Credit Where Credits Due
Five years ago I knew pretty much diddly squat about Wargames and Modelling . Yes I’d seen the odd mention of it on the TV and had a few chats with a rep that called on me at work, Don Mchugh who kindly pointed me in the direction of “Rapid Fire” a quick play set of rules for WW2 and set me up with a few scenarios and invited me along to a show at Bovington Tank Museum. So I started to dabble purchased a couple of cheap armies on ebay and started to play the odd game against myself.
It really was COVID that kickstarted me and I needed a project to fill my time. A quick search on Youtube and I stumbled across a guy called Mel Bose “The Terrain Tutor” . What a man for inspiration his videos took me from the basics to the more adventurous to eventually a full build 8’ x 4’ D Day Terrain Board. At last I would have something to play on rather than the carpet.
Mel mentioned “Bolt Action” and 28mm scale . What’s this I thought as my 2 armies were 20mm and although good little figures they lacked the details for me. So off I went to look at “Bolt Action” and to surprise again found loads of content on Youtube.
By now “D – Day Board“ all but finished and gaining knowledge on Terrain from Mel and now also Luke Fellows at “Geek Gaming” I was ready to look into figures and vehicles.
You Tube again a quick search for 28mm Bolt Action figures and “Sonic Sledgehammer” painting popped up. Now that got my attention , lovely figures, nicely painted and complying with the game system I decided I was going to try “Bolt Action”
Right I now a board and needed a focus as my mind was being pulled left and right with all this new information. Having visited my uncles grave in Bayeaux the previous year and had started to delve into the history of his (my) local regiment the 5th Dorset’s I decided I would build my first army and terrain around them.
I then stumbled on a Bolt Action facebook group and as luck would have it the first post was by “Andy Lilof “ www.able65.co.uk and it was on his 7th Hampshire Regiment , 130th ,43rd Wessex .(for those that don’t know the 5th Dorset’s where part of the 130th , 43rd Wessex along with the 7th Hampshire’s and 4th Dorset’s). Now Andy’s is a pure revelation in what he do and produce with 28mm Plastic figures and vehicles. I have to confess I follow and copy him to this day and we have actually become virtual friends on Facebook as indeed I have now with many more. Facebook and Social Media in general have their faults but as far as community groups go it is a true inspiration.
As regards to “Blogging” my inspiration there has to be “John Bond” and I am still an avid follower of his posts.
I know we all say the world is such a small place and this just emphasis this as John is right across the other side of the world in Australia but in the world of Wargaming he is at the other end of the table.
There are many more wonderful people that I have taken inspiration from and I leave it to you to follow your own paths but here are a few links to my major inspirators.
Mel Bose – The Terrain Tutor
Andy Lilof – www.able65.co.uk
John Bond – www.iagsmgm.blogspot.com
Don McHugh – www.facebook.com/groups/158632443800948
Sonic Sledgehammer Studio – (629) Sonic Sledgehammer Studio – YouTube