Thursday, February 17, 2011

Good bye, Blighty!

Well, how quickly 3 months fly... I've just arrived back in Germany and I am feeling very off. I guess that happens when you leave the most beautiful, intelligent and kind person in your life behind. I am glad I will be visiting the Tactica show this weekend, because otherwise I'd bang my head against a wall out of frustration at some point. Looking forward to being amongst friends who can distract my troubled mind a wee bit.


Oh well, good bye, Blighty! You were kind to me and I could easily become one of yours. I had a wonderful time, met some great people, made some good friends and had an amazing time with my girl! Hello Deutschland... You don't feel like home at all yet.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Now why would you do that and mess with my plans?

I just had an in-the-flesh look at this chap here, that Warlord have just released





I already own the lovely Harley from when it was sold without a rider, but this is amazing. The picture sadly doesn't do the painting job the right amount of justice. He looks great on the picture but a helluva lot better in the flesh. And the sculpt is great imho and made by a very talented Mr. Flis.

WWII Americans were not in my plans, but he will definitely be in my purchases at the Tactica show.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

A bit miffed!

Yesterday I finished what would have been my final miniature painted in England; a Frankish unarmoured warrior by Foundry. I was really pleased with the result, but with all the washing hanging about yesterday, showers just behind us and slightly rainy outside the GW purity seal I use as an intremediary between gloss and matte just clouded on me. It is my mistake really, I was too impatient, but, damn, it's annoying! So that's it from me till after the Tactica show in Hamburg. Pfffff...

Sunday, February 6, 2011

The biggest table I've ever seen!

As my time in Nottingham slowly and sadly comes to an end, I was happy to finally participate in a game again. My last game was in Darmstadt in November and I was getting some withdrawal symptoms. As extreme luck and wonderful Nottingham hospitality would have it, the game was hosted by the Perry brothers with Steve from Immortal Miniatures, Peter Denis, Rick  Priestley and Jervis Johnson participating. And that is the night when I saw the biggest table in a home ever... We are used to playing on a 120x180 board in Germany, so imagine my surprise when I saw this!


The table was populated by the brilliantly painted Napoleonic miniatures the Perry Twins own... and some beer bottles (Twas the night I tasted Kronenbourg 1664 and loved it). The rules were a set of house rules that were quite easy and fun. 3 Objectives were placed on the map and the winner would be the one holding most of them or all 3. The first was placed in the house at the front of the picture and thus was taken by the British instantly who came in from the front and left of the table. The French, directed by Le Grand Fromage Alan, with the dirty work being carried out by his underlings, Michael and me, quickly conquered the house on the right at the back of the photo, where the second marker was positioned. The third was placed on the bridge left of that house, right in front of Michael's French and on the right of Steve's British, who came in from the middle of the right side of the table.
Peter's forces came in from the front and occupied the house in the first round. Then they slowly advanced towards Alan's artillery holding the second marker.
 At the same time, Rick's Hanoverians came in from the ridge on the corner of the British entry area.


I came in from the diagonally opposite corner and between Alan's and Michael's forces (you can see part of them on the roads on the lower part of the photograph.):

The game was pretty straightforward. I tried moving past Alan's guys to keep Steve's Rifles from crossing the bridge to our marker. At the same time Rick's and Peter's forces marched towards us slowly but steadily.

Michael took the bridge and second marker as soon as possible and having left it behind him, started disturbing Steve's flanks with mixed results, assisted by Steve's horribly unlucky dice rolls

In the last round, Peter and Rick managed to remove Alan's artillery and reach the house, but sadly time was up... The French kept their two markers, thus winning the game. We were certain though, that a few more rounds would have changed the game considerably in the British favour.


The game was great fun and it was great to be in the company of gracious and kind gentlemen, who made me feel at home! Although I still have another 10 days here, I'd like to thank everyone mentioned here, as well as the chaps (and lady) at Warlord, for making my stay so much more enjoyable than it already was. It was a blast!