Jungle Tutorial

A neat article on how to make simple but effective jungle features on old CDs:

http://www.rattrapproductions.com/speakeasy/viewtopic.php?p=4787

Ogrefencer's VSF Madness, Part 2

More pics of the Grand Spectacle that was the South East Essex Military Society's Land Ironclad free-for-all!

STATE VISIT OF THE AUSTRALIAN NAVAL ATTACHE

FURTHER DETAILS RELEASED BY HM GOVERNMENT

With the impending visit to our shores of a senior member of the Australian Navy it has been revealed that our very own bon vivant, raconteur, socialite and all round sportsman Lord Royston of Rayleigh has graciously offered to provide a day of entertainment for our esteemed guest, away from the rigours of high office. When interviewed for the local marconiphone Lord Royston, as befitting a man of such sporting prowess, had very kindly offered a day of shooting, hounds, fly fishing, bare knuckle fighting, fencing and boxing but, after consultation with the admiralty settled for more cerebral matters such as assembling the appropriate titles for the Australian Navy library and discussing the finer points of international gunboat diplomay and whether or not the liquid refreshment known as Boddingtons is in fact better than Shepherd Neame. Aeronef construction techniques and the future role of our gallant chaps when operating alongside such mechanical marvels as the Landship will also feature; albeit in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. This, and many other topics of equal import will provide a welcome relief from the serious duties that bring our cousin from across the sea to these shores.

Lord Royston, as was his wont, went on to say "All work and no play makes Jack a dull dingo or some such nonsense. The poor fellow will need some sport what?We will have a roistering session around some very genteel and cultured parts of this great metropolis (Lord Royston was winking furiously at this point, probably due to some old and tiresome eye injury gained whilst hunting on Veldt) and damnation to the Queens enemies!"

Well said in our opinion and if there is a man in the empire to provide a suitable days diversion than it must surely be that epitome of manly virtue, that paragon of fair play and victor across many a sports field and bar: Lord Royston of Rayleigh, KBC, VC, Order of the Golden Camel with crossed Palm Leaves, Croix de Guerre, Iron Coss, YIAWWS.

Ogrefencer's VSF Madness, Part 1

Ogrefencer has used his wiley skills to convince his local gaming group to indulge in a little 28mm landironclad battle royale - excellent! Good work matey!

Here are some pics from the first encounter, though he notes that it was a trial run and for that reason they used a white table cloth with squares marked off for movement.

More pics to follow...

More Blackhawks Down!

My mate Owen, who came up for CANCON, has posted more pics of the Blackhawk Down demo game we played in. You'll find them at his new blog; the Predator's Lair...

http://predatorlair.blogspot.com/

Karsten's Aeronef Fleet

A gentleman is as good as his word, and have no doubt that Karsten is that.

As promised on the weekend, he has sent me some pics of his German Aeronef fleet (figs by Brigade) click for larger images

Thanks Karsten, they look great. I especially like the Digs and the WW1-esque cam scheme.

International Conference scheduled

Envoys from the Home Office and the Colonies will convene a seminar next week in London to discuss a coordinated strategy to simulatenoeusly defeat the Russian menace in Asia, pacify the Turks, insult the Swiss, ignore the French, titter at girls and sneer at the Prussians.


Indications are that these discussions will be followed in quick succession by the inaugural inter-Regimental drinking competition with the winner awarded large estates in Africa and a gunboat flotilla armed with Nordendfelts and crewed by local lovlies- it should be a cracking good time!

The Officers of the 3rd Saxon-Wantabees Dragoons Regiment are anticipated to come dead last in the forthcoming Guiness boat-races competition and be forced to endure the humilating de-bagging ceremony in the Mess

No doubt the envoys will also discuss matters of little lead men and exchanges of goodies will be done - Who know what else else can happen when Tas finally makes the personal acquaintance of Ogrefencer!

CANCON 2008

A quiet weekend from me with no posts from me for two good reasons:

1. Jan 26 is Australia Day, our National Birthday and great cause for BBQ, Beers and celebration; and

2. This weekend was the premier Australian Wargaming convention, CANCON, organised by the Canberra Games Society and held just a few Kms from my house http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl7cnm/Flyer.pdf


Long time subscribers may recall that I went last year and had a ball with the kids http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/01/cancon-splendid-day-out.html). I was just reading that post and saw my comments "Sadly my mate Owen, who had planned to come up for the weekend and the Con, had to cancel at the last minute. There is always next year though right?". Well this indeed this year was the year and he did made it up for a cracking great time.



There wasnt much in the way of VSF, though I did spy a nice Boxer Rebellion style game. Owen and I played in a great demo scenario of Mogadishu in 1994, as famously portrayed in the movie "Blackhawk Down!". The terrain, figs and vehicles were fantastic, and the rules were fast and quick playing. We did even worse than the movie writers thought the Americans did and had a ball doing it. And yes, more than one Blackhawk crashed, as unlikely as the odds were for that!



