Friday 26 December 2008

Call out the Fyrd !!

Beornwulf hears the news of the Viking landing to the south ...

Beornwulf assembles his retinue, he orders the dragon standard to be raised. Sound the horn, send runners to call out the fyrd ...

Beornwulf arrives near where the vikings were last seen and deploys the fyrd in a shield wall on a rise
However they too late. All there is to see are a couple of smoking villages and a Viking ship, with its sail raised, far down the estuary on its way out to sea.


Saturday 13 December 2008

Dragon Standard

I was going to have a flag for the battle standard of white dragon. However I decided on a carved dragon standard. I made one with some green stuff - piccies below...


Saturday 29 November 2008

The Vikings Arrive ...

A lone viking ship has worked its way up the river. A raiding party sets out to do some rape and pillage ....

[ship: Revell kit; figs: Vikings byGripping Beast from my friends Douglas's collection ]

Saturday 22 November 2008

Saxon Skirmishers

Some of the men practice using slings, bows and javelins. (more Gripping Beast figs)

Sunday 26 October 2008

Longboat Completed

Fresh out of the shipyard, one longboat ready to bring terror to some innocents or explore the wonders of the world ...

Saturday 11 October 2008

Shipbuilding starts ...

I bought a Revell 1:50 scale kit a couple of months ago before I bought the figures from Gripping Beast, I thought it was about time I got on with looking at it to see how useful it would be.

Size wize its just a bit big but otherwise OK. Comes with mast, sail, shields and oars; unfortunately no crew. First thing I decided to do was make up the hull after converting it to a waterline model - cutting bits of the hull was awkward - but eventually got it almost right; I then added a cardboard bottom and filled in any gaps with plastic wood.

Next time I'll probably buy resin ship with crew from either Gripping Beast or Old Glory - I don't think these come with masts though.

Friday 10 October 2008

Giants v Dragon

The giants of Caer Tidi take on a dragon which has been eating their livestock.
[giants 40mm Sash and Sabre Vikings, Dragon - from the Papo range]

Civilians

A couple of packs of Gripping Beast civilians have been painted up - obviously oblivious to their future encounters with any viking raiders.

Saturday 13 September 2008

There be Giants in the North

The Abbot of Wuduceastre has journied north to a meeting with the giants of Caer Tidi to resolve a minor border dispute. The giants are gentle by nature and refer to ordinary size folk as the 'little people', their manner being slightly gruff is often offputing to men. In general they fight with men against common threats; the last being a dangerous dragon.

[figs: Monks - Gripping Beast; Giants - Sash & Sabre 40mm Vikings]

Friday 29 August 2008

Figures Ready to Paint

Beornwulf, his thegns and the fyrd, plus some civilians have been cleaned up and armed with weapons. They are now ready for painting.

Friday 22 August 2008

Buildngs

A selction of buildings, the large hall + 2 small hovels from Gripping Beast; plus two scratchbuilt buildings made from foamboard paper using plastic hayrick for their roofs.


A church/abbey building, made using the Dapol Chapel kit. The thatch is made from some old socks sealed with PVA then painted.

Friday 8 August 2008

Fighting Monks of Wuduceastre

The abbey of Wuduceastre has a number of encumbents (formerly warriors) who have retired from the world to worship the glory of god. However some of the monks, including the abbot, still answer the call in times of trouble to protect the local population.

[figs: mostly converted Irregular Miniatures armed with weapons from Gripping Beast]

Wednesday 30 July 2008

Getting Organized

A nice order of minis arrived from Gripping Beast at the weekend. On monday we sorted through these, splitting them into two 'sides' saxons and vikings, arranging who would paint what.

Also we looked at the boat kits we had, these look good but will need modifying to waterline models.

With a couple of buildings ordered from Gripping Beast, the Dapol church kit, plus other items we have we have enough for a small hamlet, willage or monastery. Also have other options for forts etc.

The blog title has also been updated and a description provided to give us plenty of scope for gaming.

Sunday 20 July 2008

A quick update

Buildings - I have a couple of small 'hovels' under construction. I'm also looking whether the Dapol church kit can be modified to a Saxon stone church.

Also I have managed to find a 1:50 Revell viking longship kit; it may be a bit large but I need to compare it to some figures.

Monday 30 June 2008

who, what and where ?



A blog to record a new wargaming project set in the dark ages.

Initial ideas are for norsemen raiding the saxon kingdom of wessex; however this could develop into something completely different, we shall see ...

I like the old Noggin the Nog and his sagas (http://www.nogginthenog.co.uk/ or http://www.smallfilms.co.uk/noggin/), hmmm lot of very interesting ideas to think about.