Big Geordie Geek

At the start of the year, one of my hobby goals was to develop my early war Germans for Bolt Action to a nice point where I had a nice collection that allowed me to play a variety of game play styles.

And I am getting closer and closer to that and I think I am basically at the point where the final plan is is place.

The above embedded Google Doc is what I have currently and my current development plans.

The army is supposed to cover 1939-1942, going from the Bzura, to the Meuse and then the Volga.

I think my plans work and will cover up to late 1942, very early 1943 meaning I may, may add a Tiger Ausf H to this list.

I am really enjoying working on this army but realistically with Graham and the other guys playing mostly late war stuff, I am gonna have to develop a later war army, probably sticking with Germans.

But I really want to explore more early war, so I can see myself expanding the French to 1250pts and perhaps some BEF.

I really wanted my next project to be Afrika Korps, but my most regular opponent is Graham and he has gone with a late war British list, and to be fair a lot of players, play late war.

This leaves me at a significant disadvantage with the early war army, so I am having to pivot to building a later war force to stand a chance in these games.

The difference in what you can take in the early war, and what you can take in later war is just unreal.

The above YouTube short demonstrates this issue for me, although the Centurion came into service just after the end of the war, you get my meaning, I hope!

So whilst I have Panzer Is and maybe a Panzer III Ausf H, Graham is rocking in with a Churchill, Sherman Firefly, Matilda II and a Cromwell in his arsenal, and that’s just not something I will be able to easily deal with.

So I have some Fallschirmjäger STLs from RKX and Colonel Muller, and I am gonna get some of them printed off, alongside a few vehicles.

I already have a Stug III, Luchs and Sd. Kfz 222 painted up for it, thinking of adding a Panzer IV Ausf H, Panther and Sd. Kfz 234/2.

But yeah, it is what it is, and next time I have some resin I will start printing them!

What I Am Modelling

I started out with a test model for an English themed New Antioch army

And a French WWII test model

After that I came to WWII French and finished off this Infantry Squad

I rebased some of my Orks to match the new base sizes from Armageddon

Then I painted a Command Squad for the Cadians

Alongside the Cadia Unbroken Castellan

Plus Ursula Creed

Following this I finished off a Warwolf to replace the one I broke

And a Leman Russ Battletank

And finally a Panzer III Ausf H

I also finished off some weapons for my Deff Dreads and Killa-Kanz

And fixed the Stahlhelms of the riders of this Opel Blitz, they were painted dark green when they really should be dunklegrau!

After that I painted up an Araknae Quad Accelerator Platform for the Ultramarines

And finally for this post, a pair of PAK 38s for the Germans, takes them to Operation Barbarossa

These particular models are form the Empire of Iron and Rust Kickstarter by Studio Historica

This one is a bit different, but I needed a 107mm x 105mm oval base for a Flak 36 for my Germans, but there was no STL for a plain one in the style of Warlord Games, so I kinda modelled it myself.

Its not going to be the start of a career in 3D modelling, that is not something I feel capable of, but its something, anyway you can download it yourself on Cult3D

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Ultramarines Saturnine Terminators x 6
Neophyte Hybrids x 10, Primus & Magus x 2
Rat Ogres x 3
Deffkoptas x 3 & Kustom Boosta-Blasta
World Eaters Daemon Prince
Grundstock Thunderers x 5 & Torrk Lennsen
Ultramarines Saturnine Command Squad x 3
Einhyr Heathguard x 5
Skywardens x 3

What I Am Reading

I finally, finally finished Dropsite Massacre by John French, I dunno why the headaches keep coming back, but it is what it is, I enjoyed it, but it did feel, I dunno, not rushed, but there wasn’t a lot of the betrayal in there which was a bit disappointing, but it’s a solid addition to the series.

I listened to Armageddon: Season of Fire by Jude Reid which was very good and a very good concept, I strongly recommend people give it a read, compared to the last new edition launch novel, this was a big improvement.

After that I listened to Memory Lane by Eddie Robson, which was a good concept, but it didn’t quite hit the landing, but a good listen.

Then I hit Butchers Nails by Aaron Denali-Bowden, an audio drama I have listened to before, but a long time ago when it first came out, and it was still really good. I miss Black Library audio dramas 🙁

I am now listening to Genefather by Guy Haley, and am about to start on Traitor General by Dan Abnett

I also got Kavita working when it comes to sending book via email to my Kindle, which is handy as hell, no more having to go upstairs, and as long as I am sensible and make sure to keep Kavita up to date with my books, it will work

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played Brian in my first game of 11th Edition and it was a massacre!

And I had a game of Bolt Action with Graham, where his 5 man SAS squad massacred a fair few units of mine and almost destroyed a StuG III!!!

This was the list I took

Order Dice: 11

Platoon #1 - Rifle Platoon (489pts)
  Platoon Commander (Leutnant, Oberleutnant) (Regular) (50pts)
    Composition: 1 Officer + 2 Soldiers
    - Additional men x 2 (20pts)
  Heer Infantry Squad (Regular) (119pts)
    Composition: 1 NCO + 9 Soldiers
    - Additional men x 5 (50pts)
    - NCO: Submachine gun (SMG) (4pts)
    - Squad: German light machine gun (LMG) (15pts)
  Heer Infantry Squad (Regular) (119pts)
    Composition: 1 NCO + 9 Soldiers
    - Additional men x 5 (50pts)
    - NCO: Submachine gun (SMG) (4pts)
    - Squad: German light machine gun (LMG) (15pts)
  Heer Infantry Squad (Regular) (119pts)
    Composition: 1 NCO + 9 Soldiers
    - Additional men x 5 (50pts)
    - NCO: Submachine gun (SMG) (4pts)
    - Squad: German light machine gun (LMG) (15pts)
  Sniper Team (Regular) (52pts)
    Composition: 2 Soldiers
  Light Mortar Team (Regular) (30pts)
    Composition: 2 Soldiers

Platoon #2 - Armoured Platoon (360pts)
  Panzer 38(t) and 35(t) (Regular) (145pts)
    - Command Vehicle (10pts)
  StuG III Ausf F, G, H, and StuG IV (Regular) (215pts)

Platoon #3 - Artillery Platoon (150pts)
  Platoon Commander (Leutnant, Oberleutnant) (Regular) (30pts)
    Composition: 1 Officer
  50MM Pak 38 (Regular) (70pts)
    Composition: 3 Soldiers
  Light Artillery (Regular) (50pts)
    Composition: 3 Soldiers

Total: 999pts

We also ran a demo day at Gamers-At-Hart and I was demonstrating Bolt Action with some early war French and Germans, whilst others demoed Blood Red Skies, Warhammer 40k, Blood Bowl, Barons War and Trench Crusade

What Video Games I Am Playing

I finished Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster and have now started out on Easy Red 2

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

Easy Red 2

What I Am Creating

A new episode of Edge of Empire is in editing, and in the meantime here is a video about my Bolt Action Escalation League 750pts List

What I Am Backing

The Heavy Transporters of WW2 (Volume 2) delivered, and I have already printed out a Hippo for Graham, cause trucks in Bolt Action are cool

Prelude to fear: Early WW2 armed civilians, has delivered a few bits

The Blessed Militia of the Martyred Saints has successfully funded and I have paid for that, looks like a really interesting set of minis for either Trench Pilgrims or New Antioch

Paintpal Studio XP successfully funded, I have the other STLs, and this made sense, one day I will actually get round to printing some of it to better store my paints

The Epic Sector – Frontline Project funded, I really want to play some Legions Imperialis, but it needs terrain, I already have the other two Epic Sector projects, so again it’s a one day I will get round to it!

To give me some more options for British Airborne, I backed both Join or Die Airborne Volume 2 and Merville Battery, with the first one also giving me some Folgore

For some reason, I really fancy the idea of painting some Joseon Koreans, so I have backed the Imjin War Koreans: Part 1 project

I have backed STL Printable Terrain WW2 Desert Collection Vol 2 to go with the stuff for the first one, so eventually I can create a North Africa terrain box

Cause I need more scenery still, I am backing WoWBuildings Does Bastogne

I am backing the Pirate Borg minis project because they look cool and it might be the RPG I run for the group!

The MakerPlot 2.0 looks like it might be an interesting project, so I have backed that

Motorcycle troops in Bolt Actions seem interesting, so I have backed WW2 Motorcycles & Riders: Volume 1

How could I not be backing Victoria Miniatures Grimdark Empire project???

And finally I am backing No Man’s Land: War Train, cause who does’t love an Armoured Train for Trench Crusade

What I Am Spending

I bought a Chaos Lord in Terminator Armour!

I bought myself Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and United Penguin Kingdom

Mood:- Bitterly disapointed
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 6
In My Ears:- Don’t Look Back in Anger – Oasis
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Bolt Action
Video Game Last Played:- Easy Red 2
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:– Genefather – Guy Haley
Movie Last Viewed:– Predator: Badlands
TV Show Last Viewed:- The Great War
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Working on a World Eaters Daemon Prince

11th Is Here

By michael

On 23rd June 2026

In Blog

On Friday night we had a midnight release for Warhammer 40,000 Armageddon!

