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One-Day Triad: Speedpainted and Table-Ready

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Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been experimenting with the relatively new Army Painter Speedpaint markers, and I have to say they’ve proven to be a really handy addition to the hobby toolkit. One of the biggest advantages is convenience, as there’s no need for water, no brush clean-up afterwards, and you can easily pick them up for a quick session while doing something else (I’ve found them perfect for a bit of painting in front of the TV). That ease of use makes them very accessible and encourages more frequent, shorter painting sessions. As a result, they’ve noticeably sped up my overall output. For me, that’s a big win and anyone who knows me knows I paint primarily for relaxation and to get models ready for the tabletop, rather than aiming for display-level perfection. I’m not someone who wants to spend days or weeks on a single figure, so anything that helps get decent results efficiently is a welcome addition. Which brings me neatly onto these figures. They’re Urban War Tria...
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Battle for the High Ground: A Tale of Two Momentum Swings

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This game was actually played a few weeks ago, but a recent holiday delayed the write-up. We played Scenario 3: Hold the High Ground from the Chivalrous Bum rules, where the aim was to control any of the three hills - earning one victory point per hill held uncontested at the end of each round. Once again, it was Normans versus Merrymen. Turn 1 Both sides rushed forward in a scramble to seize the hills. Strong movement rolls saw the Normans surge ahead, quickly securing two of the objectives. Meanwhile, a lone Merrymen archer managed to clamber onto a hill and claim it. Running Score: Merrymen 1, Normans 2. Turn 2 Little John, Friar Tuck, and an archer charged up one of the Norman-held hills. “Up the slope, lads - drive them off!” bellowed Little John as arrows hissed overhead. The Norman soldiers braced. “Hold the line!” one shouted, as they weathered the storm of shots and blows, striking back when they could and refusing to give ground. On the hill claimed by the lone Merrymen arc...
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Location: Southampton, UK
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Golden on the Tabletop: HUNTR/X Join the Collection

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With my fondness for the film K‑Pop Demon Hunters , and the fact that I’d already picked up and painted 3D‑printed models of the Saja Boys , it really only felt right to complete the set by adding their rivals: HUNTR/X (pronounced “ Huntrix ”), the fictional K‑pop girl group at the heart of the movie. In the world of the film, HUNTR/X aren’t just chart‑topping idols. Beneath the lights, choreography, and fandom energy, they live double lives as demon hunters. Their music and performances aren’t merely entertainment - they are rituals, reinforcing a mystical barrier known as the Honmoon , which keeps demonic forces from breaking into the human world. The members of HUNTR/X The group consists of three distinct personalities, each bringing something vital to both the band and the fight: Rumi – Leader & Main Vocalist Calm, driven, and quietly burdened, Rumi leads the group both musically and in combat. As the emotional and strategic centre of HUNTR/X, she carries the weight of respons...
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Location: Southampton, UK
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Bold as Brass, Quick on the Feet: Chivalrous Bum in Sherwood

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So, last night we got our first game of Chivalrous Bum to the table - a wonderfully simple but very effective game of medieval melee. I actually discovered it indirectly thanks to Mike Demana of Lead Legionaries fame . Mike has been playing a fantasy game called Four Delvers , written by David Bezio , and while looking into that ruleset I followed the trail back to Chivalrous Bum , which is also by Bezio. Just as importantly, the rules are free to download, which makes giving it a try an easy decision. Sometimes a bit of curiosity, a good recommendation, and a zero price tag are all the excuse you need. Digging out some Robin Hood and Norman figures that have yet to see the tabletop - remnants of a long‑dormant Dragon Rampant project - I put together two opposing Retinues. One represents the Merrymen , led by Sir Robin of Locksley (Robin Hood) , while the other is commanded by Sir Guy of Gisborne. Each retinue is built using 10 Muster Points (MP) , drawn from three unit types: Peasa...
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Location: Southampton, UK
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Soda Pop and Soul Theft: The Saja Boys Hit the Tabletop

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As I’m always on the lookout for unarmed civilian‑type figures, these caught my eye straight away. That practical need was only part of the reason for picking them up, though - the other was my fondness for the film K‑Pop Demon Hunters , which quickly became a favourite. The Saja Boys are a fictional five‑member K‑pop boy group and serve as the primary antagonists in Netflix’s animated film K‑Pop Demon Hunters (2025). On the surface, they are chart‑topping idols, adored by fans around the world. Beneath that polished exterior, however, they are demons in disguise, working to undermine the film’s heroes, the girl group HUNTR/X . The group consists of five members: Jinu, the leader Mystery Abby (also known as Abs) Romance Baby Formed under the command of the demon ruler Gwi‑Ma, the Saja Boys rely on psychological and cultural manipulation rather than brute force. Their plan is to lure fans away from HUNTR/X, siphon off the spiritual energy generated by mass adoration, and use large‑...
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Location: Southampton, UK
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Painting Tiny Soldiers & Big Battles: My First Foray into Perry’s Travel Battle

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Over the last couple of shows I’ve attended, I kept spotting the Perry Miniatures Travel Battle boxset proudly displayed on various vendors’ stands. It always caught my eye - a complete wargame in a neat, compact little package - but I never quite made the leap. Why? Two reasons: Price Napoleonic miniatures aren’t usually my thing But then Wayland Games threw a curveball: a 20% discount and free shipping. Suddenly, the price landed squarely in the “treat yourself” zone. So… I took the gamble. What's in the Box? Travel Battle is, at its core, a portable, ready‑to‑play miniatures wargame. Everything you need is packed into one tidy box - terrain, armies, rules, the lot. Inside you get: 8mm plastic miniatures, in red and blue, representing two evenly matched Napoleonic armies 160 infantry 24 cavalry 4 guns + 12 crew 6 brigadiers 6 buildings 4 dice Ruleset & simple painting guide Two 10-inch 3D terrain boards, complete with woods and buildings A 1-inch grid system, meaning no rul...
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Location: Southampton, UK
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Bank Holidays, Battles, and Buying More Minis: My Descent into the World of Zulu (1964) Characters in 28mm

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There are a few certainties in British life: rain on a summer weekend, queues forming from thin air, and - every Bank Holiday - some TV channel showing Zulu . The 1964 classic is a staple of British broadcasting, and for good reason. It dramatises the Battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo–Zulu War of 1879, depicting the defence mounted by just 150 British soldiers - engineers, infantrymen and several wounded - against thousands of Zulu warriors. At the centre of the film is the unlikely partnership between Lieutenant John Chard (Stanley Baker) and Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine), whose strained but growing cooperation under fire anchors the story. Packed with spectacle, character conflict and moments of mutual respect, Zulu remains one of the most memorable and iconic portrayals of a real military action ever committed to film. Whatever your personal view of the British Empire or colonial history, I absolutely adore this film. Some of the first plastic figures I ever bo...
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Location: Southampton, UK
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