A Few More Moors

As outside temperatures begin to cool, activity at the painting desk is heating up again following my usual mid-summer lull.  Cooler weather means that I return from cycling less fatigued and more ready to concentrate.  The change in weather is only part of the reason for the renewed attention.  With fewer games played in August, just five by my count or an average of one per week, there has been more time and energy to devote to painting.  Recently, I have actually looked forward to meaningful painting sessions.  Although the monthly game totals are a little below par, the break from scenario design and development, as well as game preparation and play, has allowed for a modest rejuvenation at the painting desk.  Several units are now moving through the production line, including some unit types that have never appeared on the blog before.

Next out of the gates are two units for the 28mm Reconquista project.  This time, a twelve-figure body of Arab spearmen is joined by a four-figure stand of Arab crossbowmen.  These Muslims unite with the body of spearmen mustered out back in August (see Back to the Painting Desk).  Figures are from Black Tree Design.  The cupboard is getting quite bare of BTD figures for this period with the exception of miscellaneous command and enough cavalry for several bodies of horsemen.  Nice figures that paint up well.  Too bad I have abandoned acquiring more.

The guns remain silent at Salem Church.  Hopefully, the table will see some action before the game with the Rejects in two weeks.  If no group game can be arranged before then, I may at least play through a few solo turns to see how the rules and scenario work together before they are stress-tested by a bunch of Rejects.

On the art-and-armor front, the Spokane Museum of Art and Culture is hosting an exhibit from the Stibbert Museum in Florence, Italy.  Nancy and I visited the exhibit a few weeks ago and found a fascinating selection of arms and armor.  OK, maybe I found the exhibit more of interest, but she enjoyed it too.  Reenactors were also on hand to demonstrate and explain the craftsmanship and practical functions of these remarkable pieces of art and warfare.

Edit 03 SEP: Besides long delays between posting and appearing in blogroll (this post experienced an 8-hour delay), now attempts at replying to comments are currently failing.  Well, not exactly failing but when submitting a comment, the reply seems stuck in "Publishing" indefinitely.  Do you experience the same?  I have tried different browsers, same result.  Searching Blogger Community Notes, this is a known issue.  Let's hope Google gets this issue worked through satisfactorily soon.  Hold those thoughts until commenting resumes.  Please be patient and try again later.  

Back to the Painting Desk

Work at the painting desk has been slow with so many distractions.  One of which is rebasing the WotR collection.  Rebasing has required painting a few additional figures to conform to the new scheme.  I am happy to report that the project is behind me, and work continues on adding a new subprocess to the rules which are a work-in-progress.  Once I can clear enough space on the game table, I will present a parade of the newly based armies. 

Until such time, a unit of Arab spearmen muster out from the painting desk to form up with the other opponents to Christendom in the 28mm Reconquista project.  The more I paw through The Lead Pile, the more suitable figures rise to the surface.  This is the first of two such Arab units to march out from this rediscovery.  Excavations also brought up a few Arab crossbowmen and a handful of cavalry.  Figures are 28mm Black Tree Design. 

With the calendar turning over to August, a look at my painting seasonality chart (see Painting Seasonality) suggests that painting output ought to begin ramping up.  We will see if that holds true.  I certainly feel more energized to get back to the painting desk.  Let's see how long this sensation lasts!

Don't forget to fill out your GWS 2026 before the end of August.  Details can be found at If It's August....  Early reports are that completion percentage is running ahead of last year, but it is early in the month.

A Mixed Lot of Spanish

Following on the footsteps of the heavy discussion on blogging (whew! that was a lot of commentary!), I turn to something a little more sedate and short.  Of course, I greatly appreciate everyone who took the time to leave your very detailed thoughts on the topic.  This morning, my embedded Reply button seems to be broken on all posts.  Hopefully, this can be worked out.

Back to the painting desk.

Today sees a clearing out of a handful of assorted figures for the Punic Wars.  Making up this nine-figure stand of Spanish infantry are a mix of figures from both Black Tree Design and Renegade Miniatures.  The Renegade figures go into battle wielding the falcata while the BTD figures are armed with javelin.  A nice mixed stand that allows a few bits' bins to be cleared out in The Lead Pile.

On the gaming front, Richard hosted a remote game using the venerable Koenig Krieg rules.  I have two versions of the rules but had not played them.  Richard used an even earlier version!

