End of the year eh?

So what a shitty year 2017 has been for the Chico Household. Losing 2 jobs, Illness and Hospital visits.

Though it has been a great year for your favourite Blog of Vice and Dice.

KR Multicases - Budget Storage/Transporting Review(ish)

Now this really isn't going to be a true review of sorts but rather just me rambling on for a bit and no doubt teaching you to suck eggs.

So for many years (Read: 25) I've used GW hard plastic gaming cases as in part I was just lazy and didn't know much else. But for awhile now I really haven't been happy with them, they are big clunky beasts that take up far too much space (I have 12 GW cases ranging from the earlier generations to the massive double size army case).

Also their other main flaw though is cost, yep what else did you expect from a Blog with ''Budget'' in the title.

I'm a cheap bastard.

Project Z - Review Pt.1

So my lovely (Read: Long suffering) Wife bought me a copy of Warlord's Project Z Starter set today during a trip to Orcs Nest as my late Anniversary gift.

So I've now had a few hours to have a play and read the rules.. a whole 15 pages of them! 

So here's my thoughts pre-game!

Halfords Black Matt Spray Review

So yes I know I haven't posted in quite some time, this has been a case of Illness (Month long chest infection) and working every hour I can in a low paid job.

Now I have been painting but nothing really Oldhammer related I'm afraid, a Abssyal Dwarf army for KoW is complete, a themed Undead army based on the Evil Dead films (Mostly Army of Darkness) and a some Horus Heresy Emperor's Children.

I'll will get round to posting about all 3 in due time, but today I have a product review for your pleasure.

KoW - Abyssal Dwarfs review

Yes it's another Mantic/KoW post this time checking out the Abyssal Dwarf range (Aka Khaos Dwarfs).

Now before we start I should make clear that I'm a Chaos/Evil Dwarf fan and tend to own many companies versions including a very sizable WhFB3 CD army and Mr Clam's Ewal Dvergar as a Mordheim Warband.

But I feel it's time to invest in some Mantic Abyssal Dwarfs, yes under no sense can be classed as Oldhammer but feck it lives too short to worry about such nonsense (Not that I do of course).

Space Cadets: Away Mission Review

Long before the threat of the Nemesis, before the perils of warp drive or the founding of our own Space Academy, humanity experienced a Golden Age of space exploration. The mineral riches of the thriving Moon colony inspired legions of hearty Earth citizens to seek their fortunes in space. Humble rockets probed the farthest reaches of the solar system in an eager quest for resources, and brave colonists forged homes wherever they could survive. Pioneer life was hard, but the men and women who worked and raised their families on those planets and asteroids had much to be proud of.

Then the rumours began — whispered tales of frontier abductions and sightings of mysterious creatures. By the time the secret invasion was exposed, the aliens were everywhere. Families had been stolen away by slavers from the stars, and the peace-loving survivors had no choice but to arm themselves and fight. Fight to stop the alien attacks! Fight to free the helpless abductees! Fight to throw the aggressors back into space and end forever their power to threaten humanity!

Thus was born the Rocket Patrol – an organization of brave and hearty women and men dedicated to defending humanity and taking the fight to the alien menace from the stars.

Arhhh yes a lack of Blog posts of late I know, work and all that blah blah...

But I did get to game a few games of Space Cadets: Away Missions which were quite enjoyable.

It's published by Stronghold Games but not being a massive Boardgame Geek means rather little to me I'm afraid.

Vallejo Special Effects Set Review

So it's time for another Chico's Paint Review, you can view the others linked below:

Vallejo Game Colour Heavy Opaque & Washes Review

Army Painter Review

Vallejo Game Colour Review

This time we are going to focus on the Vallejo Special Effects set.

Mantic.. Mantic.. Mantic.. KoW eh?

Ok let me start be saying this isn't a ''I hate Age of Marmite, I'm leaving'' type of post as well my Warhammer is still stuck in 3rd if I game it at all atm. But rather a post about KoW and I'm quite impressed and even a few of the Mantic range is growing on me... 

Ugh don't tell anyone!

Terminator Genisys - The Miniatures Game Review

In the ravaged wasteland left after the nuclear holocaust of Judgement Day, the Human Resistance, led by the legendary John Connor, is locked in a desperate conflict against Skynet’s pitiless machines.

Who will ultimately survive in The War Against the Machines?

Warbases Movement Trays Review

The other day I asked the Oldhammer Community about Warbases Movement Trays to see if anyone had used them or indeed rated them.

After a couple of replies I took the punt and ordered some, now I'll admit as I wasn't expecting much as they are after all cheap MDF.. So was I happy with my order?

Short answer is No.

Vallejo Game Colour Heavy Opaque & Washes Review

So now and again I like to give a little review on some of the various paints I've been using, you can see other paint reviews here:

Vallejo Game Colour and Army Painter

Today we are going to focus on both the VGC Heavy Opaques (Much like the Citadel Foundation/Base paints) & Washes (Not the Inks)

Chainsaw Warrior PC Game Review

''Zombies, chainsaws and a ticking clock dominate this remarkably faithful recreation of Games Workshops’ solo board game''

The game plays out very much like patience, but with zombies. You as the role of Chainsaw Warrior, are a retired Cyborg Veteran in 2032, called back into action for one last job. A shadowy being from another dimension has taken over a New York tenement block, and will drag the city screaming into some sort of central casting Hell if not stopped.

