Yesterday, the first of two limited edition 'Asgard Dragon' models arrived from Alternative Armies, and I thought it'd be fun to do a bit of an unboxing article. The original dragon was sculpted by Nick Bibby, most famously renowned for the Great Spined Dragon produced by Citadel in the 80s. The Asgard Dragon predates that, but you can clearly draw a lineage in the design. Alternative Armies have produced a run of just 200 models, weighing half a kilo each. They've retooled the joints, improved the definition of the scales and reinforced the wing membranes, making this model more than just a re-issue of a tired mould. I never bothered with this model back in the day, something I regretted until last week, when a friend, taking a break inbetween working on a well regarded fantasy TV series and sunning himself in a tropical paradise, asked whether he should buy the AA edition. I said that he should and that indeed I would do likewise. The box bears a beautiful line illus...

 A very good morning to you all! I've always fancied a Welsh army, so when one came on the market this week, on a popular auction site, I was up for the fight. And what a fight it was, which saw some heavy last minute bidding, and your correspondent having to stay up 42 minutes past his bedtime. I missed out on the opposing Viking army as I could not manage two live auctions at once, ending 14 seconds apart. The seller could have made a lot more had he considered the end times of the two auctions. Still, I did get the Welsh, which comes in at about 370 pieces and is rather pretty: So now, I'll just need to ask my painter to add another 300 Vikings to his work flow, in addition to the 2000+ he already has in line. Of course, these will do double duty as fantasy humans, and will look the part in my opinion. This will be further enhanced by last week's purchase. I was supping my coffee at my desk on Thursday morning, when my friend of over 35 years, Richard, sent me a message,...

 Well, yesterday saw the inaugural 'Steel Warriors' at the Magna Centre in Rotherham, hosted by the some of those who brought the Triples show to Sheffield as part of Sheffield Wargames Society until it passed away following short illness a few years ago. We didn't attend, in fact a good few local 'faces' didn't bother attending, preferring instead the rather dire Chillcon, next weekend, which let's face it, is never going to 'replace' Triples, but does at least have a following for all it's myriad faults. At about midday yesterday, this was the 'official' view of the show: Now, let's look at the hall in question. It's not small, and the brochure states: Dinners up to 1,000 guests Conferences up to 3,500 delegates Concerts and gigs up to 5,000 attendees Exhibitions and trade shows up to 1,500 delegates It costs in the region of upwards of £5000 just for the space, let alone the licences, insurance etc, required for most events. Th...

The Steel Warriors show has updated it's list of traders. The total is now 12 confirmed and 2 cancelled. Here's the list: Under Fire Miniatures The Pit Gaming Shop Irregular Miniatures Void Scar Miniatures ABC Brushes Iron Gate Scenery Rapid Fire / Valiant Miniatures The Last Valley Phoenix Games Christopher Morris Books Keelmen Miniatures Ramshackle Games Sarissa Precision ( Dark Ops ) Little Plastic Soldiers   I was speaking with one of the organisers the other day, who seemed sur...

 As some of you will no doubt know, my other great passion in life is the collecting of Scottish Terriers. Now, it was a question of going to the Steel Warriors show next weekend, wasting money for what I fear may not be the best show I'd visit this year, or spend the day pushing a pet buggy around with a 10 week old Scottie pup. The show lost. And it really lost when I called the venue to make a few enquiries and got a somewhat 'can't be arsed' response. And thus, I though 'Fuck 'em!' as I am wont to do when I get short shrift. So, this morning on a whim, I called the breeder of my last Scottie and lo and behold, she had one puppy available from a recent litter, and double l.a.b, it was a girl - Perfect! So, Sunday will see the memsahib and I making a 5 hour round trip to collect Penelope Prune McSnuggle (yes, we have a well hone ritual for naming our pets, but the memsahib says that she will never countenance naming a Scottie 'Rab De Fridge'. It wa...

      ZAPP! - Thou Art Slain! FAST PLAY RULES FOR LARGE FANTASY BATTLES All units are made up of a number of bases representing troop formations. Units have a single number allocated to them, representing training & morale. This number is referred to as the Universal Value (UV). The UV is reached by adding up the total bases in the unit and modifying as below. As hits are taken the number is reduced accordingly. Humans, and other similarly ‘civilised’ races use 4-figure bases, whilst tribal troops and less organised races such as Orcs and Goblins use 6-figure bases as do Undead. All cavalry use bases of 3 models. If you don’t use element bases, then simply total up the models in a unit, divide by the relevant number, disregarding any partial numbers. Undead infantry are always 6 figure bases. Units smaller than humans reduce this number by1, Units larger than humans (up to 10 feet tall) add 1 to this number. Undead units add two to this number. Large monsters such as ...

