Waterloo 200th Anniversary (3)

Following on from our previous Wellington & Auckland refight posts, on Saturday 21 June a third Waterloo Re-fight happened in New Zealand – at the Christchurch Wargaming Club, in 28mm using General de Brigade rules rather than Blackpowder that had been used in the previous 28mm scale Waterloo refight in Wellington. Continue reading “Waterloo 200th Anniversary (3)”

Waterloo 200th Anniversary (2)

Continuing on from Waterloo 200th Anniversary (1) the second re-fight was staged by our own Auckland Wargaming Club, here in Auckland on the 21 June 2015. The game was played in 6mm scale using Sam Mustafa’s ‘Grand Armee’ rules to facilitate the more sweeping view of the battle and assist in reducing the workload of producing the troops for the battle (there were still over 5,000 figures, in 1/300th scale, painted especially for this refight by several of the club’s members). Continue reading “Waterloo 200th Anniversary (2)”

Waterloo 200th Anniversary (1)

The 18 June 2015 is the 200th Anniversary of Waterloo, the battle – that along with Wavre on the same day – saw the final defeat of Napoleon and ushered in the ’50 years of peace’. Here in New Zealand there’s a couple of historical refights taking place to commemorate the battle. First up in Wellington on Saturday & Sunday 13-14 June there was a large 28mm scale re-fight at the Wellesley Club, then following on from that there was another 28mm refight at the Christchurch Wargaming Club on Saturday & Sunday 20-21 June, and our own re-fight here in Auckland, at the Auckland Wargaming Club, in 6mm scale on Sunday 21 June. Continue reading “Waterloo 200th Anniversary (1)”

Peter Jackson’s Gallipoli 1915 Exhibit

Over the past months over 100 New Zealand wargamers have been painting 5,000 miniature soldiers for a huge diorama of the Battle of Chunuk Bair for the forthcoming The Great War Exhibition in Wellington. This is part of an ANZAC commemorative project put together by Sir Peter Jackson who has over the past years commissioned the Perry Brothers to sculpt and cast the 54mm scale figures for this. In 2015 a large posse of New Zealand Wargamers were then recruited to paint this huge mountain of lead in time for the ANZAC Day 2015 (25 April) commemorations. Continue reading “Peter Jackson’s Gallipoli 1915 Exhibit”

‘Lest We Forget’ Exhibit Papatoetoe

I previously posted about Nick Papadopoulos quest for 1/72 scale figures & human volunteers to help complete ANZAC Day 2015 exhibits he was working on – Nick managed to get the figures he needed and with some hard work complete his dioramas. Continue reading “‘Lest We Forget’ Exhibit Papatoetoe”

WW1 Vehicle Parade

In Wellington today they held a WW1 commemorative parade in recognition of ANZAC Day (25 April). Present were 13 authentic vintage WW1 vehicles from the private collection of Sir Peter Jackson, as well as horse drawn artillery & ordnance, actors and re-enactors in period uniform, and more… Continue reading “WW1 Vehicle Parade”

Urgently Wanted: 1/72 HäT WW1 Figures

Nick Papadopoulos of Papatoetoe in Auckland is currently in the process of mustering 1/72nd scale figures to produce two dioramas to display on behalf of the Papatoetoe Historical Society for the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings. The dioramas will be a ‘Gallipoli Battle Scene‘ and ‘A Generic Western Front Trench Scene‘. To make these dioramas Nick is utilising HäT WW1 Figures – HOWEVER HäT are out of stock of some key packs so Nick needs help! He’s also looking for people to help him get the project completed as soon as possible (I presume by 25 April 2015)! Continue reading “Urgently Wanted: 1/72 HäT WW1 Figures”

A Theft Most Foul

Many Wargamers may not have had to experience it – but recently in New Zealand a local wargamer had his entire Warhammer collection stolen from his car during a storm (along with his PC, Xbox, etc). Likely the thieves don’t know the value and took it as a peripheral to the Electronics and other gear – but if you are a NZ gamer and see some new Warhammer figures mysteriously appear or be offered for sale check out this blog to see if they look like part of the stolen collection, it has links to photos of the figures: Trouble in the Border Provinces. The original theft occurred about 2 weeks ago in Paraparaumu, near Wellington. Continue reading “A Theft Most Foul”

Don Featherstone Memorial Trophy

Today I received the following communique from Chris Scott: “This is to let you know that the first Don Featherstone Memorial Trophy was played for at an old-school style wargame of Gettysburg at the Wargames Holiday Centre, Basingstoke. It was part of a Donald Featherstone Tribute Weekend sponsored by Miniature Wargames Magazine and involved a hotel stopover and a splendid dinner. The game was competitive of course, but the whole thing was conducted in a very friendly manner with the emphasis upon playing for fun and enjoying the social side of the hobby.” Continue reading “Don Featherstone Memorial Trophy”

1866 And All That

1866 And All That is the blog of well known New Zealand Wargamer & Sculptor Mark Strachan. Mark has been involved in Historical wargaming since 1972. He is most well known as the sculptor behind many (or most) of the figures and/or models produced by the now defunct New Zealand wargaming manufacturer Military Miniatures (the business eventually ceased operating as Military Miniatures, but then morphed into the current Battlefront/Flames of War business). Many a New Zealand Wargamer has buildings, terrain (rivers, roads, scenery), or figures, designed by Mark in their collection. Continue reading “1866 And All That”

Miniature Addiction!

Roundie, from my local gaming group (the Auckland Wargaming Club), has recently launched his own website & blog of his wargaming & modelling work – he’s one of our area’s most prolific modellers & painters and has built some amazing terrain boards and scratch-built buildings & terrain… He’s also running a local SDS (Song of Drums & Shakos) Napoleonic Skirmish Campaign at the AWC. Continue reading “Miniature Addiction!”

Win An Airbrush Compressor Competition

Air Supplies in the UK are running a competition for model makers on their site. In a nutshell they’re asking you to show them your favourite model from your collection. Trains, Warhammer, Wargaming, Airfix, Table Top Gaming, etc – it doesn’t matter what the model is it just has to be one that you’ve painted, built or even designed yourself. They want to see the one you’re most proud of to be in with a chance of winning a Bambi BB8 Compressor they are giving away as the 1st Prize.

Continue reading “Win An Airbrush Compressor Competition”