Archive for the ‘Wargaming’ Category

The Lords of Midnight(wargaming)

Posted: June 3, 2025 in 28mm, The Lords of Midnight, Wargaming
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Step back in time to year 1984 and a computer game called,”The Lords of Midnight” was released on the ZX Spectrum written by Mike Singleton. The game is an epic fantasy wargame set in a frozen world, with the forces of good verus the forces of evil.

You start the game with our hero,”Luxor the Moonprince”,”Morkin the Free”,”Rorthron the Wise” and “Corleth of the Fey”. With these four followers you need to raise an army and defeat the forces of the witchking. The game itself was groundbreaking using a 3D landscaping effect for the first time and allowing a huge gaming area to be played on. The game would see another successful follow up in the title,”Doomdarks Revenge” and a 3rd instalment was planed but sadly never completed. Fast forward to today a writer called Drew Wagar has brought the game to life again in a series of books based on the Midnight world which are excellent. You can also still play the game for free on platforms like GOG.

One of my all time favourite plans was to wargame this scenario on a board and to be honest I have been thinking about it for the best part of five years. Its taken me that long to focus my ideas and actually create two seperate board games. The first will be 28mm figures fighting on battle boards similar to Warhammer Fantasy and the second will be 6mm armies allowing a greater scope of map.

If you take a look at some of the original screenshots from the game you can see a number of things. The figures are all semi familiar(the game has serious echoes of the Lord of the Rings),dwarfs,giants,dragons,trolls,wolves and mounted riders straight of of Rohan so plenty of figures on the market to adapt or reuse to my purpose. I decided to take characters from both games and also try and copy some of the landscape. I also decided to use some artistic licence with some characters as the 1984 block figures(see below) and colours leave something to be desired.

So my plan begins with creating individual figures for each race and some terrain to get the ball rolling so to speak.

Basic terrain using a board with caulking Woodland Scenics snow flake on it and some foam carved mountains in the backgroud. Blue trees as well as per the game.

The bottom photo is the first attempt at a 6mm army with scratch built movement marker coming up behind.

Bretonnian update.

Posted: March 8, 2025 in 28mm, Bretonnia, Games Workshop, Wargaming, Warhammer Fantasy
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Just a quick update to show you my knights at full charge.

A Bretonnian adventure(28mm wargaming).

Posted: September 22, 2024 in 28mm, Bretonnia, Wargaming, Warhammer Fantasy
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Marshalling the host.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson.

So with that in mind I can ease my way into a new Bretonnian wargaming adventure without the pressure of ever getting anything done. Its all about the dreams.

Leaving the comical stuff to one side this is my new adventure into Bretonnia which will cover old and new depending on what I can get my hands(reap) on as a reasonable price. I have noticed that after the Bretonnian price crash(when the new stuff came out) its started climbing again rather worryingly.

Anyway without any clear direction and squarely based on bargain basement stuff I have begun the dream of assembling a Bretonnian army. Everying is harvested from either fleaby or Facebook Marketplace,old and new. This army has no definite point score to it and as of yet faces no known enemy army type, its just for the love of doing so far.

To start the project off I have gone with completly new figure from Highland Miniatures. I had a reedem code from buying some Highland dwarfs and it was reduced. To set the scence I placed my penitent knight in a bit of scratch built terrain and got him praying for forgiveness from some dark past deed. From this point on he serves the lady and will scurge the lands of the non believers.

Gorgon Terminators(Forgeworld) 28mm

Posted: June 3, 2024 in 28mm, Games Workshop, Space Hulk, Terminators, Uncategorized, Wargaming
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“A Gorgon Terminator Squad was an elite unit formation comprised of Terminator Armoured Veteran Legionaries of the Iron Hands Legion during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras. These elite squads wore the experimental Gorgon Pattern Terminator Armour prototype, which required the wearer to undergo a painful bonding process as well as extensive cybernetic enhancement.
One of the most extreme technological examples of the Iron Hands’ innovation to improve on the designs in this regard was the hazardous but powerful “Gorgon” prototype, a variant of Indomitus Pattern Terminator Armour. This advanced prototype suit was just going into production at the outset of the Horus Heresy to supplement the Iron Hands Legion’s combat-depleted stocks of Terminator Armour.
The design replaced the energy field generators imbedded in the armour with experimental systems that converted incoming electromagnetic and kinetic energy into a burst of blinding light, able to incapacitate and maim nearby foes. The heat and electrochemical toxin bleed from the armour’s systems limited the armour’s agility, and its negative side effects required a high level of cybernetic augmentation for its wearer to endure.”

