Thursday, August 29, 2019

Throwback Thursday: On Safari


The final of Kyle's Praetorian newsreel doesn't actually feature any 28mm Warhammer 40k figures, but expands on an idea formed in that very first Praetorian-Valhallan battle at Game Empire San Diego. Plus this video is so dang entertaining! 

Similar to Britain's East India Company, the Praetorian Trading Company had extensive operations and made its owners incredibly rich. Something we always talked about doing (but never did as Praetorian figures were starting to grow scarce) was actually build a PTC force to represent the private little army it maintained in order to keep its interests across the galaxy secure.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

An Ode to GEEKS

Whittier's Friendly Local Game Store! 

To GEEKS we shall go!
But alas, only in our minds
Happy memories 

Of all the lost game shops I've written about this past month, GEEKS is the one that probably hurts the most. This was my FLGS. It was located in my hometown of Whittier, CA and according to my sister closed down fairly recently. It had all manners of board games and collectible toys, as well as just about every comic and graphic novel you could think of. It's gaming selection was admittedly small but I made sure to raid it every time I visited. GEEKS also boasted two 8' x 6' gaming tables and plenty of well painted terrain. It was here that the Battle of the Grasshopper took place in 2008. GEEKS was one of my favorite places to hang out.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.


Photo courtesy of Yelp.


I really miss visiting this place when I go home to visit my family, but thankfully I have tons of fond memories. 

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Throwback Thursday: The Ranks are Swelling!


Following the success of his first Praetorian newsreel, my friend Kyle made a follow up video to further expand on the Praetorian-Valhallan War. It only seems fitting to share it here (and not just because some of my Praetorian figures appear in the video).

Enjoy!


Tuesday, August 20, 2019

An Ode to Game Towne

Game Towne, a feature of many trips to San Diego!

The old shop, now closed
With summers of fun past it
Breaks the heart and soul

The last time I was in Old Town San Diego, I made the terrible discovery that its FLGS had closed. I don't know when specifically it happened, but it stopped me dead in my tracks. Game Towne was one of the first game shops that I can remember visiting. It was always a stop for me along with the Whaley House (where I proposed to my wife), Casa de Bandini (now the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant), and El Campo Santo Cemetery. It was here that I was first introduced to Vallejo paints and bought my first Leman Russ tank kit. For 35+ years it welcomed visitors and San Diegans alike into a world of tabletop fun.


Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.

It's always sad when a long established game shop closes....and especially one that has so much sentiment attached to it. But time can't take away the memories of a good game store. Game Towne will always be a shop that I remember fondly.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Black Cat Appreciation Day

Happy Black Cat Appreciation Day!

I've mentioned this before in a few previous posts, but our black cat Jimmy loves going down into the basement while I'm working on miniatures. He'll either demand to be picked up and held, or squawk at me late in the evening and tell me that it's time for bed. It's been like this for two and a half years now.

Jimmy!


Jimmy's little routine has become a bit of a ritual and is now an expected part of hobby time. He did it again this evening without fail. I wouldn't trade this quirky little cat for anything!  

Bogey!

Gizmo! He's got quite a story & you can see it on Instagram at @GizmoOneLung.

We have two other cats, Bogey (who we adopted with Jimmy almost three years ago) and Gizmo (who we got just over a year ago). They'll both venture down into the basement but they don't really try to get my attention the way that Jimmy does.

Just another interesting part of working on miniatures in this house! 

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Throwback Thursday: Conflict on Praetoria!


Many years ago, my friends Ben and Kyle formally introduced me to the world of Warhammer 40k and, by extension, miniature wargaming. I'd been painting and customizing 3 3/4" Star Wars figures for years but this was something that I'd always been fascinated with while growing up. 

My friends  introduced me to an obscure Imperial Guard force called the Praetorians. For those who might not be familiar, these guys were basically Zulu War British soldiers in space with laser guns; I was immediately hooked. I bought some figures on eBay (they were still pretty affordable at the time) and began painting them up.

In October 2007 (I remember because the Witch Creek-Guejito Fires started immediately after my train left San Diego and all transportation to and from the area was closed after that), I visited Ben and Kyle. They took me to San Diego's Game Empire and it was there that I played my first game of Warhammer 40k. Ben (aka the Weasel) had a huge Valhallan force that would serve as the opposing force. To explain the ensuing Praetorian vs. Valhallan battle (as both sides are part of the same faction), we developed a background story that the invasion took place due to a clerical error. This would be carried on in subsequent years as we'd continue to play against each other. 

