Mid-May 2019 reading...

I finished up A History of Ancient Egypt:  Volume II by John Romer.  Started several new books this week.  First one, Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle, an alternative history where America lost WWII written in 1962. 

The second fiction book is The Protectors:  A Thriller by Trey Dowell, friend and fellow St. Louis author.  Realistic super-hero novel.  Just started that.

My nonfiction is Anthony Beevor's Arnhem:  The Battle of the Bridges.  It was hard to get started.  Difficult subject because of the brutality of the combat.  My dislike of Nazis is apparent, even to me.  Don't deal with apologists for the Third Reich well...

Blake Wood Walker 

Getting back into WH40K. Or am I truly certifiable?

My younger sibling gave me a painted 30mm WH40K Harelquin army for my birthday on 14MAR19.  Also got a Killer Space Clown and Gene Stealer Cult Codexes from him, too.

That' was extremely thoughtful of him.  However, Barry only plays WH40K.  Namely Chaos, Thousand Sons and Khorne World Eaters.

Like a returning crank addict, I went ahead and bought the 8th edition WH40K rules, Sisters of Battle and Blood Angel Codexes, terrain, battle mat, and a 1,500 point 30mm WH40K Sisters of Battle army (metal).  The cost of which, almost caused my heart to stop. 

WH40K has gotten expensive. 

So has most wargaming.  I was forced to liquidate a lot of my historical collection last year, when I moved to a new place because of space limitations.  This spring, I went ahead and replaced my 28mm British Colonials and 28mm Macedonian Successor armies.  Also added a 28mm 1859 Austrian Infantry division in addition to the 28mm AWI British and American forces I have for British Grenadier!

Then as Hostile Contact warned me, there are GW prices. 

Ugh.  Have I became a cheap historical wargamer? 

Don't mind spending money on armies.  But I can't afford to keep up with GW.  I like the rules and the fluff.  I'm so anal that I think the pictures in codex are the WAY these Sci-Fi armies are SUPPOSED to be painted.  Anyway, I've two years of painting for 28mm AWI to do before I get around to painting my 30mm WH40K Nuns with Guns. 

Still want to replace my 30mm WH40K Blood Angels and dabble in a 30mm 1500 point WH40K Gene Stealer Cult army.  Thought I'd purchase one army a year.  Blood Angels next spring and Gene Stealer Cult in 2021.  Makes the financial pain less stressful, than dropping two car payments at once!

Regards,
Blake Wood Walker     

WIP, 28mm AWI British Grenadier Battalion 08MAY19

Here's a WIP, 28mm AWI British Grenadier Battalion, 08MAY19 photo:

                                          WIP, 28mm AWI British Grenadier Battalion, 08MAY19.

WIP, 28mm American War of Independence British Infantry Brigade, 30APR19

Photos of WIP, 28mmm AWI British Infantry Brigade, 30APR19:

                                         WIP, 28mm AWI British Infantry Brigade, 30APR19.

                                          WIP, 28mm AWI Continental Infantry Brigade, 30APR19.

New Year, new post....

I've gotten situated in my new flat.  Now in a position to continue my wargaming blog....

Currently working on 28mm AWI British line infantry and 28mm AWI British light infantry battalions for British Grenadier.  This project for the Battle of Freeman's Farm (1st Saratoga) will be taking up most of my painting time for the next two years. 

Bought some new music to get me into a painting mood.  Namely classical like Bruckner's Symphony No. 5 and Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.  Also bought replacement 28mm armies for British Colonials (namely Sudan and South Africa), 28mm 1859/1866 Austrian infantry division for Chassepot and Needlegun, and some 30mm WH40K Sisters of Battle force. 

That should keep me busy for a while...

Also have small amount of commission work in the form of a 25mm Ral Partha British Naval Brigade, 25mm Ral Partha British Gatling, and 25mm Ral Partha Afghan weapon sprues, too.

Regards,
Blake Wood Walker 

Going off-line for a while

I'm going off-line for a while.  Probably about two years.  I have new expenses with a new apartment.  And I can't afford internet right now for my laptop.  So, I'm putting all my blogs into hiatus for the foreseeable future.  It's been fun.  However, I'll still have personal and professional email accounts if you need to get a hold of me online. 

Thanks,
Regards,
Blake Wood Walker
St. Louis, MO
USA

Counting the cost....

Unfortunately, I sold off my entire 28mm British colonial/darkest Africa, 28mm Samurai/Koreans, 15mm SYW, and 6mm 1980s Angolans/South Africans in order to pay bills.  The only things I have left are 28mm Mongols, 28mm Franco-Prussian War, and 28mm American War of Independence. 

I also got rid of my WH40K armies, too.  I also sold off my Warmachine armies, too.  Not that I have room for all those figures.  I had to downsize.  It was only a matter of when. 

Part of me would like to reminisce about what I got rid of.  However, my most immediate project is 28mm American Revolutionary War.  Most of which is plastic.  That's for British Grenadier. 

I'm also looking at doing two small 28mm Macedonian Successor Kingdom armies for Neil Thomas's Ancient and Medieval Wargaming Rules.  Those will be my historical armies. 

I'd like to put together 2.000 points of Blood Angels Assault force for WH40K eventually.  I'll just have one WH40K army and some Kill Zone forces from the boxed set, too.  I've been reading too much WH40K novels recently.  It's rekindled my interest in WH40K.  Right now, I'm reading Ciaphas Cain:  Hero of the Imperium by Sandy Mitchell. 

I have also have schizophrenic delusions of 15mm Great Pacific War, 1879-1884 using They Died For Glory.  Maybe, some other time down the road...