Back to the Balkans

I hadn't looked at my Balkan figures for ages so last night I got them out. Oh dear how much do I regret neglecting them for so long. I also regret running out of the bases I normally use. The figures on Precision steel bases are fine but the ones on MDF are all over the place. The result is 3 file boxes filled with heaps of figures. I am thinking of glueing steel bases to the bottoms of the MDF bases. It will raise them by a mill or so but it has to be better than constant damage and repairs.
I have also lost some Bulgarians! I know I painted at least a battalion of Minifig Russians wearing greatcoats but can't find them anywhere.
I am off to work on Monday so don't have much time left but when I get back I must be disciplined and crack on.

Sitrep sort of.

Well it has been so long since there have been any posts I thought it better to post something rather than nothing. There has just been no time for the Balkans for a while. At the club we have been playing a few 38 or pirate games. Nothing too heavy or serious.
On top of everything else I have talked myself into two new projects this year. The first is with Disco Dave and is The Crimean war in 20mm. I initially was just providing French but am now also doing at least a brigade of Russians. The French unfortunately have stalled after the first battalion. The Russians however are coming on Great guns. I have managed a unit of Cossack infantry and two battalions of Russian line quite quickly.To be honest the Russians are quite quick to churn out. They are all wearing Greatcoats and seem to have a minimum of equipment.
The second project is a Roman civil war in 25s. I started this as Big Mark has a Roman army and no opponents. I have been buying painted Foundry figs from a guy on Ebay. The poor guy is having to move house after being injured by a hit and run driver. I am guessing he is downsizing so is having to get rid off a lot of stuff. The figs are well but basically painted by a painting service in York. I have just been tidying them up and putting on some LBM shield decals. That and a coat of magic dip has really made a difference. I managed something like 70 figs in two days.
I will take some pics later but am having to nip into town.
Mike

After the Battle Athens December 1944

Issue no 155 of this magazine covers the British involvement in Greece at the end of WW2. Great edition of the magazine filled with before and after photos. It gives a good background too and description of the fighting. Well worth getting.

oops!

Oh dear, no posts since June last year, Absolutely shocking sorry about that. But to be honest the Balkans have been last thing on my mind last year. I had all the build up to and attended my brothers wedding. Although it was held on Corfu there wasn't much for the Balkan history buff. Possibly not the first Grecoscots wedding but a first for me. The Greek traditional dancing wearing kilts was pretty unusual.
Mike

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.

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.

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.