Alarums and Excursions (and other stories)

Well, thats been fun a 2026 so far. Lots of worrying things abroad in the world and nearer to home too, And it's ony the end of February.

Closer to home for me, I've been pretty stumped in getting anything at all done and any plans have been totally scuppered to date due to fairly minor (thankfully) but no less incapacitating ailments since before Christmas with the likes of a throat infection, subsequent linguring cough, closely followed by tooth ache and trigeminal nerve issues with wisdom tooth extraction and breaking the tooth next to it. 

Coupled with Dentists and Doctors that don't know their arses from Tuesday, cancelling appointments at the last minute and passing responsibilities on to other Professionals and so on. Also multiple transport issues caused by the state of the roads locally and around the country with repairs to windscreens and wheels required it's been an interesting couple of months so far. I did have a day at the end of January where seemed to be ok and before next issue arose (the fololowing day) but my wife pressganged me into some DIY which in fairness was much behind schedule along with everything else.

But, touch wood, I seem to be getting out of the morass and feeling more up to getting my nefarious plans back on track.

On that, I did have quite a few irons in the fire which I'd been planning to get into this year, including new ventures into the land of business of the model making and design variety extending to design and manufacture of furniture and storage along with general modelling and hobby activities, DIY and so on. Obviously, due to the current state of karma around me, bugger all has been done up to this week.

The first positive step has been made this week however. Now the back story... One New Years day 2025, I had a bit of a windfall, picking up the £1K Daily Win on the Postcode Lottery. Good start to last year. Hummed and hawed a bit as to where to spend this but I quickly plumped to pick up a 3D printer with associated paraphenallia. The money was suitably banked and I set about reading up on things, checking various reviews and getting my head around the differences of Resin and filament printers and capabilities.

Time passed and things carried on as usual and fairly quickly decided upon a Resin printer which would cover Hobby Printing to suitable detail but also give me options for more functional accersory outputs for my other activities for jigs and machine parts. Time passed...

Things moved on, other life changes were coming to the fore and descisions made with the relevant one here being that I'd decided to take slightly early retirement and would be looking to supplement my income come the summer of 2026. Various plans became a bit more concrete and part of this was the facility to digitally design and print models.

Now, with the end of the year looming I got my finger out and ordered my first 3D printer (along with all the paraphenalia) which would land nicely just before Christmas and would have the time to step and experiment and get to know things before I went back to work.

As you can guess, things didn't go to plan here due to picking up an infection and the subsequent trials and tribulations that followed and I didn't get to open the boxes until mid February. Now all opened, contents checked and assembled, switched on, checked again, usual test prints run and all good.

First hurdle was up beginning of the week and looked to get my first print out in anger as it were. Previously purchased STL's were duly sliced and saved to .ctb file uploaded to printer and.... nothing. Lots of investigations were carried out, change of settings, different arrangements and means of loading, compatibility issues checked, software updates etc etc and finally lockated the issue being with the resolution profile on the slicer software had to be set to an older version of the printer than the printer actually was. Go figure.

Anyhoo, re-sliced my first batch of prints and uploaded and set to print last night and in the morning my first print selection was sitting waiting for me to clean and cure.

Lastsword Miniatures Heavy Pike Command
 and Bite The Bullet Githyanki Fighter

With the first output a success, I'll plan forward for some much needed hobby time and get some modelling and painting done soon.

Looking to post up on recent hobby related activities over 2025 and plans for 2026 and will update on the Business venture further down the line once it's a bit more developed.

More anon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Very, very belatedly)

 

Once again, wishing everyone a belated* happy and prosperous 2026

and Best Wishes for the rest of the coming year!

This one is definitely going to be 'interesting'.

* - I've got a good excuse for being even later this year, more on that in a couple of days. I've got new toys to play with.

Future Wars Update 012 - Additional Buildings 3

Following my last update quite sometime ago on the Additional Buildings for my Future Wars Project, I have recently been getting some progress on these terrain pieces to get them into a usable state, which included adding a few pieces to the collection.

I had decided around the end of last year to expand my collection of this range of models and looked to pick up additional habs, hub units, walkways and a few bits and bobs to make my set-up much more adaptable and potentially high-rise (ish).

Time flies as they say and when I picked up the original CASHstack set pieces they were produced by Warmill who are now defunct and their ranges are now produced by TT Combat, though I note several parts of the previous Warmill ranges have never made it back into production which is a shame. The Warmill Ultra-modern terrain range were particularly good.

It would seem that several bits, specifically the large and small hab units have been re-tooled (to a much lower quality IMO) and very annoyingly with slightly differing dimensions. The units being slightly shorter in overall length with the locating lugs/cut-outs in differing locations. This means you can't stack the old Warmill units with the new TT Combat pieces (without quite a bit of butchering that is) and the newer pieces lack the internal partitions that the Warmill ones had, plus the detailing lining is much coarser and often inaccurate.

I have assembled, primed and base coated all the original pieces along with the majority of the additional pieces and accessories (with the exception of one large hab and a couple of hubs and supports still to assemble in the fullness of time).

