Where did that month go? Scorchio and Sinistria...

Alarmingly I noted a couple of weeks ago that my last post was at the start of the month...

However, I've been struggling  to post anything, as Chez Moi it has not been that interesting....

In between work and an unseasonable heat wave in the UK,  I had done little more than finish off preparing the last two proper "armies" for  the Soldier King project; while in itself that's something of a milestone, sadly I'm still some way from finishing the project.

I have been converting some figures for "rebels" (a random event in the game) who will also do as civilian militia. Finalising the recruitment system, it does mean some armies are not yet at maximum size, notably the Electoral states and Estavia. The latter needs another brigade of infantry and an additional cavalry unit, the former is undecided.

Braving the heat (to paraphrase the Fast Show -"Scorchio!) and  the perils of paint drying on the palette or brush before reaching the figures, I have managed some painting. I didn't bring out my home made wet palette - I find it dilutes the paint which is problematic for block painting on a black undercoat in a toy soldier style.

The first unit of Sinistria has mustered out, infantry with retained Grenadiers (head conversions). The army is heavily based of Freikorps von Favrat - a short lived Prussian FK - gunners and LI will mimic Russian units - add in the concept of the Black Brunswickers in the Napoleonic wars and you have the "Black Brigades" of Sinistria....

I'm hoping for a "quick win" on this army, as with a black undercoat, coats, hats and gaiters are already done...

Hopefully, more soon....

Progress report and new temptations

Progress on the Soldier King project continues - the small armies of Sinistria and Dupanen have been cleaned up, prepared and in the case of Sinistria (bar one foot regt - due to a miscalculation) undercoated in black. Dupanen suffered delays as during preparation I broke bits off two hussars and standard bearer and a grenadier - brittle plastic - always a hazard with these old figures.

Fortunately I have the uniforms and flags mapped out to some extent so unlike Waldow, I should be able to get on with them relatively quickly. Both are small armies of 8 units + gun and staff.

After that, I have some rebels / militia to convert and finish (some are already done), Estavian and Imperial additions which should fill the existing boxes. Anything after that would be as a result of campaigns - before anyone asks - it's planned but I currently lack anywhere to actually play games....

As a further distraction / temptation, I have discovered a new range of figures for the French Wars of Religion - Hugenots v Catholics, Reiter, Landesknecht in Plunderhosen, Millers, battle of Dreux and all that...

I have been vaguely interested since seeing an article in an early edition of Battle for Wargamers magazine and a little while ago was musing over the early Wargames Foundry wars of Religion range and Essex Miniatures Spanish in the way that wargamers do....

The new range are from Pete Smith, well known for his marvellous flags:

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=256946546227&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211&_ssn=petes_flags

They are apparently nearer to 18mm than 15mm, at present only infantry are available but when I contacted Pete he sent me some pictures of greens for the cavalry sent to the mould maker - artillery and more cavalry, Millers, Spanish etc to follow. At present on eBay, Pete is setting up a dedicated webstore and sells via another platform.

Pictures from eBay and Pete Smith.

French, Landesknecht and Royal Swiss foot - shot, pike and command, see eBay for pack contents and prices.

 

Pete tells me he is trying to resist doing Irish! He already has a Flodden Scots range in 28mm.

I'm trying to resist but I have a feeling some of these may make their way into the lead pile....

Partizan 2025

Last Sunday was Partizan at the Newark Showground. I managed a flying visit arriving just after 12 and leaving around 3.30. It was very busy and towards the end the main hall got quite warm. This year they had a marquee at the entrance with a few traders and games and a section where people could rent a table to sell their unwanted items.

When I did realise what the marquee was for, I have to say the sellers were few and far between with nothing of interest, it was however nice and cool!

I only picked up stuff from about 3 traders and tried to photograph as many games as I could. By the time I'd got to the end of the "demonstration zone" I was flagging; a combination of struggling to get near tables or through narrow gaps between tables with lots of people about. Although I ended up with over 60 photos, many were only sections of the table. I have thus limited to what I think are the most photogenic = there are plenty of blogs and videos out there.

Operation Battleaxe Gordon's Gophers

League of Augsburg "Dutch Courage" - Dutch raid on French Caribbean island

Chesterfield Old Boys WW2 Eastern Front

Westbury Wargamers Reconquista

Yarkshire Gamer Germantown AWI

6MM Wagram

League Gentlemen Anti-Alchemists Wake Island 192? Pulp US v Japan

Bill Gaskin SYW

Billhooks

Paperboys ACW

Bodkins WotR

Rome v Persia

ACW nice building and backdrop

TtS Simon Millar Marlburian

Shout out to James Morris who not only spoke to me but found me a spot to take pics - Midgard Mount Badon Arthur v Saxons

French v Dutch Louis XIV period (nice notice board)

Boondock Sayntes Aiwal Anglo -Sikh War

Nice Mexican Western terrain

Perry Twins - Spain - Peninsula Nappy game (difficult to get close enough to take pics)

French Revolution - Fleurus? Nice Hexon terrain - lots to make those hills!

Some impressive 3D printed ancients - Blitzkrieg Miniatures - the ones in the foreground were 60mm!

Purchases were limited - assorted Italian / British and French from EWM and some Blue Moon 15mm Mexican Revolution from Old Glory. I also picked up a copy of Strength & Honour.

Socialising was limited to a chat with the talented Andy MacMaster (Another Slight Diversion blog https://blog.belisarius.org.uk/) and an eventual rendezvous with David Barnes (Ragged Soldier blog https://russetcoatcpt.blogspot.com/2025/05/partizan-show-gang-was-all-there.html) accompanied by his friend Dave (St Cyr on Wheels blog https://stcyronwheels.blogspot.com/). Edit - I had forgotten I'd spoken to Martin Rapier (The Games we play blog https://tgamesweplay.blogspot.com/) it probably shows how frazzled I was!

I had almost given up looking for David but managed to spot him just before I gave up and left - being a bit worn and hot by then - I was able to pass on a book he expressed an interest in.

All in all a good day but I wonder if Partizan is outgrowing the current hall - a bigger marquee would not be a bad idea!