I have played more of 10th edition than I ever did 9th or even 8th, maybe not as much as 7th.

That said, 10th has been my least favourite edition of the game, simply because it feels like the Editon in which I have struggled most to get a win, and there were way too many gotcha moments.

11th looks to be on the one hand more of the same, but at the same time, things like unit coherency meaning a unit must be in 9” of each other is very useful as it stops the Poxwalker conga line, which is just so frustrating.

I still feel like the rules overly cater to the competitive scene and casual narrative players get very little, but let’s see how it develops.

I do hope when the new Space Marine codex drops they lose Oath of Moment cause that’s just way too powerful when combined with some of the detachments.

But let’s see how it does.

Paint-A-Thon

My annual Paint-A-Thon returns after a one year hiatus, and I am going to paint the Space Marines Combat Patrol from Armageddon over tow 12 hour sittings on the weekend of 26th and 27th July, I am hoping to raise £150 for the Willow Foundation, in memory of one of my closest friends, Lee Dunford.

Someone has challenged me to change it up and make it a 24 hour Play-A-Thon and have me play as many games of whatever system or even several in 24 hours, but that’s something I would need to sit down figure out and find a suitable venue, but it’s a possibility at some point.

Anyway, you can donate here!

What I Am Modelling

I started the week with some French for Bolt Action, first up an Anti-Tank Rifle Team, armed with Boys Anti-Tank Rifles

Followed by a MMG Team, armed with a Hotchkiss Machine Gun

Then it was a Centurion in Saturnine Terminator Armour for my Ultramarines

And a Chorister for the Heretic Legions of Trench Crusade

And a French Brandt Mortar Team

I did want to paint an infantry squad for the French but I ran out of a couple of main colours I am using for them so that’s gonna wait until I can restock them next week

After that I painted up a Sd. kfz 222 in late war dunkelgelb

Followed by a second Opel Blitz for the early war Germans

And some Vanquishers for the Stormcast Eternals, which for now means I have no more of them to paint

After that I painted a Daemon Prince for the True Sons

So what’s coming up next

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Cadian Command Squad x 5 & Castellan
Ultramarines Saturnine Terminators x 6
Neophyte Hybrids x 10, Primus & Magus x 2
Rat Ogres x 3
Deffkoptas x 2 & Kustom Boosta-Blasta
World Eaters Daemon Prince
Grundstock Thunderers x 5
Ultramarines Saturnine Command Squad x 3
Leman Russ

What I Am Reading

I finished listening to Fist of the Imperium by Andy Clark and I have to say it seemed super familiar, not sure if I have previously read it or it’s just very samey, it was fine, not the best, but not the worst.

After that I listened to The Gathering by Jospeh Lidster, and it’s really a very awkward book, not at all that great, the plot was stretched out and the sound mix was just dreadful, kinda sad cause Tegan was great in it and the story was a disservice to her.

I then listened to Day of Ascension by Adrian Tchaikovsky which was extremely good, I mean really good, nice twist at the end which was just brilliant!

After that I listened to The Romanov Project by Niel Bushnell, and it was ok, not the best written but ok, there were a few weaknesses and it was kinda middling

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

We had a day of Horus Heresy at Durham Raiders, and due to illness and just life my advertising of it was terrible so we only had a few people, but it was nonetheless quite fun.

On Friday myself and James had a game of 30k at 2000 points, well I was slight under as I forgot my Leman Russ tanks, but we had a good game.

Played a relic mission and my Lasriflemen could not pass an intelligence test for toffee and and thus I lost, and by a lot!

What Video Games I Am Playing

A bit more Over The Top and Hell Let Loose, and I have returned to Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Over The Top

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

Hell Let Loose

What I Am Spending

I bought a new monitor, this year I was gonna upgrade my PC platform from AM4 to AM5 and get a 7800X3D, but fucking Sam Altman the prick and the other AI bastards put paid to that.

Literally the only upgrade I could really do was to my monitor, and I got this one on an Amazon Warehouse deal for £310 which is so much better than I could have hoped for.

Originally I was looking at a decent Alienware one, but the cost of this on the deal plus a new monitor arm came in quite a bit cheaper!

Also got Megan a new monitor arm too as she inherited my old main monitor and now is enjoying my old CPU, GPU and Monitor now!

Humble Choice also happened and I got this out of it

I also bought

Mood:- Way too hot!
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 2
In My Ears:- Hole in the Head -Sugababes
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer: The Horus Heresy
Video Game Last Played:- Hell Let Loose
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:– The Romanov Project – Niel Bushnell
Movie Last Viewed:– Dunkirk
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago Fire
Podcast Last In My Ears:- Hardcore History
Current State of Projects:- Got a WWI French soldier on my table and ready to continue a WWII French squad!

UK Games Expo 2026

By michael

On 11th June 2026

In Blog

Wow, that was a very very very busy weekend!

Myself, Lindsay and Megan all volunteered to help run the UK Games Expo this year, it’s 20th year and I have been attending for 16 of them!

We headed down on the Thursday morning to get our t-shirts, groats and passes, after which we chilled out in the hotel with a pizza.

We then had shifts for the next three days, Lindsay and Megan were on the Crew Room, which was basically covering stuff all over the place, I spent time in a Shop & Drop, Hall 4 and the Crew Room.

My favourite part, someone arriving 3 minutes before entries for the painting completion closed on Sunday, his train had been massively delayed, and he had yet to collect his ticket, so I got to escort him to get his entry in before sending him to get his tickets, just trying to be helpful.

It was exhausting but an awful lot of fun, and I am so glad I was able to be there for it, to be honest if I wasn’t volunteering I couldn’t afford to be there for more than a day.

But there is something so special about not only being at an event, but also being able to help make the event happen for other people.

What I Am Spending At Expo

I picked up a new TT Combat cutting mat, that’s something I buy every year as it’s super useful

From The Army Painter I got a Drybrush and some of the John Blanche paints, Heavy Metal, Grim Rust, Grimdark Shadow and Voodoo Shade

I got a new bottle of Feldgrau and some US Dark Green from Vallejo

From Games Workshop I got the event exclusives, Cadia Stands and Dawner’s Reward

I got the standard merch of a t-shirt and event pin

Plus a few more bits from The Army Painter, Warhammer and AK Interactive for painting, those being a Scrubby Cup, Emperor Gold, Khorne Red, Tyran Blue and a Gold Playmarker Pen from AK Interactive

I did get a couple of games, staring with Machu Pichu, a fun little party game

And The Lord of the Rings Duel for Middle Earth

What I Am Modelling

I started off by painting a few bits for Trench Crusade

An Observer mercenary, which is a really cool little model

A couple of Red Brigade Yeomen armed with Flamethrowers

A Heretic Legion Trooper armed with a Flamethrower

A Sin-Eater

A trio of Heretic Priests

A couple of Anointed, one armed with a Flamethrower, the other with a Greataxe

And the obligatory Artillery Witch

For the early war French I painted a couple of Renault FTs

I also painted some Legionaries for my True Sons Chaos Space Marines Warband

So what’s up next week?

Blood Angels Landspeeder
True Sons Daemon Prince
Cadian Command Squad x 5
Ultramarines Saturnine Terminators x 6
Neophyte Hybrids x 10, Primus & Magus x 2
Vanquishers x 10
Sd. Kfz 222 (Late War)
Rat Ogres x 3
Deffkoptas x 3 & Kutom Boosta-Blasta
World Eaters Daemon Prince

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played two games of Bolt Action this week, first on Wednesday when I took on Gavin and his Battle of the Bulge themed British

My 750pts list is now

Rifle Platoon

Oberleutnant (Regular)

Heer x 8, LMG, NCO with SMG (Regular)
Heer x 8, LMG, NCO with SMG (Regular)
Heer x 8, LMG, NCO with SMG (Regular)

Sniper Team (Veteran)

Light Mortar Team (Regular)

Armoured Platoon

Panzer II Ausf C

Panzer I Ausf A

Panzer 38 (t)

The game was pretty hard, he had a Sherman and a Wolverine, the latter of which took out my Panzer 38 (t) on the first turn.

We played the Breakthrough mission and it was a classic game where it came down to three dice rolls

The game was a draw but had I passed at least one of two morale tests, I would have won, and had the game gone to turn 6, he potentially would have won!

Then on Friday I played David and his Australians, an army I have never played before, we again played breakthrough and

David’s M3 Stuart and my Panzer 38 (t) spent most of the game pinging shots off each other

It was an impressive win for David as he made some amazing tactical decisions and had some really great dice rolls that systematically demolished my Germans

He ended up winning the game 8-2

On Sunday I was supposed to be playing in a Warhammer 40K tournament, I went but was quite unwell, and only managed one game against the kid

It was a really tough game and I lost very badly, but hopefully 11th Editon will be somewhat kinder to me

But Space Marines are a very tough army to overcome, with the Oath of Moment and the various buffs they get

On Tuesday myself and Graham had a game of Bolt Action, my early war Germans took on his British

It was a tough game, I managed to destroy all of his infantry, but I couldn’t touch his tanks, Germans during the Blitzkrieg didn’t have very good anti-tank weapons, my Pak 36 and Panzer 38 (t) were just pinging off his armour for the most part

I did manage to damage the Churchill, and reduce its movement, but the Matilda II was beyond my weapons.

