling back to 23H2 is one option but I am loathe to go that far. Do I wait for 25H2 to appear and hopefully it will remedy the situation? Don't know. I have learned that some criticize 24H2 because Microsoft has added spyware into the update. What's new though? Gmail engage in it as well. All major corporations do it so I believe. 

Recently has an IT specialist visited to sort out connectivity issues (wifi). He informed me of a US wifi extender would boost the wifi signal. It seems the connectivity issue concerned recent additions to our wifi network (added aerials to both the studio and garage workshop and this was causing the frequent connection issues as the PC was trying to connecting to the aerials instead of the router). Unsurprisingly, adding the USB wifi boosters has resolved the connectivity issue (along with some tinkering done by the technician). 

One good thing from this present situation though is that I can walk away from the PC and straight back into my hobby.

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11 February 2025

English Civil War

Slow progress but progress nonetheless. King's Foot almost done. 

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14 February 2025

Astartes II

The big question after the release of the teaser trailer is are Games Workshop going to stuff this up? The quick and cynical answer is yes. 

A quick look at those who have a vested interest over 3% (according to Games Workshop PLC) is interesting with all being investment entities. Link. Close 40% of the business is owned by investors. 

The current CEO of Games Workshop is a CMA or Chartered Management Accountant. So, a top-dog bean counter.

I have a sinking feeling that somehow Games Workshop will totally stuff this up; the degree by which is unknown but not promising. Look at how Disney screwed up the classic Snow White big time.

Same with Amazon and The Rings of Power. The list of recent stuff ups by commercial entities proves (to me at least) that many who oversee such creative projects often lack either talent or that degree of creativity to fully entertain the hungry audience. Or vision. Or their personal agendas come to the fore that often runs contrary to the needs or wishes of the vast majority. Reminds me of the dog chasing its own tail and going round and round but never quite achieving its goal. 

Happy (and dying to be proven so) to be wrong if Astartes II indeed meets and exceeds expectations. But given the recent kerfuffle among the community regarding female Custodes, and now the uproar over denying the mystical aspect that bone singing has in the Eldar culture, I somehow suspect the powers-that-be over in Nottingham really don't care for its own 40K history. Or its customers. Hence why I have serious doubts that Astartes II will be anything but a more diluted and Hollywood-ised version of Episode 5, The Secret Level. 

Maybe we'll see Titus head up the squad after surviving Episode Five? Or, better still, Leandros becomes head of the Kill Teams and sets out to "discipline" the Kill Teams to his world view and sends them on death missions much to the benefit of his secret sponsor, one of the acolytes of one of the Dark Apostles of the Word Bearers?

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16 February 2025

World of Warships

Haven't really bothered to take note of the recent developments through their blogsite apart from heeding the reactions by several YT streamers. 

The return of Classified Documents in Random Battle mode has not been well received by many veterans of the game. In fact, there is talk of migrating to Lesta, and a few YT streamers have actually gone over and returned with praise for Lesta's setup, citing new maps, clearer defined visuals, and so on. 

Complaints regarding the upcoming changes have been ignored - unsurprisingly - and WG continues to foist ridiculous designs (with experimental ships) upon the playerbase and expect many to embrace it happily. The more astute players complain that these new developments are designed to make it easier for newcomers to play with OP ships; skill no longer exists, and the playerbase continues to devolve into dumber than ever. Pay, pay, pay!

So far, I am unaffected as I stick with Co-Op, do my daily grind routine, and avoid paying for every new offer thrown my way. The current Battle Pass event celebrating the Lunar New Year has nothing of any real value. One new 10-pt commander (WTF?!) as the final reward and the T6/7(?) Huanghe Pan-Asian cruiser (which I already have) at the halfway mark makes it very easy to skip buying the second level altogether.

Nothing in the Armoury is worth it any more. I just grab what's for free and simply ignore the paywall events (Wishing Wharf, Early Access Dutch light cruisers, Ming's Adventure, and so on). I will await these ships eventual release into the Armoury either as a coal or doubloon premium. Or even wait until Christmas 2025. 

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February 2025: Part Two

7 February 2025

Health delays. Resumed work on the King's Foote. And cleaned and primed Prince Rupert's regiment. Want to get at least both units done to face off against the Roundheads for a quick refresher game. 

King's Lifeguards are basecoated. Using crimson which is sort of a madder red as described by one uniform source.

Managed to clean and prime Rupert's Blews in the same session. Amazing!

Flags of the Oxford units. Going for colour as much as variety. The contrasting coat colours should enhance the visual spectacle planned. Cheers.

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9 February 2025

Some spare time today so continued with the Oxford foot.

King's Foot nearly done...I am liking my effort thus far. The madder red of the uniform is accentuated as I've gone for a bright red hose for the majority of the foot. Going with tall standard staffs because of the size of my flags - 35mm square. Large enough to clearly show who they are without overwhelming the overall look of the unit. 

Basecoated the Blew regiment and added the flags. Fine detailing to follow. These chaps are wearing the montero caps which I've since learned were as common as the helmets and hats. Cheers.

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February 2025: Part One

2 February: Huxley: The Oracle and Huxley trailers

I have rewatched the Syama Pedersen trailer for HUXLEY: THE ORACLE numerous times since coming across it in his Digital Bones studio trailer on YT. And I am intrigued by the world thanks to Mr Pedersen's involvement in bringing it alive.

This in turn led me to discover and rewatch the earlier trailer HUXLEY, the official trailer produced by Sava Zivkovic and Ben Mauro (author), and directed by Sava Zivkovic. Link. The trailer lists the entire production crew who contributed to this trailer. And it has further raised my interest in this world enough to want to read about it. But everything is on Pre-Order so I will await its eventual release.

