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...

Old Skool Chainmail game....

I played in an old school Chainmail game today at Glenn Wilson's house.  I played the Orcs/goblins and Joe Collins' playing the dwarfs.  Joe set up a defensive position while I went on the attack.  My first group of goblins broke from close combat against dwarf spearmen.  They routed off the board.  My second group of goblins took casualties from bow fire.  I had them fall back when they reached 50% strength.  They also eventually routed off the board at the end of the game.  My archers managed to wipe out a unit of dwarf axemen.  While my orc heavy infantry took out the dwarf spearmen before running into a were-bear.  My orc heavy infantry went berserk and killed the were-bear.  They reformed as the dwarf bowmen charged my heavy orc archers.  The dwarfs lost the combat and routed into the orc heavy infantry to be wiped out to a man. 

I was only left with two orc units and a marginal orc victory for controlling the game board.  End of story...

Current and future projects...

I made a concerted decision to completely sell off most of 28mm, 15mm, and 6mm scale collections.  I had to much stuff for a one bedroom apartment.  I kept my 28mm Franco-Prussian War armies and 28mm American War of Independence forces (NIB). 

The next thing I did was determine what I'd do after that.  I simplified things by keeping everything in one scale.  I'm staying with 28mm figures.  I would have liked to have done 15mm Great Pacific War.  However, I'd have to buy 15mm Hispanic terrain to go with the armies. 

Maybe later, much later.  Like five years down the road....  LOL.

I did talk to friends.  I'd planned to build two 28mm Macedonian Successor Kingdom armies for Neil Thomas' Ancient and Medieval Wargaming rules.  I have 28mm Foundry Greek command.  I'll fill in the rest with 25mm Old Glory next December 2019. 

I have entire 28mm British, Hessian, and Continental plastic armies to assemble and paint.  It will take most of the next eighteen months to complete.  The rules set I'm using is British Grenadier.  The Great Pacific War would be modified They Died For Glory.  Those are my plans, so far....

Blake

Liquidating most of my 28mm figure collections....

I'm in the process of liquidating most of my 28mm figure collections.  What remains is 28mm British Colonials.  I'm not sure after this week what will remain.  The 15mm SYW and 6mm Angolan/South African micro-armor has also been spoken for.  If you're interested in any of the remaining figures, please email me at blakewoodwalker@gmail.com

Thanks,
Regards,
Blake Wood Walker

Review of Dave Schafner's 28mm ACW Muskets and Tomahawks

I played in Dave Schafner's 28mm ACW Muskets and Tomahawks game several weeks ago at Miniature Market's retail shop here in St. Louis, MO.  I ran two 12 man Union green regular infantry regiments.  Craig Ackerman (Rusty Musket) ran two 10 man regular Confederate infantry regiments. 

The 28mm ACW rules are a variant of Muskets and Tomahawks.  It's a specific card driven system where you can get both movement cards for both sides.  I found this rather confusing.  The Sword and The Flame is also card driven.  However, everything happens in a specific order.  There's a Movement, Fire, Close Combat, and then a Morale phase. 

Dave's 28mm ACW house rules handles movement, or fire, or reloading.  Everything is based on D6s.  Morale test happen as the unit needs to test.  Because of the randomness of the card play, you never know when your movement card for a particular unit might be played.  I didn't see the point in playing enemy movement cards to confuse the enemy.  Dave Schafner loved it. 

Part of the problem was there was too many players on a 4' x 8' table to maneuver.  That was out of the question.  It then became a question of a slaughter-fest as troops got in range of rifled muskets.  Craig Ackerman (Rusty Musket)rolled outstanding.  His command was eventually liquidated.  The Union left center was gone by the end of the game.  I would take a casualty, roll morale, and fall back.  This happened most of the game.  I did inflict casualties on the Rebels, however, because of my large 12 man regiments. 

You could also burn command figures for extra morale and firing effects, depending on the command figure.  Another example of the "GW reroll" mentality that now pervades historical gaming.  The game ended in bloody draw with not much being determined other another massacre of figures...

I do like 28mm ACW.  It's been a long time since I played it.  Most of my 15mm ACW experience has been as a Union commander playing Fire and Fury.  I played 28mm Brother vs. Brother when I lived in Ames, IA at Iowa State Wargamers Guild.  Craig and I agreed not to playtest 28mm ACW Muskets & Tomahawks again.  Neither one of us liked it.  If there had only been two players aside and room for maneuvering, I would have liked it better. 

However, Mr. Schafner isn't the only one guilty of that.  Many of my scenarios had too many troops and not enough terrain for maneuvering.  That is something I'm trying to rectify in future gaming scenarios....

Blake 

I'm still alive...

Yes, I'm still alive.  I haven't been online for two months.  Now, I am.  However, I've got to liquidate most of my gaming collections to come up with cash.  This only good to those around the St. Louis metro area.  I can't afford to ship the number of 28mm scale figures and 6mm South African and Angolan micro-armor outside of the local area. 

