tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260851482024-03-07T19:03:02.683+00:00Grimsby WargamingA blog about my activities and those of my fellow gamers in the Grimsby Wargames Societymarinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.comBlogger1376125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-33931596182591381262024-02-23T12:14:00.003+00:002024-02-23T12:14:45.851+00:00Paul's Big Birthday Bash<p style="text-align: left;">To celebrate a rather significant birthday I arranged for some of my friends to gather at the Grimsby Wargames Society and take part in a large - VERY large - War of the Spanish Succession game.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Between us we managed to put some hundred battalions and two hundred squadrons of horse on to a 24x6 table and get the game played in five hours. </p><p style="text-align: left;">The game was loosely based around the battle of Hochstadt in 1703 on the same ground that Marlborough fought over a year later at Blenheim. No I don't know why the two battles have different names despite being on almost exactly the same battlefield. To mix things up even further I made the Allied army take the place of the French with the French now playing the role of the beleagured allied troops on the actual day.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I wish I could give you a blow by blow account of the game but it all went by in a flurry of activity and excitement. I can tell you that the French were beaten badly. My dice rolling was atrocious. My opponents dice rolling was well above average in contrast. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">Blogger has chosen to ignore the sequence of photographs and randomised them for entertainment. Hopefully you can still enjoy the spectacle of thousands of nicely painted figures being used by a group of like minded individuals having a great day. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN_O1WQAb1Jff47U4U6OaxaDDJjJ4mGBNWzXTHXL5lXLLrdSsiz_ZMql0wuDKqTeaEa2vIkRpfmvn0W5X6XdomqzYMbESJkc8Ktiz1-Dewmf7gr7iK1giN0ZRByti4bOtszNGXG-u__kh993EF2LAYb0jq6f_JhV7P62aOBzJhdJVUxXIVWgk/s3456/20240222_130428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Danish troops from my collection" border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN_O1WQAb1Jff47U4U6OaxaDDJjJ4mGBNWzXTHXL5lXLLrdSsiz_ZMql0wuDKqTeaEa2vIkRpfmvn0W5X6XdomqzYMbESJkc8Ktiz1-Dewmf7gr7iK1giN0ZRByti4bOtszNGXG-u__kh993EF2LAYb0jq6f_JhV7P62aOBzJhdJVUxXIVWgk/w320-h320/20240222_130428.jpg" title="Danish troops advance" width="320" /></a></div>Danish troops from my collection<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRUWP0G6GHr9_o1sKeVNKqz2HkKcs0FwlNUInL06AvTJ7M0VAU6UQ3pljZ5yd1m1HuZ90OMpQx5npA4S9sNn6ndeMBxaf6GCrozikjr19iUBcqkKFDvQBjmF9xOOMN76WTUgv47BtTVSbeYKNHowRtMrmaF9Ig-HeHfdTgAVECKbts5FXPGuS/s3456/20240222_130410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRUWP0G6GHr9_o1sKeVNKqz2HkKcs0FwlNUInL06AvTJ7M0VAU6UQ3pljZ5yd1m1HuZ90OMpQx5npA4S9sNn6ndeMBxaf6GCrozikjr19iUBcqkKFDvQBjmF9xOOMN76WTUgv47BtTVSbeYKNHowRtMrmaF9Ig-HeHfdTgAVECKbts5FXPGuS/s320/20240222_130410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Imperial troops from Andy H<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kwc4IgQbg1zt8y5YtMv5nhGNm9XifvCYGiQCst3h-POD4VWiVIBtOwDzKWGy3gWLOpjqUnPbB0DuzJgziRUlXP7Qp7X_2KSqNKfyV_rpSUKkHGFHn-m5tEcGZp_NZrAnVCzK8NFtOps-GJfJNKia3zfNtnJNUt9sdDbAWeZp6K8M1sv19Agh/s3456/20240222_130306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kwc4IgQbg1zt8y5YtMv5nhGNm9XifvCYGiQCst3h-POD4VWiVIBtOwDzKWGy3gWLOpjqUnPbB0DuzJgziRUlXP7Qp7X_2KSqNKfyV_rpSUKkHGFHn-m5tEcGZp_NZrAnVCzK8NFtOps-GJfJNKia3zfNtnJNUt9sdDbAWeZp6K8M1sv19Agh/s320/20240222_130306.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>John's French pit themselves against Andy S and his Savoyards<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6Q0yKO8Ae93I9jtPh0NIarTdn9SFiM9xoykKmgSfChpmtxShKHI6QKDiLep3TBepBXpkVaq2JX0FuVgNHcDdB9dvi8rF7SlEvkceJGPKWRIV4li1AifsbUELWrJbgwn4RSLq6e4OxCBF_tLRMdH50G0eggR5UaOC6SazokKwONTZ32hhIikF/s3456/20240222_130255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6Q0yKO8Ae93I9jtPh0NIarTdn9SFiM9xoykKmgSfChpmtxShKHI6QKDiLep3TBepBXpkVaq2JX0FuVgNHcDdB9dvi8rF7SlEvkceJGPKWRIV4li1AifsbUELWrJbgwn4RSLq6e4OxCBF_tLRMdH50G0eggR5UaOC6SazokKwONTZ32hhIikF/s320/20240222_130255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Some hope for the French as the reserve nine battalions arrive but a little too late as it turned out<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIdCW-n2bakXU0G5ERioW6MS81FnBTlzkfzUqNuD-6MMRmOB28-vzLftDr3AdDXzC337zxO_kkE3HoTrdues-0xVcyRq49IpQmDAAjLV5IC-aMgf4kzhpZjk-qEwPEMLyJ38E0RLuecT1lRMb59lMU_TIpkTCXAZy5DNxpRlHaaPgNILTPhlS/s3456/20240222_130250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIdCW-n2bakXU0G5ERioW6MS81FnBTlzkfzUqNuD-6MMRmOB28-vzLftDr3AdDXzC337zxO_kkE3HoTrdues-0xVcyRq49IpQmDAAjLV5IC-aMgf4kzhpZjk-qEwPEMLyJ38E0RLuecT1lRMb59lMU_TIpkTCXAZy5DNxpRlHaaPgNILTPhlS/s320/20240222_130250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>wave after wave of Dutch and Danes<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi295m0uJcaaDky0RtF-eVaRcEzU7tpC9AVbYuLPCe1i__amFwsxrHyrxy4cEjJkbEwwU7sGKY9B0qJPWD37SqWB_TUe1oEE6xarp-PQWxM5RWG5b-TRtrL5xow426Ga_-5ee3kiYMAZ-wRq9DimIy0Nj3EUB1WAu17Zrav5HZ0R4ysH0OREU-i/s3456/20240222_125847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi295m0uJcaaDky0RtF-eVaRcEzU7tpC9AVbYuLPCe1i__amFwsxrHyrxy4cEjJkbEwwU7sGKY9B0qJPWD37SqWB_TUe1oEE6xarp-PQWxM5RWG5b-TRtrL5xow426Ga_-5ee3kiYMAZ-wRq9DimIy0Nj3EUB1WAu17Zrav5HZ0R4ysH0OREU-i/s320/20240222_125847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWQ-u7M0E_qyQChDsYKAYLkj3a7h4j_77rrftiDrON9_QRfU9Fvd7sUYg2ebT8NF2mR5_dAUrLR2ec79vPmiOaPN9eDE4JbyTgTwU2vJboTGzNNcbY8kWPniJKEy8z_6yqJVE1HQ862XEClnDjowlTrpbeiMRtrQ4HNXv-TEbDANsOSKO2STF/s3456/20240222_104540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWQ-u7M0E_qyQChDsYKAYLkj3a7h4j_77rrftiDrON9_QRfU9Fvd7sUYg2ebT8NF2mR5_dAUrLR2ec79vPmiOaPN9eDE4JbyTgTwU2vJboTGzNNcbY8kWPniJKEy8z_6yqJVE1HQ862XEClnDjowlTrpbeiMRtrQ4HNXv-TEbDANsOSKO2STF/s320/20240222_104540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>the French front line looking a little overwhelmed<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhR2twoErnMzKlbKxQbS6WfGi21gj1wOyaFolsvkgFIfK62QHcgj8D0wayitPyyZR1AVXf0eJuQickOwFaME5djKn_6yuLBKUR5hmR_bzZxB1tEXzoi7MZzaPCbm3ASDrpfyxI1k4inoZ4O4yNKNqjnGOVCzwj_uYTsbuY6bw7sScsN8L-tY9/s3456/20240222_102523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhR2twoErnMzKlbKxQbS6WfGi21gj1wOyaFolsvkgFIfK62QHcgj8D0wayitPyyZR1AVXf0eJuQickOwFaME5djKn_6yuLBKUR5hmR_bzZxB1tEXzoi7MZzaPCbm3ASDrpfyxI1k4inoZ4O4yNKNqjnGOVCzwj_uYTsbuY6bw7sScsN8L-tY9/s320/20240222_102523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>massed horse get to grips with each other<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ79fGnrmPSgrgdBe4Gcv1F8o5ROCmt70LaKCb7LWDv6HjV5IjB6fUv7p_t3-0ygHnt51mM_hJAtg6Ll-kzwL6iA5wRI50A1GoJoqSwLP7y549LFuQZoJ-PGMhocf9hkHYeWu6qvqP0SQ0Z6e_kfb1k_LQhD-a5c6Tfu3cO6AuZ9NcE1q_x09Z/s3456/20240222_094827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ79fGnrmPSgrgdBe4Gcv1F8o5ROCmt70LaKCb7LWDv6HjV5IjB6fUv7p_t3-0ygHnt51mM_hJAtg6Ll-kzwL6iA5wRI50A1GoJoqSwLP7y549LFuQZoJ-PGMhocf9hkHYeWu6qvqP0SQ0Z6e_kfb1k_LQhD-a5c6Tfu3cO6AuZ9NcE1q_x09Z/s320/20240222_094827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A view along the table at the start of the game<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG8xfcNChbT75U2J0ZdnuOW6qylUh0IXKf8p3qN8lANyv3x_tmOb9LXf-nBHhnp7QiVcG2H59UHuoU26iNm8I_c3uEcOxHrMnH1CDFWPYNVh7jvGGdaqjlyEpfKUObNNWs7cVR-4Br3SnBAoh2ASaATDC14xCxTlQLX1MIx4V7EoK68VKZCj2/s3456/20240222_094804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDG8xfcNChbT75U2J0ZdnuOW6qylUh0IXKf8p3qN8lANyv3x_tmOb9LXf-nBHhnp7QiVcG2H59UHuoU26iNm8I_c3uEcOxHrMnH1CDFWPYNVh7jvGGdaqjlyEpfKUObNNWs7cVR-4Br3SnBAoh2ASaATDC14xCxTlQLX1MIx4V7EoK68VKZCj2/s320/20240222_094804.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>John's lovely French army<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieoev8LizA_iXFrp40Hxp9fALoKOp77C_MFGpGjNWJFByJ9ILZacIJEFRNK9JX6RSvgjT6VwbDCtVucFmdoEb-TFqL8qXJOVIUS89QVwI7lpVcKHZxZ_pLaaY4CM8EQF1wdMW3c6tMUmsd9i7viC57l-_nwVwJHC2aBWu_qL_498qRZNfaE7g/s3456/20240222_094752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieoev8LizA_iXFrp40Hxp9fALoKOp77C_MFGpGjNWJFByJ9ILZacIJEFRNK9JX6RSvgjT6VwbDCtVucFmdoEb-TFqL8qXJOVIUS89QVwI7lpVcKHZxZ_pLaaY4CM8EQF1wdMW3c6tMUmsd9i7viC57l-_nwVwJHC2aBWu_qL_498qRZNfaE7g/s320/20240222_094752.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Some of my French horse in the center<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4-zJuBoKxODv7ktlunpksulPIIPt7vJ6gW4OHWO23wiMj0BRKT3f_TUU6vgssXmIw-apDCyYDQX2ioV1YBlpiitnGx6QdpR0Xg1EOvhjEGO_IhxoBF8e4prBJzymD-EdJI23L4QuydpvJcIpToWdc85GGeMpFUBrrXUoK5_q5X6_DN90mNN1/s3456/20240222_094745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4-zJuBoKxODv7ktlunpksulPIIPt7vJ6gW4OHWO23wiMj0BRKT3f_TUU6vgssXmIw-apDCyYDQX2ioV1YBlpiitnGx6QdpR0Xg1EOvhjEGO_IhxoBF8e4prBJzymD-EdJI23L4QuydpvJcIpToWdc85GGeMpFUBrrXUoK5_q5X6_DN90mNN1/s320/20240222_094745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My command before hostilities began<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">My thanks to all those who took part and provided figures - Mark, Andy H, Andy S, John, Chris, Glynn and to Ian for making the trek to come and see it.</p><p style="text-align: left;">All the figures are from the collections of club members and all the scenery from the overloaded shelves of the Society.</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-70522684191985304952023-11-28T06:24:00.005+00:002023-11-28T07:45:11.560+00:00Napoleon - or a lesson in why Hollywood does not do History<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0GdxyTnck7ZudAGVNeZjnVIg_917KN9EXbU_LVWyAKLU8y8kbolmNu0qlpHXzFMUTcXYBtEpNz68BMO1duC1xIoz0ps0ctJ8HD6Ojnq2FKVK_MgaOhQNpdoOCBaTqlCRrcc8CkJz29ZAEsOIiVswb4k5GV68ZjcII49wXMSMhOTqKRqyIhpl/s273/nap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="273" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0GdxyTnck7ZudAGVNeZjnVIg_917KN9EXbU_LVWyAKLU8y8kbolmNu0qlpHXzFMUTcXYBtEpNz68BMO1duC1xIoz0ps0ctJ8HD6Ojnq2FKVK_MgaOhQNpdoOCBaTqlCRrcc8CkJz29ZAEsOIiVswb4k5GV68ZjcII49wXMSMhOTqKRqyIhpl/s1600/nap.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>Ridley Scott has a story to tell.<div><br /></div><div>The problem is that Scott doesn't tell it very well.<br /><p></p><p>A portly Napoleon, who looks permanently angry with the world, rises to the very pinnacle of government and beyond before crashing to earth. We're not quite sure how this happens and what he has in terms of character and charisma to make this possible. Meanwhile, Josephine (the best part of the film with the superb Vanessa Kirby in the role), gives his life meaning and focus from start to finish.</p><p>The film has the flow of a blocked drain and in parts smells just as bad. It jumps around at an alarming rate in parts and hardly introduces any of the characters (I don't remember a single one of his Marshals being identified in person despite their names being mentioned). Some scenes fly by without allowing you to take in what happened and others drag on to a point they become almost comic - not sure what we gain by seeing Napoleon snorting and stamping like a bull before taking Josephine. Indeed, I did laugh out loud at the closing scene.</p><p>The battle scenes are, with two exceptions, just dreadful. You would have thought with state of the art CGI the spectacle of thousands of men clashing on the field of battle to be both impressive and dramatic. Instead we get a handful of men thrashing around in the mud and blood (or ice and snow at Austerlitz). And I just can't wait to see Black Powder "it's only a game" players with their trench lines and camouflaged artillery.</p><p>The two exceptions are the attack at Toulon which does manage to convoy the horror and spectacle we seek and the forming of the squares at Waterloo.</p><p>Paul Biddiss, the military technical advisor for the film, claims to have based many of the battle scenes on the methods written down by the participants during his research for the film. For the forming of the squares I can believe this. For all the other battle scenes I can only say "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot"?</p><p>Having said all that the costumes, uniforms, cinematography and settings are stunning. Okay, every French soldier may not have a Marshals baton in it but they do seem to have a flag in it. There are a lot of flags. A lot of flags. </p><p>So is the film as good as the hype and our expectations?</p><p>No. </p><p>Is the film as bad as the worst reviews?</p><p>No. Two and a half hours passed quite quickly for me but I have no desire to watch it again.</p><p><br /></p></div>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-77292725962009390962023-11-24T08:41:00.001+00:002023-11-24T08:41:19.738+00:00Hohenfreidburg in 15mm<p><br />A few weeks ago Tony organised his annual, large multi-player game for the Grimsby Wargames Society. As usual this was a 15mm mid eighteenth century affair featuring figures from the collection of several members of the club. </p><p>Each participant receives a recconnaissance pack several days in advance detailing the organisation of their forces and some details of the enemy. A detailed map of the playing area is given along with the rules for the day. On average each player has between 12 and fourteen battalions of foot or twenty to thirty squadrons of horse. Given that there were nine players involved it's a lot of tin on the table.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT3TtBpeSs2SatYisupqTljIQgvAu3Nz63shHXINK-PyH0SoeC9rlKzuQxVTkoGRSZ_8wpPkhUMWtMSOhhj9y0uW7_R1N46G9LnV3u9m5E4j7r6mXR5MJ72e79050_5aJS-Mrtk1_48z_Akz6efDyFiBvhssRUvF0iiQorozukgLBbeNlk0X_/s4624/15mm%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjT3TtBpeSs2SatYisupqTljIQgvAu3Nz63shHXINK-PyH0SoeC9rlKzuQxVTkoGRSZ_8wpPkhUMWtMSOhhj9y0uW7_R1N46G9LnV3u9m5E4j7r6mXR5MJ72e79050_5aJS-Mrtk1_48z_Akz6efDyFiBvhssRUvF0iiQorozukgLBbeNlk0X_/s320/15mm%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Prussians on the left of the above photograph begin to arrive. Meanwhile the Austrians defend the base line.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1BGyLxiKW8tTNRKpdIjWdlZSNTKyDw6EZQtY3mIZlZl2j5T_WXQysPUld0yIWcCj1BGsr6ohJUaeA1RWAJxdWfITxm6_-G6sm029zaq610MT7l9DzkbmB9YAJGTEScau3rCNn2_VZMHYSrSmTYtkU3oebecr2tnFuIl-NqRWcAEmSVyyOR46/s4624/15mm%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1BGyLxiKW8tTNRKpdIjWdlZSNTKyDw6EZQtY3mIZlZl2j5T_WXQysPUld0yIWcCj1BGsr6ohJUaeA1RWAJxdWfITxm6_-G6sm029zaq610MT7l9DzkbmB9YAJGTEScau3rCNn2_VZMHYSrSmTYtkU3oebecr2tnFuIl-NqRWcAEmSVyyOR46/s320/15mm%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">My force. Fourteen battalions of Prussian foot tasked with breaking ten battalions of Austrian Grenadiers and few other sundry support units. This was to be no mean feat and Steve (my opponent across the table) and I hurled line after line into the fray all day long.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwxtLbfK1uYsKxcpgE3p4VNoxbK8IR315aCPeHBPUJqSb8SPi5oUmKKYnTQBcdR8QBO3UgC-lEipxVDbes8GUP0CyfBaGEKg7XUJg1Vmc6Nis1SMPdoA5YJ9wNvmzarwtjNGigJ_EWjYqJYHg7d55B1TGyLTIDFzkkLaVgCTsoqryKbZKmutU/s320/15mm%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, to my left Andy & Mike began a day long series of cavalry melees that seemed to suck in more and more Austrians the longer the game went on. Indeed I think the entire Austrian reserve were drawn into this quarter of the battlefield that meant nothing at all to the main event. Prussian planning seemed to work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUhQy4Gc2fHiykJVJfckSr-1lNrgUiSaVrI00w5wJdF0dRu98mZKICNaHMHk8GqUweZzLYqbtdePjt-vFlBOAXdgHTivVHVSfpJ5JU9aSXSB_XkdIvKfq6n8hWIP1RecuofUhKVlSPdfscja8SRAnSAg90InyUyQJmtyF4L6GFxhyANN2jTye/s4624/15mm%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUhQy4Gc2fHiykJVJfckSr-1lNrgUiSaVrI00w5wJdF0dRu98mZKICNaHMHk8GqUweZzLYqbtdePjt-vFlBOAXdgHTivVHVSfpJ5JU9aSXSB_XkdIvKfq6n8hWIP1RecuofUhKVlSPdfscja8SRAnSAg90InyUyQJmtyF4L6GFxhyANN2jTye/s320/15mm%20(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My division showing the cumulative effects of relentless battering from the Austrians. Thankfully, the deployment into three lines allowed me to replenish the fatigued units in the front at a frequency the Austrians couldn't match. Despite suffering heavy casualties I actually only lost two battalions on the day (I might not be able to roll shooting dice but I had the luck with morale rolls).</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62_19oGbF24h3W-7kO4KiBuoKIRzFrqbhlKp_33T0bVT1ZY1ekR6TC9GBWYxjaDhd9vIMEVWZ8s6oBwi2Me0bifj_t-5FBZ_YmrOjzKaBUx9YikTwEtQRMfXRurCUAro8qABhNTYDqcHXfcMB05HiozT69LN3qQ9NER6BmA7BEdUP1BdqQKR_/s4624/15mm%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62_19oGbF24h3W-7kO4KiBuoKIRzFrqbhlKp_33T0bVT1ZY1ekR6TC9GBWYxjaDhd9vIMEVWZ8s6oBwi2Me0bifj_t-5FBZ_YmrOjzKaBUx9YikTwEtQRMfXRurCUAro8qABhNTYDqcHXfcMB05HiozT69LN3qQ9NER6BmA7BEdUP1BdqQKR_/s320/15mm%20(5).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The situation to my left at the end of play. All the Austrians reserves were out of place to effect the Prussian break through on my right where Fredrick had deployed the reserve grenadiers and smashed through the two defending Austrian divisions. Sorry no photographs of that sector as I was far too busy most of the day to take any interest in something that didn't immediately affect my own position.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I haven't played in one of these games for a while after making a promise to not play in any multi-player game using the "Black Powder" rules at the club. This time out we used a slightly adapted version of Jim Purky's Seven Years War rules. Things seemed to move faster and smoother for the most part and played well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My thanks to Tony for arranging the whole thing and to those members that allowed us to play with their magnificent collections.</div><p></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-62454599072874950992023-06-20T11:18:00.000+00:002023-06-20T11:18:00.881+00:00Wild Geese 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This last weekend was the annual gathering of the Wild Geese in Warwickshire. This year six games were presented to entertain twenty four gamers for two days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took along my collection of flats and was able to run through the entire game four times in three gaming sessions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWHRWxYdFAV1Y00eyLqU_wty2dpLRp5lsn2kLBNJePDxeTNcFGrv5iONZEjGuKWnF58pjfnC1HpxCrY6v1QFTr5gOB23BFUh0bOoYeoLX8RPhHc7WKwAYOLqBQBS1lgMCBc6PyJFc7G-nGve8OMLUtqrsKD0j5k9JxZf2tu0e17uOrWd6HH2n/s1156/flats%20game%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWHRWxYdFAV1Y00eyLqU_wty2dpLRp5lsn2kLBNJePDxeTNcFGrv5iONZEjGuKWnF58pjfnC1HpxCrY6v1QFTr5gOB23BFUh0bOoYeoLX8RPhHc7WKwAYOLqBQBS1lgMCBc6PyJFc7G-nGve8OMLUtqrsKD0j5k9JxZf2tu0e17uOrWd6HH2n/s320/flats%20game%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The first game was a victory to the Prussians with the French conceding defeat.