'74s to 88s' - A Model and Wargames blog

Monday, 3 August 2015

German Engineers

I've been working on some WW2 German engineers. These are Britannia Miniatures, now in the possession of Grubby tanks. I really like the models, they were lovely to paint and will be key to the Germans breaching the Soviet anti-tank defences at Rostov.

You can also see the new ploughed fields and haystacks I've made.

An Amera Island!

So, my first island has finally been completed, ready for action at New Buckenham. Will get a couple more done for my next game. I chose a smaller one to do first, almost as a 'test piece'.

I will try and post more as I do more.

HMS Culloden, HMS Majestic, HMS Goliath and HMS Leander

So, those aforementioned ships have been finished for a couple of weeks, and with a few ships borrowed from some NBHW friends, means the British fleet for Aboukir Bay is finished!

HMS Culloden, with the two thin black strakes.

HMS Majestic

The 50 gun Leander

My collection is getting pretty big! 24 finished ships. Will be selling my four Spanish vessels soon.

French and Spanish ships:

And the British!

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

Workbench plans

So, the summer holidays are nearly upon us which will bring some more time for wargaming related shenanigans! I have a list of things I want to do over the next few weeks; I thought I would share them with you and then we will see how far i get!

1. Finish the 3 British 74s on my workbench, preferably by the middle of next week! A tall order perhaps, they are not exactly 'nearly done'!

2. I have some ex-doormat ploughed field that I plan to give a wash and some used tea treatment to...

3. My Amera islands from Salute still need painting and flocking. I don't know if I will manage all 5, but getting a couple of them done would be nice. I am running a naval game at NBHW in a few weeks, so maybe use one of them then.

4. Then I have a few other terrain ideas I want to try. Lots of inspiration (including the used tea idea) from http://wargamingwithsilverwhistle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/making-haystacks-whilst-sun-shines.html, along with the haystacks, partly ploughed fields and allotments.

5. Maybe a few stacks, pillars and arches for my naval game?

6. Who knows what else will take my fancy or turn up? Strongpoints? Trees? Hedges? Buildings?

Wargamers can be very fickle!

Saturday, 4 July 2015

More ships!

So, it has been a busy few weeks, not least as a new baby has arrived! I have still managed to complete some ships, some for the Nile and some to sell on to buy the final few ships for the Nile!

Firstly, my small Spanish fleet, which I will sell on.

Left to Right, 64 gun 'Asia', 74 gun 'San Domaso', 112 gun 'Salvador Del Mundo' and of course the 140 gun Santissima Trinidad.

Next, a few ships for the Nile battle. Here we have HMS Zealous (with the characteristic yellow stripes), and HMS Minotaur (red with a black strake) both of which were 74s, and for something a bit different the 16 gun brig 'Mutine'.