JJDesigns May 11th, 2020 News Update (1 Viewer)

[paxtoysoldier]

Hi John (and Julie),

Thanks for detailed response; more than I hoped for! No worries; plenty of patience here. . . can only afford to collect so fast ^&grin I'm probably not a typical collector in that I wargame with my collection, so having access to all the different troop types in an army is critical. Hence the questions. You've hit on all my favorite periods of military history: F&IW, Punic Wars, Norman Conquest and the Aztecs/Conquistadors. For the Punic Wars, I've collected Romans by several manufacturers in both 15mm and 28mm scales but was never satisfied with any of them completely, so never actually built the armies. Your Punic Wars Romans are a great combination of accurate equipment and dynamic fighting poses. . . and the expanding line of Romans and Punics, along with your plans to add the troops we're discussing is going to provide some great gaming! I never thought I would ever game this period at this scale. . . but here we are.

You can get an idea of my F&IW gaming from my blog. At some point Hannibal and Scipio will square off on it, too!

Thanks again,
Chris
cluckamok.blogspot.com

I don't want to derail this thread (love the topic) so I'll just say I'm impressed that you wargame with figures of such large scales. I hope more people do. Jenkins does a good job giving you all the essentials, but it is always hard with figures as fancy as his.
Still I doubt I will play a game on this scale more than once or twice with dad so I'd like to ask if you enjoy any wargames on the computer?
I'm a fan of Panzer General and Waterloo, Napoleon's last battle and Civil War Generals and others. Recently got a game called Fields of Glory 2 with battles ranging from Megiddo to Hastings. Just wondering if a real wargamer likes any games out there (been a while since my Axis & Allies grognard days.)
Playing those games always revives my interest in you soldiers, and vice versa. Like a good movie or museum.
Like your website! Ppl should check it out. Best wishes and stay safe and happy,
Paddy

 

[joesgis]

The JJD roll continues- just crushing it! Wonderful work John and as always the releases are coordinated so very well.

Also, is it just me or does anyone else like the single color look of John's figures? The figures are so nice that they even look fantastic unpainted! I don't think I've mentioned that before, but I've always felt that way about his work.

Joe

 

[paxtoysoldier]

The JJD roll continues- just crushing it! Wonderful work John and as always the releases are coordinated so very well.

Also, is it just me or does anyone else like the single color look of John's figures? The figures are so nice that they even look fantastic unpainted! I don't think I've mentioned that before, but I've always felt that way about his work.

Joe

Yes the sculpture is always the base and JJD has it down

 

[Isandlwana]

If you recall, at the outset of this ancient range it was being promoted or intended as a joint venture between JJD and K&C with John producing the enemies of Rome and K&C wanting to produce the Romans themselves.

Personally, I am very glad that, for whatever reason, this venture fell by the wayside more or less immediately with John ploughing his own furrow and I'm glad for two very distinct reasons. The first is that K&C would never have kept up. And the second is the style. K&C have that very unique "outline" style of painting that make their figures look like 3D cartoons. The brightness of their painting too is like they have ramped up the saturation level as you would using post editing software with photos. John's colours are more believable, for want of a better word and it's far better not to have such contrasting styles as would otherwise have been the case.

 

[Old Bill]

If you recall, at the outset of this ancient range it was being promoted or intended as a joint venture between JJD and K&C with John producing the enemies of Rome and K&C wanting to produce the Romans themselves.

Personally, I am very glad that, for whatever reason, this venture fell by the wayside more or less immediately with John ploughing his own furrow and I'm glad for two very distinct reasons. The first is that K&C would never have kept up. And the second is the style. K&C have that very unique "outline" style of painting that make their figures look like 3D cartoons. The brightness of their painting too is like they have ramped up the saturation level as you would using post editing software with photos. John's colours are more believable, for want of a better word and it's far better not to have such contrasting styles as would otherwise have been the case.

