Friday, 20 February 2026

Magazine article inspiration?


I'm hoping for a little help. As many readers and followers will know I have been scratch building models for the wargame table for some time and then writing tutorials or articles in various magazines but I am now looking for some new and fresh inspiration as to what I should model next. I already have a number of articles with the editor or Miniature Wargames but am looking to produce something original for later in the year. Have you got any suggestions?

The more original or 'off the wall' the better as I am looking for a challenge.

Thank you in advance

Tony

Thursday, 12 February 2026

A scratch built French Storehouse - Miniature Wargames issue 515


It was back in 2019 that John Treadaway, editor of Miniature Wargames asked me to write a short series of articles showing how I built simple and affordable wargame terrain for my gaming table - 73 consecutive magazine articles later I thought it would be fun to revisit this brief and I set about producing this 28mm scale scratch built French Storehouse.

Built over a core of corrugated cardboard and 'plastered' with a mix of ready-mixed filler and DAS modelling clay with thin foam roof tiles the simple model was constructed over the 2025 Christmas holiday period on the kitchen table as the weather was too cold to work in the shed.

Painting was also simple with a pale cream base and tinted acrylic paint variation on the walls and grey, drybrushed lighter grey for the roof. Detail painting was done with more acrylics and I used watercolour pencils to add distress and streaks.

As you can see I did not add a base to this particular model - a homage to the original 2019 brief and request.


For more information and to see the contents of MW issue 515 (March 2026) see this link.

For regular readers and followers, I can confirm that issue 516 will contain another scratch built model and article - for more information, you will just have to wait a little longer.

Finally; I would be interested to hear from modellers if they would like these updates to include more (or less) information and/or illustrations. My own view is that I could add more images and descriptions without taking away from the published magazine article but I also know that these teasers could help magazine sales and at this moment I am confident that any sales are both good for the publishers and the retail areas.

What do you think?

Tony 

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

A £3.00 charity shop find - Fischer Technik


A recent visit to Stratford - upon - Avon and I came away with this collection of Fischer Technik construction toy parts for £3.00. That's the first three images of part for just £3.00. (There was just too much for just one image).

Bargain.



For anyone not familiar with this construction toy, see this link.


I already have a collection of Fischer Technik parts which my grandsons play with but this addition should make me the best Bampi in the world.


I have decanted ALL the parts in to a new plastic crate and can't wait to see their faces the next time they visit.


Tony

Thursday, 15 January 2026

Raising a Barn - part two


Miniature Wargames issue 514 (February 2026) has the second part of my two part article showing how I first built and then painted my scratch built model of an Olde Barn.

Issue 514 is the seventy-second consecutive monthly article I have written for MW and I can confirm that a seventy-third has already been sent to the editor, John.

This month's article gives details of how I painted the model in more natural and less run-down colours as well as explaining the techniques used. For more information of the full contents - see this link.


I particularly enjoyed the article on AI and developing wargame scenarios.

Tony