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The Alamo lined with defenders
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Kevin enjoys terrain projects. The latest project tackled is a reproduction of the Alamo in about 1/100. The modeled detail of the mission complex is impressive. This custom fortification was built to accommodate WoFun's 18mm flat, plexiglass figures. Having built the defenses up over time, the famous structure was put down onto the gaming table for a trial game over the weekend. |
Santa Anna's Army arrayed for the assault
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Mexican Army arrayed for battle
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Although I was not present at the game, Kevin sent along some photos of the initial dispositions of the battle. The Alamo, itself, is a splendid structure. With defenders guarding every nook and cranny of the mission and the colorful Mexican Army surrounding the complex, the project comes to life.The plexiglass figures come pre-painted and look amazing en masse. At a reasonable cost, armies can be fielded almost instantly. Played upon a grid, rules used for the battle are a version of Commands & Colors. With a bit of luck, I may get to give the battle a try in two weeks' time in a one-on-one game during our socially distancing times.
What do you think of Kevin's mission complex and WoFun's pre-painted flats? Both look terrific to me. Arrayed for battle, this collection offers a magnificent sight.
Looks very impressive, I do like the figures although there is no such think as a free lunch and suspect even these take quite a bit to prep and base etc. It is an interesting battle to choose, iconic but perhaps a little lacking in tactical options ?
ReplyDeleteYou are right. There is no free lunch. I am sure there is prep work in basing the figures. I imagine there was a lot of work that went into the Alamo model. There were other battles in the war but Alamo might provide for an interesting solo battle.
DeleteSince lunch I managed to have a look at the WoFun stuff interesting. I can see the attraction but there is something about which doesn’t quite sit comfortably. But I can absolutely imagine enmass they look great
DeleteWas your lunch free?
DeleteAs I noted in one of the comments below, I will enjoy the game, for sure, and the artwork is superb but the figures leave me feeling a little flat.
Still, any wargaming media that gets a gaming buddy energized to build terrain and present games is something worth supporting.
Great looking mission and nice modern spin on flats!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Kevin will be pleased to read this!
DeleteLooks impressive
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteInteresting post from a number of angles - thanks for this - in particular, I find the idea of the Wofun figures terrific - they are obviously beautifully made - I've seen pictures of various examples which are very attractive, but I would be concerned that the "flat" nature of the 28mm might be a bit of a shock to the unaccustomed. Certainly, the 18mm soldiers look very convincing (I'm also interested in the C&C siege-type adaptation, not to mention the square grid!).
ReplyDeleteThe figures are beautifully made, no doubt. I got a preview a month or so ago of the armies and mission but this is my first look at the battle setup. The figures, when viewed from front or rear, are little works of art. When viewed from the side, the flatness is a bit shocking, at first. That initial shock quickly dissipates. Still, these plexiglass flats offer a more colorful playing piece than the standard C&C wooden blocks. I am very interested in giving this setup a try.
DeleteThanks for your interest and comment, Tony!
The WoFun figures certainly look very impressive en mass.
ReplyDeleteI am currently in the early stages of negotiating a possible Portable Wargame/WoFun cooperative venture whereby I will supply them with a set of rules and scenarios to go with sets of suitable figures.
All the best,
Bob
Yes, they do! Very colorful, as well.
DeleteYour PW project sounds interesting. Which conflicts are under consideration?
Kevin, whose work is shown here, has commissioned artwork for more than one expansion to the Commands & Colors. Perhaps, he may consider following in your footsteps and commission work from WoFun?
As a very reluctant figure painter that likes seeing large units on the table top WoFun are really attractive looking. I am using the 28mm version for the ECW and the thing that is really handy is the small table footprint. A base of 8 figures in two ranks fits on a 40mm by 30mm base which means you can get a mass effect even on a 4” hex. I am sold on the idea for sure!
ReplyDeleteThe Alamo set up looks really impressive!
Kevin is in the same situation as you. That is, a reluctant figure painter. With these figures, large armies can be mustered quickly.
DeleteYeah, the setup looks fab! I look forward to the day of battle when I can fight over these ramparts in person.