Over the weekend I also met up with friends old and new, including Nic of Eureka Miniatures (http://www.eurekamin.com.au/), Mike of Battlefield Accessories (http://members.optusnet.com.au/carolynparker/mmmain.htm), Mick from Mick's Metal Models (http://www.micksmetalmodels.com/), who among other ranges is the Australian distributor for Peter Pig, and Greg of Cannon Fodder miniatures (http://www.canfodmins.com/) who made all the Somali gunmen for the demogame (and they were good shots too!). Needless to say, money was spent and goodies were brought home...

I also was reacquainted with Karsten whom I met last year and who has promised me pics of his and his mates' newly finished Aeronef fleets!

So a great weekend of gaming, gaming shopping and seeing my mate - thanks for coming up buddy!

Cheapsiders...

I've been pondering thrift in wargaming of late and have these notions to offer:

For smoke stacks and piping, consider black drinking straws. They come in three basic sizes — sipping, standard, and jumbo. The precise diameter of the latter depends largely on the manufacturer.

Sipping:
http://shop.newyorkbarstore.com/Items/pty-01-stir-black-2000?
2000 for $6.95.

Standard:
http://shop.newyorkbarstore.com/Items/PTY-04-STRAW-BLACK-700?
700 for $6.95 US.

Super, Jumbo, Mega...
http://www.westernplastics.net/index.php

And, while on the subject of "drinking accessories," prehistoric terrain can be supplemented with palm tree stirrers.

http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=20830&cat=314&page=1
Pillars in temples and government buildings can be represented by wedding cake decorations. The resin bits that some companies offer are more or less the same design but usually quite a bit more expensive.

http://www.bakedeco.com/dept.asp?id=242

I have long thought that land mines can easily be simulated by spent hearing aid batteries. Of course, unless you have a device that uses them, collecting a good number of them may require a bit of resourceful thinking.

Simiarly, the flint wheel in disposable lighters is — in essence — a gear. Both the battery and gear can also be used to add detail to vehicles and robots.

And this last idea isn't mine (and, to be honest, I forget to whom it belongs) — but I have heard of someone using dried fruit and beans to add "nodules" and mounts to spacecraft models.

Scratchbuilt Aeronef Fleet

Eli has posted pics of his home designed aeronef fleet which he scratch built predominantly from balsa. I think he has done a cracking job!

Actually, now I think of it they remind me a lot of GZG's New Swabian League ships from their Full Thrust Sci-Fi range.

Great job Eli!
http://leadpeople.blogspot.com/2007/12/fleets-gather.html

King Solomon's Mines

Here is the 1 hr 20min version from 1927 - free download!

http://www.archive.org/details/king_solomans_mine

Paul's Aeronef Page

A fantastic recent discovery by Joe of the silly 15mm VSFers (http://vsf15mm.blogspot.com/) is Paul's Wargaming site:

It seems Mssr Hooper and his merry bunch inspired pals have been busy playing, amongst other genres, Aeronef. They have amassed an impressive collection of models including some extensive scratchbuilds, including Portigese, Swiss and Barbary Pirate Fleets! And dont forget to check out the Spanish floating dock either (now there is challenge for you Mssr Vanvlak!)

Paul has also compiled some scenarios, home rules modifications, and a neat campaign map for you would-be Conquerors of Europe...

http://web.mac.com/phooper/Aeronef/Aeronef_Menu.html

Thanks for the insipring Fleets Paul&Co - I look forward to even more in the future!

20,000 hits!

It was only 2 months ago that WWS celebrated 10,000 hits and that milestone doubled this week to 20,000! I guess all that Chrstmas holiday time gave everyone a chance to do extra surfing :-)

I'm still rather stunned at the amount of traffic flowing through here and I'll take it as a sign that the team here are doing a good job - Huzzah and Thanks to All!

Tooth and Claw scenario

Jim at the Lost World Safari group writes:

For all potential Tooth and Claw gamers...The latest edition of WI has a scenario for Toth and Claw by Chris Peers titled "Into The Jaws of Death":

http://wargamesillustrated.net/shop.asp?sid=0&ssid=0&cid=0&id=428

I haven't had a chance to read through it yet but it looks pretty good, being designed as an introductory game for several players. I'll post a review once I've had a chance to read the scenario through properly.

Thanks Jim!

Garnet Joseph Wolseley

"La Coloniale" of the silly buggers Brigade at 15mmVSF Blog, has entered this stirling chap in the esteemed White Wine Sauce Hall of Esteemed Gentlemen!

You can read his biography at that blogsite here:

http://vsf15mm.blogspot.com/2008/01/garnet-joseph-wolseley.html