What Video Games I Am Playing

I am really enjoying Over The Top, its incredible fun, and I am trying to play a bit more Darktide.

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

What I Am Creating

I did a video on my Bolt Action 500pts list for the Escalation League

What I Am Spending

It was Humble Choice, so that got me

Diablo IV (annoyingly on Battle.Net)
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
Crysis 3 Remastered (gifted to a nibbling)
Nordhold
Heroes of Hammerwatch II
Rogue Waters
Cubic Odyssey
Mini Settlers

I also bought Heroes of Hammerwatch, seeing as I now has the sequel made sense to get the original

Mood:- Ok
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 3
In My Ears:- In Your Eyes – Kylie Minogue
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Bolt Action
Video Game Last Played:- Hell Let Loose
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:– Ashes of the Imperium – Andy Clark
Movie Last Viewed:– Dunkirk
TV Show Last Viewed:- The Great War
Podcast Last In My Ears:- Hardcore History
Current State of Projects:- Got some French infantry that I will have to put aside and return to later and a Chorister

I Like Weird War… Until It Feels Too Real

By michael

On 28th May 2026

In Blog

I’ve come to the conclusion that I really dislike the very idea of Konflikt ’47, not just mildly, but viscerally.

That probably needs an immediate caveat: I’m not here to judge anyone who enjoys it. Plenty of people do, and that’s completely fine. We can like different things for different reasons without it needing to become a moral argument.

But for me, Konflikt ’47 just feels… wrong.

I love playing Bolt Action. It’s one of my favourite wargames. However, World War II gaming is already a serious subject. It isn’t just a neutral backdrop for cool tanks and infantry, it represents real human suffering on an unimaginable scale. It carries historical weight, and that weight never really disappears, even in a game.

That’s where my discomfort starts.

Konflikt ’47 takes that same historical foundation and adds zombie soldiers, mechs, occult experiments, and super-science. On paper, it’s alternate history pulp. But in practice, it turns something already rooted in real tragedy into something closer to spectacle.

Enhanced SS units, dieselpunk weapons, and “Nazis with lasers” sit uneasily with me. Not because I think people who enjoy it are endorsing anything, but because the aesthetic draws directly from regimes responsible for very real atrocities. It feels, to me, like it risks turning that history into something stylised, almost consumable, and that’s where it becomes uncomfortable. At times it even feels commercially exploitative, like the imagery is being used because it’s provocative rather than because it’s being meaningfully reframed.

I don’t think anyone who enjoys the game is a bad person, or thinking about it in the wrong way. I just find I can’t reconcile the mix of pulp spectacle with real-world tragedy. Or maybe it’s the idea of extending such a regime into “what if” scenarios that linger too long over history’s worst parts. Either way, it doesn’t sit right with me.

But then there’s the contrast: I really like Trench Crusade.

I’ve thought quite a bit about why that is.

The key difference, for me, is that Trench Crusade isn’t trying to be WWI with a technological twist. It isn’t asking “what if Verdun had mechs?” Instead, it’s a mythic, theological alternate universe where history has already diverged into something fundamentally different.

Yes, there are trenches. Yes, there is war. But it’s not anchored to specific real-world battles or regimes. It’s a gothic horror setting, a fantasy abstraction rather than a reimagining of identifiable history.

In that space, humanity is fighting literal demons of Hell alongside crusader-inspired factions drawn from Abrahamic religious imagery. It’s not alternate history in the traditional sense; it’s religious and mythic horror. That abstraction creates distance, and that distance changes how it feels.

The result is that it doesn’t trigger the same sense of proximity to real-world events. It feels like symbolism rather than substitution.

They just land differently emotionally.

That said, I do have some reservations about Trench Crusade as well. It’s intensely grimdark, almost relentlessly so. Compared to something like Warhammer, it lacks much of the satire or levity that helps break up the tone. I once summed it up in a Bluesky conversation as: “there are no Orks.”

But even with that, it doesn’t produce the same discomfort. It feels like a fully fictional mythos built to explore horror, rather than a stylised extension of real-world catastrophe.

And that, I think, is the distinction that matters most to me.

In the end, this is just my personal reaction to tone, framing, and proximity to history. I don’t think it’s something universal, and I don’t think it should be. People are going to respond differently to the same ideas, and that’s fine.

If anything, it’s a reminder that in games like this, tone matters just as much as theme. What a setting is doing emotionally is often more important than what it is doing structurally.

And for me, that’s where the difference lies.

What I Am Modelling

I started out with a squad of Pioneers for my Early War Germans

Plus an officer to lead them

Also a Stug III Ausf F, which represents the far end of the army I am building right now, more crossing the Volga than the Meuse

I also painted this Panzer III, but it’s a pretty crap model, the details are bad and the print isn’t great, I ended up scrapping the idea of it being for my early war Germans and painted it in dunkelgelb with the idea of giving it to a couple of my nephews as a toy

This was fllowed by a Praetor in Saturnine Terminator Armour for the Word Bearers

I also painted up a trio of Panzer IIs as well

I finally got the Loght Mortar unit finished, so no longer need to proxy my Medium Mortar as one!

And a Stug III Ausf B, cause most of my army is themed around crossing the Meuse and the Ausf B fits that whereas the Ausf F does not

I also painted some test models for a French army, I am kinda fancying doing to face off against my Germans, and I am quite happy with how it turned out

Then two squads of Cadian Shock Troops to finish this off

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeder
Heretic Legion Warband
True Sons Legionaries x 10
True Soms Daemon Prince
Cadian Command Squad x 5 & Ursula Creed
Ultramarines Saturnine Terminators x 6 & Centurion in Saturnine Terminator Armour
Neophyte Hybrids x 10, Primus & Magos x 2
Vanquishers x 10
SD. kfz 222
Deffkoptas x 3

What I Am Reading

Alas somehow, I have no idea how, the screen on my Kindle broke 😢

So I had to get a new one, it’s a bit smaller than my old one, but it’s got twice the storage

In terms of reading I have ‘t read much, but I did listen to Zardu Layak: The Crimson Apostle by Rich McCormick

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

Not much but I did get a game of 40K in against Brian

His detachment negated most of my tough weapons, so stuff that should have been wounding him on 2 was now doing so on a 3 and that made a huge world of difference

Plus the oath of moment rerolls are so very powerful, but it was an excellent list and his played it very well

What I Am Creating

We published the latest epsiode of Edge of Empire

What I am Backing

I have backed the Worlds Beyond Brawl campaign by One Page Rules with a friend, it’s an interesting concept and we fancy a few of the models so why not!

And I am still a backer of Desert Theatre: WWII North African Campaign Stl System

And I have now backed Foldable Terrain for 11th Edition

The Cranes and Fire Engine Vehicle’s of WW2 Volume 1 has now been delivered

What I Am Buying

I got two copies of issue 89 of Combat Patrol

And this Wednesday I managed to make sure to grab two issues of 90 to allow me to make myself a Forgefiend and Maulerfiend for the True Sons Warband of Chaos Space Marines.

And for the regular delivery, my last delivery came, which completes the collection

I also bought a few video games, some from the past month that I forgot to put in the last post

Over the Top
Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior
Anno 1701
Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius: Onslaught Pack
PowerWash Simulator
Skull & Bone
Heroes of Hammerwatch

Mood:- So Very Tired
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 1
In My Ears:- Pizza and Ice Cream – Meri Amber
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40k
Video Game Last Played:- Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:– Zardu Layak: The Crimson Apostle – Rich McCormick
Movie Last Viewed:– Saving Private Ryan
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago PD
Podcast Last In My Ears:- Hardcore History
Current State of Projects:- My desk is clear

Goodby Cassius

By michael

On 18th May 2026

In Blog

We sadly lost Cassius, our beloved one eyed dickhead of a cat 😢

He was a very loving and precious little lad, but also an utter dick head who bite your nipple if you weren’t giving him attention or snackies

He went off his food a little, something that was very unusual for him, but as it was hot and two of the others went off their food at the same time, we thought not too much of it, but a couple of days later and he was eating less and less

Initially we believed he had something up with his teeth as his breath was rather smelly, so away he went to the vets

After an initial examination followed by an ultrasound they discovered that his kidneys were failing, pretty badly and his bloods were really bad

They advised that the kindest thing would be to let him go, and that’s what we had to do, we were devestated

There were options for us, but the vet said these wouldn’t be great for his quality of life, especially given his spiciness when it came to medication

He was a beautiful boy, and we miss him so much, the house is very quiet without him as he was a huge personality

Barrington, Bonnie and Mango all seem a bit down without him around, but are slowly getting used to his absence

We aren’t getting another cat to succeed him, we are going to stick with three cats for the foreseeable future simply because we are just way too sad right now

I miss his cuddles, when he would randomly come to the studio, demand a cuddle and snackies, my nights have been very quiet without his presence

Good night sweet boy

Storage

We have now rented a storage space, annoyingly the only place we could find an affordable one was in Harrogate, which is an hours drive away, which is a ball ache, but we are paying a month, half of what most places wanted a week near us.

What is being stored in there right now is my Warhammer Scenery, 14.5 tables worth, with a couple more boxes going to join it soon, the Edge of Empire PA system and a bunch of Paul’s theatre gear.

This is great for all of us, because we have been struggling with long term storage of some stuff, my terrain has been stored in my in-laws attic, which will be replaced with some armies to clear space in my studio, but they will take up a lot less space.

What I Am Modelling

I started out by painting some bits for my Germans, starting with an officer and escort, these being from the Meuse to Volga project

Plus a couple of Anti-Tank Rifle teams armed with Panzerbüchse 39s

After that I painted a Panzer 38 (t)

And a Panzer I

Plus a Panzerjäger I

I have now also made myself a carry case for my early war German, will probably want a second cube to carry the entire army I have planned/building!

After that I turned my attentions to the Genestealer Cults and painted for them a Patriarch and his Familiars

Along with an Acolyte Iconward

Who will be escorted either by some Hyrbid Metamorphs

Or some Acolyte Hybrids

As well as a Death Korps of Krieg Command Squad

And some Combat Engineers

Plus an Artilery team, which is a fantastic little diorama piece

And finally a Squad of Kriegsmen to form the battleline!

And for a general transport case, I have now printed up a 2×2 case with the plan being to expand it to 2×3 for six cubes in total

I have printed off for it, two Edge of Empire and a Solar Auxilia and Astra Militarum cover

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legions Warband
Cadian Shock Troopers x 20
True Wons Legionaries x 10
Krieg Command Squad x 6
German Pioneers & Officer
Cadian Command Squad x 5 & Ursula Creed
Ultramarines Saturnine Terminators x 6 & Centurion
Neophyte Hybrids x 10, Magus x 2 & Primus
Vanquishers x 10

What I Am Reading

I finished Trollslayer by William King, which was as good as the first time I read it!

I then listened to The Reaping by Joseph Lidster which was a really cool little Cybermen story, and a good story for Peri

I am currently listening to Skavenslayer by William King

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played a game of Combat Patrol with Craig and his Space Wolves

Their new list is very spicy and it took me apart piece by piece

Really fun game and I really hope GW keep this mode in 11th edition.

I played a game of Bolt Action against David as part of the Escalation League

And somehow I came away with a rare win, 8-1 to me. My Snipers, Panzer 38 (t) and light mortar team did most of the heavy lifting.

At one point my Panzerbefehlswagen and Panzer 38 (t) shot all three of their machine guns at his anti-tank gun, and all 12 shots missed!

But still, it’s nice to get a win, although that rules me out for the wooden spoon!

What I Am Backing

We now have everything for Meuse to the Volga, with the delivery of the Sd. Kfz 251 pack, Panzer crew and the terrain.

I backed the German What-If (Prototype) Vehicles of World War II, it will have no value for game play for me, but could be interesting to model, or perhaps for Konflikt ’47, that delivered hella quick and I now have all the STLs.

The models are cool, as I said, more for modelling or for Konflilt ‘47 usage, where the Panther II will fit

Over There Part 2 continues to deliver and the fella who made it is a really cool guy, he is thinking of setting up a Patreon, which I will join!

I have backed STL Tabletop Printable Buildings – Part Two for some terrain I can print for my boards and potentially the club, and that’s already delivered everything!

I am also backing Cranes and Fire Engines of WW2 – Volume 1, might be cool to get some old school fire trucks for my nephews to paint

And finally, I am backing Desert Theatre: WWII North African Campaign STL System for some, well North African style terrain!

What I Am Buying

Issue 84 of Combat Patrol arrived, so now I can compete the Jackhals

I also picked up issues 87 and 88 for some Khorne Beserkers for the newer Combat Patrol

After a bit of a mixup, my Infinity’s Lament model arrived from Warhammer+

As well as Marshall Ashfield and Squire Udo

I also did I big hobby/3D printing supply top up, grabbing some much needed paints, a ton of filament and resin etc

For the planned DnD digital tabletop, me and Megan bought an old 32” TV which we are going to encase in wood and use for playing RPGs on using a digital tabletop, probably Foundry

I finally got myself the LinusTechTips Screwdriver and I have to say it’s pretty sweet, certainly the best consumer screwdriver I have handled in a long time

I also got the Shaft Extension, a set of Phillips head screwbits, plus a bit of PTM7950, not sure if I will put that in my current PC of hold it back for the next one!

Also got the Precision Screwdriver EndCap set which had to ship separately due to a checkout error

Also bought a smart plug for my studio fan

And my Humble Choice subscription got me

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (donated to Chris)
Demon X Machina: Titanic Scion
The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
Until Then
Planet of Lana
Artisan TD
The Procession to Calvary
Buddy Simulator 1984

Plus I bought Over The Top seeing as it was on sale!

Mood:- Tired
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 4
In My Ears:- Eins, Zwri, Drei – Look Mum No Computer
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40k
Video Game Last Played:- Over the Top
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:– Skavenslayer – William King
Movie Last Viewed:– And They Shall Not Grow Old
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago PD
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- About halfway through a Word Bearers Saturnine Praetor

I Think I’m Becoming a Grognard… and I’m Not Mad About It

By michael

On 20th April 2026

In Blog

I don’t remember exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the way I stopped getting excited about new codexes for Warhammer 40,000 and started getting excited about the Napoleonic Wars.

These days I’m just as likely to be reading something like French Tanks of World War II by Steven J. Zaloga as I am flicking through Warhammer content, and when I look at new projects, I’m browsing Napoleonics as well as the latest Games Workshop release.

Which led to a slightly uncomfortable realisation:

The word “grognard” actually goes back to the Napoleonic Wars, where it was used to describe Napoleon’s veteran troops, the grizzled soldiers who had seen enough to justify a bit of grumbling and bitterness.

In modern wargaming, it’s become shorthand for the kind of player who cares about historical accuracy, rules, and whether your unit really should have that equipment. A player who is less about the sci-fi settings of Warhammer 40,000, or the low fantasy of Warhammer: The Old World, and more about systems, structure, and coherence. The kind of person who can open a drawer and have multiple tiny-scale Napoleonics ready to go, with different forces representing different eras of a war.

In other words… the sort of person I may be slowly turning into.

I’ve always been a WYSIWYG player for myself, and yes, I’ll admit it—I sometimes silently judge those who aren’t. Not in a serious way, more in a “hmm… interesting choice” kind of way. Definitely not gatekeeping. Probably.

For example, my Heresy Death Guard don’t really do fragile or complicated weaponry. Very little plasma, no volkite at all. They’re bolters, flamers, meltas, and lascannons. They footslog rather than bounce around with jump packs, and when it comes to vehicles, it’s tracks and wheels only—nothing overly exotic or suspiciously floaty like grav tech.

Even when options were available in earlier editions, I tended to keep things grounded. In 2.0, they all carried chainswords when that was an option, because lore-wise it just made sense: standard kit, used sensibly, no unnecessary faffing about.

That said, I don’t expect anyone else to play like that. That’s important to me. I don’t gatekeep—I just quietly assume my way is correct and move on with my life. (Joking. Mostly.)

It’s the same with painting. Because I have the time, I insist on fully painted armies for myself. I won’t put unpainted models on the table. But I’m not about to enforce that on anyone else. People have jobs, families, studies, and significantly more important things to do than debating whether that shade of grey technically counts as “battle ready”.

What’s slightly concerning is that the same instinct that makes me design sci-fi armies like miniature historical organisations is now pulling me further towards actual historical wargaming.

Bolt Action in particular has started enabling this behaviour. Instead of building lists that are remotely efficient, I’ve found myself constructing early-war Germans as if I’m curating a museum exhibit, very specifically 1940 to 1942, carefully avoiding “just taking the good stuff” and instead focusing on what feels appropriate for the period. Which is a very normal and well-adjusted way to approach a wargame, obviously.

And I am already planning the next army: a French force to counter it, built around artillery, inexperienced conscripts, tough but flawed tanks, and hastily reactivated WWI Renault FTs.

Even outside the tabletop, it’s spilling over. I played Assassin’s Creed: Unity, told myself I was just enjoying the setting, and then suddenly I’m reading about the French Revolution and Napoleon like I’ve got a dissertation due.

So now the hobby doesn’t feel like separate systems anymore. It feels like different ways of scratching the same itch: structure, narrative, and making toy soldiers behave like they belong in a coherent universe rather than a random pile of statistics.

And I think that’s the shift. Not away from sci-fi or fantasy—but towards becoming the sort of person who says things like “coherent force structure” without irony.