They do look good, don't they?
ReplyDeleteI think so!
DeleteThe WoFun figures look good and no cutting out. So a siege game is on the cards.
ReplyDeleteInstant armies! Yes, a siege game is in the cards; the Commands & Colors cards.
DeleteThese look great. Please pass on my appreciation and congratulations to Kevin! The WoFun figures look beaut and the pre-painting is excellent. Seems to me they are a great way for new people (or people who do not like to paint, as David noted) to get figures on the table. Also for 'old hands' to get into a new period that perhaps they do not wish to go through the time and effort of 'raising' an army for.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few options now aren't there? These, the paper soldiers and I have seen some mdf ones on another blog (that I cannot recall at present).
I look forward to seeing more when you join for the game, Jonathan.
Regards, James
Hi James! Kevin will enjoy reading your comments. You point out many of the pros to using these ready-made figures. Peter (above) has been using the paper soldiers for a variety of games. I recall seeing 10mm mdf armies recently but cannot recall where. At least we BOTH were not dreaming.
DeleteI remembered where I saw the 10mm MDF figures! It was on Steve's blog below;
Deletehttp://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.com/2020/10/mdf-figures-and-blocks.html
The alamo looks fantastic. I can appreciate the flats, but they're not my thing, so it's hard to be really enthusiastic about them. Sounds like it will be a fun game, though!
ReplyDeleteThe Alamo is a fine piece of Wargaming architecture, for sure. I understand your reluctance to building up 2D armies but then we both enjoy painting. They leave me a little flat too.
DeleteNonetheless, refighting the Alamo with these armies will be great fun.
Very impressive scenery. These figures are very appealing to the wargame who's not keen on painting, or has no time to do it (like me).
ReplyDeleteCorrect on both counts, MJT!
DeleteVery cool! I've been sort of out of it of late, so might have missed a thread here. Very interested in the rules variant: are they available somewhere?
ReplyDeleteThe battle set out is very cool. As for the rule variants, I think they still may be in Kevin’s head!
DeleteI very much like the look of all that.
ReplyDeleteAs do I!
DeleteAppreciate all of the comments. I think the WOFUN miniatures are a good choice if you want to stage a big game with large numbers of troops. They are inexpensive and assemble quickly. I spent the most time building the model, grid mat and devising a scenario.
DeleteKevin, thanks for letting me share your work and set up. I look forward to fighting the battle out on your table.
DeleteImpressive and gorgeous Alamo table!
ReplyDeleteThe Alamo mission is a fine looking model, for sure.
DeleteCool looking game, the Alamo and interesting figures work well together.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the game looks cool. The Mexican uniforms are quite colorful. When viewed from front or back the figure artwork is vivid.
DeleteA lovely setup indeed Jonathan...
ReplyDeleteI do find that ‘stylised look’ of the figures and terrain quite attractive.
All the best. Aly
Glad you like the setup and the look of the WoFun figures, Aly.
DeleteWooow! Looks impressive Jonathan!
ReplyDeleteI think so too. The mission will be an interesting focal point of battle.
DeleteIf it is true that gaming is generally moving towards skirmish level because painting large armies is not a thing that fits in with the lifestyle or desires of the modern gamer, then the acrylic flats seem the perfect solution to open up gamer options of ‘easily’ getting bigger armies.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that just like some other less readily intuitive aspects of wargaming such as hexes or blocks blocks etc, once you get your ‘eye in’ and start playing, these pieces ‘normalise’ on the table as you get drawn into the game, though I would class them as highly functional rather than a joy, which is what I think the traditional 3D figure offers ...... albeit at expense and many hours of painting!
The grid looks ready made for some remote ‘e’ gaming via zoom or some-such.
Norm, your comments show data-driven and reasoned conclusions in action. I commend you!
DeleteFor those examining the data from WSS' Great Wargaming Surveys, these responses do suggest that skirmish gaming is gaining in popularity. We do not know precisely the reason for that from survey results. Inferring that it is due to changes in the desire to paint and field large armies seems a reasonable conclusion but other factors could play a role as well.
