Shield Wall

No posts for the last couple of weeks because I have been enjoying the sunny climate of Orlando, FL, and the general madness of Disney. I have, however, continued to post entries in the Lead Painters League, having been painting like a furious monkey prior to going away. Week six saw me post something a little different, namely a dark ages shield wall. I am not generally a player of historical war games (VBCW being something of a exception, because it is part-fictional and part fact based) but I really enjoyed an article in Wargames Illustrated which described making a scenic base for you figures, and fancied giving it a go. I love the Gripping Beast Saxons, and as I am a big fan of Bernard Cornwall's Warlord Chronicles trilogy, I thought why not?

I know me old pal Leon was a bit suspicious of the Saxons. Perhaps it's because he's half Finish, so there for something of a Viking himself, or perhaps he thinks I will be lured away to the dark side of historical wargaming. Anyway, he needn't worry, because although I enjoyed painting these guys, I think I have got it out of my system, for now at least.

I have painted them to represent a mixture of Pagan and early Christan Britons, circa 5-6th century (the so called Age of Arthur). I know they might not be historically accurate, but I don't care that much. I based them individually on the usual 20mm bases, but then made a scenic tray 11cm x 6cm, which is an odd size, but happens to be the size of the unit bases in Games Workshops War of the Rings. I figured if I ever get round to painting up more I could use that rules set, and it has the added advantage of giving me loads of room to artistically pose my miniatures on the base.

Anyway, I hope you like them. I really enjoyed making and painting them.

Evil Clowns!

Every villain needs henchmen. That is just one of those facts of life. They are going to need some nameless lackey to do their leg work: robbing computer components; engaging in theft to finance the villains operation; building and maning their secret lair, and obviously battling superheroes (or at least just long enough for the villain to make his escape).

All that most henchmen need, by way of a return, is access to high-tech military hardware, and a snazzy uniform. Some villains go for jump-suited thugs, others for robbed cultists. Only the deeply disturbed villain goes for the one thing almost guaranteed to strike terror into the hearts of good and honest people: Evil Clowns!

These Evil Clowns have been given access to some serous hardware, in the hopes they might soften up the heroes enough for their boss to take them out. These minis are made by Black Cat Bases, and I painted them for the Lead Painters League competition.

I was acutely aware that I have been blogging a lot about VBCW of late, and so thought to readdress the issue by doing tome thugs and henchmen.

I am very scared of clowns, and thought that painting these fellows might be in some way cathartic, but alas, as these are clearly evil clowns, it has only served to reinforce my previous stereotypical ideas of evil clowns.

It was something of a relief to paint bright primary colours since most of the things I have been paining of late have been drab camouflage green or muted 1930's colours.

Manchester Regiment

The Very British Civil war of 1938, like all civil wars, turned brother against brother. This was also true of the regular and territorial army, which, torn between loyalties to the people of Britain and to an unpopular King and a fascist government, found itself split between the various factions.

By an large, the Royal Navy sided with the left wing militias of the dock yards, where as the RAF tended to side with the Royalist factions supporting King Edward. The army, however, found itself torn apart. In Liverpool, the King's Own Liverpool Regiment was ordered to shoot on anti-fascist protesters who refused to disperse. The officers refused to follow out the order, and soon the majority of the regiment was in full mutiny, and sided with the socalist mayor of Liverpool. This act lead directly to the formation of the Liverpool Free State.

The Manchester Regiment, however, remained loyal to the crown, despite misgivings about the fascist Prime Minister and his black-shirt BUF paramilitaries. The Manchesters now fight as part of the 'Northern Army Command'. They are currently on the front lines of the siege of Liverpool, or acting as flying columns maintaining the supply lines between Manchester and the troops fighting in merseyside and Cheshire.

Two companies of Manchesters have been garrisoned in Chester, and placed under the command of the Duke of Farnham. The represent the solid backbone of the defence of Chaster, and when the time comes, will be ready to take the fight to the Liverpool Free State.

These models are the plastic Tommy's produced by Bolt Action Miniatures/Warlord Games. They are nice models, with interesting and characterful faces. I converted a few to have their respirators in the 'ready position' to make them look a bit more early-war.

Operation Rat Catcher Battle Report (Part 1)

Operation Rat Catcher began as a reconnaissance in force of Thaunton le Moors, North of Chester, when the BUF Forces under the command of Captain Webster, ran into stiff resistance from the Wirral Socialist Volunteers. You can read a full, in depth narrative battle report at the Gentleman's Wargaming Parlor (GWP3);

Here's a Link.