Snow cancelled show.

I was planning to go to overlord in Abington today , my first war show of the year but yesterday I found out that the weather had taken its toll and the show was cancelled. I always enjoy it as it's a small but but friendly show where I can pick up a few bits and pieces and  spend a good half day perusing.

The next show I could well attend would have been the wmms in a couple of weeks but my two young lads are doing a walk for the cubs and Beavers and I've being been roped in to do the walk as well. 

The latest pack of cattlemen finished are pack 88 mounted cattlemen with Pistols.

The horses for both this pack and the following pack 89 were all sprayed together using Mournfang Brown from games Workshop. Different shades of washes and mixtures were applied to give a variation of colour which is not so visible in the pics.

 

Hoping to spend a couple of hours outside in the painting den today and get the next batch of cattlemen finished. Then on to a couple of wagons and a stagecoach.

Thanks for dropping by.

Newbury show loot

Yesterday meant a trip to Colours at Newbury racecourse. I had no idea as to my wants apart from a few packs of cowboys from Peter pig. 

After spending the best part of the day there, along with my eldest boy, I came back with the following loot.

At the back at two PSC 15mm kits,
on the right British Universal Carriers. (9 models, 6 versions, 2 & 3 inch mortars, Vickers 50 cal, armoured observation post & 2 types of wasp flame throwers).
On the left German sdkfz 231 armoured car (5 models,3 versions, 232 radio, 233 Stummel or 263 command version)

Warbases: 5 packs of 15mm stargaze 962 scifi buildings, a landing pad, a double pod, a double pod plus 1 and a generator and control tower. I was impressed by the range and look forward to getting a few more of these packs from the range ( once I've seen how they paint up).

The landing pack constructed.

Also bought were a few packs from GZG. A couple of packs of Kra'vak heavy armour warriors and pack of Xar grab discs.
And finally a 15mm hover vehicle from brigade games.

I enjoyed the show though I didn't really look at any of the games. A good turnout of traders with some new company's I'd not come across before. Blotz was one and I was impressed with a lot of their mdf kits both 15 and 28mm.
All in all a good show made better as I did sell a couple of items on the b and b that covered most of my spend.

Thanks for stopping by.

Colours purchases.

Well it's been over a week since Colours and it's time I should have posted some pics of my loot.

It's a bit of a mix but like a lot of us guys I have a lot of projects on the go.

 First we have some PSC 15mm British 25pdrs & Quad Tractors and a box of German medium trucks along with a spray can of British Khaki.

Next we have some bits for Frostgrave. A box of Northstar Gnolls and some Reaper Miniatures, 2 Gnolls and a Great Worm.

Finally we have some PeterPig figures and bases. There are a few packs of WW2 British Paras to complete the options for my next project to start (hopefully next month). Also in the picture are some newly released WW2 Russian special forces - bought on impulse.

Anyway thanks for taking a look and I hope to have a few pics on here of my 15mm US Cavalry in the next week or so.

Cheers

Off to colours

I'm off to Colours shortly. I'll be bring son no.2 ( my youngest) with me for his first show. He's all excited about it but I think it's more to do with the pack lunch he's taking! 

I've not spent much on the hobby this year but have saved up my pounds instead and hopefully will be getting a few bits today.  

Valhalla show

I had a good run down to Farnborough this morning with only a little traffic on the M3.  The show was small but with a nice mix of traders and a few games.

My lad got a bargain on the bring and buy (3 boxes of figures for £5.50) and I managed to pick up a couple of items.

On the left is as pack of 4ground Daldorr Columns. The box is a new release  from Ironclad Miniatures, a steam powered helicopter. And a lonely pot of paint.

Only downside was after I've got the car and was walking to the parking metre I noticed my car key was bent and it look like I wouldn't be getting home. I managed 2 straighten out the key somewhat and was able to open the car and start the engine and then turn it off and lock the car. We went into the show for a couple of hours but it's funny how something like this can play on your mind while trying to have some fun.
Anyway we managed to drive home albeit in traffic on the M3 and M25. At least I had a spare key when I got home so sorted for work tomorrow morning.

Thanks for stopping by

Valhalla

Off to Farnborough's Valhalla show in the  morning with my eldest lad for a father's day treat. A nice smaller show. 

I haven't got s list of wants but hope to get a few bits and pieces. Maybe the Katy ambulance from Ice Cold in Alex.

Overlord show - Abingdon. Swag

I spent a couple of hours at Abingdon's Overlord show this afternoon with my eldest boy.  We made a b-ine for the bring and buy and picked up some reasonably priced 40k plastic figures for my lad. We had a good look at the traders and a few of the games. I came back with a few items, a couple of new snow trolls from EMP Games, a forgotten Realms ruin and a few 28mm figures from Hero's of the Dark Age. They had some really nice fantasy/adventurers figures just right for a Frostgrave warband - shame they forgot to bring some of the stock with them !

As usual thanks for stopping by.

Warfare

 I spent a few hours at Warfare on Sunday. I did a couple of circuits of the traders and had a look through the bring & buy before making a purchase. It was only after I left I'd realised I hadn't been to the second hall and looked at the games!

As for the purchases:

 A couple more of 4Grounds Fabled Realms ruins, some broken columns, a pack of Frostgrave Undead, a couple of Ground Zero Games walkers for my Crusties and a pack of some Alien creatures with what looks like a shell on their backs (again from GZG).

Almost forgot a bunch of very nice 28mm barbarians, adventures and Chaos foot soldiers all from Battlezone Miniatures

Thanks for taking a look.

Colours @ Newbury

I had a day out at the races today - well Colours at Newbury racetrack to be precise. I took my eldest boy along and he bought a bargain from the bring and buy, 42 figures for a fiver. Most were ok, some were painted but he was happy. Well he is 7!
I got my self some frostgrave rules and figures and a few other little bits.

