Plastic ships and imaginary men

Greetings,

As previously mentioned I thought I’d start to use my blog properly and provide my opinions on the games or models that I’m currently obsessing over. Without further ado welcome to my first venture into Age of Sail gaming.

Black Seas by Warlord Games. 3 lovely little brigs

So in November (I think) last year Warlord games released their first foray into Age of Sail gaming called Black Seas. At the time I was interested mainly because of the model ships (they are ships not boats, accordingly that’s a faux pas in traditional AoS gaming circles), they are charming and it’s hard to deny the appeal of tiny sailing ships on the table top. Having looked at Black Seas and read some of the reviews of the rules however I wasn’t as convinced. The rules are very simple (there is a section called advanced rules that I think should have just been part of the standard section) and are intended for fleet actions (not too surprising for a game for Ships of the Line, if there was only one ship it would be more of a dot). Whilst the sight of a line of 1st, 2nd and 3rd rates cruising across the table and unleashing devastating broadsides was appealing, I am supposed to be reducing my collection not just adding another pile of shame to it, so I held off.

About a month ago, having stared so hard at the delightful little 1/700 scale ships I could see them when I closed my eyes, I started to look for rules I might enjoy so I’d have an excuse to purchase some. I have played other AoS games before, my favourite being the Avalon Hill classic Wooden Ships and Iron Men (counter based and all included in the box, well worth the purchase if you see it at a reasonable price) but what I really wanted wasn’t a fleet based game but rather something focused on single ship to ship actions.

Black Seas American Frigate by Warlord Games.

Through some scouring of the backwaters of the internet I discovered a game called Post Captain by ODGW games. This seemed right up my street stream, it was detailed and really seemed to make the gamer feel like they were sailing the little ships across the table. I took a gamble and purchased the rules from Caliver books (no link for you as you tried to make me pay a surcharge for using PayPal, barbarians) and was pleased to see that upon purchasing a hard copy you got access to a digital version from ODGW. Now I haven’t played the rules properly yet (just sailed a couple of ships around a table badly) so can’t give a fair review of the game, I can say that I’m really impressed with the rules from reading through them. They are detailed, well written and laid out, including the best written description on how sailing works I’ve ever read. Rules in hand I asked my mum for a box of the Warlord Frigates and Brigs as a birthday present and started to get excited.

Post Captain by ODGW games. It’s thorough, well written and bizarrely loose leaf and punched in a system only used by our American friends.  Off to Tesco for a binder and poly pockets I went.

Models in hand I scoured the internet for inspiration and found a truly excellent blog written by a true artist. JJ’s Wargames is written by the eponymous JJ and covers a broad range of subjects, what caught my eye was the 1/700 naval category and when I clicked on it I was blown away (seriously stop reading this now and check it out, come back though) his level of work on the Warlord ships was amazing. He had done the standing and running rigging, pennants and flags and in some cases had added some tiny photo etched crew to the decks. I scoured his site and was inspired.

Isn’t she beautiful, I’m in love and have spent many hours just staring at her. Some things need improving but she’ll be my ship whenever I can use her. There’s even a little gig on davits I modelled on the back in case, as her Captain, I have to abandon her. Room for me and my parrot and not much else.

So this is my first attempt at a Brig of war, temporarily entitled the ‘Salty Lass’, and whilst the rigging was a learning process (the next will be much easier) I really enjoyed the time spent. She will be my British privateer for running down the French and plundering merchantmen on the high seas. There is a little bit of rigging left to do: from the mizzenmast to the foremast and down to the bowsprit, and the rigging on the sprit itself still need to be done. I decided trying to do the running rigging might be too much for my nerves currently and reasoned that they were intended as gaming pieces (doesn’t stop JJ but I’m not on his level... yet), I did add some brass etched ratlines (instead of the perfectly serviceable acetate ones included in the kits) by Meridian from Navy Models and Books (excellent service, fast friendly and very reasonable; a true pleasure to deal with) which whilst fiddly to install do look amazing and add a level of structural rigidity to the model. I also shamelessly copied JJ’s idea of using clear perspex pill bases from Fluid 3D Workshop. They have an excellent range of bases for all the ships (Brigs, Frigates, 2nd/3rd rates and 1st rates can all be found here) and were very reasonably priced with a blistering fast delivery time. The bases I chose were 2mm thick so my ships would have a robust base that would be easy enough to pick up and prolong the models tabletop lifespan. They extend about 3-4mm from the outmost points of the yards and give a nice amount of space in front and behind the model. I may try to add some waves or water effects using PVA or a water effect material in the future but haven’t researched this enough yet (I’ll let you know how that goes).

So that’s it, my first (and definitely just the start) of my adventures in little ships. I’ll try and review PC as soon as I have played it. I’ve bought a couple of beautiful Warlord merchantmen to use as targets in my privateering enterprises and have a miniature shipyard sat on my workbench.

Black Seas merchantmen by Warlord Games. Merchantmen were often older ships that had been in service for some time so these little beauties have a classic age of sail look to them. Here’s hoping Warlord tackle earlier periods than the Napoleonic in the future. 