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD9pPf5kCJm5HBKfbgM6zVcTgmA2FMZ4v7fXrzswHHMj8vGX2y7l-4RjytKOo2CVqi5DbUlqobYmcun31uOz2zglAQSeMAamKlOgGPKnYzEgfFvrih16-PkRwccJYFshVSxzc3Qs3LixduhGQyoCJkib51mzBO9RWIl0Xx9kAtIjqfDtS9fIJ/s1156/flats%20game%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD9pPf5kCJm5HBKfbgM6zVcTgmA2FMZ4v7fXrzswHHMj8vGX2y7l-4RjytKOo2CVqi5DbUlqobYmcun31uOz2zglAQSeMAamKlOgGPKnYzEgfFvrih16-PkRwccJYFshVSxzc3Qs3LixduhGQyoCJkib51mzBO9RWIl0Xx9kAtIjqfDtS9fIJ/s320/flats%20game%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Games two and three were played with the same players. Game two was the quickest anyone had ever managed to defeat the Prussians but we won't dwell on the causes too much shall we Guy. Game three was Prussian victory.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pVLNq4qdjpcmubiPKEmIsrAtpcJ3RfeXjRBKmk6QXxkVTQ43YI9e44vYQZW5W8GVVMkuKKjSqhGJSSQw0qUzREYSE5fvZ9-xD8Lr4ulZc6Edumcl_VO96KOm8QxBHAAG6wpIYBxwHFYV8i9cWO8-YcYJs4cmvhAy_Gv_6bEk6wVr1FbOelJ4/s1000/flats%20game%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pVLNq4qdjpcmubiPKEmIsrAtpcJ3RfeXjRBKmk6QXxkVTQ43YI9e44vYQZW5W8GVVMkuKKjSqhGJSSQw0qUzREYSE5fvZ9-xD8Lr4ulZc6Edumcl_VO96KOm8QxBHAAG6wpIYBxwHFYV8i9cWO8-YcYJs4cmvhAy_Gv_6bEk6wVr1FbOelJ4/s320/flats%20game%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Game four had just two players and was a Prussian victory again.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHedeyJVk-hHXsbhCgHNC9qiyr72tKhRtBI-oSuI1HI-6rDA4h5kpJqC55J_Z70h3mAaWCcaVmJi10EdpGcoUV52Aa6u_mT0Wdsqcl4x19WYrlYEPnQySxgeh_m5MEUO2bFypPwKU4PW8U_xlOA9a1jhxbsVpH9YywJ2rJ0QX28JmaRnOLJ_-D/s1156/flats%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHedeyJVk-hHXsbhCgHNC9qiyr72tKhRtBI-oSuI1HI-6rDA4h5kpJqC55J_Z70h3mAaWCcaVmJi10EdpGcoUV52Aa6u_mT0Wdsqcl4x19WYrlYEPnQySxgeh_m5MEUO2bFypPwKU4PW8U_xlOA9a1jhxbsVpH9YywJ2rJ0QX28JmaRnOLJ_-D/s320/flats%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The rules were of my own design and relied on a series of modified dice rolls to break up the lines. The players then had to decide how best to use their limited number of actions to maintain their formation and to keep up the pressure on the enemy. I have to admit that no two players chose to do so in the same fashion in any of the games.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBK6bEd2-Z8JCSeB3iLPps6RBKVUDKXqMl-wEtPdogXWczRDCATSCipF_5jKEFPsprQNzECpUvMDwaFIXmsqpdnlfTW3991AU2vVES5IrZ_ZO4THeTlidIlECXt9hFPpjp0TuYCmS22w8SHcewCjnOBBD19PWx9WbOvHMvGaWBa7kwqgQOX8Hu/s1156/flats%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBK6bEd2-Z8JCSeB3iLPps6RBKVUDKXqMl-wEtPdogXWczRDCATSCipF_5jKEFPsprQNzECpUvMDwaFIXmsqpdnlfTW3991AU2vVES5IrZ_ZO4THeTlidIlECXt9hFPpjp0TuYCmS22w8SHcewCjnOBBD19PWx9WbOvHMvGaWBa7kwqgQOX8Hu/s320/flats%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My favourite moment of the weekend was to watch the French players in game three suddenly realise that one of the units in the line facing them was their own. Picardie had been so successful in breaking the enemy that they had overrun the Prussian line and remained in limbo for several turns as the battle ebbed and swirled around them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6I3BXY84afVg5RTJUg7-W4DrdYz4Blf4ODB_gVHX8AFuWf5mi1f1rDcnTRbVmbP5zCRVPi68H6hGr9vrmM4JNPwHyxTOSplseV5FZvEcR-GQcM7xiKEc6mWn2J8NVCoxdpaC1kXMg7jfP_dEO6WqU3mHqloclihwbKufm2BXzfnlHtK-Udo8/s1156/flats%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6I3BXY84afVg5RTJUg7-W4DrdYz4Blf4ODB_gVHX8AFuWf5mi1f1rDcnTRbVmbP5zCRVPi68H6hGr9vrmM4JNPwHyxTOSplseV5FZvEcR-GQcM7xiKEc6mWn2J8NVCoxdpaC1kXMg7jfP_dEO6WqU3mHqloclihwbKufm2BXzfnlHtK-Udo8/s320/flats%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Dillons regiment are going to have to be raised to elite I fancy after this weekend. They were the only French unit to be in the fight at the end of each game. They were hardly ever sent into a reverse. Must be something in the name. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoMsBHvTp6i9BdgRc4bFXWubU0vGARtrHLF1gaEReUDrU4oVzypLMvjUGcj2-Ib5f8gF-qCE7eDSHIOpk4UrMZulBrHaC9M6TRajf8B5JS1FtpmKDrUVAII9ZOySa0jVr97n9A-8k6smd7Lmy5CInopH27GStOLh7vsQfA86omYoNQla71dYr/s1156/flats%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoMsBHvTp6i9BdgRc4bFXWubU0vGARtrHLF1gaEReUDrU4oVzypLMvjUGcj2-Ib5f8gF-qCE7eDSHIOpk4UrMZulBrHaC9M6TRajf8B5JS1FtpmKDrUVAII9ZOySa0jVr97n9A-8k6smd7Lmy5CInopH27GStOLh7vsQfA86omYoNQla71dYr/s320/flats%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uQA27JP3n0NeSjeVNhmJGfyXSas2QW42_qSAWSg_pHpGr8mO-JijWqVfKedVc9GMXbraTp-V4K8u722JwvuwNOE0XZfqj4e32i39rmeSOShcFChx_uRBVsdjzsbeH35byuxkiu6tTBInNQW4afGnGzf25TUoXJ6TatQV1MnzzoR1K55d6kfo/s1156/flats%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uQA27JP3n0NeSjeVNhmJGfyXSas2QW42_qSAWSg_pHpGr8mO-JijWqVfKedVc9GMXbraTp-V4K8u722JwvuwNOE0XZfqj4e32i39rmeSOShcFChx_uRBVsdjzsbeH35byuxkiu6tTBInNQW4afGnGzf25TUoXJ6TatQV1MnzzoR1K55d6kfo/s320/flats%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Of the other games present, and here I must apologise to Steve, Steve, Willz for forgetting to photograph their fantastic output, there was a French Indian War game that has a lot going on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumTtyQfBU5-WyckwGqf4VgQc0ikcRaxJvb1ZgAQUzD2h41IZ_Fui_vqqU4WC3xaMMxYmdVjsumZM7ByT4m2gr8zKROrSalTQVLXYn2mUXN-7ZTy1wafqxzjWJeb8UhPQXT-lAYIwuqMuseZD_IY-Wilt2ABXq7c8i2FJFSwg43qIGp450GJv0/s1156/FIW%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumTtyQfBU5-WyckwGqf4VgQc0ikcRaxJvb1ZgAQUzD2h41IZ_Fui_vqqU4WC3xaMMxYmdVjsumZM7ByT4m2gr8zKROrSalTQVLXYn2mUXN-7ZTy1wafqxzjWJeb8UhPQXT-lAYIwuqMuseZD_IY-Wilt2ABXq7c8i2FJFSwg43qIGp450GJv0/s320/FIW%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Natives in canoes. French on rafts. Colonials in whale boats. Not to mention the myriad of wildlife that kept popping up and causing havoc.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdfoHGRGdCnW4syIWgAVZ8vbz71A41yD_tVBOv8xtFsuon8eRQTKgOW5YPu9QdRiqHp03DTRu6qdUFUneOhhrfftElRLwNBlD7JIZlpyzl8ogf_oq8Y0tiUqtDT8Gbqzhn2n1BfWNTgOBtx0XPN4tKaQJDo0kgvXC2IwYhQoWHpapnqT3dNOm/s1156/FIW%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="867" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdfoHGRGdCnW4syIWgAVZ8vbz71A41yD_tVBOv8xtFsuon8eRQTKgOW5YPu9QdRiqHp03DTRu6qdUFUneOhhrfftElRLwNBlD7JIZlpyzl8ogf_oq8Y0tiUqtDT8Gbqzhn2n1BfWNTgOBtx0XPN4tKaQJDo0kgvXC2IwYhQoWHpapnqT3dNOm/s320/FIW%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyVHLm3UGRPzIltRkXLjMD5wAXV5D-EAU68WYcCSpylY4irPPj-LYcd4s33WYn947kA8uxYFUdcf8lr6IipTpxTK8oaECtc7m0NZk5__FoGbjUMmTrY07_XkJ33ZIfQAzDo79Ui5jkAEHLWucv6brgWIhJ42fvqS1ylZrIAHElEMVSI7GSmuw/s1156/FIW%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1156" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyVHLm3UGRPzIltRkXLjMD5wAXV5D-EAU68WYcCSpylY4irPPj-LYcd4s33WYn947kA8uxYFUdcf8lr6IipTpxTK8oaECtc7m0NZk5__FoGbjUMmTrY07_XkJ33ZIfQAzDo79Ui5jkAEHLWucv6brgWIhJ42fvqS1ylZrIAHElEMVSI7GSmuw/s320/FIW%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A well deserved "Best of Show" went to this game and no one was going to argue.<div><br /></div><div>A great weekend with everyone having plenty to enjoy (and not just the endless stream of cakes and drinks provided during the day and the three course meals for dinner).</div><div><br /></div><div>Roll on 2024.</div>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-47249599027476981522023-05-13T13:24:00.009+00:002023-05-13T13:26:05.511+00:00Nostalgia is a Little Flat<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First chance for a game today in a long long time. So why not get out an old project and have a play?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Entire the entire collection of flats. I only realised recently that this project has been ten years in the making and this is the first time they've seen a table top. Hopefully my inspiration for this project, my late Grandfather, would approve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_ahShRaMC_zytSF-gaImmDY8cNirA5qR_7flMCTGnO-2JiBEd9k5ChO5-ASHI0G8bb5VyBj9TTfdbmQKux8sY9vTjiHoeZ1RyVa6fJ9QdFAPZPCOgGF0Zi2m03qJWIdXyNVyhG471OEPf40Oq5xyW-_n6uOUndm_MpKT7y_lzqzZU2cfLQ/s4624/flats%20%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_ahShRaMC_zytSF-gaImmDY8cNirA5qR_7flMCTGnO-2JiBEd9k5ChO5-ASHI0G8bb5VyBj9TTfdbmQKux8sY9vTjiHoeZ1RyVa6fJ9QdFAPZPCOgGF0Zi2m03qJWIdXyNVyhG471OEPf40Oq5xyW-_n6uOUndm_MpKT7y_lzqzZU2cfLQ/s320/flats%20%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I took the Prussians. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKGJmuIoSxHYS5HqbvdXhgyBzCNeuNXDaZUkSwxoESwrgADOA0PFCSb5C9JxZpbK7sjeLaS1r_bEMih2nNV9HFlHo_IzXdtVftgfIuN-DgXtU_EfHUTvjV6SrMNiPZSmVV_8oAOFEpOlcFj14aKdsSXSm99M3J3iwrayIc6x5Q9h4MtYdkQ/s4624/flats%20%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKGJmuIoSxHYS5HqbvdXhgyBzCNeuNXDaZUkSwxoESwrgADOA0PFCSb5C9JxZpbK7sjeLaS1r_bEMih2nNV9HFlHo_IzXdtVftgfIuN-DgXtU_EfHUTvjV6SrMNiPZSmVV_8oAOFEpOlcFj14aKdsSXSm99M3J3iwrayIc6x5Q9h4MtYdkQ/s320/flats%20%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Andy had the French.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARERXgm3aRCNEV0gv76IraUwZXydgmsJjYOWrYjLITbnNJqrevT0sBx2RVXPewRrwXPS4f8jGW3LLYDK0lfmTrbJeAmnEhjhOohVnAN3UNQtdd4jhsJ9A-p6SqgwSINcoHcrhFbY7UIi-Witf97-VrMDHVSLjy8aChFppsL_0EbYZpINLaQ/s4624/flats%20%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARERXgm3aRCNEV0gv76IraUwZXydgmsJjYOWrYjLITbnNJqrevT0sBx2RVXPewRrwXPS4f8jGW3LLYDK0lfmTrbJeAmnEhjhOohVnAN3UNQtdd4jhsJ9A-p6SqgwSINcoHcrhFbY7UIi-Witf97-VrMDHVSLjy8aChFppsL_0EbYZpINLaQ/s320/flats%20%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>they never look much north to south.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DrQE1eqrEs0n1s7OCyOJTJsufr8R-3ygK-4CVcREdTsyroVXL4pIQIx_tU_HLPf7oGPQeFqtKKJaakQb47y5bGH0x7KyJEjuxX_Fx6A-2kcKbZQh1i25Sy7Qg5ylDT-0BGS3Tg7gJpNyOMNbJlFGD1VUz_5-SD1U302K4gLSlokqtigrKA/s4624/flats%20%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DrQE1eqrEs0n1s7OCyOJTJsufr8R-3ygK-4CVcREdTsyroVXL4pIQIx_tU_HLPf7oGPQeFqtKKJaakQb47y5bGH0x7KyJEjuxX_Fx6A-2kcKbZQh1i25Sy7Qg5ylDT-0BGS3Tg7gJpNyOMNbJlFGD1VUz_5-SD1U302K4gLSlokqtigrKA/s320/flats%20%20(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Bust east to west they have a certain presence and a very nice feel to them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaU3nYdNH_3bdCjgz63gPNCWnPE7aX_CcJ3_6oMToafEs4ypzh6BV_o40diDWik0VkhYv8A6SSDBByWp5cVwjMTUeNyI8DV21KzYl_HDyQOAy2VevbgwEakrYRkeoeD9cyZ6rrVlZMfgi9a7G57vb4xMqkiAbm9wydRkgTe-Fw6Uxt1ua8g/s4624/flats%20%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaU3nYdNH_3bdCjgz63gPNCWnPE7aX_CcJ3_6oMToafEs4ypzh6BV_o40diDWik0VkhYv8A6SSDBByWp5cVwjMTUeNyI8DV21KzYl_HDyQOAy2VevbgwEakrYRkeoeD9cyZ6rrVlZMfgi9a7G57vb4xMqkiAbm9wydRkgTe-Fw6Uxt1ua8g/s320/flats%20%20(5).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was trying to get a certain "look" about them. A bit of the old toy soldier feel mixed with a modern slant. I like them. Hope you do too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoRjaxDP_DYEM8SvjaoWPzWmmb77-8_vdiij3SXYpVQsbFNpgnbpsunpf63TRWErAsnt85y0THBfIykJbhUmN-ZQIgjKNN4SIGP90bpRQNrLmsts-kpzULsANgtg3SXTlLLFRxtYlW5la-KmB-Fx4rTh4Ds9MHyaMMa44rdAb9Ng_6PyCvA/s4624/flats%20%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoRjaxDP_DYEM8SvjaoWPzWmmb77-8_vdiij3SXYpVQsbFNpgnbpsunpf63TRWErAsnt85y0THBfIykJbhUmN-ZQIgjKNN4SIGP90bpRQNrLmsts-kpzULsANgtg3SXTlLLFRxtYlW5la-KmB-Fx4rTh4Ds9MHyaMMa44rdAb9Ng_6PyCvA/s320/flats%20%20(6).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The rules used are in development. Again trying to have an "old school" feel but giving a free flowing and easy to understand game. Certainly want the players to think more about they do on the table then thinking about what the rules say. So D6 it is although not in the bucket filled quantities that those who've played in my games be more familiar with.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qOwOf00NQeYQEYTpcRgCko2cC8MzEWDKUg7VG9q0UZhw89wMTk2zbc_aKUwfzirdGnACiTLiVB_RYSwgsJVQlcnIaoIZ65C1yhFSOV0f7_08ppa3clsyKM6L2DhW9OGQfQalTXYK3jOrcvQ8F1dPBvaVZfHxzMkrnDM3e-KVRXy0EuJ_Jg/s4624/flats%20%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qOwOf00NQeYQEYTpcRgCko2cC8MzEWDKUg7VG9q0UZhw89wMTk2zbc_aKUwfzirdGnACiTLiVB_RYSwgsJVQlcnIaoIZ65C1yhFSOV0f7_08ppa3clsyKM6L2DhW9OGQfQalTXYK3jOrcvQ8F1dPBvaVZfHxzMkrnDM3e-KVRXy0EuJ_Jg/s320/flats%20%20(8).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For a first run through it wasn't too bad. I might have the expectation that my first draft would be perfect (they aren't) but I am realistic enough to appreciate that others know better. So thanks to Andy for his input and to Mark for making some keen and well observed comments. Second draft should give a more decisive game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thoroughly enjoyed by morning of gaming. Really good to pushing tin once again.</div> <p></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-747226291811526172023-05-01T10:53:00.001+00:002023-05-01T10:53:46.987+00:00Alive and Kicking<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well it's been a while hasn't it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sorry about that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2022 was a bad year. Probably the worst year I've ever had. Diagnosed with a condition that had caused the lymph nodes in my lungs to swell to the size of potatoes, although not the lung cancer as initially feared, I was left very poorly. Fatigue and weight loss were two of the effects. Worse were the tremors and constant shakes that left me unable to wield a paintbrush. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not a single figure painted from May last year. No figures pushed around a tabletop for much of the same time. A complete lack of interest in most things including keeping a blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since January I've been teaching myself to paint again. The initial output are the French voltigeur figures below. Shaky still and good enough for their intended purpose (to be part of the Waterloo remodelled project) they were a good training ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Confidence partially restored I moved onto the eighteenth century Ottomans. Over the last two weeks (work that would have been a matter of days previously) I completed six mounted figures. Riders are RSM and horses Hinchliffe. Much happier with these.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9P2d3fj3-T6DmzTUczI6geGyZcAzE9TOffBTR-qRaDeEl0aWxwQ2PHpMhEWzJzoiLve6wJVk-eGpPDDmSmq_4UXh66Chg5b_VQTNoKPYJxb_rFfomYwHlSNhW1AYlqFljlXYnG-fGuT_io_sqRsrXDJEXP-1qhbY81bpf96jzxD86b2C36Q/s4160/IMG_20230501_093021_376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9P2d3fj3-T6DmzTUczI6geGyZcAzE9TOffBTR-qRaDeEl0aWxwQ2PHpMhEWzJzoiLve6wJVk-eGpPDDmSmq_4UXh66Chg5b_VQTNoKPYJxb_rFfomYwHlSNhW1AYlqFljlXYnG-fGuT_io_sqRsrXDJEXP-1qhbY81bpf96jzxD86b2C36Q/s320/IMG_20230501_093021_376.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEPVFAy70ZwGkp_2yGBLFHWrJr04cpwnkKvrnPGSxccoqG0fUqe6nH5NOSLzyYRAW5GycUsW6ANsmXAqk88UNYmslyjjfs44yfamRCMcYBBljp4H7_aP9Zql2LgNUXIvqD33Pfg49eSblns-WtcA8m1ujWp0BpRx3KzV77iS5LBP-5qrbbw/s4160/IMG_20230501_093106_967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3120" data-original-width="4160" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEPVFAy70ZwGkp_2yGBLFHWrJr04cpwnkKvrnPGSxccoqG0fUqe6nH5NOSLzyYRAW5GycUsW6ANsmXAqk88UNYmslyjjfs44yfamRCMcYBBljp4H7_aP9Zql2LgNUXIvqD33Pfg49eSblns-WtcA8m1ujWp0BpRx3KzV77iS5LBP-5qrbbw/s320/IMG_20230501_093106_967.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So I am making myself spend an hour a day at the paint desk. Output is slow but practice and patience is part of the process on the road to recovery.<p></p><p>My wife tells me I need to get out of the house as well. One of the effects of being ill almost immediately after being locked down is that I am wary of going out. I only leave the house to go to work and a bit of shopping. This is a habit that needs to be broken. So I intend to get back to the club and play with toy soldiers in the near future. Promise.<br /> </p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-57957212952554499712022-05-31T05:49:00.004+00:002022-05-31T05:49:56.900+00:00A Mess in the Mohawk Valley<p> Ian & I, well mostly Ian (alright - entirely Ian) have been playing around creating a set of rules for the French Indian War extending into the American War of Independence. All as a large skirmish level game in terms of numbers, 80-100 per side, and size of figure, 40mm. Last night was the first time we've had this stuff out since before 2020.</p><p>I favour collecting the good guys although I do have some French in the collection. Ian favours the others and has amassed a lovely collection of Front Rank AWI figures. Not only that but he seems to have spent the entire lockdown creating some fantastic buildings and scenery.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma0kHuPxXp7jpMJHBgmcWvk9W5X5r6MRbLkdLyXP7HDA-TzbzLT2eFo8rcd_beHyD6pSk8l7RAoyhFpgcnu-xEwWqyu0w9nQdDOPqL_f2TGlaTfaFIIa1whZKmQ6C-qFejiLW10GsIjndIgPNlgVIz0fl_lGlgQIsCLSzdxQb7PYDss5bJw/s4624/20220530_201908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma0kHuPxXp7jpMJHBgmcWvk9W5X5r6MRbLkdLyXP7HDA-TzbzLT2eFo8rcd_beHyD6pSk8l7RAoyhFpgcnu-xEwWqyu0w9nQdDOPqL_f2TGlaTfaFIIa1whZKmQ6C-qFejiLW10GsIjndIgPNlgVIz0fl_lGlgQIsCLSzdxQb7PYDss5bJw/s320/20220530_201908.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Last nigh,t a rag tag group of militia, colonial regulars and frontiersmen were tasked with fending off an incursion of British regulars with masses of Iroquois support and a few militia along the upper reaches of the Mohawk valley.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPBJhvn1ipodpK9JR3rdx0p-p1FL64V8QZtZbFS6yT9jq_ygrGVl_3Uyk3hhBQ7WBj4tPoQmXCzUd0hji2hfA6qW2ehr5fybNOXI7KC7jQy3Z8MWS_kW6P4anJGbJ6HbKRnU1P4Zfa0kLCzMfzl9pgM5QNHlElwytoBrQcURTQ3Slw6x4rQ/s4624/20220530_195131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPBJhvn1ipodpK9JR3rdx0p-p1FL64V8QZtZbFS6yT9jq_ygrGVl_3Uyk3hhBQ7WBj4tPoQmXCzUd0hji2hfA6qW2ehr5fybNOXI7KC7jQy3Z8MWS_kW6P4anJGbJ6HbKRnU1P4Zfa0kLCzMfzl9pgM5QNHlElwytoBrQcURTQ3Slw6x4rQ/s320/20220530_195131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The table was broken by some hills, a couple of which were little more than rocky outcrops and impassable to all but the hardiest of souls, a deep fast flowing stream and all set in an open wooded valley. Nestling at one end was a large farmstead being used by the local American military commander (one of Ian's stunning creations).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hsVUBVLltALPE9P4p1Nf-nhAghrQEMMT_yxvHHh46QMU85jaxsmfz21h8Jl-gf-7nk1VX6ZnEYcsDjjBbrfacpgEl0E44j0qRkoY9LH-6Oh72Ll1rnP7Qa2qGRWO8AitPC3Q5Spg1sYlS5DJ5uJiYTgK-PjnvEKf-6IOpE1-54tdsKWvtg/s4624/20220530_194145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hsVUBVLltALPE9P4p1Nf-nhAghrQEMMT_yxvHHh46QMU85jaxsmfz21h8Jl-gf-7nk1VX6ZnEYcsDjjBbrfacpgEl0E44j0qRkoY9LH-6Oh72Ll1rnP7Qa2qGRWO8AitPC3Q5Spg1sYlS5DJ5uJiYTgK-PjnvEKf-6IOpE1-54tdsKWvtg/s320/20220530_194145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The British pushed everything forward and quickly crossed one leg of the stream. The other being stoutly defended by the Americans it proved a difficult nut to crack. Indeed one British company was forced to retire under the relentless musketry being hurled from the other side.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWBqkSINSjIdWMmBV2PdUrrmSoVnjKUQ8nrP8HJZSw06ogIEaferzhBmuqUJ5ltgZNY8krfsrb61HBRPHrIuGNrryIKjvWeotZXB2VQX7Ywft6FQ-Z_KhKu1QgzXKrL5q-o9XVCJhIwYTW-a3EtIHiE2Qn1nro-hD6LO9RtoO7lWSt7thlg/s4624/20220530_194129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWBqkSINSjIdWMmBV2PdUrrmSoVnjKUQ8nrP8HJZSw06ogIEaferzhBmuqUJ5ltgZNY8krfsrb61HBRPHrIuGNrryIKjvWeotZXB2VQX7Ywft6FQ-Z_KhKu1QgzXKrL5q-o9XVCJhIwYTW-a3EtIHiE2Qn1nro-hD6LO9RtoO7lWSt7thlg/s320/20220530_194129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was only when two of the American militia units were caught in a crossfire that the tide turned in the British favour and the Americans had to fall back.