As for Napoleonics, I’ve acquired some STLs and I’m just trying to figure out a system to use. Black Powder is tempting, but my friend Ken highly recommends Sharp Practice. Either way, I’m going to be that basic bitch, which, let’s be fair, I am, and play the Grande Armée.

But I am not leaving behind the Games Workshop stuff. The Horus Heresy remains my favourite setting, and the 3.0 ruleset is my favourite yet (although the missions are not great and are really holding the game back).

I like narrative-focused games, which, with the current way Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000 are played, is increasingly difficult. Standard terrain layouts make it hard to run asymmetrical, story-driven games rather than simply racking up points.

These games are very meta-driven, and that’s just not me. I want thematic armies, scenario-driven play, and less obsession with having the perfect list.

But these games do allow for a lot of freedom, exaggeration, and creativity, while historicals give me constraint, realism, and interpretation. I’ve realised I don’t have to choose one philosophy of gaming—the hobby, for me, has always been a spectrum, and I’m just expanding it. It doesn’t need to be binary.

I think this is how I’m going to approach things from now on. I want a choice of armies I can use for different systems, and that means focusing on one or two “main” armies per system and putting the rest into long-term storage.

So I need to go through what I have at home, compare it to what’s in storage, and decide what becomes my core collections, then store the rest. That doesn’t mean I won’t add to them, I probably will, because I love having variety to paint.

I’m going to keep Combat Patrols available because that’s such a fun format, but I’ll have one, perhaps two armies (so Megan and I can play together) for each system:

Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer Age of Sigmar
The Horus Heresy
Bolt Action/Achtung Panzer
Some form of Napolionics
Probably something for Sage
Legions Imperialis
Trench Crusade/WWI
Something fantasy, probably The Old World

This will give me some much-needed space and allow me to develop historicals in a way that represents different eras and theatres. For my Germans, I want a collection that covers early war, Afrika Korps, and eventually Normandy/D-Day, giving me a range of matchups. Meanwhile, my sci-fi and fantasy collections can remain more fluid and constantly evolving.

Terrain-wise, I’ve already sorted my fantasy setup, and I think that will work for Age of Sigmar, The Old World, and D&D. My home 40K terrain is probably going to shift in a new direction, I’m thinking a trench-focused set with two building styles: one sci-fi and one more real world. That way it can cover both world wars and Trench Crusade. One larger box of 3D-printed trenches, and two smaller sets of buildings.

So yeah, I’m not leaving behind fantasy and sci-fi, just expanding the hobby and making things at home a bit more organised.

I still love the grimdark of Warhammer 40,000, and I always will. But I’ve also found myself increasingly drawn to the structure, detail, and reality of the Napoleonic Wars and the World Wars.

So maybe the question was never “am I becoming a grognard?”

Maybe it’s simply that I’ve realised the hobby was always big enough for both.

What I Am Modelling

I painted up a Panzer I for my Germans, thinking of doing another one cause it seems like it’s gonna be good at supporting the infantry in Bolt Action

I added a third Wraithlord to my Iyanden army

And a Marshall to lead the Black Templars

Alongside a squad of Intercessors

After that I painted up an Sd.Kfz 265 which I need for my Bolt Action escalation list, turns out that my idea of taking a Panzer I as a command tank doesn’t work as it can only be taken in this form as the Panzerbefehlswagen

Alongside that I added a couple of Pak 36s to the Germans for some anti-tank

Plus a 2nd Forward Observer

And this test model form the Meuse to Volga Kickstarter

Plan to add models to make him part of a fully Heer squad

I then painted up Karnus the Seeker, a Lord-Celestant from the Spearhead magazine for my Celestial Vindicatiors

At the same time I also painted up the test model from Over There Part 2, a Heer Rifleman

I painted up some Hearthkyn Warriors to add to the Votann for the newer Combat Patrol

And a squad of Brôkhyr Thunderkyn for the Votann too, for the very same Combat Patrol

What’s up next

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Acolyte Hybrid’s x 5, Acolyte Iconward, Patriarch & Familars x 2
Death Korps Squad x 10
Cadian Shock Troopers x 20
True Sons Legionaries x 10
Combat Engineers x 6
True Sons Daemon Prince
Krieg Command Squad x 6
German Pioneers x 10

What I Am Reading

I first listened to Red by Stewart Sheargold, which was fairly good, an interesting concept in that one.

I am currently listening to Trollslayer by William King

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

On Easter Monday, we played our first game of Gloomhaven.

Then on Tuesday I played a game of Heresy against Graham, I took this list for the Solar Auxilia

Cohort Doctrine: Mechanised Pattern Cohort

Crusade Primary Detachment

Legatine Command Section
• 1x Legate Marshall [15 Point(s)]: Needle Pistol, Power fist
• Augury scanner, Command Vox, Charnabal sabre, Cohorts vexilla, Blast chargers

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Line Command Section
• Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• Augury scanner, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla, Command Vox, Blast chargers
 Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (War-engine))

Line Command Section
• Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• Augury scanner, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla, Command Vox, Blast chargers

Aethon Heavy Sentinel Squadron x 3
• Melta lance, Hunter-killer missile battery 

Lasrifle Section x 10
• Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock, Blast chargers

Arvus Lighter, Flare Launchers, Pintle Mounted heavy stubber

Armoured Support

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Dozer blade, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Dozer blade, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Dozer blade, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber
Lap

Leman Russ Assault Tank Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Dozer blade

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Assault Tank Demolisher Cannon, Lascannon Dozer blade

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Sponson Mounted lascannon x 2, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Sponson Mounted lascannon x 2, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20
• Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock, Blast chargers

Lasrifle Section x 20
• Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock, Blast chargers

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin Lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Demolisher cannon

The game was a loss for my, by a lot, but my army scored a lot more kills than normal, the Demolisher cannons proved their worth and my Malcadors were the MVP of the game

The major problem was that the intelligence of my Solar Auxilia is just not good enough to compete in a Relic mission with the Mechanicum, but the mission was great and I throughly reccomend them

On Thursday we started the Bolt Action escalation campaign and I am starting with this list

Rifle Platoon

Oberleutnant - Regular SMG

Heer Infantry Squad x 7, Regular, LMG, NCO with SMG

Heer Infantry Squad x 7, Regular, LMG, NCO with SMG

Sniper Team - Regular

Light Mortar Team - Regular

Armoured Patoon

Panzerbefehlswagen - Sd. Kfz 265

Panzer 38 (t)

I was playing Ken’s Soviet Workers Milita and it was a really nice army he had painted up

It was a pretty good game, but the game turned when Ken’s Ampulomet took out a squad of Heer, and my other squad attempted to run up the flank, but were wiped out by a combination of a machine gun team and a mortar shot!

I played a second game of Heresy against Russell, I took the list Inplayed against Graham with, just added a Stormhammer as we played 3500 points

We played a Relic mission and I lost by 7-28, just couldn’t get my scoring units on the objectives and passing intelligence tests

My fourth game for this post, was my first game of Trench Crusade against Michael, I took my Iron Sultanate using this list

4 Glory Points, 700 Ducats

Jabirean Alchemist - 116 Ducats, 2 Glory Points
Jezzail, Sword/Axe, Grenades, Reinforced Armour, Alchemical Ammunition, Holy Relic

Yüzbaşı Captain - 163 Ducats, 2 Glory Points
Janissary Veteran, Halberd-Gun, Reinforced Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition, Gas Mask, Wind Amulet, Takwin Anqā Bird

Skirmisher Azeb - 89 Ducats
Light Skirmisher, Flamethrower, Sword/Axe, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Gas Mask

Skirmisher Azeb - 76 Ducats
Light Skirmisher, Jezzail, Sword/Axe, Grenades, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition, Gas Mask 

Skirmisher Azeb - 76 Ducats
Light Skirmisher, Jezzail, Sword/Axe, Grenades, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition, Gas Mask

Lion of Jabir - 85 Ducats
Wind Amulet, Standard Armour

Sultanate Sapper - 95 Ducats
Alaybozan, Trench Club, Trench Shield, Standard Armour, Combat Helmet, Alchemical Ammunition

The game was just the basic kill the other team scenario, and it was really a lot of fun, but my dice rolling was attribute and I went 2 1/2 rounds without rolling a 7 and thus didn’t hit anyone and I really think that hampered my results

It ended up being a loss of 31-17, which was fine, it was first game and I have learnt a lot, I just took a starter list suggested by one of the fan sites

Learnt an awful lot, and really had a good time!