Something I haven’t said is that accordingly (to those that know their stuff) the Warlord plastic ships aren’t super accurate and take some liberties with structure to make the ships more robust and suitable for gaming. This doesn’t really bother me and could easily be remedied by some advanced modelling and if cared that much I could buy accurate replacement masts and sprits/sails from Meridian, it would add about £20 to the cost of each model but is simply above my needs for gaming.

Thanks for taking the time to read all that, hopefully it will inspire you to have a go at AoS gaming. So from me it’s “Blah’de’blah” for now (first person to comment and get where that reference comes from can have a free gift from my mountain of lead, as soon as I’m not on lock down and can get to a post office).

Stay safe

BALM

Endless hobby ahoy!

The times of potentially endless hobby are upon us.

I know these memes are over used but it is very appropriate currently.

Greetings.

     So like many a blog mine has sat idle for quite a while and like (I’d imagine most of the other blog authors) I have some pretty good reasons for not updating. From my own health (I’m literally one in 2 million, Doctors eyes light up when they read my records and imagine all the exciting ways they can “solve” me) to my iMac deciding to keep some water in the corner of its screen, my regular opponent and I having to be grown ups and deal with the problems associated with such responsibility; I just haven’t tackled it. I tried using my phone to update it but the layout was appalling and caused me to have aesthetic conniptions. I did miss my blog however, it had helped motivate and focus me and the comments from the couple of people who were kind enough to look at my online nonsense really inspired me (thank you for your support, it is really appreciated).

My first Warlord Black Seas model which I intend to use to play Post Captain by ODGW.

     Right, excuses over, on with today’s post. Many if not nearly all of my fellow hobbyists (in the U.K. if not the rest of the world) are now having to stay home to protect our people and infrastructure. This hasn’t changed a lot for me but must be a difficult time for many and I wanted to try and pass on some advice that has allowed me to stay sane (relatively speaking) since I had to retire from arboriculture (at my wife and doctors request, quite rightly I must add).

I didn’t actually make this vehicle specifically it was just a coincidence and powerful little magnets getting together. Love finds a way! How on earth did the Italian tankers see?

     Your hobby is there to bring you joy, don’t feel pressured that because you have lots more spare time you should be achieving more. For some lucky and talented individuals this may be true but in reality most people will just be adding unneeded stress. Plan some regular time to hobby and just try and keep it ticking over. Maybe use the fact your non-gaming family members are trapped with you to introduce them to the hobby. If you’re isolating alone play one of the many available solo games, or just play both sides of your normal game, try and be even handed, play both sides as well as you can (it can be just as fun and help you really learn your favourite rule sets). Just try and remember you’re hobby is for enjoyment, if it’s not fun try and do something else and come back to it in a bit (don’t worry your mountain of shame isn’t going anywhere!).

A bit more of this spirit, a little less panic and we’ll all get through this. Courtesy of the IWM (I think, please correct me if necessary and I’ll adjust this appropriately).

     Enough waffle for now. I intend to try and start updating regularly, showing all my progress since I stopped posting, sharing the games I now play and the state of my ongoing projects. Hopefully this might inspire someone (or just give you something to read).

Stay safe, stay calm and be positive, respect each other and hobby on.

BALM

Remembrance Sunday

The Remembrance Sunday service at Abercarn war memorial.

Abercarn War Memorial this morning after the service.

Thank you for your bravery and sacrifice.

That unintended break...

So like many blogs real life got severely in the way, and like many ghostly blogs out there on the intrawebs BeneathALeadMountain has just floated around desperate for attention and love. But as you look up at the mountain before you you see a little glimmer, something moves, just scree to start but more rocks begin to tumble....... suddenly before you a gateway opens and beckons you inside.........

My blog struggled as my computer died, my health worsened further and my gaming friend struggled with his own difficulties. My hobby continued at a slow pace (and became the only one I could still achieve anything with) and I kept plugging away at my mountain. At the behest of my wife I joined a local gaming group and made a couple of great friends, picked up some new games and converted some people to the ones I loved. All the while I missed my little blog, it achieved very little, but gave me something to look forward to and put me in contact with some excellent people. It allowed me to visualise my hobby progress and use it as motivation, a tool to help fight the feelings of depression and generally help me feel like a person.

Well now I’m back (hopefully for more than one post) and I’ll try and catch up with what I’ve done and my future goals. Maybe somewhere out there is someone who will benefit from it or just enjoy glancing through, please comment or get in touch.

Thank you
King Beneath A Lead Mountain

Some 15mm additions.

I've done quite a bit during my recent hiatus. With the weather being awful (spray painting and pictures are currently impossible) I thought I'd put up a couple of pictures of german units I'd finished.



My FoW Whitman Tiger, painted to reward its performance in the battle of the secret stug (see its kill ring). The law of gaming meant its next performance was useless with it being destroyed almost instantaneously.

Again but without the warming sunshine. The turret is magnetised, the crew member sculpted by me.

