Monday, 19 May 2025

Germantown 1777 and 2025 at Partizan

 


A few pics and a bit of chat from the Germantown game at Partizan yesterday, I haven't done a proper blog post for a while so here goes.


Firstly thanks very much to Andy, Steve, Steve and Geoff from Leeds Wargames Club  for running the game and keeping the figures moving whilst I did my usual front of house. Above is a pic of the table at the start of the show.


I ended up feeling a bit ropey first thing and spent most of the day sat down, I still managed to speak to loads of people however and had a great time. It was lovely to see loads of friends and have people come up and say how much they enjoy the Podcast, I even had a donation of "snow" to the Narvik Project, thank you very much for that.


I can't mention or even remember everyone but I want to say it was wonderful to see brother Ken Hanning and Charlie Walker looking well. I had a lovely chat with Dave Tuck planning a Podcast, the Brews boys Iain McDonald and Alex Sotheran came over. Henry Hyde stopped by a couple of times and it was wonderful to see him looking happy and enjoying the day.

We raised a bit of awareness for Dogs Trust the chosen charity of my friend Dave Parrott, and it was lovely to have his figures (all the Americans) out on the table again. Dogs Trust supplied us with some bunting and flyers for the table.


The game looked great, my Chew House really stood out as a centre piece, even if you couldn't see all the subtle plank shading, I'd picked up quite a few Charlie Foxtrot Models from their New World Range a couple of weeks before the game and managed to get them all finished in time. i'd been down the DIY Store as well and as only wargamers can do I saw an Arris Rail, and rather than thinking "that's a good addition to my fence" I though that would make a good Game Title Board added something and the bunting from Dogs Trust looked good.

I used the plans from the British Grenadier 2nd Scenario Book with a few minor alterations, mostly to get more figures on the table and we used the British Grenadier rules which we are familiar with. Lots of people commented at the table that the rules are 'a bitbslow" but we absolutely cracked through the game even with public engagement.

The figures where all sculpted by the Perrys. Most of the British had been painted by me and were from the Perry Miniatures Range, mostly metal (these were started before the plastics came out) although there are a few plastic units.

The Americans are from the Collection of Dave who left them to me when he passed away. I've done the odd bit of rebating and adding flags but they are all painted by him. The collection is entirely metal and mostly the Perry Wargames Foundry sculpts, Dave was a huge fan of that company.


As for the game itself, the lads really cracked on even with the "slow" British Grenadier rules and the Americans were really Agressive pushing the British back from Chew House towards Germantown but the Firepower of the Brits told and Greenes column broke at the end of the day.

Pendants Corner - in the excitement of the game some of the British flags have ended up their ongoing way round, I shall chastise those who are responsible in due course.


Regards Ken

Monday, 12 May 2025

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast 69 - Arran Johnston - Jacobite Rising

 

Hello all and welcome to Episode 69 of the Reet Big Wargames Podcast.

My guest today is Arran Johnston, Arran works with the Scottish Battlefield Trust and the Battle of Prestonpans Museum increasing awareness of the History of conflicts in the Highlands, Lowlands and Isles.

The episode is available on all major Podcast hosts or via the link below 

https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-69-arran-johnston-jacobite-rising/

A specialist in the Jacobite Rising Arran has had a number of books published on that subject as well as Cromwells earlier campaigns in Scotland. On top of his day job he has also done some historical re-enactment, so as my grandma would say " He knows his eggs"

Arran has a personal website covering his historical work here

https://www.arranjohnston.co.uk/

The work he does with the Battle of Prestonpans Museum can be found here

https://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/

Recently Arran has begun to use Wargaming as a tool to tell the story of the Jacobite Rising and has chronicled the Campaigns in a series of "What If" videos on the museums YouTube Channel.

The decisions made, by the Jacobites in the first run through and by the Government in the second have been made by members of the public which has been a really interesting experiment. You can tune into the campaign here

www.youtube.com/@Prestonpans1745

I think all wargamers would love to be involved in such a well run campaign.

My next guest will be Jared Fishman from the US Wargaming Podcast, 20 Sided Gamified Podcast.

See you soon

Regards Ken

Here's the video version of episode 68



Wednesday, 7 May 2025

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast - Episode 68 Martyn Kelly - Wargaming Pavia


On the 500th Anniversary of one of the most pivotable battles of the Great Italian Wars, what better to do that a deep dive into the battle of Pavia, with a specific slant on recreating the battle on the tabletop.

The episode is available on all major Podcast hosts or via the link below 


I'm joined by Martyn Kelly who has last on the show 2 years ago. He is well known for his exquisite Big Games at Historicon in the US and this year he will be putting on a huge recreation of the Italian Wars classic.