What Video Games I Am Playing

I played Verdun for the first time, that was kinda cool

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Verdun (Steam)

Eagle Eye

Kill an enemy from over 100 meters

06/04/2026

What I Am Backing

More of the From Meuse to Volga, 1940-1942 was delivered, including the vehicles, the pioneers and a bunch of stretch goals, including the PAK 36, which I have printed two of

And the Over There Part 2 campaign delivered its first STLs as well

What I Am Spending

I fancied watching They Were Not Divided, but couldn’t find it anywhere on a streaming service, so bought it on DVD cheap from eBay to add to the PLEX server

And myself and Megan got the Beast-Snagga Boyz Combat Patrol given that Orks are going to be getting the spotlight in 11th Edition

Also some Order Dice for Bolt Action and an XL Painting Handle

On Steam I picked up

Mood:- Having a sleep reset
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 9
In My Ears:- Love is a Long Road – Tom Petty
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Trench Crusade
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Trollslayer – William King
Movie Last Viewed:– Aquaman
TV Show Last Viewed:- King of the Hill
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- A clean desk, need to prime some stuff!

Doubles with Megan

By michael

On 6th April 2026

In Blog

Bit late with this post due to illness 🙁

A couple of Sundays ago, myself and Megan played in a doubles tournament at Games-at-Hart, and it was for Megan their first time playing against someone other than me

We took this list, the rules were two armies of 1000pts so we took this list. With me playing the Guard and Megan the Blood Angels

Our first game was against a very serious pair playing Orks and Death Guard with both Mortarian and a Gorkanaught

It was a hard game and I felt I had to be a bit strict with the pair as they tried to control the game in ways that were not friendly such as picking our cards in the app for us, something which is a real faux par and extremely rude

I could not have imagined a worst game for Megan to start with and was a very much we went through the motions to just get through it

The second game was much better, sadly Megan fell ill and had to leave 🙁

But I played a Death Guard and Astra Militarium combo which was a lot of fun to play against and a decent amount of cool banter

Massive loss again but well worth it for the game

My third game was a force of Daemons of Khorne and World Eaters, a bit closer but not by much

Another excellent game and at the end we were 3 losses down, but that’s fine with me as fun was had

The event was brilliant, but there was a degree of the issue I dislike about 10th edition, and that is the problem of armies being built around the best most destructive units with the lists not resembling an army you would see in “reality”

Hopefully something that changes in 11th

What I Am Modelling

I started out with an Anointed with an Anti-Material Gun for the Heretic Legions to use in Trench Crusade

Then I painted up a Nemesis Dreadknight for the Grey Knights to finish up their Combat Patrol

After that I painted a War Wolf for the Heretic Legions, model that reminded me a lot of a rat!

This was followed by a Leman Russ Demolisher for the Solar Auxila and Astra Militarium

For the Cadians I then painted a pair of Field Ordnance Batteries with Bombast Field Guns

And for the Orks Combat Patrol, two units of 10 Boyz

And finally a unit of Word Bearers Tactical Marines

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWVK5RCiJR1/?igsh=dnd3cG1mZXBkMDlu

And an Apothecary as well

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWVLQeLCIpZ/?igsh=MTRvZ21ydWZ6NTB3cw==

I painted up a second Hellhound for the Guard

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiAJhciKs3IB1aN6xCvLB38Mrg8gMF-972cWA0/?igsh=MWo1cjNmZnZta29kcg==

Then rebased a few Orks to modern base sizes

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiDTipiCL-DvhAhy1qyHcgo1-79d8VR4k188A0/?igsh=MWt4bGIyNWRzNTh2OA==

Plus a Panzer 38 (t) for my early war Germans

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmBSWgiPAGLP57MgqactNgCeTwjLQGT3EFGCs0/?igsh=d2IweHFnNjh1NXFj

And a SD.Kfz 222

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmBppWiBkPH_HBlrM8NCY8gKQbTJP63sah4Uo0/?igsh=bjJjaWgybHF4OHBy

I also painted a Warsmith for the Iron Warriors, but he was really a bit too grimy!

I then painted a couple of models for the Skaven from Spearhead, a Warlock Engineer

And a Grey Seer

And a couple of units of Howling Banshees for the Aeldari

As well as Zodgrod Wortsnagga for the Orks

And a couple of random Grots I found half painted in the Orks box!

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Black Templar Intercessor Squad x 5 & Marshall
Hearthkyn Warriors x 10
Acolyte Hybrids x 5 & Acolyte Iconward
Death Korps Squad x 10
Cadian Shock Troopers x 20
Chaos Legionaries x 10
Combat Engineers x 10
Brôkhyr Thunderkyn x 3

What I Am Reading

I finished Soul Music by Terry Pratchett, which was very very good, but I have been displeased to hear that weirdly some schools have been banning it.

I then listened to Vainglorious by Sandy Mitchell, sad to have have finished the main series of Cain books.

Then I listened to Death Rider by Rhuairidh James which was really good, just as good as his previous shorts which are also really good.

After that it was The Nowhere Place by Nicholas Briggs which was a good idea, but badly executed.

Following that I listened to The Devil You Know by Sandy Mitchell which was a great deal of fun to listen to again.

And then it was Dead in the Water by Sandy Mitchell, again another great audio drama.

Currently I am listening the Ciaphas Cain: The Anthology by Sandy Mitchell, which I am rather enjoying

What Video Games I Am Playing

Been playing some more Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

And we tried out the demo for Burglin’ Gnomes which was a lot of fun

Assassins Creed Origins got played a little too, but nowhere near enough

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster (Steam)

Assassin’s Creed Origins (XBox)

	Elementary, My Dear Bayek Solve a papyrus mystery	30G	13/03/2026
	Raider of the Lost Tomb Complete a tomb	20G	13/03/2026

What I Am Backing

I joined a group buy for Over There Part 2 for the Afrika Korps infantry

And the first part of From Meuse to Volga, 1940-1942 was delivered, that being the HQs, Infantry Squads, HMG and LMG Teams.

What I Am Creating

We published the latest episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Spending

Managed to get two copies of issue 79 of Combat Patrol to start off a couple of Sentinels

Plus issue 80 to complete them, along with an Issue 2 of Stormbringer

And issues 81 and 82 for the Lord on Juggernaught

And we did a 3D printing materials restock, resin and filament, plus some oil for lubing the Y-Axis on the A1 and magnets to magnetise minis

Humble Choice netted me

Mood:- Getting over the tummy bug
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 3
In My Ears:- on the Dance Floor – Round Round – The Sugababes
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40,000
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Ciaphas Cain:- The Anthology
Movie Last Viewed:– Paths of Glory
TV Show Last Viewed:- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- A few new ones just hit the desk!

That Was A Chew On – Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra Screen Replacement

By michael

On 11th March 2026

In Blog

So a few weeks ago I broke the screen on my Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra, 100% my fault, I forgot to clean the tank after a print failure

So I bought a replacement screen, not cheap, but it was needed, and yesterday I fitted it, the instructional video is well, its this

You basically have to disassemble the entire machine to replace a CONSUMABLE part, its an absolute chew on and its an awful process

I am a big beliver in the right to repair, but this is the wrong way to go around it, I need 5 different sized allen keys, and there are so many different sized screw!

But I got it done and well its working, I was able to print out some Trench Crusade minis for Leon, but now I have run out of resin and won’t have anymore for at least a week!

What I Am Painting

I started out the week by painting Marshall Drier for the Death Korps of Krieg

Alongside a unit of Death Riders

After that it was a unit of Guardian Defenders for the Arldari

And then I added two units of Myrmidon Destructors that I 3D printed for my Mechanicum

So what up next?

Blood Angels Landspeeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Nemesis Dreadknight
Howling Banshees x 10
Ork Boyz x 20
Black Templars Intercessors x 5 & Marshall
Panzer 38T
Heartyn Warriors x 10
Acolyte Hybrids x 5 & Acolyte Iconward
Death Korp Squad x 10

What I Am Reading

I finished Choose Your Enemies by Sandy Mitchell, and have now started on Soul Music by Terry Prachett

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played a game of Herwsy with Graham, taking this Solar Auxilia list

Cohort Doctrine: Mechanised Pattern

Crusade Primary Detachmen

Legatine Command Section
• 1x Legate Marshall, Needle Pistol, Power fist
• 1x Lifeward, Augury scanner, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Lifeward, Command Vox, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Lifeward, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol, Cohorts vexilla
• 1x Lifeward, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger

Armoured Command Section, Turret Mounted Battlecannon, Hull Mounted (Front) lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Line Command Section
• 1x Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• 1x Veteran, Augury scanner, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla
• 1x Veteran, Command Vox, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger 

  Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (LB - War-engine))

Line Command Section
• 1x Troop Master, Charnabal sabre, Laspistol
• 1x Veteran, Augury scanner, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Charnabal sabre, Auxilia vexilla
• 1x Veteran, Command Vox, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger
• 1x Veteran, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger

Aethon Heavy Sentinel Squadron
• 3x Aethon Heavy Sentinel, Melta lance, Aethon missile battery

Lasrifle Section, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger x 20, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock

Aurox Transport, Pintle Mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Hull Mounted (Front) heavy bolter, Dozer blade, Searchlight, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Hull Mounted (Front) heavy bolter, Dozer blade, Searchlight, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Hull Mounted (Front) heavy bolter, Dozer blade, Searchlight, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Turret Mounted demolisher cannon, Hull Mounted (Front) lascannon, Dozer blade

