The Tactical Painter
@tacticalpainter.bsky.social
A new Jagdpanther to join the German tank park. This is a Revell 1/72 plastic kit and a nice little model. Moulded in black plastic for some reason, not the easiest colour to work with, but happy with the end result. The crew is from AB Figures.
February 7, 2026 at 8:56 PM
A new Jagdpanther to join the German tank park. This is a Revell 1/72 plastic kit and a nice little model. Moulded in black plastic for some reason, not the easiest colour to work with, but happy with the end result. The crew is from AB Figures.
Toy for the new puppy. I think the appendage is supposed to be a tail, but it defaults to the front instead of the back. The unfortunate choice of colouring doesn’t help. I doubt the dog gets the joke….
February 3, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Toy for the new puppy. I think the appendage is supposed to be a tail, but it defaults to the front instead of the back. The unfortunate choice of colouring doesn’t help. I doubt the dog gets the joke….
Here's a look back at the four participation games of a Konigsberg 1945 scenaro that I ran at Cancon in January. The game was in 20mm using Chain of Command. I've finally put together a blog post about how it all played out with plenty of pictures.
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/02/twil...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/02/twil...
Twilight of the Reich - Chain of Command at Cancon 2026
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Here's a look back at the four participation games of a Konigsberg 1945 scenaro that I ran at Cancon in January. The game was in 20mm using Chain of Command. I've finally put together a blog post about how it all played out with plenty of pictures.
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/02/twil...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/02/twil...
I’ve had these 28mm Foundry late Victorian figures in the pile for a while. Purchased with Sudan games in mind, as leaders or characters but also perhaps as something like a survey party or government officials in need of rescue. Lovely figures, many uses.
January 31, 2026 at 6:52 AM
I’ve had these 28mm Foundry late Victorian figures in the pile for a while. Purchased with Sudan games in mind, as leaders or characters but also perhaps as something like a survey party or government officials in need of rescue. Lovely figures, many uses.
While I've never thought it worthy of a blog post, I've had a few people enquire about how I do the basing for my figures. A couple of people on the Lead Adventure Forum suggested it would be something of interest to them and so, here it is.
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/01/how-...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/01/how-...
How I texture figure bases
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:10 AM
While I've never thought it worthy of a blog post, I've had a few people enquire about how I do the basing for my figures. A couple of people on the Lead Adventure Forum suggested it would be something of interest to them and so, here it is.
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/01/how-...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/01/how-...
A year since our dog of 14 years passed away and Mrs TP has decided it’s time for a new dog. Much enthusiasm and a search and now we have a 6 week old rescue puppy. Lovely little dog, but clearly Mrs TP has forgotten how much work a puppy can be. Regrets? Perhaps not, but maybe second thoughts LOL.
January 27, 2026 at 9:17 PM
A year since our dog of 14 years passed away and Mrs TP has decided it’s time for a new dog. Much enthusiasm and a search and now we have a 6 week old rescue puppy. Lovely little dog, but clearly Mrs TP has forgotten how much work a puppy can be. Regrets? Perhaps not, but maybe second thoughts LOL.
Second day of running my CoC participation games at Cancon ended with a very tense struggle that finally went the way of the Russians. A plucky SU-76 found itself in a duel with a StuGIII and refused to go down easily. Until it did. Very entertaining and cinematic. Great stuff.
January 25, 2026 at 6:46 AM
Second day of running my CoC participation games at Cancon ended with a very tense struggle that finally went the way of the Russians. A plucky SU-76 found itself in a duel with a StuGIII and refused to go down easily. Until it did. Very entertaining and cinematic. Great stuff.
Two good participation games of my CoC scenario in the Lard Zone at Cancon. Excellent games between like minded players in the spirit of Lardy games. Good to showcase 20mm, a scale that gets very little love at an event like this. Lots of nice compliments on the terrain too.
January 24, 2026 at 6:41 AM
Two good participation games of my CoC scenario in the Lard Zone at Cancon. Excellent games between like minded players in the spirit of Lardy games. Good to showcase 20mm, a scale that gets very little love at an event like this. Lots of nice compliments on the terrain too.
