Friday, 27 June 2025

Friday Night Games - The Gotlland Campaign of 1351 in 6mm

Friday 27th June was the final week of Steve's epic recreation of the Gotland Campaign in 6mm. Steve acted as umpire, using his own rules and figure collection.

Playing were Dave & Rupert commanding the plucky Gotlanders against Mat & John who commanded the Danish forces.

Danish attacks comig in from top right. Gotlanders bottom left


The Danes push across the previously defended river to further press the Gotlanders

Gotland reserves coming up to help out

Sunday, 25 May 2025

Friday Night Games: Annual Napoleonic Big Game - The Battle of Apsern-Essling (Week Two)

    Week two same the same commanders resume their positions as the Austrian attacks drew ever closer to the French lines. Tis represented Day Two of the battle, with some redressing of lines having been allowed 'overnight'. 

French occupying the urban area on their left flank

An early Austrian attack on the church and graveyard are soundly repelled by the defending French. THe Austrians loos three battalions destroyed in the attack and they then circumnavigate the area. Mike W's 1st Corps head left of the church whilst Warrens's Corps head right and push a flank march through marshy ground attempting to reach the French rear.

French defenders in their centre left, commanded by Dave

Austrians advancing on their left flank

French emplaced batteries on their right

French units under Nigel occupying urban area on the French right flank

French centre right

Austrian cavalry arrive on their centre left

Wider view of the Austrian attcking positions on Day Two

Austrian attacks in the centre have more success with the line of the dyke breached by a number of Austrian units - both Infantry and Cavalry, several French battalions are lost. However, the French Guards Divisions are coming onto the tabletop in their rear.

Austrian attacks in the centre start to put French under pressure

Austrian left of centre

Massed Austrian batteries, to the right of the line, pound the French lines.

The Frtench try to hold the line in the centre but are hampered by the need to defend against the Austrian flank march, only the French Guards seem to have the ability to puch back at the Austrians.

Another wider view of the attacks, in the right background can be seen a sweeping Austrian flank move, through marshy ground.

To compound the French problems in the centre Mark is able to deploy his Austrian Corps to deliver a massed attack on the French right wing. As WQeek Two closes, the game lies in the balnce.

End of Week Two and Austrian attacks go in on the French right flank.

Saturday, 17 May 2025

Friday Night Games: Annual Napoleonic Big Game - The Battle of Apsern-Essling (Week One)

Friday 8th May saw us meet at Rupert's gaff to play John's 15mm recreation of the Battle of Apsern-Essling, where Napoleon was caught by the Austrians as he crossed the Danube.

The figures were supplied from the colections of John, Rupert & Dave - possible plus others!

The Austrian forces were commanded by Rupert and he was aided by Steve, Mark, Mike W & Warren whilst the French were commanded by Mike N and his sub-commanders - Mat, Davel & Nigel.

The French right flank at the start of the game, commanded by Nigel

French positions on their left flank, commanded by Dave

And the sparcely defended French centre, commanded by Mat and Mike N when his troops arrived

Most of the Austrian forces had to march on  to the table, with Mike W & Warren's Corps on the Autrian extreme right, Steve's Corp on the centre right and Rupert taking the centre and Mark's Corps takling the Austrian left.

Austrian 1st Corp arriving on the tabletop on Turn One.

A wider view of the Austrian extreme right, with Mike W & Warren's Corps at the edge of the world

Austrian trioops advancing

Steve's Austrians advancing 

More advancing Austrians!

Austrian centre an left

End of play on Week One, a massive Austrian attack, involving 3 Corps, is developing on their centre right and right wing. 

Saturday, 26 April 2025

Show & Tell: Dave's 2mm Roman Elephants

Dave brought along his newest 2mm Roman figures last night, a atand of 2mm Roman elephants and supporting infantry.
The completed Elephant stand, from the rear

Whilst the fugure are truely small, Dave has done a great job with the painting and basing of these tiny guys.
And from the front

Friday Night Games: Battle of Hastings, Week 3

Friday 25th April saw the last part of the epic 28mm Battle of Hastings game played out at Mikey's place, umpired by Mike W, using his home brew rules  and with Steve & John commanding the Anglo-Danes and with Dave & Rupert commanding the Normans.

Norman line (right) attacjing the Anglo-Dne son the hill

On the first turn of the evening the Anglo-Dane swere able to play an event card on the Normans which in effect forced William to impetuously attack the Anglo-Danish lines at the head of his cavalry.

Just visible on the right of the picture is William with his 'Two Lionsi standard at the head of teh Norman Cavalry, Haraold is on teh hill with his Dragon Standard



The issue for William is that his horse had to make contact with the Anglo-Danish line and to do so he had to force his way through his foot units to his front, which he did so but put them into a disordered state.

William leading his horseinto the fray

The ensuing melee raged for a number fo turns before the Norman hrse was forced to retire back through their own foot yet again, however, William survived the experience despite a number of his bodyguard sacrificing themselves to protect his royal persoange!

Suddenly a gap in the front line!

Retiring and disordered Norman units 





With their lines in some disorder and facing a final time out option to re-organised and with pressing time to get any victory the Norman commande elected to retire back to their boats in Pevensey Bay, to either slip away or to confront the Anglo-Danes on more advantageous ground.

William retiring form Hastings

Monday, 14 April 2025

Friday Night Games: WW2 Eastern Front

Words by Mark, Mat & Steve.

Photos by Mark & Mat

Friday 11th April saw Mark put on a WW2 game from his Eastern front series of linked games, all models and rules are his and ark umpired the game at Rupert's house.

Mark's Narrative for Scenario

The scenario is during the breakthrough in the Crimea as a Russian  column commanded by Steve & Rupert  attempts to get to Kerch and safety. 

The Romanian persuers, commanded by Dave and Mat are out not only to stop them but also secure the last airfield in the area. 

So far, the column has suffered from air attack and the NKVD "suggesting" they stand. 

All the Romanian troops - mostly infantry are on the table and engaging rear elements. 

Russian equipment is a mix of units with some odd stuff for eye candy. Thanks to Rupert for hosting.


Mat's Romanian Commentary

This is a very biased narrative by the umpire. A more even handed account is below:

When German units stalled in the Crimea, dashing Romanian forces staged a breakthrough that smashed overwhelming Russian forces. Knowing they could not face such iron will, the Russians fled, desperate to reach Kerch. 

Romanian forces have pursued, and though outgunned and massively outnumbered, they use guile, courage and pure vim to overcome their foe. Cleverly manoeuvring their light tankettes the brave Romanians have destroyed the Russian's Odessa Super-tank…

... a land leviathan that had held the SS at bay for weeks. Now heroic infantry units are chasing Communist armoured divisions across the bare Crimean landscape towards the cowering airfield. Ceaseless bombing missions and strafing sorties are smashing the Russians…

... there can be no escape!

Steve's Russian perspective

Very bias narrative from both Mark and Matt, here's the truth from the  latest issue of PRAVDA.

Unbeknown to the Rumanians they bombed the last, and only, supply depot housing LSV, bottles of "Last Stand Vodka", (Break cap in an emergency).

The now alcohol deprived Russians are flinging caution to the wind and confronting the real enemy, the NKVD, in order to reach "Yeltsins bar" in the village at the end of the table and use it as a "hache queue" for the next stage of the operation.

Rumour has it that a cargo plane full of LSV is being flown in to the airfield and then delivered to the bar so the airfield must be liberated before the Russian army starts suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

The game is not about a retreating Russian army but one pushing backwards towards the rear, bravely tackling the NKDV, best of luck to the Romainians when they reach their road block, and then getting the LSV off the table.