Blown Away

If you haven't seen it yet, pop over to Brigade Model's blog and look at the report of the weekend's Aeronef gaming - some rather fetching looking aerial warships in action!  You'll also see the new 2mm fortifications in play.
http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Blog/2014/07/blown-away/

Pic from Brigade Models blog at the link above

Thoughts on Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun (IHMN)

Mr Amazon delivered this goody to my door last week and I've been immersed in its pages ever since.  Its very similar in style to the first supplement Heroes, Villains and Fiends, and is jam packed with new companies, descriptive texts, a few new weapons and even a gunboat design.

I particularly like the Royal Navy Landing Party which is a very different take to my own Armoured Naval Landing Parties (which one may find at this blog).  Mine were designed to be heavily armed parties landed from capital ships, while these ones are more ad-hoc gunboats crews at the ready to storm ashore.

On the down side, I think the addition of some colour artwork and pics of new figs would help fire the imagination but this was clearly a deliberate decision to maximise the written content (as seen here).  However, you certainly can't complain about the amount of great written content that was packed in instead.

[EDIT: Author Craig Cartmell has subsequently advised me that they didn't have any choice about the artwork, so I think they made the best of it by adding more written content instead]

Overall, if you are into IHMN this is a must get addition to your collection.

The Queen's Martian Rifles

Just finished this little known book by M.E. Brines, delivered to me by Amazon this week and which delivers a cracking good yarn.  

The Queen's Martian Rifles are an Infantry Battalion based on Mars and defend the British quarter of the European Conclave in the Martian Capital.  Along with contingents from the Royal and French Navies, and some foreign chaps from La Legion Etrangere, they protect the trading outpost that the Earthmen have with the technologically backward Martians.  But life is a dull on the Red Planet where nothing much ever happens- until the High Priests start getting Johnny Martian all excited and upset that is!

I really enjoyed this book, which is very much in the Space 1889 genre.  I won't give anything away but there are some scenes in it which are gratifyingly reminiscent of some of the classic movies I know appeal to many readers of this blog.  Its got a few overly religious undertones but they don't detract badly, and neither do the numerous typesetting issues along the way (it looks like a low budget, style production).

Overall, a most enjoyable and recommended yard that will have to reaching for your Space 1889 books with glee.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1491289449/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Steampunk Soldiers

Just found this upcoming title on pre-order on Amazon.
Looks like it might be worth the wait until November, just in time for one's Christmas stocking!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steampunk-Soldiers-Osprey-Philip-Smith/dp/1472807022

Happy Birthday to me!

While I'm unlikely to enjoy much gaming on my imminent journey,  I took the liberty of treating myself to some new reading material to pack in my trunk.  

Should be sufficient to keep one amused  at least a little while methinks!

Pack yer kit- we're off to the Martian Frontier!

Artizan Designs have released four figures in their new Martian Frontier Force range.  I love Artizan figs and these models have their usual character and flair.  I can feel a new IHMN company coming on - Queen's Own Parhoon Rifles anyone?
http://www.artizandesigns.com/list.php?man=22&cat=157&sub=209&page=1

In the meantime my batman is currently packing my steam in kit and a portable drinks cabinet for a new voyage.  Not quite as far as the Red Planet, but to a far off location nonetheless.  Expect more interference with my Aethergram updates!

Bushveldt Carbineers?

Having pondered the new entries in Heroes, Villains and Fiends, I have been contemplating for some time putting together a Bushveldt Carbineers company, based on the irregular mounted contingent in the Boer War, formed to combat the Booer Commandos and which included many colonials including famous Aussie Harry "the Breaker" Morant.  (No idea what I'm talking about? Have a look here).  Anyway, I hadn't found the right figures that I was after so hadn't progressed it much.

South Australian Mounted Rifles, circa 1900 (pic from Australian War Memorial)

So I was delighted recently to see a teaser at the In Her Majesy's Name blog of "Brumby's Marauders", an upgunned VSF version who seem to enjoy tearing around Asia and the Orient as mercenaries.  What a brilliant idea!  Cant wait to read the full entry for this new company in the upcoming second supplement, Sleeping Dragon, Rising Sun.

Read the teaser here:
http://inhermajestysname.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/sdrs-brumbys-marauders/

ANZAC Day

Heavy Steam

Over on Kickstarter is an interesting looking project called Heavy Steam

Heavy Steam is a steampunk themed strategy and resource management game that uses mechs called steam titans in miniature based combat

Set in a steampunk universe, Heavy Steam is a game about piloting a giant mechanical humanoid war machine of doom. As a pilot you use the steam titan’s resources to strategically complete scenario objectives. More often than not it’s to defeat your opponent, but you’ve never shied away from a fight, have you?

• In Heavy Steam you play the role of a pilot controlling your steam titian’s systems from the command center inside its head.
• Fully customize your steam titan: choose a robot, recruit your pilot, then customize with weapons of your choice.
• Plan ahead if you want to power your legs, weapons or other systems.
• The battle board is abstracted with easy to master combat.
• Event cards, terrain cards and other cards keep the game fresh and new every time you play.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/greenbriergames/heavy-steam?ref=live

Hearts of Oak - Part 4

Not much progress on my Royal Navy Armoured Landing Party of late, but here is a Pennyfarthing mounted scout I recently completed.  His extra mobility allows him to slip past more slovenly adversaries and beat the other chaps back to the bar after the battle! 28mm fig by Eureka Miniatures.

PS I didn't get to finishing my last unit for this force (an armed, 1 man dirigible) before I moved to the other side of the globe and was obliged to put my VSF goodies into storage for awhile.  Not to worry, I'm sure I will return with even more in due course!

8th Blog Birthday!

Well Huzzah and Hoorah, Yours in a White Wine Sauce is 8 years old today!
Break out the brandy and cigars Gentlemen!

All Quiet on the Martian Front Playtest

Miles has posted some great pics and thoughts on a recent test game he played of this game.  I managed to resist the Kickstarter because nobody else around me was interested and its in a scale I don't usually use.  I'm now starting to really regret that decision.
http://lairoftheubergeek.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/all-quiet-on-martian-front-playtest.html

Hearts of Oak - Part 3

This is the land ship HMS FEARNOUGHT.  It is a small, three wheeled steam contraption which can be landed to support Royal Navy's Armoured Landing parties ashore.

It has variable armament with either a water cooled machine gun or, as shown here, a light field gun which increases the weight of the vehicle overall. 

The model is by Ironclad Miniatures with a resin hull and turret, and white metal cast wheels and gun.
I have remodelled the back end with a stratch built funnel and support struts.

Usuthu!!!!

Learned gentlemen and long time readers of this humble blog will know that today is the anniversary of the Zulu War Battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift in 1879 (see here).  But today is extra special as it is also the 50th Anniversary of the classic movie of the latter battle, Zulu.

Stop whatever you are doing, pour yourself youself a generous Gin and Tonic, and watch the movie to celebrate.  I am!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532420/A-salute-Zulu-A-spell-binding-story-raw-courage-NO-gore-NO-political-correctness-NO-swaggering-Yanks-great-British-war-film-50th-anniversary.html

Brigade Models New Year Sale

Instead of a Christmas Sale, those dapper chaps at Brigade Models are having a Happy New Year Sale! 15% off until 31 Jan- enjoy!

http://www.brigademodels.co.uk/Ranges.html