Thursday 23 June 2011

Some new figures and a game.




Last week at the club we were mulling over what game to put on this week. I suggested a Balkan war game, hoping it would provide some sort of stimulus and get me painting again. It worked quite well as I managed to paint another Bulgarian battalion and a small unit of cavalry in just a week.






The massed Bulgarians.




The game gave me a chance to use my new river sections and bridge bought of Ebay. They look quite flimsy but are OK on the table.







I found a couple of packs of Peter Pig Russian cavalry in a drawer. I painted them as life guards as thought they would add a touch of much needed colour.









Monday 2 May 2011

There and back again.

I got back from two weeks at work last night. As usual I was up and about far to early this morning. I was awake at 0330 most mornings at work but managed to sleep until 0500 this morning. Must have been that Red wine last night that gave me that extra couple of hours. The good news is that I managed to get some painting done and finally finished the first Bulgarian regiment and started the second. Pictures later today. I was also thinking I haven't photographed any of the Eureka Greeks. So will take some pics of those as well.

Friday 15 April 2011

Osprey Men at arms 466


Armies of the Balkan Wars 1912-13, The priming charge for the Great war to give it it's full title. Arrived on my doorstep this morning. I've only had a chance to give it a quick look over but my first thoughts are positive. It is a basic introduction to the Balkan wars with some really nice photos that I hadn't seen before. The colour plates are also very well done and atmospheric. You could probably go ahead and paint any Balkan army using these alone. Which I suppose is the main strength of Osprey books that they are a one stop shop giving just enough info for those that just want that. I was however struck at how thin the book is. At 48 pages it is more a pamphlet than a book. A bargain price of £6.99 from Amazon though means that it is a must.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Bulgarian Krupp armoured field gun


A chap in Athens who I had been chatting with on another forum kindly took this snap for me. That was some time ago and unfortunately I lost his details. A big thanks to him though as I had lost all the pictures I took on my last visit. I approached Nic with the idea of producing these in resin and lead. But the cost was a bit much even for me. To be honest I don't think it would be a big seller. I must get over to Athens again sometime.

Friday 4 March 2011

Minifigs Vs Peter Pig

As you know last month I ordered figures from both Peter Pig and Minifigs. Both orders arrived on the Saturday before I left for work. So I didn't get a chance to more than glance at them. Service from both companies was both good and quick. Although Minifigs delivery was slightly quicker being ordered a few days after and arriving on the same day as the Peter Pig. Both companies sent mails to confirm the orders and to tell me they had been despatched. The Peter Pig figures were as usual very well packed as were the Minfigs. The minifigs surprised me though as they come in little paper bags like a quarter of sweeties. They are still listed in packs on the website but I am guessing you can buy them individually. As well as the figs I ordered some other bits and pieces including field guns from both companies. Both were a bit of a dissapointment. From Peter Pig one gun had a miscast barrel while the other had only one wheel. Giving me one gun from two packs, Not good. Unfortunately the Minifigs gun has so much flash on it I haven't been bothered to put it together. I also ordered Maxim gins from Minifigs. These look ideal as they are supplied with a seperate shield which I can leave off. Lovely clean casting of bot gun and crew apart from one glaring problem. The firer has no face! I don't just mean a poorly sculpted face I mean a completely flat plug of metal where a face should be. I'm thinking a headswap may be in order so will have an ambulance on standby.

Monday 28 February 2011

God save the King


Our Commander in Chief King Constantine.

Back




I got back from my latest trip offshore this afternoon. I had hoped to keep up the blog while away. But unfortunately the wireless was pretty limited so wasn't able to post any updates. So to make up for it here are some pics of my Greek air support. Its a Corgi Bleriot XI in near enough 15mm.

Monday 31 January 2011

Interesting thread on Evzones

http://http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?106055-The-Greek-Presidential-Guard

Peter Pig Bulgarian Battalion


I finally finished the bases on the first Peter Pig Russian Battalion. The battalion consists of 3 companies with 12 figs each. Plus a MG company and Battalion command. I have another 2 companies waiting on undercoat and have also ordered enough figures to complete an infantry regiment.

Thursday 27 January 2011

First Bulgarian battalion

I have just about finished my first Bulgarian unit and decided to order my next one. This time I decided to try a Minfig WW1 Russian figure available from Caliver books.
http://www.miniaturefigurines.co.uk/images/catalogue/1WR.jpg

It is a nice plain advancing figure but with what looks like enough detail for the tabletop. I will paint this battalion when it arrives and then make my final decision.
I also checked out the Irregular Balkan 15mm range. Although some of the figures look OK and they are certainly cheap enough. They were just a bit to basic even for me. Saying that they might be OK in the flesh so should try and check them out at a show.

