Making a Coffee Table Wargame

Hi again,

Today I did something I've been intending on doing for a while - make a coffee table sized gaming mat. I first had the idea when I did my 3mm modern forces for Fistful of Tows 3. I placed an order today for some 2mm Irregular Miniatures WW2 stuff (Soviets and Germans) and so I figured the time was right to finally bring my idea to life. I had done a previous game mat for a full sized table and took the lessons I learnt from that to make this one. Using clump foliage and tea towels underneath for elevation along with some Monopoly buildings I think the table looks quite good! I think I'll have to order some proper buildings though...

I'm unsure what ruleset I'll use on the table but scaling ranges down will be a must. I already have Fistful of TOWs 3 and am familiar with it but have also purchased Kampgruppe Commander III from Wargames Vault and am liking what I'm reading. Decisions! Until next time. :)

Fields are spray painted on. The roads and rivers are painted on with cheap poster acrylic paint.

Setup with terrain. I envisioned this as a Soviet attack from the left table edge on a German defensive line protecting the town.

Small hills have a big impact at this scale.

3mm O8 modern armour. I think 2mm will be even better a fit.

By Fire and Sword - Muscovite Boyar Sons

Well!

It's been hot and humid in Queensland lately which has resulted in my painting pace slowing to a snail's crawl. The last 6 bases of Boyar Sons I've been painting took nearly 2 weeks to paint. It's been a stage here and there as I try and paint in the few tolerable moments. The inks I'm using have been fantastic. I actually find it kind of annoying to do the metallic areas with regular paint as the inks are so easy!

I still have plenty of bases assembled and awaiting paint. A commander, 6 boyars with spears and 6 dvorian bases gives me plenty to paint. I also have more on the way, with ANOTHER box of border dragoons (that'll make three...), a regiment of streltsy (defensive musket armed troops with big axes!) and 6 bases of Zavoivodchicy. The zavoivodchicy are really exciting for me - they resemble spear armed, armoured boyars. This reminds me of what it was like to paint Tatar elite cavalry so I'm looking forward to painting them.

9 bases of Boyar Sons. These are all my regular Boyars - onto the spear armed Boyars next

The army as it stands. Plenty to go!

By Fire and Sword - Muscovite Border Dragoon Regiment

Hello again for my first proper post of 2020!

Today I finished the commander for my Muscovite border dragoon regiment for By Fire and Sword. This is a full sized regiment though it does lack any artillery. The border dragoons come in a box of 12 bases, so this here is two boxes worth. I actually have a third box coming which will complete the border dragoon contingent of my division with my intent to field two midsize regiments of 18 bases each.

These dragoons were painted using a new technique for me - using artists' or drawing inks (over a grey primer with a white drybrush) to provide the base coat and shade in one. If this sounds similar to the idea of Games Workshop's new line of contrast paints then you're not wrong. These inks are not at all like a shade or wash typically used as a second step after base coating - they're much more heavily pigmented. After being painted with the inks the models were given a quick highlight with regular paints. The result is bright models painted quickly to a standard I'm happy with. Worth noting is much like any paint line the inks vary in their properties, even within a single line. I'm using Liquitex and Vallejo products. Liquitex state on the bottle whether the ink is opaque, semi-opaque or transparent. Transparent ones typically need two coats for a good effect while the opaque cover very, very well. Vallejo doesn't label as well in terms of opacity but is generally more consistent accross the line. Well worth a try if you haven't used these products before!

The regiment!

The Golova (commander of the regiment)