Another Year Incoming

Things here have obviously been quiet. 

As the none of you who've noticed, I haven't posted. There's been relatively little to post about in my hobby. Real life right now just isn't presenting many opportunities for hobby or gaming. I did not manage to get any more East Front scenery painted up as I'd hoped. 

I did manage to attend a 3-game Bolt Action event on Veteran's/Memorial Day last month with my goodest mate Densmol and finished middle of the pack. Fun three games with very pleasant opponents, two of which I'd never played against before. (No pics were taken though as I'd managed to guzzle a beer or two after meeting up with the estimable Stew from the Terrible Loss of Lead and Wealth blog. - He's a very bad influence I tell ya!) 

 Here are two old resin minis from a game that was originally Kickstarted (1st Edition) in 2014, Relic Knights, then a 2nd Edition was Kickstarted in 2017. Neither Kickstarter project was run well and only the first was actually fully fulfilled by the creators who are now a bankrupt entity. (I even posted about hobby activity on those original minis back in 2014!) So where does this leave the game? (I hear you not ask) Well dear reader, a new (way) smaller but far better ran game company bought the rights to the game title and all of it's existing sculpts based out of Texas (Ignition Core Games) and they have very selectively, slowly and cleverly been releasing product for the game's 2nd Edition under their own banner. So far it has a small and enthusiastic following on Facebook and Discord and I like the way the new owners are so interactive with that following. I hope to be afforded time next year to work on a number of minis for this new edition of the game in 2026 and even to try out the rules. Watch this space!

These resin figs are from the Cersi Speed Circuit faction. The guy on the left is Asger Faust. I kept his paintjob simple as his game art shows some designs on his coat, but I was not in the mood to try freehanding such nonsense. The pink-haired filly on the right is one of the Pit Crew girls (There is a second girl of the team half-painted as I type this) and with that quite insane facial expression she has, I fully do not trust her intentions on where she thinks that huge wrench should be placed. 

As far as Real Life: I got a small promotion at work in August and am currently doing my best to pass a 12-month probation period, so I've had to apply myself rather more than normal LOL. This blog also had a birthday at the beginning of October, turning an impressive 14 years old. AND I turned 49  that month and found myself regularly dour at the realisation that this is my last year of my 40's. So things have happened, just not much hobby. I'm not sure if I'll even have anything blog-worthy to post up before the New Year; free time as mentioned is hard to come by and there are a LOT of seasonal gatherings coming up. But you never know, lady Fate may well smile upon this humble hobbyist and afford him 2-3 hours for painting before January and the peace he finds in it?

Regardless, with a new year on the horizon, I once again turn to hope for opportunities to reveal themselves so that I might be able to work on some of my unpainted mountain and even manage to get some gaming in. Wish me luck. I have tried hard to not add much to my pile'o'shame, but priorities for my hobby this year are looking like: 

1. Painting more armour for my WW2 Greeks (Picked up a trio of rubbish light tanks on a Black Friday sale just to have more options for list building in Bolt Action)

2. Painting my WW2 Late War Canadians, namely that pair of Buffalo transports, outstanding infantry squads and the new pair of WASP Universal Carriers that were also bought in the Black Friday purchase.

3. Relic Knights - me and J bought into some of this new stuff. It arrived at his place yesterday. We are both jazzed about it, so out came all the 1st Ed stuff from my storage to see just how many options we'd have including the new additions for future games. Yeesh... that's a LOT to paint up. 

4. I need more time.

This short post ends with "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hannukah", "Happy Kwanzaa" and enjoy whatever other holiday celebrations are important to you at this time of year with your loved ones; I certainly intend to do so with my own. Stay safe out there in this far too frequently frightening world.

Much love, 

- Dai  

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Season of Scenery 2025 (Part -1)

 The estimable Dave Stone who runs the excellent Wargamesculptors Blog  is running his annual "Season of Scenery" challenge. While I'm really not finding myself with a lot of hobby time these days, I decided to jump on board and try to crank out some terrain pieces I've added to my collection this year. 

