Plastic Warrior Show announced, Clerical matters and Royal Horse Artillery action!

A little later in the year than traditionally held, but the best toy soldier event in the known universe is back again at its usual venue. I have already cleared my diary and will be there to buy more figures that I didn't know I needed and to have a catch up with many friends, old and new. If you can make it, come along for a couple of hours and go home lighter of wallet and heart with a few bags of toy soldiers! Any readers of this blog who I don't know, please introduce yourself if you see me (I think I may wear a little name badge to assist in that regard). Remember, cash is king at these sort of shows, so bring a full wallet! Hopefully see you there!

That would be an ecumenical matter! A tale of Chaplains and a churchyard

Here we see two newly appointed members of my floor games world clergy. These are both recasts of the Britains 'thin vicar' or country chaplain and the Johilco version. Originals are not very common or cheap and I was happy to buy recasts to add these lovely figures to my growing civilian population.

As regular readers will know, I have two churches in my collection but I have long wanted to make a suitable 'toyish' churchyard to go alongside them. I had a rough idea of what I wanted but it was the acquisition of some suitably sized gravestones from Temu that has finally enabled me to scratch this ecclesiastical itch!

To be useful and appropriate for my tabletop adventures, the size of the terrain piece was always a key question. In the end, as is often the way, the pieces fell into place as I was sorting out my lead garden and farm related horde. I kept being drawn to the pre war Britains flint walls acquired in a big e-bay lot 18 months ago. Now these were in very poor condition when I acquired them. They are actually hollow cast with the base of each piece open. This means that they can be squashed very easily and some of these had been! In addition the thin metal had suffered over the intervening years and there were a number of small holes and 'tears'. These are in my experience, uncommon pieces and I have not seen any since at a price that I would countenance. As a result, I was determined to salvage these at some point, but was waiting for the right project. As I played around with them I began to think about them as walls for a churchyard.

I tried them out and decided they might be just the thing. There were just enough for the size of churchyard I wanted and they are a lovely height over which defending soldiers might fire! 

I won't bore you with the rest of the construction work but I repaired and repainted the damaged walls, found a suitable base, flocked it and started the placement of the individual pieces. I managed to incorporate and reuse a number of damaged hollowcast plants and flowers as well as creating some gates from a piece of 'iron railings'.

I am really quite pleased with the end result and have ticked off another construction project. What next you ask? Well a municipal park is calling my name.........as well as a landscaped garden suitable for my Tudor mansion model........time and inspiration will tell. Oh and some front gardens for my little row of 1920's houses!

Royal Horse Artillery

For as long as I can recall, the allure of a Britains Gun carriage with six horses and a gun, has been difficult to resist. The rational wargamer in me held my aspirations back, by reminding me that such an elegant model was impractical for table top wargames. I still believe that to be the case, but at a toy fair some 12 months ago, I finally caved in to my inner child. 

On a table, complete with four outriders, was this nice condition, undamaged, early post war example. It was unboxed and the mounted officer was missing. I enquired about the price and whilst still a hefty amount, (under £71 and over £69), I decided that I had to take it home with me to become a centre piece in my display cabinets. I knew it was impractical ,but sometimes what the heart desires, the heart must have and so it came home to Apperley Towers. A postscript to the acquisition was an e-bay purchase of the missing officer for £10 just over a week later, This felt like a preordained event, thus confirming to me that I had been right to buy the piece ,as it was meant to be!

Ever since it has had pride of place in my feau British army cabinet, but it did create a desire in me to find a similar 'version' that I could squeeze onto a tabletop. Finding a damaged example at a price and in a condition where it could be rebuilt was harder than I expected. I was even looking at the reissued version sold to collectors by Britains back in the late 1990's. Even these however approached or exceeded the price I had paid for my original. That is until I saw a set advertised as 'mint condition, but missing one horse'. The seller was still trying to sell it for I think £60! I politely pointed out to him that no serious collector would buy an incomplete set at such a price ,as obtaining a spare correct horse would be next to impossible. We eventually agreed on a price substantially lower (£35?) and I was soon in possession of my 2nd gun team, albeit with a horse missing. Well that wasn't very clever of you Graham I hear you shout, but you see 'I had a cunning plan all along' as Baldrick might say.

It was always my intention to only have four horses pulling the gun and limber to substantially decrease the footprint of the model for the tabletop. After all, I had grown up with Britains and Timpo limbers with four horse teams and still feel that this is the norm.

I decided to base the model to make it even more practical and really like the nice solid feel to it. The gun it came with is a nice (non firing) model, but I can attach a proper firing version if the need arises.

