Well, the talented Steve Hornsey has done it yet again, wih the completion of the first of three layouts currently uner commission by the Dark Tower. As I think I mentioned (I did, I did) previously, I am making a move over to the depiction of narrow gauge railways, with two 009 layouts at 6x1 feet in area. It doesn't sound much, but you can fit a LOT in that space. Today Steve sent me pictures of the first of these to be completed, depicting an industrial line within a factory, where the rails are set into the cobbles. As always, it's fully automated and I understand that it's been quite a challenge, but one which it would seem Steve has risen to, with his normal aplomb and elan. My first job will be to add the low relief walls of the factory, probably using Skytrex resin castings, before starting to add 3 dimensional structures and features around the track plan, to give the whole a sense of purpose and function. I had initially thought of depicting a brewery or d...

You know that lunacy has reached new heights (or should that be depths?) when you read of a protest campaign which is frankly bloody stupid. PETA, the militant anti-fur group has written to Games Workshop... To complain of the depiction of fur on their wargaming miniatures. The PETA website states thus: "From the mighty Leman Russ and Horus Lupercal to Chaos Warriors and the Sisters of Silence, Warhammer features an abundance of characters who wear what appear to be animal pelts, which just doesn’t add up. The grimdark, battle-hardened warriors are known for their martial prowess – but wearing the skins of dead animals doesn’t take any skill. Indeed, nothing on the bloody battlefields of Warhammer’s conflict-ravaged universe could match the terrible reality that foxes, minks, rabbits, and other living beings experience at the hands of the fur trade. Those killed for their fur typically first endure a bleak life inside a tiny, filthy wire cage before being elec...

If you have older fantasy figures or painted historicals that you no longer need or want, you can trade them (subject to agreement) for Screaming Mob models at the rate of 1 standard pack per figure offered. Just send us a private message if you are interested. We would also be interested in RPG collections, and we'd of course agree a rate on those. http://www.screamingmob.com

I have been working on the H&R coastal warfare range for the last few days, and as well as being lovely mixed media models, they are also amazingly cheap when you bear in mind that a Fairmile D is over 5 inches long. There are 23 models in the range and they should not be confused with the ex-Skytrex 1/600 range. They are a testing paint job, just because they are such detailed models. You can view a list of available models here: http://www.heroicsandros.co.uk/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=catshow&ref=Landing_Craft_Ship&sid=z96fzaf626g3odz175113n13v55inf47 Here's a few pics of the Fairmile D, E boat and S boat models... TTFN

In an attempt to force a little normality back into myself, this morning I have been testing out the MTN94 range of spray paints... I've tried the gloss non-yellowing varnish and it's frankly superb and therefore, will be 'standard issue' for my business needs. I have also tried out the matt colours white, bone white and London grey... Here are the results. They have great covering power despite being low pressure cans. They initially look mottled but the finish levels out very nicely as show. Drying time does seem slower than most 'hobby' paints, so a liitle prior planning will be needed for me to utilise them on a day to day basis for my work. The boats are resin and metal, whilst of course the ogre is metal. The barbarian used for the gloss test below was an old, figure, previously matt varnished that I found in the studio. He was given a coat of MTN94 gloss and then after a mere 15 minutes, a coat of Winsor & Newton ...

This is a long post, so please, bear with me, indulge an old and tired man, and allow me to tell a story. Not a life story, but a part of one, indeed several which were for a while at least interconnected Are we sitting comfortably, my young Hobbits? Good. Then I shall begin.. In the 1980s, I would guess probably 1982 or thereabouts I was getting into gaming of all sorts in a really big way. My typical week, looked like this: Monday:  Sheffield Runelords Tuesday:  Sheffield University Wargames Society Wednesday:   Sheffield Polytechnic Roleplaying Society Sheffield Wargames Society Thursday:  Weekly meeting of ECW reenactment group Saturday:  Games Workshop Sheffield Space Centre Hopkinsons Toys Beatties Models Gaming with mates from about 1PM to 9:30PM - possibly involving an all night session if the parents of said mates were feeling well disposed to half a dozen hairy little blighters dossing down in their ...

