I am just as busy as always with my day job as a figure painter. In fact I am having to work longer hours as the number and f account check stompers increases seemingly every month. Mind you, I am not complaining as I see many other painters with very slack workloads. This has meant that my 'Me' time is in short supply, just as several things begin to take form at the planning stage. Firstly, I've been reading and re-reading the Laserburn rules and trying to decide on whether to use the old Citadel Traveller range of figures, or the of dial Laserburn models.I used both back in 1982/83 so it's a really hard choice, let me tell you. I have also been reading the first book my wife bought me, back in 1989, 'Bonnie Dundee' a history of Viscount Dundee who raised the clans in 1689 and met his death at Killikrankie. It's much prettier than the 1745 rising with a few pikemen still in evidence. I am sorely missed emptied to construct two armies in 15mm, but aga...

I have always enjoyed the Derby (note DERBY) World Team Championships.  The venue moved a few years ago to Donnington Park - OK, but I just saw that it is now moving to the Buntington Proving Grounds which are another 30 minutes down the road for us. Well, - and excuse my brusqueness - fuck that, for a game of soldiers! I am not that desperate to buy toys, from a show which has lost it's sparkle but which until this latest fuckwittery was still worth the travel time. Time to drop the 'Derby' part boys!

Honest...

As promised, here are a few pics of the latest outing for the Death Eater costume (aka Damius Darkhart) from the World Of Wizardy event yesterday.  The looks on the faces of kids and in some cases adults were a joy to behold, that made the expenditure to put it together worth every penny.  When a kid hugs you and their parents smile because that child is normally painfully shy; You know you have spread a little happiness. 

After a really heavy working week, the memsahib had a really great day today at World Of Wizardry 2. It's the first time the Death Eater costume has been to a specifically Potter convention and the response was absolutely amazing.  I literally lost count of the number of photo requests - Seriously. A great event if you've not been Highlight of the day in terms of recognition was when they called to me from the stage to enter the costume competition and when I declined, the crowed all shouted 'Go on'.  But I declined as for me the faces of those who asked for pictures and the general buzz were enough. It was great to see my old friend Jo and her partner who were trading there. Breakfast buffet was excellent. I was so hot that I had to go for a round of drinks and a bite to eat. As the bar and grill was out of the way, I could remove my mask and face coverings and not be seen out of character - a big thing of mine. All in all a superb day, and I think that the mems...

Every so often, I get an idea based on something that's just too good to miss... Sometimes I wonder if I am right in the head to do that. Today is one of those times. You may have seen in the early 2000s a range for the Santa Claus Wars by Wargames Supply Dump which closed down earlier this year. The basic premise is that Jack Frost, assisted by animated snowmen and yetis are assaulting Santas domain, which is being protected by Santa himself, his lady wife and a motley assortment of elves and fairies.; Oh, and talking fir trees - you know, those animated ones which make the singing bass look classy. Madness! Well, I did a deal for pennies on the pound this very day which sees me becoming the proud owner of over 500 of these models, all mint and sealed, and being that kind of lunatic, a display game is being formulated in my twisted mind. Picture a homely log cabin with adjoining workshops, surrounded by giant candy canes and the like. Add a few penguins, igloos and Inuit...

I am saddened to have to announce the passing of Tony Cheetham, known affectionately to his friends as 'Gunther'. Tony was a member of both Sheffield Wargames Society and Bright's Regiment of the ECWS and was a legendary character. He was one of most genuine people you could ever meet and was always honest and unswayed by gossip, politics or other rubbish. He was a force of nature of sorts, who lived life on his terms - exactly how one should aspire to live. As a gamer he was a brilliant painter and one of the few who I held in high regard for his skill and precision with a brush, as a fellow artist and professional. I first met Gunther whilst I was trying to find purchase in a push of pike, scrabbling and grabbing blindly in what was to all intents and purposes an armoured scrum. At last I managed to get a firm grip with my gauntleted hands and the air was pierced with a tremendous yell and roar of 'OOOWWWWWW ME GROLLIES*!' It seemed that I had grabbed ...

Tim Gow of Sheffield Wargames Society writes on his Megablitz & More blog: 'Bring & Buy event - Sheffield Wargames Society Sheffield Wargames Society is holding a bring and buy day  as part of it's meeting on Wednesday 25th October 2017 from  7.00pm at Woodseats Working Men’s Club, The Dale,  Sheffield, S8 0PS. Visitors from other groups in the area would be most welcome. For those who want to sell six foot tables are available for £5  (SWS members pay £1 but are asked to contribute an additional  10% of their takings).  Goods should be labelled clearly with details of price and vendor.  Sellers may either man their table or rely on the honesty of purchasers. GOODS ARE LEFT AT THE OWNER'S RISK, AND NEITHER  SHEFFIELD WARGAMES SOCIETY OR WOODSEATS WMC  ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR  ANY LOSSES OR DAMAGE SUFFERED.' There you have it. I would add that I am in no...

One of my favourite games down the years has been Laserburn. I originally bought the main rules in the early days of Games Workshop, here in Sheffield and then purchased that add-ons from GW and Tabletop Games who published it. Well, last night I was looking for something totally unrelated on a well known online auction site when in the 'You might like this' section what should pop up but a pretty much complete set of Laserburn with under 1 minute left to go. So, taking this as an omen I popped a bid on the lot and a few seconds later they dropped into my lap. £26.15 netted me this lovely little lot: With the scenarios selling at £20-£30 each in the pas, I am very happy indeed with the purchase. Now, down that slippery slope, I go once again. In other news, I also took receipt of 22,500 painted Heroics & Ros Napoleonics yesterday morning which are very attractively painted by long term friend and amateur brushmaster Andy Needham who  replaced his 5...