2026 projects list

 2026 is upon us and future projects are starting to flood my ideas of what is possible to do this year. So I commenced a list over the last few days of possible projects. This year I do want to complete a few of the smaller armies and add additions to my other collections. 

In no real order of priority 

• Main Project US 2nd Armoured and 90th infantry Division additions of 18 Sherman’s, 12 halftracks, 12 trucks, 6 jeeps, SP artillery, towed artillery, 90 infantry 
• American airborne 83rd 3 battalions for Arnhem (underway) 
• Last Levy Berlin 1945 - complete third volkssturm battalion, add ATgun
• 1940 Belgians 1 battalion of infantry, 1 battalion of chassuers, 1 battery of heavy guns, 4 tanks, two aircraft
• Polish 1939 infantry two battalions of infantry 100 infantry, 1 battery of guns, 6 trucks, 6 tanks 
• French 1940 18 tanks, 12 trucks, two battalions of  80 infantry, two heavy artillery battery’s
• British tank guards regiment 
• Panzer Lehr, one battalion of infantry (underway), 10 panzers, 9 halftracks 
• 21st Panzer 10 tanks, 15 halftracks, 6 trucks, light vehicles 
• 9th SS element additions for Arnhem, battalion of infantry and vehicles. 
• 346th infantry Division, 60 infantry, sp guns, artillery and vehicles. 
• Desert Storm Iraqis 6 tanks, 12 APCs, 1x aircraft 
• Desert Storm American 30 infantry and 7 Bradley APCs 
• Warpac Soviet Marines 90 figs (almost complete) 3 x T55s, 4 x PT76, 1 aircraft, two helicopters 
• Warpac 90 soviet infantry, 9 BTRs, 6 BDRM, 9 BMPs, tank regiment 15 T80s,  2 Shilka, 2 Nona, 1 helicopter 
• BAOR 90 infantry, 6 APCs, 1 light artillery battery, one rapier battery, one bloodhound battery, two aircraft
• Egyptian trucks and APCs (80% complete) one helicopter 
• Syrian infantry x 80, 7 x tanks, 8 APCs, one aircraft 
• Israeli infantry x 40, 6 tanks, 4 APCs, 2 x aircraft, 2 x helicopters 
• Congo crisis - more Congolese rebels, UN and mercenaries, vehicles, buildings  and aircraft.
• Gaslands Apocalypse vehicles 
• Terrain - ww2, Cold War and Middle East 

Cheers

Matt

Happy New Year 2026

  

Cheers

Matt

30 Day Kit Build Challenge April 2025

  

April 30 day Kit challenge!

Forum

So what is the 30 day kit challenge? Well, something I shamelessly copied from Gunbird and his blog "20mm and then some" back in 2017 when we chatted about doing something about our piles of shame.

Every year I try to reduce the stash, I have a lot of unbuilt kits, particularly modern and ww2, plus some ww1 aircraft. I also suffer from half built kit syndrome, as I like to paint the interiors, the pilots or drivers then assemble the kit. So with that in mind I'm starting the 30 day kit build, if you like join me and blog about it, steal the picture below if you like

Join me if you wish on Facebook, Blog and Instagram using the tag 

#30daykitchallenge 

Or join the fun on the 

The Wargamers Forum

RULES

Goals are simple, you will build your part built and new kits during the 30 day challenge:

• Any material (plastic, resin, metal, wood).
• New in the box or partially built, it matters not.
• Gun, tank, truck, aircraft, ship, figure animal? Your call.
• Kit must be basically finished, based if you prefer that, to qualify as a build.
• The completed kit must be ready for primer.
• Resin and metal upgradesets can be applied after the build.....the goal is to get kits built and ready for primer, not to finish them with paint and varnish etc.
• You decide how many kits/models you want to build in the 30 day period.
• You set the penalty for not meeting your goal (and after that it is the honor system)

Anything beyond that is up to you

My goal is the period from 1/4/2025 up to 30/4/25, I will be away in Australia for two weeks in between, I plan to work on a number of kits, until I have completed my goal.  My goal is grand total of 16 kits, If I can build more kits in the month, then bonus.

My penalty is that if I don't make my target, is not to buy another kit for the rest of the year :(.

So, starting with Day #1 (1st April 2025), I'm starting with some Allied 1/72 landing craft kits first then onto some more tanks and aircraft.

Cheers
Matt

Plans for 2025

2025 goals and plans 

I have a few big goals and lots of plans in sand. I main focus is in two main directions this year Napoleonics and WW2. I really want to complete my French guard cavalry (all front rank) and 20mm Americans this year. The other stuff is all ready to be worked on as the mood grabs me. My plan is for the next three months concentrate on my French Guard and 20mm Americans. 

