What better subject for testing out my new camera but snapping some pix of Dan's minis which are visiting me for a top secret mission.

Click to see full sized image and then click or pinch to zoom in.

So here's the first squad (plus) of a new army. In this case; men of the Durham Light Infantry in Sicily '1943.

It has to be said though, that they will have a dual purpose as representing New Zealanders in summer dress in the Italian mainland campaign.

The figures are Warlord games plastics; British and Canadian infantry 43-45. But i have kitbashed parts from their 8th army box set, mainly the weapon arms in shirtsleeves. After doing so, the sword bayonets needed to be exchanged for 'pig sticker' bayonets to be correct.

There are also some other parts from various Warlord Games' kits in there...can you spot them?!? Answers on a stamped, self-addressed envelope...;)

Now...where are those British airborne I need to finish...? (there's always British airborne to be finished!!)

Dan's been busy buying, building, painting and more buying. Proving that you can never be bored or run out of things to do when you have miniature wargaming as your hobby! This is Dan's latest hobby update for August '21. Hope this inspires you.

If your like me and you end up purchasing the physical and e-book copy of all the Bolt action Books then you will be keen to know that the Bolt Action: Campaign: Italy: Soft Underbelly pre-order is now live on the Kindle Store, this also means we have a release date* of Oct 28 2021 . 

Also its at the bargain price of $14.21! (US$?)

Let the painting begin (well continue...)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0946LY2TK/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_9J33FR6JAZZSTTNDG31P?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Hairspray chipping - first attempt work in progress. Pretty happy so far, progress update to follow plus a bit of a how-to guide if someone would like it. Let me know if you do want something?

Friday photo - Drying paint on a Sherman: Most of us have, at one time, used a hairdrier to dry paint when we were in a hurry but this photo apparently shows heat lamps drying the paint on the real thing. Apparently it took 4 minutes*! (*according to some guy on the internet)

Welcome to the first valhallagames "wandering monsters" episode. Wikipedia defines Wandering monsters as follows (don't worry I put them right on a couple of points by way of a re-edit):

Wandering monsters - sometimes called Random encounters - were a feature of Dungeons & Dragons from its beginnings in the 1970s, and persist in that game and its offshoots to this day. Random encounters are usually determined by the gamemaster by rolling dice against a random encounter table. These rules can often result in VERY random seemingly in appropriate and quite humorous encounters. A wandering monster is perhaps something that you don't want, definitely something that you didn't expect, but ALWAYS interesting. Source: Wikipedia... with edits :-)

We hope you enjoy this Dungeons & Dragons digression from our normal miniature wargaming adventures, (typically in WWII). We will be back to our scheduled program as soon as we have spooned over these Kobolds.

(Kobold; Small humanoid (kobold), Lawful Evil. Armor Class 12, Hit Points 5 (2d6-2), Speed 30 ft.)

Get this episode in your podcast app (search for valhallagames) or click on the link below for the web player

​One does whatever is required to get the figures onto the table... 

This is the result of hoteliers thinking that their guests all want "mood" lighting and not proper lights anywhere in their rooms ...except the bathroom apparently! 

  That and neighbouring guests snoring so loudly that I firstly couldn't get to sleep and then second; woke up at 0520.

  And yes...although I'm away for work who DOESN'T take figures and paint away with them??!!?? The answer is , of course; the wargamers who look back and wish they'd spent a couple of hours in their hotel bathrooms painting last night and this morning.

  And YES of course it turns out  I'd left a couple of colours at home that i wish I'd brought with me- its traditional for the guerilla painter! But its great to be getting layers on and making some progress while sensibly leaving the areas I wanted to leave for my painting hobby  light/magnifying glass such as faces etc. 

   Apologies ...but now you'll understand and hopefully forgive me for the poor lighting and slightly blurry images!

  Stay classy, Dunedin colorblind  Hedgehog bathroom-painting collective. 

Dan 

Dan's back! Catch up on his news plus, all the wargame painting, modelling reading & and collecting chat you can handle plus... added tales of adventures in 3d printing.

In our main segment we discuss scenario design ideas, concepts and tips on where to find inspiration for all new and exciting challenges for your little men (and women).

