A Fond Farewell and Apology of Sorts

A recent comment made by Aaron aka Prufrock made me realize that I hadn't posted anything on this blog for a few months. Although I haven't painted or gamed anything since the previous post, I believe it was rude for me not to have posted something about why this was. Particularly as I've always received such warm and thoughtful comments from all of you. Anyway, I want to state for the record that I am doing well, but have pursued other interests - namely collecting (and wearing) armor, and more recently playing the guitar. In fact, I've sold off almost half of the figures I had - all to local gamers and friends, so I'll likely see the figures again in the future. Here's a picture of my two current interests.

The two new hobbies - together for the photo, but not in practice.

Again, I wish to apologize for pretty much "disappearing" from the blogosphere without an explanation. Maybe someday I'll get back in the "mood" for painting/gaming, until then I wish you all the best and thank you for the encouragement and interest in the past. Dean

Poseidon's Warriors - Play Tested

What's this?! A gaming post, seriously?! Yes, it is :) Anyway, with the help of my gaming buddy and retired AF Tactical Air Controller, Ted H. we finally got to play test Poseidon's Warriors written by John Lambshead. Ted brought over a fine sea mat and coastline terrain which suited the Channel Dash scenario rather well. Being our first time playing the rules we of course got a few things off - like not realizing until about turn 8 that the Operational phase passed back and forth between opposing fleet squadrons. We didn't use the Artillery rules and just concentrated on Ramming and Oar Strikes. We also didn't try out any of the Advanced Rules such as Corvus, Leaders and Towers, etc. The rules are very simple with very little chart referencing. Anyway, Ted won the battle as I failed my Morale check after my fleet's flagship had taken part in a second combat. Ted passed his Morale check having lost a quarter of his fleet.

Ted's fleet in nice line ahead formation at the start of the game. Those are his little islands on his nice sea mat.

Ted's fleet now mostly in line abreast formation - looking for a fight.

My fleet trying to figure out what to do with the islands in the channel.

Ted's fleet blocking access to the sea in line abreast. One of my trireme squadrons having turned 180 degrees away from the enemy.

Having "lured" Ted's fleet into the tighter confines of the channel behind the little islands, one of my trireme squadrons (top of the photo) has Rammed some of his triremes. The rules allow for bow rams to be fought simultaneously. My fleet flagship has also Rammed one of Ted's triremes. Ted suffered the worse and lost several of his triremes. My flag ship suffered one Hull point loss.

Another view of the turn with my triremes and flag ship Ramming some of Ted's ships.

My flag ship completing a successful Oar Strike against one of Ted's trireme - actually the sole-surviving one from the squadron which fought in the previous turn.

Here's where the battle turned. Two of Ted's Quadriremes were able to Ram my flag ship, which later failed its Morale save and ended the game.

 These rules are very fast playing, and with quite brutal combat resolution. I plan to try out the Artillery rules as well as some of the Advanced rules the next time.

Tosa Clan - Boshin War

Pardon my indulgence, but just a little goofing around with a pair of matching swords - katana and wakizashi, and a $6.00 synthetic "Tina Turner" wig standing in for a red yak haired Shaguma wig.

Haven't picked up a paint brush in a long time, but do plan on hosting a game soon. I may give Poseidon's Warriors a try - but need to find a couple of play-testers. I plan to just GM (i.e. read off the rules while they're being played by others). Anyway, here are a couple more shots of the Tosa guy.

The repro blades are unsharpened and can be used for practice, or for chasing Trick or Treaters away.

The painting below shows shaguma-wearing Tosa samurai at the Battle of Ueno Temple during the Boshin War.

A Boshin War period samurai with a yak hair wig - can't tell what color the hair is, but the Tosa's were red, the Chosu's white and the Satsuma's black.

And everyone's favorite samurai wearing one.

So much for now - apologies again for nothing new on the painting front.

Edit: added shot showing the katana and wakizashi - along with a tanto, tachi and bokken.

Also, an extremely rare Shaguma dog.

Ancients Rebasing and Reflection

Nothing new on the gaming or painting front, but just a bit of rebasing figures painted many moons ago. These are Redoubt Oscans/Samnites and also Foundry and 1st Corps Hypaspists. They were previously based as singles for WAB and the like. I was never happy with the way the Hypaspists were ranked up with their lunging and hurling spear poses. They looked way too tightly packed together. Since I don't like individual casualty removal, figured they're just as well be based more in an open order way. All of these figures are on 40mm Litko squares - three figures per base. As I only wanted six bases for the Hypaspists, the spares were put on a round command base with a spare standard bearer.

Close-ups of the Redoubt Oscan/Samnites.

The shield designs are a combination of LBMS transfers and free hand painting.

Next up the Foundry and 1st Corps Hypaspists. LBMS transfers are used. The standard has a decal from VVV.

The two makers work well together; the Foundry guys are bare-legged while the 1st Corps guys have greaves.

Again, all of these figures were painted a long time ago, but I don't think they were posted before on this blog - not close-ups anyway.

