Sunday, 16 February 2025

Too Expensive to Wargame?

Is wargaming getting too expensive? Are rising miniature prices and constant rulebook changes making it harder to stay in the hobby? In this video, we dive into the costs of tabletop wargaming, looking at the impact of Games Workshop price hikes, the affordability of historical wargaming, and alternative ways to enjoy miniature wargaming without breaking the bank.


As a longtime wargamer, I share my personal journey of moving away from expensive mainstream games like Warhammer 40K and Age of Sigmar in favor of historical wargames, where miniatures are cheaper, and rulesets stay stable for years. If you're looking for affordable wargaming options, budget-friendly miniatures, or a way to enjoy wargaming without constant financial strain, this video is for you!

#MiniatureWargaming #WargamingOnABudget #HistoricalWargaming #TabletopWargames #Wargamer #AffordableWargaming #GamesWorkshop #WarhammerAlternatives #WargamingDiscussion

Saturday, 15 February 2025

Retreat from Moscow 1812: Smolensk Dragoons and Officer

I needed to get more cavalry completed so this week I have focused all my efforts on a unit of Dragoons. By 1812 there were somewhere around 37 Dragoon Regiments in the Russian Army. This had risen in stages from about 15 regiments back in 1801. 1812 would be the high water mark because in December of that year, partially in response to battle losses, some regiments were converted into Cuirassier Regiments and some reduced regiments were absorbed into equally understrength Hussar regiments.



Russian Dragoon uniform for 1812 was largely established in the 1807 changes with troopers wearing a Dark Green jacket with coloured facings and collars of various colours. The Yellow cuffs can’t be seen under the Greatcoats but the Yellow collars and the trim around the Shabraques (saddlecloths) reveal that this unit is the Smolensk Dragoons, originally formed as part of Catherine the Great’s army in the previous century. Troopers wore grey trousers, often reinforced with black leather, with black-buttoned over-trousers and boots. 




Typically each Dragoon was armed with a cavalry musket, a bayonet and 2 pistols. The Russian musket was significantly shorter than the French version which made it easier to use on horseback, although it limited its range. This was normally carried on the right side of the saddle but in 1812 many of the Dragoon regents lost their muskets which were given either to the infantry or the many Militia units that were being raised. Instead, they relied on their pistols for short-range fire and their stout cavalry swords for close action. 

(Scoring: 9x28mm Cavalry = 90 Points)

Sunday, 9 February 2025

Proxy Miniatures in Historical Wargames

Is the use of proxy miniatures ethical in tabletop wargaming? In this video, we dive deep into the debate surrounding alternative miniatures, 3D-printed miniatures, and using non-proprietary figures in games that have official model ranges. Historical wargames have traditionally allowed players to choose from various miniature manufacturers, but when a wargame ruleset is tied to a specific line of official miniatures, does that change the equation?


I forgot to re-post this here on Sunday and was debating whether not not to do so a few days late. I feel like I kicked a hornet's nest with this topic, judging from some of the comments. Although my top-tip for some commentators is to actually watch the video you are passing judgment on before jumping to conclusions about my position on the topic! πŸ€£πŸ˜‚

#MiniatureWargaming #Wargaming #ProxyMiniatures #TabletopWargaming #HistoricalWargaming #3DPrintedMiniatures #MiniaturePainting #WargameEthics

Saturday, 8 February 2025

Russian Mounted Field Officers for 1812

This is just a small entry of four officers from me this week. My excuse for not getting more done; Three days of gaming instead of painting. After completing the Opolchenie last week, hot on the heels of the Cossacks the week before I was feeling a little ‘painted out’ so I took a day off before starting to prep my next big entry (a unit of Dragoons). Then the game invites began to come in and before I knew it I had ‘lost’ half a week's painting time. That’s not a complaint, I’ve had some great games over the last week, and focusing on a couple of models has enabled me to gather my strength for the next lot of cavalry. It’s also presenting Ray with a golden opportunity to overtake me in the rankings… let's see if he takes it!


The two mounted officers are from Perry Miniatures and are cast as a single model. These two are not wearing greatcoats unlike pretty much all of the rest of my army. Maybe they are just harder than their men, or maybe they are foolhardy? I did consider copying Ray and adding a greenstuff scarf or cloak, but I decided against that because I knew I didn’t have much time but also because I didn’t want to obscure the details on their uniforms. So for the first (and possibly last) time in this project, I have had a chance to paint dark green jackets, brass buttons and silver braid. I’m rather happy with how these came out. 





Next are a couple of officers on foot. I think these are Foundry figures. One is wrapped in a long greatcoat while the other wears only a frock coat. I think I may have made a mistake with this guy. I copied a picture I had so the whole figure is in grey, but now I think I’ve boo-booed and his frock coat should have been dark green. It’s too late now, he’ll have to do as is. I have a few more officers to paint so I will have plenty of choice when Ray and I finally play a game. 