Richard brought a hypothetical battle to the table using his tiles on a hex adaptation.  I was originally slated as an observer put was press-ganged into taking up the Prussian cavalry wing.  Having never played KK before, it was very good to see these rules in action.  Good fun!

For Richard's battle account, please visit, Battle of Pondeli.

A F2F game is on deck for Saturday morning in a return to the NWF.  On Monday, I host a remote game when the Battle of Wakefield takes to the table.  With holiday distractions behind us, time to start filling up the gaming schedule for the 2026 campaigning season.

A Mixed Bag

Today's offering is a bit of a mixed bag.

To start off, Matt (Wargames in the Dungeon) joined me in a remote game on Friday.  We fought the Battle of Zallaqah with Matt taking command of the Muslim army.  For those taking count, this is Game #4 in the Zallaqah refights.  Not unlike Alfonso VI, I learned an important lesson in this battle.  Hope I can commit this lesson to memory for next time!  Details for another day.

Spanish cavalry's inglorious retreat!

On the painting front, December painting productivity has really picked up.  Not unexpected given my seasonal painting tendencies over the years.  Completed units are stacking up at the light box like cordwood before winter.  Some units from projects not seen in a long, long time are moving out.  Well, a few, never!  I may be winding up the year on a high note on the painting front. 

First out from the workbench is a bit of a clean-up.  That is, a few miscellaneous figures were pulled out and sent into the painting queue for a quick win or three.  What emerges are three units from three different projects.  Mustering out are a three-figure command stand for the Reconquista (BTD and Crusader), a two-figure command stand for the SYW (Eureka), and a Norwegian two-figure machine gun stand (Peter Pig) for WWII.  Whew!  Glad to have these out of the way in order to tackle some bigger units.    

On Tuesday, I expect to see Pharsalus return to the kitchen table in 6mm using Commands & Colors for a series of games before Christmas.  Have not had Caesar v Pompey out in a long time.  Should be fun.

Pharsalus

On the big table, downstairs, Zallaqah will be cleared away and a new battle contemplated.  Current thoughts point to the anniversary of Wakefield on 30 December.  I need to design a scenario and get busy.  Wakefield poses some challenges for a scenario design and requires careful thought.  Wakefield may be the first game to see action in the New Year.  We will see.  My mind and motivations wander.

Next time, either more painted figures, the last Zallaqah battle report, or something completely different!

Onward Christian Soldiers

While I am still enjoying a steady stream of games of late, most of the combat has been raging across tables other than my own.  Without the work of hosting a game, I have the luxury of dropping in on my remote host and playing a relaxing game.  An added benefit of this short hiatus is that work at the painting table is beginning to pick up.  Now, a winter pick up in production is not unusual.  In fact, I have documented my seasonal painting tendencies more than once.  This analysis may be something to update and present after the books are slammed shut on the Painting Log for 2025.

Back to today's painting effort.

Sticking with the Reconquista theme from the last painting update, today sees two, 12-figure bodies of spearmen emerge from the workbench.  These 24 figures are all BTD and are among of the last "Christian" BTD figures left in The Lead Pile.  There may remain a few handfuls to make up a command stand or two, but the bins are running empty. 

I like these figures quite a lot with their, somewhat, grotesque facial expressions.  These fellas will be a useful addition to the Christian armies for turning back the Moors.

With more time at the painting desk, a whole array of figures is marching through the production line.  Units from a wide variety of projects will be meandering through the painting queue and into the photo box soon.  Well, that is my hope and plan!

I am back to hosting a game on Friday when the Battle of Zallaqah sees one more outing.  After that game, it might be time for something new.  But what? 

Horses for Courses

The horses in this case are Christian heavy cavalry. The courses are the battlefields of Spain.

Now, few are likely surprised that a battery of Reconquista games would not spark thoughts of fielding more units for the 28mm Reconquista project.  That is too easy.  Of course it did.  As I formulated a plan of action to bring Zallaqah to the table, I pawed through The Lead Pile to see what could be dug up.  I knew I still had some leftovers from earlier excavations.  How many?  Quite a handful, I thought.  Well, 15 heavy cavalry were dug out and brought to the surface for inspection. 