Uphellyaa

It has been slow going on the Balkan fron this week. Real life has intervened a bit to hold me back. Also this week it was the Lerwick Uphellya. For those that don't know what Uphellya is. It is a Viking fire festival celebrated in Lerwick on the last Tuesday in January. It really has very little to do with Vikings but as far as I know was dreamed up to give a vent to the exuberant crowds of young men that liked to dress up and brandish firearms in the town centre. In the years after the Napoleonic wars Shetland was seemingly awash with guys who had been pressganged and then years later came home with little thought off settling down or respect for authority.
An existing winter festival was picked where people already guized. That is the men used to dress up, often in womens clothes. Groups off guizers were formed called Jarl squads led by a Jarl. The Jarl would be somebody off note in the community and would often have previously spent years as a squad member. In the course of the year the squad meet often to practice and make their outfits and have a drink. So now all that energy that used to be spent running about with flintlocks annoying people and making noise nowadays is spent in more worthwhile persuits. In the year that each Jarl reigns they and their squad carry out worthwhile tasks like visiting the old or sick in hospital and visiting schools that sort of thing.
Those guizers who aren't members of Jarl squads still guize in squads where they dress in fancy dress and perform a wee play or song and dance routine. These usually have some basis on something that has happened in Shetland over the last year.

Friday 21 January 2011

Bulgarian Battalion size

I ordered the Micromark army lists covering the Balkan wars the other day and they arrived this morning. Good fast service and quite interesting products. My only concern is that the Bulgarian Infantry division list covers 1912 to 1918 which was quite a period of change in the Balkans. It also shows an infantry battalion being made of 4 companies of 263 men. I had always believed that the Bulgarian battalion was originally made up of 6 companies. Which is why they were quite hard hitting certainly in the First Balkan war. I need to find out when the change took place as the size of the battalion is obviously going to have a big impact on my games and my wallet.

Peter Pig Bulgarian Infantry


Last night I finished a test base of the Peter Pig Russian inf painted as Bulgarians. I painted them in the tobacco brown uniform. I also tried to give the illusion that he was wearing Opanci shoes and leggings. I'm not sure if it really worked and I am maybe just as well giving them boots. I quite like the figures and think they will look good in big units. They also do Cavalry and artillery crews that would fit in. But the Russian Maxim is the wrong version. It is the one with the gun shield which the Bulgarians didn't use as far as I know.

Friday 14 January 2011

Eurekaka!

About 5 or so years ago I approached Nic of Eureka miniatures with the idea of adding Greeks to his small Balkan range. The plan was simple enough if I covered some of the costs Nic would produce the range and I would get my investment back in figures. And that is more or less how it worked. The development time was about a year. There were plenty of mails to and fro checking uniform details and discussing possible poses. My problem was that I wanted all the possible troop types which can getexpensive. Nic convinced me that we should have more than 1 pose for each type and I am now glad he did. Anyway shortly after an eye watering credit card bill I received a large box from Australia. Finally here was my Greek army as I had always imagined it. The figures are lovely slim figures with fine detail and incredible faces. Every time I get some out to paint I find something new to admire. I just wish there wasn't quite so many of them.

Thursday 13 January 2011

Peter Pig WW1 Russians


The Aussie Dollar to Pound exchange rate has made buying large amounts of Eureka Bulgarians a tad expensive. A shame really as I would love to support this range more. So casting around for suitable figures I ordered a battalion of Peter Pigs Russian figures. They arrived just before Christmas and I just had a chnace to base them before I left. My first thought was how small they seemed. They are nice castings with lots of detail but I think they are going to be a pain to paint. I like plain figures with lots flat areas, simple soul that I am. I know it is hard to tell from the photograph what they are like. I will paint this company and post some better pics. Then I will decide if I am going to buy more.
Mike

Apologies.

I am sorry there hasn't been much in the way of posts or movement forward in painting recently. But the Christmas holidays were particularly busy as we unexpectedly had relatives staying. The painting I had planned was put on the back burner but I did get some basing done. I have also just returned for my regular two weeks on the Byford Dolphin. Where I can plan and think but unfortunately can't get any painting done. I should maybe think about smuggling out paints and figures but to be honest I am usually in bed by Nine.
Mike