Quality-wise, I've put in as much effort into these initial entries as time allowed so I am aware that they could be so much better, but we work with what we have, right? I'm planning to use both on my WW2 East Front Winter table so snow effects still need to be applied, but I want to do that once I have a number of them done so the snow can be added at the same time. (Also, these pics were taken prior to a coat of flatcote was applied so excuse the shininess.)

These are 3D fdm prints from a Kickstarter I backed ran by a very respected fellow in Canada who goes by "Deweycat" online. A friend here at work kindly printed off all the files for me and so I have a veritable village's-worth of buildings to get painted and ready for my setups

Nice rural East Front Barn with a tin roof. The doors came loose, but I glued them shut to make the whole thing more sturdy.

Am hoping the roof looks like rusting/dirty corrugated tin? 

A removable roof and loft option. I glued the ladder to the floor cos who wants to faff about with silly things like that mid-game?

Outside slouch/shed thing with tiled roof. 

My latest delivery, a whole slew of mud-road pieces. They printed out a bit narrower than I was expecting, but I think they'll still work out fine as my East Front setups tend to be more rural in my mind so I doubt there'd be paving or metalled roads out in eastern Europe in 1944? 

Okay, that's entry #1 for the challenge, let's see if I can find more time to post a second and possibly a third. 

It's all Greek to me! (Part 8 - Infantry Squad #3 Complete! And a whole lot more.)

**Settle down, grab a beverage and some reading glasses - this post is going to be a long one. **

Well, as in most cases, "best laid plans" tend to end up floundering and so my plans in fine form for this project followed suit in short order. I managed to get the 3rd squad of Greek infantry I mentioned in my last post finished but could only find time to slap on a couple of base colours onto the 4th squad and so had to attend the event on Saturday 7th February with only 95% of my force fully painted. Not bad, but not what I wanted. 

The 3rd squad though does look rather splendid and fits in nicely with the others I've painted up so far. Once again, these are metal sculpts by Great Escape Games and were fun to paint.

Infantry Squad #3 - lots of tasty 'tache's in this group.

Also painted up this fun little Orthodox priest who I add to my FAO team who'll ask the big feller above for extra luck getting those off-table artillery strikes on target for once. (With my dice rolling, I need all the help I can get!)

This little fellow has since been given a coat of flat varnish. 

The whole Greek WW2 collection as it stands - best pics I could get with the time, space and lighting available. Just a pair of trucks to paint up and then they'll be done, "Fully Painted" if we want to be specific and add titles. For now. (I'd like to pick up a few more pieces of armour and another pair of Bren Carriers, but those are purchases for next year.)

On February 8th I attended the 2nd annual Operation Sweetheart event at GameKastle Sacramento. It was the first 3rd edition event in the area, and I played my first three games of the new edition, winning one and losing the following two. Not a bad result, especially considering as I brought my Greeks and they had little to no anti-armour options. A fun day and great to see both locals and travelling players from the Reno community. There was a good turn-out including some new players and also a young-blood (13 I think?). Being that the event was 4 months ago I don't recall hard fast details, but my first game (A win vs late war Germans) was highlighted by my rolling immensely well, the second (A loss vs an all over the place german list) marred by my opponent bringing an almost all unpainted army who also proxied about half his force, and the third and last game (A loss vs late war Brits) where my dice and lack of ability to hurt the multiple armoured options of my opponent caused a little frustration. Regardless of the result, a good time was had and it was fun to take my Greeks to an event.

Pics are in no particular order and included here just so you have pretty things to look at. 

Sideways? Poor editing on  my part.

Now that the event is done and long past, that 4th infantry squad will get done.... sometime. Moments for hobby are back to being few and far between - curse you real life!