 

I’ve started on the Dragoons and hopefully, I’ll have them done for next week… crossed my fingers and a following wind permitting. 

Wednesday, 5 February 2025

The Battle of El-Qa - A Biblical clash of arms near Kadesh

Over the weekend a handful of the Rejects gathered at the Shed-o-War for a rare Biblical/Ancients game. Stuart got his collection of Egyptians and Hittites out of storage and three of us had a very entertaining set-to on Sunday. Colin took command of the Egyptians, with a slightly smaller but better quality army than the Hittites commanded by Surjit and me. The resulting game was an interesting tussle where first one, then the other side, had the advantage. 

After deployment, the Hittites (closest) put all their Chariots on the right wing against a deep formation of mostly bow-armed light troops.

Meanwhile, Colin deployed most of his archers on a small hill and had his smaller chariot force on his right wind facing spearmen on the Hittite left (my command)

Ready for the game to commence, neither side is sure their deployment is wise...only time will tell.

We placed all the Hittite Chariots on our right wind and Surjit's job was to break and turn the Egyptian flank. 

On our left flank, I had several units of good quality spearmen which I hoped would be enough to deal with the smaller Egyptian chariot force facing me. 

The Hittite centre was mostly medium infantry with spears and a line of bow-armed open-order units. 

The Egyptian chariots were smaller but one of those units are elite nobles. 

The Egyptian archers were leathal, but were grouped together rather than spread out so for much of the game they couldn't all fire at the same time. 

The Egyptian chariots rout my javelin men and smash into a unit of spearmen.

Fortunately the Spearmint held firm and won the melee, sending the Chariots back. 

Behind this I had formed a string line of spearmen, many armed with shields. They were able to repel a similar charge by the second Egyptian chariot regiment. 

IN the Egyptian centre, Colin was having a few command and control problems, with some units not moving because they were out of command range. 

Surjit's chariots start to engage with the light infantry screen, running down any units foolhardy enough to try and stand their ground. 

The centre looks pretty evenly matched, but the flanks are where this game will be won or lost. 

With the Egyptian chariots repelled my infantry began to advance. I still had to be wary of the remaining chariots, they could always come back and hit a flank, so I was cautious. 

By now Surjit's chariots have started to get behind the Egyptian flank. There is still heavy fighting to be done, but it looks like the Hittites have the upper hand at last. 

My spearmen start to take heavy casualties from the Egyptian Archers. Fortunately, the archers have decided to advance, closing the gap and presenting an opportunity for my men to charge in. 

The centre spearmen units are being decimated by archery fire, but either side of them are other units, including one which has not taken any casualties. It charges and reaches the flank of the Egyptian archer units. Payback time!

More Hittite Spearmen are rushing towards the front, but the battle is nearly over. My attack on the spearmen routs them and the follow-up charge routes another unit....

Meanwhile (in a blurry picture, sorry) Surjit has completely turned the Egyptian flank and is just one quick dash away from capturing their camp.

Colin wisely decided enough was enough at this point and conceded defeat. A great game that challenged everyone and made us all work hard for victory. 

Sunday, 2 February 2025

The Lead Mountain of Shame and how to conquer it

Are you drowning in a lead mountain of unpainted miniatures? Do you keep adding new wargaming models to your collection without finishing the ones you already have? In this video, we’ll tackle how to reduce your pile of shame, stay motivated, and finally get those wargaming miniatures painted!

Whether you're into historical wargaming, tabletop wargaming, Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Bolt Action, Flames of War, or any other miniature-based game, we all face the same struggle—too many unpainted models and not enough time! I’ll share practical tips, productivity hacks, and painting strategies to help you overcome hobby burnout and start making real progress on your miniature backlog.


 

Saturday, 1 February 2025

Moscow & St Petersburg Opolchenie

More units for my collaboration project with Ray are getting finished as part of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. Our joint Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow in the winter of 1812 project is coming together and both of us have been getting lots of units completed.  


In addition to the regular Russian army, the Tsar could call upon a huge number of volunteers to provide reserves and garrisons, and even fight alongside regular infantry. The Opolchenie militia enrolled over 220,000 men in 1812 and became a vital element in Russia’s defence. During the French retreat from Moscow, the Opolchenie were increasingly used to pursue the French and in front-line roles alongside regular units, which were by this time tired and depleted. The training was rudimentary at best with an emphasis on musketry and the charge. 




These two units are Front Rank figures and represent some of the better-armed “Jager” Opolchenien equipped with a rudimentary uniform and a Musket. There were also some mounted units armed with lances and other foot units armed only with a Pike and an axe. These would often follow up the Jager units and some sources refer to these troops as ‘foot cossacks’. Although initially used only for reserve roles they were increasingly used to fill gaps in regular troops. What they lacked in training they often made up for in bravery and ferocity in melee. 



