There has been an interesting debate on Twitter around the lack of 6mm articles in the mainstream wargames press. I bought my first magazine of the year this week which was Wargames Illustrated. The production quality is excellent and more colour photographs of toy soldiers than you can shake a stick at - but all of them 28mm models. In fact a couple of articles, w3hich were interesting reads in themselves, had the opportunity to highlight the availability of a relevant 6mm range of figures but it seems that 10mm was as low as the author would go.
There is the age old adage that an editor can only publish the articles he is provided with. Having highlighted the paucity of 6mm content in Wargames Illustrated, I took to Twitter and generated some discussion. It turns out John Treadaway, editor of Miniature Wargames had spoken at a seminar at the Joy of Six 2018 asking for more 6mm related articles. Guy Bowers of Wargames Soldier and Strategy has made similar pleas. It seems the biggest perceived obstacle is the difficulty of photographing 6mm so that it competes at an aesthetic level with 28mm (or even 15mm I suppose). I have to challenge this with the following gallery. Each of these pictures, to my eyes shows that not only can 6mm be photographed, 6mm games can look every bit as good as any other scale.
Each of these have been grabbed from a quick Google Image search.
This first picture is an old stock photo from Baccus, judging by the green base edging. The English Civil War horse have also been rescultped. But what a lovely little scene. Simple, but a sense of movement to these troops of horse as they make their way through a village.
With the fairly recent re-sculpting of the English Civil War range, Peter Berry has shown off here with the new Scots. For element based games such as Polemos ECW, a 60mm x 30mm base is standard. And mighty fine do the bases look. But, if funds allow why not double or treble that size and play with blocks like this?
Here we have one of the God Father of 6mm, Per Brodens many display games from the Great Northern War. A conflict about which I know absolutely nothing. But how can one say that 6mm figures don't photograph well when you see an image like this. Reminiscent of one of those old paintings depicting a battle scene. Marvellous!
So, 6mm only looks good on mass eh? Another image from Per's collection. I don't need to say any more.
Possibly one of my favourite images of 6mm figures ever. Peter produced this little scene to show off the figures, and he did a mighty fine job of it. I think this was in response to a similar argument that 6mm figures have no detail and are too small to look good.
The Siege of Manchester from Derek, who has produced other such excellent games as Leipzig Lite and Gettysburg at the Gallop which have inspired me to do Blenhiem Blitz (eventually).
This model was a limited edition given to visitors to the Baccus Open Day a few years ago. Title the worlds smallest wargame. I think this picture belongs to one of the guys involved in the Rather Large Towton project. If you know who owns it, I'll give due credit.
Another favourite image from the Baccus studio. A simple scene of Dragoons lining a hedge. Undoubtedly, this is Oakey's Dragoons within the Sulby Enclosures. But once again, it demonstrates that 6mm can be photographed and still show individual character on these miniature masterpieces.
Another inspirational picture from an inspirational blog. The owner posts as 'Whirlwind' on the Heretical Gamer blog (link to the right). This is a recreation of the Battle of Stoke Field. A small table with small figures, but showing the weaving battle lines in a lovely little set up with rolling hills and a small hamlet in the background.
Each of these images are shown without express permission, but I hope the owners will approve of their use as each one shows how great 6mm figures and games can look, and how well they can be photographed.
On another note, please check out this very interesting piece written by Mr Per Broden. Quite thought provoking.
Pers thoughts on engagment at shows
More soon...
No comments:
Post a Comment