<p></p><p>I have to admit that my inspiration for this period is firmly, and entirely, based on those Saturday afternoon matiness when Auntie Beeb let me watch Randolph Scott in "Last of the Mohicans", or Gary cooper in "Unconquered", Spencer Tracy "Northwest Passage" and Henry Fonda running for his life in "Drums along the Mohawk". None of them are as historically accurate and would get no awards for their sensitivity towards the native tribes. And then there is that ambush scene where Danial Day-Lewis seems to be able to march unscathed through hordes of natives in "Last of the Mohicans" if you need an further enticement.</p><p>More tweaks and games to play to get these rules to flow and have some fluidity to them. Last night felt a little static and awkward. Or perhaps I'm just creating a reason to get these out more often (and maybe add some more to the collection).</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-1406782122512277992022-05-19T06:07:00.001+00:002022-05-19T06:07:16.974+00:00Turkish Delight<p> In an age where we seem to be attached to our phones, tablets and other devices almost permanently (do you find yourself watching TV whilst browsing or playing games on another device?), I've been trying to disengage. Trying to live my life and not feeling as though it's not enough when compared to the sanitised and rose tinted views we get of other peoples when seen through the lens of Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok or other platfom of choice. Which means a lot more painting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnPr7HmcBl_g4V1E6-CMJ5Rx0GaZhBbHsI0yzi3-eKnyejUAIe-8gzInHIqz7Y6sA9BZh-SIN1AcMt-qXsORme4Gdst1ZSS36ovD1baCUvcXPkyLIgONmx-pTpQbruacDfok1Kpf6WYtr1aG14d83r8O23pXCTEUa7F4guSNna3WcbHAQqg/s4624/20220518_153645%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnPr7HmcBl_g4V1E6-CMJ5Rx0GaZhBbHsI0yzi3-eKnyejUAIe-8gzInHIqz7Y6sA9BZh-SIN1AcMt-qXsORme4Gdst1ZSS36ovD1baCUvcXPkyLIgONmx-pTpQbruacDfok1Kpf6WYtr1aG14d83r8O23pXCTEUa7F4guSNna3WcbHAQqg/s320/20220518_153645%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The above photograph is two thirds of the next French infantry battalion for the Waterloo Remodelled project. They still need organising into companies (like an idiot I just undid all the work James had put in when sending them to me and I just emptied the lot into the "to be done" bin). This means I need to paint the company colours on the pompoms when I get the next forty finished. That then leaves the grenadier and voltigeur companies - those are easily identified.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EKGmKs03m8v0kN7xSiJysannoqrY3Xyc1cMpANu4FGOIPhMK9K8tbIedmnHsPy0gHxKPcqeeiGJ9xBy7AdMbDr_cPhG-5nfkRkw0f-I7xshJC-IZMJNeBLfnvEGFFuyvzzHr1Ug8PZFV5IwWHB00wIrR0-XrGEQ0UnazvEgYf98KWNrEwg/s4624/20220518_153611%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EKGmKs03m8v0kN7xSiJysannoqrY3Xyc1cMpANu4FGOIPhMK9K8tbIedmnHsPy0gHxKPcqeeiGJ9xBy7AdMbDr_cPhG-5nfkRkw0f-I7xshJC-IZMJNeBLfnvEGFFuyvzzHr1Ug8PZFV5IwWHB00wIrR0-XrGEQ0UnazvEgYf98KWNrEwg/s320/20220518_153611%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Having said in a previous post about my disappoint with the Army Speedpaints I did go onto use them on some larger figures. These Foundry New Kingdom Egyptians have been done in a combination of my traditional painting method and the use of speedpaints. Reactivation is a problem with them, as evidenced on the figure nearest the front above. You can see on his kilt that the leather colour from the quiver has bled through over the white. However, given the nature of the figure and what he is meant to be depicting I'm not that concerned in this case.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xMHheac70rSbnWB5-NcOFwj74ePYcZKMDB8N8p_XVPV9pbGvgT6lKCm1O32UoTRQFWIG_NVFNaMKD4892Y1AuWRqV8Q6YQ6giZTIEy6t29aZlKrr4wVk1WH9rSGceH4HMDu5jteVInmA6oG2xhqxgo7i4B2VX7_xvaxWADaUgUMix4vkzg/s4624/20220518_153550%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xMHheac70rSbnWB5-NcOFwj74ePYcZKMDB8N8p_XVPV9pbGvgT6lKCm1O32UoTRQFWIG_NVFNaMKD4892Y1AuWRqV8Q6YQ6giZTIEy6t29aZlKrr4wVk1WH9rSGceH4HMDu5jteVInmA6oG2xhqxgo7i4B2VX7_xvaxWADaUgUMix4vkzg/s320/20220518_153550%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>They do look rather nice based up and complete.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O4S8at40HUYtcUq6UCuFKh-SqfpWP3SghwaN63z9pspQaU1eLmvNehcb4SlyCoN_7U3Zca8ePhVMHWWYiCcbQsBFdGVvhwR1H8xFqL-HVGlqQ15hc5u3cBrSPxFNUv_OtEDgYuWonO4fArOdCt5ltQwwrXLKXPc66tf6RQxKYXlhcWjshA/s4624/20220518_153536%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O4S8at40HUYtcUq6UCuFKh-SqfpWP3SghwaN63z9pspQaU1eLmvNehcb4SlyCoN_7U3Zca8ePhVMHWWYiCcbQsBFdGVvhwR1H8xFqL-HVGlqQ15hc5u3cBrSPxFNUv_OtEDgYuWonO4fArOdCt5ltQwwrXLKXPc66tf6RQxKYXlhcWjshA/s320/20220518_153536%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well almost complete - I need six figures to finish the unit, including command. Good thing Partizan is this weekend then.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn50785TNExgOcYkk0q8xwznsTiHNGvUym002pFpHkvwM8FScwNu2WwhcK-4rKhVu8vLBpM2CeVOrSX4lmJCclZzzLj0jAVmMFVBSjv844Dd0boF6OgAz3GN6VR5Q6kRVooRgcnjz9U2ls_ZhbqBYpnQv82bJcA4pOGzWhjHiNzHluJZ1Yfw/s4624/20220518_153433%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn50785TNExgOcYkk0q8xwznsTiHNGvUym002pFpHkvwM8FScwNu2WwhcK-4rKhVu8vLBpM2CeVOrSX4lmJCclZzzLj0jAVmMFVBSjv844Dd0boF6OgAz3GN6VR5Q6kRVooRgcnjz9U2ls_ZhbqBYpnQv82bJcA4pOGzWhjHiNzHluJZ1Yfw/s320/20220518_153433%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As part of the early eighteenth century project(s) I have wanted to add a Turkish army for some time. This can be used against the Poles and Russians and with the Swedes. <p></p><p>I was fortunate enough to acquire a significant amount of lead (actually over thirty kilos - we weighed it because it was so heavy!) figures. All are Essex and Hinchliffe and are over forty years old. </p><p>First up were these Hinchliffe archers.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPFDmMGrs2n0sNlm03aRkFk0kXU7uCr3NA7LUSgUhHcYv2vDDlT9yHGRKHltzTNNiPP22GU1IL7-VG_8aEWeEmcPDaKMl0lC6qofL2UbJi5_rnb9IbNNhqehlu7nYAzYSM1nbP0hrnIwoLMTpisCflXyWO1lx2e_4qel_k_cDd39nIickjQ/s4624/20220518_153418%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPFDmMGrs2n0sNlm03aRkFk0kXU7uCr3NA7LUSgUhHcYv2vDDlT9yHGRKHltzTNNiPP22GU1IL7-VG_8aEWeEmcPDaKMl0lC6qofL2UbJi5_rnb9IbNNhqehlu7nYAzYSM1nbP0hrnIwoLMTpisCflXyWO1lx2e_4qel_k_cDd39nIickjQ/s320/20220518_153418%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I used a limited pallet for them. The cloth is all in various shades of blue, actually six shades but not as different as I first thought as it turns out. Again a mix of traditional paint and some speedpaint thinned down and used as a wash. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPUBoYnt0xnccbjyxtaJnso2hJN44VcVH4-zYN50ttT2u-tk1QoYIaE-u65magDaUttVfRhzSw26PRAB5rrLSbCjXoqrpDKU634OBOjR9ton_F4AHs7oNKHEVJAsApjGnFEnqetL55Z6S_odWH-EShKhVp0EgnrphjPP7sXgb8ui2SJUcQ/s4624/20220518_153413%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPUBoYnt0xnccbjyxtaJnso2hJN44VcVH4-zYN50ttT2u-tk1QoYIaE-u65magDaUttVfRhzSw26PRAB5rrLSbCjXoqrpDKU634OBOjR9ton_F4AHs7oNKHEVJAsApjGnFEnqetL55Z6S_odWH-EShKhVp0EgnrphjPP7sXgb8ui2SJUcQ/s320/20220518_153413%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>All the leather is red as I wanted a unifying feature throughout the entire collection. As evidenced by the first complete unit below.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVGbO_i0o--r2O3zUweKxrBGF86a-HDpgVGpq4TQpzjoFPTDPzCO0KGA3giySZjHS-iFxe4DmfycuoU0As9GINu4kNDhhE0iiDvUuczcPWlwpNvx_XesyqmLRReeRluVABKui6HX9pIwCvN5E7HpRTK5y6-LpYWQ9pHYF5hc_gwXJen5zDw/s4624/20220518_153329%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVGbO_i0o--r2O3zUweKxrBGF86a-HDpgVGpq4TQpzjoFPTDPzCO0KGA3giySZjHS-iFxe4DmfycuoU0As9GINu4kNDhhE0iiDvUuczcPWlwpNvx_XesyqmLRReeRluVABKui6HX9pIwCvN5E7HpRTK5y6-LpYWQ9pHYF5hc_gwXJen5zDw/s320/20220518_153329%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>These are Old glory Janissaries given to me by a friend in Scotland. Thanks Martin. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9N0HS1wV0V_RahqrIRCSobyChlJzsXidrz4QKFr083WIqy7_ObjwPXsbwdxJjflQGY4BqoHSVGLGuZBe1QkGdbtyEOYPTDQBJ9p7cdiiEYF1l4Ebdcjm2jou_dGzrZp9aGlgKxzm3573KU-7wZO29vYWxbkHT2YCyJQqcJHm2bQeECw2gg/s4624/20220518_153320%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9N0HS1wV0V_RahqrIRCSobyChlJzsXidrz4QKFr083WIqy7_ObjwPXsbwdxJjflQGY4BqoHSVGLGuZBe1QkGdbtyEOYPTDQBJ9p7cdiiEYF1l4Ebdcjm2jou_dGzrZp9aGlgKxzm3573KU-7wZO29vYWxbkHT2YCyJQqcJHm2bQeECw2gg/s320/20220518_153320%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The yellow and orange colours are entirely done with speedpaint over a flat yellow base. Now these I really like.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicWgTkApZP4H4tMxfyuCYbZnY1vsFfmECqftszGvP3U3xnw2F4lcnlq5oZ-ahaSjSqQ-G7ivelIwWavjV47hsLBJYlG96VDkRZyH4jB_DrUII38IM69xu8ahEqv3-jHAQR7cIBhZCOoYHrCs0LKtD-URY52Yfg2b5KplwDE9UDlOGgnRRmw/s4624/20220518_153234%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhicWgTkApZP4H4tMxfyuCYbZnY1vsFfmECqftszGvP3U3xnw2F4lcnlq5oZ-ahaSjSqQ-G7ivelIwWavjV47hsLBJYlG96VDkRZyH4jB_DrUII38IM69xu8ahEqv3-jHAQR7cIBhZCOoYHrCs0LKtD-URY52Yfg2b5KplwDE9UDlOGgnRRmw/s320/20220518_153234%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Not quite sure of the historical depth of the unit so I went with using a three rank format in keeping with the European elements of the project.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCrEUfDtKg7GkBu16wiHI_v_3FURJsH-W6lr9Mewl10dPWK7k3GgA4RAL5WSXjDw8W7f9I77P5eT08JpdR6YVtha1JETZytbkFfEB9tKzA63O3CrC3HI5owaTrS0kwE0IHwqM6BI-wSyouvoenXLxSY-vovvoACE0HRgN2L8JFMs-SuQhig/s4624/20220518_153227%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCrEUfDtKg7GkBu16wiHI_v_3FURJsH-W6lr9Mewl10dPWK7k3GgA4RAL5WSXjDw8W7f9I77P5eT08JpdR6YVtha1JETZytbkFfEB9tKzA63O3CrC3HI5owaTrS0kwE0IHwqM6BI-wSyouvoenXLxSY-vovvoACE0HRgN2L8JFMs-SuQhig/s320/20220518_153227%5B2%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The figures look a little odd in the bare metal, something of a trait with Old Glory. However, they paint up very nicely and I'm pleased with them overall. Apart from the fiddly hands that need attaching (and definitely need to be pinned) on the officers they were easy to clean up and paint.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSka1O3KBnu_dql7Il8DYGdVxhW2zCfonIBWi22QdrIsQ9oRDz_js0AGYssr5NnITMSr4wprZsFyc9sATfPIXJcDxTV9Q2UFGrdJx86lYeoHm1RPRTKTITpvjZqpAt8yURn_LHOhTGXcf16Y7rO9JEoao5oqreCTQIzaTa0TJ2f9TMv6c4LA/s4624/20220518_153210%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSka1O3KBnu_dql7Il8DYGdVxhW2zCfonIBWi22QdrIsQ9oRDz_js0AGYssr5NnITMSr4wprZsFyc9sATfPIXJcDxTV9Q2UFGrdJx86lYeoHm1RPRTKTITpvjZqpAt8yURn_LHOhTGXcf16Y7rO9JEoao5oqreCTQIzaTa0TJ2f9TMv6c4LA/s320/20220518_153210%5B2%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Have I said how pleased I am with these? <p></p><p>I am. I really am.</p><p>I'm sure there are some out there commenting on what I got wrong with the colour scheme, the uniform details or other some such. But I took my inspiration from the superb collection of John Ray and how, en masse, all that matters is the look.</p><p>So just another twenty nine and a half kilos of metal to go then!</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-40252150268860488002022-04-26T05:55:00.003+00:002022-04-26T11:21:44.301+00:00The Good, The Bad & The Ugly<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having finished and dispatched the Austrians to their owner on the other side of the pond it is time to turn to the next project (also for somebody else). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, I find myself struggling to really get into the swing of creating lots of painted figures. A couple of reasons and I'll explain shortly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, whilst doing some spring cleaning in the painting room as a means of distraction (yes it has gotten that bad that I would rather clean than paint) I found some Foundry figures that took my interest. I have no idea when, where or why these were acquired and they may even date back to the late eighties (if Foundry were on the go then).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfWXQFVf15WPiBCwJsF_j0bbM7PmZsUFCBIZeSb_3UZRx7Sry2KHPEDn6pdsL-ToxQL1ju63jmINWAb_s0-GRXlK3DTY59YyJ9TsFZsCvmTnHrP-uxhSp6VP0vG3Yk9KmiCkHpm3UEY8NoQHDeWSR9XhXu87Hd29-e8jhb-Y9v4QkVMnpNA/s4624/20220425_152139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfWXQFVf15WPiBCwJsF_j0bbM7PmZsUFCBIZeSb_3UZRx7Sry2KHPEDn6pdsL-ToxQL1ju63jmINWAb_s0-GRXlK3DTY59YyJ9TsFZsCvmTnHrP-uxhSp6VP0vG3Yk9KmiCkHpm3UEY8NoQHDeWSR9XhXu87Hd29-e8jhb-Y9v4QkVMnpNA/s320/20220425_152139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The New Kingdom Egyptians have always been my favourite ancient army. The only problem with them is the large number of chariots needed, which is a real issue when creating a table top force due to the large budget needed (especially if going for Foundry, who in my opinion make the best range, at £13 per chariot).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH6kEdNXB7nr8_MfftYHcl1zOUJG6PBZnsp84_IOr9HiDvNyM9xVQC8-Hg3Wf_24RQki-oxq0JIiGbYzjUAo3BKmXHyRhWkYByShGahFopTLhd5dzjyERaXj9EeFBx6BLQtTe7b6DBAz9lasTtPTs82PkTwEQIlxcQUzHJI03HfbiWo5oxg/s4624/20220425_152148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH6kEdNXB7nr8_MfftYHcl1zOUJG6PBZnsp84_IOr9HiDvNyM9xVQC8-Hg3Wf_24RQki-oxq0JIiGbYzjUAo3BKmXHyRhWkYByShGahFopTLhd5dzjyERaXj9EeFBx6BLQtTe7b6DBAz9lasTtPTs82PkTwEQIlxcQUzHJI03HfbiWo5oxg/s320/20220425_152148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Still, they are lovely figures and a joy to paint. Flesh was done using Cote d'Arms dark flesh and then washing the entire figure (white undercoat) with soft tone from Army Painter. Repaint the Dark flesh, highlight with tanned flesh and then highlight again with pale flesh. The bows and quivers are all various browns from the GW contrast range (a flesh colour, a fur colour and a bone colour - can't remember the odd names they gave them). The red is simply plum base with bright red and then highlighted orange. The cloth is linen over the previously washed white undercoat.<p></p><p>Not sure where these will end up but a very nice distraction from the main enterprise all the same.</p><p>The main enterprise is a further French infantry battalion for the Waterloo Remodelled project.</p><p>James has given me some 400 figures for this, a mixture of plastic and metal from a variety of manufacturers. My original intention was to paint them using the new Army Speedpaints, both as a means of getting them done quite quickly and to test the paints and how they might be used.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJx3Xw7oKSZBmk61v4blKstqLK0ILN51khLwZkc-17UPTnL30JtTJXSjmXi6MWw_BTdHcpscuHxkWOZQphZ8LQ3FeEz_DnL-LrIgIZTj8EG2bYHfMT-jI7kUpym8rmNfmxgoFiuZ0DZaopjfpQsvs-xZMPOPWw24k93og50cONpLQ2lat7A/s4624/20220425_152156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJx3Xw7oKSZBmk61v4blKstqLK0ILN51khLwZkc-17UPTnL30JtTJXSjmXi6MWw_BTdHcpscuHxkWOZQphZ8LQ3FeEz_DnL-LrIgIZTj8EG2bYHfMT-jI7kUpym8rmNfmxgoFiuZ0DZaopjfpQsvs-xZMPOPWw24k93og50cONpLQ2lat7A/s320/20220425_152156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My first mistake was to use these figures as a test for the Speedpaints. The areas to paint are too small and fiddly to access to really understand how the speed paints work. With no large surfaces to cover it is inevitable that they need to be overpainted. <div>The blue, in particular, is a real problem. The tone and colour are fine and I quite like it over a white basecoat. But when it came to painting the white straps and turn backs it proved very difficult. Bleed through was pronounced with nearly all the first figures having discoloured straps as a result. The only solution was to leave them for a week before moving on to the next stage. </div><div>The grey has the same problem but is more manageable and less noticeable. The brown for the muskets and back packs appears to be okay but, since there is less white on these areas, perhaps not that noticeable. </div><div>More of an issue is the lack of distinction between any of the brown shades. Painting the flesh and the brown in small patches it can be difficult to tell them apart.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_bM3bLNFUNX2sxRxdP_QEwY-gTrwRnVbnh9hIlDzlNQoB5Tz86BZG-XArVbwU63lqS4d-LZn3UIodvl0k-06LxpN1OQVvUcfsdYoiYB4JcuAk1SAiqifZo9sFJj0b66tPDaVwQVeniZLQOKAceXbWFgoXcAYYUOlBSJmhxTWwYPRfmR6cA/s4624/20220425_152205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_bM3bLNFUNX2sxRxdP_QEwY-gTrwRnVbnh9hIlDzlNQoB5Tz86BZG-XArVbwU63lqS4d-LZn3UIodvl0k-06LxpN1OQVvUcfsdYoiYB4JcuAk1SAiqifZo9sFJj0b66tPDaVwQVeniZLQOKAceXbWFgoXcAYYUOlBSJmhxTWwYPRfmR6cA/s320/20220425_152205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />So I find myself painting these in an odd way, for me at least. </div><div>Assemble and glue them to the card strip. Undercoat in white. Paint the blue and put them aside of a week and move onto another batch. After five days there are a hundred or so figures moving along the work bench and not a lot getting finished. Personally I find this is an effective way to discourage me from painting (hence the cleaning and the Egyptians as a distractions) since I'm used to seeing finished figures fall off the end of the process after a week, even if it's only six or so. So I stop the assembly line and try and finish a hundred or so infantry in a sitting just so I can have something to call complete. <p></p><p>But this is an equally hard task and one that does not suit my style of working (usually I'm happy with 6-12 figures in a batch). So I find myself having to be quite disciplined and putting more planning into this than I would normally. Even having got a third of the figures done it still feels like a marathon operation and the finish is a long way off. It would help a bit if I liked the figures but I don't. The metal figures are not that well sculpted and have an odd proportion to their arms and torsos that will not matter when installed in their thousands on the finished model, but are not easy to get into a flow of painting. The plastics are okay but need a really good undercoat to cover up the multitude of coloured plastics (who makes French infantry using red plastic?).</p><p>So the good - thirty plus year old Foundry figures that making painting a joy.</p><p>The bad - metal 20mm figures that look odd.</p><p>The ugly - speedpaints that turn out to be not that speedy when painting 20mm figures.</p></div>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-37627339234934386932022-03-28T06:15:00.004+00:002022-03-28T06:15:33.477+00:00And We're Done<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After five months the Austrians are finished (okay the last few figures need a coat of varnish but the painting part is complete).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found a shade for the artillery I was happy with and, more importantly, the owner is pleased with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhZn5_wpcGIWn_Yh2gqAPPqvOj-HrEH_2PTyMubGxaIhZdRLY6rCWdOIvparMuF83EnhB01zey1zbvJ-az1_qvLUEafF9pTWS53Gck0IgJub6vb4fJOpC0OfLJmQE1f67cjZjzxGgZNOnVU0IRHQNMkQpJ6syuqqcdlU3UXJjeYyYL_6rlg/s4624/20220327_110100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhZn5_wpcGIWn_Yh2gqAPPqvOj-HrEH_2PTyMubGxaIhZdRLY6rCWdOIvparMuF83EnhB01zey1zbvJ-az1_qvLUEafF9pTWS53Gck0IgJub6vb4fJOpC0OfLJmQE1f67cjZjzxGgZNOnVU0IRHQNMkQpJ6syuqqcdlU3UXJjeYyYL_6rlg/s320/20220327_110100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Base coat GW Golden Brown with a Vallejo Dark tone wash. Then repainted with GW Bubonic Brown and a very thin wash with Army Painter Yellow tone. All this from a black undercoat dry brushed with Vallejo German Grey. Bronze barrels using Vallejo Bright Bronze and then washed with Dark Tone and a thin coat of Army Painter Military Shader to accentuate the green tone of the bronze.