Gaming - Bootleggers at Hammerhead

 It’s been the first show of the year . Myself , James and Martin went to Newark to the Hammerhead show - we last did this in 2019 . It’s usually a real busy show , and it was great to see it back to some post COVID normality . We enjoyed some beer and curry last night too . 

I had decided to just do something small and quick as the game was to be a participation one - as all the games at Hammerhead are . 

Martin and I had done a raid the still scenario last year and we decided to go with that . A bit different as it’s out in the sticks . I built a new barn building this week to use for it , Martin had sorted the still . 

 

The G Men and the cops would raid the farm .

 

 

The Cops would crash in , and all hell would break out 

 

The Boss , the moll and the banker 

That is gonna hurt 

  

Officer O’Mahoney takes his billy club to the still !

we played 4 games over the day - they were all brutal. Mind the one with two young lads playing the law was outstanding. The just couldn’t miss , it was over in 3 turns with 4 dead gangsters and 2 prisoners. 

We met up with old friends and new . The shopping was good, with some good bargains on the bring and buy for James . 

My stash 

 

A great weekend . 

Bootleggers - A first game

Finally managed a face to face game this week. Martin C popped over to the cave . We had decided to try and actually do something with the  Bootlegger collection. I have all the figures painted for that and have done for 6 years. I don’t though have enough city terrain pieces - mind I do have them in the MDF mountain o’ shame - so they will get some attention this winter now. 

We set up the location for the “still” and the stock of booze - out in the woods. The police and G-Men were out to enforce the Volstead Act. I broke out a scratch built farmstead building that also hasn’t seen much use from  the Old West collection .

We used the basic rules from Old West system , with some tweaks for automatic weapons and Tommy Guns . And less granular detail on wounds . It did play really well . I will get the tweaks written up for another run out. I have ordered a couple of bespoke card decks from Artscow to create stuff specifically for this collection

We ended engrossed with the games I forgot to take more pictures . We played two games with Martin winning both as the Police and then the Bootleggers. So at least it proved it was balanced for a thrown together scenario . 

And just a reminder of some of the city stuff I have ..

 

Cobblestone battle mat - By UrbanMatz

I want to move the gangster project along this year. I pretty much have all the figures I need - and i have an "MDF mountain shame" of period buildings that need to be constructed. I was looking for something for an overall base when I happened across UrbanMatz - a company based in the Czech Republic - and I liked what I saw and acquired one!

It comes in a range of sizes but I went for 6x4. It is made from a printed 2mm thick neoprene material - its basically an enormous mouse mat . I comes with its own carry/storage bag as well.

It has a range of pattern and features on it too so its not totally uniform. after it had been laid out a while it smoothed out nicely - and was very non slip.

 I looked at range of reference pictures and saw plenty of U.S city pictures with cobble effect - so I am more than happy to use it as a base - I will just need to get some more colour into the building that need to be constructed to break the grey up i think. .

Service was very good from UrbanMatz - ordered on a weekend, arrived the following Thursday well packaged ,with tracked delivery - and good communications from the Vendor - not sure overall on value compared to other manufactures - but it felt about right - and with a good Euro exchange rate I am happy.  I need to source an alternative wall back drop as well now. But Serenity City is back on the production line.

Pulp - G-Men and Cops

MAs well as completing the recently shown Guys and Dolls there was also a delivery of G Men and Cops. These are by Blue Moon. While in the raw they don't have the excellent sculpt of the Bob Murch or Copplestone figures they do I think they have something appealing about them, especially when you hand them over to a talented painter like Loki.

The G Men.. 

The Cops.

I think I may need a bigger Police House, and a few more bad guys, and some vehicle drivers and passenger.

Pulp - Guys and Dolls

Meet the newest additions to Serenity City. "Loki" over at Brigantes Studios has recently completed the commission work for my gangster collection, which will complete the figures I need/want for this - and what a job..

