Sunday 23 July 2017

Acme Games

This weekend I had the pleasure of a random visit to Llandudno in North Wales. Thankfully the Memsahib took pity and took me to visit Acme Games as a birthday treat (she is a keeper).


My heart sank when I saw the 'Speeesh Marine' in the window. Thankfully the inside of the shop was a revelation.


The inside is a very large and well stocked shop with somthing for everybody, be that RPGs, board games and war games. This includes G Dubz 40k and Warhammer ranges aa well as infinity and a plethora of SciFi and fantasy systems.
Historical gamers are also catered for, with the shop carrying 28mm and 20mm plastic kits for most periods as well as the whole range if 15mm Flames of War. Paints and modelling supplies are in abundance.

To cap it off, the first floor of the shop hosts a club and regular gaming events; we observed a regional final for X Wing whilst there.

Overall a very rare well stocked bricks and mortar store with friendly staff. Worth a visit!


The birthday haul, told you she is a keeper. Warlord plastic Fire Fly VC tank, Albion Triumphant vol2 for BP and some modelling supplies.

Thursday 20 July 2017

Armies on Parade 2 - The Continental Army

Part 2 of Armies on Parade is the other major protagonist of the American War of Independence, the Continental Army and Militia.



The collection as with the British/Loyalist force was started on the release of the Perry Twins AWI range whilst at the Foundry. These figures offered a respite from the endless regiments of scarlet being churned out with a proliferation of many uniform styles and color combinations. As you can see from the photo above, the army is much smaller that the British collection, this is now a focus to build up line Regiments as well as skirmishers to match.

The Spirit of '76 by Fife & Drum miniatures


Philadelphia Light horseman vignette converted from Eureka Miniatures French Revolutionary Range.


Continental Artillery, a mixture of Perry and Foundry miniatures.

24 Pdr Cannon siege train by Perry Miniatures. These can also be used with the British forces dependent on the scenario thankfully as the uniforms are 'undress' and generic. 

The Philadelphia Light Horse, possibly my most favorite unit for a number of reasons; chiefly due to ancestral founder member of the unit who served in the AWI and the fact the unit still survives and maintains its elite qualities and traditions to this present day as part of the National Guard. Figures by Foundry.


George Washington himself, alongside the Colours of the Continental Army. Figures by Foundry and Wargames Illustrated from the 'Moments in History' range. The beagles are based on a pair that a good friend of mine maintains!

New York Regiment, figures by Foundry.

The Pennsylvania Line.

 Webbs Additional Regiment. Built from a chance find from the flea market at Historicon in 2011. Figures by Old Glory and Foundry.


Militia Minutemen, by Foundry.













Sunday 16 July 2017

Armies on Parade 1 - AWI British Army

Despite a very tough time in the day job, recent weeks have been very productive:
1. Basing of a colossal cohort of 28mm miniatures.
2. Painting of the 24th Prussian infantry Regiment for Waterloo, Foundry.
3. Molly Pitcher and Cannon with crew, Eureka Miniatures
4. The A Team, Foundry.

A rare rest day with a light hangover proved a great opportunity to dust off the boxes of completed troops and hold a review of the Armies. 

The first article for Armies on Parade, is my 28mm British Army for the American War of Independence. 


This Army has been in the collecting since Wargames Foundry released the first packs of the Perrys AWI range back in 2000. I believe this range alongside their Napoleonic Russians to the be their finest works whilst at Foundry. Back then I was an impoverished student living in Nottingham and regularly squandered by student loan at the St Marks street factory in particularly on this range.

This range was responsible for me getting into the AWI, capturing perfectly the atmosphere of the earlier part of the war with the British Army's more formal style of uniform and first experimental steps to the employment of Light Troops, preceding the way later in the war for formed units of Light Infantry, loose ranks of soldiers and more spartan uniforms without lace and equipment. Over the years I have continued to collect and add new units to this collection. Focus is now on getting colors for several units, and fleshing out the Cavalry, Hessian contingent and building up Loyalist forces to compliment larger regular army contingent. I have also made some inroads into starting on troops with the later types of uniforms as seen in the Sarratoga and Southern Campaigns. 

For the best part the Army is Wargames Foundry with later additions from Perry Miniatures and some Kings Mountain Miniatures.



17th Regiment followed by the 44th. Giles Allison's 'Tarleton's Quarter' blog has been an inspiration for the painting of this army during its long life! Figures by Foundry, Colours by Flag Dude.

33rd Foot, red facings. A mixed bunch of leftover figures saved to become a unit! Foundry and Flag Dude.


The Fusiliers, converted from Foundry Grenadiers with green stuff sculpted black knee gaiters. Colour party by Front Rank. This Regiment has to be my favorite of the British Units from the early part of the war purely due to the Grenadier style head dress. 


17th Light Dragroons from Perry Miniatures. Shown here in their red coatees, prior to the deprivations of the Southern Campaign. 



The Royal Artillery with 6 Pdr Cannon with block trails and a Howitzer. Figures by Foundry. 

Royal Artillery siege mortar. Figures by Foundry and mortar by Front Rank. This model was something whimsical, having not noted the use of a British siege train during the AWI. 


5th Regiment Light Infantry. This basing style was inspired by Dave Taylor's basing of his Napoleonic Rifles. Figures by Foundry. 

A loyalist Regiment. Depicted here in the earlier green coats and laced hats. Still requiring some colors. Figures by Foundry and Perry Plastics. 

Queens Rangers, again awaiting some Colours. Figures by Perry Miniatures.

Regiment Von Ditfurth, these figures are actually the Foundry SYW Prussian Range sculpted by Mark Copplestone if memory serves. 

Fusilier Regiment Erbrinz, again Foundry SYW Prussian Range.


Hessian Jaegars by Perry Miniatures. This is my favorite unit in the whole army, as woodsmen and hunters these light troops look like they are stalking their way through tough going woodland terrain.