Baccus 6mm Early Imperial Romans

Just a quick update to highlight my embryonic Warmaster Ancients Baccus 6mm EIR army. Painting generally has been chronically slow for me lately due to various life commitments, so I have had to content myself with what I can - hopefully there will be time to achieve more progress soon.

This is the first time I've used Baccus figures, only ever having encountered Irregular's 6mm range years ago, so the first thing that struck me was their size. They are in fact, closer to 8mm, but with plenty of detail, nice proportions and a dynamic feel to them.

My aim is to build a 1000 point Warmaster Ancient army, but also use them for Impetus and whatever other rule set are en vogue at the time; I am not and never have been an obsessive stickler for strict basing per rules conventions; life is simply too bloody short.

What you see here is a single unit of legionaries and auxilia; I am slowly drifting back into love with 6mm due to its economy of cost and effort as well as the obvious visual appeal of massed units. While these few chaps are admittedly not that awe-inspiring by themselves, once multiplied several times over, the effect should be very impressive (I hope).

As with all scales, much is written about the painting and basing of 6mm figures, but in my case, regarding the latter, I find scratch-built bases just as good (and cheaper) than pre-cut purchased ones. My personal opinion is that many MDF and suchlike products are simply too thick - even before the application of basing materials etc. Therefore the humble beer mat, albeit carefully cut to size is perfect and once based and PVA'd is rock solid with no chance of warping.

I tend to shy away from static grass too at this scale, as I think the figures then appear to be wading through elephant grass. My own preference (for what it's worth) is good old flock; but I'm certainly no expert.

The comparative lack of effort required to achieve reasonable results in a short time coupled with their massed visual appeal and cost makes 6mm very attractive and for me, the way ahead. If only I can devote some more time to them...

All the best,

Monty

WW2 Micro-Armour

The clear-out of my old wargaming kit continues with the unearthing of my forgotten 1/300th Eastern Front-themed armour. I loved micro-sized WW2 and like many others, devoted a lot of my gaming time to it, but understand it is now unpopular with many people looking to larger scales.

For me back then, it ruled and the only theatre that typified classic armoured tactics with its huge, sweeping pincer envelopments and attrition was the War in Russia, so I concentrated on it for my gaming.

Germany's Operation 'Zitadelle' in July 1943, awed me with its sheer scale, ambition and ultimate folly.

This, along with the defeat of the 6th Army at Stalingrad in February of the same year, proved to be critical turning points in the outcome of the war.

With this in mind, I've always loved the way 1/300 allows ambitious games that capture some of this epic scope to be fought out on a relatively small area.

Tanks and vehicles are easy to paint as well as being cost-effective, just like the terrain and buildings - all good stuff, considering. I was pretty 'green' in the gaming world when I did these and again, they were my first examples.

But I enjoyed my time with them and had some pretty good games. I don't know how popular this scale is now or whether there are still any decent rules knocking around, but if it has indeed slipped away in gamers' affections then it is a pity.

I've stuck a few pictures up as part of my ongoing nostalgia!

Advancing Soviet KV1 and T-34 tanks come under artillery fire while pushing through a Russian hamlet.

German PAK 43 guns and Panzerfaust troops occupy a Russian farm complex.

Waffen-SS Tiger 1 and Panther tanks counter-attack.


Point-blank encounter that so typied the latter stages of the battle.




German Elefants advancing under artillery fire are ambushed by Soviet anti-tank infantry.

Well, that's it for now, I will have a look around for some more old stuff and maybe post that too, while getting around to finishing off my sample Bolt Action German paras; who knows, I may even get a game in at some point!
Best wishes for now,
Monty