Kyle made an awesome battle report video in the days following, which I'll let speak for itself:


The only thing I'll add is that as my Praetorians were making their last stand, the three of us began singing "Men of Harlech." The entire store was singing along with us within minutes. Everyone there was united in nerdom and had a clear love of the 1964 film Zulu. I still get goosebumps thinking about it...even 12 years later. 

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

The Great Wargaming Survey 2019


I just found out about and took the Great Wargaming Survey 2019, which is running until the end of August. Wargames, Soldiers, & Strategy does this survey annually in an effort to track trends and changes within the hobby. They even give you a £6.50 (or $7.84 for us Yanks) gift certificate just for taking part! Participants are also entered into a drawing for all sorts of prizes too. But even without prizes, this is just a good thing to do in order to collect data on the hobby.

Let your voice be heard! Take the survey here.

* NOTE: I am not affiliated with the Great Wargaming Survey or WSS in any way, shape or form.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

An Ode to the Island Games


The Island Games; gone!
No more X-Wings or mini bins
DC nerdom weeps

I learned the other day that one of my favorite DC area game shops is closing. The Island Games was the location for my first two Campaign Against Cancer X-Wing tournaments in 2016 and 2017, so there's quite a bit of nostalgia attached with this place. It also has the best bits bin that I've happened to find anywhere out here.


Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.

You'll be missed, Island Games. Thanks for all the good times!

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Zulu Warrior Conversion Work


Things have been super busy lately, but I found some hobby time the other night. I decided to do some minor conversion work on one of the figures that I found in California last week

The shield was a spare that I had from a Zulu sprue from Warlord Games. The figure's hand was filed down slightly so as to make it appear like he was holding it properly. Nothing too fancy here, honestly. 

I had a bit more trouble finding a proper weapon. I'd initially thought that I might give him a musket but couldn't immediately find anything that worked. But as it happened, I found part of a spear that had broken off a few weeks ago while I was working on my Army of the Dead figures. It'd disappeared underneath my desk until I happened to bend over to pick up a paintbrush (I drop stuff a lot). The spear just about the same length as the iklwa that comes with the Warlord set and fit nicely in the figure's other hand.

So with this quick conversion work finished, the figure is now primed and ready for painting. He's going to be my test Zulu figure; specifically a warrior from the unmarried iNdluyengwe ("Leopards Den") regiment (or ibutho). Per Shaka's military reforms in the early 1800s, shield colors and designs marked different Zulu regiments. The iNdluyengwe shields were black with a white spot on the lower half. Although they formed part of the reserves at the Battle of Islandlwana, they didn't see action and so pushed on to Rorke's Drift in order to "wash their spears."

Saturday, August 10, 2019

The Ranger’s Miniatures

After several years of going by Whitlow’s Miniatures, I’ve decided to change my blog’s name! This page is now known as the Ranger’s Miniatures. I’ve always felt kind of weird using my name in the title but honestly couldn’t think of anything more clever.

Until today.

It hit me like a meteor! “Ranger” can have several connotations when it comes to this hobby, be it fantasy, historical, or whatever. And since I’m a park ranger in the real world (something that I’m fiercely proud of...ask anyone who knows me) I figured it was a pretty appropriate name. Also, if your blog is linked to this page please be sure to update the address as that's changed as well: www.ranger-miniatures.blogspot.com. 

So in light of the name change, please enjoy a few of my favorite photos that I've gotten during my time as a ranger in Washington, DC! 

At the Jefferson Memorial by the Tidal Basin.

At the Lincoln Memorial during a rare quiet moment.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Intercept the Transmissions!

While in Southern California, I had the pleasure of visiting my dear friends Ben (from Weasel Miniatures) and Loni and spending an evening with them. We settled on playing Star Wars: Legion as Ben has a superbly painted collection and neither of us had actually ever played before. After Loni had gone to bed, we converted the dining room table into a battlefield from a galaxy far, far away... 


We rolled off to decide who would play what side; I rolled highest and chose the good guys Galactic Empire. Ben was to play the Rebel Scum Alliance. Our mission: secure the transmitter in the center of the battlefield as well as the two secondary objectives. Victory comes to the side that controls the most objectives at game's end. 


A small Scout Trooper squad armed with a sniper rifle and deployed in some bushes take the first shots at Commander Luke Skywalker. Using his lightsaber, the Rebel hero is able to deflect most of the shots but suffers 1 wound regardless.   


