Airfix Guide 4 Napoleonic Wargaming by Bruce Quarrie

This weekend our daughter celebrated her 40th birthday with a family get together in a Stratford-upon-Avon farmhouse. As a welcome gift I was given a goody bag that included this little gem - Airfix Guide Napoleonic Wargaming by Bruce Quarrie.

A real gem.

Thank you and happy birthday Holly.

Tony

Scratch built Star Wars terrain - Miniature Wargames issue 501

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames (issue 501 for January 2025) features not one but two builds by me. The first is a damaged stone doughnut  inspired by an image seen in the Star Wars series The Acolyte now playing on Disney. The second takes a Hasbro Star Wars toy of the Redfin FC20 and re-imagines it as a piece of wargame terrain.

The stone donut was constructed from MDF and thin underlay foam mounted on to another piece of MDF. Painting followed the usual techniques with basecoat, washes and drybrushing before being varnished and having the base decorated.

The Redfin FC20 was slightly modified and also mounted on to a MDF base. Painting was this time done with an airbrush and a 'rattle can' spray paint before detailed painting was done with acrylic paints and a fine brush. The decals came from an old GW set and the stone areas on the base were modelled from dried wood chips.

For more information of the magazine contents and how to order your own copy, see this link.

Tony

Port Tasting 2024

It is something of a festive tradition that I present a short talk and tasting of various Ports in the run up to Christmas. This year following a short city break to Porto earlier this year I had much more to talk about. Sue, Holly and I spent five days in Porto and we were lucky enough to visit a number of Port houses in Vila Nova de Gaia where I was able to sample many, many Port wines and re-acquaint myself with the Houses and Lodge of Portugal's finest wines. 

In a break from previous years I did not have a "guess the Vintage Port competition" but instead copied the sampling and tasting processes shown to me during the visit. 

We started with a chilled White Port from Tesco and then moved on to what I believe to be one of the best value Ports - Graham's Late Bottle Vintage 2019 then finishing with Taylor's 10 year old Tawny. I can confirm that a great time was had by all the guests and a collection for charity raised over £100.00. So a double win.

Cheers

Tony

Orcs in the Webbe - Advent Calendar day four

Day four of this years Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar sees out favourite potty-mouthed anti-hero Foul Mouth Freddy in a Chryptmas themed story called Frosty Jack - a bawdy twist on a classic Christmas tale written by me. For more information, see this link.

For even more Foul Mouth Freddy stories you can check out this link.

Happy Advent

Tony

Orcs in the Webbe - Advent Calendar day one

Day one of the Orcs in the Webbe Advent 2024 and a rather interesting card based game by Matthew Hartley called Simple Government. You can always rely on Matthew to supply at least one original game each year and 2024 is no exception. 

For more information, see this link. In addition, you can see further content by Matthew by following this link.

Happy Advent.

Tony

Orcs in the Webbe Advent 2024 - starts tomorrow

Just one more sleep before we see what Craig has in store for us in this years. The Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar is now well established in the realms of Flintloque, Panzerfauste and Pax Bochemannica as well as other game systems where Craig Andrews (owner of the site) supplies completely free-of-charge a daily advent treat for us to enjoy. One free post every day from December 1st - through to December 24th (and sometimes even the 25th).

Details can be found - here.

"Well Craig, what treats have you in store for us this year?"

Tony

Charity shop magazine finds

Earlier today, Sue and I visited Pershore, Worcestershire and I was lucky enough to find these magazine bargains. The first image shows six Continental Modeller magazines from 2007. All six for just £1.00.

Next we have four art magazines and once again all four for just £1.00. I'll enjoy reading these and then passing them on as I have a friend who also loves these magazines.

Finally, two freebies. The first from Waitrose and the second is a free supplement from the Times. I know another friend who will enjoy these when I have finished with them.

With magazines today regularly costing over £6.00 I believe that picking these up is a no-brainer and the added benefit is that once I have read them, they will go on to someone else to enjoy.

A great example of re-cycling.

Tony

AIRFIX Cloud Climber Glider!

I recently came across this AIRFIX Cloud Climber glider kit when moving some old TV's an was wondering if it is worth anything? I have tried to find a similar model on the internet and ebay, but with no success. Can anyone help?

