Nash Con

This is a super late update, but better late than never.   Mid May found the northern brain trustees and the southern contingent meeting up at Nashcon in Nashville TN.  Our rendezvous is a rare but very welcome occasion.  Losing Bryant just a few weeks before the convention made this get together more somber but more needed at the same time. 

We had previously agreed to work on components for a larger ECW project and combine our efforts for a big game at Nash Con. 

After 30 hours on the road (or so it seemed) with 5 guys and a bunch of lead packed in the car most of the northerners arrived. 

I am going to throw my bias out right away.  Nash Con was a super casual but very well run convention.  The people were amazingly helpful, friendly and welcoming.   Larger east coast cons should take this an example for how a convention should be run.

Friday night we got our ECW throw down was dedicated to Bryant.  Gone but not forgotten, missed but not missing. 

This is not so much a battle report as it is a grouping of pictures of the game.  With no real order or substance. We used Pike and Shotte rules system although we got quite a bit wrong as it was our first time through.

 The Royalists set up wight Montrose in the center

 Parliaments left flank

 Fred provides moral support for Pat and Dave. as well as choice comments about Rick Priestly.

Scotty provides the most critical measurement of the game..  

Parliaments right flank anchored in the Abby of the Fetid Chair and led by the great flatulent one himself. 

It was very cool to see so many of our spread out and manic group contribute to the group effort.  Its amazing what can happen when we actually work together.

Despite the disjointed nature of the report the game was fun.  We even pulled in a new convert to the project.  We hope to run this game again soon in preparation for a bigger battle at Historicon.

Round one of the ECW project is complete

In just over 5 weeks I finished the first installment of what I think is going to be a larger project.   The magic brush on ink has made the last 5 weeks the most productive of my painting career.  I cant say I love the results but I can live with it.   I can say I love the overall look and getting a huge chunk painted in a very short time.   In total 323 figures in 5 weeks.  I am really excited at what I can get done using this method. 

This is one of my stolen ideas from an amazing wargaming blog now lost in my bookmarks.  I plan to use the rock bases below to denote casualties on the units.

ECW Cavalry

The ECW Painting is progressing.  The fist unit of cavalry is complete.  I was a little disappointed in the quality of the figures.  Most of the Old Glory figures have been very good.  These were on the south end of the ranges they produce.

ECW Paint-a-thon

In preparation for the big Pike and Shotte throw down at Nash-con I have been painting like crazy.   I almost feel bad calling what I have been doing painting.   The dip painting method is so fast its almost not fair.  I have painted about 140 figures in 20 days.   The results are not the best ever but for the time invested, I am getting more and more comfortable with the results.

I have three 24 figures units of pike and shot in blue.  I may bulk these out with another half base of pike.  I like the look of the deeper pike formation.

I have another 2 24 figure units in green.  

I'm not in love with the paint job but I am guessing I have about 20 hours in painting time in all these figures.    I can live with the results for 10 minutes a figure.

First WW I Units Done

So here I a jumping around and taking months off.. Just like the title says.. I'm spastic.

  So I just knocked out the first 2 units of Brits and Germans for the WW I project.   They are block painted and inked.  I haven't decided if I am going to go back and highlight them or not.  I kinda like the dirty look.  

The figures are all from Old Glory.  They are not bad sculpts and seem to suit a quick style of painting.

Ahhhhh

Outstanding Christmas Ad

It surprises me how little we remember the First World War in the US.  It seems to me that Britain sees the war as much closer to their everyday lives.

Sandsbury did this ad linked below and made a commemorative chocolate bar in the same style it would have been packaged in 1914.  







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWF2JBb1bvM&feature=youtu.be

This is based on the Christmas Truce of 1914 that actually occurred.  The unoffical truce had such a profound effect that in subsequent years the "leadership" of both sides planned offensives or prolonged bombardments that made a repeat impossible.  



: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”   -George Santayana