I do indeed recall Isandlwana ​

I also seem to recall it was Andy K&C who implied a "joint venture" but I don't recall JJD commenting on it at all. caused a bit of confusion (for me anyway....) at the time ​

 

[Cluck Amok]

I don't want to derail this thread (love the topic) so I'll just say I'm impressed that you wargame with figures of such large scales. I hope more people do. Jenkins does a good job giving you all the essentials, but it is always hard with figures as fancy as his.
Still I doubt I will play a game on this scale more than once or twice with dad so I'd like to ask if you enjoy any wargames on the computer?
I'm a fan of Panzer General and Waterloo, Napoleon's last battle and Civil War Generals and others. Recently got a game called Fields of Glory 2 with battles ranging from Megiddo to Hastings. Just wondering if a real wargamer likes any games out there (been a while since my Axis & Allies grognard days.)
Playing those games always revives my interest in you soldiers, and vice versa. Like a good movie or museum.
Like your website! Ppl should check it out. Best wishes and stay safe and happy,
Paddy

Hey Paddy,

Thanks for checking out my site. Though I don't really game online, I'm happy to talk about games I know about. Feel free to PM me.

Bests,
Chris

 

[paxtoysoldier]

Hey Paddy,

Thanks for checking out my site. Though I don't really game online, I'm happy to talk about games I know about. Feel free to PM me.

Bests,
Chris

OK I'm clearly too old school at 43 to be able to PM you successfully so I'll just quickly say:
I love your blog. Each game is interesting. Also like the links and new books. I love those wargaming books. Even if you never use their rules, they are usually pretty and interesting. Also, love the war toad.
Not good enough at online games to make a good point here, an Aussie beat me 8 of 9 times... And I was the Romans to his disordered Britons.
I just think it's all a great way to do more with our hobby. I bet many people on this forum would be good wargamers, and to do it in our scale is very fun. You should start a thread here. I'll chime in, though I'm no expert at all. Just think it's cool.
Anyway best wishes and stay safe and happy
Paddy

 

[Rudi Starnberg]

Just a query, have only 3 Carthage infantry been released so far ? ( musician, standard bearer and lion head dress warrior?)
cheers

 

[nysoldiers]

Just a query, have only 3 Carthage infantry been released so far ? ( musician, standard bearer and lion head dress warrior?)
cheers

Numidian cavalry, Spanish Cavalry, Carthraginian infantry and Gallic infantry and cavalry........much more to come.

 

[Gribeauval]

Hi John (and Julie),

Thanks for detailed response; more than I hoped for! No worries; plenty of patience here. . . can only afford to collect so fast ^&grin I'm probably not a typical collector in that I wargame with my collection, so having access to all the different troop types in an army is critical. Hence the questions. You've hit on all my favorite periods of military history: F&IW, Punic Wars, Norman Conquest and the Aztecs/Conquistadors. For the Punic Wars, I've collected Romans by several manufacturers in both 15mm and 28mm scales but was never satisfied with any of them completely, so never actually built the armies. Your Punic Wars Romans are a great combination of accurate equipment and dynamic fighting poses. . . and the expanding line of Romans and Punics, along with your plans to add the troops we're discussing is going to provide some great gaming! I never thought I would ever game this period at this scale. . . but here we are.

You can get an idea of my F&IW gaming from my blog. At some point Hannibal and Scipio will square off on it, too!

Thanks again,
Chris
cluckamok.blogspot.com

Agreed. I game with my toy soldiers as well, and John Jenkins produces the most usable toy soldiers for tabletop. I have several other makers represented, but John's line is becoming my go-to figures for many of my armies. Currently gaming Civil War, and adding his Bull Run line (which has many uses besides American Civil War) as they come out. I hope he doesn't produce too many items too fast. It is difficult to keep up.

 

[Rudi Starnberg]

Numidian cavalry, Spanish Cavalry, Carthraginian infantry and Gallic infantry and cavalry........much more to come.

Yes, so 3 Carthaginians on foot specifically released so far, with more to come later, but not quite on sale as yet? The other Carthaginian veterans look great, a fascinating line up

 

[Dragoon]

Yes, so 3 Carthaginians on foot specifically released so far, with more to come later, but not quite on sale as yet? The other Carthaginian veterans look great, a fascinating line up

Sets CTM-05A and CTM-05B were released last month.

 

[marco55]

John really does some nice figures no matter what period.
Mark

 

[Cluck Amok]

I hope he doesn't produce too many items too fast. It is difficult to keep up.

I hear that! MY budget is straining already!