The League of Augsburg

I have been working on a Fleet level version of Mad for War which slots in very well with the current rules. It is a while since I managed to make any videos so I crammed this one in before the turn of the year.

It is a walk through the mechanics as worked out using 2D ship counters before I go for the 3d model versions. I chose a section of the fleets from the famous Four Days Battle of 1666. 

Happ...

Dekeres, Hexeres, Quinqureme

Here is the scope and detail of the range as we come close to launch. All packs contain metal bases for each ship.Sails and masts can be bought separately as many who game with galleys do not use sails on the their models and making them an accessory seemed the best way to offer the range. I will go to a pre order stage first with delivery scheduled for January 2022....

The game set up - 1/1200 scale, 2 x 4 table Mad for War rules

This encounter, set around 255 BC sees a Carthaginian relief fleet attempting to land supplies to support a hard-pressed army on the western tip of Sicily near Trapani. The Romans are blockading the island and the escort must penetrate the screen of Roman ships and navigate through narrow island channels to reach a bay in which other...

Capital units of the Swedish fleet head north towards Stockholm, June 1st 1676

..... I will get to play my Christmas game which this year I have decided is a version of the Battle of Öland, June 1st 1676. This will be my largest effort with 1/1200 17th century ships and my target is to included 36 models. That leaves me about four weeks to paint up 7-8 ships several of which are big 'uns.

Highly...

First release in the series on Prince Rupert's campaigns

I have enjoyed reading and exploring the exploits of a quite remarkable figure form the 17th century. Not the fairly well trodden but brief path of his adventures in the land campaigns of the War of Three Kingdoms between 1640-1647, but the far more sustained period of his contribution to history. His activities as a naval commander between...

Niels Juel's ships sailing off Rugen Island in 1676

This scenario and video brings together the two largest warships in the navies of Sweden and Denmark. The 108 gun Sophia Amalia takes on the 124 gun Stora Kronan in an epic duel off Rugen Island in 1676. 

Clin and I played this one out last week and I just finished the video tonight. It was another really enjoyable game but this time we really...

Sophia Amalia - 3D printed @ 1/1200 with scratchbuilding on masts

I bought a 1/600 scale 3D print file of a 17th century ship and got a friend to print the Sovereign of the Seas file in 1/1200 scale as I have no printer. I wanted to see the quality and have a go at painting the model. We also printed in 1/600 scale. The file was from Gilded Sails/Wargaming 3D.

Photo show the 3D print in 1/600 beside...

Kronan heels over in a gust of wind - WiP shot - not yet finished

I am working on various projects right now including several in 28mm but none of those are quite ready for sharing. This little flight of fancy however, is.

The Battle of Öland which occurred on June 1^st1676 during the Skåne War was a major fleet engagement and a disastrous defeat for Sweden. In terms of drama on the high seas, it...

Svärdet (Sword) 94 guns, flagship of Admiral Claes Uggla in the scenario

The naval dimension to the Skåne War is both exciting and less well known that the land campaigns. Many know of battles like Halmstad, Landskrona and Lund. Often the Swedes are seen as the the sharper, ascendant military power and the Danes as somewhat bumbling and plodding. Whether right or wrong, at sea the picture was...

Inaugural casting accompanied by some Belgian beer

I have not been blogging for a while for a variety of business and personal reasons which are of no concern here on the blog but have consumed significant time and energy. Needless to say, not all of that was negative and one of the biggest draws on my limited time was transferring the location of Warfare Miniatures production and commercial...

I have finally finished this slightly longer video. There is a lot in it and hopefully, it will decode the dark art of rigging for everyone remotely interested in trying it!