0We preview Battlefront Miniatures’ forthcoming plastic rural bases:
Battlefront Miniatures’ Rural Plastic Bases: a preview
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Author Archives: Justin
House of Hengist Comics
0You know, I can’t think of many hobbies so multi-faceted as wargaming. You have gaming, modelling, painting, photographing, trade shows…research; and then, over the last decades or so, all the electronic stuff like blogging, websites and online gaming. I suppose that’s part of its enduring appeal.
Why am I wittering on about this? Well, a good example of how all these aspects can be distilled into a heady brew would be what the chaps at House of Hengist Comics are doing with Flames of War:
House of Hengist are a research and wargaming group based in a corner of Kent who are refighting aspects of Operations CRUSADER and BARABAROSSA and documenting the outcomes of these 150 or so games through 87 After Action Reports in Commando-esque comic book format:
There’s lots to like here whatever your interest. Flames of War is often unfairly maligned as a tank-park full of competitive play so its really refreshing to see Mark and the lads fighting it out through historical scenarios on some inspirational tables. The emphasis is on story telling and good sportsmanship using their own take on the 2nd edition rules:
The comics are free to download from the House of Hengist website and the group are on the look out for local players in Kent as well as others wanting to participate in similar endeavours. Swing by, make and comment or join up. 
Small Terrain’s culvert and streams
Essex Signs and Displays’ Nail Polish Display stand
1My Essex Signs and Displays Nail Polish Display stand arrived today. I can’t claim any credit for this one. Phil followed by BigLee flagged it up on their excellent blogs as the dainty wargamer’s paint rack. Like them, I have a regular set of paints ‘in use’ for any given project that languish outside their usual home in my Paintier 80.
Best prices are direct from Essex Signs but seem to fluctuate wildly. BigLee got his for £7.50 plus delivery; I got mine on Sunday for £9.50 including delivery. Today, they’re £8.50 including delivery (sheez…)!
The acrylic stand arrives well packaged and fully assembled. I imagined flat pack would be the order of the day:
Dimensions are listed on the site, suffice to say you can comfortably get 36 Vallejo bottles in here with ease. It’ll also safely accommodate Citadel, Tamiya and most recent AK products:
The lip at the front ensures your paints stay securely within the stand:
All in all a good way to keep your desktop tidy, well, tidyish:
Khurasan 15mm Taliban: test figure washing
0Cloudy day. Back at Work. So, I got carried away with the washing and thought I’d apply a gloss coat to drive it into all the nooks and crannies. This was really unnecessary and I won’t be doing it for the 29 others in this batch. I guess it will protect the figure in the future:
I then diluted Army Painter Dark Tone ink with Vallejo Airbrush Thinner. It was about 50/50 and, on reflection, a little too diluted to do the job adequately. The surface tension of the pigment was lost and the wash dried out of the groove, if you know what I mean (tidal mark central man!):
I have to admit to feeling a little disappointed at this stage. The clean(-ish) finished I’d achieved was looking a little dark and my highlights, well, weren’t looking so high. Ho-hum. Time to cut my loses and whack on a coat of matt varnish:
About now, my 5 year old appears and complains that he doesn’t like the snowy base on his figures. Snowy?! Why I oughta….