Let the games begin!

Finally, after what seems like months of solid painting, be it 6 or 28mm, I have enough units to actually fight a battle or two. The Cigar Box Battle Mat which I ordered a month ago has also landed as a bonus. This is the mixed scrub land 6 x 4 feet which is devoid of roads, rivers etc. this will allow me to place down my own as required. The mat is the same high standard as my other mat and will be christened with a few practice battles over the coming days.

Looking down the whole length of the CBBM, the table is currently set at three feet wide so a generous twelve inches actually hangs down the front of the table, I do have a couple of hinged flaps at this side of the table to give me a full 8 x 4 foot table.

A low level, close up shot of the mat showing the texture that has been achieved by the manufacturer.

I have four rule sets, all of which will be used over the coming months, some are more suitable for skirmish others for larger battles.

Lion Rampant prefers that the figures be single based, however the other rule sets recommend bases. I have a shed load of these old Zvezda Age of Battles bases, which I have covered in card and then flocked.  They measure 80mm in width, the ruler also shows imperial measurement for those, like myself, who still think in that scale.

Width or depth is about 60 - 65mm.

Of course I can stand any number to together to increase the width or depth of a unit.

A unit of foot knights in Lion Rampant, though they in actual fact would not be on a base for that rule system.

Can easily be converted to a stand of 12 figures for other rule sets. I did also base them in such a way as to allow for casualty removal should the rules call for it. Always good to be versatile with basing.

A unit of light cavalry fit perfectly, three to a base, to represent a unit.

Same unit with the photo taken from a higher angle to show the excellent fit for the bases.

So the reward for all the months of painting is lots of battle ahead. The mat will also be perfect for my 6mm ACW as well. Good times ahead!

Some 6mm ACW action.

Having painted up a few units of infantry, cavalry and artillery, I decided to put them to use in a war game. I like to experiment and initially used the rules and dice from the board game 'Battle Cry' by Richard Borg. The rules are very simple and are really an entry level game for war gaming with miniatures on a game board.

I played one scenario on the game boards as a 60 x 30cm base just about fitted into a game board hex, it was fun to play but then I played 'The Battle of Gaines Mill' scenario on the battle mat, using base width as the measurement for play rather than the hexes of the board. I have included a few shots of the game, the full battle report is on my YT channel for those interested. It worked well too.

The Union hold the ridge and are rushing up reinforcements whilst the Confederates in three brigades advance on the left, centre and right.

The cards from 'Battle Cry' in use to move and fire with the forces on the table.

The Confederate left flank move forward.

The game was very enjoyable and I have enough units painted up to play any of the scenarios in the 'Battle Cry' scenario book. The small die are showing the unit strength as in the board game a figure is removed if lost, not something I could or wanted to do, with 36 figures glued onto their base.

For the next battle I was keen to try a new rule set written by a fellow You Tuber, 'The Table Top Gamer' his rules, now entitled 'Officer Commanding' are available for free in a link from his YT channel and he wants as many people as possible to play test them.
For the initial battle I set up a 2 x 2 foot area for the battle, his game is designed for 2mm and is actually played on a one foot square board! The units are eventually destroyed to win the game but it takes time, and the battles rolls to and fro as armies attack and counter-attack. It makes for a very pleasing game. Once again the full battle is recorded on my YT channel under its working name of Large Battles of the ACW for those interested and I have included a few photographs of the battle I progress to wet your appetite.

The white pieces of plastic and dowel rod mark out the 2 x 2 feet area of the battlefield.

That just about brings you up to date with what I have been doing. The baggage train I showed in the process of assembly and painting is now completed, based and flocked, I will take some photographs of that to upload. Currently working on tents and some civilians to create a camp and some camp followers, though some of the figures may be used to populate the gardens/yards of some of the buildings. Also on the work bench are more War of the Roses 28mm archers and bill men. I will probably use 'Lion Rampant' rules for these, but I am basing them in such a way as to allow me to use them with 'Hail Caesar', Impetus or L'Art de la Guerre rules.

