Painting update and Black Seas

Now the holidays are over it's time to get back into painting again.   I've been busy over the last couple of days assembling and undercoating my box of Warlord Games AWI British infantry.  Unusually I've gone for a white undercoat...normally I would use black or increasingly I've been using grey, but I wanted to try the GW Contrast paints on a white base and also I hope the lighter undercoat will make the redcoats a bit brighter. The least they can do is look smart and colourful before the pesky Yankee rebels shoot them full of holes!

I popped into WH Smiths today and picked up a the latest issue which includes a free ship for the new Black Seas game which is being released imminently.   There was one copy left in my local branch which I quickly nabbed although I may have a look while I'm out and about at work tomorrow.  The issues either have a frigate or a pair of brigs.

I'm quite tempted by Black Seas although I am a little wary after the poorly proof-read (and in some cases quite bizarre) rules for Cruel Seas and the reportedly awful SPQR.   My understanding is that they have taken a bit more time over these and that David Manley has also been asked to cast an eye over them which fills me with a bit more hope.  Cruel Seas did have some good mechanics and the models were very, very nice so this may lure me into Napoleonic naval gaming:  I'll have a go at the model and see how frustrated I get with attempting rigging before I commit!

Finally I was lucky enough to get to see Sir Ian McKellen's one man show which is currently on a run in London after a UK-wide tour.  If you get a chance to go and see him I can highly recommend it. It's not every day you get to hear Gandalf reading extracts from Lord of the Rings in person!

The stage set

Sir Ian collecting money for charity after the show