As you can see it is still in it's original packaging and in good if not perfect condition. I cannot remember where or when I bought it and it could very well have been in the attic for years.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Tony

Miniature Wargames issue 500 - Windmill

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames, issue 500, December 2024 features this scratch built windmill that was built and painted by me. It was commissioned as a celebration of Ian Weekley who built a similar model that was featured in the very first issue of Miniature Wargames, back in 1983. For more information, see this link. 

MW issue 500 which is now available to purchase which also includes a free sprue of Wargames Atlantic werewolves.

The model was inspired by the initial article and various illustrations found on the internet as well as images from various books on windmills.

Construction commenced with a simple cardboard box clad in scrap wood (old fruit packing cases) and a cereal box roof. The wooden support or 'post' was constructed from balsawood and textured foam on a cork and DAS modelling clay base. The old mill wheel was cut from 5mm thick plastic card and textured with a scalpel.

The sails were built from wood, card and plastic card while the additional detailing came from either card of scrap wood. The main body of the mill can be turned on the post and the sails revolve on a knitting needle and pen barrel axle.

The finished windmill was painted in less intense colours than I would have usually used as I once read that Ian Weekley preferred muted colours on his wargame terrain. The base has been decorated with static grass and ground foam applied over superglue.

It was a real privileged to be asked to build a model inspired by Ian and I would hope that he would have been pleased with the finished windmill. In addition I would like to thank robh of The Lead Adventure Forum for the help that he supplied in sourcing various articles and images of Ian Weekley's models and articles.

Tony

October 2024 - day 31

For my final post of October 2024 I have included this fantasy tower that was inspired by the cover of a novel that I saw in a shop window in Bruge last year.

But first I should repeat that all of the images posted this month are sketches done by me for the purposes of scratch building models for the wargame table or my narrow gauge railway layouts. I have many, many books full of such drawings and have in fact been adding to these during this month when I have been taking part in my own version of Inktober - drawing an image a day for the month of October.

This particular tower was seen on the front cover of a fantasy novel in a toy and book shop in Bruge. I spent some time studying the image while in the shop and then went outside to try and copy the tower from memory, as you can image this was not that successful. However as I stood outside with my sketchbook I saw that the same book was in fact on display in the window! This made it much easier to copy, although I sometimes wonder what the shopkeeper or passers by thought of me sketching book covers through a shop window.

I hope you have enjoyed these sketches and would welcome any comments or suggestions as to what model should be next on my schedule to build. Also if you have used any of the images to build your own wargame terrain, I would love to see them.

Happy Halloween

Tony

October 2024 - day 30

This chicken coup drawing was sketched in pencil following an illustration I found in a children's book. My intention was to model it in plastic card or balsawood and base it for use in my Flintloque/Silver bayonet games but I never got around to it.

I have modeled similar structures in the past and many have appeared on this Blog. Like all the earlier sketches these are structures/buildings from my many reference sketch books showing model making inspiration - that I have NOT yet built.

Tony

October 2024 - day 29

Do you recognise this sketch?

It is copied from a small image in one of the early Warhammer Fantasy Wargame rule books. I thought it would be easy enough to model from a large cardboard tube but so far it has remained one of my many 'too-do' pieces of wargame terrain.

As with all of these October 2024 sketches - these are models I have at one stage thought about scratch building and hopefully I will get around to one day - but as the saying goes,

"So many models, so little time!" 

My sketch books are a little like my own, personal paper 'Lead Mountain'.

Tony

October 2024 - day 28

I've included this particular pen and ink sketch for two reasons, Firstly; it shows how my drawing style has not changed that much since my early days of sketching possible wargame models. I believe that this building was inspired by an internet search and is a simple pencil sketch over-drawn with an artist's black pen (possibly a Faber-Castell Pitt pen). Secondly; I have been prompted to produce a number pen and ink drawings and pen and ink and watercolour wash drawings for Inktober where various artists produce daily drawings during the month of October. In fact it was Inktober that first gave me the idea for this series of drawings, drawings that I have in my collection and of sketches for wargame buildings that I have yet to produce.

If there is demand, I could included some of these October/Inktober drawings which have been produced with Pitt pens, Dip Pens and even a couple of Fountain Pens on this Blog, although they are sketches or ink drawings of trees, people and only a few buildings.

Happy Inktober.....

Tony

October 2024 - day 27

To show some of the variation I have in what inspires my drawings, this pencil sketch was copied from an image in Continental Modeller - the railway magazine and is of a building that appeared on one of the model railway layouts. The actual model was in the background and at quite an acute angle so a lot of the detail has been imagined rather than copied.