All the pieces have been grey primed and spray base coated in a light ochre/bone and then a heavy directional coat of white to give a bit of graduation from top to bottom which has worked fairly well. I've now started detailing the panelling etc and am looking to complete the windows with coloured film to add to the 'moderne' look. I'm maintaining a limited colour pallette throughout and still deciding if I'm going to apply any weathering to the completed models or not. I'll probably go with a limited effect and not too worn look, but might try a couple of pieces as bit more 'used' to see if this appeals.

The main area's and details have all been air-brushed but find it's actually fairly easy to do the details with a filbert brush and stay within the lines and a lot less faff than masking off fiddely bits anyway.

I have also made up some small infill pieces from the off-cuts and push-outs from the mdf sheets for balcony end pieces and stairways landing rails to keep things looking less open. The other manufactured accessory I'm working on is to produce simple 'pavement basing' for the additional roof balcony pieces that are not used when stacking the hab units so they can be used to double up as fencing or walling.

All in all enjoying the upgrading and progress to date but things have stalled now as I'm looking to push on with some figure painting between other projects, mainly DIY and woodworking along with some Man-cave upgrades occupying my free time recently.

Will up-date on progress on this one as it happens.

Ragnarok Miniatures - New Figures to the collection

'The Stahlsons' Armoured Trolls

The Ragnarok Miniatures above and following are some of the first miniatures I've added to my collection this year. The Figures were received last month from the recent Ragnarok 9 Trollheim Kickstarter which was floated at the end of last year and were received ahead of the anticipated delivery, which was nice. All the figures are sculpted by Colin Patten and his style is immediately noticable and the figures fit with many manufacture ranges over and above the many that were sculpted by Colin of course but also other ranges.

I have a number of the Ragnarok minitures already and this package is adding to the range I have which are intended for use in a number of roles but particularly bulking out my Oathmark Army, use in my Solo Fantasy Campaign, various Fantasy Skirmish rules and in some LotR gaming to name a few.

A good deal and a fair passle of figures received, I like the Armoured Trolls particularly and will be useful in a number of roles under a variety of guises which the generic look will fit nicely.

'Uruk Warband'

Along with the Trolls, I went for the Uruk Warband which includes 32 figures in various guises.

'Uruk Command and Armoured Uruks'

Self explanitory Armoured Uruk core with 12 rank and file and a 4 figure command group. I picked up an additional Command group to flesh out previously picked up Ragnarok Armoured Goblin types. Armed with reasonably sized shields and mainly polearms and a few scimtar like swords. I'll probably ditch the scimitars in favour of something a bit heavier.

'Uruk Archers'

Again, self explanitory with the Uruk Archers being of the armoured variety. One issue I didn't like with these is that they came with the standard seperate hand with bow which also came with the Forest Goblins below. While this looked fine with the goblins, it looked a bit small for the beefy Uruks, so I substituted the bows with some spare bows from the bits box. Pretty sure they were from spare Empire Archers, which look the part size wise.

'Uruk Trackers'

The Uruk Trackers are a very usable generic goblinoid beefy type and could be used in a variety of roles again. Armed with spears and lighter shields than their armoured counterparts, the shields are fine and similar if not the same as the Goblin Shields in previous releases. Don't like the spears as pretty blunt looking and like the polearms with the armoured Uruks are very soft metal, so these will be replaced for harder wearing alternatives, probably rod and plastic spear heads.

'Forest Snaga Archers'

Bringing up the rear of this gang are the Forest Goblin Archers. I have a pack of the Forest Goblin Spearmen from previous Kickstarter which I liked a lot and make ideal skirmishy types and the archer addition was a no brainer for me. As you can see, the seperate hand/bow which are pinned and glued to the figures look nicely sized for the shorter stature Goblins but is way to small for the strapping Uruk warriors to bother with.

The previous releases from Ragnarok are available from Gripping Beast and I assume the latest Kickstarter will be available there in due time. I'm probably going to be picking up a couple of additional Goblin types from GB in the near future.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

The Shadow of the Torturer - Bruce Pennington

Wishing everyone a (belated) happy and prosperous 2025

and Best Wishes for the coming year!

Think it's going to be interesting.

Battle for Blackside - Mordheim Season 4 Turf War Round 3

Had the third round PvP game of our fourth Mordheim Campaign back in the end of January and had the full complement of players attending, Ian with his Carnival of Chaos, Ric with his Middenhemers, Kev and his Halfling Horde, Andy and his Kislevite's, Dave with his trusty Reklanders, and Leigh with his Bretonnians all ready to do Battle for control of the Blackside area of Mordheim.

Battle commences

The game was to be fought in the cramped confines of the tangled streets of one of the many unsavoury area's of Mordheim, so most of the Warbands were forced to close with each other pretty quickly as the street scape limited the shooting oppurtunities of most of the bands.

Middenheimers move out towards the Chaos horrors

The first turn or so was fairly uneventful with al the bands jockeying to see which way each would go, only the Kislevite's boldly marched towards the centre and towards Ian's Nurgle types (and picking up a couple of Wyrdstones on the way).