Here is what I have:

28mm Figures:

28mm Colonial:
250 1880s Dervishers (primed)
100 1882 British infantry
380 1879 Zulu infantry

28mm Japanese/Koreans
250 Japanese samurai
150 Royal Korean army

Modern/Vietnam Era
90 Viet Cong infantry
36 US Marine infantry
32 ARVN Rangers
4 M113s (ARVN)
2 US Marine Sea Knights

6mm Scale Modern
1.33 1:1 scale Angolan Micro-Armor Battalion (two companies of BTR-60 and two companies of T-55s)

1.33 1:1 scale South African Micro-Armor Battalion (two companies of motorized infantry, one company of mechanized infantry and 1 MBT company)

Prices:
28mm:  $1.00 per figures, $5.00 per vehicle, including case and foam.  Everything painted except where indicated.

6mm:  $300.00 for entire lot, including sabol bag and foam.  Everything painted, based, and flocked for FFoT, III.

If interested anything, please email me at blakewoodwalker@gmail.com

Thanks,
Regards,
Blake Wood Walker

WIP, 15mm Native Americans and 15mm SYW Prussian infantry brigade, 23APR18

                                          WIP, 15mm Native Americans with various weapons

                                         WIP, 15mm SYW Prussian infantry brigade.

Selling of my Warmachine and WH40K armies....

I selling off my WH40K and Warmachine armies. The reasons are two fold. I'm into way too many periods for my own good. I decided to take the plunge and buy several hundred dollars worth of 28mm American Revolutionary War for use with British Grenadier.

I've been progressively getting rid of things. I'm keeping my 28mm Darkest Africa/British Colonials, 28mm Franco-Prussian War, 28mm Samurai/Koreans, 28mm Vietnam, and 15mm SYW.

In addition to the new Space Hulk game I still have in shrink wrap. I also have an entire unused 6mm Angolan and South African micro-armor waiting to be bloodied. With the American Revolutionary War stuff, that's enough to keep me occupied for quite a while...

Regards,

Blake Wood Walker

End of March 2018 reading...

Here's what I've read so far this past week:

1)  The Coldest Winter:  America and the Korean War.  More about Chairman Mao and his rise to power in post-WWII China....

2)  Poets by Cindy Fendel.  Noir murder mystery set in 1947 LA.  There's a screenplay inside the story.

3)  Blood Will Flow.  More Viking adventures in 11 century Norway between the pagan Norse and King Olaf the Christian.

4)  The Sea Devil by Sam Jefferson.  More about Count von Luckner's adventures in the Atlantic Ocean.

5)  The Legend of Drizzt:  Volume Two by R.A. Salvatore.  Drizzt gets involved in a barbarian uprising to crush the townspeople of Icedale.  He gets the crap beaten out of him in the process.

6)  To Guard Against the Dark by Julie E. Czerneda.  Jason Morgan and his wife, Sira, are finally together aboard a starship headed towards Trade Pact space with their friends....

WIP,, 22MAR18, Photos

Here are photos of WIP, 22MAR18 on the painting and assembling queue:

                                           WIP, 15mm Native Americans, 22MAR18.  Base coats completed.

                                          WIP, 30mm GW Phoenix Guard, 22MAR18.

                                          WIP, 28mm Palm Trees, 22MAR18, Assembled.

                                          WIP, 30mm WH40K Chaos Marines commission, assembled.

                                                    WIP, 30mm WH40K Plague Marines and Vehicles, Assembled.

Mid-March 2018 reading....

I didn't get much reading accomplished this week.  I did finish Swords of Good Men.  See previous blog postings for more details and a complete review....

Swords of Good Men by Snorri Kristjansson

Author:  Swords of Good Men.
Title:  Swords of Good Men.
Publisher:  Jo Fletcher Books.
Copyright:  2013.
Pages:  256.

Overview and Impressions:
This historical fantasy book about Vikings was fun.  It took me a while to get into it.  However, once it started, I enjoyed it.  Set in 11th century Norway, two Vikings must put down those who'd still fight for the old pagan gods.  In the process, they meet the gods and their interweaving plots as they kill one of the sister spinners of fate.  Rather bloody piece of writing, but still good rollicking fun.

Recommended.

WIP, 11MAR18

Here are photos of some WIP, 11MAR18:

                                          Completed 30mm GW Fantasy Figures, 11MAR18.

                                          WIP, 15mm Native Americans, 11MAR18.

Early March 2018 reading: part II

Here are some of the books I've read this past week:

1)  The Coldest Winter:  America and the Korean War.  More fighting leading up the invasion of the Yalu River.

2)  The Sea Devil by Sam Jefferson.  More about Count Luckner and his early days at sea.

3)  The Legend of Drizzt:  Volume II by R.A. Salvatore.  More adventures involving Drizzt.  This time, mainly background info....

4)  To Guard Against the Dark by Julie E. Czerneda.  More Clan/Trade Pact interactions in human space.