Phew! That has been a hectic two or three days catching up with all that has happened, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and please feel free to make a comment. Also pop over to my YT channel to see more...Ian

The spare room was redecorated and turned into a man cave as had been planned. The war gaming table was extended by adding a one foot wide flap to both parts of the table, it was originally two pieces measuring four feet by three feet. The two bolted together gave me eight feet by three feet, however I found the narrowness quite restricting in 28mm scale but a permanent four feet wide board would have taken up too much space in the room. The compromise was the one foot extensions in the form of two flaps, one on each section of table giving me the much better eight feet by four feet. That of course can be folded down out of the way when not in use.

The N Gauge layout will still be built around the perimeter of the room but work on that will now start in the early new year, it will give me a run of about 40+ feet, and the main board containing the station will be some 14 feet long and will be the first section constructed and worked on. The other modules, each only some four inches wide can be added as and when, to give me a full run around the room.

Why the delay until the new year? I suffered a minor heart attack in April this year, it was enough to scare the pants off me. Sat in the back of an ambulance with severe chest pains thinking is this it, is this how it is all going to end? Fortunately, it wasn't the end but the upshot is that two of the four arteries into the heart are next to useless and it may require bypass surgery in the near future. Therefore strenuous work like building and fitting baseboards are off the agenda at present. A very good friend has offered to make the baseboards for me, he retires at Christmas and is prepared to build them in the new year with the measurements I provide. Thank you so much Graham.

I am still a devotee to 28mm war gaming and it associated figures, my English Civil War armies are almost complete, Highland clansmen, Montrose Irish and casualty figures plus one or two other bits and pieces still need finishing off. I have now embarked on another 28mm project, this time the War of the Roses and have just begun to collect and paint the figures.

Four test figures, archers from the Perry War of the Roses Infantry box set, plastic figures but beautifully sculpted as you would expect from Perry. Bases still need flocking and I was going to give them a sepia wash as I normally do with all my figures, but I really like the bright colours and toy soldier look of the figures. I have an idea for a campaign in the North of England set during the period of the war between the Yorkist and Lancastrian forces, Barons/knights/lords with their retinues based in a home territory, with a leaning toward one or other of the main protagonists. These will attempt to dominate, bully or capture neighbouring lands/estates and so gain favour and position with the current king, be he of the red rose or white. Still in embryonic planning stages at the moment but will not require huge armies and so should be ready in an acceptable time frame.

I attended the 'Joy of Six' convention/show in Sheffield England in July. It catered solely for 6mm war gaming and was my first ever visit, lots of tables and trade stands made it a very enjoyable, if expensive day out!

First up some flexible resin river and road sections, about six feet of each plus some bends and crossroads etc. Just bought one pack of each to try them out.

I then picked up a selection of building suitable for the ACW all in resin by various companies.

Next up were some horse teams and limbers for my artillery, I had already painted up a number of artillery pieces that came with the starter set I had bought a month or so earlier, but they came without limbers and teams.

I then selected a baggage train consisting of various covered wagons, two wheel carts, mule train and drovers to control them.

Next was some casualty figures both infantry and cavalry.

More scenic items included a ford and a couple of stone bridges, all resin.

Tents and the requirements of a camp came next on the list. I now have enough to make a substantial camp for the army.

Camp followers and wagons etc, to populate the camp.

Bags of cavalry, generals, artillery etc. for both sides.

Then bags of infantry for all the units I am ever likely to need, a mountain of metal to paint.

Finally, MDF bases to mount them all on.

The only thing non ACW related I picked up was a rule set for Ancient/Medieval Warfare. I had heard good reviews about L'Art de la Guerre so snapped up a copy, it may see action with the War of the Roses figures.

So all in all, a good haul of 6mm goodness, more than enough for my ACW project, but more of that in my next post...Ian