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqpahMZfh1RIXZ8dgO7KD9ALcSSkNkO9Z6HOla7pOJYj_dZd1W366mPGrmL-LhLPm9KLM3AIbba_N3yFa4YYiSLLnkmmt4z9piEjJYfiE6GlOxSW-wZkX4so6hVCK9wi6V4cfLvdr7n-VJMrVFGEmh4Lem81yp7gUgORTvSf0VDElUf10pw/s4624/20220327_110107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqpahMZfh1RIXZ8dgO7KD9ALcSSkNkO9Z6HOla7pOJYj_dZd1W366mPGrmL-LhLPm9KLM3AIbba_N3yFa4YYiSLLnkmmt4z9piEjJYfiE6GlOxSW-wZkX4so6hVCK9wi6V4cfLvdr7n-VJMrVFGEmh4Lem81yp7gUgORTvSf0VDElUf10pw/s320/20220327_110107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Wheels picked out with German Grey and gun metal on the rims.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIm0dWL8mfbLyN2VpjDgKQVnqK2oZLh4DQXwpE0LzMbx31LxT02nO67Gqu4bKbuq4O77YuXaw5mheJcv5MIlss-oQk6q27ofacQyUenWcKKxsuKOcqWgwQ0ewOi_z_u8gfQXZBRveC8otvuti3w80a_ak9At2PkemzZAnb1eIVab4dFSqUhA/s4624/20220327_110138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIm0dWL8mfbLyN2VpjDgKQVnqK2oZLh4DQXwpE0LzMbx31LxT02nO67Gqu4bKbuq4O77YuXaw5mheJcv5MIlss-oQk6q27ofacQyUenWcKKxsuKOcqWgwQ0ewOi_z_u8gfQXZBRveC8otvuti3w80a_ak9At2PkemzZAnb1eIVab4dFSqUhA/s320/20220327_110138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Saturday saw all seven of the staff figures painted from scratch.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jB1tUo_XKVTT-Hk-jjwpOMARABd9KUlTUEInasWkDdC6olgUauP-bMoWKSXFNElcIyEhD3FPKi9sJ77OMFiMjLnu7PRX1PQpXRjCg9fc5KDQQ_x9P1G7t5SSnKdOUMcwwB63vPJQfJsCkQ0oPYl0Al0IIQauSL4t3xOkCcpZ_DYbfuGzNQ/s4624/20220327_110215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jB1tUo_XKVTT-Hk-jjwpOMARABd9KUlTUEInasWkDdC6olgUauP-bMoWKSXFNElcIyEhD3FPKi9sJ77OMFiMjLnu7PRX1PQpXRjCg9fc5KDQQ_x9P1G7t5SSnKdOUMcwwB63vPJQfJsCkQ0oPYl0Al0IIQauSL4t3xOkCcpZ_DYbfuGzNQ/s320/20220327_110215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Really enjoyed these. Don't usually get the chance to paint so much bullion on a figure and here were seven of them.<p></p><p>The red horse furniture is my standard plum red, bright red, bright red & orange toning. For the red on the figures I started from plum red but then used scarlet for the main tone and then highlighted that with orange alone.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HtamaDUKjPB_bUIhf8RJXzqwQcLwggiYTiHSvzZAqwC6Lb3zZKeWbZmi8J5El61Izcg0rhTBfoIu7LLTssmEgILqrHJPJsoGrpQUFTEJQJswKEXz4M9my4mlQpWSeWjs_jnrBglOjfU_0KgGJJzeCD8mXmmAWqCzEwsRNBbhMFpx1gqsrg/s4624/20220327_110233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HtamaDUKjPB_bUIhf8RJXzqwQcLwggiYTiHSvzZAqwC6Lb3zZKeWbZmi8J5El61Izcg0rhTBfoIu7LLTssmEgILqrHJPJsoGrpQUFTEJQJswKEXz4M9my4mlQpWSeWjs_jnrBglOjfU_0KgGJJzeCD8mXmmAWqCzEwsRNBbhMFpx1gqsrg/s320/20220327_110233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>To try and get a differential between the white breeches and the the white coat I started from a grey undercoat on the breeches and used linen in two thin coats, but for the coat I put a sepia wash over the first coat of linen and then repainted with linen and highlighted with white.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBuObEMX8F_40A34Vf1rUszogpHncYQvzJvO36ZZ_vhiVCAIZWa75QS5pf4B3eKnJnzEvq0BS7zdqrjjFaIYoNmGU_RLVoptsxg2oi6xngDz5OhLMTS84bOOAF9Z6Tmr95Y-YYCwULiq2xhjKTig9zF6IRwaalCdRZGkXBhmvuEl1zlBw1w/s4624/20220327_110258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBuObEMX8F_40A34Vf1rUszogpHncYQvzJvO36ZZ_vhiVCAIZWa75QS5pf4B3eKnJnzEvq0BS7zdqrjjFaIYoNmGU_RLVoptsxg2oi6xngDz5OhLMTS84bOOAF9Z6Tmr95Y-YYCwULiq2xhjKTig9zF6IRwaalCdRZGkXBhmvuEl1zlBw1w/s320/20220327_110258.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>All the bullion on the figures was Vallejo Old Gold washed with Army Painter Strong Tone and then repainted on the highlights before using polished gold as a final highlight.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQ10CVDalt_9lDVmGFMo1FTqtYNSsBns6txjsxsYs7szih2OBpjoa0yv4XN49hme_QhUM50y0dj5WOL5--BrnBTgk6xeQQNLjw_GQYs2QXx1Modk5x21idgtmWtFHTQh_CncwCw3FYe3G4gBMN51QHDa6uhdiGzQ2QQJN2KE3G9GMAzb86w/s4624/20220327_110310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQ10CVDalt_9lDVmGFMo1FTqtYNSsBns6txjsxsYs7szih2OBpjoa0yv4XN49hme_QhUM50y0dj5WOL5--BrnBTgk6xeQQNLjw_GQYs2QXx1Modk5x21idgtmWtFHTQh_CncwCw3FYe3G4gBMN51QHDa6uhdiGzQ2QQJN2KE3G9GMAzb86w/s320/20220327_110310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJAb_awb4p3KbcR8ZwxEMb12UKXI5Ggwce7_V5yBE1riSdQvJrxOJM4CHvsEn94E9UtNkTQvlRE-PrvydDU9-hv2PYFB-o1sEXpoyKljHQGLbpja2Ook2cXQnpGoaRVRqhwKEyI7A5fTfQBuTJxqcqFGf5LHDy3RjmeXm-n2L0vsZY4e7wQ/s4624/20220327_110324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJAb_awb4p3KbcR8ZwxEMb12UKXI5Ggwce7_V5yBE1riSdQvJrxOJM4CHvsEn94E9UtNkTQvlRE-PrvydDU9-hv2PYFB-o1sEXpoyKljHQGLbpja2Ook2cXQnpGoaRVRqhwKEyI7A5fTfQBuTJxqcqFGf5LHDy3RjmeXm-n2L0vsZY4e7wQ/s320/20220327_110324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Cuirassier officer got red straps edged white for his cuirass as well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4jgxme4effzVprbHtFY25abY79jMgsfskDu3RXefcXjmI3W0h8f6dFbeLpZ09splFXeM67SBVZhQvxXAW4QyTyTrG52ywrl_0FvGNplEK7zaRNWFAZnek5MCD8Of6LIKLzVeYI1B_jBNiVENwHQT4ToezYW-gAngUSGdXM9eckJ7VfSm9A/s4624/20220327_110337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4jgxme4effzVprbHtFY25abY79jMgsfskDu3RXefcXjmI3W0h8f6dFbeLpZ09splFXeM67SBVZhQvxXAW4QyTyTrG52ywrl_0FvGNplEK7zaRNWFAZnek5MCD8Of6LIKLzVeYI1B_jBNiVENwHQT4ToezYW-gAngUSGdXM9eckJ7VfSm9A/s320/20220327_110337.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was asked whether I'd be sad to see these go to their owner. The honest answer is no because I know that if they were mine I'd have to have a lot more of them since they were, overall, a joy to paint.<p></p><p>Now it's more Napoleonics in the shape of a three hundred figure battalion for the Waterloo Remodelled Project (see here for the most recent awe inspiring update: <a href="https://generalpicton.blogspot.com/">Waterloo in 20mm (generalpicton.blogspot.com)</a>).</p><p> </p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-41808346086997295162022-03-22T07:09:00.004+00:002022-03-22T12:17:24.895+00:00The War of the Spanish Succession Reignites<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An actual game. On a table top. With figures. Luxury!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1705 and a small English force are marching to establish a forward battery in preparation for the siege of a nearby French city when they encounter a large French force returning from Saxony following the successful (and completely fictitious) negotiations, whereby Augustus the Strong would send Saxon troops to aid Louis XIV in his war, near the town of Ward'Fuquerwee. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The French have thirteen battalions and twenty squadrons of horse and dragoons. The English field seven battalions and eleven squadrons but do have four field guns against the two French pieces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif35iomxg6N8qzna7dz0IQZXDbJaxNrUZvW76KKdeZZ8T-DLikausCkQAhwEWPu4wF5R3imM71ZoOuVUrDDDsjAcW-rAL56lK9e82oT2fwbbpT-rYlI_xXdKfOU5LOejVReY8P32ly_ERjUB9olnoa57bYIMYVTlPj7Q5nWoUYjKxzIZeNoQ/s4624/20220321_185453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif35iomxg6N8qzna7dz0IQZXDbJaxNrUZvW76KKdeZZ8T-DLikausCkQAhwEWPu4wF5R3imM71ZoOuVUrDDDsjAcW-rAL56lK9e82oT2fwbbpT-rYlI_xXdKfOU5LOejVReY8P32ly_ERjUB9olnoa57bYIMYVTlPj7Q5nWoUYjKxzIZeNoQ/s320/20220321_185453.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Both sides deploy in a rather predictable pattern with flanks protected by horse and dragoons and solid lines of infantry in their centres. The English boldly advance across their entire line and the French counter with the two outer wings closing whilst holding back the central six battalions.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBvBN82Zd8cFfbpiHFROeZ3KIIgoJrHo5X7tEttwTIbY7x0p70xPIbYrnEP1inqNWFKqw9xRKDqp-0LNR7i_5y5A_WISSm3rmT0PdD0CjOReoThZeY1Euvh8AuIBt8t3YSrM5fhu0Z8TyKLDIrbz2MoTtoxD5Vp3tNHL-HSUzb0bRoCOBSg/s4624/20220321_191858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBvBN82Zd8cFfbpiHFROeZ3KIIgoJrHo5X7tEttwTIbY7x0p70xPIbYrnEP1inqNWFKqw9xRKDqp-0LNR7i_5y5A_WISSm3rmT0PdD0CjOReoThZeY1Euvh8AuIBt8t3YSrM5fhu0Z8TyKLDIrbz2MoTtoxD5Vp3tNHL-HSUzb0bRoCOBSg/s320/20220321_191858.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On the French left the massed horse of the French engage the enemy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxkh1Mnmf8RzpZu2UIXCRplJq-mlMP8cQRLX2xndCYkPe75OsE4fhRKxWfA1C1Sy-Qf_iJNKUpkZUdrZjcszge87Z8sb40nw7ckvy0kJHtfjFXUcDReV3YoG8szHQ1rRYUubgX17MON9DRVsZ5TCAwybitkzN3ZvQdg9n0p8sAoVbPDI2hg/s4624/20220321_191906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxkh1Mnmf8RzpZu2UIXCRplJq-mlMP8cQRLX2xndCYkPe75OsE4fhRKxWfA1C1Sy-Qf_iJNKUpkZUdrZjcszge87Z8sb40nw7ckvy0kJHtfjFXUcDReV3YoG8szHQ1rRYUubgX17MON9DRVsZ5TCAwybitkzN3ZvQdg9n0p8sAoVbPDI2hg/s320/20220321_191906.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Using outdated tactics of fire and sword the French fail to make an impact (translation: roll five dice needing fours or over and find that there are not many spots on the dice). In comparison the English reliance on cold steel alone gives them the advantage in the first round but not enough to force the French back.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFgGtOKwSJATJlGQY43irWw5EntQVTuIdCEdsXRrpy640-etIA2eNkCcHeu2C9R_bzfJyR8yRbKwR3d7XXmDzFlMkfTo60YzWyrHm9U8irMmtN29HY-CX584aUq53OX2Visk5u-DIKM3ZhIfXkEx5MfitDL-w6Z83E-pM58K0vSwoFcT73A/s4624/20220321_192118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFgGtOKwSJATJlGQY43irWw5EntQVTuIdCEdsXRrpy640-etIA2eNkCcHeu2C9R_bzfJyR8yRbKwR3d7XXmDzFlMkfTo60YzWyrHm9U8irMmtN29HY-CX584aUq53OX2Visk5u-DIKM3ZhIfXkEx5MfitDL-w6Z83E-pM58K0vSwoFcT73A/s320/20220321_192118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The French throw another three squadrons into the fray and find that they cannot make an impression on the English (translation: do I have more than three spots on my dice?).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzF0y6yN4or3p_aoCnKjZ9dokFwWkvLIVOI0QllUT02qJKqt6wlIieVMnfxCmiEO6c5_bCfXvgZH1DVTIjVP6q2qxfqjIlPJ1ejxYhlI-oiTter6LuaByzHj_tJFpqeANj6O1I-k23Zu57IvlZ9JA-1TyzQrkxfTtZ18mz8xYPDY1tVlr7w/s4624/20220321_194732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzF0y6yN4or3p_aoCnKjZ9dokFwWkvLIVOI0QllUT02qJKqt6wlIieVMnfxCmiEO6c5_bCfXvgZH1DVTIjVP6q2qxfqjIlPJ1ejxYhlI-oiTter6LuaByzHj_tJFpqeANj6O1I-k23Zu57IvlZ9JA-1TyzQrkxfTtZ18mz8xYPDY1tVlr7w/s320/20220321_194732.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Meanwhile, the newly recruited Saxon troops find that they have been given little powder and are forced back in disarray after a single volley from the English line.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9psKF2cB2uWaX6jWv72TvC1uonzJc0hz6r6D0TqS2TSGt11PzwB4oy8SkaD0bpMKz3nZMlV2K5eC2Aoa5NatEpJ6b6MyIIuU16lwH5JPxnY_0AD6uP_RvbNlUomYoUFWkAgZOBYDiYxtMdjq_KCEpCRSEV3QvMEfov31QRFb25NGWDRWIzw/s4624/20220321_194739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9psKF2cB2uWaX6jWv72TvC1uonzJc0hz6r6D0TqS2TSGt11PzwB4oy8SkaD0bpMKz3nZMlV2K5eC2Aoa5NatEpJ6b6MyIIuU16lwH5JPxnY_0AD6uP_RvbNlUomYoUFWkAgZOBYDiYxtMdjq_KCEpCRSEV3QvMEfov31QRFb25NGWDRWIzw/s320/20220321_194739.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The French now send the central six battalions forward and attempt to halt the English advance. In a grave mistake the French General advances too quickly and is taken by surprise by the English who gain a first fire advantage over them. Undaunted the French hold on but their first line is forced back giving the ground to the enemy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaklov9pLQtOexTUnqpnK3zBr32hR_BTOSVkZk759U17uNeziCLpnEa_MCe7xJLMV49lRi0BQ5Jujp_C7oxXuy65wnP5IvXJ03HsaSYeuB-rH6vHD40_LMiNgrNsy-nA66VyGAHSDyDKhPbjIMa0QFvTVHDg1313jSuVj93ppy2GN4QQ4hQ/s4624/20220321_195948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaklov9pLQtOexTUnqpnK3zBr32hR_BTOSVkZk759U17uNeziCLpnEa_MCe7xJLMV49lRi0BQ5Jujp_C7oxXuy65wnP5IvXJ03HsaSYeuB-rH6vHD40_LMiNgrNsy-nA66VyGAHSDyDKhPbjIMa0QFvTVHDg1313jSuVj93ppy2GN4QQ4hQ/s320/20220321_195948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The second line holds for a little longer and is bravely led forward by the General commanding to close with the enemy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--FNtQTXbY6BeM17HKGXuOiWsb9QJhQ4UFpeuOvS4V_kFKKznUTo_Ncr7LkVQYKzMpTU43gkcRMze_H3Y7aZ_mymoanyT53HdHSqMl5YESDvTihTluPRrGeFwDM4k6cEpJCgMPIltmORBW8qMqNa5OOb-bbLVNj9gL30j96lR0By1BHvppg/s4624/20220321_203043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh--FNtQTXbY6BeM17HKGXuOiWsb9QJhQ4UFpeuOvS4V_kFKKznUTo_Ncr7LkVQYKzMpTU43gkcRMze_H3Y7aZ_mymoanyT53HdHSqMl5YESDvTihTluPRrGeFwDM4k6cEpJCgMPIltmORBW8qMqNa5OOb-bbLVNj9gL30j96lR0By1BHvppg/s320/20220321_203043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Even though this second line is also thrown into disorder by the superior English musketry and the General is looking behind him to wonder why the third line hasn't advanced in support (the truth being that I'd forgotten about them), the English decide that they cannot press the advantage and leave the field.<p></p><p>Mark had managed to roll above average for all but one of his morale tests to that point. Unfortunately the very last test saw him fail by a single point and the French pass by a single point (not the way it had been going at all). I consistently rolled very low scores all game and squeaked the win more by default than good management.</p><p>A really good game to start the return to play and my thanks to Mark for being my first opponent in along time. The English are entirely from his collection and the French/Germans/Saxons from mine. All scenery and table settings belong to the Grimsby wargames Society. Rules used are our own "Corporal John & the Sun King".</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-20073673332303623772022-03-21T08:31:00.003+00:002022-03-21T08:31:31.844+00:00Finishing Line is Almost in Sight<p> This weekend saw me complete the crews for the Austrian Artillery. All Perry metal figures and a real joy to paint.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6ibGzzv6OCyF-EhCSxu7W5AHmZEA6ocLefYaaVVEf5IuwB6gIC6R33u5ioGJSj6QhD4ELTo2E6CnKWaeQ3JKsPOaccWP6F5g-23DT2RPmLEb6LYj5CHHWBWmWOWKxoGJR7v8yZhEwdgikvU8ZAP-TM-PTQ9ngNkoefQRjCfWJPrBUjxyKUg=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh6ibGzzv6OCyF-EhCSxu7W5AHmZEA6ocLefYaaVVEf5IuwB6gIC6R33u5ioGJSj6QhD4ELTo2E6CnKWaeQ3JKsPOaccWP6F5g-23DT2RPmLEb6LYj5CHHWBWmWOWKxoGJR7v8yZhEwdgikvU8ZAP-TM-PTQ9ngNkoefQRjCfWJPrBUjxyKUg=s320" width="320" /></a></div>I went for a slightly lighter brown coat than for the Border Regiment posted last week. Chestnut brown base, strong tone wash (Army Painter), Chestnut Brown again and then a light highlight with Vallejo Red Leather.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxlYgIsz5wl8KZj-DVNBlEIvGAyCIpV8do2zGU2c63wEflGy8NrvVthBatJuTezXEPgYx2uizpoJsAsIeYwcjCYGSjZN3XU5yCa2GRrTTKj6FddRPilnMdVftfb9GJRP2e7bLNyZJlOv3f2jmsdNq7k55LDvutEDdmOGtHobStMAlOM4VJnA=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxlYgIsz5wl8KZj-DVNBlEIvGAyCIpV8do2zGU2c63wEflGy8NrvVthBatJuTezXEPgYx2uizpoJsAsIeYwcjCYGSjZN3XU5yCa2GRrTTKj6FddRPilnMdVftfb9GJRP2e7bLNyZJlOv3f2jmsdNq7k55LDvutEDdmOGtHobStMAlOM4VJnA=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Breeches are linen paint washed with dark tone and then two coats of thinned linen paint. The second coat only on the highlight areas. Belting was light grey base with three coats of thinned white paint, and again each successive coat only creating more depth for the brighter areas.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqe6ee4l-lwq3boycaIVWi1ZQdUM7yji4WwpcTSJTWrmsRaRlvZ0g_x-PFZZiPIk2N1coJUescyP1Cgb2yEWD5bvJ8IoLjTIDWdFqW55Ik94H8HhhwW-uLGB_wWR7xmX2Zd_C5UYa3xBW4A5AlI-TftKczdNOPaluWoDwnsB5rjdEcTmd5Mg=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqe6ee4l-lwq3boycaIVWi1ZQdUM7yji4WwpcTSJTWrmsRaRlvZ0g_x-PFZZiPIk2N1coJUescyP1Cgb2yEWD5bvJ8IoLjTIDWdFqW55Ik94H8HhhwW-uLGB_wWR7xmX2Zd_C5UYa3xBW4A5AlI-TftKczdNOPaluWoDwnsB5rjdEcTmd5Mg=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Red facings are plum red with two coats of bright red and a final highlight of orange.<p></p><p>I have to admit that I'm having some issues getting the colour right for the canons. Yellow Ochre is what the references describe but mine looked too orange. So adding a little yellow should be sufficient but now they look too yellow. After several washes and repaints I've decided to step back and leave them for a couple of days until I can do some more paint swathes. In the meantime all the staff have been prepped and the horses just about finished. Hoping that by this weekend it'll be done and just a case of varnishing and packing prior to despatch.</p><p>The first fifty figures for the next French battalion for the Waterloo Remodelled project have been prepped and now wait for undercoating. Overall quite a productive weekend. </p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-22759989267215409972022-03-14T08:32:00.004+00:002022-03-14T08:32:51.297+00:00Austrians - no more plastics & Border Troops<p> I can feel the home stretch coming on.</p><p>This last week I completed the last of the plastic Austrians. These Chevauxleger have been varnished and are now waiting for packing and dispatch across the pond along with all the plastic infantry previously completed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAStqxhZ9ukBBruZGoz5VotjLgbEWTGQVvm_S-HPCq9-LrZGO786hkxxK3JquwE1ntguAA6S-vR4bR5ZBLja_kVDp2xgoCeeLc64f9JKbP-069ACqbjU8Gda5O9XvR7vqABOKtcPsRBvOI-cck85D9Agx7MwhhVlgKTo6aMt4_jGhtBjji2g=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAStqxhZ9ukBBruZGoz5VotjLgbEWTGQVvm_S-HPCq9-LrZGO786hkxxK3JquwE1ntguAA6S-vR4bR5ZBLja_kVDp2xgoCeeLc64f9JKbP-069ACqbjU8Gda5O9XvR7vqABOKtcPsRBvOI-cck85D9Agx7MwhhVlgKTo6aMt4_jGhtBjji2g=s320" width="320" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ-zYZPRHF25ejwpzdCa_HL4hhB_186wcQhXvFvlzlq0NcCiV0hSpTciZn7_Uev8yDIal6reV2njx33B6gpd-zRyfFKUozWAU6ZRlYDtpLuzyrjTYUqxAXTyxrZhgToS7OkTFCHbb9FIfwviUbYRtSHourJZbq5pLVfwF_bournb7qTp2_4g=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ-zYZPRHF25ejwpzdCa_HL4hhB_186wcQhXvFvlzlq0NcCiV0hSpTciZn7_Uev8yDIal6reV2njx33B6gpd-zRyfFKUozWAU6ZRlYDtpLuzyrjTYUqxAXTyxrZhgToS7OkTFCHbb9FIfwviUbYRtSHourJZbq5pLVfwF_bournb7qTp2_4g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">That means there are (were) just fifty seven more pieces to paint. All metal.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The first off the blocks were the Border Regiment (Grenz by any other name) and I have to admit to really enjoying painting these chaps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVo5HY4dvQb439D8aoIiGfNnhctEXCIWrnfGHeTQaKzMMW61899Pl4B5ryVRZRNZO9-1C1Cy_Y0hjohvMQhICGaDexJDZfW20NvDpBBRoJQfKZPtul-O4-gCEJQMUEzlOMq9LN3irjEzqf-5MG8O98usZDjyB6S10CBSD6gOuK-rcwJGU01A=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVo5HY4dvQb439D8aoIiGfNnhctEXCIWrnfGHeTQaKzMMW61899Pl4B5ryVRZRNZO9-1C1Cy_Y0hjohvMQhICGaDexJDZfW20NvDpBBRoJQfKZPtul-O4-gCEJQMUEzlOMq9LN3irjEzqf-5MG8O98usZDjyB6S10CBSD6gOuK-rcwJGU01A=s320" width="320" /></a></div></div>After some debate about what colour "Crab" is we settled on a dark pink. This coupled with the red packs and rolls made these figures very nice to paint. The level of detail and relief on the figures makes painting them much easier than plastics (although removing the flash is a real pain because there is so much of it). <p></p><p>Black undercoat and then block paint the flesh, brown jacket, back pack and trousers. Wash the whole figure with Vallejo Sepia and then repaint and shade. The red is from a Plum red base with Scarlet (in two coats) after. Red wash and highlight with thinned orange. The jacket was flat brown highlighted with 1:1 chestnut and finally chestnut alone.