Given that skirmish gaming is growing and that younger gamers are less likely to paint large armies, your observation that pre-painted acrylic (or paper) flats provide an easy gateway into large army gaming presents a logical conclusion. Will these armies of flats then become a conduit to painting and fielding armies of 3D figures that require a much longer lead time as gamers' lifestyle preferences change? I guess time will tell.
The model looks great, as do the plexiglass figures. I'm not sure I could be persuaded to delve into them now, but if I was starting afresh they would look quite appealing to me.
ReplyDeleteThe mission model does look good, doesn't it? The flats do not tempt me for my own collections but I will certainly game with these.
DeleteInteresting post, different take on figures.
ReplyDeleteYes, plexiglass flats are a different take. Glad you found the post interesting, George.
DeleteThe Fort is a great project. These plexiglass figures look very good (my very first armies were flats), and the prices are very reasonable. They are something I might keep in mind in a few years as my grandsons grow up, should they seem interested!
ReplyDeleteThe mission does look good and even better in person. These figures might be a perfect entry into the hobby for your grandsons. Commands & Colors is a good stat too!
DeleteThe fort is very cool but I’m thrown off by the checkerboard base. I’m sure it serves the purpose. I like the look of the wofun figures but they have a particular look and the hard part would be to match that look across the entire table if you follow me. 😀
ReplyDeleteThe mission complex is cool, for sure. The checkerboard motif is artist license from its creator. Kevin may want to explain here or I can ask next time we game.
DeleteIf you want to see this checkerboard pattern across an entire table, take a look at some of my battle reports showing Commands & Colors set in the 1840s India.
the checkerboard is for movement control and settles argument about where a unit is. command and colors is played on a hex board. the battle would be much harder to fight and much slower without the grid.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what you mean about matching the look of Wofun figures across the table. They are all draw by the same artist and produced by Wofun. There would only be a mismatch if the game used a mix of regular miniatures and Wofun figures.
Kevin, Stew may have been referring to the different colored squares on the gridded mission base. Why have the Alamo base multi-colored grids and the remainder of the table a single, different color?
Deletemade the model to match the grid boards you referenced. unfortunately the gird is very large 8" squares. decided 5" worked better and made a new matt out of very heavy paper. doing it again, i would laminate a gridded paper to a board and match it.
DeleteI made the Alamo model first and used the same colors as the larger grid boards you reference. Doing it again, I would overlay the gridded paper on the board and lacquer it down. It would be an exact match.
ReplyDeleteI originally planned to use the larger grid boards because it is a match. Unfortunately, the grid is very large 8" squares and I decided 5" squares would be better and made a different mat out of very heavy paper.
I thought I had already commented on this Jonathan, but seems not - unless I am blind and overlooked a previous comment....
ReplyDeleteThis a period I have a bit of an inkling to play - but always saw kit in terms of 25mm from Old Glory. I like the idea of all the pseudo Napoleonic uniforms in the Mexican army
Hi Keith. I see no earlier comment from you. Glad you returned to make a comment. The Mexican Army uniform of this period was inspired by the French uniform of the Napoleonic uniform. The Mexicans even used used French suppliers.
DeleteAbsolutely Terriffic! I sent my order off a few days ago. I bought Ancients but Texas may have to be next! I love the idea that you can buy figures all but table ready- takes me back to Timpo and Britains from the local newsagent!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike! Kevin built a fine piece of real estate. Hope we get to use it some day after lockdowns lift.
DeleteI really like the quick to table aspect of the WOFUN figures. They allow access to new periods that would be tough if done with miniatures.
ReplyDeleteMy brother and I have thousands of 25/28mm figures and the WOFUN figures are not miniatures. They look good en masse and I think they are about 90% as good as miniatures.
The main thing for me is speed and cost. I am going to do a bunch of battles that would have been prohibitive-Waterloo, Rorkes Drift, New Orleans.
Thanks, Kevin! I sure would enjoy seeing these figures in a game. One day, hopefully.
Delete