Meeting Sunday February22

This afternoon it was great to meet new people at the club, Callum and Austen, to see Ceilidh's and Harley's new 15mm Sub-Roman British (shields still being painted), to yarn with Jonathan about his 15mm Vikings (a work in hand), to hear from Craig about more 28mm Marlburian armies on the way, and to discover that we have a bunch of people to connect to each other: Carl and Rex about Napoleonics, Callum and Peter about Warmachine, Austen and James about 40K. 

We are planning a "show and tell" day when everyone will be invited to bring along something - an army, a unit, a few figures, painted or unpainted toy soldiers, boardgames, favourite books or rules etc. You will not have to play, though of course there will be games, just come along and see what we all have. Watch this space for more details!

At today's meeting we had people playing the boardgame History of the World, a Marlburian game using Horse, Foot and Guns,  Warhammer 40K, and quick play Ancient and Medieval rules, DBA 3. 

Neil, Peter and Rex playing History of the World.

Callum (Chaos) and Austen (Dark Angels) playing 40K.

Craig (Peter the Great) and Warren (John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough) using Horse Foot and Guns. Carl came along to see what was happening and to scout for some Napoleonic gaming. We will do it!

Some of Craig's dragoons

 Cleilidh and Harley played two games of DBA v.3. Early Anglo-Saxons vs Sub-Roman British, and Early Byzantines vs Sub-Roman British.

 

Judging by the terrain, it was Britain and it had rained!

ANZAC diorama update

Vince, Neil, Warren, David, and Rex are taking part in Sir Peter Jackson's ANZAC diorama project and we are waiting for more figures for all of them to get into it. More figures are on the way, great pics of new figures are on the official Mustering the Troops blog, and Peter Jackson has sent us all the following message: 

I want to thank all the wargamers who have volunteered to help with this massive diorama project. You’ve answered your country’s call for sure!  Your work and skill is very much appreciated by all involved in the WW1 exhibition we’re putting together.

Chunuk Bair is a battle more and more New Zealanders are becoming aware of, but few really understand what it was, and fewer still can visualise it. In a museum, there are very few ways to depict the scale of the battle, with over 1000 New Zealand and British troops under attack by thousands of Turks, across a 400 yard long crest - but we thought a miniature was the perfect way.

The diorama itself will be huge - over 10m long - with the terrain accurately re-created from a digital scan of Chunuk Bair itself. High resolution scans of aerial photos taken in October 1915, reveal the remains of the New Zealand trenches, so those will be positioned exactly as they were in August. Thanks to your efforts, we’ll be able to create an accurate and lasting impression of the struggle Kiwi soldiers found themselves in, mid-morning on August 8th, 1915.

I’ve been looking at your work as it’s been posted on this blog, and it’s terrific! My only suggestion would be to vary the colours of the New Zealand shirts a little more. There are no photographs of the Wellington Battalion on Chunuk Bair, but we know the attack orders from General Godley specified “shirt-sleeves only”.

In Gallipoli by August, most sense of military correctness had been thrown out the window. Far from stepping off the parade ground, by August the Anzacs were known as “The Scarecrow Army”. Soldiers were receiving parcels from home, and new shirts from Mum were often included.  So despite the painting guide instructions, I would encourage future New Zealand figure painters to give yourselves permission to mix it up a bit. Grubby white shirts, olive green, dark blue, light grey - all would be fine, and it will give the diorama an accurate look.

The photos below will give you a sense of the wide variety of shirt colours.

Thanks for supporting this project!

Cheers

Peter Jackson 

http://anzacdiorama.blogspot.co.nz/ 

Sunday February 8

Our first meeting of the year was very much a "DBx" day. Craig brought along two of his Marlburian armies, and he and Warren played a game of Horse, Foot and Guns. Vince and Andrew brought along Early Achaemenid Persians, Athenians, Early Imperial Romans and Parthians, and several people played five games of DBA.

"DBx" is the name used for a game system developed by the Wargames Research Group. It is used for various sets of rules for Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and horse and musket rules. Horse, Foot and Guns are the horse and musket rules, while DBA (De Bellis Antiquitatis version3.0) are quick play rules with army lists for ancient and medieval battles. Andraw is finishing his 25mm Persians, while Jonathan (Vikings) Harley (Sub-Roman British), Ceilidh (Early Byzantine), and James (ancient Spanish) are assembling 15mm armies.

We are likely to see more DBA at the next meeting and also possibly Wings of War, multi-player boardgames and more. Remember, all periods, all rules, all scales are welcome. See you there :-)

Warren and Craig going for it with Horse Foot and Guns

Andrew and Peter playing 25mm DBA - Persians vs Athenians. Neil and Rex watching.

Ceilidh and Harley - Parthians vs Romans. 

Vince and Neil playing, with Peter watching and Andrew measuring.