"Dolls"

 Copplestone Castings "Swell Dolls" set - they sure are.

"Guys"

 Copplestone Castings - "Honest Citizen" - hmm i think not - the "Boss" wears the snazzy Argyle sweater from now on..- great painting. The 5 o'clock shadow on the bag man is brilliant, and the detail on the paper seller is wonderful.

 

I really can't praise these enough - well done "Loki"

I also  have some more by Blue Moon which will be posted on the blog in the next few day, but for now these deserve thier own place in the sun.

Pulp - Meet the Band

A continuation on the theme. Here we have the Jazz Quartet by Bob Murch.

and with Miss Lilly Von Verde the front woman 

Just need to come up with a good name and build a stage set!

Another of the Femme Fatale range - Wanda Midnight

And the shot of all the employees of "Long Sarah's"

Pulp - The last of the Police Department.

Here we have the remainder of the "Serenity City P.D" . These are a set of Copplestone Minatures which were gifted to me by my Secret Santa (an idea originally devised by our very own Ian Willey and organised by Cath) this year - good choice Santa. These were a real joy to paint.

 The tough beat cops of "Serenity City"

The brothers Fran and Ray O'Shee (ok maybe he ain't so tough), Pat McKay, and Dan O'Donald (from one of my GxGrandparent who was a beat cop - often found in ale houses, and fond of an odd drop of the water of life..well that what his disciplinary record showed!)

These were painted using the Andrea Color Blue paint set. This can give very subtle blends and finishes easily. However you can lose it under a flat varnish so with 28mm figures I give them a coat of varnish and then add some extra highlights to the areas that need it.

Here is a full roll call 

 

I am on the look out for a good "Chief" figure and of course next I need some detectives and G Men..

Pulp - New Cops

First proper post of the New Year. The workbench is nice and busy with lots of thing in production. The Sudan stuff is coming along nicely, and inbetween the larger units I am completing some extras for "Serenity City" as there are some more re-inforcements due along shortly. Here we have the boys of the 2nd Precinct - a nice set of Pulp Miniature cops.

Very nice clean casting to work on. and they fit in well with my Dixon ones as well. My Secret Santa also sourced some Copplestone policmen so there will some good variety to the Serenity City P.D.

I have also completed another of the figures from the Femme Fatale pack - I found the facial detail a bit off on this one - she is no beauty thats for sure!  I had her down as the Ice Maiden , but I need to come up with a proper name for her - any ideas?

Back to the sands of the desert with work on the Second Brigade and the Cavalry progressing.

Pulp - Miss Lilly van Verde

In between doing the churn out of the Sudan units I have some Gangeter/Pulp stuff sitting on the table to provide some much needed colour. So here is the fiery tempered,  red haired chanteuse at "Long Sarah's" entertainment club. Miss Lilly - from Bob Murch Pulp figures Gangland Justice , Femme Fatale pack.

She is bound to be the source of trouble - voice of an angle and a black heart! 

 "I've been with thousands of men,
Again and again,
They pwomise the moon,
They'rwe always coming and going
And going and coming...
And always too soon"

This is a cracking figure to work on - mind had to get the magnifier headset out to do it justice. I filed down the figure base to be able remove the cast on base and drilled and pinned it to the slotta. The undercoat for the whole figure was an enamel grass green which i was hoping would give a depth to the green dress - it has worked IMHO. The greens are a mix of Vallejo Flat green , and the Andrea Color green set , with a bit of yellow added for highlights. The hair is a Vallejo Hull Red with highlights. 

The chequerboard on the base is hand painted on black overall with a mid grey and then light grey highlights. 

Michael Peterson commented over on the Challenge blog  (AHPCV)- and could well be right!


"I like her a lot - she reminds me of another redheaded singer, Alex Pangman, "Canada's Sweetheart of Swing" - in fact it could be a mini of her. Check out http://www.alexpangman.com.http://www.alexpangman.com/gallery.html"

 The backing band will be along shortly..