Inspiration and washers.

Progress, posters and a lesser known novel

Yesterday I managed to finish the goblins I was working on and their allies.It is a small force but sufficient for the skirmish or Portable Wargame games I want to play. Combined with the wolves/wargs them could form a bigger force for bigger games. I like the look and feel of Vendel Miniatures, their solidity and restrained fantasy feel

Whilst painting I was reflecting on what contributed to how I “see” the periods I game. For example for interwar gaming it is black and white, Pathe footage . For Middle Earth it has to be the poster below by Jimmy Cauty. I do really like the artwork of John Howe and many , many more but this was the poster I had up in my room during much of my teens and beyond. Framed I would put it up today.  For me it defines the look particularly of Gandalf .

I had others by the artist up too but this was the one. Have a look at his artwork he is a fascinating artist. Finally I was thinking also of novels that define a historical gaming period for me . For Napoleonic land warfare this is the novel I return to

If you don’t know it you are in for a wonderful adventure, go on treat yourself during the current days and get a copy.Finally, what artists and novels evoke the periods you game for you?

An antidote to extreme flitting

Last week saw me begin a number of figures for painting , for example the 54mm Ruslanders and then the 40mm semi flat sailors and Askari. Great enthusiasm turned to I couldn’t bear to continue. My tendency to butterfly flitting from project to project to the nth degree. I think on reflection it is a product of lockdown which seems to do odd things to folk and effect them differently. A general unsettled feeling and this has gone into my painting and to a lesser extent my solo gaming.

So a fight back began yesterday in the form of that cliche tiny tickable targets. This week I am only going a few figures that can be used for skirmish gaming or the Portable Wargame. It also means that I hopefully won’t get jaded so quickly. I began yesterday with some Vendel orcs/goblins and Olog Hai  trolls, enough for a few Portable Wargame units or for skirmishes.

The plan is to paint a few, game a little and so on. No great hobby adventures but tiny tickable targets. This way I hope to beat the listlessness and move forward. The second hobby target is to tweak the Portable Wargame fantasy rules a little. For example reflect the accuracy of hobbits when throwing stones or firing bows and their ability to move quietly and hide. 

Finally a shot of the current game set up as the action comes to a crucial point.

Concept Albums and same period ,different scales

In these lockdown days I have been musing on music as much as listening to it. One thing I have  been thinking about was the Concept Album. Perhaps they generate strong pro or anti feelings within you. For Some of us they were and are part of our musical diet. Today I have chosen one based upon the fantasy novel of the same name by Lord Dunsany. The album cover is very attractive and atmospheric and the musicians involved tell the story well.

Here is a link to some narration from Christopher Lee and Mary Hopkins singing 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uXibb9aU7y8

 Secondly as I set up the game below I thought about how I collect/ game Middle Earth in a number of scales- 28mm using Vendel , copplestone etc, 25mm using Minifigs Mythical Earth, 25mm Games Workshop which enables me to play against others more readily and a collection I started when the figures first came out around 17 or so years ago. Finally some 10mm figures for so skirmishes. What periods do you duplicate, if any?

The Shire invaded or The Portable Wargame , fantasy variant