More May games.

A fairly productive and fun filled month for the Wargaming hobby. I was able to get plenty of  painting done completing 60 figures. I had bought 54 and this may be the first time I was able to paint more than I bought in a month when the purchase was that high. The only picture I took of this months production was of six US Marines by Scruby now owned by Historifigs. Very nice figures and I'm looking forward to more from this line to be released.

The remainder that was painted covered many periods. 

 Vikings, TYW Cmd painted as Swashbucklers, AWI Hessian Art, GNW Russian Art, 1812 Kentucky Mtd, Serbian Art Officer, and Dutch Bicycle troops. This is keeping me well ahead for this years "The Pledge".

The fun part of the month involved three games the first I posted earlier. The second was another try of A Nobleman's War. A five player game involving besieging a castle and the relief forces. We were unable to complete the game so left it set up for another night. Dedicated man caves are great to have!

The besiegers move in towards the castle.

Crossbow men defend the ramparts.

A relief force moves up.  

A second relief force attacks the besiegers.

The second besieging force moves into the flank of the relief force.

A crushing flank attack.

Mounted Knights melee on the plain.

The last game was on a new game board Howard has built representing a Chinese Garden. The game was Chainmail Bikini with two groups of thieves attempting to steal an amulet and escape. 

the Koi pond

A great table and scenario as is to be expected at Howard's.

Next months plan is to finish off some GNW Swedish cavalry and finish some of the buildings and cars I have for Mad Dogs with Guns.

Thanks for reading.

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Something for everyone.

With the first nice weekend forecasted and no obligations it was time to get out and do stuff. An impromptu trip down to Pennsylvania put us on the Delaware Canal Tow Path starting in Washington Crossing and riding up the New Jersey side to Lambertville over to New Hope and back down to the start. We did a quick tour of the museum and watched the video before heading out. Not a huge site but informative enough.

Heron along the canal

One of several buildings at the park.

The trusty stead with the bridge crossing the Delaware from PA to NJ.

Monument.

Looking out over the river.

Unable to stay over night because every hotel was booked or way above our price range we headed back home after an excellent dinner at 55 Main in Flemington.

After knocking out a quick hike Sunday morning I took advantage of the weather to try my hand at casting. An ad hoc set up got me rolling but I had some mixed results. 

The setup.

Varied results.

The final keepers

Back to the melting pot.

A fun filled and productive weekend had by all.

https://www.traillink.com/trail/delaware-and-raritan-canal-state-park-trail/

https://www.fodc.org/visit-the-canal/towpath-trail/

https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/

Resisting the Warlord sale

Last week Warlord Games held a sprue sale. This sale offers a great deal on many of the sprues produced by Warlord. The first week Gates of Antres and WWII were for offered two periods easy for me to resist but this week Pike & Shotte were on sale with figures costing as low as US $0.38 per figure. Now here's a period I could get behind. I had just finished painting a few of the command figures and feel they are some great figures easy to assemble and paint. I've been looking at doing a small army for sometime now but also I've been trying to control the lead pile and budget. The GNW has been the project that was to be the focus for this year so starting something new wasn't what I wanted to do.

Luckily I was saved by an email from Howard. He told me that some 40mm figures that we had bid on arrived and I could pick up my share. It was just enough to keep me from pulling the trigger on the Warlord figures. 

So here's what I got.

Japanese

The Whole Lot

US Marines

US Cavalry

US Marines

Chinese.

I'm pretty impressed by the Scruby figures. They didn't seem to be available when I started the Shiny Toy Soldiers project but they are now and very nice indeed. These may become part of a different project with a different painting technique.

The other dent in the budget came from a purchase from a fellow TMPer who sold me some of the Woodens Foreign Legion and Arabs. I had two boxes of these from way back but missed getting more before the company stopped producing them. I hope to get more someday but should have enough for a small game.

Foreign Legion 

Sphais

Arabs firing.

Arabs with Swords.

So not exactly the best way to keep from spending money but as many of you know the temptations are always out there.

Freeman's Farm AAR

The Ordo Malleus held their monthly game night at Toywiz. It's always a great time seeing the games others are playing and miniatures they are using. Bolt Action, Hail Caesar, Cruel Seas and of course A Gentleman's War were all being played.

Matt, Howard and I got together for a game of AWI.   Always happy to get my figures on the table I brought my 28mm figures. The scenario was from the Black Powder rule book, Freeman's Farm. I added a few distinctions/deficiencies for some units but most were kept plain. Again this was a large scenario stretching the time limit but we still brought it to a conclusion. Matt commanded the Colonists while Howard played the Crown's forces.

Hamilton's Brigade deploys in line.

Fraser's Brigade advances.

Morgan's Brigade engages Hamilton's pickets

The first card up was a Joker and the next few leaned towards the Crown. Their brigades move up and skirmishers were thrown out on the flank. The Americans were slow to get on the table.

Hamilton deploys along the creek.

The Grenadiers advance supported by a gun.

Fraser's Brigade deploys.

Learnard's Brigade arrives but is harassed by the British skirmishes. Poor's Brigade arrives piecemeal engaging as they arrive. 

9th MA and Canadians advance through the field.

2nd and 8th MA move up along the road.

The Iroquois cross the creek and skirmish with the 2nd MA.

Poor's Brigade arrive.

The 2nd MA chase off the Iroquois but are slow to get back in line as Fraser's troops move in. After a viscous melee the Americans are forced back on their left.

Birdseye view of the battlefield.

The Crown forces form up for the assault.

The Americans, disordered, await the British juggernaut.

The melee begins.

The 9tn MA is routed.

the 1st Canadians see off the Loyalist troops only to be engaged by the British Grenadiers.

With the American left dissolved and the right still facing a solid threat the American commander decided to withdraw.

Thanks to Matt and Howard for coming to play. It was great to watch the game unfold as each played the cards they were dealt. As much as A Gentleman's War was written for shiny toy soldiers in a slightly  whimsical tone I feel they work well with historical matchups and scenarios.