28mm Napoleonic 

Complete my French Guard Cavalry (96 cav)(front rank)

Complete 4 battalions to French Line in greatcoat (warlord) 1812-14 (156 foot)

Complete  2 regiments of (warlord) Lancers 1812-14 (36)

Complete Baden foot infantry regiments x 6 (200 foot) (Skytrex-Warlord)

28mm Other

Additions 13th century collection 40 cavalry, 60 foot (Mirliton)

Complete my French 1488 Mad War Ordonance army 60 foot, 20 horse, 2 guns. (perry)

5th century Greek 80 foot (immortal-Warlord)

80 Thracian foot, 12 cavalry  (Foundry)

20mm ww2

82nd airborne division 

210 foot, 6 artillery and 18 vehicles, 4 x 1/72 gliders (AB, Alder and Simons soldiers, heller, italeri, airfix SHQ)

US 5th Armoured 

30 tanks, 90 foot, 4 guns and 12 halftracks, 12 trucks and other vehicles (heller, italeri, AB, Simons Soldiers, Alder)

90th infantry division 

70 foot, 21 vehicles (AB, Alder and Simons Soldiers)

US landing craft x 12 various sizes marked up for Omaha. (Airfix and italeri) 

17th SS 

4 x StuGs, 4 x JGD IVL,  60 infantry, 12 vehicles (PSC, italeri, Plana mayor, Battlefeild, FAA)

101 panzer ersatz training battalion 1 pz iii, 2 x H39, 2 x R35, 10 infantry, (heller, first to fight, Battlefeild) 

Panzer Lehr 

15 tanks, 26 vehicles, 60 infantry, 4 guns, 4 x Flak guns.(elhiem, Simons soldiers, PSC, Airfix, Italeri, hasegawa) 

British airborne 

5 gliders with correct markings for operation Tonga. 1 Hamilcar glider (airfix, italeri, planet models) 

20mm Cold War 

67 War Israeli 

7 tanks, 5 half tracks, 60 infantry, 3 jets, 1 helicopter (heller, italeri, dragon, hasegawa, airfix, cpl overby)

67 war Egyptian 9 tanks, 5 APCs, 2 jets

Cold War Russian 

Naval infantry 12 APCs, 3 t55 6 other vehicles, 60 figures, landing craft x 3, 1 helicopter (Britannia, Ammo, elhiem, italeri, S&S models)

Cold War Motorised Russian infantry x 60, 12 APCs, two Sam launchers  (elhiem, sSmodels, Armo)

British Cold War 6 tanks, 8 APCs 40 infantry, helicopter, 2 jets. (Dragon, 3d prints, elhiem, airfix)

That should keep me busy

Cheers

Matt

Happy New Year

 

 Happy New Year 2025

Happy new year chaps, I gave quite a list this year. Planning on focusing on Napoleonic and ww2, with gusts of coldwar, medieval and ancients, an odd ww1 piece and a bit of Star Wars. 

All the best to everyone 

Cheers

Matt

National Volks Armee

 A upcoming project later on the year is to add some Nationale Volksarmee GDR troops, particularly to oppose my Brit’s on the northern plain. I plan to Armoured, motorised and artillery support, plus choppers and aircraft! This will be all set around Able archer rules structure. I have quite a lot of Un allocated armour, plus the files for the support events to print most of them. The infantry will be Elhiem I suspect.  

9th Panzer Division 

21st Panzer Regiment "Walter Empacher"

RHQ 1x T-55 and radio truck

3 tank companies of T54 or T55

9th Motor Rifle Regiment "Rudolf Renner"

RHQ BMP 1 CO, PO, medic, sniper, LMG, RPG , radio truck, signaler, +1

2 x motor battalions 

BHQ BMP 1 OC + RO, RPG, LMG + 4 

2 x Company BMP 1, RPG, LMG + 5 

Gaz 66 + 2 crew, MTLB with 120mm mortar 5 crew 

9th Artillery Regiment "Hans Fischer"

BTR 60 TACP (forward Observer) 

2s1 Gvozdivka 122mm  

9th AA-Missile Regiment "Rudolf Dölling"

1st Battery BTR 60 SA9 x 3 

2nd battery ZSU 23/4 

9th Rocket Detachment "Otto Nuschk"

2x BM21 Grad 

9th Reconnaissance Battalion "Eduard Claudius"

Recon platoon BDRM 2 2 figs 

9th Panzerjägerabteilung

Two jeeps AT4 2 figs, SPG -9 3 figs 

As I am a big fan of soviet helicopters I am planning 

Combat Helicopter Squadron 5 Adolf von Lützow

1 x Mi2 for recon
2x  MI 8 for troop transport 
1x Mi24 attack helicopter 

In addition I like to add a jet to my collection looking in the stash I already have selected for a fighter squadron and fighter bomber. 

Jagdfliegergeschwader 9 (JG-9) "Heinrich Rau"

I.Jagdfliegerstaffel/JG-9 (I.JS/JG-9), MiG-23ML

Jagdbombenfliegergeschwader 77 (JBG-77) "Gebhardt Leberecht von Blücher"

I.Jagdbombenfliegerstaffel/JBG-77 (I.JBS/JBG-77), Su-22M-4

Cheers

 Matt

Leopards Roar - Bundeswehr upgrades to nato camouflage

 Bundeswehr upgrades

As the majority of my Bundeswehr are painted with Ammo RAL6014  for the true Cold War period I do have sitting in storage plenty of kit to extend the date past 1984 which is my current cut off. 

