Season of Scenery (Part - 1)

 Dave Stone at the Wargamesculptorblog is running his annual Season of Scenery "challenge" - an effort to encourage his readers and blog subscribers to push out some terrain items from their backlogs. (Vehicles count too!)

I have plenty of unpainted stuff sat in tubs and bags and of late, my gaming table decor has started to feel a little stale, so yesterday I decided try and get some of the 3D printed pieces I'd added to my collection a year ago painted and ready for Winter effects (That I plan to do to all of the 3D printed pieces at once when they have been painted.).

Not hugely exciting, but I think the following will help add more depth to my play setups and only the one pic cos... c'mon, they aren't exactly "eye candy" right? :)

Three tri-stacks of hay, a small shed, two out-houses, 2 log piles and a wood-cutting scene. All kindly done on a mate's fdm printer.

It was a decent tho humid day yesterday, so I set up to paint these primarily with craft paints. Think they came out okay. They are currently drying after being dullcoted. 

Short post but at least some progress and nine items marked off the paint mountain AND I primed six of the 3D printed East Front buildings from the same set so they are ready for the next round. Not a bad start. Hope to get more done this weekend. 

Hope all are safe and well out there,

- Dai

3rd Awr-Range Wardens (Quar Fidwogs - Part 5)

 Just a quick WIP post to show I've not been entirely idle on the hobby-front. Almost all the remainder of my Quar Fidwog are now assembled, primed and paint begun applied.

I added the ground/mud brown colour to all of their bases and gold to all helmets. Then went on to work solely on the remainder of the second squad of infantry (3x Rhyflers, Yawdryl and han-Yawdryl.) and an Anti-Tank trooper (Bloke with the explosive spears) to make the batch painting feel more manageable. 

Painting time got interrupted by responsibilities though so only the burgundy layers of the uniform*, dark grey for the rocks and dark mustard for the yellow base applied at this date. 

Here's the Draxian Painting Chart updated to reflect what's been done:

* - I don't normally prime minis black, but decided to go with it this time to help make painting quicker. Burgundy is a dark brown base, dark burgundy then a lighter burgundy. These will all get a brown wash which will provide my desired result of a nice rich finish, see my other Quar posts for how that looks.

Not sure when I'll get more painting opportunities coming up, but I hope in return you all are finding loads of time to get your projects moving!

Stay safe and well out there,

- Dai

3rd Awr-Range Wardens (Quar Fidwogs - Part 4)

 Wasn't expecting to get any hobby time recently, but this hot and sweaty weekend provided me a few hours whilst watching some World Cup action. 

I managed to get this little 3D printed Quar "Caerten" (Captain-like rank) mostly painted up for my Fidwog. Not sure I am sold on the colours of his spots(?) and he needs a spray of dulcote, but he's about 99% done I feel. 

"The Old Man" is what his men call him and with so many markings on his hide, it's easy to see Caerten Aet Pyr'sen has been around a long time. Infact, Pyr'sen has been in the Fidwoggian military since the earliest days of the Crusade's uprising, bringing his calm brand of leadership to the Quar beneath him. Unbeknownst to his men, Pyr'sen has actually lost all 4 sons and his wife to the conflict against the Crusader menace; his seeming cool and calm are mere coping mechanisms of a sad Quar who has nothing left to live for, but the soldiers who serve under him.

Caerten Pyr'sen himself would never partake of spirits, but a hot and strong cup of coffee can be regularly found in his possession as he strides about the garrison checking on his men.

This Quar's left arm is part of a bits kit that I thought would be a perfect addition for an old officer who is unconcerned with any dangers that might be present.

(No) Prize for anyone who can identify where I got his scabbarded sword from? *

Along with the Caerten, I also managed to put together this lot for the next round of basing, primer and then paint. 

Also a not-prize for any who might be able to identify that oil can on the Squad tractor? **

Lots to get on with, but I have to say, these little weirdos are very fun to construct and paint up. A nice break from the drab colours of WW2.

Hope all are safe and well out there and let's hope USA can keep up that great level of play in the World Cup!

- Dai

* The Scabbarded sword is actually an old Warhammer40K Catachan Guard bit that was molded with an attached water bottle which I carefully cut off. 

** The Oil Can comes from the old original Warhammer40K Space Orks plastic kit that I owned as a lad. Sometimes keeping random bits for 40 years pays off? 

*** Post Script: Seems the issue of posts not popping up on blog rolls has hit this little blog too. Guess I'll wait and see how it all plays out, and I'll research if there's a fix or some such in the meantime. Frustrating!