As far as gaming goes, I actually feel like a burden has been lifted off of my shoulders. At last month's Enfilade! convention I sold off a lot of figures - most of my WHFB Empire foot, all of my Napoleonic Russians and Prussians, all of the Old Glory Biblicals, and all of the WW1 French and Germans. I also made private sales of some of my Napoleonic British (Perry Coldstream Guards and Household cav, and OG 71st Highlanders), some of the French (all of the OG infantry and Front Rank Dutch Lancers and Chasseurs a Cheval) and also a fair number of my Ancients collection (all of the OG and 1st Corps Hoplites; the OG Gallic infantry, Gallic and Scythian cav, A&A Companion cav, and Spanish Scutarii). I had sold off a plastic EIR army as well as some Medieval and Dark Age cav at last year's con. As you may see, I've hyperlinked to images of the figures for my own future reference/regrets :). The pricing was low, but since everything was sold to folks in the local community I am quite content. So far, I have kept all of my Trojan War stuff, all of the Samurai and Choson Koreans, the Napoleonic Victrix and most of the Perry, most of the Foundry Macedonians (like these Hypaspists), all of the Medievals and Dark Age Normans and Saxons, as well as the F&IW, Meiji/RJW Japanese, Gladiator and WW2 stuff. I now feel more focused and may even start hosting some games again.

At Long Last, An Actual Gaming Post!

Just got back from the annual big historical gaming con here in the Pacific NW - Enfilade! I left after the Saturday morning period, and the con goes on until tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. I ran a First St Albans Lion Rampant game on Friday afternoon (image below).

Here are some of just a handful of the other games going on during the Friday afternoon and evening, as well as Saturday morning periods.

Watling Street by Alyssa Faden - Bear Yourselves Valiantly

Will Ragnarok Never Come by Damond Crump and Bruce Smith - Dragon Rampant

Primordial Stew by Mike Garcia - Tusk

Khalkyn Gol Manchukuo 1939 by Bruce Meyer - Combat

Hochkirch 1758 by Kevin Burke - Shako SYW Variant

Nile Circus by Mark Johanson - TSATF

Trafalgar 1805 by Dave Kapaun - Sails of Glory

For Parliament or King by Gary Williams - home grown rules

Lutzen 1631 by Kevin Burke - Europe's Tragedy published by DBA 3.0 adaptation

Java 1942 by Victor Pecka - Bolt Action. I played in this game on the side of the winning Japanese forces.

Guagamela 331 B.C. by Dave Beatty - Armati 2

Channel Dash - Air Attack by Kevin Smyth and Dave Shueler - Mustangs (modified)

Second Martian Invasion Begins by Daryl Nichols - All Quiet on the Martian Front

Samurai Japan vs. Korea 1592 by Rick Stevens, White Rock Gamers - Armati 2

Again these are from just a handful of the over 120 games going on over the Memorial Day Weekend at Enfilade! I'm sure they'll be a lot of images posted on the Northwest Historical Miniatures Gaming Society (NHMGS) FaceBook later on - which will include the games held on Saturday afternoon and evening, as well as Sunday's games.

Samurai Armor Display Stand for $20

Here's the recently acquired samurai armor displayed on a scratch-built stand. Using an inexpensive ($13.00), but sturdy end table from Walmart, along with left over PVC tubing and a few connectors the final product is quite effective.

This is the traditional way samurai armor is displayed - sort of a seated position. Of course, an armor storage chest is supposed to be what the armor is seated on, but I didn't want to spend $200.00 for it - however nice it was.

I could cover the PVC stand with black cloth, but the back will be against a wall and not be visible.

Not pretty, but cheap and sturdy. Did I say this is part of the Frugal Armoury? :)

The Barefoot Samurai Lives!

It's been quite a while since my last post, and with apologies this new one is not about painting or gaming. However, I am slated to host a Lion Rampant game at the annual big convention, Enfilade!, here in the Pacific NW in a couple of weeks. So without further ado, here is a set of samurai armor that arrived today. I only ordered it a little over two weeks ago from Little Star Enterprises, Inc. - the US retailer for Iron Mountain Armory.  The price is very reasonable and the quality impressive.

Unlike European Medieval armor, I was able to put the entire kit on by myself. The pieces are secured by tying straps and the use of toggles for do/cuirass and sode/spaulders.

The range of motion is as good as if no armor is worn.

All the parts of the armor laid out. I ordered the lowest grade (read cheapest) armor, but the armorer upgraded parts like the haidate/cuisse and kote/armored sleeves for free. The menpo/face mask is one piece - the higher grades have the nose detachable. It's spot welded, so I may try to separate it.

I shortened the laces of the kusazuri/tassets by tying the laces together on the inside. I plan to modify the straps for the haidate/cuisse so they are worn like suspenders instead of being tied around the waist. I may also add ties to the back of them too, to keep them from flapping around while moving.

The nodawa/throat guard is laced to the menpo - so it's all or nothing with the face and neck guard.

Batter up!

Cheers from the Frugal Armory!

War Hammer Refurbished

Finished refurbishing the war hammer. I used some metal epoxy to secure the head and butt cap onto the handle. Since it was a snug fit, and it's mainly a display piece, this should be no problem.

I nailed brass tacks into the epoxy to cover the holes and make it look like they're fancy topped rivets.

After removing the original finish with Citristrip, I rubbed down the handle with Old English furniture oil. Don't know why they painted the handle, as the grains are pretty nice.

A timeless piece. Cheers from the Frugal Armoury!