Bronze Age Chariot, Wargames Foundry - Part 1 of 2

The miniatures featured in the following posts are quite unusual for this blog for a couple of reasons. One is that although I'm interested in ancient history (on my travels I've visited places such as Mycenae and Troy, locations associated with these figures) I'm not that interested in playing games set in the period. Another reason is that because, as far as I can tell, these figures have never actually been available to buy from the manufacturer, Wargames Foundry. These figures were painted around four years ago.

It was only after my brother reminded me about them that I had a rummage for the photographs. Eventually after a long search I found them. The models depict Mycenaean Bronze Age chariots. I say this because the models weren't labelled but appear to be based on an illustration by Angus McBride from an Osprey book 'The Mycenaeans c.1650–1100 BC (ELITE 130) an image from which can be seen [here].

In the famous siege of Troy the armour worn by the warriors would have been very similar to an example discovered at Dendra.  It's interesting to note that when the warrior was carrying a shield the only part of the body left exposed would have been the back of the leg i.e. the Achilles heel region.

Note the boar tusk decoration on the helmet.

Wargames Foundry have a massive range of figures and they were pioneers of the wargaming miniature market, being an early employer of the Perry brothers for example. I think these particular models got misplaced (literally by the looks of it) during the management changes that took place over the last few years when the son of the owner, Bryan Ansell, eventually took charge. 

As seems to be a regular pattern within the wargaming world that for a period companies become almost social pariahs for some reason or the other. A few years ago Wargames Foundry received an awful lot of negative comments on certain sites whenever they were mentioned, mainly it seems for their price/packaging structure and shipping costs. With the change of management it seems they have restored their image/reputation and now can be seen regularly at wargame shows.

Despite this golden age of affordable plastic miniatures Foundry still produce some very attractive and sometimes obscure metal figures. I recently purchased from them some very nice 17th century civilians to decorate my tabletop for ECW games.

Purple Shark (Warzone Resurrection), Prodos Games

And now for something completely different...

Purple Shark & Spotty Herbert

Made by Prodos Games this piece, called the Purple Shark, is taken from one of their Capitol starter kits in the Warzone Resurrection range. From what I've seen Prodos make some very nice resin models. I assume they use 3D printers to create the prototype as on (very) close inspection you can just about see the thin layers that made up the original model. The chaps from Prodos have visited the local gaming shop (Asgard Games Uk) where I got the chance to speak to one of them. His options and thoughts on why Games Workshop's FineCast were plagued with technical issues was very interesting but probably best not committed to paper (or online if that makes sense).

Purple Shark

Purple Shark

Purple Shark

Purple Shark

On a recent visit to the shop and during a break in playing various new (to me at least) games I happened to see this gamer's brand new purchase, the model shown here. After admiring it I offered to paint it up for him as I had a flash of inspiration for the paint scheme, which is pretty much as it looks here. The model struck me as having similar styling to an American 30's fighter or car, hence the stars and strips detailing. The figures supplied with the starter set are very loosely based on futuristic style US Marines (I think) so I gave the driver/rider and desert/urban paint job with light and dark spots added to give the impression of camo. I quite like the juxtaposition of colorful, metallic machine and the rider's outfit (mind you, I should do seeing as I painted it).

Looking at the finished work I think I may been overly influenced by Kevin O'Neill's artwork and in particular his work for Pat Mill's Marshall Law comic.

Sheep, Irregular Miniatures

Staying on an animal theme, these are a few more animals to decorate the tabletop. Not a lot to say about these. An animal generally considered dull but one that transformed the landscape and generated vast wealth for areas such as East Anglia. If you've ever travelled through countryside dotted with numerous medieval churches the chances are they were created through the wool trade.

Primarily for use as terrain (eye candy as our American cousins might say) I suppose they could be used as loot markers for certain scenarios.

Chicken Coop, Warbases/Too Fat Lardies

This terrain piece was an impulse purchase, picked up from the Warbases stand at the Derby World Wargames show. This company have a growing reputation for making innovative laser cut MDF products and providing excellent service but is the first time I've actually bought anything from them. Excluding a few telegraph poles this is the first time I've made a MDF structure. Pottering around shows I try and keep an eye out for small pieces that are cheap, will enhance the tabletop and that can be used for multiple periods. This model piece fits that criteria perfectly. 

Note metal chickens come with the kit.

The package was branded as a Two Fat Lardies/Warbase product, perhaps better known for their rule sets. This came as a surprise as I didn't realise they sold their own branded goods such as this.

The pieces separated from the frame very easily and fitted together without any issues. There are no instructions provided but the construction is simple enough to work out as you go along. The model can be glued together using standard PVA wood glue.

The kit comes with two pieces of textured card that makes up the roof sections, this is a nice touch as it covers up the joints that can be seen in the previous photos. 