Neither Martyn or myself are historians, just enthusiastic wargamers, we give our own briefing introduction on the history of the battle before moving on to a deep dive on the orders of battle and figures used in Martyns game.

After that we talk about the terrain for the battle and how that is recreated in miniature before eventually getting to the battle itself and how that presents challenges on the tabletop.

Martyn has an excellent blog College of Kings on which he posts updates on the project.


Please like, subscribe and leave a review wherever you see the show.

I'll be back in a couple of weeks when I will be talking to Aaron Johnston who works for the Battle of Prestonpans Trust and runs the What If, 1745 Jacobite Campaign on the YouTube.

See you then

Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

#history​ #miniaturewargaming​ #wargames​ #wargaming​

Here's the last episode on the utubes 



Thursday, 24 April 2025

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast - Episode 67 - Listerner Phone In

 

Hello everyone and welcome to my first ever Wargamers phone in !

Available on the link below or via all major Podcast hosts 

https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-67-listener-phone-in/

I'm joined on the show by 8 different guests for 8 very different conversations about different aspects of our wonderful hobby, in order of appearance we have.

1. Gary Wills - we talk about the War of the First Coalition or the Revolutionary Wars and his book Throwing Thunderbolts about the period

https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/throwing-thunderbolts-a-wargamers-guide-to-the-war-of-the-first-coalition-1792-1797.php

2. Dex McHenry joins me to discuss the importance of using correct terminology when discussing wargames (like The Dark Ages)

3. Neil Armstrong bravely joins the show to talk about contrast paints !

4. Simon Stokes talks about how Wargaming the Dark Ages can be fun.

5. Sam and James from Warfulcrum join me to discuss "1918" a set of WW1 rules covering the final year of the First World War, which they have in development.

https://www.patreon.com/WarFulcrumGames1918

6. Then its time for Rhys Humphrey to talk about his Ashdown 871 Big Project

7. Then Harvey joins us from Vermont in the USA so he can blame a certain Yorkshire based Podcast on two huge projects he has become involved with.

8. My final guest is Chris Gosney who discusses filming Solo Wargaming for his YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@CrustyColonel18/videos 

Hope you enjoyed this new format, do please leave a like and review wherever you listen to this is really helps broaden the audience.

If you fancy being a guest on the next phone in (if there is one) drop me an email to yarkshiregamer@gmail.com and I'll be in touch for the next phone in.

I will be back on the 24th February to talk about Pavia on its 500th Anniversary.

Until Next Time, Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

Here is the last show which is on the Utubes 



Friday, 7 March 2025

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast - Episode 66 - Lorenzo Sartori, Dadi et Piombo

 

Hi there,

Welcome to the first episode of 2025 and today I combine two of my favourite things in life Wargaming and Italy.

My guest is Lorenzo Sartori who runs the Italian based wargames publishers Dadi & Piombo.

The episode is available on all major Podcast hosts or via the link below

https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-66-lorenzo-sartori-wargaming-in-italy-dadi-piombo/

Lorenzo has been publishing a magazine of the same name for over 25 years, along with various sets of rules and books relating to wargaming, including the very popular Impetus Rules.

I chat to Lorenzo about his Wargaming History, as I do with all my guests before moving on to discussing the hobby in Italy in general before finishing off discussing the magazine and his rules.

The magazine is available via the website below,

https://www.dadiepiombo.it/

I love talking to wargamers from around the world about this wonderful hobby that unites so many of us.

Thanks for listening and I'll see you again soon.

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

The previous episode is on the Utubes below



Saturday, 1 March 2025

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast 65 - Xmas Brews in't Binyard 2024



A bit late to arriving on the Blog, I keep forgetting to post them ! If you haven't it's definitely worth a listen.

Welcome back to the Yarkshire Gamer Podcast with our usual Xmas Special with the Brews in the Binyard Boys, Alex Sotheran from Storm of Steel and Iain McDonald from Flags of War.

The episode can be listened to via your normal Podcast Host or on the link below,

https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-65-brews-in-the-binyard-xmas-special-2024/

In what is now tradition I butcher a Xmas song at the start of the show so get ready for a version of Fairy Tale of New York which you have never heard before !

The show ended up being 4 hours long, but lets face it, you've got plenty of spare time over Xmas, stick some earbuds in and pretend to be asleep after a festive meal.

We tackle weighty subjects like, what the f.... is Trench Crusade about, why historians can't make their minds up (again), Crisp Butties, the demise of Twitter, Warlord Games French Lancer horse legs and most importantly which is the best Fish and Chip Shop in Skipton.