All I needed now was a crew for the gun to fire it once unlimbered. Again a chance e-bay mixed lot, provided me with three dismounted Hussars standing to attention. I put these to one side as potential gun crew recruits and turned my attention to an officer perhaps for the fourth gun crew member. A buy at the last Plastic Warrior show provided me with a number of kneeling officers with binoculars (one of my very favourite Britains poses) and I have replaced his head with a stray Hussar head. Voila! as the French might say, I had a gun crew who just needed a fairly quick paint job. 

So there we have it, a 'grail' purchase, inspiring a second project which has enhanced my artillery offering. I just need a few more now for my feau, Prussians, French and Socialist volunteers!

Tara a bit!

 New Paints For The New Year! 

A gift from Santa (actually 2nd son and heir to the Apperley estate!). I had mentioned that

I fancied trying these new paints. These are Army Painter's version of the Games Workshop 'Contrast' paints which have been on the market for several years. These paints are designed to flow over a pale undercoat, followed by a 'dip', to give quick shaded effects and thereby speeding up the painting process. I thought it was about time I tried this new fangled invention and dropped some heavy hints about my interest prior to the festive event. Hints successfully taken up and a base set of 12 paints were now mine.

In the intervening hours I have experimented with these new paints with mixed results. 

Some 'works in progress' and experiments plus a couple of Erics figures in the background

First of all these are  really intended for the wargames market, primarily 25mm, not my beloved 54mm's. So why does that matter? Well smaller figures, particularly modern sculpts , tend to have exaggerated features and very active poses. This system works better on models where you are relying on the shading effect to do most of the work, and in particular bring out the details in the sculpt. This is ideal for the type of models being produced by Games Workshop etc. 

They are not intended for repainting old hollowcasts which require the paint to do the work of creating detail. I tries painting an old 'gentleman of the road' with them (see picture above), but they just didn't work and looked too thin and pale for my taste. I salvaged the figure by overpainting with my normal paints.

The 'Gentleman of the road' painted with basic speed paints 

They are very easy flowing like a heavy wash and on simple figures like the hollowcasts its not always easy to restrict the colour to the area of the figure you require. They also look very pale and ethereal because of the nature of their design. So have I found them of any use at all?

Two of the three Replicants ECW figures 'prepared' for speed paints

Well yes, they are great for creating a certain finish. The English Civil War collection that I acquired were painted in Eric Kemps excellent style, which unfortunately, I have found difficult to replicate. Most of the figures I want to add to this collection are however from my favourite manufacturer Replicants. Peter Coles sculpting style emulates that of his favourite sculptor Roy Selwyn-Smith and are full of movement and action. I decided to try out the speed paints on a small group of  ECW figures with the aim of achieving a finish closer to Erics than my normal painting style. I undercoated them brown, then dry brushed cream, then applied speed paints all over. The effect was close to what I wanted but not quite there. I used a few standard paints to highlight the figures a little and found a result that I liked. They don't look out of place next to Erics figures and I enjoyed painting them with these new paints. The dark brown undercoat stopped the speed paints looking so thin and wishy washy. 

Erics figure to the left and my speed painted version to the right

I used them to basecoat a 25mm scale science fiction vehicle but again found the result underwhelming and ended up repainting it with a lot of normal paints and dry brushing techniques. It came out fine in the end (at least in my humble opinion).

So what are my conclusions? Well I like them, but for me they are situational. If I'm painting Replicants 54mm figures, I will use them (which is handy as I have over 200 awaiting paint). For my hollowcast projects I don't see much utility. I will try them out on my various 25mm collections as and when the mood takes me and suspect they will be ideal, at least for figures that don't need fine tightly painted details.

I don't think they will save me much time however, which is one of their main selling points. Helping me to achieve certain finishes is a definite plus however. They are yet another string to the painting bow and I would recommend giving them a try, if you think they might work for you.

A lick of paint ...... fresh off the painting desk for 2026

I have been a little too busy to paint a whole new army over Christmas, but I have managed to knock out a few pieces, as well as trying out the new paints.

I am afraid I rather disappeared down a rabbit hole and got all of my undealt with farm and garden lead out on the table for a jolly good new year sort out. After putting a few surplus bits to one side for a friend, I found myself painting scenic items galore. 

Now I don't know how many hay stacks a wargamer should have but I keep picking up these lovely old lead ones for next to nothing and find it hard to resist. As you can see I have repainted the latest trio, to join my haystack army. I think I may need an intervention if I buy any more, but I could always pass them on as gifts to fellow enthusiasts I suppose. 

The fallen log made by Britains prior to the 2nd world war ,is another piece I find hard to resist. I have 5 now and as you can see, three of them were awaiting a new coat of paint in my hoard. I have kept two 'free standing' as William Britain intended. Useful to just scatter around my wargames table and ideal for cover for a lying down sniper of which I have many!