My 250/1. Built for CoC as its an excellent support choice. The customised Peter Pig and FoW crew are one piece and are removable. The tarpaulin is procreate.

I've also more recently finished my 88 flak and a Grille H (a weird and charming little vehicle that packs a massive punch in BA). I've (at the time of typing) just based the 88 crew and will get them done soon.

Battlefront or FoW 88 flak gun. Carefully put together, painted in camouflage and then obscured with model scenery. I seem to really enjoy making my own life more complicated.

I'll do another base for the wheels and an ammo stack (and maybe a little dug out for the spotter). Plenty of room for the crew to (hopefully) stand behind.

 

The Grille's crew have (like all my chaps) been re-headed with Peter Pig heads. It's a nice, characterful unit that is suitable for my opponents favourite gaming theatre - the eastern front.

Plenty more bite size updates to come as I try to get back up to speed with pictures and progress of my summer; including 15 and 28mm, some new 15mm settings - AVBCW and a whole new project in a new scale - WW2 6mm.

As ever thank you for taking the time,

BALM.

Bolt Action from June.

Some pictures of one of our games in June. It was approx. 3000pts of Soviets versus Germans with a 24 dice limit. The soviets were a classic infantry horde with maxims and varied zis guns, supported by some T-34's and other green tanks (who can tell the red hordes clunky death traps apart). My Germans had a core of motorised veteran infantry supported by mortars, Panzer IV's, a Panther and even a Tiger.

The view from the German side of the table. The church and village are flanked by some farmland and woods.

A little western in appearance this area of the eastern front. The church offered a perfect vantage point and the battle was sure to focus around the surrounding village.

My Tiger rumbles on to be instantly KIA'd by a waiting T34. It was a long shot and caused an instantaneous drop in my (and thus my little chaps) moral.

First blood to the Russians and my Tiger burns merrily, the assailant can be seen to the right of the outbuilding in the distance.

My half tracks rush forward supported by the pz.IV's and the Panther. The infantry dismount and begin the push to dislodge the soviets from the village.

The infantry disgorge from the transport and prepare to meet the oncoming Russians.

The Panther and panzer IV's prowl amongst the trees as they respond to the soviet threat across the village. The burning Tiger a constant reminder that they aren't untouchable.

As the main infantry attack pushes into the village my recon 250 speeds down the left flank to put its small squad in an advantageous position.

The game was a success for the Axis powers even with the Tiger destruction but it was a hard fight with the soviet armour being a tough opposition. Once again I took half tracks in an attempt to use them in BA rather than dismiss them. The tank combat in BA is so simple you can't pin your hopes on them, as I proved with such appalling use of my iconic German super tank. I'm still having a lot of fun with BA, our tables and miniatures are slowly getting prettier. I'm looking forwards to getting the bulk of my Germans done so I can start on my allied forces.

Thank you for taking the time,

BALM.

Car Wars and some outdoor Bolt Action

With Salute being the main focus of our weekend in April we wouldn't manage to get much gaming in so we looked to something different for a diversion. Car wars is a game synonymous with my nostalgic memories of 80's and 90's gaming. It's straightforward, brutal and fun. I didn't take too many pictures but in the example you can see our first trial game with a lorry and car each.

Our vehicles negotiate their respective corners before powering down the high street towards each other. My opponents vehicles are already accelerating towards me as I swing my lorry hard left and formulate a plan.......



My lorry forces my opponents car off the road, hitting the curb, ploughing across the grass and coming to a stop against the tree. My car makes another left across the front of the oncoming enemy truck.

So not the most comprehensive photographic report. Car wars is excellent fun, can be played in a small space and will use up a lot of my future time. There is a recent re-release of the original set and at £14 it's great value and worth investing in.

We managed to get one game of Bolt Action in over the weekend and as it was hot we decided to play outside. The scenario was a group of eastern front partisans ambushing a column of german grenadiers in half tracks. We played this using the v2.0 rules allowing half tracks to fire on a FIRE order without carrying any passengers.

The Germans are set up along the lower road with the fore most half track in contact with the old block. A soviet gun sounds and the carrier erupts into flames, it's occupant spill out and stumble into nearby cover.

he German dismount and fan out ready to face the oncoming soviet threat. Grenadier advance in the relative safety behind the 251.

A soviet armoured car press the attack as partisans emerge from the surrounding trees.

More partisans appear and whilst undisciplined they have the Germans pinned and cut off.

 

The Germans hunker down in the soft cover against the road, but with no clear escape route they have a bitter fight on their hands.

With the light failing the remaining partisans fall back leaving the germans licking .their wounds in the darkening forest, the warmth of the burning 251 the only comfort

The game was deemed a draw as whilst the germans were still an effective force they had lost a transport and a few men but had been stopped quite resolutely by the partisans and their many AT rifles. It was a very thematic game and the weather was lovely. It was nice to see that half tracks can be usable in BA and that with the right terrain the partisans can be quite effective, we'll have to get the French book as this has some special rules that may be even better.

Thank you for taking the time,

BALM.