I got lucky and found a squad going cheap on fleabay for £40 including postage. So armed with the above description and a firm belief that Gorgon Terminators should be green and not black in colour I got painting and kit bashing at the same time.

My colour scheme is basically silver base coat,gold blended into the silver and then Druchi Violet,followed by Ork Flesh green . Everything was air brushed. The bases are by Fenrisgames.

All the arms have been magnetised so you can choose load outs which is especially handy for Space Hulk missions which these models are designed for.

Bretonnian Knight and archers.

Posted: May 10, 2024 in 28mm, Bretonnia, Games Workshop, Wargaming, Warhammer Fantasy
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This is my first ever attempt at painting up any Bretonnians and I am quite pleased with the outcome. I went with the peasant look and lots of brown leather instead of the chequered two tone colour scheme which is very popular. I must admit they were more detailed models than I first realised, especially as I included the stakes and movement trays to go with them. I think I will paint up another group of archers including a banner holder and musician(command looking group) next.

 I also need to come up with dedicated symbol for the banners and a bit of background history to my Brettonian force as it grows.

My first knight on horseback finished and a complete learning curve, especially the horse painting. The colour scheme is blatantly borrowed from many others before me but was very helpful as a painting guide for a beginner .

I must admit the strange bits connected to the horses feet threw me at first but realisation eventually dawned they were GWs attempt to connect the horse hooves to the base in a flowing style. I nearly cut them off.

Sturmhaubitze 42, 10.5 cm(1/56 Bolt Action)

Posted: April 27, 2023 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Diorama, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming, WW2
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I bought this model from Blitzkrieg miniatures during a sale and its been gathering dust ever since so while building a scratch house I decided it was a good excuse for a quick diorama to show it off.

The Sturmhaubitze 42 or StuH 42 was a Stug III with a 10.5cm assault cannon that was created to provide close artillery support for infantry. The model shown is of Stug belonging to brigade 341 with field modified schurzen and manlet debris guard. It was knocked out at 12 La Gare, Le Val-Saint-Pere,Normandy on the 31st of July 1944 while backing into the unfortunate house. The manlet debris guard is scratch built from plasticard. Wire mesh has been included and a 1/48 105cm brass canon was added as it seemed a better fit.

The black and white picture shows the actual Stug after the battle.

The house is made of simple foam card and as per usual everything is recyclable. The wooden plinth is not fixed so will be used again and the house wall will be added to a ruined house in progress. The base can be used again for another diorama or whatever is needed.

Lorraine Schlepper 15cm sFH for Bolt Action.

Posted: April 24, 2023 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Diorama, Terrain, Wargaming
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Another Warlord kit, this time bought off fleabay fully assembled. All it needed was some paint and some Normandy battle weathering.

For a bit of fun I photographed it on recycled diorama base and stuck a backdrop behind it. I find it useful to keep wooden plinths spare so you can display models effectively. The plinth is seperated from the ground my a thin sheet of plasticard thus you can swap stuff about when bored without having to prize it off the plinth.

Up armoured Cromwell Tank(28mm Bolt Action)

Posted: April 21, 2023 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Diorama, Scratch Built, Wargaming, WW2
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Recently finished work on this up armoured Cromwell tank using a bit of plasticard. The plasticard is where all the additional armour was placed increasing the armour from 76mm to 102mm. Seems these Cromwells were rare and were basically Cromwell IVs seam welded instead of riveted with additional applique armour added. Identified as a mark V(not to be confused with the MK VII which had improvemnets but no additional armour) the only real way to identify them was via the WD mark ending in a letter “W”. I also replaced the gun barrel with a 1/48 brass 75mm QF. Also decided to make a quick dio based on the black and white photo showing,”Gladys” from 1st rtr near Aunay-sur-Odon ,Normandy 1944.

