Friday photo: Red Ball Highway.

Just so you know, I often post these images without any description or with just some teaser text. The idea is if you don't know what its all about go and check it out do a web search read a book, a lot of times, fact really is stranger than fiction.
 

Are we there yet?... i'm finding this both exhausting and rewarding. This test model is my all time best miniature so far (still work in progress).

The scary thing that I realized when I recommended what paints to buy for a mate who is new to the hobby is that this it's AU$100 worth of paint for this one guy! EXCLUDING the face and base!
 

 Here is a quick video showing my current project, winter Soviets. I point out a couple of things related to how I model up my guys. 3 weeks now till I go on my Fortress Budapest campaign day. For details on that check out the podcast EP7

Friday photo: D-Day 75 years ago, enough said.

Rex's May "reasonable hobby goal" challenge... done. See the images below and click on the image for the full sized version.

Special edition www.offensiveminiatures.com Fallschirmjäger with drop canister. A Christmas gift to me from Dan, thanks Dan.

This is my best work so far I think and I'm very happy with how they turned out. My eyes must be a bit blurry from the challenge, I have just spotted some chips on the rim of the base. Don't worry I will fix that before I meet you on the table top!

​Stop press, I think there are a couple of corrections I need to make. File offline for the moment.​

I don't know if anyone else finds the Bolt Action Artillery complicated, its not bad when its just aimed at a squad of guys but once its aimed at a vehicle and if that vehicle has troops inside it starts to get complicated pretty quickly.

I have made up a one page flowchart. I think it's right (might be wishful thinking!) but if anyone has corrections please let me know and I will amend it for everyone's use. Consider this one Version 1!

Hope it's helpful and doesn't just confuse you more :-)

The PDF download is at the link here

Friday photo 1940's colour "printing".

As part of the 2019 d-day campaign that warlord is running they have released a 3 page mini supplement of rules for individual soldiers.

"For the purpose of this skirmish version, each man from a squad acts as a 'unit' and moves individually. These units do not have to stay in formation. When you prepare to play, your force gets one order die for each model it comprises of."

It also includes a new "force morale" mechanic similar to Chain Of Command.

"When your force has lost half or more of the models/ dice it started the game with, it has reached its breaking point. Whenever your force suffers a casualty from then on (including the casualty that caused your force to reach the breaking point), you must take a Break test."

Sounds like a bit of fun and I'm sure its been played this way plenty of times before in garages around the world. I will be interested to see if it plays out as a shorter game or not. Could be a gateway drug into the new "Raiders" game that's on the way.

Direct link: https://d-day.boltaction.com/pdf-scenarios/firefight-rules.pdf

Warlord has now opened the D-Day Campaign page:

"Welcome to our 3-month long online campaign to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Get involved by playing games of Bolt Action, Blood Red Skies, Cruel Seas or Bolt Action: Tank War."

New Scenarios are available now for the first phase Bolt action and Blood Red Sky's. New Intelligence reports indicate that the Tank Wars "game" will also be a part of the campaign as well.

If your looking to take part in this, go and have a look, signup and get together with some mates for a game. 

"You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your miniature men will do us proud."

https://d-day.boltaction.com/

Friday photo: Nice parking!

Aerial photo showing the three Horsa gliders at the Eastern end of Pegasus bridge. The circular object to the top-right of the bridge is the gun pit.

I just purchased the beginnings of a new army. Imagine my surprise when I opened the box and "some assembly plus painting is required" :-)

Last minute Friday photo, yes that me.

Podcast EP7: "Knightly order of the frosted (varnish) seal":

In this episode we talk about our time critical projects as we lead up to the commemoration of the D-Day 75th anniversary and the warlord games global D-day campaign. And, as the episode title suggests, tune in for the main content regarding sealing your models as we compare some products and brands in order to give you the information you need to finish off your miniatures with confidence.

In particular to this episode, we value your feedback and it can help others in regards to your trusted brands and methods of varnish too so please share them with others on our blog, youtube and email us!

Also Dan tries his hand at a US accent what could go wrong there?

Dan and Rex

Show-notes are here.
Subscribe to use in your favorite podcast app (search for valhallagames) or click on the image below for the web player.

 Everyone needs a paint mace :-)

"Mace (bludgeon), a weapon with a heavy head on a solid shaft used to bludgeon opponents" (or a tool made by Rex and used to improve efficiency when spray painting). New podcast coming soon taking about the paint Mace and other significantly more interesting content.

Another reason to magnetise your bases or base on steel washers.

See... I do paint and play something other than WWII.

Friday photo: I hate custom paint mixing

Note to self:

I must not do custom mixing in the future

I must not do custom mixing in the future

I must not do custom mixing in the future

I must not do custom mixing in the future

This new facebook page is open now:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/boltactioncampaign/

Looks interesting, the blurb:
"Warlord Games presents a 3 month long web-based campaign that draws on three of our major game systems: Bolt Action, Blood Red Skies & Cruel Seas. Based on the actual events in the run-up to Operation Neptune and on to the liberation of Paris. This campaign will be driven partly by the narrative of this historical event, and you, the gamer!
More details are to follow! Keep an eye out for our official D-Day campaign website (launching soon!), with information on how to sign up and much more!"

This miniature featured in my top minis from 2018 as discussed in this podcast. In fact its not from 2018 at all it was released as the special edition miniature with the Bolt Action V2 German army book (2016?) as shown here. But I received it in 2018 so that good enough for me.

I'm showing it here because:

1. Its great mini
2. It demonstrates how I prime (black first then a zenithal grey primer dusting over the top) check thiis podcast for the "why" of it
3. It demonstrates how I base, at least the starting point in the process, which we will cover in a future podcast and possibly a how to guide
4. It proves I have done something recently
5. And lastly, it *really* is great mini

Beware Vallejo paint colours, just one example….

"Nearly done, just do one final highlight with Green Grey (or was that Grey Green)… ill just do a quick search that should illuminate things?..." See image below...

Moral of the story, make good records of what you used or it's all going to go horribly, horribly wrong. Make it part of your painting workflow.

I have a new hobby/painting table which I purchased from Aldi Australia today and assembled this evening.

It starts the evening in Downton abbey/Sense and Sensibility mode but later in the evening after everyone has gone to bed it transforms into Saving Private Ryan/WWII in colour mode.

Finally something to see. Beautiful minis, paint not so good so far...