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEsZ2zceT5TdmnSQ7wpK7MegW8WWjYtu6JFX-u2BC94y7sxgiUILlDFWnZZvUA0Xzd8xBc536EAcrs4m7XyPYS1gU66Z1nxVpU9e0TcWVj_CtRyf5QdZiQDeIGt0ArBbiPmLBxbHdXWtj_mLrbeZO6Bc9Hb0zfVA12awJwKFRG-ZBFTeeOjg=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEsZ2zceT5TdmnSQ7wpK7MegW8WWjYtu6JFX-u2BC94y7sxgiUILlDFWnZZvUA0Xzd8xBc536EAcrs4m7XyPYS1gU66Z1nxVpU9e0TcWVj_CtRyf5QdZiQDeIGt0ArBbiPmLBxbHdXWtj_mLrbeZO6Bc9Hb0zfVA12awJwKFRG-ZBFTeeOjg=s320" width="320" /></a></div>That just leaves me with the four guns and crew and the staff figures and on track for an end of March completion.<p></p><p>April will be the 300 French infantry for the Waterloo Remodelled project. This time I'm aiming to use the new Army Speed paints so quite looking forward to that.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-17982712726154217532022-01-27T07:55:00.002+00:002022-01-27T07:55:21.440+00:00Austrians - Second Stage Completed<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are more Austrians making their way across the pond to their new barracks following completion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxWMMz4K57_gMVL9AQXq6uYeXIPG9Y_bTzRvH5FIK5wsn4TXszD6v6BV7AQyPC2sTpMBJs7SWSA2w9n8SfruPs5J1OrhqBsj2Nv86Qa1O1xjPooHuGdFElhfL_2lIK0YYmB-JJhcwTlm0rbbFY2uRo1uoSfVhRaoH-HvYIxOhRvLd56CZKtA=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2470" data-original-width="4624" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxWMMz4K57_gMVL9AQXq6uYeXIPG9Y_bTzRvH5FIK5wsn4TXszD6v6BV7AQyPC2sTpMBJs7SWSA2w9n8SfruPs5J1OrhqBsj2Nv86Qa1O1xjPooHuGdFElhfL_2lIK0YYmB-JJhcwTlm0rbbFY2uRo1uoSfVhRaoH-HvYIxOhRvLd56CZKtA=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Two regiments of horse. One of dragoons and one of chevauxleger. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhetu_O_G4VErJtAYZSHmtbgsEBq25flOgGw4snFQVKoc5gIQhNMnxY6fJ62bxi4AGshzP1V4hWDDosm8NZak3Ww4elbCy5vM7WRkHxowvRHzz4HC3_-8bNdwznBjfbWL-SbVNXgK5vBgG3rAOwfRMRFUl9zWBSganw-WuCaGDQCo3KSLpuKQ=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhetu_O_G4VErJtAYZSHmtbgsEBq25flOgGw4snFQVKoc5gIQhNMnxY6fJ62bxi4AGshzP1V4hWDDosm8NZak3Ww4elbCy5vM7WRkHxowvRHzz4HC3_-8bNdwznBjfbWL-SbVNXgK5vBgG3rAOwfRMRFUl9zWBSganw-WuCaGDQCo3KSLpuKQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div>As I may have said before, I liked painting these but found the assembly a bit of a chore. The sprues come with multiple options to make cuirassier, dragoon and chevauxleger. It all depends on which torso you choose (two options for cuirassier and one for the other two types), which horses head you take (one for chevauxleger and one for the other two types) and which picket post style to attach (cuirassiers have no carbine). Then there are the troopers heads - full plume, no plume, small tuft or forage cap. Then you have to remember that light horse units have no ensign and so need to make another trooper from the sprue.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJf-vyF8hew2U3iy5O4rVloeOkWUOTHRlG_3oJeTuKf8fnTeDlPLgU-3C3OxflRqWAelm2Sg2DWQTaCU_8LWMa5f2V78eKAPRPUBHLQJ14yQERxjpDXhfoqoCEFDPkhpv2OgiRs70SsWW-e4eZkoo5s944WVmC7nCLO44PIbJOloqMp7wH-A=s2448" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJf-vyF8hew2U3iy5O4rVloeOkWUOTHRlG_3oJeTuKf8fnTeDlPLgU-3C3OxflRqWAelm2Sg2DWQTaCU_8LWMa5f2V78eKAPRPUBHLQJ14yQERxjpDXhfoqoCEFDPkhpv2OgiRs70SsWW-e4eZkoo5s944WVmC7nCLO44PIbJOloqMp7wH-A=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Still, it's quite pleasing when they come together.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPY56Enf7Sa5I5hd-QJGT2D2CuSszpHadOWTHqBQjTI1Hi3KUspbCOWo_EK3mKNYO9bEhB2rtL6--gsfHlQ7oi8R96HhNCyWZvj6azDCOzO5PdEdVonrjpoEOlpvI1DgAAcTSsaj2qPz_Xiku6OVAsPC9uCPyFQH4_TZsZUhIB7MmnMTZnqg=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPY56Enf7Sa5I5hd-QJGT2D2CuSszpHadOWTHqBQjTI1Hi3KUspbCOWo_EK3mKNYO9bEhB2rtL6--gsfHlQ7oi8R96HhNCyWZvj6azDCOzO5PdEdVonrjpoEOlpvI1DgAAcTSsaj2qPz_Xiku6OVAsPC9uCPyFQH4_TZsZUhIB7MmnMTZnqg=s320" width="320" /></a></div>I have one more horse regiment to complete.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvetCG8ZucL4QNqGVbRxy3KTSFcfW9TRhXLNDj9mVYtE-LnSti0hknm5BZDTJm9P2YvfvmwQHlWG5m219rP-RAcCEQEBObH1L5JGRXSDac0M-t7Ow3bMOJMeGxfkNjEi0clMuyS7qAD-Ce9RJpmtVG6m4JvqV3QvWFZkf0GKAx6ZUC8Ih5yQ=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvetCG8ZucL4QNqGVbRxy3KTSFcfW9TRhXLNDj9mVYtE-LnSti0hknm5BZDTJm9P2YvfvmwQHlWG5m219rP-RAcCEQEBObH1L5JGRXSDac0M-t7Ow3bMOJMeGxfkNjEi0clMuyS7qAD-Ce9RJpmtVG6m4JvqV3QvWFZkf0GKAx6ZUC8Ih5yQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This last one is another chevauxleger unit but this time in green tunic. I've made some test patches to try and find the right shade of green but am not happy with any of them at the moment so I continue to test options.</span></div><p></p><p>Along with the horse there are some infantry as well.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8EpLVAfTckhJ5W5ByUM4AvXqN93OxKdQrgMg2j-K3NFOIJ6K7X3az6fw3ve4hFvhUt8uAtCMv2Nj7yVxmDjCJ7ULvdEgavWcJzTjXbnjQSNU8t7JYk-3kiomKKIWRqyi-Ew0T6J8CRixP_jujec_jUd4ycr5Uecy0_HgBKRdnwVl4-ViN1A=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8EpLVAfTckhJ5W5ByUM4AvXqN93OxKdQrgMg2j-K3NFOIJ6K7X3az6fw3ve4hFvhUt8uAtCMv2Nj7yVxmDjCJ7ULvdEgavWcJzTjXbnjQSNU8t7JYk-3kiomKKIWRqyi-Ew0T6J8CRixP_jujec_jUd4ycr5Uecy0_HgBKRdnwVl4-ViN1A=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Jordis have been completed, all sixty figures and their eight grenadiers.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWWvJ_rZJfhaPhg5U9z7CPvioqNGDmCzZTG8uuK7eqUr_6EkwBUw_SAACuaYe9xWpRGDXDOAIIny2zEetctDn2tCAEtSzia4UD60WIdpQCp0KkSW0XUWXgADzPJm5oJIMX36XAxxtM0xDuQFHFxd4550vWB691V1cbrV2AUHTOJqi0hCHxPQ=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWWvJ_rZJfhaPhg5U9z7CPvioqNGDmCzZTG8uuK7eqUr_6EkwBUw_SAACuaYe9xWpRGDXDOAIIny2zEetctDn2tCAEtSzia4UD60WIdpQCp0KkSW0XUWXgADzPJm5oJIMX36XAxxtM0xDuQFHFxd4550vWB691V1cbrV2AUHTOJqi0hCHxPQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div>The unit includes the usual six metal command (the right hand figures in the photo above).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRr2tJyag-l4R7b1sCnTmmjP3piWM_Q5W5fJJOG7PBbhn7L-WmOAGOyqxlw_W35gmaCSg-SvxBWjETd3xYdLO1OlpC2NfBZ1PIz8-S46CUzGJ4xbzWtPlGXtfXg0TGqhRa2QS6WvWv38U46t8KExdx7zAK4N5-xU0Z-s6o5kRUYXdLur5H9g=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRr2tJyag-l4R7b1sCnTmmjP3piWM_Q5W5fJJOG7PBbhn7L-WmOAGOyqxlw_W35gmaCSg-SvxBWjETd3xYdLO1OlpC2NfBZ1PIz8-S46CUzGJ4xbzWtPlGXtfXg0TGqhRa2QS6WvWv38U46t8KExdx7zAK4N5-xU0Z-s6o5kRUYXdLur5H9g=s320" width="320" /></a></div>The grenadiers have the metal head and sword options added from the Perry's. Personally I find this a little difficult in that it takes quite a while to attach metal to plastic and to allow the glue to dry sufficiently to allow the item to be undercoated.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiUZVkT7WEXurhBpn11r7EbVCsBvowk5ViZ0-zzyKOEnD772nOCagXW45rMtjqijqYvn8whjuAuBT26Prdtt6-8M18E9RPTPzmppT0gZSrSGbPg4xijPDLAx4DEActWkVXl-VE8PcShirCf5_-PaKB2Lu3gbJcJ50fjNn47EssSGktxv6cWg=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhiUZVkT7WEXurhBpn11r7EbVCsBvowk5ViZ0-zzyKOEnD772nOCagXW45rMtjqijqYvn8whjuAuBT26Prdtt6-8M18E9RPTPzmppT0gZSrSGbPg4xijPDLAx4DEActWkVXl-VE8PcShirCf5_-PaKB2Lu3gbJcJ50fjNn47EssSGktxv6cWg=s320" width="320" /></a></div>But I do quite enjoy the challenge of painting the stitching on top of the busby. Orange is a difficult colour to get the right level of intensity for so that the white stands out. Several layers of thin white over light grey were needed and the orange started from a yellow over grey base.<p></p><p>I just hope my patron is happy with the results when he gets them in his hand.</p><p>Next up is the last of the German regiments and the last "big unit" of sixty figures.<br /> </p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-81304481651849695442022-01-07T08:23:00.003+00:002022-01-07T08:38:39.573+00:00Am I about to Break?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having only just posted that I'm trying to reduce the scope of the collection and to try attempt to control the butterfly within Wargames Atlantic do this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In their email newsletter are these boys. Worse, the multi-box deal is excellent.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0X_FrK-mybK0c1WS6u4cXapY2AyB5M-tKczJKuqvPXEDKfJFeb1iFp0KojhjYN-2MHjfsHTdyS_kEp2ewdxwhp48JQx_uebXMk0P2uQ2YL96QUncAS0wcUdHYzuQhPTwAwkAVh8YRX3UP9bohFrEp3jPX0EhUzWMoCdG7POe3BGRr87CE6A=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="1800" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0X_FrK-mybK0c1WS6u4cXapY2AyB5M-tKczJKuqvPXEDKfJFeb1iFp0KojhjYN-2MHjfsHTdyS_kEp2ewdxwhp48JQx_uebXMk0P2uQ2YL96QUncAS0wcUdHYzuQhPTwAwkAVh8YRX3UP9bohFrEp3jPX0EhUzWMoCdG7POe3BGRr87CE6A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl5-DbYioUxXaSuVH1NYX7efGSskTzX0HbWVgbY5U8rb9zMUldvUa1huZTEXItY7_yDM9cdYhuWOKwtTcU-A8-SX9lbOk2sJvc-TsGEjIu-nkG0MZliDU4hRp1lFA7hkresq1IPS_j4rFoP-ptACCnTOg2hgwDeog7l3ESWl4TipVeIbKWzA=s1800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1800" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjl5-DbYioUxXaSuVH1NYX7efGSskTzX0HbWVgbY5U8rb9zMUldvUa1huZTEXItY7_yDM9cdYhuWOKwtTcU-A8-SX9lbOk2sJvc-TsGEjIu-nkG0MZliDU4hRp1lFA7hkresq1IPS_j4rFoP-ptACCnTOg2hgwDeog7l3ESWl4TipVeIbKWzA=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Suddenly a period I've always considered out of reach due to cost for the number of figures needed is within reach. Bugger.<br /> <p></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-26990446409163884352022-01-04T08:38:00.001+00:002022-01-04T08:44:59.621+00:002022 - More of the Same?<p> 2022. Hopefully that is not a synonym for "2020 2 the sequel".</p><p>Christmas was a more subdued affair than in previous years, even given the Covid restrictions in place for the last one. This was largely due to the absence of the my daughter who was on the other side of the world and several time zones ahead of us. </p><p>There were a lot of good things under the tree for me all the same. Most were not related to the hobby (unless a decent bourbon counts) but there were two books that have been added to the library.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw44coV2bq67yu6mMqe6XZ_a7cGcnIKPO4BYBkNsuKWzhyxATtCeHeulkRGnuIMzh-d0gfa8aeCSTUMdCCQ9hv-QuEjg76t74u1YrwUeF0ZTOqD1O0mmDiXg1uCDzce-yyANPEnW1jugqMfOf5KIAyZg-6aitVAXz-ANbvhUq4pK7vNviqdQ=s482" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw44coV2bq67yu6mMqe6XZ_a7cGcnIKPO4BYBkNsuKWzhyxATtCeHeulkRGnuIMzh-d0gfa8aeCSTUMdCCQ9hv-QuEjg76t74u1YrwUeF0ZTOqD1O0mmDiXg1uCDzce-yyANPEnW1jugqMfOf5KIAyZg-6aitVAXz-ANbvhUq4pK7vNviqdQ=s320" width="232" /></a></div>"Waking the Bear" is, from first reading, just what it says on the cover - an introduction to the Great Northern War but not a lot more. There does appear to be some interesting bits not available from other such works like the inclusion of the Ottomans and the war in the far east, both of which offer some interesting possibilities, but after that holds nothing new. Having said that, any addition of information for the period is welcome and I'm happy to have it on the shelf.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO4d2jJY8568P9kSVZ46ossSyC_P2ad8oLtO_jeJdxziWVgN6FdbgiswtMoAhYes4sOiEniJfyeASxemppM1wvPmRNEiB2rI7wDyhTAMQLcQ1XFkrWFio-QssREi-VsfEMfamIr1TW82BxXQM7LXXhkexTYHd2TDPkXRBEMt3wOZTzec6jlg=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgO4d2jJY8568P9kSVZ46ossSyC_P2ad8oLtO_jeJdxziWVgN6FdbgiswtMoAhYes4sOiEniJfyeASxemppM1wvPmRNEiB2rI7wDyhTAMQLcQ1XFkrWFio-QssREi-VsfEMfamIr1TW82BxXQM7LXXhkexTYHd2TDPkXRBEMt3wOZTzec6jlg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other book is an addition to the collection on the Falklands War. I have no intention of gaming this period but it is an area of interest for me and one where I continue to add to my knowledge and understanding where I can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij7VxLuKLgpM-z0STjXoa7_gCoEP0-sEoqkccsbLoS3dnk5OprtwNC27COLcciQXlRJRrNdhEGGf_Di7IClADGdBEAn_KUMBUYOkak4OOSJrKfYyO3JkKR2jbGFjriPJm9JtjT_4lcaNoWzsqti0_TrX8WcTVmeraBJAgKjCNp5ptQ5H7MJg=s2592" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij7VxLuKLgpM-z0STjXoa7_gCoEP0-sEoqkccsbLoS3dnk5OprtwNC27COLcciQXlRJRrNdhEGGf_Di7IClADGdBEAn_KUMBUYOkak4OOSJrKfYyO3JkKR2jbGFjriPJm9JtjT_4lcaNoWzsqti0_TrX8WcTVmeraBJAgKjCNp5ptQ5H7MJg=s320" width="320" /></a></div>The majority of the festive period was divided between the sofa watching tv with a beer in hand (and several splendid glasses of whisky from the tasting set given as a present) and the painting table where the Austrians continue to march off the desk. Jordis has now been completed and is ready for dispatch to the States. I've now started the remaining figures for the Dragoons and Chevauxleger regiments previously worked on plus the first dozen figures for the last of the German regiments. Happy to report that, even after over 200 figures non-stop, I'm still not tired of painting white uniforms.<div><br /></div><div>So what does 2022 look like?</div><div><br /></div><div>I have no appetite for attending games at the moment when Covid cases are rising as rapidly as they are and especially in the area where I live. So face to face wargaming is looking unlikely in the short term and is very much a case of watch this space. The only thing on my radar at the moment is the much anticipated "Wild Geese 2022" gathering at Kenilworth in June. Absent from the calendar for the last two years due to the pandemic, I'm looking forward to meeting friends and playing games over several beers for a weekend of eighteenth century wargames. </div><div>Lets be a little more positive then. What I do have is a fair amount of figures to paint for others with the Austrians aiming to be completed by March and then ploughing straight into another battalion of French infantry for the Waterloo Remodelled project. </div><div>The hiatus in gaming has given me pause to consider what I want from the hobby and whether I'm doing what I like or what I think I like. There is a subtle difference between the two.</div><div>On another positive note I like early eighteenth century warfare, whether this be the War of the Spanish Succession or the Great Northern War. However, I feel as though it has got a little out of hand and needs a bit of a sort through to establish what there is exactly in my collection and what gaps need to be filled. I do know that the Ottomans are something I want to add and the Saxons are undermanned but other than that I really do not have a full inventory of the other armies and how they shape up. So that's something to address. So 2022 will see the Saxons completed with another battalion of foot to complete the brigade and sufficient horse to have eight squadrons (I'm just not clear on how many figures I need to buy for that). </div><div>I also want to finish the Crimean War project. Again, I've been doing this on an ad-hoc basis so far and now need to work out what is required to get it to completion. 2022 will hopefully see these being bought and added to the (not quite as big as it was) box of shame.</div><div>After that there are several collections that I need to move on because I'm doing these because I think I like them but am not entirely convinced by them. In some cases this is quite literal and will see a number of figures leave for barracks elsewhere. In some cases it means sorting and reorganising. Quite how this will all be achieved has not been finalised so watch this space as well although a large weight of lead was offloaded before Christmas.</div><div>Most depressingly of all there will be a clearance of a number of books. The library was culled a few years back, and after numerous attempts to sell much of the collection, nearly all of the remaining works will be given to charity or sent for recycling. Now there will be a further reduction of books on the shelves as I reorganise the library and take stock. It seems that having large libraries of reference works is a thing of the past with even charity shops are selecting what they will take and, sadly, more and more books are ending up being pulped. I fear that this will be the case here as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>So there we have it. Vague plans and ideas forming but very little substance and commitment. 2022 - sorted?</div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-3989549370487558902021-12-20T08:27:00.005+00:002021-12-20T08:27:59.677+00:0048 Hours to Victory - Waterloo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perhaps I should know better than to expect something new and exciting in a TV documentary. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3rTJQt8VgACdRW2dNlmZaFC96GXHid27akX8qakyPWWypqlbYE3BWyLO6gzYJrYtcp-_Vs98knnDwUj6GV4ZKT0PGEf78qNzaXjoHmJhQIYiw7oHNkLPTkjxBZlu-ohSKx0Awnp5NJIzWnvDN7Tx8PhMwYCwxl9dFyWaTwpZI77u3NQ0PCA=s520" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="520" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3rTJQt8VgACdRW2dNlmZaFC96GXHid27akX8qakyPWWypqlbYE3BWyLO6gzYJrYtcp-_Vs98knnDwUj6GV4ZKT0PGEf78qNzaXjoHmJhQIYiw7oHNkLPTkjxBZlu-ohSKx0Awnp5NJIzWnvDN7Tx8PhMwYCwxl9dFyWaTwpZI77u3NQ0PCA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Perhaps I should expect a modern documentary to be dumbed down and presented in a format that promises much but delivers little. But if this is the future of delivering history then saints preserve us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Promising us new & modern insights into the battle from the air, we're shown a man in an aeroplane flying over the Belgian countryside but can't actually see the battlefield or what he's pointing at.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Promising us a new projection of the battlefield, the three presenters sit round a screen and all we can see are blocks of colour moving around little more than a green screen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The programme ignored completely the fact that this was an Allied victory. It preserved the myth that the British won this battle, although they do at least mention the Prussians whilst ignoring the Dutch, Belgians and Nassau contingents completely. Ironic then, that Maitland being told to rise from the corn and to seize his chance is a myth we're told. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arthur Williams gets to grips with a Brown Bess and says that he can't imagine being able to use it effectively. An opportunity wasted as we watch him fire one and get told a few well known facts and gain little insight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lucy Betteridge-Dyson doesn't give us much more. We watch her ride a horse through a field which is meant to help explain the charge of the Union Brigade but is actually little more than a pleasant afternoons canter. She then stands on top of the Lion Mound but the views we're given aren't any more help in understanding what we're looking at then her "cavalry charge".</div>Dermot O'Leary admits that he knows nothing of the battle other than bits he's picked up on the way. This programme won't have given him much more I would have thought.