Whether you digest it in a oner or in several more digestible parts, I hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it.

I hope to be back in the new year with the regular mix of guests, until then have a great Xmas and a Happy New Year and may all your Pike Blocks be massive !

Until Next Time, Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer  

The last episode is on the Utubes below



Monday, 24 February 2025

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast - Episode 64 Andy Johnson - Soldier Gamer Author

 

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to the first, long form "normal" Podcast for a while and todays guest is Andy Johnson.

Available on the link below or via all major Podcast hosts 

https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-64-andy-johnson-soldier-gamer-author/

Andy was born in York which gets a big tick in a box on this show ! and in the first part of the show we chat about Andys Wargaming life and the old Little Soldier Shop on Gillygate in his home town.

Section 2 covers Andys extensive military career in the Coldstream Guards and how wargaming was used as a learning tool throughout his service.

Its then the usual quiz etc before we move on to talk about Andys books and his Utube Channel "Brave Men Died Here".


I really enjoyed reading my guests books and they are highly recommended.

Books avaliable via the link below

Amazon.co.uk: Andy Johnson: books, biography, latest update

YouTube Channel is here

Brave Men Died Here UK - YouTube

Back in a couple of weeks when I hope to be interviewing Lorenzo Sartori editor of the Italian Wargaming Magazine Dadi & Piombo 

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

The previous episode is on the Utubes below



Sunday, 29 December 2024

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast - Episode 63 - EWM & German Raid on the UK in WW2

 

Hi everyone,

This was planned initially as a bit of a catch up episode with a number of guests but I wasn't able to get all the  interviews done and I've been away myself so rather than have this lying around for weeks I've put my catch up with Paul out as an individual episode.

The show is avaliable on all major Podcast hosts or via the link below 

https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-63-paul-thompson-ewm-catch-up-the-ww2-german-raid-on-the-uk/

Paul was my guest on Episode 43 and we chatted in depth on that occasion about Early War Miniatures and at the start of this show we chat for half an hour about what is going on at EWM and how they managed to cope with The Great Wargames Website Wobble of 24, something that affected many companies in the UK.

We then move onto, what for me is one of the most fascinating stories I've ever covered on this show, the German raid on the coast of the Isle of Wight in 1943, an event which occurred just round the corner from where Paul lives and works.

An amazing amount of work has gone on since we last spoke and Paul fills us in on the information that has come to light recently. The story isn't complete yet but its been a privilege to be party to the information as its come out and I look forward to hearing more.

My next guest will be author Andy Johnson who has written a number of historical novels set in different eras, the WW2 and Wars of the Roses books have been on my reading pile recently. Andy has also done a bit of gaming as well as having a career in the military, so there will be plenty to chat about.

Its important for me to keep the Podcast fresh and entertaining (for me as well) and with that in mind I've got a couple of different types of shows (in addition to the current, wargamer, brews in the binyard and historian styles) in the pipeline and I hope to announce those in the near future.

So sit back and enjoy my chat with Paul and I'll see you again next time.

Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

And here's the last episode on Utubes 



Sunday, 3 November 2024

Yarkshire Gamer Podcast - Episode 62 - Trevor Dixon - Dixon Miniatures

 

Welcome back everyone to Episode 63 of the Yarkshire Gamers Reet Big Wargames Podcast and today I've got off my backside and driven down t'road to Honley just outside Holmfirth where I sat down with Trevor Dixon of Dixon Miniatures to chat about his time in the hobby.

The episode is available on all major Podcast hosts or via the link below 

https://kenrtai.podbean.com/e/episode-63-trevor-dixon-dixon-miniatures/

He got his first break with Hinchliffe Miniatures before striking out on his own in the 1970s with a range of Monguls, much much more was to come over the following years.

Dixon Miniatures are full of character, something which for me is lacking in modern day 3d sculpts, his Samurai range is still one of the best for the period and as you can see, it looks the absolute business.

A bit shorter than usual as I just went for a straight interview rather than the usual sections but I had a lovely time talking with Trev and I hope you enjoy listening to it.

Drop by Trevors website and pick up some of his lovely figures, if we all do it, it will save him doing the decorating !

https://www.dixon-minis.com/

Back in a few weeks time for a catch up episode, my one confirmed guest so far is Paul Thompson from EWM who will give us an update on EWM, The Great Wargames Website Wobble and of course the 1943 German Raid on the Isle of Wight.

Until next time Sithee

Regards Ken

The Yarkshire Gamer

And here is the Utubes version of Episode 61