Had fun making this Warlord kit , hope you like it ?

88mm Gun emplacement for 28mm Bolt Action

Posted: April 20, 2023 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming
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Following on from research into my scratch built barn for Crepon it came to my attention that a lone 88mm gun was left to defend the South West corner of Crepon as the allies advanced inland from the Normandy landings on D Day. Many of the units defending the area were mixture of adhoc groups desperately assembled to stop the Allied advance and my 88 gun made by Warlord Games is the Luftwaffe Field Division 8.8cm 37 Flak representing the mixed opposition.

I made a simple bunker from styrene and kebab sticks and based it on a plasticard base. The individual bases were cut out to fit so the figures and gun could be revolved or removed for easy storage. The wheat around the bunker is front door mat cut up into strips and the aim was to fit the bunker seemlessly into the larger wheat fields of terrain which hopefully I have achieved ?

One thing I noticed on real pictures of 88mms in action was the huge amount of used and spare ammunition lying around so I found somebody to 3D print me the additional wicker baskets and rounds.

Finally I photographed the 88mm with a simple wheat field backdrop photograph behind it and it blended in quite well. This was most likely the unfortunate issue the Allies tanks faced as they advanced inland on raised roads,only becoming aware of the enemy 88mm after they had been hit.

Tithe Barn in Crepon,Calvados(Bolt Action 28mm).

Posted: April 7, 2022 in 1/56, 28mm, Bolt Action, Scratch Built, Terrain, Wargaming, WW2
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The Tithe Barn in Crepon, Calvados has been around since the early 1500s and is still standing to this day. I spotted the barn on a random Google maps search and immediately fell in love with it and had to try and recreate it for my wargaming board. It fits in perfectly as a unique bit of table top terrain and has the advantage of being multi purpose as covers anywhere from 1500 up to present day. My immediate aim was to drop it onto my WW2 Normandy board.

By a stroke of luck I discovered the barn actually played a small part in the Normandy landings shortly after Crepon was caputured as a Rafadrome. A Rafadrome was a theatre created by the RAF Beach Squadron for some much needed R&R for the troops after battle. Click on the attached link for more information: https://rafbeachunits.info/units/uk-beach-squadrons-april-august-1944/4-beach-squadron/rafadrome/

The barn walls are constructed of foam card including the external buttresses. The doors are made from balsa wood and the roof is plasticard ,covered in York Model Rail roof tiles. The internal roof beams/joists are also made from balsa wood which has been shaped and stained to give the look of age old wooden beams. I hope I carried off the effect ?

Boths sets of doors fully open for gaming purposes and the roof lifts off easily as well. The roof basically sits on the foam card walls via gravity.

A bit of Crepon WW2 history to set the scene. Crepon is 6.5 km inland from the Normandy beaches and on the 6th of June 1944 was held by 7. Kompanie, Grenadier-Regiment 736, 716. Infanterie-Division,4. Kompanie, Ost Battalion 441, 716. Infanterie-Division and 2/Artillerie-Regiment 1716, 716. Infanterie-Division. Crepon was attacked on the 6th of June by 7th Battalion Green Howards Regiment, 69th Infantry Brigade, 50th Infantry Division and 4th/7th Dragoons Guard, 8th Armored Brigade, 50th Infantry Division and was captured. After being taken Crepon became a supply/assembly area for fresh forces arriving from the beaches.

Enjoy the pictures.

Crepon tithe barn1
Crepon tithe barn 2
Crepon tithe barn 3
Crepon tithe barn 4
Crepon tithe barn 5
Crepon tithe barn 6
Crepon tithe barn 7
Crepon tithe barn 8
Crepon tithe barn 9

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