A few more heavy Christian cavalry remain to bring to the surface for a later dig.  Perhaps enough for another command stand or two?

All of these cavalry are the HUGE Black Tree Design figures bought many, many years ago when BTD service was reliable and prices cheap.  Ah, for the good old days!  How many years ago?  Receipts show that my last orders placed were in 2017.  That was a long time ago.

Anyway, on to the parade of three heavy cavalry units of five figures each.  Maybe they will see action in an upcoming game?

A couple of handfuls of BTD Christian infantry were extracted from the strata so these 24 fellas might show up sometime soon. 

A Pair of Muslim Command Stands

Basic Impetvs (BI) does not require separate command stands since leaders are integrated into a unit.  Not the case for me.  For my version of BI on a grid, I field at least one command stand per army and often one command stand per wing.  My Reconquista games generally do not use more than two command stands per army since many of these games are set for four players.  I can field four command stands.

Well, the remote game on deck later today has five players. That meant I needed to hurriedly push some command figures into the painting queue to field five commands by Monday.  As illustrated by these photos, two command stands made it out from the painting desk on Sunday just in time to field for Monday's game.

Figures are a mix of Black Tree Design, Gripping Beast (thank you, eagle-eye Ray), and Artizan.  One of these stands will take its place in the game today.

I have not had BI out on the table since a few Great Italian Wars battles back in January and have not hosted a remote game since the end of September.  Hope some of this comes back quickly!

Back to Spain!

In anticipation of a return to the Reconquista and Spain, I pulled the 28mm collection from its boxes and laid out a parade.

Today's trooping features the Muslim armies gathering for battle.  Not all will take to the field but a goodly number of them will.  The collection has figures from a number of manufacturers including Black Tree Design, Artizan, Perry, Gripping Beast, and maybe one or two more.  The bulk of the figures are definitely BTD picked up ages ago.

The army will go from the parade ground straight into battle in a contest later today on the field of Huesca.

Today's battle sees me matching wits against an opponent fresh off a victory on the plains of Sumeria.  With a string of four defeats at the hands of four different players, which wily opponent will I face on the field?

Egyptian Chariot from BTD

I may actually be back to painting Biblicals for the time being.  Following up from the recent Nubian post, today an Egyptian chariot and crew muster out from the painting desk.  That is two Biblical Pass-in-Reviews in a row.  This chariot is the last of the Black Tree Design Egyptian chariots left in The Lead Pile. 

Astute readers may wonder if yet another Egyptian chariot is needed given that a HUGE Egyptian Army landed in my lap at Christmas (see: With a Friend Like This).  That is a reasonable question.  My answer?  Well, if I have it, I might as well paint it.  Right?

For unpainted BTD Egyptians, this is about it besides a few odds and ends.  A number of Egyptian infantry and chariots remain in The Lead Pile from prior purchases from Newline Designs.  With the acquisition of the Egyptian Army, motivation to paint them has dropped way down the list.

More Hittites will be forthcoming from the painting desk as well as Sea Peoples and Assyrians.  I had planned to begin another Biblical army in 2021 with thoughts of fielding Trojans.  Those thoughts have been derailed.  Now, my thoughts and recent purchases suggest that Sumerians may be the order for the year.  We will see.

On recent games, remote gaming is still in full swing.  Matt has already reported on the AWI Ambush at Elm Brook battle and he is planning a Breed's Hill fight very soon.

For the Monday Night Gaming group (that curiously meets on Tuesday!), the last two weeks featured the Battle of Tewkesbury (see: Tewkesbury Talking Points) and a battle during the War of the Pacific (see: A Short Break in Bolivia).  I may yet put my spin on these two battles but Graham provides enjoyable battle accounts available in the links above.  Besides, his in-person photos are much better than my screenshots from Zoom.      

Another Two-Fer Tuesday

Another Two-fer Tuesday is on tap today as I work to clear the unit backlog at the photo booth.  Neither of today's offerings are from projects that have seen a lot of attention of late so getting both into the painting queue was a welcomed change.  Both are heavy cavalry stands based either for Impetvs or To the Strongest!.

First up is a five figure stand of Gendarmes for the Great Italian Wars project.  Figures are from Wargames Foundry's venerable Renaissance range.  Still handsome sculpts with good casting quality.  Only enough figures for one more stand remain in The Lead Pile.  Today's recruits bring the total number of Gendarmes stands up to seven.  That should be plenty after I field the remaining five figures.