The show was busy at first but the afternoon was a bit quieter and easier to get around. I enjoyed the day and glad the show was back on the calendar.

Warfare - Reading (no camera, no photo's)

This morning I made the trip to Reading for the Warfare show. I prefer Sunday to go as it less busy, easy to park and the parking is cheaper.

The show always has a good amount of traders but this year there seemed to be less demonstration/participation games. I had a good time though I felt let down by Peter Pig who I'd assumed would be there for both days but I was told that at the end of yesterday they packed up. I had a list of AWI French that I wanted but instead I spent most of that money with Ground Zero Games. I also picked up some 15mm bits from PSC, the Royal Navy Crew from NorthStar along with some paints etc.

A good show as usual.

Tank Museum trip

I decided to combine taking the oldest lad, Regan, to the Tank Museum and a visit to a wargames show today and with a 5 hour round trip we went to Bovington. Regan had a great time finding out about tanks and how big they were and he came home with some more soldiers. Me - I too come home with some loot.

Just a few photo's of the day - the rest Regan wanted to be in.

A great D-day game

And now a few pictures of the main attractions.

My loot - a  PSC Panzer III, a couple of packs of Ainsty Castings (for my next project and  some paint.



A great place for a show to be held though the traders seem to be down on the last time I went 6 or so years ago.



Salute Haul

It's been 3 years since my last visit to Salute and it seemed to be bigger. I entered the hall about 11.45 and the bags and free figures had just gone but there was no queue.

There were so many traders to see and as I didn't know I was able to go until that morning I didn't have a plan or shopping list. This meant less time to look at games, though what I did see looked good. I did stop off and chat to one of the gamers from the Jersey Privateers Games Club. They had a nice 15mm WW2 game with FOW miniatures and some lovely scenery. Good effort and nice chaps (though I'm biased as I'm and islander myself).

As for the haul here it is

Apart from the obvious there are a couple of extra vehicles for the NSL and a couple of packets of extra troops for the GZG NAC I painted earlier this year.

Overall I enjoyed the show and was impressed with the amount of traders though some of them need more space (Empress for example) and there seemed to be space available. My only gripes would be that the light in the hall was poor and I was amazed to see that the parking fee had nearly doubled in 3 years to £15 (criminal).

Overlord loot

I had a busy week so am only just getting around to posting about the show.

I came home a little disappointed, not with the show, but with my lack of purchases.

I bought two cans of Warlord Games sprays - black from an independent trader at £6.75 and dark yellow from Warlord Games at £10.00 ....... erm bit of a difference there !

I found a couple of bargains on the bring & by - a couple of bags of Peter Pig bases at a £1 each and a pack of 15mm Aliens for £4. And lastly I came across some part painted 15mm winter sci-fi figures on a traders table, 31 figures for £8.

Here's a couple of pictures of the figures.

 Not sure of the make - if you have any ideas I would be please to hear.

The alien pack contained the 6 minion types you can see in the middle and the queen at the back and two multi-part figures in the bag at the front. Not sure of the queens pose but should be easy to change as it's only lightly glued.

As usual thanks for taking the time to look and for any comments you leave.

Dan

Overlord

This Sunday I'll be off to Overlord with the eldest boy to see what we can spend daddy's hard earned money on. Regan wants some star wars figures and me I'm not sure as yet, maybe something from Crooked Dice.

It's a nice little show with a nice mix of games and traders.

Colours

I had a great time at Colours today and picked up  most of what I had in mind.

The two boxes of Perry's were my birthday present from the wife (been waiting since April).

I bought a box of PSC 15mm US infantry & a box of M3 Half tracks, a box of Northstar's IHMN Scotland Yard along with 10 packs of Peter Pigs AWI range.

And my little boy was so good he ended with 3 bags of Starwar figures

Sanwar warriors with Jezzails

I've had a slow week on the painting front with only a couple of figures done.

Last weekend I made the rocky outcrop based on a description on another blog (my apologies I can't remember who's but thank you). It was made using bark (as behind) and thick lump of polystyrene, watered down PVA glue over it all and then slightly thinned down filler on top. Painted with a mix of GW & Vallejo paints and washes.



I'm off to colours tomorrow with a long list of wants so I'll have to see how far my cash will stretch. I post some pics of my purchases soon and hopefully a few pics of the show.

I'm having my little 5 year old in tow and I'm hoping he'll let me have a good browse (I've bribed him with some soldiers of his own - Star wars if he's really lucky).

Tank Museum wargames weekend or Beer Festival ??

Well I made my mind up - the beer festival. As it's a lovely day and Haddenham's Beer Festival is only a 10 minute drive away (for the wife) it wins against a 122 miles (2 hour) drive each way in loads of beach traffic.
But what about tomorrow, it's a two day show I hear, two much beer and then again I wouldn't get away with both days for me at the weekend.
I'll wait for some blog reports.
Happy drinking and a lovely day to you all.

Valhalla

I popped down to Valhalla in Farnborough on Sunday for the first time in at least 15 years.
I took my 5 year old along for a treat and he was a good boy all day and his reward was 2 bags of Star Wars plastic figures. He had to have a play as soon as we got home.
For myself I came back with a mass of Ironclad Miniatures. I was planning to pick up British Naval Brigade Boarding Party packs (BR05,06 & 12) and maybe a steam tank. I came home with the 3 packs above, 2 tanks (Steam05 medium tank  & Steam 06a 4 wheeled armoured car) and I liked the painted up Sanwar so much I bought a pack of nearly the whole range. There was also a great character range but I mange to resist all but one - Phileas with steam powered claws.
I undercoated the boarding party last night and need to get started on them ASAP.

 undercoated and waiting

The purchases