Clash of Rhylfes (3x games of a new system)

With my initial Quar force painted up I was ready to play my first game of Clash of Rhyfles by Zombiesmith Miniatures. Stew came down this Sunday with his nicely painted and extensive Quar collection, and I'd set up a couple 2'x2' tables in preparation for his arrival (altho thankfully Stew had brought a few "Quarish" scenic items to Quar them up a bit better). 

Obligatory "Yay we actually gamed for the first time in over two years or something" pic. I missed that guy, he's great company and a solid chap in general. (I really need to do something about those awful extra chins...)

Having somehow the whole of Sunday to myself is a rarity and so I took full advantage and we managed to cram in 3 full games, which was excellent. The Clash of Rhyfles system was extremely fun and I really liked how although there was a definite "turn" system, each player had stuff to do or to react with so one wasn't just waiting around. The lack of surety as to how many activations one gets (3-5 based on a card draw) each turn was also a flippin brill and really made choices in-game both tough, but also ensured one really had to plan out each turn carefully in case their opponent revealed fewer than one might have been expecting. This rules set seemed nicely balanced for the skirmish size it was designed for and I could easily see it used for all sorts of squad-based muskets thru modern genres if the Quar aesthetic wasn't your thing.

Enough Waffling - on to some pics. Forgive the quality, the lighting in my game-space is average at best. I played my recently painted Fidwog in each game. 

Game One -Vs. Stew's Toulmore (200 or so points a side.)

This was my first game of Clash of Rhyflers so I was learning it all like a newborn babe being handed their first boob. We played two small lists of basic rhyflers, a yawdryl and my LMG guy. I was so caught up, I forgot to start taking snaps until almost the last turn. Boo.

In this pic, my brave Yawdryl (Sergeant) hunkers down behind one of the objectives we were both fighting over as Toulmorese troops shift about shooting at him from inside the ruins ahead.

Over at the other objective my Miner and a Gaefyn secure things there while two more Gaefyn are caught out in the open trying to assist, the one with tokens next to him and the yellow "whirlies" over his head is "Gobsmacked" & "Down" and needs to Recover.

Toulmorese bodies are littering the field of battle. It's not looking good for these Crusader Fanatics. 

Bottom left in this pic, my han-Gaefyn (Corporal) has just taken out one of the last of the enemy with a well-placed long ranged burst with his squad support LMG. Thankfully though, cos the rest of his buds in this pic all needed to use the Recover activation to get rid of their "Gobsmacked" & "Down" markers had there been another turn!

In the end, if you hadn't already guessed I won this learning game rather handily. I picked up the basics of the rules pretty quickly and we quickly moved on to game two.

Game Two - Vs. Stew's Crusaders. (My 365 vs Stew's 300-ish points)

Stew brought out his Crusaders for game two. (Those are the generic not-Communist faction that multiple nations have joined in the setting.) They have lots more options for list building. I numbered and lettered the different models and their placings in the below first image, but sheesh - if I am having a hard time reading that crap I can only imagine how you lot are so ignore the labeling and just know, green boxes denote Stew's troop placements, Red show mine. The scenario had my slightly larger Fidwog force being ordered to assault the Crusader encampment at the north of the first pic and take two objectives to win. 

Stew's guys at the top of the pic - basic Rhyflers, a couple Ryshi high powered Rhyflers, a Yawdryl and an AT Torpedo team. Mine was the same list as the first game but with an added Caertyn (Lieutenant), Marksquar (Sniper) and Fynrydhad (Tiny tractor). The river was treated as a "One move action to enter, another needed to move out". 

Stew's setup. That wattle fencing was way better at providing cover against firearms than one would have guessed!

Stew quickly became annoyed as my Marksquar set up early on in the game and began popping off long range shots primarily at his AT Torpedo team about 2 or 3 turns in a row.

My Tractor rumbled up and started peppering Stew's line. These early turns didn't look good for the Crusader defenders at all.

With infantry support creeping up in support, my tractor had a turn of multiple insane rolls and lots of Quar Rhyflers fell to aggressive fire.

Then some other Quar picked up the Crusader AT Torpedo.... and well, down went three of those infantry and a lucky Ryshi rhyfle shot took out the tractor. My right flank wasn't looking good all of a sudden.

Over on the other flank it was a slog getting across the river. But slowly my brave boys managed to make a bridgehead. Poor young Caerten tho took a shot trying to vault the fencing.

Another lucky long range shot finally takes out my Marksquar. He earned his mothcakes this day though.