 I've been planning and dreaming of late, with regards to fantasy battles which roll on and on, or at least seem to. I recall that amongst the things which inspired me as a youth, were the pictures of games by Joe Dever, and several years later the images in the 3rd editon of Warhammer. These were large games as you would expect,but what struck me was the variety of not just manufacturers represented, but the types of units. These were not games with one race per side, but rather truly 'Good vs Evil' themed games.  There were different nationalities and tribes amongst each race, and it really struck a chord with me which still resonates today. So, as well as the masses of Orcs, I'll be collecting odd units as I see fit. For example I really like the idea of a regiment made up from assorted adventurers and fighters, fighting for the loot as well as a belief in the cause they side with. The Orcs will be based around the 'Sword Hills Tribe' but will be supported by...

It's funny how I sometimes run into people who, see the fact that I am a full time, 50 hours per week, figure painter, as some kind of failure in life. So, as I was mulling this yesterday, let me set the record straight... Until April the 16th, 2011, I worked in the civil service, delivering front line services to the unemployed, case working in immigration and chasing down absent parents who were not supporting their children. And, I think I was good at it. On top of that, I also literally wrote the instruction book on the methodology of moving the unemployed from girocheque payments to bank accounts and the hurdles involved for those with no previous 'footprint' in the banking system. Oh, and did I mention I'd also worked as an anti-social behaviour officer in some of the worst sinkhole estates?I have seen and witnessed things which could seriously challenge the world view of The Guardian's readership, and it was intellectually interesting to do so. As you can see...

  As if Satanic Panic Miniatures haven't commissioned enough models already this year, the are now bringing you you more Nomadic Dwarves.    Think of these as a different tribe, or just mix them in with the others. Personally, I like the idea of a different tribe.   The ponies will be an optional variant alongside the large range I already have, as they are a lighter build, more akin to a Western pony breed rather than the previous short and stocky Steppe ponies.        

 I just realised that I forgot to attach a pic of the ECW generals I mentioned this morning:

 Well, another weekend has come and gone, but it's been one where much has been done. Firstly, the memsahib, completed the basing of my ECW cavalry, dismounted dragoons, messengers and artillery: Unfortunately, the flags are caught somewhere in the postal backlog caused by 4 inches of snow, so that is holding the completeion up. GRRR! I'm just waiting for the infantry and mounted dragoons from the painter, and I have about 20 generals and hangers-on which I will be painting myself, sometime in the next decade. I did however bag 3 Foundry generals at the weekend, which will need a bit of rebasing and a hair colour change to make the Charles I inspired model, a general in the army of Parliament. I've got the set from Old Glory which includes a surrender scene and officers in camp, and some mounted officers from Essex, because as you may know, I do have a weakness for Essex castings. Then I just ahve the dreaded baggage train to paint... I loathe painting wagons and guns, whic...

      The Steel Warriors wargames show here in Sheffield, is 15 days away. now and as of 09:25 today, thereare 13 readers listed as confirmed. THIRTEEN!   https://steel-warriors.co.uk/traders.html Now, if there are indeed only 13, given the stated expected trader base was 100, in October of 2022, that's really poor. If there are more traders and, a mere two weeks from a show the trader list has not been updated, then that is actually worse. OK, so the otganisers will no doubt be making money from the competitions and door takings, but I ask you, are gamers going to want to pay £5 for 13 'B' & 'C' list traders and a bring and buy? Personally, if I was attending any show that wasn't giving me value for money and a decent day out, I'd ask for a refund on the door - PERIOD. This show, I guess, was probably intended as the bastard son of the late Triples show, and given that the organisers (although let's be clear, it's nothing to do with SWS) are the...

 I've had the pics back from one of my sculptors today, of the 6 additional 3D shields for the next release by Satanic Panic Miniatures. So, here's the entire range for the inital release of Western Orcs: I've also had the 'test' head for the W.I.P 'Steppe Orcs' which will be campartible with the old Nick Lund sculpts from the 80s and 90s: I'm really pleased at the vibes from both of these ranges. I locked in my painter for the first half of 2024 today, which is nice, but also genuinely marks my 'wind down' of mass acquisitions. Whilst I was watching paint fdry this morning, I also ordered the flags for my ECW infantry and the memsahib, inbetween meetings, has begun basing my cavalry, artillery and dismounted dragoons. My Hail Caesar lists arrived, and I was puzzled by the lack of dismounted Bushi / Samurai which seems a little odd, so the jury is out on that particular list... Well, if you will excuse me, it's been a long day and a decent me...