Happy Birthday, 2D6 Wargaming.
Prelude to war:
Like many of us, I had had a break from wargaming and then returned after a few years. Life had gotten in the way, the chips were down and wargaming was well and truly on a hiatus.
I was depressed and pissed off. I wanted to go way back to something I enjoyed. Life is for living after all.
I had seen some 6mm (or possible 3mm) cold war tanks in a display at a show in Newark about 6 years previously and I just loved the smallness of it. How many units you could have. The much more realistic sized forces. My enthusiam wasnt support amongst my, mates. My then-current wargaming chums were having none of it! I even offered to buy them some!
My previous endeavours were mostly 20mm, now looking battle weary and tired in a dozen A4 foolscap boxes. The war chest was empty, I needed funds. I started e-baying them off but there were bloody loads of it and I gave up halfway through. I started giving it away...
The conversion
I purchased a few packs from here and there. Unimpressed with some and well impressed with others. I began to paint. Tricky at first, frustrating even. Having been only a mediocre painter in 20mm and moving more towards 28mm whilst getting some tips and help, I'd stopped wargaming. Then something clicked! I could do it!
It usually took me around 90 mins to paint a 28mm figure. I finished my first strip of four figures in 15 mins! A brown wash and viola! Magic!
I constantly searched the internet for 6mm. Reviews, images, painting guides... Whatever I could devour. There was very little around in 2016. I whinged about this on a Facebook group... Others lamented that wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a place you could find lots of 6mm?!
"Be the change you want to see." Erroneously said Gandhi... You cant be change. Change is a verb. It's like saying "be running". However, it did still resound. Ill shall start a youtube channel reviewing 6mm! Camera phone in hand and with no script, single takes, no editing... 2D6 Wargaming was born. I tried not to review anything I didn't like. I didn't think it cricket to smash some tiny cottage industry with a terrible review. Just the facts and some positives.
First endeavours
I'd always been into writing rules but never really got anything more than some notes. The last and most complete effort was some for 28mm skirmish. Having a lot of time on my hands I picked a period and start writing something.
I wrote my first draft of Banzai and with a little luck and some help from others published it. I made a whole load of errors and mistakes and hastily drafted the 2nd edition.
I began working on another set of rules this time for World War 2. Then the itch began. Models... Miniatures... Could I have them produced? No, that's absurd. It'll cost a fortune. Who will do the models, who will do the moulds? How do you even do that? No, no. That's not for me.
The itch
It wouldn't go away. No ointment or balm could soothe it. Found my self-writing emails and messages to people, "Can you do this?", "Would you make this?". A few bits wouldn't hurt, would they? I could always sell them on...
I woke up one morning. I'd done it. I'd commissioned work. Well, it is only a few hundred quid... In the scheme of things. At least I've tried it.
It was a disaster. I choosen a deacon portee, no one else seemd to make one. The fool had scaled the model from the height of the cab instead of the height of the turret on top! It had already been printed and gone off for a master mould and I had samples. The arse wanted more money to fix it. Unbelievable. The dream was over and the nightmare had begun! Even this didnt deter me.
Very luckily, I was soon in touch with a much more reasonable and talented person to help fix the blunder and make new tanks.
I had 6 products! It was 2018(?) The business model was to have made and distributed only to wholesale clients. I wouldn't need a shop or to do too much. I sent samples out to interested parties and they were well recieved. Orders were placed. It was happening. Until it wasn't.
I was the new kid on the block. Untested and new. Customers were wary. None of my stockists had real online shops at the start although some did later. So they only appeared at shows. They were always well recieved but didn't seem to sell well. There was no brand awareness. Something difficult to garner in the wargaming community. News travels slowly and people are brand loyal.
I started releasing new products but the stockists couldn't keep up. They were not shifting enough units to warrant spending more. It is a fair reason. Funds were starting to dwindle. I had no choice. Stagnate or open my shop.
Far from ideal. I now had a lot more work to do and I was also competing against myself through the stockists. There was confusion as to who owned the range and where the official shop and media pages were... It was not a great start and took some time to correct.
Just a few more of these or those... Then it will take off... It never really did. I poured every spare penny in. I worked overtime to get more. Grow the range and it will be ok I told myself.
Another brainwave... Diversify! The dark ages range was born... My World War 2 fans were not impressed. It was a bit of a flop. Fantastic range, great models but people perceive Vikings and Anglo-Saxons as some 28mm affair.
World War 2 continued... It's just so bloody massive. How can I get a full range? It's a recurring comment... Its something Im eager to tackle!
Another diversion, Feudal Japan... I had the ruleset, why not have the figures? The Kickstarter was a hit! Had the stars aligned? It was a great undertaking. I learned a lot but I also made a loss! A loss on the loss of it all so far. Not because I've mispriced things, not because of the services I use. It's because the capital costs eat all the profits, then the beast is still hungry!
What it cost
The capital costs of making models, setting up the production are massive. Hats off to the big boys with colossal ranges. Someones spent a pretty penny to get there. The growth costs are amazing and I've not spared the horses!
The tax year in England is the 6th of April the 5th of April. Yes, it is confusing but my point is, I've just done my tax return... With the current loss, I am running 2D6 Wargaming at, you could buy a brand new car! So if your thinking of following in my footsteps you better damn well have a lot of money to burn! To the rest of you, please pick up a pack of something to help me out!
If you have never had any 2D6 models in your hand, you are missing out! Get some! Having the Joy of Six postponed on me twice has been a massive blow.
In conclusion
So what originally started as a youtube, 6mm exclusive review, channel is now a sole trader company producing models and rules. With around 100 tin moulds and about 40 resin moulds and a great team that all have their part to play.
This is what I've brought together, for you. The 6mm Wargaming community. Happy birthday 2D6 Wargaming!