Endgame. Lots of Quar littering in and around the Crusader encampment and others are stunned and otherwise useless. My last ditch effort to rush the objectives came up short and Stew got a good win. This game was even more fun than the first.

Game Three - Vs. Stew's Crusaders (Around 365 points each)

After a brief interlude for vivers, we managed to get one last game in before we called it quits on the day, a Meeting Engagement where we each scored points for getting the most troops over the halfway mark or something. 

The set up for this game had a LOT of cover. Each field where the trees are seen were treated as all "Light cover" as were the fences and the swampy looking not-cd's-at-all-honest made movement slow. My boys again were heading north.

Stew started off strong this game, causing a trio of my troops to do down and even taking one out. He also knocked off a point of hull from my little tractor too. 

The going's rough and casualties are starting to mount up on both sides. I have some of my troops a smidge over the half-way point.

Stew has a cunning plan? Or just a cheeky grin. Those glasses are not ours.

Getting toward the end of the game. It's been a right back-and-forth affair and we both have suffered a lot of casualties. 

Unimpressed at having not won or just downright tired after a long day of gaming, my guest poses in a very manly fashion. We called this one a draw. 

There, a very pleasant day of gaming with a good friend and I got to hop fully onto the "Quar Train". Colour me hooked!

Now I'm trying to decide whether to save to buy my own Crusader force or just wait for the rumoured to be released later this year new Starter Set which is supposed to be featuring new plastic kits for a couple new Quar nations in their unending war?

We'll see. 

(O and at many of your requests, I did enquire as to whether Stew will return to blogging!? He responded - "Maybe".)

Hope all are well and safe out there,

- Dai

3rd Awr-Range Wardens (Quar Fidwogs - Part 3)

Found time to paint? Check

Completed the Quar team for Sunday's game? Check

Even have enough terrain to host the game in a pretty manner? Check

Add a little beer (Cider for Stew) and decent foodage? Check

Game on chaps. Game. On. 

The final models for my initial (Cos of course there's plenty more of these cute little buggers in the unpainted mountain for later moments at the paint-station.) planned collection are painted. I can sleep a happy man.

From left to right: Miner, Marksquar sniper, is-Caerten, Gaefyn, and at the back a Fynrydhad Squad Support Tractor.

First up is the last Gaefyn (Basic Trooper) I needed. Gaefyn Haefquar is from a backwoods Termite Farm near Shibak in the North East of Fidwog. An uninteresting bumpkin of a Quar, he shoot's "goofy", wielding his trusty standard Sprygyt Mk3 “Sketych” rifle left-handed - Most unorthodox and un-Quarlike. His fellow Gaefyn also complain he carries a stench of stale termite droppings with him that never seems to entirely leave his pelt regardless of how often they try to force him to bathe. 

Next we have the first Specialist in this crew, Polli, a gold miner by trade. The deep Fidwog mines ringing the Awr-Range peaks are home to the nation of Fidwog's most lucrative Gold veins and during the wars with the Crusader nation of neighbouring Tok, the miners who worked these mines had to fight hard to keep the invading Crusader presence from taking control of such valuable assets. Miners in Fidwog are considered veteran troops, skilled and able to dive into the most terrible trench fights fearlessly to drive out even the most stubborn opponents. Polli brings a lot of toughness to the unit, though tends to stay apart from the rest of the 3rd' who he secretly feels he has little in common with.

Is-Caerten Nahr is the platoon's young commissioned officer (Lieutenant equivalent). Nahr was the youngest kit of a rare 7-kit litter. He comes from a wealthy family, though being 7th in line meant there was little his parents could offer him for his future aside from a sensible suggestion to join the Fidwoggian military. They at least were able to secure him an officer's rank, though being from a very minor family, his posting was anything but comfortable which he quickly found out once he arrived at the high elevation of the 3rd Awr-Range garrison. Still, Nahr has taken his posting seriously, perhaps a little too seriously and constantly carries with him all maps and official orders he has received in his satchel so that he will "never find himself unprepared". (This model is actually a 3D printed "Courier", but I liked the pose so much I felt he belonged with my boys.)

Prior to signing up with the 3rd', Marksquar Vang was a hunter by trade, spending long days out in the rugged, most remote areas of the harsh mountains of Western Fidwog, using his dead-eye skills with his is-Haem Long Rhyfle to good effect stalking the elusive Alpine Huvi. His long distance shooting expertise is very much appreciated by the rest of the 'Wardens, as are the fresh tasty Alpine Huvi kills he manages to bring back from his hunting expeditions. (This model has a couple 3D printed parts, namely his head and backpack. I wanted him to stand out from the other troops more than just the standard long rifle these snipers are outfitted with.)

