I have had my copy of these rules for a while now and have to say these are the most modern thinking on gaming the Napoleonic period to date.

 

The whole game structure is far better balanced, and gives a good game.

Thank fully you no longer need a second mortgage  to play this period. With a comprehensive army builder most nations require about 12 units for a game and as the number of figures is irrelevant to game play, you can base as many or a few figures as you want. Providing the bases are the same size you can play. Units are either 4 bases or 6 bases.

 

Further to this I have been working with a Flag designer to bring a range of the highest quality flags into the online shop. This week I have had my sample flags through and I have not seen flags of this quality for a long time. The Flags are all produced in the UK, and My initial range will be online next week, over the coming weeks I will be expanding the range extensively. The main focus at the start of this range is Napoleonics and at 15mm scale, however this will expand to cover 25/28mm in the future.

Well they say lightning never hits the same spot twice. I hope that holds true.

 

Its been a rocky start to the new year, with more than its fairshare of issues. Firstly i got floored by the weather, then battered by a severe bout of plurisy while trying to catch up on all the back orders.

 

Add to that an issue over quality of some decal sets, a supply of flock that is still outstanding from the first week of January and you can see why i hope the prover holds true.

 

On a positive I now am retailing the excellent Lasalle rule sets, a range of paints from the Coat D'arms ranges and a brand new range of adhesives from the wargames adhesive company.

 

Also Now I am fairly well recovered I shall be completing the introduction of a range of premium grass tufts from a german manufacturer, these are really impressive tufts and unlike Silflor tufts that get damaged due to the folding and packing every tuft is fully usable. Alongside this I am currently discussing with Maverick models a range of flag sheets for the Napoleonic period.

Well the week started with sub-zero temperatures and several inches of snow, which turn to sheet ice, then the heavens opened for 24 hours and more water than i could wade through.

 

Finally got back into the workshop on thursday and friday this week for two half days. Have managed to get a good 10 hours in today though. I have looked at the number of terrain commissions on hand and will be revising my news page for the new slots free. The timetable for freestanding terrain remains at 21 days, as daily orders are completed and received.

 

I have taken the unusal step of moving production onto the kitchen table for the last week in an effort to keep some work moving along, it is only a small space and I have only been able to complete a few items but anything is better than frostbite in the workshop.

 

Negotiations are still ongoing with the glue manufacturer, but this hopefully will be completed by next week and i will be able to bring you a range of products that are both ingenious and work as glues should do.

 

On the personal front I am looking forward to the safe receipt of my Empress dragoons, sure to appear on the website in a variety of situations once I have based them. I have abandoned my collection of Essex Napoleonics in favour of a New collection using AB miniatures and these will all be based for the excellent new Lasalle rule set by Sam Mustafa. I will document the progress of my collection on here as it grows, after the Empress Dragoons, I will hopefully be receiving many battalions of Saxons and French. Have yet to decide the adversary for these.

 

right thats all for this week, hopefully next week will see me able to go back into full production.

 

Well I surprised my self and finally got the site fully updated. Everything is now current for the website, all the new additions have been loaded. There are a couple of items still to come once I have concluded my findings, for a heads up they are the new range of paint brushes, paints, adhesives and some books, one of the books is a new set of napoleonic rules.

 

The next two additions to my ranges will be firstly the Bocage hedgerows, I am hopefull of the temperature rising a little for me to pour the resin masters within the next two weeks. Then it will be the turn of the russian buildings, to have their masters reproduced and the first resin casts made.

 

For me its hopefully back to full production on the terrain next week, again dependant on the british weather or more specifically the temperature. My hands and feet dont like the cold and once they are numb my day is effectively over.

 

 

Well I am pleased to say that the website changes are almost but not quite completed.

 

The last few changes and checkout buttons should appear over the coming week.

 

Despite my efforts to restrict the amount of orders over the festive season I have been swamped, no bad thing but it has meant that I have not been able to build up large stocks of the freestanding items, as I intended.

 

Therefore I have had to increase the order to delivery time to avoid any dissapointments for you the customers, I will keep the site updated with amended delvery schedules as the pile of back orders is satisfied.