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEvsda7jntWnNtv_vwLOY7cxORQLpwrYk8r11sANexzxiGP7RJeDDyAFj11yGZ5AjwM0WgGVD8PP0Ugb2RrtEs6v2S1FfERxYLeqZ7NXgayn9WUbNLq8hXw6UNePPLVkud_u4yV_DrfbbDqsFSnfbYkDJUSbBzyWYntzeP3qo-aCQ3VDsCbg=s1024" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="1024" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEvsda7jntWnNtv_vwLOY7cxORQLpwrYk8r11sANexzxiGP7RJeDDyAFj11yGZ5AjwM0WgGVD8PP0Ugb2RrtEs6v2S1FfERxYLeqZ7NXgayn9WUbNLq8hXw6UNePPLVkud_u4yV_DrfbbDqsFSnfbYkDJUSbBzyWYntzeP3qo-aCQ3VDsCbg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Stephen Sommerfield is given an opportunity to explain the role of artillery in the battle but this is purely an opportunity to watch a canon being fired a couple of times. We get to see a canon ball and we are given a explanation of the damage it could do but cannister is never mentioned.<p></p><p>Thank heavens there are books to read and gain more knowledge. But if this is the standard of presentation for history moving forward I would be very surprised if anyone watching it was motivated to go and find those books (or even a Google search).<br /><br /></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-11958752555023805152021-12-09T06:44:00.003+00:002021-12-09T06:44:46.173+00:00Jordis on the Blocks<p> Moving back to the infantry for the next box of Perry plastic Austrians. This time it will be IR 59 Jordis for the paintbrush.</p><p>The first twelve have been completed and now need to sit for four or five days before varnishing. I've found that leaving them this long, so far, seems to prevent any issues with the matt varnish. Fingers crossed that it continues that way.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjTBa14g9CQwonZpMyKl6BjS0StJeGkqd5HCXGYfFimMH6k-LPRu8-ljofgSPqvCYFWPUcP-SYH7pLsJ34-cIaFAyMxGIO7WoaHpwtRbwBid_bAIOFlAbj5QJtNBc-2jSKg6cgKkbicguof217m2gGCymBVvYncW-vmwd15EPqEV-MOQPciA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjTBa14g9CQwonZpMyKl6BjS0StJeGkqd5HCXGYfFimMH6k-LPRu8-ljofgSPqvCYFWPUcP-SYH7pLsJ34-cIaFAyMxGIO7WoaHpwtRbwBid_bAIOFlAbj5QJtNBc-2jSKg6cgKkbicguof217m2gGCymBVvYncW-vmwd15EPqEV-MOQPciA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">No change to the painting technique for these from previous figures other than to thin the linen colour slightly as it thickens in the bottle with use. The aurora colour for the facings is a base yellow over the black undercoat and then a thin orange over that. Quite like it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1nBMKP11tM2BtSD6HZYX9TpKZzn4B4aOTFWa_DpQHIGLJDrSYYBYRh7vKgeeBGsffa8dYXkf9uWf0w7IrX8NLj2fzbrLWPF14o_Z3rFTR1xPWdzenmHtZPCTvnBbcOO0LZOs4c9vvRvq_D_oKBZjlOBUqPycgNwKvb0C6ZLJ1Esn8PuJ7tA=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1nBMKP11tM2BtSD6HZYX9TpKZzn4B4aOTFWa_DpQHIGLJDrSYYBYRh7vKgeeBGsffa8dYXkf9uWf0w7IrX8NLj2fzbrLWPF14o_Z3rFTR1xPWdzenmHtZPCTvnBbcOO0LZOs4c9vvRvq_D_oKBZjlOBUqPycgNwKvb0C6ZLJ1Esn8PuJ7tA=s320" width="320" /></a></div></div>In a semi interesting turn of events I've found myself going through rather a lot of brushes recently. Still using Rosemary & co. series 401 but for some reason I have not had the success with the newer ones that I have had with ones a few years old. Just can't seem to hold the point on them. I have two brushes that I use a lot, a size 1 & a size 0. The 1 has had an excellent point and held it for a long time no matter what I use the brush for. However, the new one I've just switched to just won't respond in the same way. So I went through my stock of brushes from other reasonably priced makers and found the same thing. Disappointingly this was also the case with some Daler Rowney brushes. <p></p><p>Then I moved up a size to a Rosemary & co. series 401 size 2 and low and behold I found a brush with a really good point and little splaying when pressed. </p><p>Not that interesting. Well just a little bit. To me at least.</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-69963974622329782942021-11-30T08:09:00.002+00:002021-11-30T08:16:37.218+00:00Austrians - so many options!<p> As I may have mentioned in a previous post, a friend in the States ran into some issues recently with a project and I offered to help out. As a result several large boxes of Perry figures arrived in due course and I've set about assembling and painting them.</p><p>The second stage was to start a box of Austrian cavalry. Like an idiot I boldly assembled the fourteen horses fully intending to get a regiment completed. Doh! When it came to putting the troopers onto their horses I realised that I had given half of them the light horse head and not the dragoon (light horse have the cross bridle over the head - should have read the instructions).<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ONI_1Y2eoZo9igZuhqzVd-uC2zkSD39ihPySTfLa8Sbmg0RphVI2_w7-yld7bQdCHRGXehYKKTFT3s_lvEUBI7KjmJSAruSJLL9FRn9p3agmtLbovtpDCl-TAysUe64awke-/s2048/IMG_3642%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ONI_1Y2eoZo9igZuhqzVd-uC2zkSD39ihPySTfLa8Sbmg0RphVI2_w7-yld7bQdCHRGXehYKKTFT3s_lvEUBI7KjmJSAruSJLL9FRn9p3agmtLbovtpDCl-TAysUe64awke-/s320/IMG_3642%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So rather than complete a single unit I now have two halves of two units. Above are the No1 regiment of dragoons and below the No 4 regiment of Chevauxleger.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQBYKeR-x8bf5nE0u6ih8x8EUbXS3yMHsn1UWTJGIQtY_JOxyJS-rtglEy5vPGoIgVlQCiY4UEc0_ULQ3FTkBlDGPLuKvQJFHyxD5M5_fvbNp834FTXXncbFU5_UmF5Ki_eY_/s2048/IMG_3641%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQBYKeR-x8bf5nE0u6ih8x8EUbXS3yMHsn1UWTJGIQtY_JOxyJS-rtglEy5vPGoIgVlQCiY4UEc0_ULQ3FTkBlDGPLuKvQJFHyxD5M5_fvbNp834FTXXncbFU5_UmF5Ki_eY_/s320/IMG_3641%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Quite pleased with the way the shabraque came out.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyYpcTdpFHxJxBMRAW0LOZLpklpVsqnsqQSNqGJstjGJjOIQxcxfLcTakZHpEsvRF9v-jLAfkRcmjGOBVGIO-_q6HXS2LqiymN9UFxoGl6i8El9fD8cAvirYeZzdw0qWFlQCq/s2048/IMG_3640%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyYpcTdpFHxJxBMRAW0LOZLpklpVsqnsqQSNqGJstjGJjOIQxcxfLcTakZHpEsvRF9v-jLAfkRcmjGOBVGIO-_q6HXS2LqiymN9UFxoGl6i8El9fD8cAvirYeZzdw0qWFlQCq/s320/IMG_3640%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This was painted plum red over a black undercoat. Main colour was deep red and then again with scarlet. all finished with a higlight of thinned orange to allow the red to show through. Edging was white over a light grey basecoat and then a broad stripe of yellow (actually mustard yellow) to allow a thin edge of white to show.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxnD3aiWKWWGclw-o5l3561C2WcwHzZJBjcWfjayyzCULq-RRjdsDYUzAk0sozTW1rI5FvVSKUn3yJvEHnHwXVNP-TcuZLnqHsRXIrAhBhoJTn9FB_PMOxhUkRp9plW9u7Rif/s2048/IMG_3639%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxnD3aiWKWWGclw-o5l3561C2WcwHzZJBjcWfjayyzCULq-RRjdsDYUzAk0sozTW1rI5FvVSKUn3yJvEHnHwXVNP-TcuZLnqHsRXIrAhBhoJTn9FB_PMOxhUkRp9plW9u7Rif/s320/IMG_3639%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky51d6iaKrXTrKXlxHkWKwpdOz1nfBKDOAkyBHpGxLe9cO9qEVAfTrPhtuiy0_wAZ-NBsk8gMwTDjvA74DFoyHuKy_cc3RNHgA01PPdt8ziUFC0g7gUVcnHHAPckWU9TOI2um/s2048/IMG_3638%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky51d6iaKrXTrKXlxHkWKwpdOz1nfBKDOAkyBHpGxLe9cO9qEVAfTrPhtuiy0_wAZ-NBsk8gMwTDjvA74DFoyHuKy_cc3RNHgA01PPdt8ziUFC0g7gUVcnHHAPckWU9TOI2um/s320/IMG_3638%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Coats are linen basecoat with a sepia wash and then repainted with two thin coats of linen. The white belting does contrast reasonably well with the linen which is just a little off white.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqXPMyFRDhyphenhyphenCjM9yZIaQh-fyXi5LYUKHu5w00gzHkgL4SAm0TlokUa6NPGyVHd7qfeMwTz8T9aAiycR3tRsB4wrGr-9wPi-3XL6LNiW1qVib65cUmBCI35qDdUC6otAssLKjk/s2048/IMG_3637%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqXPMyFRDhyphenhyphenCjM9yZIaQh-fyXi5LYUKHu5w00gzHkgL4SAm0TlokUa6NPGyVHd7qfeMwTz8T9aAiycR3tRsB4wrGr-9wPi-3XL6LNiW1qVib65cUmBCI35qDdUC6otAssLKjk/s320/IMG_3637%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Really enjoying this project and seeing it progress, even if the assembly instructions are not as clear as one may hope!<p></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-24056557970847623212021-11-02T08:35:00.001+00:002021-11-02T08:35:13.604+00:00Waterloo Remodelled<p> As I mentioned in my previous post, last weekend I took the opportunity to go to the NAM to visit the first public showing of the Waterloo Remodelled project by Major James Gowan.</p><p>For more and better photographs go here: <a href="https://generalpicton.blogspot.com/">Waterloo in 20mm (generalpicton.blogspot.com)</a></p><p>There had been several showings of this over the previous two days but Saturday 23rd October was for the public. The NAM had invited several re-enactment groups to attend and we were treated to the fife and drum of the Foot Guards as the day opened, seen here standing beyond the Plancenoit display.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QNCoqR0LYhEwBv0aacGRG4CNDVqPcSQm-ZiiUqliKVBmIV3frHToIJyaLt6o2aYRbc3yE7dKyk2nuvbFeYs0fmvYEqh_qUzomMMP0mFCMePlCmIpRGP_VZXpY0pYt9zi_X-z/s2048/plan+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QNCoqR0LYhEwBv0aacGRG4CNDVqPcSQm-ZiiUqliKVBmIV3frHToIJyaLt6o2aYRbc3yE7dKyk2nuvbFeYs0fmvYEqh_qUzomMMP0mFCMePlCmIpRGP_VZXpY0pYt9zi_X-z/s320/plan+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The project has five finished elements so far and these were all on display. By far the largest and most spectacular was the depiction of the Prussian attack on Plancenoit that was repulsed by the Imperial Guard.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KYwnA-mfwYvXC-xGOtXcoYUHhgdWcanD_Zvu3LllZ1kofAb92ett3aKXiZKo4Ppcn3UsePj7JY-TUhRr_L0ILgJjS9M5bp_ZVfiS3Yauq2YoySbSERYy1rjkiL4Ilnhlwoop/s2048/plan+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KYwnA-mfwYvXC-xGOtXcoYUHhgdWcanD_Zvu3LllZ1kofAb92ett3aKXiZKo4Ppcn3UsePj7JY-TUhRr_L0ILgJjS9M5bp_ZVfiS3Yauq2YoySbSERYy1rjkiL4Ilnhlwoop/s320/plan+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There are thousands of 20mm figures (30,000 so far I believe) used in the display and it really brings home both the scale of the battle and difficulties facing the commanders. It also challenged some of those ideas we have about our wargaming activity and what we do on the table top. For example in the photograph above - just how do we redeploy that battery so quickly? And, can we really justify having an arc of fire when there is so much to the left of the battery?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHcmzskfPHTo3m-4zLpQTr7YnIHiUmLXTZhJJqcD1XNNigdTLQzMYvLovjIv94uboJn4c4AZXhyphenhyphenPOBijMXy2N-DsPPUZhT81jKXHvUCCZJl9NFs5GzVWFGyCDXHkc3VwTMOoC/s2048/plan+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHcmzskfPHTo3m-4zLpQTr7YnIHiUmLXTZhJJqcD1XNNigdTLQzMYvLovjIv94uboJn4c4AZXhyphenhyphenPOBijMXy2N-DsPPUZhT81jKXHvUCCZJl9NFs5GzVWFGyCDXHkc3VwTMOoC/s320/plan+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM02U5Nvp1dmZ5DJ3AGL19I2RumiYRlbvThNFgr1rl558VIAqGg1O9c6xfjPwkqkmuFBEBq5UH-blqokO8PRVA5js21-aQf-2HmCz0paMpqwQmSVo5Wicp7o7vKoKYhjr8AQNr/s2048/plan+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM02U5Nvp1dmZ5DJ3AGL19I2RumiYRlbvThNFgr1rl558VIAqGg1O9c6xfjPwkqkmuFBEBq5UH-blqokO8PRVA5js21-aQf-2HmCz0paMpqwQmSVo5Wicp7o7vKoKYhjr8AQNr/s320/plan+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Nothing quite matches up to the sight of massed cavalry does it?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1qhZvCjuWMtFkux8eeMbXRV9rLF8n8XBc7qIhGGAbR9ZB-ZBFjzQBN0TRwwaz2ZrGq4f8hxjUfm3kmqco4E16_9qWfTz0Ri3qHnpwR97HzPiEnIukoJZ3Tqo9R-XN5ADVKTu/s2048/plan+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1qhZvCjuWMtFkux8eeMbXRV9rLF8n8XBc7qIhGGAbR9ZB-ZBFjzQBN0TRwwaz2ZrGq4f8hxjUfm3kmqco4E16_9qWfTz0Ri3qHnpwR97HzPiEnIukoJZ3Tqo9R-XN5ADVKTu/s320/plan+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRwGSSEKjkiPWCzocsOmy14tgvIkNVSpZoeZWplOdd70oIWxGo7xRH95hvEdWtVvXsrF7iPtsH8idAAu_9bi4OBJG8G2KSI2tw6ypn_b2I6s4V7qFRXMwGPbBTS4m7TcoDyzy/s2048/plan+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRwGSSEKjkiPWCzocsOmy14tgvIkNVSpZoeZWplOdd70oIWxGo7xRH95hvEdWtVvXsrF7iPtsH8idAAu_9bi4OBJG8G2KSI2tw6ypn_b2I6s4V7qFRXMwGPbBTS4m7TcoDyzy/s320/plan+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Plancenoit is the largest section but James has also finished some of the smaller elements as well. Such as the French attack on the farm at Papelotte which was held by the Nassau battalions.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL17nYvXKsSCGzDVJ5kJjTB1aUdqvkG1Q3U01X-_26I4LGQym9LIAksjWTGVdiR3_-SnT3ukJ-9qPL0CYjaQGwNel03UYHDZDyrQ3Q_H_9LedK9-1goAaihH2Ps4rgU8yOoMM/s2048/pap+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL17nYvXKsSCGzDVJ5kJjTB1aUdqvkG1Q3U01X-_26I4LGQym9LIAksjWTGVdiR3_-SnT3ukJ-9qPL0CYjaQGwNel03UYHDZDyrQ3Q_H_9LedK9-1goAaihH2Ps4rgU8yOoMM/s320/pap+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Having held off the French all day it was the Prussians who finally evicted them, having mistaken them for French troops, late in the day.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FvEn9ih0-cvS4bkycko0IdB3VcdzI1CiNqtSvy_tE-l3UQo5zmN6zWl0Kz2B85KJstqVUpSAXus7aGDvQOUXARGfq_yXsDYhVwdWodygaXI7Z9dbfq1FdScDuN8SJOo6Ls-M/s2048/pap+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FvEn9ih0-cvS4bkycko0IdB3VcdzI1CiNqtSvy_tE-l3UQo5zmN6zWl0Kz2B85KJstqVUpSAXus7aGDvQOUXARGfq_yXsDYhVwdWodygaXI7Z9dbfq1FdScDuN8SJOo6Ls-M/s320/pap+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XcGOuKSZDc6DwIHUs-KcP7nHmIkzFqI6fkS-o1oqGYHlO0rmdPDgSMhNfHOuZIFjrr71ziW_qIEgOxLNi3jgoLbsJtVCELzuu2I-nOXWmS7smn4z1hxxux4-YosHJS0zANiz/s2048/IMG_3517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XcGOuKSZDc6DwIHUs-KcP7nHmIkzFqI6fkS-o1oqGYHlO0rmdPDgSMhNfHOuZIFjrr71ziW_qIEgOxLNi3jgoLbsJtVCELzuu2I-nOXWmS7smn4z1hxxux4-YosHJS0zANiz/s320/IMG_3517.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The Imperial Guard march past Napoleon on their way to the front.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcB5oDoOHUF579L9ghNVKbU1zLrTfcSJWZnfZ3_d3oo8ZlVimoAFkrNI0Ol-sxmUtmsh8KJbhdu_NLTyxsY4vL53giV0HeRg3MQ_hqleNzKR5_wAjvAJbiv8YCtorcFJSOjl9/s2048/IMG_3516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcB5oDoOHUF579L9ghNVKbU1zLrTfcSJWZnfZ3_d3oo8ZlVimoAFkrNI0Ol-sxmUtmsh8KJbhdu_NLTyxsY4vL53giV0HeRg3MQ_hqleNzKR5_wAjvAJbiv8YCtorcFJSOjl9/s320/IMG_3516.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghwktMbSMPUbs_cekbHVlXllzCmRLXSwDP4_RAqScubVzZvNJMB-IuGtkZQvMKKEaa6_aAxj2ZbEk-QcnErfDvpeAPX9_IEF3_og9jAio816DZL1MmIqin0ngT4UwzBnGf79u/s2048/la+belle+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghwktMbSMPUbs_cekbHVlXllzCmRLXSwDP4_RAqScubVzZvNJMB-IuGtkZQvMKKEaa6_aAxj2ZbEk-QcnErfDvpeAPX9_IEF3_og9jAio816DZL1MmIqin0ngT4UwzBnGf79u/s320/la+belle+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The other large section that is finished is that of the French assault on the chateau at Hougoumont, seen here from the French side.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGPMDGTyOASYjHnaf8PreRfgy1BwgD__whcgDNBvXQkJ7OROnrS7LoZCqTHANr5n9ymcfmAxobwwewxt1UsMeZeapgiJvUqZ3A0uAf_w_mh-X3-BOGbQWW7ADNcWB0DGdMVS3/s2048/houg+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGPMDGTyOASYjHnaf8PreRfgy1BwgD__whcgDNBvXQkJ7OROnrS7LoZCqTHANr5n9ymcfmAxobwwewxt1UsMeZeapgiJvUqZ3A0uAf_w_mh-X3-BOGbQWW7ADNcWB0DGdMVS3/s320/houg+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I was surprisingly emotional when I identified the figures that I had painted for the project. I had never dreamed that I would have figures on display in such a prestigious arena.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV46HUZEFuG2pmSmp9ctFBDnwaPNxVxRLlskKPMt2OdR_1uxcq7IovAf61gOMV3DB-Lotf0ZGzYaLCn68osQgE8ayls9C8lO_3HwgMWWlcaKgUF9CR4f7ibJrsOfKR0cx4A7vq/s2048/houg+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV46HUZEFuG2pmSmp9ctFBDnwaPNxVxRLlskKPMt2OdR_1uxcq7IovAf61gOMV3DB-Lotf0ZGzYaLCn68osQgE8ayls9C8lO_3HwgMWWlcaKgUF9CR4f7ibJrsOfKR0cx4A7vq/s320/houg+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I didn't think I would be able to see them amongst all the thousands on the table but that little hint of the goblin green bases gave them away.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTaO1SymbdNSY8Y7kOgZZUcRKC8rugkGTXcuczBo4PSSNU2cJv93ng14hQB0ZSM9oz4bsBICCf-jjiWMGGSmxd9uEK6Tjg78Z4upSHe4v6KpM-uIjpAVtJ32fMp5PSljyO_L9/s2048/houg+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdTaO1SymbdNSY8Y7kOgZZUcRKC8rugkGTXcuczBo4PSSNU2cJv93ng14hQB0ZSM9oz4bsBICCf-jjiWMGGSmxd9uEK6Tjg78Z4upSHe4v6KpM-uIjpAVtJ32fMp5PSljyO_L9/s320/houg+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Hougoumont is no less impressive than Plancenoit for size and scope. Especially when you realise that it has all been scratch built by James's father (who is a very energetic, sprightly and enthusiastic 80 year old and a lovely chap to talk to) and to the correct proportions for the figures.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcPYWdiVQzdDc4eYloW7LK3aUjihmTcr25pedVRnnKxj1NrAvUGh2JfUCF3ATaWHCSITEH7hhnIjc-Khyphenhypheng53YVWwsc80MhSrYfU2A3GR_mMjEHpC2-OTNKdQU27lPkZOaNSdG/s2048/Houg+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcPYWdiVQzdDc4eYloW7LK3aUjihmTcr25pedVRnnKxj1NrAvUGh2JfUCF3ATaWHCSITEH7hhnIjc-Khyphenhypheng53YVWwsc80MhSrYfU2A3GR_mMjEHpC2-OTNKdQU27lPkZOaNSdG/s320/Houg+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>La Haye Sainte completes the finished elements, seen here being guarded by a sergeant of the Guards.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C8gKX7MgUh06tDmYT83E7QrNFeTkQFXM8PWHaaJtEu6c6oPjJXXrKfZmoP1jIFUpS9SuOfgmMBkaTNx7WqksJY23byhfzBWjYvRRHkTn9w05BTUunWJgJnWmjekI8eAsudmY/s2048/dis+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C8gKX7MgUh06tDmYT83E7QrNFeTkQFXM8PWHaaJtEu6c6oPjJXXrKfZmoP1jIFUpS9SuOfgmMBkaTNx7WqksJY23byhfzBWjYvRRHkTn9w05BTUunWJgJnWmjekI8eAsudmY/s320/dis+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacr6P9LK1EYd6XUpkiCfM6SXq8EOe4RKBgVd3ZZEnoiCLVsutfUt_dohGxK_3FwrzNAEWWnEN0tKwFPly3aZ1ACRWIv4l0-sByBPsSPsUboanANX9znrTJsVv-fCiO5_Jty-O/s2048/dis+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacr6P9LK1EYd6XUpkiCfM6SXq8EOe4RKBgVd3ZZEnoiCLVsutfUt_dohGxK_3FwrzNAEWWnEN0tKwFPly3aZ1ACRWIv4l0-sByBPsSPsUboanANX9znrTJsVv-fCiO5_Jty-O/s320/dis+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Hougoumont from the air (well the cafe actually).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFcLCqemZxb25xCyVwqIUaDu2EMzYV4PEO1oofhlD1fuKXsUc8NMer3srFzneu22ydprruEHJGjd8SRqJrPUFTPfooIFszh7IS_iuOz5S1fXYSR0RBFs9_m4RrHaDvLSqgsCg/s2048/over+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFcLCqemZxb25xCyVwqIUaDu2EMzYV4PEO1oofhlD1fuKXsUc8NMer3srFzneu22ydprruEHJGjd8SRqJrPUFTPfooIFszh7IS_iuOz5S1fXYSR0RBFs9_m4RrHaDvLSqgsCg/s320/over+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Given that these are only the first five sections to be finished it is still an impressive display.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMDhROpkBnniWqXGbe5FaTXm6FblaUBhxDgLSraBymkAbJa5RPH7Sy5yVvhrVqnwXho5nsX-41hqWBt4WyL2rFHLEvHw6iT4W0LL-3Pa-dzqvaNtoi1uK0Si0rCz8pFaMg3BM/s2048/overview+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMDhROpkBnniWqXGbe5FaTXm6FblaUBhxDgLSraBymkAbJa5RPH7Sy5yVvhrVqnwXho5nsX-41hqWBt4WyL2rFHLEvHw6iT4W0LL-3Pa-dzqvaNtoi1uK0Si0rCz8pFaMg3BM/s320/overview+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>When completed the whole model will cover the area of a tennis court. The NAM are looking for a permanent home for this, possibly in an adjacent building. <p></p><p>All in all it is something I am immensely proud to have participated in and am looking forward to contributing more figures for the next stage of the work. But hats off to James and his team for the inspiration and hard work put in so far.