Partizan 2025 haul

Hello there! After making a fleeting visit to Partizan, here is the haul from the visit. My partner was happy to come along, and so share the driving, and Adrian, who I wargame with regularly, came along as well.

These came from Great Escape Games and ABC Brushes. Great Escape have been very helpful, when I ran 'Tunnies Terrain' and I have used many of his products for scenery and figure painting.

I bought the paint sets  for proposed projects, including some American infantry for a fellow wargamer and some additions to the weathering powders that I have started to use for buildings, instead of the airbrush.

ABC Brushes are always worth a visit and I have added to my stock of brushes.

I always like to support David Lanchester Books, who regularly attends both Partizan shows. He has been very helpful in the past and a large proportion of my library is from him and Paul Meekins.

The three volume set is about American Civil War Union cavalry and the book on solo wargaming is from Cavalier Books.

I have been mulling over the chances of trying solo wargaming and with the arrival of the Gaming Cabin, I can now leave the game up and running and still get painting done.

One of the new features of this Partizan was a marquee at the entrance with a few tables for a bring and buy. I do not normally do more that glance at the items on sale as they are usually nothing to do with historical wargaming.

This time I was very surprised to find a table devoted to 20mm WW II wargaming models and figures. The prices were very good and the entlemen on the stand were very helpful.

Here are four Ready to Roll German staff cars, two Bedford trucks from Airfix, a bag of AB German figures, a Bedford MWD truck, again from Airfix, A SDKFZ 234 armoured car, some Sdkfz 250 half tracks and a Wee friend Albion lorry.

A very good collection for £40!

 

Completed Something!!!

Hello there! I have just received news that the latest stock market figures had collapsed as news of me actually completing some painting.

This is the last of the Waterloo buildings that I am painting for a friend. This is a Total Battle Scenics model from their Waterloo range.

I have added some flock and to the open lawn in the garden complex and in parts of the courtyards to 'hide the join' in the two castings.

I have been advised that the surrounding walls are not high enough, as during the battle a person was unable to see over the top with out a fire step.

Unlike some other models, some of the building did appear to have thatched roofs.

Some evidence suggests that the main building in Hougoumont were faced white with red roofs but my friends preference was for the above.

I started to use weathering powders on the embossed blockwork on the side of the farm complex.

Some of the casting was very difficult to paint due to the lack of access for 'brush room'!

On this aspect of the building I again used weathering powders to represent the dirty lower part of te wall.

Here are also some photos of older painting work I completed for my wargaming colleague.

Temple at War 2025

Hello there! Earlier this month I attended a re enactment show which was held in Essex. This made a nice change to having to travel a far greater distance to visit.

I had a look inside this 'Sdkfz 221' and it was a converted car. However it was perfectly suitable for re enactment. Complete with radio frame and fitted with blank firing machine gun it was a highlight of the battle scene. 

The other side of the battle re enactment was an American group and the bazooka did work eventually! After many attempts!

There was also a German mortar providing fire support. It was a sunny day, as you can tell by the over exposure! 

An American jeep was also present and had a 30 calibre machine gun fitted to it.

The German side also had a tripod mounted MG34,(?). Although the 'battle' was popular and drew a large crowd, I have to echo the words of another spectator behind us in that, 'once you have seen one battle you have seen them all'

This was an interesting display, mainly because I have a number of figures to paint in my metal pile of shame.

Relatively common at re enactments, but that belies the amount of work required to keep these vehicles going after all these years.

Here is a close view of what was used in the battle earlier.

I have seen a figure supplier provide a crewed version of this in 20mm, probably FAA, many years ago. 

Another camp had numerous zeltbahn set up which was very useful for a painting reference.

There was a Russian presence at the show as well.

Part of the show covered a woods where a number of camps had been made. Under cover was this Dodge truck.

A change from the usual this od Alvis was complete with a gentleman in contemporary RAF officers uniform. 

This car was in pristine condition and was also a runner.

There always appears to be a proliferation of American vehicles, at all of the shows I have been to. I wonder if it easier to get spares for American vehicles or that they are more easily maintained that British and Commonwealth vehicles?

Thankfully there were also some GIs on display as this coincides with some forthcoming painting work for a friend. 

I  must have photographed these Bedfords on many occasions but these and such well preserved and well presented exhibits.  

And a couple more pictures suitable for my next project.

There were a number of Bedform MWD present at the show. Many were from the local area. This was lucky as they all drive but cannot get above 40 mph with out suffering some fatalities. Good considering they are 80+ years old!

This was a wireless version of a Bedford and I have seen this at a previous show, (probably the Suffolk show last year). Its in an immaculate condition and is the result of many years restoration.

Here is a round up of other vehicles spread across the show.

On the Sunday there was a Spitfire flypast and on the Saturday there was a Hurricane. While the photographs are not great I felt that savouring the moment as opposed to taking loads of photos and not 'seeing' the flypast was preferable.

The best bit of the day was the great tea and cake in the garden cafe, which was a very modest price as well. Normally there is a charge for the stalls at the show and with a commensurate high price for food but here it was a pleasant change.

The weather was great, although a bit too hot, food and displays were very good and there were many helpful and approachable particapants.