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser, Dozer blade, Flare Shield

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger x 20, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock

Lasrifle Section, Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger x 20, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock

Dracosan Armoured Transport [Hull (Front) Mounted twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport [Hull (Front) Mounted twin lascannon

Lord of War Detachment

Macharius Heavy Tank, Turret Mounted Twin avenger bolt cannon, Hull (Front) Mounted Twin heavy stubber, Two Sponson Mounted heavy stubbers

It was a loss, I am struggling to score in later turns so considering adding in some 10 men Lasrifle Sections in a mix of Arvus Lighters and Aurox’s

Plus dropping some Vanquishers for Demolishers, the Vanquisher is very unreliable in 3.0 whereas the Demolisher is proving to be a lot more able to hit and do damage

On Friday I played a game of 40K against a kid at Hartlepool gamers, using this list

Astra Militarum
Grizzled Company
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Krieg Command Squad (65 Points)
  • 1x Lord Commissar
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Alchemyk Counteragents
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Servo-scribes
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Regimental Standard
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Meltagun

Leman Russ Commander (235 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Lascannon
  • 1x Leman Russ battle cannon

Lord Marshal Dreir (100 Points)
  • Warlord
  • 1x Laspistol
  • 1x Sabre of Sacrifice
  • 1x Savage claws

Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 Points)
  • 1x Enginseer axe
  • 1x Mechanicus pistol
  • 1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Grenade launcher
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Flamer
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

OTHER DATASHEETS

Cadian Heavy Weapons Squad (65 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapon Team
     ◦ 3x Lascannon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Weapons team close combat weapons

Cadian Heavy Weapons Squad (65 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapon Team
     ◦ 3x Autocannon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Weapons team close combat weapons

Death Riders (60 Points)
  • 1x Ridemaster
     ◦ 1x Death Rider lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Frag lance
     ◦ 1x Power sabre
     ◦ 1x Savage claws
  • 4x Death Rider
     ◦ 4x Death Rider lascarbine
     ◦ 4x Frag lance
     ◦ 4x Power sabre
     ◦ 4x Savage claws

Hellhound (125 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy flamer
  • 1x Inferno cannon

Krieg Combat Engineers (60 Points)
  • 1x Krieg Engineer Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Combat shotgun
  • 4x Krieg Combat Engineer
     ◦ 1x Autopistol
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Combat shotgun
     ◦ 1x Remote Mine

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Krieg heavy flamer
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Twin Krieg heavy stubber
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

Leman Russ Demolisher (190 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Demolisher battle cannon
  • 1x Lascannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Tempestus Scions (70 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Meltagun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

Tempestus Scions (70 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Meltagun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

Tempestus Scions (70 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Plasma pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Meltagun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

And it did not go well for me, the space marines continue to have a lot of tools I cannot counter very well with what I have right now

The game was basically over at turn 3 when he took out the vast majority of my army

Was a good game nonetheless, and I am really starting to learn what I can do with my stuff

What Video Games I Am Playing

I got back into playing some Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster and I started streaming Assassin’s Creed: Origins

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster

What I Am Backing

The Cube Mod Carrier delivered and I have printed the first but from it, a mini cube I want to use as a hobby case able to carry my rule books, dice, tape measures etc

What I Am Spending

I got myself 4 extra copies of issue 77 of Combat Patrol for an extra 4 squads of Cadian Heavy Support Squads, so I will be able to field a squad of each weapon

One purchase had 3 sets and I had ti purchase one as a standalone

I also picked up issue 1 of Spearhead, I am collecting an extra set of the Skaven issues for one of my nephews who is interested in the Rats!

I bought 4kg of filament to print some terrain for the club, just some basic black

And I purchased for myself, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on Steam, alongside Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge

Mood:- Got a headache
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 9
In My Ears:- Super Trouper – ABBA
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Warhammer 40,000
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Soul Music – Terry Pratchett
Movie Last Viewed:– Renfield
TV Show Last Viewed:- Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Nemesis Dreadknight about 50% done

It’s Been A While Since I Was The GM!!!

By michael

On 3rd March 2026

In Blog

It’s been a very very long time since I have GMd, pretty much since my brain injury it’s been very difficult, it leaves me in a lot of pain afterwards due to the metal concentration needed and I get really sleepy after it.

But Megan asked for only one thing for her birthday and that was for me to write and run an adventure for her, no small task

So I set to and and went with one inspired by Nurgle from Warhammer alongside a good deal of grimdark body horror

The party responded to a summons from a village priest for magic users who could help him treat a plague that he felt was just as much an infection of the soul as it was the body

I set up the idea of a moral dilemma, that forced them to kill one of two parties, but Emma, Megan’s sister decided to simply go for the option I thought was gonna be the hardest choice, which unleaded the big bad plague Deamon if the encounter.

Of course there was no happy ending with the villagers taking some extreme actions in the end to cleanse thier souls

Hopefully it was enjoyed, nit you never know with these things

What I Am Modelling

I started out by finishing up a couple of Winged Hive Tyrants

I then painted up this Death Commando for the Heretic Legions for Trench Crisade

Tried some different techniques to do what I would have normally done, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out

I also painted this Venerable Dreadnought for the Blood RavensC despite the fact that it’s likely soon headed to Legends

I also printed out some new tokens for Heresy as I have misplaced mine

Followed by Haarken Worldclaimer of the Black Legion to join my Chaos Space Marines

After this I painted up a couple of squads of Havocs to join the True Sons

I also printed some order tokens for my Astra Militarium

And finally I painted a unit of Einhyr Hearthguard to join the Votann

So whata up next?

Blood Angels Land Speeders
Heretic Legion Warband
Guardian Defenders x 11
Myrmidon Destructors x 6
Nemesis Dreadknight
Death Riders x 5
Howling Banshees x 10
Ork Boyz x 20
Black Templar Crusader Squad x 10 & Marshall
Panzer 38T

What Tabletop Games I Am Playing

I played a game of 40K against my pal Craig at Hartlepool, decided it was time to finally, after many many years, to debut the Death Korps of Krieg on the tabletop

I took this list

Astra Militarum
Combined Arms
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Krieg Command Squad (65 Points)
  • 1x Lord Commissar
     • Warlord
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Power weapon
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Alchemyk Counteragents
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
     ◦ 1x Servo-scribes
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Regimental Standard
  • 1x Veteran Guardsman
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun

Leman Russ Commander (235 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Lascannon
  • 1x Leman Russ battle cannon

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (85 Points)
  • 4x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 1x Master Vox
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
  • 1x Tempestor Prime
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Tempestus dagger

Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 Points)
  • 1x Enginseer axe
  • 1x Mechanicus pistol
  • 1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Grenade launcher
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Flamer
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
  • 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Chainsword
     ◦ 1x Laspistol
  • 9x Death Korps Trooper
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 8x Lasgun
     ◦ 1x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Taurox Prime (90 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Storm bolter
  • 1x Taurox gatling cannon
  • 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

Taurox Prime (90 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Storm bolter
  • 1x Taurox battle cannon
  • 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hellhound (125 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy flamer
  • 1x Inferno cannon

Krieg Combat Engineers (60 Points)
  • 1x Krieg Engineer Watchmaster
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Combat shotgun
  • 4x Krieg Combat Engineer
     ◦ 1x Autopistol
     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Combat shotgun
     ◦ 1x Remote Mine

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Krieg heavy flamer
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 Points)
  • 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
     ◦ 3x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 3x Laspistol
     ◦ 3x Twin Krieg heavy stubber
  • 1x Fire Coordinator
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Laspistol

Leman Russ Demolisher (190 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Demolisher battle cannon
  • 1x Lascannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points)
  • 1x Armoured tracks
  • 1x Heavy bolter
  • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Tempestus Aquilons (100 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor Aquilon
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Sentry flamer
  • 8x Tempestus Aquilon
     ◦ 8x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 6x Hot-shot lascarbine
     ◦ 1x Hot‐shot long‐las
     ◦ 1x Melta carbine
  • 1x Gunfighter
     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine

Tempestus Scions (140 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 9x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 4x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 2x Meltagun
     ◦ 2x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Tempestus Scions (140 Points)
  • 1x Tempestor
     ◦ 1x Bolt pistol
     ◦ 1x Power fist
  • 9x Tempestus Scion
     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon
     ◦ 4x Hot-shot lasgun
     ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
     ◦ 2x Meltagun
     ◦ 2x Plasma gun
     ◦ 1x Vox-caster

The game was pretty close, and had Ingotten slightly better cards in my last two turns, it may have been a different result, but who knows. Fantastic game and I learned that Logan Grimnar is pretty mean!

What I Am Creating

I published the latest episode of Edge of Empire

What I Am Spending

I had to buy a new screen for my Saturn 4 Ultra, my own fault, I forgot to clean it after a failed print

I also managed to get hold of the other sprues for the Field Ordnance Batteries, I had tried to get them from Tesco, but I got there just a bit too late and someone else had bought up all the copies, so I had to hit up eBay 🙁

So this means I can now have two of each weapon.