The fifth one I decided to add to another piece to make a scenic feature. The standing tree is one of three of these that I had picked up in varying states of disrepair. They are meant to have a gate attached or a children swing on the left hand side. I have neither gate nor swing and two of them had been broken away from the extended piece of land that you can still see on the third one (which I have kept as is until the missing piece or pieces turn up one day). So I decided to just repaint the two heavily damaged ones and use them as scenic 'dead trees'.

By combining one on a round base with one of the fallen logs (and a small bush), I now have a small natural strongpoint for a machine gun or a couple of riflemen. Alternatively it is nice as a place for a command group to discuss plans as you will see below. 

My 'speed paint' ECW command group next to a dismounted trooper by Eric

I will finish this post with a series of photos of other figures which I have painted since Christmas day. They are an eclectic bunch but I hope you will enjoy seeing some more toy soldier madness!

The finished 'mini project' to replicate a set of early Britains railway staff, as closely as I could from the original set I had acquired. I love them and couldn't be more pleased. What to do with the original set now however? Should I just keep them? Sell them? Convert them to other useful figures? Undecided. Let me have your thoughts. 

The RAF ground crew (as purchased) servicing a tin plate plane whilst the pilot looks on. In the second picture we see the same figures servicing a second plane (this time a beautifully hand carved wooden model, maker unknown). The figures were touched up (a few minor chips etc) and have been based and varnished. 

Another picture of the new ECW command group in front of my castle. Beautiful figures from Peter Coles Replicants.

I hinted previously that my Peaky Blinders gang might be gaining a more powerful recruit and here he is in the shape of a senior guy with a rifle. He was originally one of the Britains figures pushing or pulling a garden roller, but had lost his arms. I saw the opportunity to arm him with a carried rifle as an armed civilian. He will now serve as a militia man, a gang member or a poacher. The latter role probably suits him best as his posture looks like he is walking forward stealthily. A conversion I was really pleased with. Its always pleasing when you have  slightly unusual pose and then a little inspiration results in something different.

Two more scarecrows for my scarecrow army (I have five now). I have a slightly mad idea floating around in my brain, to use these like the weeping angels in Dr Who! The Wurzel Gummidge figure came with four different heads which is useful. I have three so far. The Crescent scarecrow has been mostly speed painted. I was pleased to pick up the latter figure as you don't seem to see the Crescent farm figures very often.

This figure by Crescent(?), is a milkmaid but as soon as I saw her, I saw a woman adjusting her stockings! What that says about me I dread to think but I thought I would try to give her a suitable paintjob. In any event I already have plenty of milk maids, so at least now she is a more interesting citizen recruit!

Hussy!......two disapproving Edwardian ladies repainted. One a hollowcast original and the other a modern recast. A lovely figure and glad to have two.

The Generals 'niece'! A plastic figure whose provenance I can't recall even though Brian Carrick did tell me! Sorry Brian!

So there you have it, a somewhat rag tag collection of new recruits and citizens. In addition to these figures, I have also just finished another terrain piece which will hopefully enhance my tabletop world, but more of that next time!

Tara a bit !

New year, New plans and Toy Fair plunder

 Happy New Year!

I am writing this as the third fall of snow greets us here at Apperley Towers. None of them have been too deep or debilitating although the chauffer struggled to get the Rolls back up the drive at lunchtime. The blighter had been too lazy to clear away the packed snow which had turned to ice!

That will teach him (me)!

The child in me loves the snow and the tranquil peace which descends with the snowflakes, whilst the adult in me hates the travel issues which arise. My grand daughter was excited and insisted I join her in the usual snow activities, only to be partly disappointed, as the snow was too dry to mould into snowballs or even make a snowman. Oh well, hopefully there will be other opportunities in the future.

I feel like 2025 has been the 'year of the train' and very satisfying it has been too! 

So what plans do I have for 2026? Well I am always wary about resolutions and such like and I don't think there is any need for me to set out targets and schedules! This is a hobby and should be relaxing .....not taxing! Having said that, there are one or two loose ideas that are jostling for me to voice them.

I am in the possibly, envious position, of not having any large burning projects which I have to complete. My gaming activities are relatively mature, in that I have a number of collections which are in theory, 'largely complete'. Yes of course there are more figures, vehicles and terrain pieces I could add, but I don't need to. With a few exceptions I could stop today and not acquire another figure! Now it would be delusional to think that I won't continue to add to existing armies and collections, but I am completely relaxed in my ambitions. Apart from anything else, the toy room at Apperley Towers is full to the gunnels! 

The lack of available storage space, is something which I am intending to address this year. My large book sale last year largely made room for the lovely English Civil War collection I had acquired, plus the natural expansion of my imagination collection. My biggest issue is terrain pieces and buildings. I have always been a little obsessed with them and having wargame armies in so many different scales, era's and genres does not help!

