August 2016

A very nice month for painting. I leisurely worked my way through some figures while also starting a fantasy game. I am about to embark on a major addition for the Katzenstein project...time to get my OPFOR painted and return to some horse&musket gaming. I am planning on this expansion taking about a year...we will see. Things did not start out well. The white primer has left a gritty covering. I tried putting white gesso over it but that only helped a little bit. I will see how these 144 figures turn out. Time for new spray primer or just stick with brush on gesso.

I will continue with Pulp Alley as well. For anyone who has not checked out the Pulp Alley rules, I suggest giving them a go. Absolutely fabulous skirmish game.
http://pulpalley.com/

Pretty Detective and an Ancient Horror

PAINTING
36 x 15mm infantry figures: 36 points
8 x 15mm cavalry: 16 points
2 x 28mm Pulp: 2 points

TOTAL: 54 points

Added the four units for the Kingdom of Katzenstein; each represents a significant life event:
- Duchess of Bartley "Viva's Own" Guard Grenadiers - named for my dog, very small 15mm figures since she is very small...these are the men who are too small to make the other guard units.
- Carlisle Musketeers - named for my War College graduation site
- Westfield Dragoons - location of my unit armory
- Madison Musketeers - twenty years since graduating JMU

Carlisle Musketeers

Duchess of Bartley "Viva's Own" Guard Grenadiers

Madison Musketeers

Westfield Dragoons

Next up: 12 x 12 figure units for "The Imperial Army"

GAMES
1 x Fantasy game in progress
---also scheduled for a game over Labor Day Weekend

PURCHASES and BUDGET
$58 this month: 2 Pulp figures and more Pulp Alley cards
Total for the year: $411
Budget: $389 under budget, 
Plan: <$100 per month; on target
Reminder: bases (round), paint, and brush supplies...plus some shield transfers.

Last Flight Out - A Pulp Alley AAR

I had planned a solo continuation of the Pulp Alley "Perilous Island" campaign to close the month, but Junior General and a friend joined me in the fun. In this scenario, the leagues must first secure an initial plot point before trying to get Lady Elaine on the plane to escape, or to sabotage the flight. My Tsarist crew faced off with Junior General's Gangsters, and his friend's Chinese Pirates.

The Duke's Tsarist league...my guys.

The airfield...a rustic affair.

Tsarists at the top left, Pirates to the right, and Gangsters at the bottom..."polar bear of initiate" in the background.

Gangster firing line...shooting in the first 2 turns caused a Cultist to appear.

Red Herring! JG and I each pulled the Red Herring card for the first 2 plot points.

The Duke's hired gunslinger slowed down the Pirates...but at a cost.

The action centered around the two piles of crates. JG and his friend fought tooth and nail.

Some well played fortune cards left me with two plot points...after JG dropped one.

The Duke and the Duchess each have a point...but it is too late to get Lady Elaine to the plane.

Gangster holds the good Lady hostage.

Close to the end...mostly only our leaders and sidekicks still in the action...in true pulp style.

This spearman shook off a dozen hits.

A hollow victory...2 points for the Duke...none for the others.

Smiling even in defeat.