Pie and a pint dice towers for Cancon Lard Zone game organisers, courtesy of Battlefield Accessories. Very nice indeed, big thanks to @toofatlardies.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Pie and a pint dice towers for Cancon Lard Zone game organisers, courtesy of Battlefield Accessories. Very nice indeed, big thanks to @toofatlardies.bsky.social
Table all set up and ready to go for Cancon. A Chain of Command seven to set in 1945 Konigsberg, twilight of the Reich. Running four games over two days. No voice by Sunday!
January 23, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Table all set up and ready to go for Cancon. A Chain of Command seven to set in 1945 Konigsberg, twilight of the Reich. Running four games over two days. No voice by Sunday!
Always good to have @toofatlardies.bsky.social in town and a good chance for a final playtest of my Chain of Command participation game for Cancon. Rich played Dave as I watched on. Dave proved a poor host, driving off Rich’s Russian in a hail of StG44 fire. A good game that just needs a few tweaks.
January 21, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Always good to have @toofatlardies.bsky.social in town and a good chance for a final playtest of my Chain of Command participation game for Cancon. Rich played Dave as I watched on. Dave proved a poor host, driving off Rich’s Russian in a hail of StG44 fire. A good game that just needs a few tweaks.
I didn't think 2025 had been a particularly productive year, but that's because I don't keep a log of what I've painted or played. So looking back to compile a retrospective ended up revealing I've done a lot more than I thought. thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/01/2025...
2025 - a gaming year in review
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:16 AM
I didn't think 2025 had been a particularly productive year, but that's because I don't keep a log of what I've painted or played. So looking back to compile a retrospective ended up revealing I've done a lot more than I thought. thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2026/01/2025...
They don’t make war movies like they used to. Circa 1971 we made two. Shot on Super 8 by one of our friends. Sadly, the films haven’t survived, but a friend sent me this still yesterday, perhaps the last surviving element. That’s 12 year old me jumping down to knife the German sentry. What a hero!
January 5, 2026 at 7:05 AM
They don’t make war movies like they used to. Circa 1971 we made two. Shot on Super 8 by one of our friends. Sadly, the films haven’t survived, but a friend sent me this still yesterday, perhaps the last surviving element. That’s 12 year old me jumping down to knife the German sentry. What a hero!
It's that time of year again and a look back at 2025. This time, rather than a review of everything, this is a focus just on Chain of Command. #spreadthelard #chainofcommand #wargaming
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/chai...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/chai...
Chain of Command in 2025
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:41 AM
It's that time of year again and a look back at 2025. This time, rather than a review of everything, this is a focus just on Chain of Command. #spreadthelard #chainofcommand #wargaming
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/chai...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/chai...
This is a story about a trip down memory lane that was less about nostalgia and more about testing my current modelling skills. My childhood love affair with @Airfix never ended it appears.
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/airf...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/airf...
Airfix, nostalgia and modelling madness
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:59 AM
This is a story about a trip down memory lane that was less about nostalgia and more about testing my current modelling skills. My childhood love affair with @Airfix never ended it appears.
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/airf...
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/airf...
Far too hectic festive period to have any hobby time, so won’t be able to take part in this year’s #FestiveTankChallenge2025 despite having a Sherman awaiting construction in the stash. However, 2025 didn’t pass without a Sherman being made….three in fact. All for Indian tank brigades in Burma.
December 21, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Far too hectic festive period to have any hobby time, so won’t be able to take part in this year’s #FestiveTankChallenge2025 despite having a Sherman awaiting construction in the stash. However, 2025 didn’t pass without a Sherman being made….three in fact. All for Indian tank brigades in Burma.
Looking back over the year’s new additions for my Second World War 20mm collection and I think this is my favourite. A Lanchester armoured car for the Far East, a 3D print.
December 20, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Looking back over the year’s new additions for my Second World War 20mm collection and I think this is my favourite. A Lanchester armoured car for the Far East, a 3D print.
