Irregular Wars Wargaming

As I might have made clear in previous posts, I'm an archaeologist by profession with a specialty in Hellenistic (and early Roman) Syria. I have visited and worked in the Syrian Arab Republic on numerous occasions and the news and images which trickle out of the country as the civil war continues is quite distressing. The families with whom I have lived and worked are all within the territory now controlled by the Free Syria Army and communication is non-existent. I generally don't like putting personal pleas for causes on unrelated websites (after all, this blog is devoted to wars and conflicts), but for this cause I'd like to make an exception. I have posted three links to Aid organisations below. If you are in any position to spare a few pounds to help those trying to bring medical and food aid to people whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed by the ongoing civil war, or even if you just want to know a little bit more about the conflict, please follow th

After ramping up the number of SAM games recently, I thought I might start to think about building a fifth - Saxon - 600 point warband. Not sure what the theme will be as yet although I don't want it to be too similar to any of the others . Maybe some berserkers or Úlfhéðnar will be in order, and perhaps a hulking champion. Working with figures that I had lying idle, I decided to convert myself a Saxon warlord or cyning (king). He started out as the Pendraken chap here on the left: I already have one painted up leading my Angles so I knew I needed to do something to make him quite distinct. Luckily, Pendraken's Late Roman cavalry range have a guy wearing a Roman parade helmet ala the Sutton Hoo burial (I use him as my Arthur). One thing led to another... I turned the helmet a little to make him look as if he's waving forward his doughty men. The sword hand was replaced by a Roman militia hand and spear. I'm quite looking forward to painting this chap actually

No time this weekend to do a full update on the progress of my itty bitty balsa city, just one photo to sum it all up. The wee bag in the lower right there contains my pedimental statues for the temple. You can see for yourself I've a whole lot of painting to do, and three or four more buildings and a paved road to create.