This year I have decided after joining a few of Bob Mack’s kickstarters I will go past my cut off date and add Bundeswehr in three colour NATO. My new additions will include-

• 3d printed Marder 2 
• Diecast Fuchs
• Diecast Luchs
• 3d printed trucks 
• Diecast Leo 2
• Diecast ME 109 SP artillery (battery of two) (need to change the muzzle break to reflect the FH70)
• MLRS (M270 Rocket launcher) battery of two 
• Plastic fennek 
• Plastic weisels 

This will extend the playing period past 1986 and plan to paint them all in the coming 8 weeks over summer. 

NATO 3 colour was adopted and rolled out over three years being completed in 1988. Team yankee has a fine guide available Here , I will be using AK three colour nato in their new real colour range. 

Cheers

Matt

Birthday Haul

  Last week was my 55th birthday, as a treat we visited the champagne district of France, we stayed in Épernay then visited a number of champagne house (17), Reims cathedral and Museum and managed three 1814 Napoleonic battle locations. When I returned home I had a number of packages awaiting pick up.

The most exciting was the Old Guard band by Warlord Games, some books on Stalingrad, French Indian war bits, French Waterloo uniforms, American airborne medics in Normandy, six T54 for my ongoing Egyptian project for Yom Kippur war, a new gardening trowel and sone zinnias for my garden. 

Very blessed with great gifts from Vanessa, Allison, Mum, and my mates. 

Cheers

Matt

Happy New Year- plans and projects

Happy New Year 

My French is improving……

Plans and Projects 

Much is planned this year, a continuation on the completion of my various projects ww2 and modern related. Lots of new toys arrived over Christmas and a lot more ordered for my birthday in two months. The new resin printer has been madly printing Bob Mack’s 3d modern Brits, Americans and warpac stuff. I have several aircraft I plan to build particularly ww2 gliders which will be a focus over the next 12 weeks. 

This years plans in no particular order

WW2 

• Dutch- my marines are very close and will be off the table this fortnight,they will be followed by a aircraft and some AA.
• Belgians armour and trucks and complete my chasseur Ardennes
• French headquarters, and paint some more armour and my heavy gun battery.
• German early war, tanks, infantry battalion (not purchased yet) and some more guns.
• British Airborne - my glider completion project when done 9 gliders for my Brit’s, also want to add the correct 6pdrs (foldable airborne version) supply and some towed versions 
• American airborne regiment - Normandy uniform I know pedantic…..
• More fallschirmjager 5th regt…
• Panzer Lehr the whole division…..I know I just do not have them and Simon’s soldiers look so good
• More 21st panzer stuff….
• Additions to my 9th SS 
• More British, another two tank battalions

Modern 

Ok lots of plans possibly too many 

• VDV division continuation 
• More warpac tanks
• polish marines complete the resin kits and paint
• Another motorized battalion 
• Build some more aircraft
• American armour and APCs
• American infantry
• BOAR tanks and APCs
• Boar infantry
• Egyptian Armour APCs and complete infantry
• More Israeli kit.
• Imagination bits and pieces

That should keep me busy 

Cheers

Matt

Polish Army 1939 - Part 1

Polish Army project part 1

This year I also want to revisit my 1939 Polish Army and complete all of the unpainted support vehicles (30 odd), and paint two more plastic battalions figures I already have sitting in storage, some dating back in 2012.

 I want to purchase some to fill out another division by adding another Regiment with the new 20mm XAN infantry figures along with Fantassin Miniatures support elements which make up my current battalions. I also want to get the resin Scibor vehicle crews and command figures as they look fabulous.

For the AA, artillery and AT guns I will add a mix of pieces. First to Fight plastic gun crews mostly to crew some plastic, resin and metal gun pieces and Early War Models metal crews for the specialists. Lots of horse drawn equipment is required so more HAT and EWM horse drawn wagons. For trucks FTF Fiat and Praga trucks and IBG kits for fiat staff and radio cars.

For the next article I will cover painting guide, artillery, and organisation of my motorised and cavalry. I need to purchase FTF mounted Uhlan cavalry for command figs and horseholder. I already have the HAT plastic French for the mounted component. I would also like to add First to Fight dismounted cavalry portion and some SHQ also. I need to purchase the specific FAA miniatures for the 10th Motorised Cavalry Brigade motorcyclists. Finally scratch build and purchase some more vehicles mostly soft skins mostly motorcycles but I may print some also. I have set a target of completion for next year for the cavalry.

My fighter and fighter bomber air component is complete except for a bomber, which I will wait for one to come up on ebay or such.

Rapid Fire does not have an official list for Poles yet, but there are some unofficial lists around on which I have loosely based mine on. Rapid Fire does have the charts for guns, vehicles and aircraft though which is helpful when playing.