I bought Max Payne for Steam, I saw it for a really good price on Humble with my Humble Choice discount and decided to just go for it

I also got Bridge Constructor Portal

Mood:- Tired
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 4
In My Ears:- The Good Life – Weezer
Tabletop Game Last Played:– Dungeons & Dragons
Video Game Last Played:- Final Fantasy VI
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Soul Music – Sir Terry Pratchett
Movie Last Viewed:– Renfield
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago P.D.
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- Some Death Riders for the Krieg with the horses finished

A Weekend In Nottingham

By michael

On 18th February 2026

In Blog

This other weekend we descended upon Nottingham to celebrate Chris’s 40th birthday, with a trip to Warhammer World and an in person DnD session

On Friday myself and Graham arrived at Warhammer World and had a game of Heresy with myself using the following list

# ++ Crusade Primary Detachment ++ [831 Point(s)]

Legatine Command Section x 5

- Legate Marshall, Volkite serpenta, Power sword
- Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield, Pintle Mounted multi-laser [10 Point(s)]

Tactical Command Section x 5

- Auxilia Captain: Laspistol, Charnabal - Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 
- Prime Unit (Logistical Benefit (Heavy Transport))

Arvus Lighter

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Demolisher cannon

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Demolisher cannon Lascannon

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle w/ Blast-charger, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Lord of War Detachment

Stormhammer Super-Heavy Assault Tank

Of course he absolutely whipped my arse, but what else do you expect with Solar Auxilia

Was a great game and we met up with Dave and Chris there

For the evening we had a lovely kebab and a night of Cards Against Humanity, which was a lot of fun, and lead to a lot of laughs

The next day we returned to Warhammer World where I teamed up with Dave and his Dark Angels to play against Adam’s Death Guard

I took this 1500 points list

Crusade Primary Detachment

Legatine Command Section x 5

- Legate Marshall, Volkite serpenta, Power sword
- Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield, Pintle Mounted multi-laser [10 Point(s)]

Line Command Section x 5

- Troop Master: Laspistol, Charnabal - Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Demolisher cannon Lascannon

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Adam has a reputation as an extremely good player, and I found it to be a well earned reputation!

My army was mostly wiped out in turn 2, and at the end of the game, all of Dave’s Dark Angels had been destroyed, and all I had left were ten Lasriflemen, a Line Command Squad and a Legatine Command Squad who were hiding to maintain that LD10 with the Vox Interlinks

I ended up taking a nap in the car after the game cause I was utterly shattered, whilst the others played some more

After we arrived back at the AirBnB, we had a Chinese and played some Dungeons and Dragons together for the first time in person after 3 years of playing together

It’s was a lot of fun, but by midnight we were all utterly shattered and had to go to bed!

The next day after a McDonalds breakfast we headed back to Warhammer World where we did a tour of the Hall of Miniatures, which has changed a lot since last time I was there, I failed to find the Assassin yet again!

And then myself and the Mills brothers had a doubles games of 4k a side, in which I took this list for my 2K

Crusade Primary Detachment

Legatine Command Section x 5

- Legate Marshall, Volkite serpenta, Power sword
- Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox

Armoured Command Section, Battlecannon, Lascannon, Dozer blade, Flare Shield, Pintle Mounted multi-laser [10 Point(s)]

Line Command Section x 5

- Troop Master: Laspistol, Charnabal - Auxilia vexilla, Augury scanner, Command Vox
Prime Benefit: War Engine

Aethon Heavy Sentinel, Autocannon, Aethon missile battery

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Leman Russ Assault Tank, Demolisher cannon Lascannon

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Armour Tercio

Leman Russ Strike Tank, Heavy bolter, Vanquisher cannon and one Co-axial mounted heavy stubber

Malcador Heavy Tank, Vanquisher cannon, Demolisher cannon, Two sponson Mounted lascannon, Pintle Mounted multi-laser

Infantry Tercio

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Lasrifle Section x 20 Lasrifle, Auxilia vexilla, Vox interlock 

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Twin lascannon

Dracosan Armoured Transport, Demolisher cannon

Myself and Graham got a commanding lead as my Lasriflemen seized the objectives early on for the highest points.

We only got to turn 3 but it was a lot of fun nonetheless

What I Am Modelling

I had a busy and productive week!

I started off the week by finishing an Opel Blitz for my early war Germans

And then for my future late war Germans, a Sturmgeschütz III, one that Graham bought me last year!

I also painted some Heretic Troopers for the Trench. Crusade Heretic Legions

Used a painting scheme influenced by WWII Germany simply because they were as evil a group that ever existed.

And a Heretic General

After that I finished up painting 20 Tech Thralls for my Mechanicum

These models were 3D printed and I much prefer them to the plastic ones

I was also able to paint up a couple of Astra Militarium characters, yet another Commissar

And a Primaris Psyker

After that I painted up some Hearhtkyn Pioneers for the Leagues of Votann, which completed that Combat Patrol

So what’s up next?

Blood Angels Land Speeders
Heretic Legion Warband
True Sons Havocs x 10
Einhyr Hearthguard x 5
Guardians Defenders x 11
Myrmidon Destructors x 6
Nemesis Dreadknight
Death Riders x 5
Howling Banshees x 10
Ork Boyz x 20

What I Am Reading

I finished listening to Angron: The Red Angel by David Guymer which was ok, but felt a bit of a let down as Angron barely featured at all. Lots of good concepts but also so much missed potential.

After that I listened to Something Inside by Trevor Baxendale, which was ok, but the 8th Doctor getting amnesia is kind getting a bit dull now, I am Paul McGann can really act that very well, but it’s just too used

What Video Games I Am Playing

Not played that much which is disappointing but will try better next week!

What Achievements I Have Unlocked

Hell Let Loose (Steam)

What I Am Backing

The From Mesue to Volga, 1940-1942 project successfully funded and I should get the files sometime in March

Lindsay also backed the Cube Mod Carrier project by Txarli for me, I mentioned it looked cool, and couldn’t afford it and she backed it for me to pay her back later

What I Am Spending

At Warhammer World I bought myself a Leman Russ Strike Tank, some glue, another three painting handles and some pots of paint..

The tank is going to be built as a Demolisher, cause I like Demolisher cannons and they have proven quite useful in both 40K and 30k.

As for the painting handles, well I have a fair few of them already, but I want to get to 25 cause I am far too regularly painting 25 models at a time, this one gives me 24

I grabbed the latest issue of Combat Patrol to hopefully add a couple more Field Ordnance Batteries to the Astra Militarium

It was also Humble Choice week,- that bagged me

Mood:- A bit all over the place
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed:- 4
In My Ears:- Gives You Hell – The All American Rejects
Tabletop Game Last Played:– The Horus Heresy
Video Game Last Played:- Hell Let Loose
Book Last Read:– Dropsite Massacre – John French
Audiobook Last In My Ears:- Something Inside – Trevor Baxendale
Movie Last Viewed:– Justice League
TV Show Last Viewed:- Chicago P.D.
Podcast Last In My Ears:- The WAN Show
Current State of Projects:- A clear desk!

	To the Moon Obtained the Lunar Whale and landed on the moon	23/06/2026
	Rematch Defeated the four elemental lords again	26/06/2026
	Summon Master Learned all non-secret summon magic	26/06/2026
	Item Detector Obtained all hidden items	26/06/2026
	Adventurous Wayfarer Traveled to all the map locations	26/06/2026
	Legendary Treasure Hunter Collected treasure from 100% of the chests	27/06/2026
	Power Unleashed Obtained all sealed equipment.	27/06/2026
	Field Research- Professional Completed 100% of the Bestiary entries	27/06/2026
	To the Blue Planet Defeated Zeromus and restored peace to the world	27/06/2026

	Wasteful Gunner Empty all your magazines	11/07/2026
	Radio Boy Use radio HQ to request support	11/07/2026
	A Clear Path Destroy a tank using an AT gun	11/07/2026

	Lazy Git Sit down on a Chair or Bench	15/06/2026
	Long and Big Kill someone with a Big Gun at 100 meters or more	18/06/2026

	The Red Ball Express Drop 250 Supply Boxes from a Supply Truck	23/06/2026
	Captain Reach Career Level 100	23/06/2026

	Look Out! Crush someone with an object	05/06/2026
	Single Player Play a match in Single Player	07/06/2026
	Over The Top! Have the Charge bonus with 15 other people at the same time	07/06/2026
	They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance Kill someone with a rifle at 100 meters or more	07/06/2026

	Experienced Warrior Defeated 500 monsters	05/03/2026
	Overcoming Grief Defeated Cagnazzo, the Lord of Water	07/03/2026
	Smart Saver Obtained 100,000 gil	10/03/2026
	Legendary Warrior Defeated 1000 monsters	11/03/2026

	Breaking the Geneva Convention Kill an enemy medic while he is reviving someone.	16/02/2026
	Death From Below Destroy a vehicle with an AT mine	16/02/2026