The building technique of a simple timber frame has lots of hallmarks of early German construction or 'Fachwerk houses' a style of building that I quite like and have copied or used on a number of occasions.

Tony

October 2024 - day 26

This is another sketch inspired by an illustration in the Mork Borg rule book. A simple store house building set back into a hill. It would be an easy build but also not very interesting so Not one of my favourites.

I do, however like the 'moody' feel of the Mork Borg illustrations and it would make an interesting Silver Bayonet style piece of terrain.

Tony

October 2024 - day 25

 Another tower.....

Just to recap, these sketches are of models that I have yet to build or drawings that I have at some time planned to build. I have many sketch books full of such pencil sketches and one day I might get around to modelling them, although new inspiration and models can sometimes get moved up the 'to-do' list. For example the covered well that features in Miniature Wargames issue 499 - see this link.

My scratch built model articles or tutorials that are seen in many modelling or wargaming magazines usually start off with such a sketch. I find that having a drawing to work from, even though I sometimes deviate from them, is a great starting point.

I would welcome comments and particularly suggestions as to what models I should build next.

Tony

October 2024 - day 24

This is a pen drawing from a much earlier sketch book. The inspiration has been lost in time but the technique and style have similarities with the Rackhams Cry Havoc game/magazine. I have scratch built a number pieces of wargame terrain or buildings which have a similar style and looking back on this sketch I can see me building a model of this cottage at some time.

Tony

October 2024 - day 23

This is another sketch inspired by a TV show - in this case Wednesday Adams which is available on Netflix. The barn appears in season 1 and I was struck by the lopsided construction and off set doors. I thought it would make a great piece of scratch built terrain for the wargame table and after pausing the episode, I drew this simple rendering.

Tony

October 2024 - day 22

This is another sketch inspired by images from Oliver Chipping. I have already built a model based on these Disney images - The Jabberwocky Tower (see this link for more information). I would hope that I will scratch build another model based on these sketches soon.

This quick sketch is much 'looser' than most of my images and was done with a soft pencil on smooth sketch paper.

Tony

October 2024 - day 21

Another tower. I have sketched quite a few and some day I will get around to modelling one (or two). This sketch was inspired by an image from the internet, a small tower built in to the side of a hill or mountain pass. I liked the timber framed upper section but I think if I were to build a model, I would need to add some additional window openings or more look outs.

A coloured pencil sketch on smooth sketch paper.

Tony

October 2024 - day 20

This is another 1/35th scale narrow gauge railway engine - a battery mechanical that I drew from an old photo image I found on the internet. My intention is to scratch build it on a HO-OO Hornby 'Smokey Joe' chassis and run it on HO-OO Peco 'Crazy Track' which represents a two foot or 600mm narrow gauge  scale/gauge.

Once again, I am not pretending that this is a detailed and scaled drawing, but close enough for me and my purposes.

I already have a spare mechanism and with slight alteration, I have to widen the body slightly, it should easily hide an unmodified chassis. I would expect the model to be constructed from plastic card - my preferred material with a 1/35th scale driver donated from some military figure.

Tony

October 2024 - day 19

This sketch was inspired by one of the Manga cartoon films we watched on TV. As usual I paused the images and got out my sketch book. This 'quick and dirty' drawing was then coloured with pencils. It is a typical rough and ready drawing the type that fill many of the pages in my sketch books. It may never be used as inspiration for a piece of terrain, but I do enjoy just scribbling.....

Tony

October 2024 - day 18

Today's sketch was inspired by The King's Man (2020). It is the main barn that features in the final act which takes part on the huge outcrop which is accessed via a cable car or crane. This image is of the front or main entrance I have also sketched the side view. It was my intention to build a smaller more compact version but even so this would have been a huge building.

Once again it is a working drawing with loads of notes and even colouring details added in coloured pencil.

Tony

October 2024 - day 17

This simple church is drawn to 'Epic scale' and was planned to be built to accompany the Warlord Games Epic Battles of the American Civil War figures and rules. It was inspired by the lower image which was used in a newspaper article about the Alec Baldwin fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust. I have  a number of scratch built buildings based on used CD's which I have built from card, some of which have appeared in Miniature Wargames and which have been built as terrain pieces for this system.

As you can clearly see it is very much a 'working' drawing with notation and modifications.

Tony

October 2024 - day 16

I can't recall where I copied this particular building from. It is a stone built hovel with a huge Dolmen style roof and should be fun to build with large foam blocks and a one piece roof.