In the meantime, I will go down the Digital Bones rabbit hole and see what Mr Pedersen is up to. NOTE: There is an unrelated and unreleased MMOFPS game of the same name which I managed to locate a single episode from fifteen years ago and should not be confused with Ben Mauro's work. Link. 

Yes, it's easy to claim DUNE vibes when one views both trailers of HUXLEY. But that's just a lazy connection to make for Frank Herbert's world is totally different, and the assumption made is due to the recent successes of the Dune film remakes and its subsequent huge imprint upon current memory and consciousness.

Things I've noticed or am beginning to notice - thanks in large to the more observant commenters of the HTO trailers - show aspects of Mr Pedersen's cinematographic skill that somehow makes his work quite relevant, noticeable, and which connects immediately with the audience. 

(1) When the recruits are being inducted, the tingling of the bell pole device (reminiscent of the Chapeau Chinois (Chinese Hat) or Jingling Johnny (familiar to those Napoleonic Wars enthusiasts) synchronises perfectly with the solemnity and gravitas of the music being played in the background, accentuating the ceremony being played out.

(2) The frequent use of zoomed-out overhead shots to convey size and magnitude - the solo aircraft flying across the desert with the remains of something huge buried in the sands, the overview of the hole into which the Ronin scavengers are about to enter and reminds one of the hole the Space Marines are about to journey down in the Secret Level's episode - are just two of many examples. The epic scale, the empty vastness of the terrain, is shown so well. The horizontal plane is conveyed also as when the Ronins are patrolling among the ruins of desolation which speak of huge monuments (such as the opening scene depicting the parade against the huge metropolis. It's similar to when Titus, Metaurus and the other two Bladeguards are moving through what looks to be the remains of either a Titan or Knight claw in the Secret Level.

(3) His familiar use of black space to convey both mood (the unknown) and as a way of introducing new scenes (most strongly seen and felt in the original Astartes) without being abrupt or sudden. Prime example of the switch between the command vessel and the squad on the Heretic ship and then back again from the Orb back to Interrogation cell. 

(4) Lack or absence of dialogue. Letting the visual tell the story. Mr Pedersen shows a complete mastery of the "picture paints a thousand words" adage. Same as the "show and not tell" axiom promoted in good writing. I watched a newcomer today absorb and quickly recognise what was going on (even if unable to fully understand why) in the five shorts of ASTARTES. That tells me that Mr Pedersen can tell a story using effective visuals.

(5) Economy of motion exhibited by Mr Pedersen's Retributors throughout (Astartes) and the Lamentor (the original Astartes II short) when he blocked the second Ork before swiftly counterattacking. No extraneous efforts. No flashy movements. No Hollywood bogus. Just brutal efficiency at its prime.

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3 February: Book Review

The book I've chosen for this month's read and review is a library discard: The Late Medieval Balkans - A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest by John V. A. Fine, Jr. (1996), The University of Michigan Press.

Bought this at the local Bookfest last year for eight dollars. 

Why this title? Because it might provide information regarding the East European region that formed part of my paused solo Lion Rampant campaign, Season Seven. I have given myself the entire month of February to read and absorb the text. A book review will likely be made available at the end of the month but it is such a weighty and detailed tome so no promises. Cheers.

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3 February: Season Seven of Lion Rampant

Looking for further information regarding this period (mid to late 12th century), I am using the book I am currently reading to draft up the various retinues that will play out the renewed Season Seven of my ongoing solo Lion Rampant game. Took a long hiatus however and am now keen to get back into some medieval conflicts of the solo kind. 

My main retinues will primarily be fourfold - Vlach, Cuman, Byzantine, and Bulgarians. Currently have none of the models. May try paper. For now I will proxy from my existing Lion Rampant collection. My knowledge of the retinues is spartan, noob quality to be frank. But hopefully that will expand as I get back into the swing of things, so to speak.

Time period will be around 1188, give or take a few years. 

Theme for this new revitalised season of campaigning will be the constant raids conducted by the Cumans (or Kipchak) into imperial (Byzantine) territory after the establishment of the Bulgarian state under Peter and Asen. The Cumans raid at will as neither the Bulgarians nor the Byzantine are able to deal with them. For now. 

The next few weeks I will draft up some maps and tabletop scenarios to game hopefully tabletop or computer-generated. Cheers.

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4 February: English Civil War: The Royalists

Started my first Royalist unit this morning. Aptly enough, I grabbed the first unit from the sorted piles and it happened to be the King's Foot. The trimming, as per usual, took some time before I applied the grey priming coat. Then I left it to dry and took a break.

I am now in the process of printing out the two flags of the King's Foot (undecided on which companies as yet) this afternoon. Had to resize the printout below as they were too large. Showing the 3rd Captains and Lieutenant Colonel's standards (top right).

Update: Resized the above. Added a few more infantry flags. Two - Prince Rupert's and Talbot's - are MS Paint creations based on online sources for flags. 

One, Queen's Foot, is actually a cavalry standard (the blue one with lots of fleur-de-lis) and is a nice contrast to its companion infantry red flag with the single fleur-de-lis. Transposing a cavalry standard into an infantry one is an idea I thought would look okay.

One of Tillier's Foote flags is also speculative. I wanted to add Broughton's Foote flag but could not locate a reliable source. Both Broughton and Tillier are thought to have contributed units that made up the "Shrewsbury" Foote unit. 

Adding Talbot's Foote (with the Talbot hound) to the Royalist list because they wore yellow coats and I thought it would look nice on the tabletop. Who they replace has yet to be determined. Or maybe they will join later should I choose to expand the list which seems likely once I have the finances. Cheers.

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