Gripping Beast's SAGA

In the last week I've been looking into Gripping Beast's game SAGA, Now I've been rather slow on checking out this game before now dew to the fact I never done anything ''Historic'' apart from a unit of Napoleonic Imperial Guard Dutch Grenadiers when I was 14 (And yes I messed up the Uniforms). Which to be honest put me right off Historics as I like to run non-cannon in my paint schemes.

Anyway,

Gripping Beast's Dark Ages miniatures skirmish. Each side has between 20 and 70 miniatures, organised into groups of 4-12 warriors. Miniatures are classed as Hearthguard, Warriors, or Levy, and an army comprises of 6 points of units (1 point = 4 Hearthguard, 8 Warriors, or 12 Levy).

Army Painter Review

So alittle  while ago I found myself being drawn away from VGC paints alittle to some of the Army Painter range.

Now I still love the VGC range (My VGC review can be found HERE) and won't change fully over to AP as I happen to use 5/6 paint ranges from MP to Citadel.

Dead Man's Hand Review

DEAD MAN'S HAND is the 28mm skirmish game by Great Escape Games. Bands of tough and wily Cowboys, stoic Lawmen, ruthless Outlaws and crazy Desperados fight for fame and respect in the Old West.

With an accompanying range of 28mm miniatures and pre-painted buildings, now you can fight legendary gunfights of the historical Old West and the silver screen. This rule book contains all the rules you need to recreate your gunfights and twelve blood-soaked scenarios.

Grenadier Models UK

Arrrh viewed by some as the poor step-child of miniature collecting and loved by others. I have to say I'm a recent fan, maybe with in the last few years I've taken interest in there back catalogue and bought more and more ex-Grenadier figures.

Grenadier Models UK

Grenadier models UK Ltd was created in 1984. Bob Watts approached Roger Higgins of Games of Liverpool, Grenadier's British distributor, to cast Grenadier's products for the European market. Higgins recruited his Import and Wholesale Manager, Doug Cowie and Mal Green to set up and run Grenadier Models UK. Casting equipment was set up above their Birkenhead offices and they learned the trade of casting by trial and error. Public grants through the Welsh Development Agency assisted a move to northern Wales.

Vallejo Game Colour Review

So I'll admit I've been a die hard GW paint user from my beginning in this hobby in '93. But with the last GW paint change I've decided to try Game/Model Colour paint ranges, not because I didn't like to new GW range (Love the metallics and washes) but because I's thought it was a now or never moment.

I have to say I find VGC very hit and miss, for example Charred Brown and Tan are now must haves for me from now on as they make painting flesh so easy and eye popping. Now on the other hand Gory Red looks rather nice but is a bugger to paint on in less then 2/3 layers. But the worst of the look is Gunmetal... it's so shiny even when shaken for some time and washed with GW Nuln Oil.

Ral Partha Europe

Ral Parthe Europe was established in 2000 to manufacture and supply classic Battletech and Ral Partha Fantasy miniatures to mail order and trade customers throughout Europe and the Commonwealth.

They relocated in 2010 to our new, larger factory premises and shortly after relaunched our mail order service as RPE Miniatures & Games (it's easier to type!). They have  since added new ranges such as 'DSA- Das Schwarze Auge' and recently acquired 'Demonworld 15mm'

Nearly all the miniatures listed on this site are in production and manufactured  in Liverpool by the lumbering cave Trolls that are Martyn and Paul.

Now I have to admit until today I never really have a great look at the RPE site except for a brief look for Goblin Aid awhile back preferring to use suppliers which sold Ral Partha products such as Second City Games.

But today I spent a nice hour or so going though everything and there are some real golden products to be found.

Sadrak Whassoi Orc Marshall

Trolls in the Pantry

Gobbos eat very strange things and they eat nearly all the time. The only time Gobbos don't eat is when they are out looking for food. The wander around smelly caves and tunnels looking for a really nasty thing to munch on the spot or to collect to their pantries. Gobbos eat worms and custard, coal and mice, fish heads and slime and lot of other horrid stuff. Trolls also eat lots of things. Trolls eat most of the time. Most of the time Trolls and Gobbos just get on with eating their own nasty messes. But if a Troll ever gets in a Gobbo's Pantry, then he will eat everything that is in there! Its the game of greedy gobbos and grotty grub.

Be the first Goblin to fill up your pantry before the trolls clean it out.

Four A Miniatures: New Dwarves

The wonderful Four A Miniatures have put out 3 new Dwarf Releases today. The first releases of 2014 and they look amazing and not to mention well priced. Miniature sculpted by Shane Hoyle and painted by Paul Sanderson.

My favourite of the lot, quite Chaos Dwarf looking