Last of this Quar update is Tractor Crewmember Cammot, driver of the unit's Fynrydhad Squad Support Tractor. Cammot is a cheery Quar, friend to just about any other Quar in the unit aside from Fask, who he detests with a pen chance. Cammot and Fask have come to blows on many an occasion during downtimes, often started by disagreements during off-duty card games and fueled by strong liquor. Fask though, has yet to best the Tractor Driver in a fist fight, or at playing cards for that matter.

Having a few spare items from all the WW2 kits I've collected over the years meant I could add some items of interest to this little thing like the ammo cans on the side-board thing and small pack I glued to the rear of the turret.

Am intending to get another post up to preview how the game day went so stay tuned. 

*Bonus pics of a pair of captured Italian CV-33 tankettes for my Bolt Action Greeks. Super quick to paint up and these 3D prints are a bit smaller than my existing one, but once based they'll mix in fine I think for game purposes.

Goodness these things are dinky!

Not the best prints. Each had an exhaust that was mis-printed, but I went with them anyhow as they were pretty cheap and the mis-print isn't that noticeable I feel.

Here's the updated Paint Chart for my Greeks:

(On another note - Can you believe, I've already put up more posts in less than half of 2026 than I did in the entirety of 2024 & 2025 combined?)

Stay well and safe out there all,

- Dai

3rd Awr-Range Wardens (Quar Fidwogs - Part 2)

With Stew's impending game-day visit fast approaching (May 24th), I declared to the good wife that I would be sequestering myself in a secluded spot and getting stuck in to paint some more Quar so I'd be that much closer to being prepared for my introduction to the Clash of Rhyfles rules set this upcoming Sunday. 

Any regular reader of this blog might recall I am no fan of batch painting. At all. But (!), I sat my grumpy backside down and I managed to bash out 5 more Quar for my 3rd Awr-Range Wardens project. So here presented for your delectation, is the han-Gaefyn (like a squad Corporal.) and 4 Gaefyn (Regular Rhyfler troopers.) for my little force of these colourful anteater people. 

I also recently picked up a cheap lightbox off Amazon to try and get better pics of my minis. Let me know if you think these pics are an improvement.

It wasn't until I published this post that I realised that I hadn't painted the lenses on the orange fellah that I'd so carefully added with Greenstuff... (I know, barely seeable here, but I know they are!) Back to the painting table he will go.

Because of the nature of the Clash of Rhyfles rules being such a low model-count, it gives players the opportunity to personalize and name one's team members. I do like to dive a little deeper into my games so for the sake of recording details: 

This is han-Gaefyn Toofys, wielding his Bensa F6 Light Machinegun. Toofys is known as being cool as a Quarcumber in the face of the enemy. He does seem to have a problem keeping his head down in a scrap though, so mayhap in a future engagement his "coolness" might cause him to come a cropper? 

Gaefyn Craeb is a relatively new addition to the 3rd ' Wardens. Being a lowlander, he's had a hard time adjusting to the extreme elevations of the posting.

Gaefyn Fask likes to act as though he's in charge, often attempting to give orders to the other Gaefyn, but when Yawdryl Geraynt got wind of this he shut Fask down quicksmart and gave him latrine duty. Fask has been plotting against the Yawdryl for months now but seems to never quite "follow through", clearly all bark, but no bite. 

Gaefyn Werr has been with the 3rd ' Wardens for only one season. He volunteers for nightly patrol duty seemingly every day. The other Gaefyn think he's rather strange. 

Gaefyn Waelgi is the eldest Quar currently serving in the unit and takes new recruits under his wing eagerly. He's seen too many brave Fidwog enlistee's fall to rookie mistakes in the fight against the Crusaders. As can be seen, Waelgi eschews regulation protective headgear. Yawdryl Geraynt has given up trying to convince the elder Quar otherwise.

Here's a snapshot of all the painted Quar so far including the previously previewed Yawdryl Geraynt from my last post. 

Not a bad looking lot I think. These 6 can be a playable force for a learning game, but there's still some more to come so I can fill out and play a full 300 point force (Standard game size)!

Here's a preview of the remaining figs I hope to get painted in time for May24th. 

I am blessed enough to be having an extra long, 5-day-weekend for this coming Memorial Day weekend starting Thursday, so I am dearly hoping real life (And my wife) will allow me time enough to get all of this finished. Keep fingers crossed for me!

As always, hope all are well and safe out there,

- Dai