Science Fiction Distraction - 28mm Troopers

Picked up this collection from CoW2021 (see below, a set of sci-fi troopers to battle beyond the asteroids - apologies for the distant shot but please trust me as closer-up they have an Oriental Samurai look): 

Team A will be pitched against (or with) Team B (see below, a funky street-punk feel to them IMHO. Apologies as I did not catch the manufacturer .. maybe GZG or Outland?)

They have been given the Army Painter spray undercoat treatment (see below, I am thinking about colour scheme - shiny metallic jumps to mind): 

As to rules Star Grunts, Traveller's Striker and Rogue Stars-Stargrave, as well as perhaps an excuse to crack open GDW Snapshot. Think I will use them to battle against my Cybermen and Daleks for started and perhaps StarGrunt .. although I spotted that they have their own figure ranged released!

Manufacturing Source Confirmed as: Ground Zero Games (GZG)  

Dropped into Gettysburg (15mm Fire and Fury - Second Edition)

Getting back to normal, of sorts. Popping by and catching up with some old friends at their wargame pad as they are refighting Gettysburg in 15mm using Second Edition Fire and Fury. It was good to get out and see some old friends and exchange pleasantries over "deadly and galling musketry" (see below, the Iron Brigade sitting atop a ridge blocking the way to Gettysburg town, while the Confederates mass for a charger):  

Part of the reason for the "waiting" was the massed Confederate artillery on the opposite ridge was waiting to "speak" to the Union Iron Brigade (see below, sitting under a massed artillery battery is one of the more unpleasant aspects of Fire and Fury. The jury was out with respect to the balance of artillery in the game rules, is certainly was "harsh" when three or more guns got together!):   

In this game Buford has a Cavalry brigade in the town of Gettysburg supported by regular line brigades "moving up in support". The town is certainly crammed with "Blue" (see below, Buford is wearing down the Rebels at a ratio of 2+:1 which is proving to be a thorn in General Lee's plans of operation):  

More worrying is the fact that the Union reinforcements have appeared and preparing a counterattack on the Rebels flank (see below, Buford's delaying tactic have worked a treat and there is no place to hide for the Confederates, it is either face massed musketry or face massed artillery and charging Union troops): 

The battle is still on Day One so there is all still to play for!

Note to Self: Useful Paint Conversion

 http://www.creativemodels.co.uk/paint_conversion.php/manufacturers_id/9

Beauty is in the "Eye of the Beholder"

This is a Black Tree Design "Evil Eye" which to me equates to a Second Edition D&D Monster Manual picture of a Beholder (see below, a ping pong table tennis ball with pin tacks sticking out of it and a "bitey" mouth on it): 

As they say, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder (and although it does not compare to the Fifth Edition pimped up larger model of the Beholder) and I like its rustic charm. The other nickname we gave it was "the purple people eater"! Time will tell on that one as you have to be fairly high level to be unfortunate enough to meet and greet one! 

Bucket List Item: Accomplished - Catan (The Settlers of)

It was bought, but yet to be played. Then it was played and really enjoyed (see below, the game I saw Chandler play in The Big Bang Theory and knew, just knew I had to play. Also note, the nearby "Nurgles" were an unrelated simultaneous painting project): 

Not only was it played, it was played over three generations. My son, his father (me) and the grand mother! It was enjoyed by all and .. even better .. there are expansions!

Five stars rating .. even though my son beat me!

The Armchair Dragoons Website - Well Worth a Visit

 https://www.armchairdragoons.com/

I have listened to their podcasts (they helped me through endless stints of DIY painting a large kitchen and for that I am forever grateful) and I am now a hooked and avid fan :) 

Lots of interesting unboxings on their web-site too (Fire Team caught my eye)!

Hoplite Stuff...

While rambling through the Web one day I found this: 

"We recreate and analyze historical hoplite warfare including the battle of Leuktra by using the awesome new steam game "Totally Accurate Battle Simulator"! Game Trailer: ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OuKjxAvD6w Alpha Sign-up: http://landfall.se/totally-accurate-b... For documentaries on classical antiquity check out this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list..."

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/awblog/the-value-of-simulating-ancient-battles/

So I decided to play about ... with a lot of 28mm hoplies and complete a set of Warlord Games 28mm hoplites I had hidden in a box .. the result was a lot of lining up of 28mm hoplites in various formations (see below, Spartan hoplites four deep - seen enfilade): 

A bunch of Greek (Spartan) boys in close shield wall self-protection mode (see below, seen head on - one long stretch of contiguous shields to pose and impenetrable wall  - this is the Mortal Gods size of forces, although no peltasts in sight): 

All my unpainted hoplites out on the table .. Athens (left) versus Sparta (right), with a few 'soft' slingers and 'peltasts' thrown in on the sides for goes measure - with an Athenian Strategos to the left hand side (see below, sorting out a dispute Ancient Greek style, Athens 4+ deep while Sparta is 3-4 deep): 

Now pool all these troops side by side (thinking Platea) and you have a eight rank deep mass of hoplites (see below, which gives a totally different perspective to a line of battle from than a four figure wide stand of hoplites in DBA .. one deep - moving this about is going to be a bit of a pain):  

Up close and personal - now that is going to be a very restricted view of the battle (see below, I also feared that they would fall over like dominoes - but they were quite solid and "locked together" - multi poses helping here):  

Next steps .. a spray can of primer and a bucket of dipping wash!