I already have a plastic Infantry division of a single Rapid fire regiment, however I need to add the support elements for extra goodies for game play, as I like to see supply and medical especially on the tabletop. The Polish Infantry Regiments were very large and basically followed the same structure, 3 battalions plus support elements. I am not planning on painting any reserve regiments or the static units, although I am tempted in the future to build Polish field defence bunkers.

9th Polish Legion Infantry Division

9th Dywizja Piechoty Legionów

Current Polish Army 1939 Rapid Fire Organisation

9th Division HQ
CO x 5, Fiat 518 staff car, Fiat radio truck, MP motorcycle

9th Supply company
10 figs Praga RV supply truck, 4 supply wagons

9th Medical Coy
10 figs Fiat 621 Ambulance, 2 x horse drawn ambulance

Fiat 621 Ambulance

91st Recon battalion
BHQ Co + 2 mounted on horses
1st coy 12 figs mounted on horses
2nd coy 12 figs cyclists
MG coy
4 figs 1 x MMG wz30 with wz 36 Tatchanka horse drawn cart

MMG wz30 with wz 36 Tatchanka cart

9th Sapper Battalion
OC + 5 car, Praga RV truck with foot bridge trailer, mine detector, 1 motorcycle
1st Coy 12 figs Horse drawn wagon
2nd Coy 12 figs Horse drawn wagon

9th AA Battery

Battery HQ 

OC + 5, staff car , 508 radio car, supply truck

AA light coy
4 figs 1 x 40mm bofors AA gun and motor tow
3 figs 1 x MMG truck mounted

AA heavy coy
4 figs 1 x SP wz.97/25 75mm AA gun

Artillery

9th Light artillery Regiment
RHQ
CO + 11 figs staff car, horse towed radio/telephone trailer, 508 radio truck, horse drawn supply wagon, AA platoon MG Fiat 621 truck

1st sqn
8 figs 2 x 75mm wz 1897 Schneider horse drawn

2nd sqn
8 figs 2 x 100mm wz 1914/1919 Skoda horse drawn


9th Heavy Artillery Regiment
RHQ
CO + 11 figs staff car, horse towed radio/telephone trailer, 508 radio truck, horse drawn supply wagon, AA platoon MG Fiat 621 truck

1st sqn
8 figs 2 x 105mm wz.1913 C7P

2nd sqn
8 figs 1 x 155mm wz.1917 C7P

22nd Infantry Regiment

RHQ 

Co + 7 figs staff Car, Fiat 308 radio car, cyclist, motorcycle.

Supply Coy
4 figs horse drawn cooks wagon, horse drawn supply wagon.

Medical platoon
2 figs horse drawn medical wagon

AA platoon
3 figs MMG wz30 AA with wz 36 Tatchanka horse drawn cart,

Scout Company
4 figs horses, 4 cyclists 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

Artillery coy

3 men 1 x 75mm wz.02 / 26 cannon horse drawn

Anti Tank platoon
3 men 1 x Wz 37mm Bofors AT gun, horse drawn

1st Battalion
OC + 12, 2 horses , 1 horse drawn supply wagon, 1 radio car, 47mm mortar coy + cart, 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

1st Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
2nd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
3rd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
4th Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
Heavy weapons coy
6 men 2 x MMG WZ 30 browning horse drawn cart

2nd Battalion
OC + 11, 2 horses , 1 horse drawn supply wagon, 1 radio car, 1 47mm mortar coy + cart, 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

1st Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
2nd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
3rd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
4th Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
Heavy weapons coy
6 men 2 x MMG WZ 30 browning, horse drawn cart

3rd Battalion
OC + 11, 2 horses , 1 horse drawn supply wagon, 1 radio car,
47mm mortar coy + cart, 1 AT rifle UR/WZ 35

1st Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
2nd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
3rd coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
4th Coy
13 men, lmg wz 1928
Heavy weapons coy
2 x MMG WZ 30 browning 6 OR horse drawn cart

Regiment Support
OC + 1, observers x 2 ORs

MMG coy
6 men 2 x MMG WZ 30 browning 6 OR horse cart

Mortar coy
12 men 3 x 81mm mortar horse cart

Note: the 9th division did not have an anti armour regiment .

cheers
Matt

References

Polish army structure 1939, by far the best reference I have found is Here
Andrew Mollo, The Armed Forces of ww2
Steve Zaloga The Polish Army 1939-45
David Higgins German Soldier vs Polish Soldier 1939.

Wrap up 2021

 Wrap up 2021

2021 is done and dusted, and with the pandemic continuing a very strange year. and tough for our inbound tourist model at French Wargame Holidays.

We completed the year fulfilling 12% of our normal budget with Wargame Holidays and regular B & B, thankfully the Macron Government helped keep us afloat again............we are still here, and looking forward and currently planning for a prosperous 2022 fingers crossed. 

A big thank you to our customers that did manage to attend and play a wargame this year. A big thank you for  your continued support here on my blog, on Facebook, Instagram and the various Forums I haunt. A major change as we have started to attract european guests, French, German and Dutch who managed to travel during Summer.