Next up is five figure stand of Spanish heavy cavalry for the Reconquista.  These five heavy horsemen are from Black Tree Design.  By my count, this unit makes the tenth such Christian heavy cavalry unit fielded for the project.  Ten?  Don't I show any self control?  Perhaps not.  One day, I ought to bring this collection out from its boxes and put them out on parade.  My fear is that the size of this project may be surprising even to me.  Actually, a quick check of the database shows the project is only about 500 figures strong.  

On the gaming front for the weekly Tuesday game is another new period and rules to sample.  Up today is a Far East, mid-19th Century battle featuring Graham's Taiping Era rules.  I will be going into this action with no preconceived notions on either the rules or the period.  I am a clean slate ready to be molded.  Wish me luck.

With a Friend Like This

Well, I imagine most would wish for a friend like this.  A few days before Christmas, my long-time gaming buddy, Jake (see: Dartfrog's Adventures in 6mm), let me know that he would be in town for the afternoon and we could exchange our traditional Christmas gifts.  This year with social distancing, I would leave my package on the porch and Jake would make the swap in a drive-by gift exchange.  I did not see him pull up into the driveway.  By the time I did, he was back in his vehicle, waved and was on his way.  What I saw deposited on my porch was a large sack having several boxes stacked within.  I did not know what they were until I returned inside.  When the items were pulled from the boxes, I found this.

Jake's entire 28mm Egyptian Kushite Army built to face my Assyrians.  What?  That's right.  Jake gifted me his collection of Egyptians.  Astonishing generosity.  I was gobsmacked.  What a spectacle!

Jake's Egyptians were part of a joint project built to face my growing Assyrians.  With lead time required to paint these armies, scheduling challenges, and finally this year, COVID, we only managed two games with our armies in three years.  Since we are separated by about 80 miles, our schedules have not allowed for as much gaming time as hoped.

With my pandemic-inspired layoff in June prompted by the collapse of the commercial airline industry, Jake said his Egyptian Army would make for a suitable retirement commemoration.  I should say so!  Besides, he added, "you will have more time to game now and I have no plans to build an opposing army."  One funny note from this is that my Hittite build for 2020 had fighting these Egyptians on the field of battle as its primary goal!

Chapeau to you, my friend.  One day, you be able to command these troops, once again, on the field of battle.

Amazing, huh?  What a great friend and a pleasantly surprising end to an unpleasantly challenging year.

Clearing Out The Bins

As mentioned in an earlier post (see Cretan Archers & Survey Time) on the need to consolidate and organize The Lead Pile, work on that front sees progress.  Continued digging surfaced the following three candidate bins for completion.

First up are two stands of Assyrian heavy slingers from Wargames Foundry.  As expected, this venerable range of figures continues to set the benchmark as a superb range of Biblicals.  While more Foundry Assyrians remain in inventory, these represent the last of the slingers.  Being out of slingers is good since already more slingers are present than recommended for most Army Lists.

Next off the painting desk are more skirmishers.  This time, I switch gears to field Celts for the Punic Wars project.  One stand each of slingers and bowmen can take to the field.  Perhaps when conditions allow for a reconsideration of Telamon these lads will see action?  These eight figures are from Crusader Miniatures and Black Tree Design.

Finally, I dug out six Cuban Rebels for the Spanish-American War project.  While not enough on their own to form a BMU, I can add these two stands to existing formations to bolster numbers.  Figures are Old Glory.

Besides these half-dozen rebels, the Spanish-American War project is seeing increased activity at the painting desk.  In work are a couple of units of Spanish infantry and a couple of units of American volunteer infantry.

Old Glory's SAW range of figures is always a joy to paint.  The figures are big and easy on the eyes.  Few uniforms are as smart looking as the American uniform during this conflict.  Quite a practical outfit too.

After allowing my Old Glory Army Card to lapse several years ago as I moved away from projects based on Old Glory figures, I renewed my card recently.  After considering my options, I moved on an impulse to expand an existing project using Blue Moon figures.  I am sure to find other Old Glory products to add to The Lead Pile over the coming year.  No matter how fast I paint, my Lead Pile may never shrink...