Rollinmats review and 150th Anniversary Battle Cry!

Another quick video, a review of a printed rubber backed gaming mat by Rollingmats of Spain and I have finally got my hands on a copy of Battle Cry thanks to David Crook, all revealed in the video!

Almost 8 weeks later it's back!

Postie bought me this little surprise today (see my previous posts). At least the contents are all intact. No word on  the  £14.00 postage refund but I'm relieved to have it back as it contains £400 worth of painted figures that I thought was lost! Finishing off Noels current order and then the entire batch will be heading off again.

A busy start to the year!

As I'm fortunate enough to retain a set of regular customers I will keep the painting service running for at least another year. One decision I have had to reluctantly make is that I can't accept anything smaller than Epic 13.5mm scale from now on. To be honest there has been a very slight deterioration to my focus over the last year, not serious but I want to avoid unnecessary strain. I do tend to 'rest my eyes' for an hour in the afternoon  (or as my wife calls it 'taking a snooze'), but I'm still putting in several hours each day at the painting desk be it priming, painting or basing. 

That said I'm keeping busy and will still be rolling out monthly batches for Old John, Mark, Noel and Stephen. A few photos of recent stuff below which includes Epic scale 3D resin Dutch infantry battalions, Warlord Epic ACW's (another 40 strip order from Noel), more lovely Streltsi infantry for Old John along with a group of rare 30mm scale Hinton Hunt ECW's. I'll be starting work on Mark's 18mm AB Peninsular project in March.

For myself I have been quietly beavering away at something new, building up ACW armies for use on the Battle Cry game board replacing the individual plastic soldiers with small bases, 4 per unit. This has involved trimming down a lot of  Epic strips as you can see, it's been a labour of love but about done with over 600 figures painted. What began as a retro Fire & Fury project has developed into this because I have decided that from now on I want to focus on playing boardgames with miniatures, in comfort on my painting desk. So no more terrain building for me from now on.

I'll have more  exciting news about the Battle Cry game in a future post. 

The Donald Featherstone collection.

If you ever wondered what became of the extensive collection of wargaming figures owned by the late Donald Featherstone then you might enjoy this video. It's just one of a series made around 6 to 8 years by Daniel Borris who purchased around 4000 figures from Donald plus all of his original manuscripts. The collection is displayed under glass and features many ranges of figures Hinchliffe, Minifigs, Les Higgins, Hinton Hunt etc. The quality of the video is not the best but I was able to clearly make out the Minifigs Royalist cavalry used in the book wargaming Pike and Shot that I loved as a teenager. I have exchanged a few messages with Daniel over the years and his passion for collecting is wonderful.

If you enjoy this one Daniel has around 15 videos on his channel featuring various aspects of the collection in greater detail.

Enjoy the  nostalgia!

Round and round it goes!

Quickly following on from the last post, Cleburnes Division are now on the way back to the UK from Ireland following a brief skirmish at  Dublin Mail Centre. 

Tracking says 'Returning to sender' due to wrong customs information apparently but I filled it in as usual and it was checked by the PO counter lady as usual. I must have sent at least 18 of these packages to the same destination and never an issue before although they can be very slow and do get held up at customs awaiting additional custom charges that Noel has to pay before delivery. The lady in the local Post Office tells me that post to Ireland is currently notoriously bad for returns. Oh well, as Noel says at least we know where it is now!

I have reset the comments box so if anyone else is having similar problems please let me  know.

Cheers,

Lee.

C'mon Boys, back we go!

And Dublin!

Cleburnes Division have arrived in Dublin!

Relieved to report that the 'lost' package has now appeared on the tracking in the sorting office in Dublin 5 weeks after posting using International tracked and signed shipping. The Blue flags of Cleburnes Division will soon be flying high in battle again. Phew, that's a 40 hour repaint saved so I'm over the moon! Have to say, absolutely no pressure at all from Noel but I would have honoured it.

As one door closes another opens!

 With the Pony Wars commission completed and fully back in Mark's hands I now have the start of the follow up commission for Mark, The Peninsular War using 18mm AB figures throughout. This is a large project of around 850 figures so will be painted on the usual rolling monthly batch basis as agreed. The sculpts and castings are of course wonderful quality and will be a joy to paint. As usual the project is well planned in advance and comes complete with a printed Orbat sheet, unit basing guide and flags etc. Work on tis will begin at start of March.

On a slightly less positive note a package sent to Noel in Ireland seems to have been lost in transit, the first time this has happened to me as far as I can recall. It was sent by usual International Tracked and Signed on 18th December and we assumed the delay was caused by the festive season build up but a month on and it has no further tracking updates  beyond Royal Mail 'Handed to delivery partner' on 19th December. Noel has checked at his end and it would seem that it was not received  by Ar Post and that any backlog is clear, RM can tell me nothing beyond whats available on the tracking site so  nothing lese can be done! Given Noels continued support for my painting service over the past couple of years over a monthly basis I have of course offered a complete repaint of the Epic ACW strips which will be spread over February alongside his current large order and when it comes to shipping we will need to find the most reliable method of shipping. I have been told by PO counter staff where the package was posted from that post into Ireland is being reported as having frequent delays at Customs and returns so you never know I guess?  I paid £16.00 for postage of a small cat food sized box but did not fully insure it as same service has been 100% reliable for the past two years, Live and Learn.

Latest video - a low cost wargaming project!

 American Civil War using cut down Warlord Epics for a revisit to Fire & Fury Brigade level rules.

A good start to 2025!

I'll mostly let the photos do the talking for this post! I 

2 Battalions of 3D printed Dutch militia for Stephen (160 3D printed Epic compatible figures)

Another batch for Old John (finished today).

As you can see from the photos I am also putting together some cut down Epic ACW's for a dedicated Fire and Fury, reduced size bases (stands) of 6 infantry, It's just something I had wanted to return to for years and this is such an affordable and quick way to do it, it will keep me occupied for a few months ahead at least! Painting is fast and furious for this one but they look OK in massed ranks I think? So far nearly 80 bases down already, I'm starting with a Division per side of about 4 to 5 brigades plus artillery.