Chris over at Macrocosm is running a 3 day duration Kickstarter for his latest Goblins. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2076383099/goblin-hood-28mm-fantasy-goblin-miniatures The more he raises, the more sculpts he'll do. For £250 you can get 60 packs of figures which will get you 300 of the little buggers at the equivalent of 83p per model. Chris has an excellent delivery record and he is a stand up guy who deserves to be supported. Just take a look at the various targets, and you'll see it will take very few decent sized pledges to get a full range of Goblins out there.

I’ve been mulling over what makes me ‘buzz’ when it comes to miniatures. I see a LOT of miniatures every week, as I paint for a living, and I have to say that with very, very few exceptions, I just can’t warm to any fantasy minis from about 1993 onwards. I suppose that given the theme of this group it’s not a bad idea. I digress. I’m thinking of doing one of my epic spends in the next couple of weeks, and so I came up with several potential manufacturers from whom to select my £500 worth of toys. It's going to certainly be directed at fantasy themed stuff I am looking for ‘evil’ themed units, and I guess it’ll end up being Goblins or undead. Initially I was taken with the idea of Minifigs, but I am not sure they warrant the price tag. Then there’s the Asgard range which is arguably a large and nice range with an excellent pedigree. Alas, the amount of import charges to the U.K will be unreasonable, now that the moulds are owned by Viking Forge. I’m not ...

I have in my 48 years, 4 months and 30 days on your planet, done some stupid and/or legendary things. I guess it comes from being bullied unmercifully at school, or maybe, as I suspect today, I am just prone to the odd swing in my behaviour from sober and serious to well, bloody loony. Today, five members of the Metall Stadt Wein, Wurst Und Zinsoldat Aufklarungs Abteilung made a visit to Warhammer World in Nottingham with the intention of picking u nine or ten copies of the 30th anniversary printing of the Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader rules, which can only be obtained from that location. However, earlier in the week, whilst perusing the menu for the rather wonderful 'Bugman's Bar' we  came across this little gem: Now, please... Take a moment to actually work out the stupid.ly immense size of this. And so, two of, both I fear prized idiots, decided to give it a go. My wife, for the record looked horrified, as we watched a guy who must have been 30-35 stones brea...

Last night, mere hours after I posted about the three model railway layouts which I have commissioned from the maestro, Steve Hornsey, Steve dropped me a line to show me the progress of Layout No.1 the brewery. He's already built the baseboards and laid the track, and believe me, he lays a track, so quiet that there should be safety notices for passing spiders! Anyway, I thought you'd like a peek: This will be, as I previously remarked a 6x1 foot shelf layout. The next thing Steve ill be doing, is covering the whole baseboard with cobblestones and insetting the track likewise. It goes without saying that I am mightily impressed with the way Steve has thrown himself into it as usual. TTFN

Screaming Mob Miniatures, yesterday added 4 new codes to it's range of multi genre 28mm Cultists. Take a look here: http://www.screamingmob.com

Firstly, a very happy an prosperous new year to you all, whomever and wherever... Well, 2016 was taken firmly by the collar and belt hooks last night and thrown out the door, as we played our first game of the Labyrinth boardgame by Riverhorse. It's a great little game with simple and elegant rules - It relies on hitting the ground running and working as a team. Believe me, it's a challenging game. As is usual at our New Years Eve shindig (all welcome if we know you) there were copious amounts of well decanted port including one which came to me from the estate of my Grandmother who passed away a couple of months ago, and so it was apt to share this bottle and toast her memory and indeed the memories of absent friends and relations in general. The food consisted of a wonderfully retro selection of vol au vents in about a dozen flavours, cheese, pineapple, onions, maraschino cherries,and two kinds of sausage presented in the approved manner on cocktail sticks. The star o...