The Middenheimers mover towards Ian's Chaos forces and the Halflings spread out and advanced generally into the field moving out towards the Middenheimers and Kislevites. Dave's Reiklandrs hugged the table line and moved towards the Kislevite's while Leighs Bretonnians moved out with an eye on the Wyrdstone and the other on the Nurgler's. THe Chaos Warband moved towards the Bretonians keeping to cover to minimise the incoming shooting.

The Halflings spread out seeking sniping oppurtunities
against the Kislevite's and Middenheimers

This was the general trend for the first couple of moves. Neglgable Random Happenings bar a minor wyrdstone encounter for the Kislevite's.

Kislevite's head into the centre

and seek battle with their Arch-enemy

A small amount of opportunity shooting occured now and then from around the board but with little effect to anyone though did make all the Warbands hug the ample cover.

The Reiklanders skirt the action and look to approach
the Kislevites from the rear

The Kislevite's continued their advance to the centre hugging cover so slow progress, the Reiklanders moved round to the Kislevite's rear and the Bretonians made a mounted knightly dash for some choice wyrdstone placements and back again while bracing for the oncoming Nurgle tide. The Halflings and the Middenheimers moved cautiously forward while sniping at each other and anyone that showed above the parapet.

The Bretonians dash for Wyrdstone before the nasty
Chaos types steal it away

Middenheimer cautiously approach Nurgle's
finest while attemping the odd distance shot

The Middenheimers began to close slightly with Chaos forces but the Halflings chose to stand fast and wait for oportunities for their bows. 

The Nurglings and associated nasty types closed with the Bretonnians and quickly developed a close melee with the Carnival quickly downing a knight and pinned the Bretonnians in place while circling round and leaving a couple of outlyers keeping an eye on the slowly approaching Middenheimers.

The Nurgle Chaos tropps close with the Bretonians 
and quickly gain the upperhand in melee

Things quickly get sticky for the Bretonnians

The Reiklanders gain an opening and begin to shoot at the Kislevite's but these are now mid table and have ample cover from the rear attack still some distance away.

Reiklanders open up on the rapidly disappearing Kislevites
but to little effect

The Bretonnians battle on

And then the rains came...

With the next check for Random Occurances landing with Kev, he rolled up a positive result which produced a 'Storm of Chaos' in the form of a Wyrdstone tainted downpour lasting a couple of turns which would inflict a S2 hit to anyone in the open. 

The streets strangely empty...

With the poisonous tainted rain lashing the streets all the bands dove for cover with some better placed to seek shelter than others.

Over the course of the couple of turns most of the bands took some hits but the Halfings and Reiklanders suffered particularly badly. Both Warbands took multiple casualties and at the end of the 2nd round of rain both bands left the field due to the losses.

The Bretonians also quit the field with minor losses from the rain but coupled with combat losses with the Chaos Horde, Leigh chose the better part of valour and retired to lick his wounds being several Hero types down.

The Kislevite's emerge following the deluge

Once the rains had cleared it was down to a three horse race, with the Kislevite's in the strongest position having taken almost no casualties to date but the Middenheimers and Carnival were both still strong in numbers too.

The Middenheimers make a move on the Chaos Warband

The Kislevite's advanced slowly through the twisting streets keeping their numbers together and letting Ric's Middenheimers have first chance against Ian's mighty Nurgle Warband, and the Middenheimers emerging from their cover rushed in slightly piecemeal against the grouped Nurglers but fought a valiant fight but took greater losses than they inflicted in the open street area.

Threeway fight develops as the Kislevites move
toward their hated enemy

The approaching Kislevite's forced the Chaos troops to split their forces to keep an eye on both front and flank so this limited their effectiveness but the toughness of the Chaos troops bluinting the middenheimers attack.

Middenheimers and Chaos fight it out as
the Kislevites approach cautiosly

The Kislevite's consolidate 
(and pose for the photo opportunity)

After two or three rounds of the slightlt one sided exchange the Middenheimers broke but having inflicted a couple of casualties on the Chaos band.

Kislevite's push forward but struggle to get the
numbers in to make the difference

Andy now chose his moment for a full attack but the cramped confines of the alleys limiting his number advantage on the slightly spread out Chaos types.

A strong and fierce melee ensued in the narrow alley but both sides held back from full engagement with the Chaos trusting to his dice and toughness and the Kislevite's with an eye to survival and lack of opportinity to engage.

All the big hitters of both bands joined in and much claws, teeth and sabres flashing ensued and several rounds of vicious melee was had againsdt the hated rivals.

Once again things went down to both bands being on rout checks and after a few passed checks on Ian's part (with a good chance of success due to his leaders Ld at max) Andy failed his 2nd or third check and it was all over.

Chaos numbers and Toughness prove too much
for the Kislevite's

So in the end Ian dice and ability to keep the numbers in the melee's in his favour give him a third victory in the Campaign and push him further ahead in the Turf War. Time will tell if this is an unassailable lead or not already.

The positions for the end of Turn 3 following al the Scouting and Raiding is as the Campaign Map;

Season 4 Mordheim Map - Turn 3 End

Turn 4 PvP game has been played and awaiting final turn orders and results before posting up batrep but will follow shortly with Turn 5 opening game due this month.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2024

and Best Wishes for the coming year