We are taking Bookings for holidays from now, commencing in late March please contact us via the website to discuss your needs for a tailor made holiday for you and your partner or with your friends here at French Wargame Holidays and L'hotel de Hercé for a relaxing stay in the Loire.

     ______________________________________________________________________________

Totals

Summing up my Wargame painting and terrain progress this year on my goals I achieved about 75% with a few minimal diversions. I may of completed more looking back, but motivation was up and down depending upon the external stresses of this strange year. On the positive side a lot of my stash completed with very few purchases of new lead or plastic. Medievals were again my main focus as I added to my collections to fill them out to match our "Walk the Battlefield in the morning, Wargame in the afternoon" tour and wargames.

2021 Goals achieved

Salon de Guerre redecoration

100% complete, curtains completed and artwork, swords and lances hung, a new Louis XIV cabinet for display for large models and three new chairs.

28mm miniatures painting 

Completed 28mm Infantry 216

Completed 28mm Cavalry 144

Completed Artillery 1

Baggage Animals 9

WW2 and Modern 20mm  

20mm Infantry 99
72 x 20mm vehicles
6 Aircraft

artillery x 9

WW1 Miniatures

4 WW1 1/72 aircraft

Other Science Fiction

1 Imperial Space ship 

12 Space marines ......for my Sons birthday present

Miniatures rebased and touched up

Large scale Figures

1 x 54mm figure

Total Terrain System For Now (TTSFN) Goals achieved

Château board (1500x1200), includes Gaulois fort, dark ages Motte and bailey, and 100 YW castle under construction ATM 40% complete

Standard boards x 6

Roman Fort 

Ploughed fields 

Maize /corn Crop fields 

Harvested crop fields 

20mm buildings x 8 

Dark Age Buildings x 6 

Medieval buildings x 10

20mm ww2 buildings x 6

Bocage mark V 12m

Stone walls 3m

27 pine trees

6 garden trees

8 dead trees

27 palm trees

8 28mm trees

Board game played

19 games, mostly online.

Wargames played

Ancient games x 7

Medieval games x 8

Renaissance Wargames 0

Napoleonic games x 4

Ww1 games x 4

WW2 games x 16

Modern games x 5

Naval games x 4

Fantasy 0

Science fiction x 2

Completing bits from my project drawers was the focus on terrain has helped me a lot this year, as now I have space to plan 2022 which is well underway. I will continue to try to post every week or two as it helps me keep track of what has been completed. 

I will be on holidays in Australia from January to mid March, but I have taken some toys with me to complete!

Let us all hope this pandemic can be over finally so we can socialise and share all of our new painted goodies, and watch our recently painted units flee off the table once again!

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

 

Happy New Year! 2022

  

A big Happy New Year to our family and friends across the world! 

Wishing all of you a happy and successful 2022. I am enjoying the sunshine and warm weather back in Australia for a number of weeks before we return to kick off the 2022 season. Over the next few days I will do a sum up of 2021 and what we have planned for French Wargame Holidays in 2022. 

Cheers

Mattk

The Wargamers Forum

 The Wargamers Forum 

After the demise of the 20mm Forum “the guild wargamers “ and the rise of Facebook PHP groups 

have died off in droves. But for those of us who like to make threads about our projects and leave information for others to use there is a bit of a drought with only LAF and The Wargamers Forum  being the only two locations I haunt now. 

The Wargamers forum was looking for admins to help with its running so I offered to run the group builds and generally help. So with this in mind I would like you to join us and let the fun begin! 

Cheers

Matt

A little snow in sunny Mayenne!

 Oh the Joy!

We get excited when it snows, Vanessa and I were excited to see snow predicted this week and when it fell we were treated to a winter wonderland! We have been in France for almost three years and this was our first proper snowfall as Ville Mayenne is in a weather Zone 8-9 and we are only 80m above sea level. I thought I would share some photos of the exciting event as two Australians run around excited like school children! And for the first time in my life I shovelled snow off a footpath......and today I am feeling it!

A view of l'hotel Montpinçon, across the road from us, my favourite view!

Built in 1666, the chateau originally stood outside the walls of the city and was built by the de la Dufferie family, purchased by the Montpinçon family then owned by the de Bourbel de Montpinçon until the revolution. After revolution by the de la Sarcus Family. 

It has exquisite baroque interiors and wall tapestries painted by Italian artists in the 1740s. It has an extensive 18th century 3 hectare garden that is a listed monument historic with several hundred tree species from all over the world, including Australian species collected by Nicolas Baudin ( whose descendants still live in the place Cheverus)

One member of the family was Louis Auguste de Bourbel de Montpiçon who served with the Armee de Princes during the revolution in 1791-92, after 1797 returned to French service in time for Napoleon's expedition to Egypt. Was placed in the Maltese navy in command of a sloop, then after the disaster of Aboukir bay, was an lieutenant in the Légion Nautique, then ADC to General Baudot in Egypt, captain 26th Regiment of Chasseurs, 1811 Chef d'escadron 7th regiment Chasseurs a cheval, Major, then lt Colonel of the 7th regt Chasseur a Cheval. fought at Dennewitz, Leipzig (wounded) . 1822 lt Colonel d'Allier Chasseurs a cheval regiment, 1825 Colonel 10th Cuirassier. 

