Well, last night I took delivery of a parcel containing 750 Traveller figures... The sheer pleasure is hard to express, although in counting them I  developed that thing of evil, the 'leadache'.       The weekend will be spent sorting them out!  

One of the constants over the years has been micro armour gaming and the depiction of the hypothetical clashes of the major nuclear superpowers. So many of us spent our youth trying to get our heads around detailed OrBats and TO&Es or simply fathoming out the sometimes overwhelming mechanics of rules for the period. In fact, you spent more time looking at charts than actually playing. Even in the 90s with the Command Decision rules, you could be left scratching your head whilst your armoured divisions sat immobile.     But you always knew that when you put American Vs Soviet forces on the table, you were going to have one hell of a fight. So, I was interested to hear on the grapevine that the companies producing the most popular rules for the period have now collectively agreed to meet behind closed doors to discus a unilateral re-grading of Russian units in their lists, following the recent lack of performance by those same forces in the real world. The plan is to reissue...

 I really have lived a life shaped by gaming. Sometimes, I wish that I had never walked into Hopkinson's Toys here in Sheffield, in 1981 and purchased that first pack of Citadel Dwarves for the princely sum of 75p. Had I not done that, I may have simply been an average 'normal' kid, bullied, wearing the youth uniform du jours and listening to inane and uninspiring music. I would have been content to go with the flow, pass my exams and possibly make something of myself. Instead by age 13 I was a lost cause. I coasted through school and did OK, but my reason for existing became gaming, fantasy worlds, history and the general sense that I was not really made for this grey and drab world. Instead of of blending in, I stuck out. I was awkward in company, became separated from my school mates and indeed by 15 I had absolutely no friends in my local area, because frankly they bored the bollocks off me. They were so mundane, with their Stay Pressed trousers, Doc M...

 Well, I am still testing positive for the dreaded lurg, so as I can't go out, I may as well start working on my pile of Battletech models this coming weekend. 'Pile' is no exaggeration, as I have 22 of the 'Force Packs', each of which contains 4-6 models with 2 sets of th core rules, plus the Clan Invasion set, for a total of 125 models! Inbetween stages of work yesterdy, I was priming the first lance of 4 models, and they really do take spray paints well. I am adopting the same methods I use for micro armour, which should give a nice finish. I am going for a very traditional camo look, as the trend towards 40K paint jobs is abhorrent to me. I always loved the artwork on the original carboard stand ups, so that's what's driving me. I'll post images of my progress, as they roll out of the mech production line. I have been mulling which rules to use with the 700+ Traveller minis I bought. They have to have a nice 80s sci-fi feel, and fast mechanics, so fe...

 I think I am turning the corner with the virus du jour, but I am of course, lying doggo for a while, until I am 100%. I have continued to work through it, which on reflection may not have been the wisest choice, but stubborn is as stubborn does... Anyway, being under house arrest this weekend and having worked a 12 hour shift in the studio on Friday, I spent 6 hours with the Memsahib on Saturday, dealing with an erection. Of course, the erection in question was a meter-high LEGO model of the Apollo Saturn V, comprising 1969 pieces. It's a magnificent model, more inspiring from the now tiny plastic kits on the market, and I cannot rule out it's appearance on a wargames table in the future. Well, I just wanted to 'touch base' before I fade for the day, so please excuse me as I feel now is the tume to fade. TTFN

Well, after 2 years of avoiding the bullet, the one with both name of your correspondent and the Memsahib, struck home yesterday, when we both tested positive for Covid... This, despite being quadruply vaccinated and one bad assed motherfucker! (allegedly, if you listen to my enemies) BUGGER! Rumours that it was my gaming buddy, jealous at me having filled the slots of our chosen painter for the next 20 years, spiking me are grossly exaggerated. He's too nice for that, although, he seemed miffed today when I reported inb as till on this dirt ball, after promising him my 28mm Covenanters if I carked it... I have just finished a twelve hour shift in my studio after a 5AM wake up this morning, but I confess that I did need a one hour sleep at midday as I was frankly, fucked. However, ther was a little bit of gaming joy at 6AM when I purchased 743 original 15mm Traveller figures at 25 cents each. Even with 90 dollars of shipping (I fear Roger just collapsed upon reading that ) it was a...

