Well clearly I'm not that deep a thinker, and can only say that all appears good in my wargaming world. Salute is on the horizon, I am as well as I can be considering and there are lots of things that I want to buy due for release, so whats not to be happy about.
I have been re reading for the umpteenth time my collection of Battle magazines, for inspiration and generally because I'm a saddo sentimentalist. One thing has struck me how things have improved from those days is the sheer variety of products, figures, books services etc, the only thing not yet available is some nubile girl to move the figures around my table,[ may be one day]
My present for my birthday from my wife was a number of buildings from Tabletop World in Croatia which produce some fabulous 28mm buildings. Now how great is that, in that I can order some class models and receive them in a matter of days.
Anyway, I have managed to paint the 'well' which is as start but hardly a lot of progress. Still a great piece for any 28mm wargamer. Check out their site.
On the painting front I have returned to my box of pre painted vintage figures and repainted a couple of Austrian SYW units. The figures are still in my mind amongst the best, although I found that some of the carbines on the cavalry were very femur due to age. Still they re painted well, and are a great way to crack off a unit or two. I hope to next complete an Austrian cuirassier regiment next from this box.
Salute stands to be a very expensive day out for me due to a shopping list that has grown exponentially as new products have emerged to be released at the show. What with the new Perry light cavalry for the European wars, the return of Bicorne Miniatures to the show, Crann Tara attending amongst others things, will hit the wallet hard. Then Ken Trotman is releasing not one but two new books on the SYW that I have to have [ child] Book 11 in the Charles Grant series, and Dr Summerfield's Hanoverian Army of the Seven Years War not much change from a tenner I fear
[ I wish], Christmas has come very early this year.
Returning to how things are much better for wargamers, I was reading my copy of George Gush's Renaissance Armies the other night, checking on a couple of things.I bought this book when it first came out in the 1980's, it retailed at the sum of £8.75p. I didnt have the cash to pay for the book, but Derek Sharman who ran the Wargamers Den in Durham City where I bought the book, allowed me to pay for it weekly. Would that happen now I wonder? Perhaps, dependent on how well one knows the seller, but somehow I dont think so. What it did show me was that wargame enthusiasts have always wanted to help other wargamers and that act of kindness has always stuck with me.
[ Mind Derek was a pretty shit businessman and went out of business soon after.]
Anyway onwards and upwards................
Robbie,
ReplyDeletenothing wrong in being sentimental - whilst there is so much more available to us now there was still that simple excitement back then from seeing something really good, I guess because we didn't have the pics etc at our fingertips.
The figures look really nice and I may just get myself a building or to from Tabletop they do look rather good!
For me its not just the amount of figures, books etc that's available these days it's also the ability to contact and tap into peoples knowledge and skill - as you know the AMG forum for one is a great catalyst and source of inspiration.
I'm off for my lesson on soldering pin bayonets next week and will no doubt be treated to viewing some of Dave's great collection of figures.
Without doubt the hobby for me at least is rich.
Graham, you obviously are enjoying youre retirement, I must admit I am torn between carrying on working, or packing in to spend more time wargaming.
DeleteGreat looking cavalry...and amazing well, I really like it!
ReplyDeleteEvening Phil,
DeleteThe Hinchliffe range was never completed, but the figures especially their cavalry are still really nice models, and look the part.
No matter how much things change they still stay the same. When you look at old magazines, such as battle, you notice that we're still using the same basing techniques, we're still constructing terrain boards in the same way and that figures were painted to such high standards then and now.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there is the spirit of the hobby. Whilst contact is easier the co-operation from gamers is no less now then it was then.
The only big change is really in the plethora of choice we have in how to spend our money - and that never gets old.
As for books - you'll need more than a tenner for that lot.
Re the books, I know Paul, Salute is going to be a big spend, but I must admit I view the book buying as no chore, you can never have enough wonderful books.
DeleteRobbie- you don't have to be controversial ALL the time. I agrree with you plethora of choice point though. Even in the 25 yeaers I've been in the biz the number of compnies in the game has doubled - I never have a shopping list for Salute as I'm working for a living that day.- and to be honest there are no new soldiers that I want- a few books perhaps but I can pick those up anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI'm still very very much "off" the SYW However I heartily reccommend David Blackmores- Destructive and Formidable.- British Infantry Firepower 1642-1765. After reading it you may bin all of your wargames rules
Andy,
ReplyDeleteI saw this book, and have been tempted. It seems to be a bit like Firepower, which was another thought provoking read.