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...

Bolt action "Campaign: D-Day: Overlord" locations if you have the historical itch. Click on the image for the larger size.

For those not subscribed to the warlord bolt action newsletter, they have released the contents full details here but the scenarios are as listed below:

Campaign: D-Day: Overlord is crammed with 19 NEW scenarios, covering everything from the diversionary operations undertaken by the OSS and SOE to the amphibious assaults on the five Normandy beaches!

• Scenario 1: Operation Titanic
• Scenario 2: Pegasus Bridge: The Coupe de Main
• Scenario 3: Pegasus Bridge: Taking the West Bank
• Scenario 4: Assault on Merville Battery
• Scenario 5: Skirmish in the Dark
• Scenario 6: Brecourt Manor
• Scenario 7: Objective XYZ
• Scenario 8: Counter-Attack at Sainte-Mere-Eglise
• Scenario 9: Neuville-Au-Plain
• Scenario 10: Utah Beach
• Scenario 11: Fox Green Beach
• Scenario 12: Get Off the Beach!
• Scenario 13: Pointe-Du-Hoc
• Scenario 14: Frontal Assault on WN 29
• Scenario 15: Queen Red Beach
• Scenario 16: Ouistreham
• Scenario 17: Pegasus Bridge: Hold Until Relieved
• Scenario 18: Lebisey Wood
• Scenario 19: La Fiere Bridge

For the full detail click on the image below.

If you are a wargamer that games WWI, II or later and you live in Australia you *need* to go to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra at least once, I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was blown away here is part 1 of my photos Air-power.

Click on the image for the supersized version.

Because Dan will complain if I don't add the detail of what each of these are so he can count the rivets Ill come back and do that when I have time. In the meantime enjoy and let me know if you want more (or less).

Bolt action "The Western Desert" Contents:
 

Warlord is teasing "The Longest Day" a new D-Day themed Bolt Action "battle set" which looks like it may be US only(?) including buildings and miniatures.

Update , now listed here:  https://www.warlordgames.com/the-longest-day/

Details:
"The longest day; Normandy, 6 June 1944. The Allies undertake the largest and most ambitious amphibious landings in history to return the fight to western Europe.
Re-create the turning point of the war, that allowed the Allies to gain a foothold in Europe and which was to set the stage for the Axis downfall."

This set contains:

• 2x LCVP landing craft
• 1x AT/Flak bunker
• 1x Coastal Defence bunker
• 2x German Pak 40 ATG (for inside the bunkers)
• Craters/shell holes
• 1x Duplex Drive Sherman with lowered screens
• 32x plastic US Infantry
• 16x plastic German Grenadiers
• 2x MG 42 MMG teams
• 4x US Army casualties
• 2x US Engineers carrying Bangalore torpedoes
• 2x MMG sandbag emplacements
• Set of battlefield accessories
• 2m of barbed wire

We have heard about this before on various podcasts, its now listed on at least one site for pre-order...

The Blurb: 

​A new evolution of the Bolt Action wargaming rules, focusing on small-scale, man-to-man skirmishes, raids, and patrol encounters.

Throughout World War II, small-scale missions had--or could have had--a crucial impact upon the outcomes of battles, operations, and even entire theaters of conflict. From sabotaging hydroelectric plants in Norway and assassination attempts against Rommel in North Africa, to the defense of Pavlov's House at Stalingrad and covert landings in the Pacific and Normandy, Bolt Action: Raiders focuses on these desperate and hard-fought battles.

With rules based on the classic Bolt Action system, Raiders provides everything needed to recreate these critical operations--scenarios, rules for both special forces and regular troops, and a new campaign system that adds a narrative element to games. Watch your squad grow from green recruits to hardened veterans, gaining skills and abilities as they gain experience. Requiring only a handful of miniatures per side, Raiders is both an exciting new way to play Bolt Action and a perfect starting point for new players.​

The blurb:

"Campaign rules and scenarios for the Battle of Stalingrad, bringing the most infamous battle of the Eastern Front to the award-winning Bolt Action series.

One of the most infamous and decisive battles of the Second World War, Stalingrad was a turning point of the Eastern Front, showing that the German juggernaut was not invincible. This new Campaign Book for Bolt Action allows players to refight the fierce Battle of Stalingrad, including the actions within the city itself and those of the surrounding area, the encirclement and attempted relief and breakout. New, linked scenarios, rules, troop types, and Theater Selectors provide plenty of options for both novice and veteran players alike."

Tank at the Australian war memorial, along with ME. One of about 6 zillion photos from my visit. Centurion Tank Number 169053.

Spicy Spice-rack/shot-glass holder (also useful for painting miniatures)

A few people have asked after the last Valhallagames podcast on miniature painting workflow about my home made Spicy-Spice-rack/shot-glass holder (AKA miniatures painting holder). Here are couple of quick photos.
Note the rare earth magnets glued into the 25mm dowel. I glue my minis on steel washers, (now you know why). But the other end of the dowel has a 25mm Velcro "dot" so if I do have minis on plastic [only] bases I can still work with those by adding another valcro dot to the bottom of the mini.

Listen to the podcast for the full detail if you are interested. Hope that's useful.

​In this episode Rex and Dan discuss painting work-flow we each describe how we go about the process and share any tips. Beginning miniature wargame painters will get loads out of this episode and if you're a veteran painter you might even find a gem or two. We also chat about the results of last month's "Reasonable hobby challenge".

Show-notes are located here while you are there we hope you will give us some feedback (tell us where we are going wrong :-)) and perhaps send us photos of your best paint job.

Subscribe to us in your favorite podcast app by searching for valhallagames or click on the image below to play in the web player.