Fight at Tortuga

The pirate town was completed and fought over by numerous teams.

A band of Spanish infiltrators burned a ship, the dock it was tied up to (right/center), then moved on to a couple of buildings as well. In the upper right you can see a small coastal vessel making its escape with a band of Dutch buccaneers.

The red die markers are from Firelock Games who produces the Blood and Plunder game/figures etc. These particular dice are highlighting the fires started by the Spaniards (seen just right of center) heading towards a Piragua and their attempted escape.

PearlHarbor/Hickam 1941

     While not technically a game related project, this is something I'm extremely proud of. In 1991, I started this to remember the fiftieth anniversary and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. This diorama is in 1/700 scale depicting every vessel (and I mean every, from battleship to garbage scow), every Navy and Army aircraft on Ford Island and Hickam (with the exception of the A-12 aircraft, a model I am still searching for). The buildings, setting, etc, has been collected from dozens and dozens of photographs found in book, maps and the internet. While it has probably reached its greater dimensions, now at 18' by 32"!
     Each year about this time (decided by the U.S. History classes and when they begin covering WWII) I travel to Green Mountain High School where I taught for 24 years, located in Lakewood Colorado. I will spend 80 minutes in each of seven classes over two days, to share the incredible individual stories of those who experienced that "Day of Infamy". With the diorama, visual images, music, and the aforementioned stories, I have tried to bring this story to life for every Sophomore that year.
     You will notice some areas that have not completed. While not critical to the presentation, I know I will strife to fill in those small pieces. So here it is:

Largest view could get. It misses the US CL Phoenix, Destroyer Tenders and DD to the left corner. Hickam is seen at top. Ford Island dominating the center with the Navy Yard just above it and Cincpac and the Sub Base to the left of it. The entrance channel leading to the Pacific is in upper right.

Close up of Ford Island from west with Navy Yard to the upper right. Battleship Row is to the top of the Island with US Arizona is second from left of that Row.

The Navy Yard right of center, with the Navy's PBY scout planes defenseless on the tarmac at the tip of Ford Island.

Shifting slightly southward towards Hospital Point (right/center) and the Navy Hospital (large grey building).

Centered now on Hickam Army Air Base. The large grey building is the Hale Kalai, largest military structure in the world in 1941. Still standing today, it was a 3000-man barracks just completed in 1941 for the Air Corps. The Flight Line (in light grey) is packed with the bombers that General Short ordered parked wingtip to wingtip to prevent sabotage! Easy targets they soon became!

The entrance to the harbor is just off to the right of this photo, where the anti-submarined nets were located.

Closeup of that Flight Line.

Additional Blood and Plunder

Missed adding these photos before so:

Dutch raiders have landed on the beach (with commander still in longboat) while the English commander (located behind his militia musketeers) organizes his defense.

The Dutch forces actually won two overwhelming battles, destroying 28 Englishmen at a miniscue cost of two miniatures! But the third battle saw two English Sea Dog units charge into melee where they finally annihilated the Dutch at no loss to themselves.

Pirate Town: Work in Progress

Inspired by the Blood and Plunder Kickstarter, I'm creating at least two period towns, one Spanish and the second for the Brethren  of the Coast. The latter will be highlighted soon as the Club is journeying up to Estes Park for the weekend of 11/16. Here is the preview:

The harbor is located to the right, while I'll be adding shallow water/marsh on the left. Models are 4Ground mostly with some from Sarrissa. The Battle Mat is the Cigar Box Caribbean Waters.

You may notice the growing fleet of ships in the background which will also be highlighted shortly.

The islands and most of the docks etc, are scratch-built, while some are purchased from Ainsty.

All of the models have removable roofs and detailed interiors. The pictured Inn has over 12 rooms and four floors!

Still working on this portion, the white styrofoam will be painted and flocked like the other portions of course.

Close up of previous shot.

View from opposite prospective. from the first photo. The large Tower in upper left is an incredible 4Ground model that is acting as a pirate stronghold and watch tower. 

So I'm planning on posting the finished product when it is assembled in Estes Park. Will also have photos of a major pirate fight as well!

Blood and Plunder

Invested heavily on the second Blood and Plunder Kickstarter last spring. After building up a fleet of around twenty vessels (to be highlighted later), and painting nearly 200 scurvy pirates, we've begun to 'test the waters'.
Games have been kept small as we get accustomed to this exciting new rule set.

Using a beautifully made play mat produced by Cigar Box, we have two longboats (upper right and lower left) filled with pirates searching for buried treasure some where on the island.

The English party stepping off into the surf from their longboat. These figures include Foundry and Firelock products.

Spanish troops moving from the left and top, facing English sailors and militia at bottom and right. The English would pull out a verryy narrow victory although their /sea Dogs (at bottom) were wiped out!

The Lost Continent

Following a year long Club campaign recreating the colonial era of the 1880s set in a fictional/historical Africa/Asia, we set sail into a hidden world inhabited by dinosaurs and lost civilizations, i.e. Inca/Aztec. I know, its a long shot, but what the heck, its something different.

Coming out of the mountains (seen bottom photo), the Adventurers from six different colonial powers (US, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal) see a vast city in an island setting (Technochtitlan).

Greeted as representatives from Quetzelcoatyl (very involved back story!), the Explorers came to the city center and were housed in the palace building (upper left)

After supposedly allied with the Aztecs, they fought through a narrow valley from which the Inca defenders rained rocks down upon their heads. The then turned to the right...

,

the main Inca defensive walls of massive stone construction, manned by swarms of slingers. (only a handful of survivors seen on the walls. But the Belgian contingent suffered horrific casualties, with only the Team Leader surviving. (center of photo)

They would eventually turn on the Aztecs, meeting with Emperor Atahuapa and forming a new friendship. Not actually being allowed to reside in the mountain city of Machu Picchu, The Adventurers turn to return to Technoctitlan!

long absence

Can't believe its been so long since I've added to my page. Planning on making changes, starting now. This is my 3D Space Hulk presented at this years' Star Fest. The Blood Angels have landed via boarding torpedoes at bottom. I've covered the display so the players can't see the layout until they 'discover' it

The Terminators now begin their advance into the unknown.

After clearing about half of the Hulk...

Showing the Bridge (bottom), and Power Transfer Room (top)

The fighting will eventually clear the bridge...barely!

The Marines here are overwhelmed! While waiting for reinforcements, the Tyranid escapes through it's passageway it created earlier.

Pushing on, the Marines are closing in on the climatic battle! (to the left of photo)

The Blood Angels even discovered a tortured passageway from the exterior to bring in a Dreadnaught  (seen at left) for the final push (the Hangar way to the bottom of photo.

And this was it. Very close fight, with the Marines barely pulling it out and killing the Queen!