Some Hard Thinking.

Andy on his blog, Glorious Little Soldiers wrote a post mentioning me and a friend who was resurrecting his Airfix ACW armies, and he asked whether as you get older do you attempt to re kindle your youth.
Now apart from a quick reply on Andy's blog,his post got me thinking, actually some proper thinking for a change.Now apart from a short reply to Andy,this post got me thinking, really thinking actually..

 1] Why did I go back to 28/30mm figures.
 2] Why did I opt for SYW.
 3] Why have I tried to use figures from the 1970's,1980's period.
 4] Why a return to the rule ideas of the late 60's and 70's.

Well originally I think its fair to say my interest was re kindled with the publication of Battle games  and the inception of the Old School Wargamers.
 But what I quickly realised was that the figures I was buying,are figures that I still find very attractive and wanted to own and paint.
When Willie figures were originally released,I wanted them,but knew I could never buy them.
When Steve Hezzlewood produced his Pax Britannica ranges,I thought they were beautiful, but the SYW was not a period I was really interested in.
Things move on,and as you get older, but maybe not wiser, you realise that life is too short to not follow your instincts,if you can.
 I have always loved Peter Gilder's work at Hinchliffe, and inspired by the figures painted by Phil Robinson in the early Miniature Wargames of the SYW Prussian army I took a mental note that I would research and collect that period. After that it logically followed to pick up figures from the Garrison range,some of which I had actually painted in a former life.
 So I dont think nostalgia and a search for my lost childhood was involved in the thought processes.
If that had been the case, I would have gone right back and collected Airfix figures myself.
 One thing I will admit to was that I wanted athe rules I use to be enjoyable,and very playable,but with a feel for the period.
 The rules John wrote, ''A NOSTALGIC WHIM'' I think encapsulated the simple but fun approach, but by the same token, the use of Blackpowder was a set that allowed other gamers to come and fight with my figures, without any problems.
 So it was a win win situation as wargaming is hopefully about seeking out like minded people who can enjoy the experience. God I think it all sounds a bit pompous, but hey ho.

Anyway I think I've convinced myself, I didnt want to return to my childhood,especially the bit when you had to scrat around for information, and when buying your figures you invariably ended up short on the order and probably stuck with some alternative figures from a different period,which if painted and viewed at night in the dark could look similar to what you had really wanted!

               THE REASON WHY I RETURNED TO 30MM FIGURES AFTER 20 PLUS YEARS.

 Pax Brittanica, Austrian, French and Prussian.