</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-15453367283777094752021-11-01T10:54:00.002+00:002021-11-01T10:54:51.752+00:00Thoughts on the NAM (National Army Museum)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I recently took a long weekend break down in London, principally to see the Waterloo Remodelled exhibit: <a href="https://generalpicton.blogspot.com/">Waterloo in 20mm (generalpicton.blogspot.com)</a>. I have painted some figures for this extraordinary enterprise and can do no better than refer you to Major Gowan's blog page and let you be awed at the scale and scope of the project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course that allowed me to visit the museum as well, something I have not done since the revamp in 2014. Reviews of that remodelling have been mixed, with visitors more familiar with the history of the British army being less favourable than the casual visitor. Having now visited it I can understand why.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc1rd2waE2OfutKOCKm1Ge35_IuDpckCOSzZnDzjh8N0DwM42-_HtpoXzZzolLEjnqSmrUBtu5fPNt8op3sYF0OSYUUVblGDZEzkWl8J0_0O1CrUXWZFZowEc05kKT1JpKQpI/s2048/IMG_3465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc1rd2waE2OfutKOCKm1Ge35_IuDpckCOSzZnDzjh8N0DwM42-_HtpoXzZzolLEjnqSmrUBtu5fPNt8op3sYF0OSYUUVblGDZEzkWl8J0_0O1CrUXWZFZowEc05kKT1JpKQpI/s320/IMG_3465.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>It all looked good on arrival. A very smart entrance and a nice big tank to welcome you into the museum.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7R8TBNGFpYXv2ZcIpE_6Jgsv95VH7vHg5dKgxpCfZqSIwosVPvatXRU8CWJn79HB7zON4JvmsioNHyApeg3TXhNlBrkpRnrTbO5XnD1pfHU0p49qw23TGd_hUmb7IZKssHjO/s2048/IMG_3486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7R8TBNGFpYXv2ZcIpE_6Jgsv95VH7vHg5dKgxpCfZqSIwosVPvatXRU8CWJn79HB7zON4JvmsioNHyApeg3TXhNlBrkpRnrTbO5XnD1pfHU0p49qw23TGd_hUmb7IZKssHjO/s320/IMG_3486.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There are some excellent exhibits and presentations.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I1ekWMX8_1qRXYP5_4GbbnAp3P4aKM7B5K9lD94KF6aXXYAH6OclRy-dXSWnbKOtlwjabNy9exqNTQXRPJu1dywBjJXkLrwJ95pI3BmDygcvM8mJ6aSXZbshQkTYXVSXLLF4/s2048/IMG_3496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I1ekWMX8_1qRXYP5_4GbbnAp3P4aKM7B5K9lD94KF6aXXYAH6OclRy-dXSWnbKOtlwjabNy9exqNTQXRPJu1dywBjJXkLrwJ95pI3BmDygcvM8mJ6aSXZbshQkTYXVSXLLF4/s320/IMG_3496.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The museum has plenty of things to see and get close to. Many of them are unusual and are there to give the back story to some of the other cabinets (although the cabinet may not be in the same gallery). I was particularly impressed with the display of the tools used and the outcome of the injury to Lord Uxbridge at Waterloo. A quite graphic exhibit of the surgeons work at the battle.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIc-Tb6A40Vcvkw1lK6Zad9HOgrzzcotRhmFA_AqZA-BqT0jrn-PKE5oDr3Odnc7_OXQVSjIzAz8n9_ZVYZsB73lkbeepsegce8FIHOS5YYk7t1PmQ20q24NnxnkGEy9VzCgA/s2048/IMG_3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIc-Tb6A40Vcvkw1lK6Zad9HOgrzzcotRhmFA_AqZA-BqT0jrn-PKE5oDr3Odnc7_OXQVSjIzAz8n9_ZVYZsB73lkbeepsegce8FIHOS5YYk7t1PmQ20q24NnxnkGEy9VzCgA/s320/IMG_3501.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Marengo. Good to see that he's still a feature.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ENretUXIJkgBlx7DiaWKU8ruYGJqwGC8I4u5pVBXO0fjhR16ksakM_wU4_qzi0wEC87PrQIctDNZBaNrXoZPF9NOY0eioAhRGlwJOyefD9DvbIZykEgpz8alqyIunWlD8fXy/s2048/IMG_3502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ENretUXIJkgBlx7DiaWKU8ruYGJqwGC8I4u5pVBXO0fjhR16ksakM_wU4_qzi0wEC87PrQIctDNZBaNrXoZPF9NOY0eioAhRGlwJOyefD9DvbIZykEgpz8alqyIunWlD8fXy/s320/IMG_3502.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The museum does some things really well. This display of arms from the first half of the twentieth century was one such. The interactive panels around the case allowed you to search the cabinet by weapon type, nationality and a host of other filters. Excellent.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjohuk4V6_-WwtJlKWYVs07gRC0Hq-gSPqm-8KuFiNI6GbED8VyLoqxCHsUDFMfdnlzrC8jBPafFNtxBkNyVMaWdpOH8JId8z3FIGZvcVUVR6iGCKOQvqFbRpLiPcnLNOZ3e1b/s2048/IMG_3506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjohuk4V6_-WwtJlKWYVs07gRC0Hq-gSPqm-8KuFiNI6GbED8VyLoqxCHsUDFMfdnlzrC8jBPafFNtxBkNyVMaWdpOH8JId8z3FIGZvcVUVR6iGCKOQvqFbRpLiPcnLNOZ3e1b/s320/IMG_3506.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>A little surprised, but pleased nonetheless, to see Brigadier Peter Young given a prominent position for his role with the Sealed Knot. The gallery where he can be found is less pleasing. An entire section of the museum given over to film and media and how it affects our perception of the army, the wars and campaigns of the army and warfare in general. I understand the idea behind the gallery, I'm just not sure it needed to be so large a gallery.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl92pz9uZVQRso6RNWT9XQyfio_C7bDhwRHSroCxH1u0vtBSYfjEIdWBiR797eANMUoapoiH4s-4XpmkDr_aMcnhA3cNiqBMEljKbAoWNRRslAPnYYLmqUQ_zT1vCGJspip_Y/s2048/IMG_3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl92pz9uZVQRso6RNWT9XQyfio_C7bDhwRHSroCxH1u0vtBSYfjEIdWBiR797eANMUoapoiH4s-4XpmkDr_aMcnhA3cNiqBMEljKbAoWNRRslAPnYYLmqUQ_zT1vCGJspip_Y/s320/IMG_3507.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I was even more puzzled by a gallery given over to how military clothing has, and continues to, influence fashion. It didn't further my understanding of the nature and history of the British Army, nor did it really explain why it was there.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVUPo__VMhdrEZBoTHq3xrXyQt_eXc-hcoL73MmIPqv-h7TtlCE4J3xvZ7nrlJsphHMJXDB961yDxD4_knQcpHwjAi6JsfFoEIKueP-XVORABL7YFiVsvB7XOEmv_614Vey33/s2048/IMG_3509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVUPo__VMhdrEZBoTHq3xrXyQt_eXc-hcoL73MmIPqv-h7TtlCE4J3xvZ7nrlJsphHMJXDB961yDxD4_knQcpHwjAi6JsfFoEIKueP-XVORABL7YFiVsvB7XOEmv_614Vey33/s320/IMG_3509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>There are some strange elements to the museum. Like these paintings below. The gallery (Formation) was intended to give an overview of the history of the British Army from inception to current. Here we have the Battle of the Boyne on the left and then jump to Fontenoy. Marlborough? Who?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph_0EM-6j8rxK-UCcuYK_EKDS2X3Y0qolAnoGLPXebkjUfLCJwLWigI4k2tb3gFW2Whi9FlrsWGmlRU_1Wo6dJydVhyt1BuUocLRmqhbC11evL7xctQxnqRyeUme7o75ksrch/s2048/IMG_3512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjph_0EM-6j8rxK-UCcuYK_EKDS2X3Y0qolAnoGLPXebkjUfLCJwLWigI4k2tb3gFW2Whi9FlrsWGmlRU_1Wo6dJydVhyt1BuUocLRmqhbC11evL7xctQxnqRyeUme7o75ksrch/s320/IMG_3512.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /> And that's the one problem I couldn't get over. Too many of the cases of exhibits are confusing with no real thread or continuity. For example, a display of the organisation of the army would appear to indicate that the ranks of Captain and Sergeant are unimportant, if not redundant, because they didn't appear within the display at all. In other cases you can be looking at a knife taken from Tippoo Sultan and next to it will be a German Picklehaub. Items from the British Army in the Crimean War are scattered over several different cases in at least three of the galleries with not one of them pulling it all together. The British Army (formerly the English Army - although that's not very clearly explained either- act of Union be damned) under Marlborough is almost forgotten with very few items and no real references. Too much space is given over to how the army impacts on our social views rather than telling the story of the army. <p></p><p>Having said that I did find the gallery on the British Army through the cold war very well done. It has some very good and unusual items and is done with a distinct thread and continuity. As was the gallery on the West Indian soldiers experience in the British army.</p><p>But overall the museum seemed more concerned with appeasing the nations conscience for having a military fighting force and less about development and history of that fighting force. This was no more clearly demonstrated, for me at least, by the museum having a gallery where the visitor is asked a number of questions and asked to vote with their answer, where the questions were mostly along the lines of asking the the public whether it is okay to have an army at all and that they are happy with the way it is used and deployed (I don't remember a single question, apart from who should look after soldiers following discharge, about welfare and renumeration despite there being several cases showing the treatment of the soldier through the ages).</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-5126586498836314772021-10-20T08:34:00.003+00:002021-10-20T09:52:22.865+00:00What is Going On?<p> Quite a lot actually.</p><p>I've taken on a commission for a friend who has had some issues with getting a project going. Austrians for Wagram. </p><p>The first problem was that some of the figures were either completed or part completed and not quite matching my style. The photo below has the middle two figures (with sky blue facings) as the finished item. A couple of things for me - there didn't appear to be too much differentiation between the webbing and the uniform, and secondly wasn't quite right. The figures to the right are those that I've completed from the work in progress given to me. The figures to the left are completed from scratch.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNKYoT4ufzy-z9xDNy9ustyrbXGODFa8f8v0FU3T3XuhXv6SDdWNN2E8Oigu-YD5Z8o71ahMr0PmzTqcWD30O3TBvl3HqVXy79bRJbExKSuA9Af6AlxLU-arjyGIawumajkm1/s2048/com+1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNKYoT4ufzy-z9xDNy9ustyrbXGODFa8f8v0FU3T3XuhXv6SDdWNN2E8Oigu-YD5Z8o71ahMr0PmzTqcWD30O3TBvl3HqVXy79bRJbExKSuA9Af6AlxLU-arjyGIawumajkm1/s320/com+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is the now completed battalion (IR4) with webbing washed and highlighted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-JlHZYqt5UbUKpIjkcjJJFIeJJOI8DMTCZR5CvR_H-QDXeZeJHqtTZrfF6bqdUBxtK9Nl8bRCopn0Vl8nDGGWMLajEIZxupDIYhPCm1ODnQptxUGPWvJUEZd9FCEZyTrwNmb/s2016/IR4+a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-JlHZYqt5UbUKpIjkcjJJFIeJJOI8DMTCZR5CvR_H-QDXeZeJHqtTZrfF6bqdUBxtK9Nl8bRCopn0Vl8nDGGWMLajEIZxupDIYhPCm1ODnQptxUGPWvJUEZd9FCEZyTrwNmb/s320/IR4+a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Helmets retouched and a few bits given a wash or highlight.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizl1OOsWtSXrBy_IaKQ57QXqrvyL6HHDqo2p_EvENP3UhEna3_ZvJl4Is_pF2dC1LAsE1LEH7zr3x4cYR0l7t0KQcAl85YsBRsLwZXsrYYBV9L2OYLByMbExJpYj-NqUgyQ8z/s2016/IR4+b.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizl1OOsWtSXrBy_IaKQ57QXqrvyL6HHDqo2p_EvENP3UhEna3_ZvJl4Is_pF2dC1LAsE1LEH7zr3x4cYR0l7t0KQcAl85YsBRsLwZXsrYYBV9L2OYLByMbExJpYj-NqUgyQ8z/s320/IR4+b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Below is the battalion (IR14) in progress and is solely my work. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxySvNNBylvGI5DhsuJ8952B2M1Gyedds6NBqs4yq2MKVZTf7zlpYWBxpeJodtO1lDIw1wldQSQ-C9zfpSXce0JLa2GrZNJP0-bQLkiiAIR4z38VSeMOX-9tMECp_aPkUERuQ/s2016/IR14+a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxySvNNBylvGI5DhsuJ8952B2M1Gyedds6NBqs4yq2MKVZTf7zlpYWBxpeJodtO1lDIw1wldQSQ-C9zfpSXce0JLa2GrZNJP0-bQLkiiAIR4z38VSeMOX-9tMECp_aPkUERuQ/s320/IR14+a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I'm happy with them and they look a lot better in the flesh. Need to do a bit more work on some of them and complete the ensign (painting four stripes on the flag pole is a bugger!).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTVvcKnJuRNxe-a4c-2nalwU2VhcK2eXRIfPC1Jm5qrZB_rnWDOeAdKZn0PH_tQtbw0epzO-DlBmxcI7NEcE90UpTERpaWqoQmcTf4Oj2eQbFebEEapap_CV7RoMrTpYtrCR-/s2016/IR14+c.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTVvcKnJuRNxe-a4c-2nalwU2VhcK2eXRIfPC1Jm5qrZB_rnWDOeAdKZn0PH_tQtbw0epzO-DlBmxcI7NEcE90UpTERpaWqoQmcTf4Oj2eQbFebEEapap_CV7RoMrTpYtrCR-/s320/IR14+c.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>All the figures are from Perry and are mostly plastic with a few metal command figures.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokp85-_W80yCmem2D7PIIllx3pFdTlDGHikBqNrnax3RPngaQM3B9g3o5w_pXi-TEkGNfGiKaskA6MrtS4o0tGD13CX1AyvlZKaDKWGHKU7CyCfjRCUtQVmGKRuq-LO7FcYQo/s2016/IR14+d.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokp85-_W80yCmem2D7PIIllx3pFdTlDGHikBqNrnax3RPngaQM3B9g3o5w_pXi-TEkGNfGiKaskA6MrtS4o0tGD13CX1AyvlZKaDKWGHKU7CyCfjRCUtQVmGKRuq-LO7FcYQo/s320/IR14+d.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Really enjoying painting these and the two hour sessions at the paint table fly past (aided by audio books - currently listening to the Bosch series by Michael Connelly).<p></p><p>Just another 200 hundred foot and then the horse and artillery to go then!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-36317449662164096372021-09-29T07:41:00.002+00:002021-09-29T07:41:16.121+00:00War of the Spanish Succession - a Disguised Scenario<p> Big games are back at the Grimsby Wargames Society. The first mega lead War of the Spanish Succession game for nearly two years was a disguised scenario where the two sides were unaware of what and where the opposition was.</p><p>Each side was given a scenario and army list. That list had multiple options for the selection of their troops with upper and lower limits of foot, horse, dragoons and guns. There was a further restriction on the total number of units allowed which was less than the total number of units available.</p><p>Once the commanders had selected their options they placed a playing card, two red suites for foot and mounted, or one of the six blank cards onto the table. The game was meant to start in thick fog so at the end of the first turn the players each rolled a D5 and if the combined score was 10 the fog lifted, if not another turn at the end of which the score needed reduced to 9 and so on for successive turns until the end of turn 4 where the fog lifted regardless.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI-PKMBi7b4DboE67ns8xdH9GJmWMupHfLE9u99lcTGML2Jf7iIvXeTstCZBY4ngj-dckxPanBHNPaHUUatOxXNQApuhoS76DEbF-Up1X1y9CqlxfaLums0R933I1h4IOqZKO/s2048/WSS+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="2048" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI-PKMBi7b4DboE67ns8xdH9GJmWMupHfLE9u99lcTGML2Jf7iIvXeTstCZBY4ngj-dckxPanBHNPaHUUatOxXNQApuhoS76DEbF-Up1X1y9CqlxfaLums0R933I1h4IOqZKO/s320/WSS+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Of course averages and statistics mean nothing to a wargamer and a score of 10 was rolled on the first turn. So on came the several thousand figures needed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZEvLgoL6PfhMlcNvZPu0DRcTho2ndNvpfexdp4yckedCHLl0ytNhK1N5mIj3EwNOXG_SiEduGv_idqb6ZkvOuReo7uXCtNqOQGkb_R_RSRQdTvbk_yKNA3CQcIcmHGbb6yKp/s2048/WSS+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZEvLgoL6PfhMlcNvZPu0DRcTho2ndNvpfexdp4yckedCHLl0ytNhK1N5mIj3EwNOXG_SiEduGv_idqb6ZkvOuReo7uXCtNqOQGkb_R_RSRQdTvbk_yKNA3CQcIcmHGbb6yKp/s320/WSS+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I was given the massed French horse (with some of my new Saxons to boost John's French). John took on the French foot which were all from his collection with the exception of three Saxon battalions from me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2m55IBWqXepurf9wARq6MNyuKxryLEyLlVIeF_ZlRyudAOarZ75XR5w0PucJ97vOw7tGMkeNeqbWWMHZU9CdNgyDg8v2ZoTlb1ts2hLnQG0VWhKgmQjiRdcmhDEEPm8vfOOK/s2048/WSS+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2m55IBWqXepurf9wARq6MNyuKxryLEyLlVIeF_ZlRyudAOarZ75XR5w0PucJ97vOw7tGMkeNeqbWWMHZU9CdNgyDg8v2ZoTlb1ts2hLnQG0VWhKgmQjiRdcmhDEEPm8vfOOK/s320/WSS+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Facing most of the Allied horse (all from Mark's collection) there was only one option and off we went. Having the numbers I fancied my chances of clearing away the enemy and then threatening Mark's flank and thus preventing him from using his superior numbers of foot against our centre. The photograph below shows the three lines of English foot facing the single line of French in the middle of the field.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVpG_q939iI6ZmJ151daMicMu_1GNSY8Cw_guPM5umvLYagWL7LB-rOGboRvrklUWBc5UG4Bw_-INRk5NEiZDNwPsPvrz2yGHAJba3RYGa5blLrbiUoIaYAmzFG6xHD-J67GZ/s2048/WSS+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVpG_q939iI6ZmJ151daMicMu_1GNSY8Cw_guPM5umvLYagWL7LB-rOGboRvrklUWBc5UG4Bw_-INRk5NEiZDNwPsPvrz2yGHAJba3RYGa5blLrbiUoIaYAmzFG6xHD-J67GZ/s320/WSS+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>John was to turn the other flank where he had both the numbers and the position to beat the English.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinp9RFehVF6Yo-1wtC8iclOFCC3v4KP88GyPrILsARdesUwseVxXsPBFybSXg_N7D9jDtA_o2vvMfhgwieP3RqWlyPl_UUr5hHcucDKLlBXar2l67dY0O467cNP-T7lxyaP9ki/s2048/WSS+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinp9RFehVF6Yo-1wtC8iclOFCC3v4KP88GyPrILsARdesUwseVxXsPBFybSXg_N7D9jDtA_o2vvMfhgwieP3RqWlyPl_UUr5hHcucDKLlBXar2l67dY0O467cNP-T7lxyaP9ki/s320/WSS+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The massed horse melee sucked in more of my supports as no breakthrough was coming from the intial clash.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqCJJ2zPnMUN1C3ojtYB42wMRJOj2QUJVPjwfsFWWQ7vxPaDWPLqVhE9X17d2gV9lh_mHa9QvdgeCEcxyD3VHohX3v-MvQcXG1GNREvOIuSU83uULbnKxglMdJ9Nok9VF2Rpx/s2048/WSS+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqCJJ2zPnMUN1C3ojtYB42wMRJOj2QUJVPjwfsFWWQ7vxPaDWPLqVhE9X17d2gV9lh_mHa9QvdgeCEcxyD3VHohX3v-MvQcXG1GNREvOIuSU83uULbnKxglMdJ9Nok9VF2Rpx/s320/WSS+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Meanwhile the English foot were closing with the French and causing some degree of concern to the commanding officer. Especially when one of the two field pieces we had was abandoned after coming under a single volley from an English battalion.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijs2yDK8KM_JaOIuefaL-Co28p846hF0siAxsqXXRTpSUAZ5PW9ZnPTbCxvM9HX7ZNGdz8Ie_5njq_0ACYb4vBTY005A-8MEz91ZlLm2naidNsZRT-exoBVQgEgyhOli1zYvHB/s2048/WSS+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijs2yDK8KM_JaOIuefaL-Co28p846hF0siAxsqXXRTpSUAZ5PW9ZnPTbCxvM9HX7ZNGdz8Ie_5njq_0ACYb4vBTY005A-8MEz91ZlLm2naidNsZRT-exoBVQgEgyhOli1zYvHB/s320/WSS+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>John was progressing well. His dragoons had cleared the village on our extreme left and were pushing forward against the English. The foot had started well and were pressing home their advantage. The only issue was the inability of the French to clear the English dragoons from the central village.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi_rTA-ikaL5sqdfRoyq-y0wA7xcHTM-fApxNRuRK0H_yTKySYGxRYx9LlNYzU9lwWdPajEyHK1JxBcoNXiye2xaqAiajQv6-R3UIn4fQhYj_RKhQRVbu0PGjflNPaMKQERSR/s2048/WSS+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi_rTA-ikaL5sqdfRoyq-y0wA7xcHTM-fApxNRuRK0H_yTKySYGxRYx9LlNYzU9lwWdPajEyHK1JxBcoNXiye2xaqAiajQv6-R3UIn4fQhYj_RKhQRVbu0PGjflNPaMKQERSR/s320/WSS+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The last of the reserves that I was willing to commit went in to the horse melee. I only needed to win four out twelve dice to secure victory and then only needing to roll a four or more. Merde!