An interesting YouTube post featuring my Skrym gaming board

Earlier this month I was browsing YouTube when I came across this tutorial showing how to paint a fantasy house for D&D or Frostgrave. The tutorial has many of the techniques I use when painting my scratch built terrain, but that's not the reason I am featuring it here on my Blog. 

The author has decided to use one of my magazine articles as a background - namely the construction of my Skrym or Modiphius Games gaming table that I built some time ago. For more information on the magazine article/articles, see these two posts here and here. which show the construction and then the painting of this board.

You can see the YouTube tutorial from JH Miniatures showing how he painted his fantasy house here and my Miniature Wargames magazine article in the background. I went back over some of his earlier tutorials to see if he used any more of my magazine articles as background but couldn't find any. I just found it funny that my MW article/tutorial was used in this way and thought it was worth posting here.....

I have seen many of my models featured in various YouTube and 'other' internet posts over the years and think it is something of a complement. If any readers know of any others, please post details here.

Tony

Model Shop Closures

I don't think I am alone in noticing the number of model shops either already closed down or reducing stock. I know that there have been a number of reports about closures on the news and internet but I am also concerned about the shops that are reducing stock or cutting back on stock holding.

Obviously model shops are not the only section that is being effected but those regular stalwarts of my hobby pennies are certainly becoming fewer and I'm not sure we have seen the end of it. I know that my hobby spend is less than previous years and my visits to shops (and shows for that matter) are down on previous years but I still love to browse the shelves of those 'bricks and mortar' shops that I can still get to.

Are you seeing the same?

I am not sure there is an easy answer but wish I was able to support those that still exist more.

Tony

A Roman Onager for Pax Bochemannica - Miniature Wargames issue 490

Issue 490 of Miniature Wargames (February 2024) includes part one of a two part series in which I show how I first built and then painted a Roman Onager (Ass or catapult) for the game Pax Bochemannica. In this three page article I first detail the inspiration and then the build of this model which was later cast in resin and for a short time available to purchase from Maveryc Games/Hysterical Games. In part two (next month) I will show how I painted the model and decorated the base in the same style as my Pax Boche miniatures.

For more information of the contents of this magazine, please see this link.

Tony

Workbench update #2

Earlier this week Sue and I spent a morning in Banbury where I picked up these off cuts of foam from a recycling/craft shop. The pink foam is 20mm thick with a waffle pattern on the main surfaces and a texture that is firmer than my usual blue foam but with a more open structure. I've used a similar foam in the past and will report back with my findings once I have some hands-on experience. The green foam is 5mm thick laminate flooring underlay and I picked up one complete sheet and some off cuts. I regularly use this foam as overlays to cardboard buildings.

All the foam you see here was purchased for just £1.00 - a real bargain. You can never have too much foam.....

Tony

Workbench update #1

I don't usually post images of my work-in-progress preferring to update the Blog when I have something substantial to show or a new magazine article in print. In a change from my usual methods I though I would give you a peep behind the scenes.

Yesterday was the first day that I have been down my shed for nearly two months - the wet and cold weather plus another occurrence of Shingles has meant that I just haven't wanted to be in the cold and I've also lost some of my model-making MoJo. But that has now changed and I did spend a couple of hours at the workbench both tidying up and starting another project for Miniature Wargames magazine.

I already have three articles under my belt for MW and I will be posting details once the magazine is in print but it is always nice to start something new. In addition any progress on the 1/35th scale narrow gauge railway layout (I still have to decide on a name for this layout) has also been curtailed and I expect more modelling on this project once the weather changes for the better. I would also have liked to have done some figure painting - in fact I have a group of Flintloque minis on the shelf at the side of me as I write this post, that have been converted, based and undercoated - they have been like this for some time! Maybe soon.

Apart from some DAS modelling clay and a set of detail brushes, which I had as Christmas presents I have not spent that much on my hobby. I still need to decide if I will be exhibiting at the West Midlands Military Show in March. I think I will be, but I still need a 'kick up the backside' and confirm. If I do exhibit, I will make sure to post details.

Am I alone in finding this period - the first few weeks of the year or these cold nights a hindrance to any modelling or figure painting? I much prefer to be in the warm watching TV or searching some YouTube content.

That's all for my first Workbench update. If the post proves successful, I will post more.

Tony

Having fun with some of my Flintloque minis

Between Christmas and New Year Sue and I were babysitting, sorry child minding our Grandchildren. I was looking for something that would keep them occupied for a hour or two and set up a simple gaming board with trees, bushes and the odd building, I then brought in two boxes of Flintloque figures for them to play with. These figure have been locked away in storage boxes for at least five years and both Finley and Charlie had great fun playing with them.

Later I opened another box of additional Dwarves and set up this display of over 150 miniatures. I'm sad to say that these had also been locked away for some time. There are over 150 Flintloque Dwarves and the odd conversion on display. But don't tell Sue - as there are more! Somewhere in the garage are even more Dwarf regiments!

Finley and Charlie had fun setting them up and playing wargames, but it was me alone that had the task of placing them back in their boxes - hopefully they won't be locked away for so long this time.

Tony

2024 New Year's Resolutions

I'm not usually one for resolutions but this year I intend to sell off some of my scratch built terrain pieces. I just have too many and they take up too much space.

Over the next couple of months I will be posting images or taking them to show so that they can be sold - so keep an eye out for newly posted FOR SALE labels on the Blog.

Happy New Year.

Tony