..almost two weeks since the last post (Freudian slip?) ... so sue me.... 😀 Time for a catch up on all things wargaming, then...
Why two weeks?? Too busy [clicky] with other stuff on a larger scale... always the same this time of year as I head towards launch date - and always a stretch, and something has to give...
However, I do have my Salute tickets which I'm looking forward to very much, but with the downside that my good wargaming buddy DG has decided is enough is enough for Salute and him, and has decided not to attend, too big, too difficult to get to, not enjoyable... not done a wargame show flying solo for some time... his decision has also forced a number of other changes in plan, that to be fair I was already thinking about... I shall be going by train (no one to share petrol/parking costs with) which will be an adventure... when I priced up tickets I was offered an amazing £10 return (I live on the south coast west of Chichester) but the bargain means I have to go on four specific trains, and they've routed me via Brighton - given Southern's recent performance I'll be amazed if I even arrive, never mind arrive on the day... 😀 Having said that even with the scenic detour the train should still take less time than driving, I get to put my feet up, I'll have a flask of coffee, my Kindle, and no numb-nuts cutting me up on the London orbital.. bliss
I have a shopping list already - paint is required - my trusty old bottle of Games Workshop "Flesh Wash" is nearing it's end, I dislike the replacements, and my research would indicate that Cote d'Arms sell it now (Ink Wash - Flesh (133) apparently) ... I have also pre-ordered a copy of Blitzkrieg Commander III - I've owned all the previous versions and it's still my preferred rules of choice for WWII big battles... I also fancy having a mooch for any 20mm ECW I can find.... and I'll take the camera.... my home train should also allow me just enough time for a couple of pints in the Dean Swift [clicky] so all in all I expect it to be a lovely day...
On the paint table - nothing is happening until I get to grips with the horrible horrible task that is gluing figures together for the next English Civil War regiment - I only have to do "pikes and heads", one can only imagine the fourth circle of hell that would be putting together a box of plastics with all those little bits, on multiple sprue's, yee god's, no thanks....
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| Fourth circle of hell personified.... |
Elsewhere, and slightly contentiously - no, not Brexit, but Facebook.... is it me or do the number of active Blogs seem to be shrinking, and is it because of a drift towards Facebook?? I've always resisted, but as a result of the huge clunkiness of what is now the Yahoo Group structure, I recently moved a sailing based group from Yahoo to Facebook, and it has totally revived the group - more posts, more interaction, a lot of them were already on it, etcetc. It was then just a small step from there to start adding my fellow Bloggers as "friends" (and there are a fair amount of them on Facebook!) and before you know it there is a veritable stream of wargaming (and sailing in my case) content being loaded on a daily basis.... I can see the attraction - writing a blog post, uploading the pictures, etcetc is a fairly time consuming activity, whereas with Facebook the act of posting is almost instantaneous, upload direct from your phone, like buttons to easily give feedback, etcetc. On the whole I would recommend it... and for those that worry about the amount of information Facebook want when you register? Just lie*....give false information and make your Blogger id your nick name.. done....
Also contentiously, I have identified another personal dislike (hate is too strong a word) to add to my existing list that comprises
- hexed based games (that's not wargaming, that's board gaming even if you do use miniature figures
), - plastic figures (just trust me .. it's an aspirational thing),
- miniatures with painted eyeballs (just why??)...
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| Battle hardened band of veteran soldiers getting ready to unleash hell |
Enough moaning.... time to get the next regiment ready....
*Facebook thinks I'm a 116..
I have the cote d'Arms ink and am not entirely happy with it. It seems a little thin. Try the Army Painter washes (not the tins but the ones in the squeezy bottles) which a darn good match for the GW versions.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Salute. It's a show that does not appeal to me. lots of interesting traders but you have to get near them in the first place and it always seems so busy.
Paul - noted - I read somewhere that Cote d'Arms had picked up all the original Citadel colours, and that is by far and away the one I use most ... may get both and do a comparison.... Salute is huge, and busy, and only one day, which makes it busier... but the buzz is astonishing....
DeleteFacebook thinks you're a 116? Size 116? "who ate all the pies, who ate..." ;)
ReplyDeleteI sort of agree on the flower tufts. They do have their uses for designating troop classes/types but should be used sparingly and unobtrusively; definitely not looking like the troops are wondering through a market garden on the Scilly Isles.