L'Hotel de Hercé, our home, you can see the scale in comparison to the car of the window heights, the tower on top is the highest point in the city has great views of the city and the countryside.....from here the Prussian Uhlans were spotted chasing the retreating French Army after Le Mans.

Place Cheverus the centre of our square is also a monument historic along with a number of the maisons.

The statue of Jean Lefebvre de Cheverus, first Bishop of Boston in 1810. During the revolution he fled like many nobles to England, then onto America, he returned to France after the revolution was bishop of Montauban then Bordeaux. 

A view from our second floor of the stables, carriage and servants quarters built in the Napoleonic Period about 1811.

Our Clapier, rabbit hutch in the garden.

cheers

Matt

Plans and Projects 2021

 

 2021 Plans and Goals

The view of "Salon de Guerre" wargames salon across to the 17th century chateau opposite

Wargames plans and Goals

My main focus will be on completion of the TTSFN (Total Terrain System For Now), followed by the completion and addition of miniatures for a "walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"wargame and tour series. Then the release of the scenario books and the 18th century buildings with the rules.

Wargaming painting will predominantly be focused on additions to the collection the only possible new range will be the Franco Prussian War, plus a addition of a skirmish fun game or two for evenings or family gaming. 

Terrain

1. Complete two Chateaux and gaulois fort build 1500 x 1200 board (by far the biggest project well underway) 
2. Complete Pegasus bridge tiles (pour the canal and river sections.....I know should of been done)
3. Complete Ardenne Abbey tile, two buildings to be painted, plus tile done.
4. Six more 600 x 600 crop field tiles
5. Four more undulating 600 x 600 city tiles built for the city of Mayenne capture in August 1944.
6. 20mm Buildings Standardising and basing buildings to drop into rather than on top of terrain. 
7. Two 300 x 600 bridge tiles with four drop on bridges 
8. Six stream tiles 300 x 600 and four river tiles 600 x 600 and two 300 x 600
9. Eight 300 x 600 railway embankment tiles
10. One large Railway station 300 x 600 tile
11. One warehouse 300 x 600 tile
12. One Railway junction and shunting yard 300 x 600 tile
13.  One bombed railway yard and station tile 
14. Trees lots and lots of trees......scratch built and based about 300 need renovation and manufacture
15. Table scatter and mini dioramas, I have a few in planning mostly for ww2.
16.  One Wurzburg radar station 600 x 600 tile with bunker complex.
17. One large railway bridge to cross a gorge 300 x 600
18. Watermill board 28mm 300 x 600 for Baugé
19. 28mm 18th-19th century buildings a master cast range resin or STL files
20. 28mm Medieval buildings resin and STL files
21. 28mm-40mm Roman Gladiator amphitheatre depending upon what I decide with the figures purchased. Low Priority

Wargames painting plans

1. 28mm Hundred years War : continuation of my English, French, lombards and Scots. lots to complete, plus need to pick up a few boxes and personalty figures.
2. 28mm Plantagent-Capetian wars continuation of my 1st Barons war project. I will be focusing on Arthur of Brittany revolt here locally against John Lackland. 
3. Breton Wars of independence continue adding figures, mostly French and mercenary troops left to complete, need to pick up some more cavalry and a box of infantry.
4. WW2 20mm additions to my 1940-45 Germans, Americans, British, Canadians, French and Poles. Need to pick up some more shermans and American armoured cars, plus arty.
5. 28mm French Revolution additions to the collection, a primary focus this year, picking up some of the new Revolutionary Armies Range of Chouans and Republicans to add to the collection.
6. 28mm Normans additions always need more, waiting for the new Victrix Cavalry releases
7. 28mm Vikings additions always need more, possibly another bag of Victrix
8. 28mm Caesarian Romans additions I want to do another legion.....6th or 13th, I need a box or Warlord to complete this and some artillery.
9. 28mm Napoleonic additions to my Hanoverians, Austrians, Russians, Prussians and French always handy. Lots to paint, want to complete some more French Guard Cavalry, Hanoverian cavalry and guns 1814 and my 1812 Russian Fusiliers and buy some of the Perry Russian cavalry when it is released.
10. 40mm Gladiators or perhaps 28mm not certain yet.....a evening game addition
11. 1/72 ww1 aircraft not high on the list but a itch....plus I have the kits built already just need paint.
12. 28mm Imperial romans .......more additions another 200 odd figures Not high on the priority list but a itch that needs scratching and I have promised myself to complete them this year.
13. Franco Prussian war....with Perry Miniatures new releases in plastic coming.......cannot resist!
14. Cold war......ok not in France but I do want to complete my Swedes and Russian airborne as I received for Christmas the board game "Deadly Northern Lights".... and my BOAR/Falklands
15. 1/1200th age of sail British Fleet and complete some more French.
16. Arab-Israeli War 20mm I know not in France.....but still want too so much.