Podcast shownotes will be at https://www.valhallagames.net/ep21

Listen in your podcast app or click on the link below to get use the web player

New Warlord Games Commandos... I'm buying these for sure!

https://warlord-community.warlordgames.com/incoming-british-inter-allied-commandos/

 I'm building a French town square for my French village for 28mm Bolt action. So far I have a blank space with a nice cobbled base courtesy of a texture roller from OTP terrain. Its a good first step I have also 3D printed some tables and chairs and a fountain as a start of the scatter terrain. Looking forward to painting.

Dans Back! And he shows us what he's been up to. Featuring Warlord Games' Battlefield Debris set, Luftwaffe Field Div and more finished stuff..(Incl. British Airborne of course!). Plus he shows off some loot he received from May '40 Miniatures Fallshirmjager kickstarter. Thanks for watching! 

I had a great game of Bolt Action WWII goodness with wargame buddies Ian and Ian last week. The Soviets faced a worthy enemy Australians, hard combat and armed with Two 25 pounders. Little Kate did well and some very brave moves were made but I was beaten pretty well by Ian's Ozzies.

[Note if your viewing this on mobile its best viewed horizontal]

New issues with scale. Lets say "a guy" already has scale phobia. Then "that guy" buys a 3D printer and has unlimited flexibility on how big he print things. Imagine how that will mess with "that guys" head... lucky I'm not like "that guy".

However, for this project at least, looks OK?

I had great fun​, got motivated I hope you do to.

Pat's blog: https://wargamingwithsilverwhistle.blogspot.com/

Book 1: http://www.stevenlampon.co.uk/portfolio/

Book 2: http://www.stevenlampon.co.uk/settingthescenevol2/

Book 3: http://www.stevenlampon.co.uk/dombas/

Want to purchase the book? Email the distributor: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Listen now in a podcast app near you or click on image below for the web player.

'O' Group battalion level WWII rules written by Dave Brown and published/distributed by Too Fat Lardies are now available here, the web site blurb goes like this:

'O' Group is a set of WWII battalion level rules designed for a player to command a battalion sized force plus supports, or a multiplayer game where each player can command a battalion as part of a larger battlegroup. The rules introduce some exciting command mechanisms that encourages the players to think about allocation of reserves as well as commanding their force in action. The rules include army lists covering the UK, USA, Germany and Soviet Union for the later war period but the rules can be used with historical unit structures to game the entire conflict.

I have purchased a copy and might be dusting off all the 15mm WWII stuff that's collecting dust in my garage.

 This episode is an interview with Paul from WOW Buildings. Paul is a prolific 3D model designer and his legendary Kickstarters are *full* to the brim with great looking models and include almost all genres, but especially for valhallagames *many* of the kickstarters are WWII specific. Paul and I have a great chat about terrain, scales, the creative process and inspiration.

WOW Buildings 3d printable files web site is located here: https://wowbuildings.net/
The current massive American civil war Kickstarter is funded 10x already with 7 days to run is here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wowbuildings/wow-does-american-civil-war-the-alamo-terrain-scenery

I also get the scoop on what's coming next for all of us WWII wargamers, no negative waves there baby!

Enjoy...

Available in a podcast app near you by searching for valhallagames (one word), or by clicking the image below for the web player.

I have recorded an interview with Pat Smith the author of the "Setting the scene" series of books and https://wargamingwithsilverwhistle.blogspot.com/

Coming soon!

Its time for an update on everything that I got done over the Christmas break. Hopefully this motivates you to do more wargame hobby. There are a few tips and tricks here where I reveal my secret methods of doing things.

Let us know in the comments what you think and if you learned anything new or were motivated to start a new project.

The kindle store is running a special right now, pre-order the Bolt Action: Campaign: D-Day: British & Canadian Sectors Campaign ebook for only US$10.90, around 50% off.

We still love the smell of new paper and love supporting our FLGS so we normally buy the paper copy as well but the kindle version is great to have for those late night reading sessions and while waiting for the bus. Additionally, searching in electronic format is somewhat(!) easier than searching in paper format.

Due out in only a few days get yours while its hot (and on special).

https://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Action-Campaign-British-Canadian-ebook/dp/B089QDBZCT/