Of late, I've been busy on a large and ongoing fantasy 'project', although to be honest, it's more a case of looking around for fantasy figures (and of course historical models which can be repurposed) I like and deciding just how many I want. Lists you say? Nope, none of that bollocks, because you know, when we were teenagers in the last century, we didn't generally waste time with pointed lists. No, we just found a willing set of parents (back then, parents were generally pairs, sometimes single, but definitely traditional male/female combos, which meant you generally kept the dads 'on side' and flattered the mums, using all your blossoming charm, cheeky smiles and Bambi eyes turned up to 11. I can say hand on where I think my heart used to be, that none of my friends would ever break the sacred rule of being good guests and always polite to parents. That is right and proper. Anyway, we would either cram into a dining room (I think a record wa...

28mm Royalist army 126 cavalry 252 foot 24 mounted dragoons 24 dismounted dragoons 4 horse holders 6 horses 5 guns 18 crew 2 limbers 2 horses 4 wagons 6 horses 4 pack horses 5 drovers 14 Mtd personalities 10 foot personalities All metal - mostly Bicorne  £3750   Will take £3500 for cash on collection        28mm Parliamentarian army 144 cavalry 252 foot 27 mounted dragoons 27 dismounted dragoons 6 guns 24 crew Wagon 2 horses 7 camp followers 10 mounted personalities 10 foot personalities All metal. Mostly Perry with a few Redoubt 712 piece equivalents £3750   Will accept £3500 for cash on collection  I may consider part exchanges for the Parliamentarians for older 28mm fantasy armies, or 28mm Feudal armies, but MUST be fully painted to the same standard  

 I've tried to have some fun with the burgeoning fantasy project, and with regards to the human forces, it's getting rather interesting. I decided that broadly speaking, I would use a mix of historical and fantasy figures, but would not tie them to a specific historical analog. Thus, the armour varies in style, and it creates individual nations and states in doing so. Another rule I have loosely applied is to buy random units from various places, usually painted. Again, it creates adentities from randomness. It's great. Here are a few shots of my human elements thus far. Most models are Essex Miniatures with a few Citadel and a fine unit of vintage Der Kreigspiellers Easterlings: The astute amongst you will spy a few of Gary Chalk's collection in there. I have also gone a bit old school on a couple of the units of 'crusading knights' by using model aircraft decals to add detail to the (as supplied) plain shields. No doubt over time I shall concoct some bollocks ...

 As I type, it's 6:30 AM here in the UK and I'm tuned in to Smooth Jazz New York City. All is gentle, warm and mellow. It's one of those times when you are so comfortable and at one with the world, that internally you are raging at the concept of mortality, shaking a mental fist at the heavens... And that is how I feel much of the time about my hobby. You see, I have always been something of a gadfly in the past, moving from one thing to another as many more gamers do than would likely admit to it, because they don't want to come to terms with, and openly admit to, being no better than crack whores in the manipulative hands of an industry always pushing some new drug to finance it's own lavish lifestyle. However, when I hit fifty nearly five years ago now, I decided that everything I did had to have worth or it wasn't going to be done. 'Worth' was not a financial worth, but more a way of saying that I had gained something from any activity. My frankly fr...

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  It's been a hell of a week for one reason and another, but I've ended up doing long days painting as well as maintaining the household and watering a ludicrous number of plants, and until now, I've been working similarly today from 6AM... Life in the real world sucketh verily.  And so, it's fitting that when I have had a few moments spare, I've indulged myself in the burgeoning fantasy project.  This week, I have managed to purchase and/or taken delivery of the following:   72 Imp-Goblin cavalry mounted on wolves from Ral Partha 60 Gnomes from Essex Miniatures 24 Centaurs from Essex Miniatures 105 Halflings from Copplestone Castings 100 Lesser Goblins from Satanic Panic Miniatures 1 Asgard dragon from Alternative Armies 60 Goblin Guards (old Reider Designs) from Alternative Armies  These are all off to my painter ASAP  From Colonel Bill's, I also acquired some Essex Miniatures Medievals, painted to a tidy standard at under metal cost, comprising: 36 Arche...

 I'm really working hard at getting back to long, never ending fantasy games as I head towards my 55th birthday in a couple of months. Yesterday, my Halflings turned up from Northstar and are now of the 'grand pile' headed soon to my painter as part of a 900 figure extension of my fantasy project, and today I've been over at Essex Miniatures this morning looking at their Elves, Gnomes, Dwarves and Centaurs. Essex are a Marmite range, but I love them and always have. They are, like Dixon Miniatures, tactile and superbly cast models.  The thing is, people carp on ad nauseum about Citadel all the time, but I think that in many cases they are only doing that because their only experience was a parochial one when it came to game stores, conventions shows and manufacturers. It's one of those odd things that whilst my parents would 'ground' me for a month for a minor infraction (see my book for more specifics) they wouldn't bat an eyelash at me going on a 200 ...

 Hi all, No ramble as such, just some pictures of the Tabletop World tower I painted in 7 hours today...

 It's been a little hectic here this week, as the memsahib is quite the ill lady and is in the hospital, facing the rigours of NHS contracted catering for a while. In the meantime, I amd juggling running the house, meeting the needs of 6 Scottish Terriers (well, 5 and a Westie) and keeping on top of my workload. This morning however, I popped some decals on 90 Orcs and got the alkyd washes on the Tabletop World Wizards Tower. I sold my original one, but given that I have all I need for historical gaming and given that I have drawn a line under the historical collecting, once and for all, I thought it might be fun to re-imagine the tower with a few changes inspired by the first one I did and by watching a program on TV as I ate a lonely supper the other night. ( ham and mustard on sourdough, and the show was Great British Railway Journeys). Anyway, Fantasy is very much at the fore now as I have denied myself the pleasure for too long. A couple of my friends keep saying they are not ...

MARK'S CHRISTMAS GAME - 2023 This year will be a massive fantasy game. Yes, it's only June, but these things take time to prepare. I'll run it using the fast play rules I knocked up, for ease and if you want to bring troops, let me know what and in what numbers. No gunpowder troops please - This is old school!   As is my preference, there will not be points systems or a competition style of play. I have my painter working flat out on Orcs, Nippon and whatever else he can. LMK if you are interested and can get to Sheffield. Provisionally we could go with 27th and/or the 28th. A light lunch will be provided. Sandwiches, pork pies, cheese, salad etc   Places are limited