Collect in a recession, sell in a the boom!

Wargamers on the blogosphere seem to be in a reflective mood this Autumn. Horror of horrors, people are in the mood to paint and reduce their “lead mountains”. Could our other halves make that sacrifice, could they be without us as we leave for the man-cave? Our hobby doesn’t really cost that much, certainly not in comparison with golf, football or having an affair! Holidays are a chance to decide on priorities so here goes…….

Ancients.

My new favourite, the enthralling and unpronounceable ‘L’Art de la Guerre rules set, has reignited my old passion for ancients ( not you Ken!). I need to finish my latest Late Roman army for Virtus 2015 in December. I thought to recruit the opposition barbarians for these in the New Year. Heavy swordsmen and barbarian knights could also allow me to field Patrician Romans. Matthew Bickley’s sculpts for castingroomminiatures are so good ( I also want those chunky Normans, maybe a return to Lion Rampant)

Medieval and Renaissance

With the return of that old favourite D.B.A version 3, I’m going to carry on with 15mm medievals.  Cardiff Wargames Club Christmas bash (all welcome), is a Wars of the Roses battle so I’ll have to finish my Donnington Knights. I’ve got hundreds of Italian Wars figures and so the obvious choice is of course to do the Fifteenth century all over again but this time in 28mm. Warlord are leading the field at the moment with Spanish infantry and Pro Gloria miniatures that are amazing. I also stumbled on Gameszone ‘Imperials’ that are really characterful. I intend using the DBA rules, free from The Assault Group, 60mm squares usable for ADLG too. My ECW miniatures can trial these rules sometime soon so keep reading ( take a look at the army lists by following the links, armies small enough to collect but large enough to feel like that particular itch is scratched)

Gameszone Spaniards

Horse and Musket

I’m in two minds about this era. I love our multi-player games using Black Powder but for smaller games I’m going to pick up Fire and Fury regimental. This obviously covers the American Civil War but on the website there are variants for AWI and now Caliver have a variant for Revolutionary French ( combining my love of the Alps and Trent miniatures😀)

Eureka too!

Modern

One thing that I want to do is to get more use of what I already have. I’ll start posting photos of the WW2 vehicles that such note worthies as Chevalierdelaterre, Tarnowski , Richard Clarke and Dracostandard have painted. I must say that the Great War and Vietnam are both of interest. The Battlefront minis for World War One are exquisite. I don’t know who the sculptor is but he should get a medal. Plastic soldier have some great minis too, sold separately from their boardgame. Oh and baby Jonesy has just sold me his Brown Water navy!

Hypothetical Modern

Great friend of the lead, Giac has got me interested in Spectre miniatures and their ‘believable’ future rules and minis. As chance would have it, two other Cardiff lads have mentioned this and so this will be a project. The great advantage is that only a few minis are needed. Osprey have Black Ops out so that too is on the shopping list.

Hmmm, I wonder which side I’ll be collecting?

The gentlemen at Breakthrough assault blog have convinced me that Team Yankee are my final project to get underway. Don’t the 1980s seem a long time ago. My own glorious military career will obviously be used as inspiration for this as I gallantly defended Wales from the Commie horde from July to August of 1986- If only I knew a former tank officer who could add anything to my massive combat experience ( in Barry Boys’ School!)

So there you have it, a complete list of everything on the drawing board for 2015, until the next conversation/ magazine article or film! I hope you will enjoy reading how we get on or better still, come to Cardiff’s Firestorm games and join us. Hopefully December’s ADLG competition will be the first of many. Anyone for Flames of War, ww1, Vietnam or Cold War?