Been Busy... in more ways than one.

 I'm not going to say I have no free time. In truth, I probably waste a lot of the free time I have. Since I'm still working and have not retired yet, my ministry can be busy. Still I have taken time to paint and to play... and it is a joyful thing!

Here are a few things of busy-ness:

I attempted to use Wiley Games set of Sci-fi rules, "Galactic Heroes" to
play a skirmish game based on the novel and movies of DUNE.
Here you see Fremen warriors reacting to a grenade thrown by their Sardaukar
opponents.

More Fremen including one with a rocket launcher.
I felt that ninja figures would be the most likely to look like Fremen
so Ironwind Metals' version of old Ral Partha figures got the call for
both Fremen and Sardaukar. 

More blade armed Fremen.

The Sardaukar advance
More Ironwind figures using a sci-fi version of troopers.

Minimal terrain since it is Arrakis!
Here the Sardaukar rocket launcher has taken a hit.

A closer look at that rocket launcher.

So did Dune with Wiley Games rules work out? It did, with fits and starts. I need to fine tune the weapons offered and put more emphasis on knife work when fighting on Arrakis. The glitches were mine and not the rules. I'll do some more work and get back to you.

By the way, there was provision for having a Joker in the deck. If it was dealt, a Sandworm appeared and the game would be promptly adjourned!

From MiniaturesBeGone, some sort of sci-fi fighter.
I thought he'd and his team would serve as Landsraad troops

More Landsraad from MiniaturesBeGone.
3D printed and sent from the UK.

From MiniaturesBeGone, Sardaukar based on the 1984 movie's version of Dune.
I like the figures; I just didn't imagine the Sardaukar dressed that way.
The picture below is my favourite visualization - from a Dune calendar

Those I'd buy in a heart-beat!

This robot and his compatriot below were included in 
the Sci-fi trooper pack from MiniaturesBeGone.
I like it.

Bringing a gun to a robot fight? Smart!

This past Saturday, Andy and I tried out a new (to us) set of rules for battles in the era of the Seven Years War, Honours of War by Osprey Books. Andy, Ralph, and I ran Prussians vs. French. Ralph the Great's Prussians beat my French in this rule-trial game. It was not a blow-out, and there were a few "white knuckle" moments.

A brigade of French advance over some grain fields.
The field are cut up door mats less than a half-inch deep; just the right thing!
Dollar stores are great for such things.

My other brigade move through rough terrain - a hill and a forest. The blue coated outfit is a regiment
of the French army recruited in Germany,

Now we're getting into it! The red beads are hits.
"Hits" are both casualties and morale problems. No units disappeared without suffering some real hits!

Charge! See how the monster works!

I have to say I'm sold on these rules! I hope to cobble together either Russians or Austrians from my old KoenigKrieg based troops.

So we took the plunge! Our family purchased a 3D printer.
My eldest, Wren, ran off a ruined wall for me... and I'm pleased with the results.

An ancient Ral Partha King Arthur stands in the open wall... so all of us can get the scale.

Not bad at all, I say!

And you thought "normal" Canada geese were bad!
A 3D printed Hydra-goose given to Wren a while ago and finally got around to being painted by me.

A Wargames Atlantic camp follower offered by an auxiliary 3D printing firm
marketed with the Wargames Atlantic logo.
It's a great figure! The frying pan actually has two fried eggs molded in it!
How cool is that?

Another Wargames Atlantic camp follower, this time an armed one!
Perfect for a Silver Bayonet warband!
I'd recommend them!