The Opposition (more Pirate stuff)

Hip, Hip, a tray (of figures)...

So it wasn't as difficult finding the figures I would be using to oppose my pirate forces.
For some inexplicable reason, I seemed to have organised them into groups of sixteen.
They're all Irregular Miniatures from their 28mm Marlborough range. I like them ( a lot) and not just because they're cheap and I'm a tight-wad!
These figures cost a measly 90p when bought singly, that goes down to 75p when buying 24 or more and a mere 72p when buying 100!  Value for money or what ?

The view from inside the tray

I did buy a dozen or so cavalry from the range too (still unpainted after fifteen years!) - again cheap at £1.80 each or £1.50 when buying eight . 
I'm sure that when I bought these, alongside all my pirates, I was trying to emulate someone else's game with a central island/town etc. in a grand treasure-hunt or similar. There was one thing that I was a bit disappointed with when I re-discovered them - although they looked finished, they weren't!
There's not a lot to do on them, they're fairly usable as they are and at least the bases have been finished (Bases - Bah, the bane of my life)

The Officer core

There's quite a variety of figures in the range though the left-most Officer in the photograph on the right would also make good piratical captains I don't thik he's originally part of the range.
I'm fairly sure that some aficionados among the readership will spot inaccuracies with regard to uniforms etc, but this range is a generic range. Mine are painted up to represent British forces, but could just as easily represent the other major powers in the Caribbean (Spain, France etc.)

Drummers (Who'd have guessed )

The colour choice of coat-lining, turn-ups etc. was based on my local regiment of fusiliers that had 'Gosling green' facings, rather than the all-too familiar blue of 'royal regiments.
Drummers of course wore reverse colours, hence mine all have green coats with red facings.
The units that can be seen in the top photograph all have a drummer present save for the 'Grenadier' unit (I don't know why - I may have been under the impression they didn' have them).

The NCOs and Ensign

A well as the Officers, there are also NCO  figures armed with a Halberd and one suitable as a ensign - though I haven't decided upon which flag I would use.
The stances of he NCOs do show the fairly limited number of poses (something I like) and whilst the standard line infantry have firing poses I've opted to to have any.

Showing the two poses I use for the foot figures

I opted for marching figures and figures with ported weapons as they match nicely with the NCOs
These jolly fine chaps fit in really well with the majority of my pirate figures, they're well proportioned and don't have stubby looking muskets, these look great, even if their bayonets aren't fixed.
The grenadiers I intended to have striped stockings and would be used as marines, - yet another bit of painting yet to be done!

And that's it for another week, one day I may find the cavalry figures I bought way back when and may even get them painted up, but don't hold your breath!

Thanks for taking the time to visit and as always your comments are both welcomed and appreciated.

Move Along

Random photo of my gladiator collection to fill space..

The subject of the post should really have said, "Move along please there's nothing to see here" which would say it all really (but was a tad too long). The reality is that I've been unable to do anything hobby-related during the last week due to real life issues.
I've travelled the length of the country to a funeral (and suffered the resulting hangover) and after a quick turn-around arrived home to receive my relatives from Canada whom #2 son was babysitting. Next up was a wedding and meeting two of my cousins whom I hadn't see for about forty years or so.

Assorted beasts for the arena - Lion steaks anyone ?

Next up, with not nearly enough sleep, it was off to meet another relative arriving from Canada (luckily our house is big enough to accommodate all these newly arrived foreigners).
 The latest guest arrived today, so no proper blog this week - as I'm sure you've already guessed.
(I've thrown a couple of pics from my Gladiator project on here to pad this out - just in case you were wondering - everyone likes piccies right?).

Victory! (How I'm feeling getting this post done)

So, apologies whilst I back-track and catch up with all your blogs posts that I've missed commenting upon in the last week or so - I promise I'll try and catch up, as time allows between the compulsory bouts of entertaining I'm compelled to do.

In other news I have found the promised opposition to my pirates and given the opportunity (they're in one of the now occupied guest rooms) to photograph them, they may well feature next week (fingers crossed).





That's it then for this week, thanks for taking the time to visit and as always your comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Border Reiver 2016

Large Celts v Romans affair

A dismal, rainy, Saturday morning saw #1 son and myself set off for 'Border Reiver', the closest show to where I live (though still in the South) at the Gateshead Stadium. Whether it was the weather, timing or general apathy I did think the show was low on numbers than previously.
There was the a good number of traders covering a wide range of wargame goodies and most had  a constant trickle of punters after their wares from what I could make out.

Close up of the above game.

The games were varied from many points of view. there were large and small, historic and fantasy, skirmish and army-sized, on land and sea and in the air! My favourite being a Celts versus Roman battle put on by two very great guys. I just wish my photographs did their game justice!
The lighting in the hall played havoc with my limited(very) photographic skill and many of my pics have a yellow aura about them, despite my best efforts with photoshop. (I'm not the only one to 'suffer' this effect btw).

Large Napoleonic battle.

As one would expect the games varied as much in quality of presentation (read effort) and a few did have some unpainted figures on show.
The viking game looked interesting, despite the right angled river! (Something I don't mind btw)

Large representation of Cannae - in 15mm iirc

Photograph right: Wall to wall figures being moved on turn one (I think they'd finished the move by the time I left, an hour later.
Ancients are not really my cup of tea.

Good looking game set in Vietnam

All homemade vehicles and terrain

 The fantasy element was well represented, my friend Stuart having a huge table showing off his scratchbuilt terrain, vehicles and monster robot type things (Titans I'm reliably informed) for a huge Warhammer-like game.
Another featured a 'football' type game set upon a huge galleon, whilst another featured a 'classic' elf/dragon affair, though don't quote me on it.

Fantasy football on a ship. (And why not)

Great looking French - Indian War game.

Great looking Dead Man's Hand game, using car buildings

Wings of War

Fantasy game

What of the loot you ask? Well truth be told I purchased not a jot.#1 son bought a book of Rapid Death Fire scenarios for use with his Flames of War games and other than beverages that was it!
I did have a good time though, the Traders were great to chat to (as always) and those running the games that I took an interest in were all welcoming and informative too.
Best part of the day though was seeing friends that I hadn't seen for a year or so - worth the entrance fee alone!

Next week, real life threatens to interfere with getting a post out, but I will try and make the effort!

Thanks for taking the time to visit and as always your comments are both welcomed and appreciated.