I also managed to get in a game with my gaming pal Densmol whilst our respective wives sat on the lawn and drank alcoholic seltzers and chatted about whatever it is women discuss when menfolk are elsewhere. As you can see in the pictures, this was my test run also for my WW2 Airfield terrain setup. Still more to add and plenty to paint up, especially that Heinkel, (The large building is not part of the set along with some of the scatter terrain - I just needed to fill the table moreso) but I like the direction it's headed.

I provided forces for both sides - Densmol played my Winter Germans and I faced off against them with my Winter Soviets. It was a fun learning game for both of us using the now not-new 3rd Edition of Bolt Action. Densmol ended up winning, lots of new rules were forgotten or plain mis-played, but we both had fun. 

Blanket as a game mat. Not bad, but not great. Needs some variation in shades of green and a jolly good iron!

One drunken evening I found myself trawling online stores and made some purchases. I only found this out the following morning when I saw the order confirmation emails in my inbox. (Don't tell the wife.)

Water Buffalos for my Late War Canadians

Fuel Truck for my Airfield terrain, BA-10 for my Winter Soviets and a pair of sd.kfz 10/4's for my Germans. 

Also some "not Beakie Space Marines" by another Etsy store that I had the seller upscale a little to the same size as Primaris cos I like my mutant human warriors huge. (Poor Greek soldier included for scale)

The Beakies came in a squad of 5 cool individual sculpts. I also stupidly jumped on the chance to pick up an in scale classic style Space Marine Dreadnought by Hybrid Miniatures on Facebook. I have a buying problem, it's true.

It's always nice to have new things, even if you really don't have time to paint them.

Last year I put a (very) small amount of cash into a Kickstarter for some 3D print stl files for some East Front terrain. I then found out my co-worker has a printer at her home and she offered to print all the files out if I provided the filament. So here are some of the prints - very crisp and well detailed and currently in the queue for primer, paint and snow effects, hopefully getting done this Summer. Am hoping joining Dave Stone's "Summer of Scenery" challenge at his blog, will help motivate me.

Soviet Schoolhouse and a tin-roof'd barn

Some cool scatter terrain to add extra flavour

Log cabins

A small Orthodox chapel. I also have some benches to place inside. 

Back to painting progress - I managed to get in some painting time this last week whilst my wife was away on a trip to Oregon to visit her grandparents. 

First off a pair of Anti-Tank Rifle teams for my Greeks, bringing the total of these I can drop on the table to 3.

More metals sculpts by Great Escape Games

And then a pair of furry faced warriors for anthropomorphic skirmish game Burrows and Badgers. Both leaders of their respective warbands. These are the first painted for a campaign me and my pal J are going to play through when opportunity arises in the future.

Sir Rowland Othyr, Otter Lansknecht

And Ylvis Sez, leader of the Freebeasts

 And lastly, on the 24th of June, I got in a game of Bolt Action at my mate Stephen's place. 1000 points each side, I took my Greeks again and he faced off with some cool Early War Germans (A mix of Fallschirmjager veterans and Regular Heer.). My dice were hot this game and once again, even though I really should have struggled to deal with his German armour, somehow I managed to drop mortar rounds in the right places and blew them up and then proceeded to grind down his support assets to win 10-9. Beautiful table to play on and a great host. 

My Greeks

Stephen's Germans

And some pics in no particular order - just here to look cool. Stephen's setup was great looking and made for a very narrative gameplay.

A very pinned out sd.kfz 222 armoured car. Crazy what VB and Light mortars can do!

The man himself - Stephen is also the Official Warlord Raider for Northern California and Nevada and origanises all the events and tournaments.

Okay done now. If you managed to read this far down, apologies for the lengthy silence. Am hoping I'll have time and enough content to post again before the blog's 14th birthday on 1st October, but I make no promises as this summer is super busy with famikly stuff. 

Hope all are well and happy out there,

- Dai

It's all Greek to me! (Part 7 - Infantry Squad #2 Complete!)