    Ian taking yet another trophy at Partizan. I hope the Irregulars won't mind me using this pic in the circumstances.   It was a strange day yesterday for myself and a few others of my per group as we heard with genuine shock, of the passing of wargaming legend, Ian Smith. We first met Ian in the mid 80s when we were all members of Sheffield Wargames Society, and Ian was one of a collection of wargamers including Mick Rothenburg also of SWS as 'The Chequebook Wargamers'.  This well paid and well connected posse, showed the hobby what you could do with money, dedication and creativity at a time when the only really fancy games were put on by the likes of Selly Oak & District, South London Warlords or the Player's Guild. The first real signals came, when Ian & Mick put together a 15mm 7YW display game, which as well as being a feast for the eyes in terms of figures, had a 3 dimensional backdrop of a Bavarian castle and vilage high atop a cliff. Impressive for...

 Ah fickle Fate... We wargamers are fickle and mercurial at the best of times, and it's my time to bear witness to it. You may recall I'd agreed the purchase of that rather pretty Swiss army the other day? Well, I paid the balance last night - 4 figures, so nothing to be sniffed at. An hour later as I slumbered, the seller decided that although it was already half packed for shipping he didn't want to post it, but to deliver it to a show I will probably not be attending and that the Paypal payment should have been 'Friends & Family' or cash in hand. Thus aparently I will be refunded this morning , although why he just didn't do it immediately escapes me. You may expect me to have a rant or at the very least have a small outburst, but truth be told, I am actually having a bit of a chuckle. After all, the refund will cost him the Paypal fees, and from my point of view it's just a case of orderong the bare metal from probably Perry Miniatures, and having th...

 Time is a funny thing, and as I head comfortably into my 6th decade, I am hit by the realisation that I am living once again in the kind of environment which existed back when I found our fine hobby, and skipped blythely over the threshold into a whole new world. The world I went into essentially disregarded the mad bastards with nuclear weapons, whilst at the same time being all too aware that we could get turned to a soot stain at 4 minutes notice. A curious state of affairs indeed. But, I contend that this constant existential threat was what powered the evolution of gaming to a great extent. When you realise that thing sare way beyond your control, you either cave in and become a sullen and somewhat navel gazing society, or you throw away that which binds you, and allow creativity and self expression to thrive. This certainly happened with gaming, with tens if not hundreds of small and indeed not so small companies springing up, enthusiastically bringing the public - hang on, ...

 Another busy week awaits, but the weekend was also busy - in a good way. Sunday was spent cleaning up and washing the 21KG of Grand Manner buildings and scenery which arrived arlier in the week. Saturday, we just got out into the Peak District, to clear our heads, have a rather good fish & chip lunch, and a light browse of an antique centre, where I resisted buying a framed poster for the opening of 'Chess' in the West End, which was on ofer for a song - no pun intended. Yesterday, I made my final large purchase for 2022 - yes I know it's only March, but I am a man on a mission. I purchased a very passable 28mm Late Medieval / Italian Wars Swiss army, made up of Foundry castings, and comprising: Mounted knights 20  Mounted crossbows 12  Pike blocks 240  Halberdiers 90  Knights on foot 25  Hand gunners 24  Crossbowmen 36  Artillerymen. 20 with artillery pieces Pics you say? O...

 Whew! Another week of my life shoots past and the wooden box gets a bit closer... But let's be maudlin, Spring is in the air and it was Hammerhead at the weekend. Most importantly for me personally, was the chance to get an al too brief chance to meet up in person with Roger and one of his boys, who it seems is catching the bug for this fine hobby. Hammerhead always has a great vibe and is deliberately family friendly. I'd have liked to see a few more traders but it was a great show, with a great footfall and a tabletop sale - which had nothing for me!  I went straight to see Mr Dave Thomas, and pretty much cleared him out of Wars Of The Roses, buying almost 1000 infantry and close to 100 cavalry plus artillery. This purchase resulted in derision and scorn from Roger, but what does he know? I mean, he plays Napoleonics - talk about niche. When I got home on Sunday, I stil had to order a few bit from Perrys directly. Today, I am waiting for the delivery of the Grand Manner sce...