With half the month gone, it should be clear - but ALL of these images are of structures I have NOT built and remain un-used in my collection of sketch books (I have dozens). I could just as easily have had a series of sketches that I HAVE used as inspiration, maybe another month of sketches!

Tony

October 2024 - day 15

As you can see this sketch was inspired by an image in the Rackhams magazine Cry Havoc, volume 05, page 49. I was lucky enough to find a number of these old Rackham magazines in a charity shop some time ago and although I have since sold them on I did sketch a number of images and even scanned some of the pages, which I still have. I have modelled a number of buildings that were inspired by these publications, but this one remains a to-do and I would hope that one day I will get around to scratch building a model of this charismatic house.

Cry Havoc had some fantastic 'how-to' articles and I have used both these and the tutorials as inspiration in many of my terrain builds.

Tony

October 2024 - day 14

Today, two sketches for the price of one.....

Both sketches were inspired by a historical pamphlet on early Scottish buildings on the Outer Hebredes and in particular a simple mill built into the side of a hill and using a vertical wheel to turn a milling stone that was situated in the upper structure.

I'm not sure how I could model this model as the building would need to be built in to a hill, but it would make a great Burrows & Badgers themed piece of terrain.

Tony

October 2024 - day 13

 A pigsty. I think it is called a bee hive pigsty. It would be easy enough to model and then include a couple of miniature pigs just to finish it off. Not a very large model but something a little different.

Copied from an illustration found in a book about early farm buildings.

Tony

Miniature Wargames issue 499 - Covered Well

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames - issue 499 (November 2024) includes an article/tutorial written by me showing how I built and the painted this covered well that was inspired by a well featured in the Shardlake TV series currently available on Disney.

I replayed and paused the TV episode (episode 2) and sketched this simple plan. Then using plastic card I built the basic frame well and wheel.

The 'pagoda style' roof was constructed over card pyramids before I smoothed out the shape with DAS modelling clay and ready-mixed filler. The roof was then clad with cardboard tiles and detailed with plastic rod and egg box card.

The model was then mounted on to a base cut from 3mm thick plastic card and textured with sieved stones and sand applied over PVA glue.

For more information and details of how the covered well was finished and painted see issue 499 of Miniature Wargames. Or see this link.

The magazine also gives details of my very special, commemorative article written especially for the 500th issue. and paying homage to Ian Weekley - a truly inspirational model maker.

Tony

October 2024 - day 12

This sketch of an Majorcan burial chamber is from one of my very early sketch books and is well over 20 years old. It was done when Sue and I were on holiday with the children on the island of Majorca and copied from an information leaflet I had seen. The original was 'boat shaped', but I do believe that there were also rectangular versions.

This early sketch goes to show just how long I have been filling various sketch books with my designs.

Tony

October 2024 - day 11

This roundhouse was copied from an illustration I found on a sign in a car park in the Cotswolds. I sketched it on site and used coloured pencils I had to hand.

Tony

October 2024 - day 10

This sketch is of a Moes CL narrow gauge (or 600mm gauge) locomotive re-drawn to 1/35th scale to run on 16.5mm track. I found images of this interesting engine on the Internet and taking dimensions from another site, I drew this plan. I'm not saying that it is 100% correct but close enough for me should I ever decide to build a model based on a Hornby HO-OO 'Smokey Joe' chassis.

For more information, see this link.

Tony

October 2024 - day 9

This is another Oliver Chipping inspired sketch (The Jabberwocky Tower that appeared in Miniature Wargames issue 497 and 498 was also inspired by Oliver Chipping/Disney for more information see this post).

The sketch was done with coloured pencils - my new preferred sketching technique. I have a couple more images inspired by the same artist and look forward to scratch building terrain based on them.

It would be interesting to read which of these sketches are your favourites - but not yet as I still have a number to post - stay tuned for more images.

Tony

October 2024 - day 8

This coloured pencil sketch was inspired by a building from the Disney/Marvel TV series Loki - series 1. I thought it would make a great 28mm scale Sci-Fi building or terrain piece but so far I have yet to even start the model. 

Maybe one day.

Tony

October 2024 - day 7

And now for a bit of fun.....

This coloured pencil sketch was copied from the Disney animated film Robin Hood. It is the church mouse house that appears towards the start of the film - a rough stone cottage built into the roots of a large tree. I would have thought it would make a great Burrows & Badgers themed piece of terrain.

Tony