 

In my efforts to bring a few more high quality items to you all I have been busy sourcing products, One of these products is a new range of paintbrushes. I have always used very high quality brushes for my painting, normally the Windsor & Newton series 7 brushes for highlighting and detail work. However I have now discovered this brushes equal and will be adding this Range of Hand made high quality Kolinsky sable brushes to my catalogue. Further to this I will be adding a high quality range of Red sable blend suitable for general work, i.e. basecoats and washes, and a range of Flat brushes that are just perfect for dry brushing.

 

Further to this I am hopeful of being allowed to sell the range of superglues, I use. These are much stronger than the products generally available.

 

I will also be re-vamping the terrain board pages to bring them up to the high standard set on the rest of the site.

 

Hopefully I will also get some time to paint the remaining pieces of the God of War battery and update the set as promised.

Well I am now officially on my holiday's, although not technically a break at all, as I have a lot of new changes to implement on the website. Major updates to perform as well as releasing several new products which are not even loaded yet.

 

My U.S. Decal designer is busy working on three new decal sets as we speak to increase the range further and the initial stock is on its way to me, so once I have those I shall put some images on the relevant pages. These decals are some of the easiest products to use, and are a refreshing change from the standard offerings. Some of the sets require a bit of modelling skill to use but they offer terrific value for money. Throughout the coming year further sets will be released too. If you are after having a custom set made then contact me with your requirements and I will see what the designer can come up with.

 

Im hoping to release a range of glues that are Guaranteed to stick, have further modelling ranges to add too.

 

On the painting front the Russians are on temporary hold, as the decal designer is working on a DAK set so I will be road testing a set as soon as they arrive on my desk :) so currently have diverted my attention to a 250/3 model. This particular decal set should be great even for the novice modeller out there as the white decals are being given a nice light tan background.

 

Right thats all from me this week, Enjoy the festivities and I look forward to hearing from you all, in the New Year.

 

 

well this week sees no progress on the figure front, due to workload back in the workshop.

 

However take a sneak preview of whats coming in the new year http://terrafirmastudios.co.uk/CustomDecals.aspx

 

these will bring life to any project and sets can be customised further.

Well its been a very busy week, resulting in me suspending sales from the website due to the sheer volume of orders reducing my stock levels to a very low level. Also I have a growing pile of commissions for full layouts that will see me occupied well into the New Year. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining as its very nice to be busy and have a steady stream of work to do, my thoughts are with the customer service side of the business, as the decision was made so customers dont order items as gifts, when I am unable to make anymore aside those orders I already have.

 

Well I have finished the command teams and have based them during the evenings this week, I decided to enhance the bases further than normal, but not so as it detracts from the figures. The howitzers are now assembled but the thought of another 20 crew to paint as well means that this section is unlikely to reach completion this side of the Christmas Holiday.

 

I also havent had time to photograph them yet, but will endeavour to do that this week and post an update.

This week sees the completion of the stalinets to compliment the God Of War battery..

 

Onto the table next are the command and observer bases, and construction of the howitzers.

 

 

Well the Stalinets have not been completed as a customers terrain project required some intensive brush work to get the right look, but in the drying time between coats, I did start making the first of my Masters for some Eastern front buildings.

 

This has been designed as a simple Russian peasant cottage with a thatched roof , built as a two part model once cast as the roof is detachable allowing enough room for a medium flames of war base to sit inside comfortably. With an overall basic and rustic appearance.

 

Basic interior detailing of a wooden floor and plankd doors and windows. Before any one asks why is the thatch grey, the answer is simple, thatch is only a yellow colour when new once exposed to the elements for a period of time it develops a grey appearance, so I have choosen this look for the thatch, of course once i have the resin models I may put the odd one in with a new roof for some extra variety.

 

Well thats all for this weeks update more next week.

 

I have decided to try and get a little more with it as they say so here comes a Blog.. I cant promise this will be updated daily but more like once a week in reality.

 

Often asked by customers what I like to do to relax, well here it is I enjoy painting miniatures as much as I do making terrain to play on.

 

So I will use this space to Highlight some of my personal gaming projects.

 

First up are some WW2 Russians, part of a God of War battery so far due to real life and work in 4 months have only managed 4 guns, but its a start, hopefully after the weekend i will have completed the stalinets tractors.