Both units have a Kaftan-style jacket and trousers, and a backpack with black belts which wouldn’t be out of place in a regular Jager unit. The Moscow Opolcheine are dressed in brown with a tall fur hat, while the St Petersberg militia are in green with a soft cap similar to the infantry forage cap. In both cases, they display a brass cross symbol on their headgear, a symbol of their loyalty to the Tsar. 



I think I am going to buy more Opolochenie although I think my next lot will be the pike-armed variety plus some cavalry… yet again I am expanding the army before I have finished painting the first batch! 

Sunday, 26 January 2025

Keeping a Painting Journal will change how you paint forever

Are you struggling to improve your miniature painting skills? Whether you're a tabletop wargamer, historical wargamer, or miniature painter, keeping a painting journal is the game-changing habit you NEED! In this video, I’ll break down why a hobby journal helps you track progress, refine techniques, and master colour schemes—so you can level up your Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Bolt Action, Flames of War, and D&D miniatures like a pro.


Discover how the best painters use painting logs to avoid mistakes, experiment with acrylic paints, contrast paints, washes, dry brushing, and layering techniques, and recreate stunning effects like non-metallic metal (NMM), weathering, and realistic highlights.

Don’t waste time guessing your paint recipes—learn how to document colour mixes for perfect results every time! Whether you're painting Games Workshop miniatures, historical figures, or custom 3D prints, a painting journal will make your workflow more efficient and help you achieve stunning, pro-level tabletop miniatures.


πŸ”₯ Subscribe for more miniature painting tips, tricks, and tutorials!
πŸ“œ Drop a comment if you already use a painting journal—or if this video convinces you to start!
πŸ‘ Like & Share to help more painters level up their skills!

#paintingminiatures #miniaturepainter #paintingminiaturesforbeginners #wargaming

Saturday, 25 January 2025

Don Cossacks and Officer

This week I have a unit of Don Cossacks charging across my desk. It is said that just hearing their cry of “Hurrah” could send entire battalions into retreat. Even Napoleon seemed impressed by these wild undisciplined horsemen, stating “Cossacks are the finest light troops among all that exist. If I had them in my army, I would go through all the world with them."







The Cossacks had a fearsome reputation and formed fast units that could exploit open flanks and harry retreating troops. They were excellent for reconnaissance when they could be bothered to report back on the position of enemy troops rather than chase after them. It was said (mainly by the French) that the easiest way to distract Cossckas was to present them with an unguarded baggage train. This unit is painted as Don Cossacks with a dark blue uniform, red trim, and a broad red stripe down the leg of loose-fitting trousers. They wear various cloaks and many have ill-matching headgear, from tall fur busbies to soft forage-style caps. All bar the officer carries a lance and I can testify to the sharpness of these…they drew blood on several occasions when I let my attention wander while handling them! 






Unlike the regular troops, the officer was cast as a single figure. That said, I decided to assemble all the figures before painting…a practice that doesn’t have universal approval, judging from a very quick search online. I think I prefer this method, and while it makes painting some parts of the model a little more tricky, overall, I found it easier than trying to combine painted figures without destroying the paintwork. 

I’m happy with how these turned out although I think I’ll take a rest before painting more cavalry! 

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Russian 12pdr Gun & Crew

I have been looking forward to getting started on this piece since I bought it at Partizan last year. This is a Perry miniature and comes with four crewmen. But it was only last week that I realised that in Sharp Practice guns have five crewmen…so I found an extra figure from another set to make up the numbers. I’ll worry about replacing the crew from the other gun later. The sculpts on these are outstanding and the crewmen all look suitably cold, especially the guy hugging his hands in his greatcoat. He looks thoroughly miserable and makes you realise that while the French army had a terrible time in Russia, the Russian troops weren’t much better off. There’s a good reason why campaigning in winter is a silly idea, even if it is your homeland and you are used to the weather. When the temperature drops to -20℃ everyone suffers. 


The 12pdr was the standard heavy artillery piece of the Russian army in 1812 and their crews have been described as highly professional and very well trained. At the Battle of Boridino, General Kutuzov ordered the artillery to hold their ground to the last possible moment and then fire at the enemy with canister. When artillery are about to be overrun it takes a significant amount of training and discipline to follow such orders. 



I also wanted to get a few more officers painted so here are three, including one who seems to be overcoming the cold from the bottom of a bottle. All three officers are from Wargames Foundry and are beautiful minis with plenty of character. 


  

Already on the workbench are the next unit, a fearsom-looking unit of Don Cossacks. Once again, I should stress that I haven’t painted multi-part 28mm cavalry in decades so I am approaching this unit with some trepidation. However, now that I have got started I am enjoying it. Whether they are finished by the next submission day remains to be seen. I’d rather take my time than rush these… especially with their sharp lances. I’ve drawn blood already and I’m not even half done.