Fort Wayne.

A couple of months ago I started gluing sticks together and Fort Wayne began to take shape.

 This all came about due to a conversation early last year between my mate Wayne and I over needing a fort for our Southern Strategists group for our FIW games. I thought, this sounds like something that I could have a go at, so after a year of procrastinating I made a start.
Because it was Wayne's idea I have named it after him and it now resides in his wargames room.


The base is made from 3mm MDF with a textured plaster covering, the walls are sanded strips of balsa wood and the lift off roof is made from card tiles.

I made the walkway around the fort rather wide to help accommodate our figure's bases.

 There are wall sections that are the same size as the building to allow for it to be part of the wall or placed within the walls or left out altogether.

 The gates are hinged so that they could be left open or closed.

 The card tiled roof can be removed to allow for the placement of figures within the building.

I also made up a couple of stands of damaged wall section for when the attacker finally breaks in.

The fort saw action back in March when we had our first FIW game
http://southern-strategists.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/28mm-french-indian-war-battle.html and
http://dispatchesfromthemess.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/french-indian-war.html

Building in ruins

I started making some ruined buildings, mainly for our WW1 games. I'm keen to fight some skirmish level games at some point (no rules yet), so I have made them more closely to 28mm scale than I would for battalion or regimental type games that really require a smaller foot print.

The main ingredients were foamcard, DAS modelling clay (for the brickwork), cardboard and balsa wood. I have another couple to finish of yet and will post some photos of them when they are complete.

A group of British troops moving in for a closer look.

German officers confer in the courtyard.

German command making use of the roof area for observation.

British troops in defence.

Roof and upper floor sections are removable to allow for the placement of figures.

There is a little bit of rubble inside the building too.

Napoleonic RHA.

Another Christmas present finally painted up. This time it is the Royal Horse Artillery in 28mm. When I first saw them I couldn't wait to get paint on them but I really struggled to get them done.

Scots Greys in support.

Foot and horse artillery with some infantry lurking in the background.

All the artillery figures are Front Rank.

ANZAC Day.

Today is the day that Kiwis and Aussies take a moment or two to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for YOU and ME. Make some time today to think of the many men and women who have given their lives for their country.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

A very old postcard that I have with a photo of ANZAC Cove on the front.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

We will remember them.

1st Year and WW2 Tommies.

Today is my blogs" First Year Anniversary" and what a year it has been. I have really enjoyed  the blog and following some  outstanding blogs that are out there. The most striking thing about having a blog , for me, is the feeling of friendship that comes from sharing in a common pursuit. I never thought about this side of blogging and was really surprised how quickly I felt I was getting to know people from all over the world. To all of you who are followers, thank you very much. It is very humbling to know that so many people are interested in what is happening in my wargaming world. A special thanks to everyone who has commented too, I really appreciate your comments and advice.


Back at the start of the year Gav from http://tabletoptactician.blogspot.com/ gave me a sprue of Valiant Miniatures WW2 British "Tommies". I soon realised that even after 40+ years of gaming I had never painted any WW2 Brit's! I have owned plenty of the old Airfix and ESCI figures, just never painted them. Although these figures are labelled as 1:72 scale they are in fact a slightly larger scale than that. Nevertheless, I was pleased with the results and ended up taking another sprue from Gav and all 8 of the  Para heads that came in the box.
So, here are some pic's of my recently painted WW2 Tommies. Thanks Gav.

Some of the command figures.

PIAT team.

Mortars.

The Para conversions.

More Mortars.

Bren gunner.

Thanks again guys for all the support.

Goreham's Rangers

By 1761 Goreham's ( or Gorham's) Rangers had adopted a reversible uniform that was a red coat with brown facings and linings. As a result I have painted mine both ways. Painted a few years ago, actually at about the same time as I painted Roger's Rangers! However last week they finally got to have their first battle.

In action for the first time.

Manning the walls of Fort Wayne.

Covering a breach in the walls of Fort Wayne.

Roger's Rangers also in action for the first time.

Figures are from Front Rank.