Sunday 29 August 2021

Enhancing Solo Games with Sound Effects

I often play period-appropriate music in the background when I am playing Solo Wargames, but maybe it's time I also considered a soundtrack of themed sound effects as well. 


Just a short video today but hopefully it has given you a few ideas. I'd love to hear if you have experimented with sound effects as well as music in the background of your games. 

Wednesday 25 August 2021

Imperial War Museum North: A Unique Collection & Iconic Building

I recently visited the Imperial War Museum North and wanted to share a few of my pictures while extolling the virtue of a visit. This is an interesting and thought-provoking family museum and well worth a visit.








A very interesting museum and well worth a visit if you are in the area. Entry to the museum is free although there is a charge for parking. I rate this quite highly if you have a family group because there are artefacts and interactive exhibits that will appeal to all ages and levels of knowlege. 

Sunday 22 August 2021

The potential demise of small museums

Many small local museums have had a very rough time over the last year and a half. Smaller collections often have razor-thin financial margins and rely on volunteers for day-to-day survival. Some have not survived the lockdown, others have had to scale back their opening times. Either way, we are at risk of losing an important part of our cultural heritage, and small museums need our support now more than ever. 




So do you have a local museum that needs support? Or an example of one that has gone by the wayside? Have you seen examples of lockdown innovation, such as new exhibitions or new ways to share their collections? I’d love to hear your stories and examples, and your opinion on this whole subject. 

Wednesday 18 August 2021

Painted British Infantry Platoon

Back in May, I did an unboxing video of some 15mm figures I had ordered and eagerly received in the post. Fast forward several months and I have finally got round to finishing them! A combination of work, decorating and a penchant for overworking my hobby time has delayed these long beyond my original plans. But they are done now and I hope to use them soon in a game of Chain of Command. 


As usual, I bought more figures than I could use, so I expect I will eventually paint up some more support options.

The Lieutenant & Platoon Sergent

The platoon has three identical sections

A PIAT team will come in handy at close range

This Vickers HMG team can lay down a lot of fire from long range.


Sunday 15 August 2021

Are AARs Controversial?

It seems a lot of people don't like AAR's or at the very least cant agree over what is the best format for them. As usual, I'm going to sit on the fence and say there is room in our hobby for After Action/Battle Reports on blogs and on Vlogs in either long or short formats. 


I'd love to know what you think. What is your favourite format for an AAR and why do you love it? And is there room in your hobby for more than one way to tell a story? 

Wednesday 11 August 2021

Unboxing Builder Sheets

I recently bought these builder sheets of stonework/cobbles that will be very useful in all sorts of projects. These are probably well known by railway enthusiasts but are a relatively new discovery for me.



I'm sure I will be finding these useful one way or another for a long time. I'm really pleased with the quality of the sheets, especially when they work out between 70p-£1 per sheet depending on the set. Pretty good value in my book. 



I'll certainly be keeping an eye out for more products like this in future. 

Sunday 8 August 2021

Support your Friendly Local Game Store

I've spoken before about supporting our hobby by buying online but now that the shops are open, I think it's also important to support your local game store in person. If you are lucky enough to have an independent games shop near you, look after it! They are a dying breed and need your support.



I'd love to hear from you if you have a favourite local game store that deserves a shout-out. Please leave your recommendations in the comments below or on my channel Miniature Adventures

Wednesday 4 August 2021

Blow that Bridge! A Quick Strike AAR

D-Day 1944 and a force of British airborne troops try to hold a vital bridge long enough to lay charges and blow it sky-high. Of course, the Germans are going to try to stop this, they need the bridge for a counterattack on the British landing zones. This is my first attempt at a quick-strike after-action report trying to tell the whole story in under 10 minutes!



Hopefully, my next Quick Strike AAR will be slicker and better edited...this is a learning process! If you enjoyed this short format please let me know in the comments below or on my channel, Miniature Adventures. And of course, if you did enjoy the video, please like, subscribe and share. 




Sunday 1 August 2021

Overcoming Painters Block

Years ago I wrote an article about writer's block and realised that a lot of the advice in it could equally apply to painters block. This is the dreaded phenomenon where enthusiasm for a project dries up and the very thought of picking up a brush fills you with dread. This video has a few simple techniques to help you get your painting mojo back.



As always I'd love to hear what you think about y tips and let me know if you have some of your own. Please leave your comments below, or on my Youtube Channel Miniature Adventures. And as always I'd ask that if you enjoyed the video please like, subscribe and share. 

Stay safe, keep gaming and of course, keep rolling high!