3D Fun

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to make a few pennies selling on some GHQ modern Germans that had been sitting on my shelf for too long. Just for one I decided to spoil myself and so a few days later I took delivery of an Anycubic Photon 3D resin printer. This is a nifty device that uses UV light to cure very thing layers of resin (down to 0.02mm) that form the subject of your model print. Since then I've been learning how the thing works, tweaking settings and arrangement of models on the print bed (which rises up out of the resin tank, quite remarkable). I've had quite a few failed prints bu I'm getting the hang of it and I must say I'm very pleased with the results. Obviously the main subjects have been ships and coastal forces models. With the release of Cruel Seas there have been a number of 1/300 scale 3D models put up on free download sites. I've made a few in 1/300, but the joy of 3D printing is that you can scale the models just as you can print a paper document at a reduced or enlarged size. So I've printed out a few new flotillas of 1/600 craft, as well as all seven of the Red Sands "Maunsell" forts that are in the Thames Estuary (essential for a CF campaign, they did trade shots with S Boats on several occasions)

A few examples of printed and painted models below; as I type the machine is working on a set of Star Trek ships, and the Moon Base from Gerry Anderson's "UFO" TV series is in the paint shop

SHADO Interceptors from "UFO"

The seven elements of Red Sands Fort

1/300 MGBs and an RAF rescue launch

1/200 Cessna O2

1/600 R Boats and SGB

1/600 MAS and MS boats

1/600 ASRL and HDMLs

1/600 MGBs

 

Stingray at Salute 2019

Saturday saw me and Stuart Machin making our way to the Excel Centre in Docklands for Salute 2019. Joined by Rob Hutton, Drew Jarman, Dave Sharp and Simon Stokes, we were running my "Stingray" participation game on behalf of the Naval Wargames Society. Salute is a long day for people manning stands or running games and this year was no exception, so after nine hours we were set to drop, but we'd had  a great day. We ran seven games with players young and old, all of whom had a great time. Many kind comments were received, and I picked up some good ideas for future developments. A lovely day out and, as usual, one of just a small handful of naval games at the show.

I even got interviewed for OnTableTop's live blog :)

As well as running the game I also got to catch up with loads of friends that I'd not seen for ages, and to chat with John Stallard at Warlord about future plans for Cruel Seas, and the forthcoming Black Seas age of sail game. I'd love to say more but alas an NDA prevents.....

I tried to get along to the bloggers meetup but alas it occured mid game and so I missed the chance, again (I've failed every year so far!)

I also got a bit of shopping done, some 10mm Vietnam figures from Pendraken to replace the rather old figures I currently have, a 28mm steampunk mermaid from West Wind (looks like a giant mermaid will be making an appearance in future Stingray games), some 1/300 early S Boats from Heroics and Ros for small scale "Narrow Seas" games, and some of the nicer mugs from recent Salutes to bolster my collection.

So, a fun day out, much enjoyment had and lots of happy gamers who enjoyed finding out what could happen in the next half hour :)