Partizan May 2011

Arrived at 10:15 and no queue to get in. Entering the hall I was struck by just how quiet it was. Several empty tables and quite a few gaps where traders hadn't turned up. Probably not surprising given that last weekend was Triples.
Still I was able to get to all the stands without having to shoulder your way to the front.
There were several games that took my eye, one being the ECW game (I think it was ECW could have been thirty years war) that was at Triples. For good photographs go to Steve Wargamer for his Salute review. The two photos here are from the League of Augsberg game. I just really like the way that they've modelled the artillery and the cuirassier standing over his dead horse was a lovely detail.
I had a long chat with Barry over the "Under the Lilly Banner" rules since he had proof pages on the table. Even if you don't ,like the rules they seem to be a must buy for the photographs alone.

So what about purchases?

Plastic Persians - I told you I was looking for something new.

Wars of the Roses command figures.

Some paints from Coritani to go with the Persians.

That's it. I told you it was quiet.

On the way home we decided to stop off at the Newark Air Museum. Some really nice exhibits and aircraft on display.

The photo shows James in the pilots seat of a truly unique aircraft. He's sat in a Canberra and this particular aircraft is the only aircraft in the world that can claim to have bombed Concorde.

Apparently it was converted to drop water bombs on to Concorde in flight to test the icing of the airframe at altitude and speed during the test flights of Concorde.

Triples - the Big Game

So that was an exciting weekend. The Grimsby Wargames Society put on the large WSS game we've been working on over the last few months.
The playing surface was, as has been previously been posted, twenty feet long. What I've deliberately not advertised is tat four feet of this was showing the starting stages of a siege complete with the outer works of some Vauban fortifications.

The scenario was that the French had marched to besiege the town of Hoy and commenced their saps. The Allied army has now arrived and is endeavouring to lift the siege of the town. Based on what should have happened if Louis had not changed the plans and surprised Ghent instead (a decision that ultimately led to the French defeat at Oudenaarde).

The guns inside the fortification. Based on naval guns these were roped into place to minimise recoil.

A view of the problem facing any troops able to get over the escarpment. Ladders anyone?

The French heavy siege mortars begin to lob shells into the fort to stop the enemy guns from firing.

Lookouts behind the escarpment aren't safe from enemy fire though.

A closer view of the forts guns.

Eugen talks to his subordinate with plans to relieve the siege.

Prussians in Austrian service advance to close with the French.

Close range musketry duels start along the forward lines.

French sappers dig further towards the fort, whilst the French Regiment Artillerie protect them from sallies from the fort.

Smaller mortars in the forward sap try and pin down any of the garrison in the escarpment defences.

The French wagon park at the rear.

So how did we do?

Well we were given a prime spot in the show fortunately. We were the largest game there and the first thing that most of the public saw. I think the sound of jaws hitting the floor was to be heard quite often over the weekend.

Everyone who saw it was most complimentary. Everyone liked the fortifications and the sheer magnitude of the game. When it was explained that this size game was not unusual for us the jaws hit the floor again.

So how did we do?

Best in show. First prize.

My thanks to Mal & Andy for their hard work with the scenery. My thanks also to James, Jason, Wilf, Mark & John for their attendance at the game. More photos will be appearing soon on our website courtesy of Steve.

Time for a stiff whiskey I think.

Hobby News

I am reliably informed that BOYES chain of stores here in the UK have begun to stock Vallejo model & hobby paints and are well priced in not downright cheap. It also seems as though they have expanded their hobby range to include a variety of modelling tools at knock down prices.

Wars of the Roses Artillery

At Derby last year I bought a couple of packs from the Perry "Wars of the Roses" range to enhance my Yorkist array.

One pack was for the small mobile light artillery. Nice little model and well designed. Breech loading artillery was far more effective at this time then is popularly believed.


The other pack was for a more substantial bombard. The pack comes complete with the wheeled mantlet seen above. I really like this pack and thought it would be hard to put together but was please to find it was actually quite easy.

The bombard is braced by a series of heavy wooden pilings.

Firing out of the raised mantlet.

I kept the wooden pilings quite light in colour to try and show that they would have been less seasoned than the wooden base for the monster gun itself.

I was going to sell the bombard because I wasn't sure f I wanted it i my array since I'm trying to keep it fairly mobile. Having assembled and painted it I think it'll be a permanent feature.

A Week to go

Just ten more days before we put the big game on at Triples.

Any worries that we (strike that and read I) may have had about not being booked in have been removed. The Sheffield team have kindly put me out of my misery (thanks Tony) and confirmed that no matter what you might read on the Sheffield Triples 2011 Facebook page, the Grimsby boys are booked in. No floor plan yet but then I'm happy to just wait until we get there if need be. Point me in the direction of where you want the half ton of lead putting!

The Wars of the Roses revamp continues albeit slightly slowed by the lack of bases. I have a box full of precut bases from Warbases (see link on left) but not enough of the right size. Still, that hasn't stopped me from getting as many figures painted as I can. I'll post some pics later of the new artillery of which I am particularly proud.

I also have to recommend most highly the new revamped and very good WSS magazine. It was always good magazine but the new version is excellent. Issue 54 is themed around the 1688 "Glorious Revolution" but has other good articles in there as well. I especially liked the review section which is well laid out and presented. If other issues are as good I will probably subscribe to this magazine as well as Battlegames.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Caliver Books in Nottingham. If you ever get a chance to visit then do so. The problem will be in trying to decide what not to buy and how to increase your budget for the visit. I took £100 and had to leave several books behind. The staff are warm and friendly, the coffee hot and the shelves packed. Thanks Dave.
My purchases were a couple of soft back publications of now out of print translated French manuscripts for the War of the Spanish Succession and copies of Wargames in History vol2 along with the new "Hail Cesar" rules.

Ten days to go - wish it was less!

All Done

I can hardly believe that I've reached this point. Indeed it seems to have arrived without any fanfare or ceremony. For the first time that I can remember I have no work to be done on the War of the Spanish Succession project.
I've completed the last two staff officers for the project. Both are actually Foundry staff from their SYW range but I like them and they have so much character. I especially like the heavy jowls on the figure above who, for me at least, has a look of Charles Laughton about him

My very last French unit is the now completed Regiment Royale Artillerie. Resplendent in their pearl grey coats with blue facings, red waist coat, red breeches and stockings. Uniquely in the French army they also have a red ribbon on the hat.

The figures are all from Front Rank and I decided to go with the grenadier figure purely because I wanted them posed in action as though defending the artillery pieces, which was their reason for being there after all.

And finally I've also created the casualty figures I've promised myself. These will complement the casualty markers I've already done. The colour scheme is grey coat with grey facings, red waistcoat & breeches with white stockings. I chose this scheme largely because, with some alterations, it essentially matches the majority of the premier regiments in the French army at this time.

Now I need to find a suitable manner of celebrating this landmark. Of course they will all be on the table at Sheffield in a few weeks.

Wars of the Roses Revamp Begins

I bit the bullet (is that an appropriate expression for the Wars of the Roses?) as it were and started with the revamp of the project.
First up and I've completed the foot knights. Just two units is all I'm going to have, each of two bases of nine figures.
My rationale here is that I don't believe that there were numerous men in full, expensive, plate armour. Those nobles that could afford it would tend to be around the main commanders. In my project I have two - Richard Duke of York & Edmund Earl of Rutland.

Professor Richard Holmes

Very sad news that Professor Richard Holmes passed away after battling cancer.
I found his enthusiasm for his subject infectious and enthralling. He never failed to impress with his depth of knowledge and exceedingly well put together work.
He will be sadly missed and my condolences go to his family