Martha Blackard - day nine of the Orcs in the Webbe Advent 2025

Day nine of the Orcs in the Webbe advent calendar 2025 features a short story written by me called Martha Blackard. For more information, see this link.

The story is based on a relative of my wife's, who was a very fiery character. It uses a number of tales from Martha's actual background as well as story hooks from my daughter Holly and input from my two grandsons - Finley and Charlie. A true collaboration.

What is the Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar? For more information see this link.

Happy Advent.

Tony

Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar 2025 due tomorrow

Just one more sleep before the Orcs in the Webbe Advent Calendar 2025. I've already sent my 2025 content to Craig and am looking forward to seeing what he posts this year.

What is the Orcs in the Webbe Advent? Check out this huge free resource that Craig uploads every December. For more information, see this link.

Happy Advent.

Tony

Four more Ferach Elves for May 2025

Another week and another four Ferach Elves painted, varnished and based. Like the earlier four, I don't think they are my best examples of painted miniatures, but at least I have now got another (small) regiment of Flintloque Elves for use on the tabletop.

And here we have the full group of eight painted Ferach Elves.

Enjoy.

Tony

Four Ferach Elves for May 2025

It's been a while but I've finally got around to painting a few Flintloque figures. This group of four Ferach Elves were painted, varnished and based over the last week and although not my finest (I'm out of practice) I am pleased with the final result. Now all I have to do is paint the remaining four minis that I have on my workbench.

Tony

Flintloque original artwork by Edward Jackson

I am lucky enough to be the proud owner of a number of Flintloque Themed original artworks by Edward Jackson. Following a comment on the new Retroloque Facebook site I went searching in the attic for some of these. The first is The Princess Juliana Chasseur Elite regiment that were sculpted by me and released by Alternative Armies as a limited edition regiment.

The second is one of two pieces of artwork that I own showing Foul Mouth Freddy (the second is framed in my office) a Flintloque character that was also invented by me and is available as a limited edition metal miniature from AA.

The third image is of a Toadaroni character.

Thank you to Edward and I hope that you enjoy these 'blast from the past' images.

Tony

Flintloque Elf Grenadiers - update

The Ferach standard has now been hand painted and finished. This image was taken on my small display board with a  ruined tower building and some bottle-brush trees in in-direct sunshine earlier today.

I would expect to show some work-in-progress shots later this week.

Tony

Flintloque Elf Grenadiers

This is my unit of eight Elf Grenadiers from the Flintloque boxed set 5105 1er Velite Grenadiers de la Garde Mordred. The figures were bought secondhand some time ago and the box set was not complete, hence just eight minis. The miniatures have been mounted on to 2p coins with the groundwork built-up with Milliput two part epoxy putty. I will give more details of how they were painted in later posts, but for now here are the varnished and based figures.

The unit was painted in two batches of four minis - the first two started prior to my recent visit to Portugal and the second batch on my return. I find that painting minis in small batches is so much easier.

More to follow but for now, enjoy.

Tony

Commando Comics issue 5749 - Treachery and Treasure

This month the latest Napoleonic Wars themed war comic from Commando Comics has hit the shelves at WHSmiths. Treachery and Treasure issue 5749 is the latest Commando comic to feature Wellington's Riflemen in an adventure set in 1813 written by Andrew Knighton and illustrated by Manuel Benut.

I have a small collection of these Napoleonic themed Commando comics as I find them great reads and perfect inspiration for both Flintloque and Silver Bayonet gaming scenarios. For more information, see this link.

Tony

Flintloque Spanish - part two

Here are four more Flintloque miniatures that I have painted as Spanish soldiers for my Flintloque/Silver Bayonet cross over project. Like the earlier four figures, they were each painted and decorated one at a time rather than my more usual batch painting method and I have to admit that it was more fun.

The final image shows all eight painted varnished and decorated with static grass, tufts and ground foam. All ready for the gaming board.

Tony

Flintloque Spanish - one mini at a time

Over the last couple of months I have not been painting miniatures - I'd lost my Mojo.....

But following some positive comments on this Blog, I have set myself the challenge of painting a group of eight Flintloque Spanish figures for my Silver Bayonet/Flintloque crossover project. The eight based and undercoated minis have sat very patiently on my To-Do shelf for nearly a year. I thought it was time I got around to painting them and using the tried and tested technique of painting just one mini at a time here are the first four painted and finished Spanish.

I'm not expecting any awards for the 'down and dirty' techniques I have used, but they have got me back to the painting bench and I have to admit that I've enjoyed the experience. While painting these I read in the magazine Airfix Model World that the editor had experienced a similar feeling of lost Mojo and it was reassuring to read that I was not alone in this affliction.

Thank you for all the positive comments.

Tony

A Messy Little Pig Sty - Miniature Wargames issue 493

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames - issue 493 (May 2024) features this scratch build pig sty built and painted by me some time ago. It was originally features in my self published book Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No. 1 Building Wargame Terrain (now out of stock) but has been included here in a much condensed form (the original article ran to twelve pages). I have included some additional images of the model on my display board with a Flintloque figure alongside for scale.

You can find the magazine in most WHSmiths stores or see this link for more details of how to order a copy and see the full contents.

This is one of my favourite models from the Dampfpanzerwagon Guides and one that I doubt I will ever get rid of.

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

Old Tom - A Tale from the White Liar Tavern

Day 21 of the Orcs in the Webbe 2023 Advent and a short White Liar Tale written by me. Old Tom is based on the Robbie Burns poem Tam O'Shanter with suitable Flintloque themes. I hope you like it.

For more details see this link.

Happy Advent

Tony

Scratch Built Wall and Gate in 28mm - Miniature Wargames issue 489

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames - issue 489, January 2024 contains another article written by me - this time showing how I built and painted a perimeter wall section with a wooden gate to accompany the ruined wall sections featured in last months MW. For more information, see this link.

As well as the terrain tutorial I have a second shorter article featuring Flintloque - see Community Corner on page 5 in which I contribute a short 'love letter' on this game system.

The latest issue is now available to purchase from WHSmiths.

Tony

Repairing an old and damaged piece of scratch built terrain

Earlier this year I was asked by a very close friend if I could repair a piece of terrain that he had of mine. The model was damaged after it had been dropped and was showing multiple areas of flaked paint and missing pieces.

The first two images show the model prior to any repairs and the chipped roof tiles are very apparent.

The last two images show the repaired model with new roof tiles, repainted walls and re-flocked base. The areas of repair were first strengthened with two part epoxy glue and then textured prior to painting.

It was a real pleasure to work on one of my older pieces of terrain and the finished model has made me want to produce more Flintloque inspired pieces of terrain.

Tony

Orcs in the Webbe 2023 Advent Calendar day five

Orcs in the Webbe day 5 and this time a pencil sketch by me of my Flintloque/Deadlock character Margahrah the former Lyonesse Commissariat and acting Captain that features in the three part Deadlock scenario Getting Ahead as well as the additional two stand-alone scenarios Margahrah's Bane and Margahrah and the battle of Burnehof. For more details see this link.

The character of Margahrah was named after my Aunty Margaret (Marma) and her dog Sally he is based on a maths teacher and head of year called Mr Perrins who had a great influence on me as well as the fictional French police detective and Commissaire Maigret.

The sketch was done some time ago - I had planned on rewriting the three part Getting Ahead or Headless Zombies stories and publishing them as an illustrated novella and this and some other sketches were to be featured, but I never got around to it - maybe one day.

Happy Advent

Tony

Orcs in the Webbe 2023 Advent Calendar just one day away

With just one day to go - I for one am looking forward to this years Orcs in the Webbe Advent. The free content is a long standing tradition by the Orcs in the Webbe host Craig and this year will be the 16th year of hosting free content (and not all Flintloque/Alternative Armies based, but a wide range of game systems). For more details see this link.

Tony

Flintloque - One figure at a time part nine

My Flintloque Todaroni conversion painted, varnished and based.

It's taken a while but the toad character is now ready for the gaming table. I've enjoyed the sculpting and painting process so much that I have actually contemplated picking up some more Todaroni figures from Alternative Armies but I already have a ton of unpainted Flintloque minis in my to-do collection so maybe not!

Thanks to everyone for the likes and comments both here and over on the Orcs in the Webbe Facebook page and good luck to ALL the entries in the competion.

Tony

Flintloque - One figure at a time part eight

The Todaroni character is nearing completion, just a couple of tiny touches and he will be finished.

I have really enjoyed converting and painting this figure and look forward to painting more of my Flintloque lead mountain.

I also look forward to seeing the other competition entries.

Tony

Flintloque - One figure at a time part seven

The painting has progressed and we now have most of the figure finished. I still need to paint up some of the detail and then varnish the mini, but for now - here is the Flintloque Todaroni.

Tony