Monday 11 January 2021

Staying positive.

 I am determined to stay focused and up beat these next few months simply because otherwise one will climb into bed and pull the covers over you're head. I dont class it as a New Years resolution more something to aspire to. In these nightmare times its difficult to see past your next meal and thinking about a wargame with a real live opponent is more like a fantasy than anything else. But small stepsall that.

Luckily the post is still running and that internet thing calls like a siren to buy some more toys in anticipation of the day we can run free again. In an attempt to save myself from bankruptcy I bought some Perry plastic Wars of the Roses just before lockdown. I would imagine not many gamers enjoy sticking them together but when they are glued up they make excellent figures. These are for another Stanley ward and will be the men at arms. 

                              

These chaps are the final units of the first Stanley ward. I do like the colour combination of green and red and the lovely Pete's flag enhances their look a great deal. There are some very talented peoe kicking about and Pete is up there when he sets his mind to it, mind I dont know how he balances everything.

I deliberately sought out the old Grenadier range for my generals, simply because they are so damned nice. Prices have become ridiculous on E Bay, but luckily I managed to get a fair price for these.
I know they are over sized and exaggerated but as we all know the rule, my army my rules.
This blue and yellow chap is a Perry plastic that cried out to be promoted to a commander. Blue and yellow make great colour combinations.

Yes, he is a fantasy figure with a jousting shield but again he was too nice to ignore.

Finally my official foot commander which is a combination of a Perry plastic a Grenadier figure and a Citadel herald  which I was very kindly given several years ago. This figure was originally in the Gilder collection although I would hazard a guess Gilder didnt paint him. The flag is a generic Saint George flag.
    I like to read as much as possible around a subject but I am amazed at just how little there is about the Wars of the Roses. By that I mean a decently researched , meaty history not a small, dip your toes in the water book. Ive had to return to my Conn Iggulden fictional book series to attempt to get a 'feel' for the period. I know the history is a bit skewed but it at least has a period flavour although he clearly didnt like Richard of York whom I have a soft spot for. Still its better than that train crash on television, 'The Great.??? My wife managed to prise the controls out of my fingers as I screamed at the bollocks I was witnessing, why do they make these dreadful programmes, it makes Noggin the Nog look like a documentary.  Stay positive.... stay focussed......   


28 comments:

  1. Nice job Robbie and the flags are posh :-)

    For Wars of the Roses, I recently bought Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth by Mike Ingram, published by Hellion. I think this might hold some advantages for you, because not only does it nicely cover the Bosworth battle and the world of the Stanleys, but there is a broader scope that offers insight into weapons and tactics of the period, together with some background fluff that dips into organisation and society norms.

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    1. Thanks Norm I'll give it a go. Its very strange that more books havent been written re the whole war given just how important it was to this country. Perhaps there are few primary sources.

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  2. Nice work on the figures. Fine looking chaps

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    1. Thanks Neil. The Grenadier figures, whilst exaggerated are a joy to paint. Pity the second-hand market is so expensive.

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  3. Stay positive, Robbie!

    Your WotR work is fab. I have a number of boxes of Perry plastics on the way to begin my own small WotR project. I hope putting them together is less work than you suggest.

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    1. Im very certain you will whizz through them Johnathan. To be fair, Perry figures are pretty straightforward, its just my three thumbs that is the problem.

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  4. Lovely work on your Perry men at arms! I quite like putting together the bills and bows set, but that's just me!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain. I know my colours are too bright and the metals too shiney, but I love colour and with Pete's flags one has to do them justice.

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  5. Lovely stuff as always. I don’t think “The Great” takes itself as seriously as Noggin the Nog! Of course it’s crap 💩

    Whenever I stick plastics together I hark back to those distant days when you, me, John and Neil would play Warhammer Fantasy every week! I promised myself then I’d never get plastics again so what have I done? Bought a load of Gripping Beast Late Romans. Aaargh!

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    1. A good choice Colin, they are very good figures. Its a bit of a plastic revolution at the moment. Typical with all the metal shoved in the boxes.

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  6. Some wonderful looking figures there. I particularly like the archers and the standards.

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  7. Some excellent looking WoTR additions, Robbie!

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  8. Lovely figures Robbie. I hated the Perry plastics - far too many pieces to assemble and the prep time seemed overly long compared to metals. On the upside they don't need undercoating (unless you're going to use Contrast paints).
    For fiction I would recommend Sharon Penman's "The Sunne in Splendour" - she does like Richard.
    TV dramatization is suffering from the application of 21st century morales and is dreadful as a result. If they portrayed it a bit closer to the known reality we might not be in such a rush to forget it.

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    1. So true Paul. I dont blame the public to be honest, I really think the producers and writers have been indoctrinated and believe the public couldnt handle the truth, thats if the writers could identify it..

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  9. Noggin the Nog, now that brings back memories and raised a smile. Those WotR figures have turned out really well, well done Robbie. Glad you are staying positive! KBO, it is the only way through all this malarchy!

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    1. One has to keep buggering on David. By the way, I see they have released a Noggin the Nog range! Trendsetter or what.

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  10. Really nice collection Robbie. Some lovely painting, and the flags really top everything off well. There's light at the end of the tunnel - they've probably vaccinated you by now ;)

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    1. Steady Dave, your passive aggressiveness doesnt do you justice. Anyway I thought they were vaccinating all the out of shape people first, so how was the prick?

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  11. Lockdown or not, that's impressive painting. Well done, that man!

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    1. Thanks Iain. Normally I would be cracking on, but between things catching up on me and lockdown procrastination, well you know.

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  12. Great looking figures Robbie.
    The challenge of history and interpretation. Difficult to find any true objectivity. In an earlier era you have to watch the propaganda produced by those Lancastrians—another case of the victors writing the history. Young Will the Bard played right along to ensure that he stayed in sweet with Liz and kept getting paid (and kept his head)!
    Regards, James

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    1. I agree James. What I have read places a lot of emphasis on Queen Margarette for the wars. She seemed to have it in for poor York. Clearly being French she thought the English nobles were as self serving as the French.

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  13. Lovely work as always. You are right... I loathe sticking multi part plastics together..If you are looking for Grenadier 15c figures, Moonraker minis still produce them in the UK. Excellent service.

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My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating