Strength and Honour

 

One painting and modelling project I've really enjoyed this year is Strength and Honour, using the Antonine Miniatures range of 2mm units to build Imperial Roman and Parthian armies. I meant to extend this with either a Numidian or Ancient British army but ran out of time this year to start on the units. I also still haven't made my own desert terrain cloth with a grid or any terrain pieces, two things I really need to get sorted out.

I've only played two games so far, both of which I won despite not really having more than a sketchy grasp of the rules, so one of my objectives next year will be to properly learn the system so that I can enjoy more games at the club and also play solo at home. It's an ideal project for me as the units are quick to paint but look good, while the range of armies to choose from gives you lots of options. 

One thing I have thought about is using the rules and figures for later medieval battles like Crecy or Agincourt and even the smaller battles of the Wars of the Roses. However, the recent article on Hoplite warfare in the Lard Mag has given me another direction in which to wander of in, if only as an historical sideline from the primary focus on the Roman Empire. In the meantime, at least one new army will be on the 'to do" list for 2024.

2023 Project Photo Review

                     

Here's a photo overview of my output this year, which on the face of it wasn't too bad, although I didn't get as much done as I planned. There are a few things that I started on but didn't complete, so I've left them out as unfinished efforts. As usual, I've dabbled in things rather than completing one or two major projects, but I think that works for me in the long run, as I don't get bogged down or run out of steam.

Blog Roll Revamped

                     

A few weeks ago I took down the blog roll of my favourite blogs as it was way too long and had lost some functionality, which prevented me from editing it. It's now back up but trimmed down, with about half the blogs than before, many being removed as they were effectively dead. It makes you wonder if blogging is dying out, given the large number of blogs that hadn't seen a post in months or even years. I think Facebook and other platforms have sucked all of the oxygen out of blogging over the last few years, which is a real shame as there were some excellent, inspirational examples out there that have fizzled out.

Xmas Presents

                       

As we're in Brittany with the in laws we don't get our presents until we return home. However, we do exchange a few token pressies on Christmas Day. This year I got a copy of this book on Vauban fortifications in Brittany, which is excellent. Happy Christmas!

Merry Christmas

 

Stocking Filler

             

The 28mm project for 2024 looks like it might involve some Perry Miniatures plastic Hundred Years War boxes? 

Fort Du Coq

This fort is located at the mouth of the River Odet and was originally built in 1862 to replace an earlier earthwork redoubt. It's a standard design that is seen in many similar coastal locations, there's another one on the adjacent headland, but this one has been adapted as a sailing centre by the addition of a superstructure. Normally, it's difficult to get up close due to fencing, but that has been removed for the winter so I could do a full walk around. It would make a fantastic home if it ever came up for sale?

Red Actions! Freikorps

 

Despite assembling and basing an entire White AFSR army for Red Actions! this year, I singularly failed to actually paint anything for this project, despite several attempts to get going. As usual, I was side tracked by other things but I was also a bit daunted by the prospect of painting shedloads of infantry, cavalry, artillery and vehicles, including the obligatory armoured train! The units I've based and undercoated have been staring at me from the shelf above the workbench but, for whatever reason, have still to see a lick of paint.

To get this project going again, as I have a willing and able opponent lined up with a Red army, I've decided to revert to my initial plan which was to paint a Freikorps army for the Baltic. I have all the figures, guns and vehicles for this, so can get started straight away in 2024, with the added advantage that it requires about half the number of bases compared to the Whites. It also has some very neat support units and add-ons, which will motivate me to get cracking, so Red Actions! is definitely one of my key projects for next year.

Knights of the Sky Revival

                     

It's been a good year for Knights of the Sky multiplayer games at the club, although I can take little credit for the resurgence of interest in this excellent WW1 game. The rules had died a bit of a death until the club membership expanded this year, with some of the old hands asking for a game to introduce the new players. It kicked off with a scenario that I devised, the Battle of the Bathtubs, which featured some old Airfix / Heller Roland DII's that I built for the game, then took off from there. I also kitted up an Eastern Express DH9a for a subsequent late 1918 game but after that, illness and family commitments stopped me from taking part. Next year, I'm hoping to build at least a couple of kits to fill some gaps, the most obvious being the Albatros DVa, for which I have three Eduard / Smer kits, as well as some Sopwith Pups and Strutters to fill an early 1917 gap. It's just a matter of finding the time!

Narvik 1940 for Find, Fix and Strike

There's only a few days before the year wraps up and there's one project on the workbench that I've started but just won't have time to finish. This is the 1/3000th scale Operation Weserubung naval project, which I started back in April, including the two battles of Narvik and actions in the Norwegian Sea. The Kriegsmarine are finished but I've only just started on the Royal Navy. If I was at home for the holidays I would probably have been able to complete the whole lot, but I'm going to have to bump them over the line into January. I don't usually do this, as I like a clean break, but there's no use having a half finished project that I can't solo game. The battleships, battlecruisers and an aircraft carrier are half done, so it will be on to the heavy and light cruisers and the the destroyers next. I quite enjoy painting these, so I reckon I can get them all done by the end of the month, despite being back at work full time.