Another nice touch, but something I didn't notice until after returning home, is that a small rooster and hen are also supplied with the kit. This was, of course, after I'd bought a small group of feathered friends at the show to dress the piece. My extra bird models will probably make their way on (or in) to a pond model I plan to make in the near future.

A very nice little kit, this took about ten/fifteen minutes to glue and fit together. You could just leave the model in its natural form but a simple paintjob will enhance it considerably. At £3, what I would consider a pocket money kit, this makes an attractive additional piece of terrain to any tabletop.

Petard Assault Team, Warlord Games

The petard depicted in this model was a shaped charge/bomb used to demolish gates or walls. Perhaps the word is best known today from Shakespeare famous phrase "hoist with his own petard" taken from Hamlet. This device must have been familiar, and probably infamous, enough to the Elizabethan crowd to be mentioned into the play and to have understood how dangerous it was. 

During the English Civil Wars a petard was successfully used at the siege of Farnham Castle in November 1642 and unsuccessfully at the storming of Bristol in July 1643. 

The first figure is shown sensibly wearing a helmet to help deflect the shots of alert sentries. 

Although there are no specific rules for petard teams in the forthcoming Pikeman's Lament they can form part of a Forlorn Hope unit, an elite group that are used in the game to hold or assault positions.

There two figures are no longer obtainable separately as shown here. They are available as part of a larger group, labelled appropriately as the Petard Assault Team which can be purchased directly from Warlord Games [here].

Derby Wargames Show 2015

Better late than never, here are a few photos of the show held at Castle Donnington after moving from the University of Derby. Derby is one of two wargaming shows that I try to attend as it is relatively local plus there's plenty to do when you've had even walking round a large hanger. Limited resources ensure that I now buy items I actually need rather than ones I would like. This is all relative of course as I don't really 'need' any of these are things but hopefully you know what I mean. 

An incomplete/random list of the items we bought include: 

Bulgarian machine gun crew - Tiger Miniatures 

Judge Death & 17th century civilians - Wargames Foundry 

Special bases & Chicken Coop - Warbases/Too Fat Lardies 

War of 1812 artillery and crew - Knuckleduster Miniatures 

Various animals - Irregular Miniatures 

I'm bound to have missed off something but them will eventually turn up on the blog.

In no particular order here are some of the games my brother took photos of. The first was a Dark Age game that made great use of terrain (you will probably notice good terrain was a focus of the games I asked my brother to take images of).

Romano British defend against

Saxons (Old DWA)

Romano British defend 
against Saxons (Old DWA)

Romano British defend
against Saxons (Old DWA)

Romano British defend against

Saxons (Old DWA)

Romano British defend against

Saxons (Old DWA)

The Battle of Yarmuk 636 AD (Society of Ancients)

These figures were once owned by the famous old school wargamer Tony Bath. We knew this because the chap running the display told us and proved it because each figure has a tiny serial number on it. This way Tony Bath could track each individual unit when it was on campaign.

Fousands of 'Em…… sounds like a train!

(The Boondock Sayntes aka Gentlemen Gamers)

Fousands of 'Em…… sounds like a train!

(The Boondock Sayntes aka Gentlemen Gamers)

Fousands of 'Em…… sounds like a train!
(The Boondock Sayntes aka Gentlemen Gamers)

Labelled 'Fousands of 'Em' this was literally the case for this game as there were approximately two and half thousand figures on display. The Gentlemen Gamers running the demo seemed slightly pickled as they were all enjoying large glasses of red wine throughout the day

The War in Ireland: 1689-1691

(Derby Wargames Society)

The War in Ireland: 1689-1691

(Derby Wargames Society)

More excellent terrain featuring commercial and scratch build buildings.

Battle of the Scheldt - winter 1944

(Barely Legal Wargames Club)

Battle of the Scheldt - winter 1944 (Barely Legal Wargames Club)

Windmill detail, Battle of the Scheldt - winter 1944

(Barely Legal Wargames Club)

Battle of the Scheldt - winter 1944

(Barely Legal Wargames Club)

The clever use of standard terrain made this display stand out for me. Although only relatively small compared to other at the show this demo featured some lovely detailing. It was obvious at a glance that this was a WWII game based on flooded areas of northern Europe. The lighthouse was the same one that my mate Ade bought a few years ago that came with solar panels that was intended to be used in your garden. However the maker of the demo had made some significant improvements.

Marignano 1515 (The Ilkley Lads)

Marignano 1515 (The Ilkley Lads)

Marignano 1515 (The Ilkley Lads)

Another great looking medieval/renaissance game complete with fantastic painted knights.

Battle of Quatre Bras - 16th June 1815

(Like a Stone Wall Wg Group)

Battle of Quatre Bras - 16th June 1815

(Like a Stone Wall Wg Group)

Another impressive game with good quality painted figures and terrain.

Quick shot showing about half of the interior of the hanger which shows just how big the venue is. The lighting was terrible but this was really the only issue with the venue that I don't like. Next door is the Wheatcroft Collection which is worth a visit.