We are still renovating our 18th century maison my main plans this year revolve around completion of the outbuildings exteriors, another two storage rooms on the fourth floor in the main house and painting our shutters and doors on the main house, along with changes to the  garden, including the Orangery repaint and courtyard paving, plus new stairs to the upper garden.....work never ends there.    

Hopefully get as much painted and achieved this year as last. All the best to your plans

cheers

Matt

Salon de Guerre/Wargames Room renovation IV

Today I started to add the Moloton (wall fabric underlay) and the 18th century reproduced fabric for the walls. Nessa commenced the restoration of the chandelier which was completed this afternoon.

Really happy with the 18th century reproduction fabric and how it looks with the gold and grey/white walls. Tomorrow I will erect the chandelier and complete the fabric on the 5x2 m wall.

Cheers
Matt

Wargames Room / Salon de Guerre III

Yesterday I had my premier game in the partially finished “Salon de Guerre” with our week long holiday guest Chris Pringle   (Author of Bloody Big Battles) and his wife. A very delightful visit and a great rapid fire game to bless the room.

We decided to play a battalion of British paras with a support company holding the village to prevent the Germans from exiting the table. The Wehrmacht forces were two battalions of infantry, one stug and a recon light armoured car coy, plus a coy of recon mechanised infantry, commands by a RHQ.

Chris really used his battalion artillery well along with his mortars first to lay smoke to make his assault on the defending Brits, then to pound the paras until they were pinned. Eventually he assaulted the village after losing two companies pushed or destroyed the remaining Brits out capturing before the allotted 15 turns.

 

Cheers

Matt

Salon de Guerre part two

Salon de Guerre

My “salon de Guerre“ Wargames room, will be the second one in France that I am aware of, the first of course is in Versailles palace, the other of course in in “l’hotel de Hercé” in sunny Mayenne!

I finally returned to work on the Wargames room restoration on the first floor this month after spending two months on the second floor renovations. We finally selected the colour combination after charging it from a darker scheme to a lighter putty colour and gold trim on the decorative wood work. The ceiling repair was a bit of work to get it 100%, I moved the communication cables and added the cat six cable in behind the skirting boards. The Exterior door repairs With some new glass and exterior waterproofing has to be done also. We opened up the fireplace again and it requires a little work before I fire can be lit in it again.

Overall very happy, still need to finish off the doors and some detail work, remove the heaters and paint behind them and put them back again (tomorrow’s job)  add the fabric to the large panel and the curtains (which Vanessa has made). The goal is to finish by next Wednesday.

A few photos of the progress

Cheers
Matt

Salon de Guerre wargames room part 1

Just a little excited!

This week we have started the redecoration of the 18th century  “salon de Guerre”. The Wargames room on the first floor, using the name borrowed from Versailles Salon de Guerre, although it is has later  baroque interior. The Salon has unique curved corners and  door, squared 18th century panels and timber rails and a deep decorative cornice.

When we were looking for a house for the business twe were looking for a building with three entertaining salons. L'Hotel de Hercé (the houses name) fully met the requirements with two salons for entertaining guests on the ground floor and this Salon on our first floor.  

Every Wargamers dream is a permanent location for the Wargames table, miniatures and militaria collection, I used to in Australia, have a shed for storage and table or used the dining room table for gaming, but had no permanent location for wargaming.

I am quite excited to finally have such a fantastic room and permanent location for my collection of miniatures and militaria I have collected over the years. It will be a great asset for the business to have such a unique room for a wargames table that all of our Wargame Holidays and B&B guests can enjoy.

I have been planning this room since we purchased the house in 2017, researching colours and the layout of what I want to achieve, I am seeking a sort of gentlemans club feel, but also practical, and a inspiration for all of the wargaming community also. 

And some images

The curved entrance door

The curved corners

Curved corners

Above the fireplace, the typical 18th century panels

Projects and Plans for 2020

The rise of 2020 a truly upon us, Christmas is complete with lots of nice presents for me and the Family has returned to Australia after their holiday in France with us.

I have had the opportunity this week to sit down and write out my goals and what I would like to achieve for 2020, both in the business and personally. As always I need to look at my priorities for the business to operate effectively, what is required for the growth of the business and make sure we are in profit also. I also look a what I would like to do and achieve this year personally, and goals for my hobby.

I have resisted over reaching myself this year,  only 12 projects in total for each category, a majority of it is the already built, and some is part painted, part built and just needs details added. I am focused on what I want achieve, as I have set a high wargaming standard for the business.

On the workbench in 2019, the future view from the Salon de Guerre when it is completed!