Following the sudden sniper fire, Rebel ground troops move forward to a fortified position. They return in kind.


After Stormtrooper Squad Delta moves forward towards the objective, they're attacked by a T-47 airspeeder piloted by none other than Wedge Antilles! The Imperials sustain heavy casualties and are nearly panicked by the ordeal. 


Their comrades, recently arrived from Mimban, shore up the Imperial line and take cover themselves. They give suppressing fire to the Rebels. 


The Empire's sole AT-ST moves up to fire into the airspeeder. Wedge sustains minor damage (and real damage as it's accidentally dropped). At this point, the battle is still fairly even. 


Commandos drive towards one of the secondary objectives. General Han Solo orders his troops to cause a "reckless diversion" and draw as much Imperial fire as possible. 


The Mimban Stormtrooper squad, supported by General Veers and Director Krennic, take the bait and begin blasting the approaching Rebels.


Solo shouts something at the Imperial troops to further distract them.


The sniper team responds in kind, causing minor injuries to the smuggler-turned-general.


Finally the Imperials seize the transmitter! Lacking cover, however, Stormtrooper Squad Delta calls in the AT-ST for support.



The walker blasts the Commandos at the secondary objective, but they're in good cover and only sustain minor casualties. 


It is at this time that Director Krennic, while still shouting at his men to push the enemy, suddenly peels away from the fighting. There is momentary confusion but the Imperial troops continue to fight. 


Wedge is able to flank the AT-ST and fires into its rear. Heavy damage ensues.


Director Krennic runs away drives for the other secondary objective! The sole surviving member of Stormtrooper Squad Delta understands what's going on and also moves to take it. 


Meanwhile, fighting intensifies at the transmitter. Both sides are heavily engaged but making very little progress. In the distance, however, Commander Skywalker's lightsaber flashes to life as he closes his eyes.


With the Force's help, Luke leaps right up the AT-ST and causes severe damage in an instant! The crew inside is stunned at what they just witnessed and take a moment to recover. 


Krennic finally reaches the secondary objective, along with the sole surviving member of Stormtrooper Squad Delta.


With the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire holding one of the secondary objectives, and the transmitter contested by both sides, the game is tied. By this point it was nearly 2 am and both of us were getting quite loopy with exhaustion. 

Overall, we both really liked this game! The mechanics are good and as with most Fantasy Flight Games, is pretty easy to pick up. I found it to be fun, exciting, and thoroughly enjoyable. Let's also not forget to mention how awesome the miniatures are!

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Zulus in Southern California

Last week I went home to Southern California for my great aunt’s funeral. While there, I needed a diversion from the grief and decided to hit two game shops that I was rather fond of when I lived there: the War House in Long Beach and Game Empire in Pasadena. I’ve been on a bit of an Anglo-Zulu War kick lately and was about to place an order to Wargames Foundry in the UK before I remembered that War House had a ton of their figures when I last visited 7-8 years ago. So I decided to try my luck and visit them before placing an order.


Turned out to be the right decision! They happened to have two of the exact pack that I was looking for.




I’d been eyeing these figures as they have Zulus wearing captured British coats. I know these wouldn’t have been too prevalent at Rorke’s Drift but I just couldn’t resist,


In fact, War House had other Zulu packs as well and I decided to engage in a bit of retail therapy and clean them out. 


They also had some other fairly rare and unique packs too, so I got them as well. How could I pass up the chance to have a Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in my miniature collection?



After getting back to my car, I found this sweet little lady underneath it. She ran over to me and I lathered her with attention for the next 15 minutes. She loved it, and gave me purrs and air biscuits in return. It made me really miss my cats back in DC. 

An hour or so later, after stopping for lunch at Carl's Jr., I was in Pasadena. Game Empire has the best bits bin that I’ve seen at any game store anywhere and so I had to dig around it for a bit. Imagine my surprise when I found a familiar looking figure!


Yes, in the bin was an Empress Miniatures Zulu figure. But not just any one; he was wearing a captured British coat! I couldn’t believe my luck in finding exactly what I was looking for twice in the same day.


I also found this figure as well. Although he appears to be a generic African warrior, I think with some minor conversion work that he can be turned into a proper Zulu.

Overall, this was an incredibly fun day! It was nice to hit some of my old haunts and dig around looking for stuff. Not to mention finding exactly what I was looking for, as well! It was overall a nice way to get my mind off things for a bit.