Blogging v social media?

It's been a while since I updated the blog, I think due to a couple of reasons. Firstly I have been battling a bout of the old Black Dog/Winter Blues alongside a chest infection that has taken a long time to clear and has got me down. Secondly I have been pondering if my frequent updates consisting of endless photos of commission painting with very little actual wargaming content is the reason for the steady decline in page views here over the past six months or so. In order to publicise my painting service - which is now primarily focused on Warlord Epic figures - I have been posting around numerous social media Facebook groups and the response has been something of a revelation to me. The numbers of likes and comments far exceeds the blog but at the same time I am very attached to my old blog and indeed grateful for all of the support that has really helped me in my battle with Depression and Anxiety over the years. Upshot is that I'll post less frequently here and try to focus more on my own projects with some additional content featuring some of the commission work. 

I'm pretty well focused on the recently discovered 3mm ranges and have further plans for new armies, more of that in a bit. What I'm aiming for are a series of 'Card Table Battles' in 3mm scale, beginning with DBA. One of the major advantages of the small scales is that you can really go to town (sorry!) on the terrain, something that really interests me. 

I now have 4 DBA armies finished in 3mm, and while I have been tempted to add a fourth, a Spartan army, I have made up my mind to go for the English Civil War using the lovely figures by Magister Militum. The plan is for foot regiments of around 100 figures, 32 pike, 64 muskets plus command, all based 4 strips deep in bases 70mm wide x 25mm deep. I think this will look pretty close to contemporary illustrations and could look quite colourful with the different units in various coat colours etc. First figures are on order from MM and I expect to be able to make quite fast progress using the same painting style as on the ancients which have been basically based up and painted as blocks, picking out what's visible from a flat black base coat.

The Early Imperial Romans and Celts have already featured here as have the Carthaginians so here are the Polybian Roman opponents. What you see are the Veteran Triarii  (spears)at the rear with the Principes and Hastati (Blades) to their front with skirmishing Velites in front. Two bases of cavalry complete the army, one being the Generals element. 

The classic encounter, Rome v Carthage.

I did the test base of Spartans, and I will get round to doing the full 12 elements. Could not help but be reminded of the cover of the classic rock album 'Argus' by Wishbone Ash recorded 50 years ago and still on my regular playlist. I first them at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1977 and they do still tour, albeit getting on a bit now!

Lots of mini Elephants!

It's OK, I'm not really losing the plot just finishing off my 3mm Carthaginian army for DBA with two elements of tiny beasts. Much as I love 15mm elephants a single beastie never quite cuts it in the same way as a herd of the things does it? So 20 models rampaging towards the Roman lines who can only throw out a screen of Velites to chuck javelins at them (Psiloi can't be killed by Elephants in DBA!). 

In DBA terms this army comprises:  3 bases of heavy infantry (Sp), 3 bases of fast warband Guals - Wb), 1 base of auxiliaries (Ax), 1 base of skirmishers (psiloi, probably Spanish slingers - Ps.), a base of Light horse (LH) a base of cavalry with general  (Cav/Gen) and the two bases of elephants (El.).

What I like is that when you take a step back it does look more like a massed army than 15mm or 28mm figure ever can when playing DBA? I'm now working on the Polybian Roman opponents, very much a blade based army with some spears. That said I do still like the 15mm versions too and so I'm just about to start both Roman and Carthaginian armies in this scale too, simply because I love painting them!

Before I moved on I knew I had to do something about the 16 Hoplite mercenaries for the 15mm Late Persians because the bendy spears and awkward position made it really hard to rank them up properly and it was getting on my nerves. I bit the bullet and removed the spears before bending the arms down and forward, twisting the hands carefully with pliers in order to hold the replacement spears upright. A  tricky job but luckily no breakages and just some paint lost on the arms that was easily touched up. The replacement spears are from Arcane Scenery 50mm cut down to 35mm and complete with nicely shaped spear head. I just need to paint them now carefully and the result is I am so much happier with them. I will no doubt do a complete Hoplite army in the future as I'm enjoying doing ancients.

15mm figures by Essex Miniatures and 3mm figures by Magister Militum.

Well, I know the African Elephant was smaller than the Indian Elephant but......

 

Cracking on!

Playing catch up a bit this last week thanks to another heavy cold which is now gradually leaving me so it's all been about Epic ACW's. Had a varnish session yesterday and cleared the decks of my painting desk as I like to do for the start of another weeks painting. The unbased strips are for the planned big Gettysburg game in New Zealand in July being staged by Chris who will be basing these himself and adding flags. The commission is for 44 x 60 figure infantry regiments using additional metal Warlord command strips plus associated artillery etc. The ready based guys are for Noel and they will be heading off this week. Noel has also requested additional command bases so that he can vary the size of the units. That's Brigade box number 3 so far plus the command with more to follow.