Tmasin - yeah yeah... it did make me chuckle that the application process allowed me to join with a birth date of 1/1/1901.... but hey ho.... computers are only as clever as the numptys that program them... as for the clumps of flowers it is an attempt to pretty'fy and sanitise something that has always been horrible - we read the histories, we know what it is was like, it was muddy, bloody, dirty and frightening, and not a flower in site that hadn't been crushed under foot, or eaten by the draught horses... Lord, listen to me.. :o)
DeleteHave fun at Salute :)
ReplyDeleteMyself, I am sticking with my blogs although they are quite dusty from the privations of the previous half-year. I use FB for monitoring gaming companies, and for Messenger to contact far-flung family members...
Greg
Greg - I'm still deciding what to do but largely at the moment I do the same as you... I quite like Blogging - it's more "permanent", and more like a "project book", whereas Facebook posts disappear into the morass almost as soon as you've made them....
DeleteSerendipity, I am just writing a post re blogs and the dearth of posts etc.You may have explained why there has been such a fall off.
ReplyDeleteRe Salute, I have attended the show by myself for the last few years, travelling by train from the North East. 'the ride is part of the adventure now. It can get a bit lonely traipsing around Salute by oneself, but there is always something to catch ones eye.
And talking of eyes, again I see no need for it. Thirty years ago it was almost compulsory, but most wargamers ended up with a Panda stare, only a few painters could pull it off. It just doesnt add anything to the figure for me.Good post.
Robbie - I look forward to your thoughts re dearth of posts.... ;o)
DeleteInteresting you noticed as well though so maybe it's not just me - I wonder if people are falling into the trap of writing for an audience rather than themselves???
Your post did make me chuckle! What colour flowers are you going to per chase?
ReplyDeleteCome along and say hello at the yet to be announced Bloggers meet up at Salute. I remember you said you watched from affar a few years ago?
Ray - any colour.... I'm not giving examples as that would be rude, but I have seen some uttlery brilliant paint jobs on armoured vehicles - mud spattered, weathered, battle ready, and advancing past a bunch of yellow red and white flowers.... pah....
DeleteAs for plastic figureS- could not agree more- though I don't actually mind putting metal one together Pretty flowers don't tend to last long on a battlefield so why bother- likewise eyeballs !!
ReplyDeleteAs for posts well- I've managed a couple after a bit of a gap . I'm gearing up for Salute so all is pretty hectic at OGUKHQ. Still a bit of pressure does you no harms- just as long as it is only a bit .....
Cheers Andy.. if you're not too busy I'll pass by and say hello.. quickly... I hate interrupting the flow of £20 notes... :o)
DeleteWhat, no flower tufts! I do like a touch of colour on my bases, but tend to use it sparingly. I have a lovely collection of assorted summer flowers :)
ReplyDeleteUnderstand your aversion to plastic multi part figures, but they are all the rage right now with Perry and Warlord games producing new sets all the time, they obviously sell very well indeed and a good plastic cement makes assembly a relatively simple job, far easier than stick metal heads onto metal figures with the dreaded superglue.
Enjoy Salute, I'm afraid it's far too busy for me.
Lee, that's ("too busy") DG's view as well this year hence the solo trip ... just bought some superglue accelerator for the next ECW regiment, wonder if that will help.. trust the Spanish preparations are going well..
DeleteI agree with you entirely on flowers and eyeballs. Despite his wonderful standard of painting I had to warn my friend Kevin East off both of them if he wanted to parade his units over my table!. I don't mind plastic figures, it's how you present and paint 'em that counts. And I don't consider writing a blog for an audience as "falling into a trap". Mostly I try to make my own blog interesting enough to pretend to be an article in a magazine and folks seem to like it. There are far too many blogs that seem to think you have to put up lots of short frequent posts just showing the next stage in your painting process - yes i know it started as "web log" but the internet has moved on now. Thank you for your interesting content most of the time.
ReplyDeleteChris http://notjustoldschool.blogspot.co.uk/
Chris - "most of the time"... LOL.. thanks for early morning chuckle.. :o)))
DeleteI have found with Facebook to only 'friend' people who put up wargames content. Anyone who gets political gets unfriended immediately! I find the rules and period specific groups good too. Also, manufacturers preview new products long before they get on their websites. I agree about flowers but not eyeballs! 50/50 on plastics. I have just got my Salute ticket too!
ReplyDeleteI still enjoy writing blog posts and I suspect the difference is between people like us who enjoy writing proper posts and those who just want to post pictures. You can also 'mine' for people to look at your FB page which you can't with a blog which suits the 'me, me me, look at me' types!