Nick’s recent video on the TFL Patreon site reminded me that I still have the first hex and counter wargame I ever owned - Avalon Hill’s Afrika Korps. Bought for me by my dad, so we could play together. The start of many years of happy gaming. Still has the £4.60 price tag, a princely sum in 1973.
December 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Nick’s recent video on the TFL Patreon site reminded me that I still have the first hex and counter wargame I ever owned - Avalon Hill’s Afrika Korps. Bought for me by my dad, so we could play together. The start of many years of happy gaming. Still has the £4.60 price tag, a princely sum in 1973.
Lard Magazine 2025 is now out. Pleased to say it includes a mini campaign - ‘On Nunshigum Ridge’ that I wrote for Chain of Command, set in Imphal in 1944.
As always the Lard Magazine is packed full of stuff for a host of TFL rule sets and is excellent value for the price.
As always the Lard Magazine is packed full of stuff for a host of TFL rule sets and is excellent value for the price.
December 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Lard Magazine 2025 is now out. Pleased to say it includes a mini campaign - ‘On Nunshigum Ridge’ that I wrote for Chain of Command, set in Imphal in 1944.
As always the Lard Magazine is packed full of stuff for a host of TFL rule sets and is excellent value for the price.
As always the Lard Magazine is packed full of stuff for a host of TFL rule sets and is excellent value for the price.
We reach a key game in the Scottish Corridor campaign. If the Germans can win this one, then they've won the campaign. Failure and there's a chance the British can earn a victory themselves. Much to play for then as we come down to the wire! thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
The Scottish Corridor Scenario 11: The Outskirts of Colleville
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:04 AM
We reach a key game in the Scottish Corridor campaign. If the Germans can win this one, then they've won the campaign. Failure and there's a chance the British can earn a victory themselves. Much to play for then as we come down to the wire! thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
Used some figures left over from one of the Victrix 12mm sets to make up a few stands to represent dug-in squads for my O Group games. Simple enough to make - Milliput for the base and figures cut in half. Good way to use up the additional figures.
December 6, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Used some figures left over from one of the Victrix 12mm sets to make up a few stands to represent dug-in squads for my O Group games. Simple enough to make - Milliput for the base and figures cut in half. Good way to use up the additional figures.
Adding a few support options to my US Marines. The bulk of figures are from Eureka but the range lacks most support options so I’ve filled gaps with Kelly’s Heroes and Britannia. A decent fit in terms of size and sculpting style. Although not sure why all the Britannia have a full backpack load.
December 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Adding a few support options to my US Marines. The bulk of figures are from Eureka but the range lacks most support options so I’ve filled gaps with Kelly’s Heroes and Britannia. A decent fit in terms of size and sculpting style. Although not sure why all the Britannia have a full backpack load.
Hearing new players wondering how to deal with double phases in Chain of Command, so thought I'd put together a blog post with a few tips and thoughts. thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/deal...
Dealing with double phases in Chain of Command
thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Hearing new players wondering how to deal with double phases in Chain of Command, so thought I'd put together a blog post with a few tips and thoughts. thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2025/12/deal...
A few years ago, before I got back into miniatures, I was doing a lot of model making in 1/35. On a whim, I decided to see what I could do with the 1/76 Airfix models of my youth using my current modelling skills. This led to moments of sheer madness. Like rebuilding the engine deck of the JSIII….
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
A few years ago, before I got back into miniatures, I was doing a lot of model making in 1/35. On a whim, I decided to see what I could do with the 1/76 Airfix models of my youth using my current modelling skills. This led to moments of sheer madness. Like rebuilding the engine deck of the JSIII….
Lovely table for a big four player Sharp Practice game set during the Peninsular War. French gendarmerie chasing down Spanish guerrillas on a magnificent 18’x5’ table.
November 29, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Lovely table for a big four player Sharp Practice game set during the Peninsular War. French gendarmerie chasing down Spanish guerrillas on a magnificent 18’x5’ table.