 

A steam powered mechanoid, possibly of alien origin

Regular visitors to my blog will be aware of my fairly extensive 54mm scale collection of terrain and buildings. What you have not yet seen is another complete 'northern' town in o gauge mdf buildings. These have all been constructed but are awaiting paint. I have gone for a more industrial town look with terraced houses and shops and factory buildings. I hope to use these in a game or two this year. The paint finish will be more practical with less attention to detail than I have given my 'English' village properties. I just wanted to vary the feel of my battlefields as my floor games war continues.

Unfortunately, I have similar collections of 25mm scale buildings for fantasy/medieval/renaissance games and an even larger collection of buildings etc for the grim dark WH40k universe!

A review and cull of some pieces is therefore one thing I do want to accomplish this year. 

As for figures, I have between a thousand and two thousand metal and plastic 25mm figures awaiting attention. These are split between classic fantasy metal (mainly from the late seventies to the late eighties), Games Workshop lord of the rings figures and figures for WH40k and associated games. With the problems with my eyesight, I am less likely than ever to paint all of these and will be again looking to review and cull where appropriate. 

My main focus will continue to be 54mm toy soldier gaming and here I have much less of a backlog to paint. Approximately 100 hollowcasts, similar numbers of medieval recruits, 300 ECW figures which I may now partly sell and a box of random 18th century figures for who knows what! I do however have a large collection of pre war Britains garden pieces to repaint and fit into my floor games world. 

So I really don't need to buy any more figures unless a new project takes root, but my Floor Games armies will continue expanding as whim and opportunity arise. 

I will be the first man on the moon!

As for my games, I have considered a campaign but the attention to detail and planning doesn't appeal. My Floor Games world has sort of created its own campaign in the form of a struggle in Albion between the Socialist forces and the Royalists, with a faux French empire supporting the rebellion whilst a faux Germanic confederation looks to be likely to side with the Crown.  This general background narrative gives me endless scope to set up encounters broadly along these lines without tying them down into a time line driven campaign. Spontaneity and fun is to be the driving force here. 

I do have early plans for a 5th army which will be a cross between a Boer and Confederate force. I have already started to collect suitable figures as and when they appear. I am already beginning to think of them as the 'Free Welsh Volunteers', but I may change my mind completely as the army evolves!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Additionally you may see a little more of a steam punk ethos creep in as well as a Victorian version of U.N.I.T. to assist when supernatural or extra terrestrial influences creep into my world. Recruitment to this new organisation is already underway. I am however struggling to think of a suitable name to distinguish it from UNIT. I want to give it a name that has a Victorian feel to it. Any ideas?

Steam Panzer!

A 54mm Science Fiction game or two, is also very likely this coming year. 

Robots and Ray Guns!

So there you have my thoughts on the next 12 months activities. Its all quite exciting really! 

Waifs and strays.............Stafford Toy Fair plunder

Monday the 29th saw me leave Apperley Towers at the ungodly hour of 7am to reach the Toy Fair venue at just after 8am. As I have said before, I am a firm advocate for buying the early bird entrance ticket (£10 instead of £5). Two and a half hours browsing before the big crowds come in.

Once again I feel the investment paid off.

I was in a relaxed mood with nothing specific in mind. Just browsing and hoping for some interesting opportunities. My first purchases were from a toy soldier dealer I have known for over 30 years via Plastic Warrior. He is always generous with a discount and I bought a group of metal figures from him.

RAF air crew (Solid figures maker unknown)

British Infantry (Crescent?)

Britains classic Lancer Officer

(repainted) Britains Dragoon Officer

The five dismounted figures were in a bag together for £4 and the two cavalry figures in another bag for £12. I asked for a price for the two lots together and was quoted £10! Thanks Phil, you're a gentleman!

The mounted officers are particularly useful and I have plans for the others as well. A nice start to my day. 

My next purchase was a Dinky open backed lorry and another Britain's 2 pounder anti aircraft gun. £6 the pair. Useful items for later projects and cheap enough.

I had been at the fair an hour and a half at this point and thought this was going to be it....relatively slim pickings but I was happy enough. It was then as I wandered out that I saw a small box of lead garden items. I quickly checked what was in the box and asked the price. '£20 quid the lot mate!' was the reply and money duly changed hands.

This might not be the most exciting pick up for most people but I love this stuff and in relatively good condition it can be very expensive. Here's a group picture of what treasure was in the little box.

Almost 70 individual items

40 plants in complete very good condition

The first of 3 Britains benches (my first of these useful little pieces)

A second bench in slightly rougher condition which will be repainted

The garden arch with the 4 crazy paving pieces

I am happy to pay roughly a pound a plant and the garden benches and trellis would have been a good buy at a fiver each. All in a superb little buy and means that there isn't a lot more of this range that I want to acquire for my project. I am still amazed that these items have survived when you consider that production ceased in 1941!

I left the show in a good mood and was home by 11am. I have already dabbled a little with the paintbrush on some of these purchases but more about that in my next post .

Tara a bit!