I recently managed to finish up the 2nd of 4 infantry squads for my WW2 Greek army. This 11-man squad is made up of 3D printed resin sculpts designed and printed by Greece-based Studio Historia and are some very nicely done minis with lots of dynamic poses. I still think they are some of the best WW2 3D printed options out there. They are all painted and based in the same fashion of the previous Greek forces I've previewed here. (Forgive the shininess - these pics were taken pre-dulcote)

Like I said - really cool dynamic poses on these. So far I've yet to be disappointed with any of the Studio Historia 3D sculpts I've purchased.  

Speaking of which, this is the first "army project" that I've actually taken time to catalogue the paint colours I've used so I have true uniformity amongst the force. The overall effect of seeing them arrayed together makes a heck of a difference say, compared to my Soviets that seem a little more rag-tag in comparison and I'm mightily tempted to perhaps sell that army and start anew in a similarly more organised fashion for a better, more unified end result. We will see...

Webbing/straps aside, there aren't too many markings, unit or rank badges to have to pick out. Normally Greek army have a red collar marking, but this squad are in Cold Weather kit and almost all of their coat collars are "popped"! (So no room to paint said red markings)

As with all the other pieces to this project, I've kept the basing VERY simple for expediency's sake in an effort to make my deadline. Tufts are only on the squad leader (2x tufts) and LMG mini (1x tuft) to better pick them out on the table. I might come back at a later date and add more detail just for interest' sake.

Squad #3 is now on the paint table and I fear I am not going to find enough time to get them done before my February 8th deadline and that still leaves Squad #4 to paint besides! (I hate playing with unpainted miniatures!) - wish me luck!

Squad #3 on the table (Another Great Escape Games metal squad). Not a lick of paint as yet. I fear I might not get these lads done in time, which means Squad #4 will have to be played just primed!
*SUCH SHAME, SUCH HORROR!!!*

For those keeping track, here is the updated Painting Chart:

My household has been suffering from recent seasonal colds and so forth, it's been fun (not) and I'm hoping it all clears up prior to next weekend. Hope you and yours are well out there!

It's All Greek to Me! (Part 6 - Infantry Squad #1 Complete!)

First post of 2025, and in January - a better start to the year than 2024. We have a new president here and half the state seems to be on fire. In January. Crazy times in California and I am somewhat apprehensive for what that means for the year to come. 

Last post I mentioned a planned game of Bolt Action with Densmol; well, that did not happen. My poor opponent and his wife were waylaid by some awful bug or something and so it has all been postponed until... March or some such. Being adults with responsibilities and jobs and his active social life means it's tricky to coordinate dates for gaming. So we'll see - watch this space.

But, the 2nd occurrence of Operation Sweetheart - the earliest Bolt Action event in the area is occurring Feb 8th and I've been tentatively given the go ahead to attend (Responsibilities allowing.) by the Fun Prevention Officer. This in turn has lit a tiny hobby-fire under my arse and so when I can find time, I've been able to continue painting my remaining Greek infantry and hey-presto (!), the first squad of 11 is done!

These minis are all by UK-based Great Escape Games and produced in a satisfying white metal. The sculpts themselves actually depict a squad of Evzones, historically tough men of the Mountain Divisions. The rules themselves don't really do much to reflect this aside from offering an option to make them a bit nastier in close combat, but seeing as that aspect of the game has been seriously nerfed in the new edition, it's not really worth paying points for. Still, I really like the Great Escape Games sculpting with lots of exaggerated facial features including satisfying big moustaches! 

Next up is the second or four squads of  infantry, another 11 men though this time some more 3D prints from Greece-based Studio Historia. Their past sculpts depicting Greek weapons teams were a breeze to paint up, so I'm hoping this lot won't take quite so long as the metal sculpts from this first squad?

The painting chart has been updated to reflect all this progress thusly:

So until next post (Where I hope to show the 2nd squad painted up.) - hope all are staying safe and well, 

- Dai