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlrfk4g2GO1VIKtayZ6jtGwy14-rcKjS-7Z_HLiV8pmMrpZD9AgI8z0xKgBLZlkPgI5H5JqKiJ21DVsDYg9TWXa0Lot2nxfMbwGVbgwwsskQG6t4eCPSuUfgJPsMKqMYN5Tt7/s2048/WSS+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlrfk4g2GO1VIKtayZ6jtGwy14-rcKjS-7Z_HLiV8pmMrpZD9AgI8z0xKgBLZlkPgI5H5JqKiJ21DVsDYg9TWXa0Lot2nxfMbwGVbgwwsskQG6t4eCPSuUfgJPsMKqMYN5Tt7/s320/WSS+9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Suddenly John's attack on the left stalled. Just as it looked as though the French were going to break through a single volley from the English rocked the morale of the French and both leading battalions were forced to retire.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR4VwQrFlaq8Uz98HOnGK-bU0MYY52nnGmMJQh19D6PECCA57sIVDVPv02mjU3VaaWWAsCgIGXFjKWjj6xRPb9E3j0m6sBgr3pmvaW0Axx8R55cQtmE5duovcjQ4SpPDTYpES/s2048/WSS+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXR4VwQrFlaq8Uz98HOnGK-bU0MYY52nnGmMJQh19D6PECCA57sIVDVPv02mjU3VaaWWAsCgIGXFjKWjj6xRPb9E3j0m6sBgr3pmvaW0Axx8R55cQtmE5duovcjQ4SpPDTYpES/s320/WSS+10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>In the centre the English first line had been repulsed at considerable cost to the French. The second line were now reinforced by the first of the battalions that the horse had failed to halt during their prolonged struggle with the Allied horse on our right.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j3hL2ZVOM42ScK7OSmUpQ3QHFt-ZCBhaJd8wwj9uixtgtELAOl3Iikx50c0rJEnXQgsKpR4uE5-XzMKFB1o-emf7MWvIhmk6I4qUmqsCmE4cmp2FsKqBQJGqADpNB6O_1_uc/s2048/WSS+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9j3hL2ZVOM42ScK7OSmUpQ3QHFt-ZCBhaJd8wwj9uixtgtELAOl3Iikx50c0rJEnXQgsKpR4uE5-XzMKFB1o-emf7MWvIhmk6I4qUmqsCmE4cmp2FsKqBQJGqADpNB6O_1_uc/s320/WSS+11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>That situation changed on the next turn. A combination of a few poor morale throws and an exceedingly poor melee result (where did all the spots go on those dice?) saw three French regiments rout giving the flank to the Allies.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcWd1Nb_L8h6V720bt5ShSM7GXJJvTJZ5seDv6UA8vwpJRxVPSsr3exKWDcZHVoBrFSL92IirVJQtKQTeAIozzmKZTq6qQGiO5Pnjr50H-Bmwnow07QvnQWGiJYXeEHWl83gY/s2048/WSS+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcWd1Nb_L8h6V720bt5ShSM7GXJJvTJZ5seDv6UA8vwpJRxVPSsr3exKWDcZHVoBrFSL92IirVJQtKQTeAIozzmKZTq6qQGiO5Pnjr50H-Bmwnow07QvnQWGiJYXeEHWl83gY/s320/WSS+12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And that was it. With victory within sight the French failed to gain that advantage they needed and were forced to cede the field to the English.<p></p><p>The game was based on the Battle of Calidero in October 1805 between Massena and Archduke Charles. The French were played by the Allies and the Austrians by the French in this game. The battle was fought in thick fog and with two reasonably evenly matched armies. The result in our game more or less matched Massena's victory over the Austrians.</p><p>John is a newcomer to the period within our Society. However over the last few months he has created quite an impressive collection with some very nicely painted miniatures and all from Front Rank. He tells me that they are nearly all done with contrast paints. They are very nice to look at and give a quite intimidating presence to the table top. Between the two of us we can field some sixty battalions (just a little under 2,000 figures) and nearly two hundred squadrons (a further 1,500 horse). Not sure we have a table strong enough to bear that weight!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCejELYcPZHgYM2L-22Sq6RRhkq1z5-DXasN8dbgb32hihS3UxyHyiUWcvGuzyrjp1IgOoIYBeSRL-HSq3ULXB1t2dMs0VOPYbEx1F6FNRVF0AmJANscAGyjKMEEewPG7IiSfJ/s2048/WSS+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCejELYcPZHgYM2L-22Sq6RRhkq1z5-DXasN8dbgb32hihS3UxyHyiUWcvGuzyrjp1IgOoIYBeSRL-HSq3ULXB1t2dMs0VOPYbEx1F6FNRVF0AmJANscAGyjKMEEewPG7IiSfJ/s320/WSS+13.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My thanks to Mark & John for taking a day out of their schedules to play the game and for bringing along their figures. All scenery is from the shelves of the Grimsby Wargames Society. Rules used are our own and, whilst brutal and bloody, they allow us to play a game of this size in four hours with little difficulty.<p></p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-85599165607839629962021-09-21T05:53:00.001+00:002021-09-21T05:53:04.789+00:00Wargaming Yahtzee Style<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At times my second game in eighteen months felt more like playing Yahtzee! than wargaming. Clearly sacrificing that two headed triple humped goat just before playing the game sent me multiple favours from the Gods.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My revamped and boosted Republican Romans took the field against the now familiar forest of spears wielded by the veteran Minifigs of good friend Mark. Before the game started the Romans depolyed in the expected checkerboard fashion (still massively outflanked by the extensive Macedonian line).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbDE6U04PUrjECPR1tmNhgY-HADn5HuhlAexcl7STjBHbEafPWNCkKVzJJ4o5tBpoXuIWwwFJfpuQWnU8tK41QAcVy84QkC-y_JZHSOVito70n87mElK7nIuR6FhvtY7kLeaJ/s2048/RR+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbDE6U04PUrjECPR1tmNhgY-HADn5HuhlAexcl7STjBHbEafPWNCkKVzJJ4o5tBpoXuIWwwFJfpuQWnU8tK41QAcVy84QkC-y_JZHSOVito70n87mElK7nIuR6FhvtY7kLeaJ/s320/RR+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>After a brief discussion on modern thinking and interpretation of Ancient warfare Mark allowed me to close and form line in accordance with my reading of some of those newer works (see earlier blog posts about this). Of course this left my flanks looking vulnerable to say the least and me pinning my hopes on the new Spanish units (they did not have the favour of the Gods and will not be spoken of again) along with the new Numidian light horse and a solitary Roman squadron.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sWeoVdNwhOVEdAp7CHXIie_7uDER-Xfx3GNrMViTOSS7k_104heKVY6XzXdcVGMux_FdqblVzexmREEZgnSuoh0EszELFOM0FbXvKvmACG2et0FeMA1JPoKAhVdbGN59hhri/s2048/RR+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sWeoVdNwhOVEdAp7CHXIie_7uDER-Xfx3GNrMViTOSS7k_104heKVY6XzXdcVGMux_FdqblVzexmREEZgnSuoh0EszELFOM0FbXvKvmACG2et0FeMA1JPoKAhVdbGN59hhri/s320/RR+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Deciding that I had no time to waste before my flanks collapsed I headed straight for the nearest phalanxes. Screened by javelins and slingers I at least managed to look as though I meant business.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Omau1Ttm4iicPf0n6sNLn5L1AKiYR1DBVT0ivz_wbol4fQGCKnO33XdXrYuAJhMa2_eK5QuNGj0bsVrvs258cbnuaAWGwvUP0t4dQttcYMgxXHFQgIUYuXwZAapC6seqAFmA/s2048/RR+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Omau1Ttm4iicPf0n6sNLn5L1AKiYR1DBVT0ivz_wbol4fQGCKnO33XdXrYuAJhMa2_eK5QuNGj0bsVrvs258cbnuaAWGwvUP0t4dQttcYMgxXHFQgIUYuXwZAapC6seqAFmA/s320/RR+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And so it proved. First round honours even.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhLf99Q5Wr8fIfvAOdBkccrBf0MUK8bOpZ4rraUT9u-D1aaHvYBx8ryBt1WGDkkBjnq-l6fcZ45Y53wZN8t1F0v0D2x5ehZLTZjEcep0jz4zAPcmP5mSwzAChem9dS4wwIYD/s2048/RR+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhLf99Q5Wr8fIfvAOdBkccrBf0MUK8bOpZ4rraUT9u-D1aaHvYBx8ryBt1WGDkkBjnq-l6fcZ45Y53wZN8t1F0v0D2x5ehZLTZjEcep0jz4zAPcmP5mSwzAChem9dS4wwIYD/s320/RR+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Second round I remembered that I had supporting troops and that we were throwing pila at the enemy. The result was that the Romans pushed back one of the phalanxes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1r7n8jopehMWxdfhSpoFnQTZ5qmpAXporNQLrcKsoDzCaSkf7bC_COH1twUu7TN2VssMbg9WZi-ZPe5sE6XSmaC1zVb89zhdcgFFTUsfP1cJv7Iw0KzBSIGrOz8JMb7FZze3/s2048/RR+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1r7n8jopehMWxdfhSpoFnQTZ5qmpAXporNQLrcKsoDzCaSkf7bC_COH1twUu7TN2VssMbg9WZi-ZPe5sE6XSmaC1zVb89zhdcgFFTUsfP1cJv7Iw0KzBSIGrOz8JMb7FZze3/s320/RR+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The first indication that things were going to be a little different was me rolling twelve dice looking for four or more. When the bones stopped there were more spots visible than on a pack of Dalmations. Holy smoke!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilksJMs2QTVkX-euBJwcWczK00ijENauFVefIoF1bQRqyArUtv0CZkgmie2unLllWwAWUhu1lb0SSHNGXSzAgfWPW36Lqwd_2LgqhZux4lMb0uOl9VosrbxNgI-beV_9m7LTET/s2048/RR+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilksJMs2QTVkX-euBJwcWczK00ijENauFVefIoF1bQRqyArUtv0CZkgmie2unLllWwAWUhu1lb0SSHNGXSzAgfWPW36Lqwd_2LgqhZux4lMb0uOl9VosrbxNgI-beV_9m7LTET/s320/RR+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Strike two phalanxes and a big hole in the Macedonian lines.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQXwtIq2tKmClrbGhe0nPgXFev0Y6qBDJPJvmcXoHUKPX14ARxaZwpJIfUPrfOVHpQRGM3sVz760jgF1rmD4bOliEgmz8_GeN6pSQQ54KrEBrUaOLxyLGf-y5VeLrYCBlDyJ_/s2048/RR+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQXwtIq2tKmClrbGhe0nPgXFev0Y6qBDJPJvmcXoHUKPX14ARxaZwpJIfUPrfOVHpQRGM3sVz760jgF1rmD4bOliEgmz8_GeN6pSQQ54KrEBrUaOLxyLGf-y5VeLrYCBlDyJ_/s320/RR+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Even the Numidians were on the end of some godlike favours. Seven dice and six sixes! The Podromoroi were left shaken and stirred for the rest of the night, not moving from their position for the game.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVt7v9nsm5UA-13kJW2ONbdrri6iCrkMtV-plaGOpnFFVElk5yAB7e-KINtL9Sv-YGzvwFA7-iQFOd9rpqUxnefTye0GVwiuWxloTmD7x5UEcXHWZRB8q2k65CnPbq6P_gAvA/s2048/RR+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVt7v9nsm5UA-13kJW2ONbdrri6iCrkMtV-plaGOpnFFVElk5yAB7e-KINtL9Sv-YGzvwFA7-iQFOd9rpqUxnefTye0GVwiuWxloTmD7x5UEcXHWZRB8q2k65CnPbq6P_gAvA/s320/RR+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Enter two more phalanxes and two more even combats. On this occasion my roll was just as good as previously (five dice needing fives). <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNa9C-NLu9RgUTe20_LxIlh9Xeh0X8aY3fMIXThM4aD4czE67s9FshYV9Y4kRmEKBwqGVGDr6c1mFVtR82b2Phoi8kn8AK6lx1HyM9HVzvcIkQ-_pYTmYHIhFspBAje9iyb8k/s2048/RR+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNa9C-NLu9RgUTe20_LxIlh9Xeh0X8aY3fMIXThM4aD4czE67s9FshYV9Y4kRmEKBwqGVGDr6c1mFVtR82b2Phoi8kn8AK6lx1HyM9HVzvcIkQ-_pYTmYHIhFspBAje9iyb8k/s320/RR+9.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>But Mark stood firm and the second roll was the complete reverse, even with the support. My gallant Hastati fell back (ran for the hills) and allowed the Principes to look at the enemy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5oMww997mcaAhzipNhRQhSXbdlNgLRiXE-11uln7jKoXmpbyqVUsstCzX7ZhsNXLFyVhEzV3H9cgkBZUZNifz2o55IBbarGONGf-FpbPR939nhzjChrYVrByJZkcnev-IyaS/s2048/RR+10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5oMww997mcaAhzipNhRQhSXbdlNgLRiXE-11uln7jKoXmpbyqVUsstCzX7ZhsNXLFyVhEzV3H9cgkBZUZNifz2o55IBbarGONGf-FpbPR939nhzjChrYVrByJZkcnev-IyaS/s320/RR+10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>However by this time the Macedonians had realised that the Gods had given their favour to the Romans and decided that their sacrifice of a couple of chickens hadn't worked. Withdrawing from the field the Romans were left to their victory celebrations.<p></p><p>Another cracking game. I would like to say that the tactics employed worked. The reality is that, apart from a couple of bad rolls, I couldn't fail to score above average all night and won through a stroke of good fortune. Interestingly putting two maniples against each phalanx didn't tip the balance overly much. Both sides were reasonably evenly matched and, as Mark pointed out, his peltasts never saw action all night and had they been employed as a second supporting line it would have, probably, worked in his favour. To quote Mark "change the tactics not the rules".</p><p>I liked the new look and feel of the Republicans. Compact and workmanlike they now, for me at least, give the impression of how they were. Flanks are going to be the perennial worry as to how to stop the enemy from sweeping round and defeating the Romans from the rear. Any army with a few light cavalry units is going to be a worry. Indeed any army with more horse than the Romans is going to be a concern. Clearly I need to find a reliable supply of two headed triple humped goats.</p><p>So the Romans get a reprieve from having a "For Sale" sign placed on their box and go back on the shelf with a victory. </p><p><br /> </p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26085148.post-63310810741175782642021-09-07T05:47:00.002+00:002021-09-07T05:47:25.224+00:00Dice Have Been Rolled <p> Far too long between games. Almost eighteen months to the day. Time then to get back in the saddle and roll them bones.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H8BKRP3RkqzLZ8uI23MZcWDiCwLet1y4TfomjgPAAAc_XKDePRbhQ4ZTRC6vi9w50WRv-1VNNVjBMPF6fTco0q1dnmf1OJl0l7MSTBT1vxw2NJ0U3cvGXXkv4-FAB3NH5cb1/s2048/game+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H8BKRP3RkqzLZ8uI23MZcWDiCwLet1y4TfomjgPAAAc_XKDePRbhQ4ZTRC6vi9w50WRv-1VNNVjBMPF6fTco0q1dnmf1OJl0l7MSTBT1vxw2NJ0U3cvGXXkv4-FAB3NH5cb1/s320/game+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I chose something simple for this first outing. Galatians (or Gauls or Celts or any other hairy, underdressed peoples in the era of a Classical Ancients setting - as was quipped "they all look the same to me"). Not a subtle army by any means. Just line them up, point them at the enemy and let them go.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf1MJyhrbXNkJOdP7XXUvReV-NWUxFiQ7oo99oEHF30R2tpYYyfR8GEExs0h1HNOvcgQo4IB8jc3gYlJtJJNcU6yhIVQ9gTFLQmWQgektZlmsPVRie4EEH4oXf3LiH8STexOU/s2048/game+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf1MJyhrbXNkJOdP7XXUvReV-NWUxFiQ7oo99oEHF30R2tpYYyfR8GEExs0h1HNOvcgQo4IB8jc3gYlJtJJNcU6yhIVQ9gTFLQmWQgektZlmsPVRie4EEH4oXf3LiH8STexOU/s320/game+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My opponent brought along a veritable forest of phalangites. Six large blocks of them. Surrounded by a variety of Companion cavalry, podromoroi, peltasts, hypaspists and other sundry troop types. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H2a6nX6BYdCZyUgaZkzd7rTfaiuhc8zoNBv1z4ToxuJG-77LDXhObRMWfJVSxCjnevNa4vkEzSI2t1iHlEXqttwNKC1hY2dzZUoWWCkG9rcrLiOPM76xbGXh4XJu4jVKEL17/s2048/game+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8H2a6nX6BYdCZyUgaZkzd7rTfaiuhc8zoNBv1z4ToxuJG-77LDXhObRMWfJVSxCjnevNa4vkEzSI2t1iHlEXqttwNKC1hY2dzZUoWWCkG9rcrLiOPM76xbGXh4XJu4jVKEL17/s320/game+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And they're off. Large blocks of half naked warriors lurching towards those long sharp tipped spears. The cunning Macedonians showered the advance with arrows and slings causing some discomfort and stopping a couple of the warbands on my left. Here the massed Macedonian cavalry prepared to turn my flank.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Gq253yRvBMTzdqbidhxNyCjQQO-CLei9lRaIjhza_64TtWZcu20hNlmlYHeX5PyEkUQAlVBGGx5m5HVQnHVsOxrfVzkdmKU72cwueI9NRfNLtgLbL6ITs1TrQEDno5uSKpDC/s2048/game+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Gq253yRvBMTzdqbidhxNyCjQQO-CLei9lRaIjhza_64TtWZcu20hNlmlYHeX5PyEkUQAlVBGGx5m5HVQnHVsOxrfVzkdmKU72cwueI9NRfNLtgLbL6ITs1TrQEDno5uSKpDC/s320/game+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Meanwhile flesh had met pike. First round generally went to the warbands. Pushing the phalanxes back almost every time. Wild fighters indeed with lots of extra rerolls. (The Macedonians being forty year veterans are true 25mm figures and not the overfed 28mm modern figures facing them. As a consequence their WRG standard basing needs a movement tray to expand the frontage to match the more modern figures).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP-cxvCexv40Bg-l2Q35tqDlBoXA8eLptL4ma70_wo41Ur-HAzAwtwM3ai6ZC-z4_5cowvZsFg8aWNg1wPL_3nxiIhNaea1xCknhk3fp48o69w-LmlUxK0lxXLVP8Lox9RMaQ/s2048/game+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP-cxvCexv40Bg-l2Q35tqDlBoXA8eLptL4ma70_wo41Ur-HAzAwtwM3ai6ZC-z4_5cowvZsFg8aWNg1wPL_3nxiIhNaea1xCknhk3fp48o69w-LmlUxK0lxXLVP8Lox9RMaQ/s320/game+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A little tamer on my left though. Having smashed on phalanx the extreme left hand large band turned towards the hypaspists and their supporting peltasts.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_l9kKaBAw02beEgaqBAhz4aDdKMehm3uPDhDfQGkBGLDuKMKwuF4j5vY1ByrQe1JwF82iI-WUSvwk2vA7Drs4gU6ych8l71T4THNjM1rzqwbL-3fL9DLJ2K3autuZx_MbRIJK/s2048/game+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_l9kKaBAw02beEgaqBAhz4aDdKMehm3uPDhDfQGkBGLDuKMKwuF4j5vY1ByrQe1JwF82iI-WUSvwk2vA7Drs4gU6ych8l71T4THNjM1rzqwbL-3fL9DLJ2K3autuZx_MbRIJK/s320/game+6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Only to be mashed and left shaken. The other two smaller warbands had met similar fates and were now surrounded by cavalry.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66FFD0kz8-dQCOJ5agGJqi65aznK77jbMPrWd2A1lENrP1XqdwTj9SSo41Tu1PQSYCxn-AOqQckTsbxJB7zuTDveqSv6lNT5eCOXJOzyvShyphenhyphenmvTp-BQ0bqbm5lPuhyphenhyphenpSO5rc_/s2048/game+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66FFD0kz8-dQCOJ5agGJqi65aznK77jbMPrWd2A1lENrP1XqdwTj9SSo41Tu1PQSYCxn-AOqQckTsbxJB7zuTDveqSv6lNT5eCOXJOzyvShyphenhyphenmvTp-BQ0bqbm5lPuhyphenhyphenpSO5rc_/s320/game+7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The fanatics were frothing at the mouth at being unable to get at the enemy. Their foolish general (who had gallantly led the charge and died with a long spear in him in the first engagement of the day) had placed them too far to the right. As a consequence they never fought at all. Nor did the chariots next to them. Too good quality units that didn't see action.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuqRg54AMaue8Qrt8yhXlFWgToY9C6DNyx0DK88MRrpqQOHlDRxi7MkG6vhN9EzlHo3POLpeaHQIA_t84iNMso2m2K6VliNmdlE6gpaSCmm6AaPNGEQz6bV5NFeI7GBnYFh_x/s2048/game+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuqRg54AMaue8Qrt8yhXlFWgToY9C6DNyx0DK88MRrpqQOHlDRxi7MkG6vhN9EzlHo3POLpeaHQIA_t84iNMso2m2K6VliNmdlE6gpaSCmm6AaPNGEQz6bV5NFeI7GBnYFh_x/s320/game+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>That will be the tale told around the camp fires as well. The left was now being slowly ground to a pulp. Cavalry were running in and hitting the Galatian hordes at will. Phalanxes, though on the point of collapse, were grinding the warriors into carrion fodder. Arrows, javelins and slingshot were knocking down any warrior not fighting in a melee. With a dead general and no sign of the Macedonian morale failing (unlike the Galatian resolve which seemed to diminish with every dice roll) the warbands turned and fled.<p></p><p>It was close.</p><p>If one morale had gone my way in the last couple of turns it would have been the Galatians victorious. Instead every time I got an advantage Mark, my opponent, seemed to be able to roll just enough to hold firm. By contrast my rolls in similar positions just got worse. Twice I scored just two in morale tests and watched warbands dissolve into fleeing mobs whilst the Greeks just smiled.</p><p>It was a good game and all the more enjoyable for being held in such good spirits after such a long absence. Yes it felt a little strange being back in the club house after such a long time but when you're with good friends it doesn't seem to matter too much. A win would have been nice though but then I shouldn't have brought along an entire army of figures that had never seen a table top before should I.</p>marinergrimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01393687295535460527noreply@blogger.com17