Personal projects aligned in 28mm and 20mm

1. Breton wars of Independence armies French and Breton, By far the largest project mostly Perry WOTR figures, research is complete. I started this project last year and changed some of my WOTR figures to fit the 1488 period, I can put a game on the table but as I am fussy I want all of the armorial as correct as I can. I will add 12 additional units to replace the WOTR figures I currently use:- purchase one or two units of light cavalry and one box of perry WOTR mercenaries.
2. 100 years war French and English additions to the collection. I can cover the early part of the HYW Breton war easily, but need to enlarge my post Agincourt English, French and Scot army for the battles of Bauge, la Brossiniere, Fresnay and Verneuil (all battlefield tour locations), painting focus this winter, research is complete for the armorials :- require some Perry horse sprues to make up seargents.
3. Norman and Maine army 1064:- additions I can put quite large armies on the table for this already but I would like to add another 5 units of infantry of the new Victrix figures. more of a want than a need!:- purchase Victrix Normans
4. Viking army for 9th century, additions I have a fairly large army for this already but I am adding some V and V character miniatures and the new Victrix Viking figures to my skirmish collection, as this period really lends it self to skirmish rather than large battles although we can visit three Viking large battles locally:- 24 single based figures some are actually already part painted:- purchase a bag of Victrix Vikings. 
5. Gaulois army, additions I would like to add another 8 units to complete the army, they are very time consuming but I do enjoy painting them:- nil to be purchased.
6. French Revolutionary army and my Vendee army is currently really a large skirmish force which is fine for Chouan games, but I want to enlarge it so I can play the larger local battles of Le Mans, Dol and Entrammes:- purchase three more Vendee infantry units of 16-24 and one cavalry unit to be purchased, plus additional french cavalry in Mirliton from the fantastic  "Revolutionary Armies range".
7. US 2nd Armoured and 90th Infantry Division, additions of armoured infantry battalion and another company of specifically  marked tanks :- six 20mm Sherman tanks, 2 armoured cars, 4 trucks, 30 infantry plus arty required to be painted.
8. French 2nd Demi Brigade, I want to add a specifically painted Free french painted units rather than using my generic American armour. I would like to build the units for the fighting south of the Falaise gap coming north :- require six 20mm sherman tanks + 2 M10s 
9. 1st Sicherung Regiment complete the painting of the infantry and armour, thirty 20mm infantry on bicycles, two armoured cars, two at guns and one bus:- two skoda trucks required 
10. 17th SS specific additions of armour and 30 Infantry to be painted would like to add specifically marked PIV L48 marked unit, plus some more infantry in camo:-nil purchase required
11. 12th SS, I would like to add some more AT guns and specifically mark some already painted vehicles:- nil to be purchased
12. 9th Panzer  Armour to complete, more additional detail, marking on tanks, I have nine PzIV and two Luchs to paint and some marking to be done on vehicles already painted:-nil to be purchased

Personal Terrain Projects aligned in 28mm and 20mm

These smaller pieces are mostly table scatter, but will beneficial to my table top. I plan to make some how to videos for these.

1. Animals, additions to the collection, of pigs, cows and sheep and the odd chicken and goose, plus animal pens in 20mm and 28mm, scatter terrain mostly:- need mixed livestock.
2.  Ploughed farm fields, additions to the collection, mix of hedges, stone walled or mixed rail fences for 28mm and 20mm, at least three more.
3. Maize/Corn fields additions to the collection, the most predominate crop here in summer, about five fields worth, old Christmas tree decor to be used!
4. Harvested flax crop field  additions to the collection,, the next most predominate crop here from Caesar too ww2. I want to add six fields, door mat purchased for the job
5. 20mm WW2 buildings additions to the collection, another chateau, a Normandy  church, farm and village buildings, plus cast my power poles (current January focus) 6 pieces to complete. currently on the painting desk! 
6. Ancient-Dark age village additions to the collection, more buildings, a church, a few hovels :-need to scratch build or buy. 
7. 28mm French revolutionary additions to the collection, more period buildings, specially farm buildings:-need to purchase or scratch build a fortified farm piece.
8. Medieval additions to the collection,  need to complete half completed buildings: nil purchase
9. Bocage, additions include my Mark V improved horse hair hedges with trees in the hedges, I have noticed in our are of the Mayenne bocage a lot of trees in the hedge lines, now I will have permanent drawers the storage of these should not be as problematic.
10. Trees especially larger 28mm, I have decided to add larger scaled trees for my collection just need to crack on with these, materials are ready, cut and glued need a day or two to do all of the flocking. 
11. Fences Wattle and daub for dark ages and Napoleonic :- need to purchase some, will add them to the medieval village.
12. 20-28mm Stone walls master is made just needs to be moulded, then cast in resin, made them last year, need to be done to complete the chateau/Monastery board and will help with the various town and village builds.

I will try to stay focused this year rather than getting side tracked on the latest "shiney" pieces and releases...... 1805-09 Napoleonics, 1940 WW2 and 20mm moderns to call out to me a lot!!!!!

All the best with your projects this year, leave a comment, and keep me on track!

cheers

Matt