More Hanoverians

To continue on from the last post, I aslo bought a bag of Eagle Miniatures and painted some up as light troops, now these figures are big 30mm guys, especially the Grenadiers I bought,again at 20p a casting, [I think I was just lucky]

 Anyway,again not my best paint job,but not bad, I had to put a standard bearer with them, [ Foundry] which I know they shouldnt have, but I wanted to give them a more interesting appearence.
 Following on from Andy Copestakes thread re the figure fascists, I also painted up a couple of personality figures.

The first were Foundry ones, and the servant seriously needs some kind of surgery, as the head and jaw on him are strange to say the least. Normally I have nothing but admiration for all toy soldier designers, they are talented people, and the original Gurnsey Foundry were top notch castings, but...... I will let the reader judge for themselves.    Actually the photograph doesnt do the casting justice.

 I then painted up Frederick playing a flute by Eureka Miniatures.I love the castings [hate the price]
 I suppose its all a matter of opinion, and if we were all the same,it would be a dull wargaming world.
 I have to apologise for the excessive use of grass, I love the stuff,and cant believe how lucky wargamers are with accessories that are now available.
 Anyway, I am half way through a RSM regiment of Hanoverians and most wargamers will turn their noses up at their primitve and simplistic style. Personally I love them....You pays your money and takes your choice. Keep on playing with toy soldiers.

Finally Hanoverians.

As part of my new years resulotutions list,I promised myself that I would get back to painting, and I have been fairly true to my word, ignoring call outs,overtime and meetings with my builder and architect.
 I have completed my first full regiment of Hanoverians. Last year I bought a load of Dixon SYW figures off Ebay, for the princely sum of 20p per casting, so I decided to paint some of these first.

Now Dixon castings have been given a bad press, but I was impressed by these figures, they are not the best I have painted,but I do think they have a charm.They are 28mm figures, and look small compared to my RSM figures. They are meant to represent one of the Legion Britanique units,who were pretty ropey troops. But what the heck,theyre toy soldiers.

American War of Independence

On Thursday night John and I were invited to game two of Colin's War of Independence figure extravaganza.
 I have always liked this period, and after watching Al Pacino in Revolution, I always wanted to fight the period. I think its the dodgy wigs or something.
 The scenario Colin had set up was a good one, and losing the dice roll and being given the British, I had some tactical problems to overcome.
 My aim was to get a supply train off the table intact,before the scummy rebels stopped it.
 All in all the Brits had a few problems. This is coveredd in Colins blog, 'Carry on up the Dale'. So I wont steal his thunder. What did come out of the game was the rules, this time 'British Grenadier'.
 Now I didnt mind them too much,although the disruption points became a bit of a chore.
 But we all thought that they just didnt capture the feel of the period. Which is a bit daft,considering we have no real idea what the 1770's was like.
 However the point of this is, are there any really good rules out there for this specific period?
 Barry Hilton producded The Lily Banners for a specific period, Folorn Hope were also producded for a specific period, both work really well, and capture the feel of those times [ I think]
 So where are the set for this specific war.  The  American revolution threw up some quite unique tactical problems for both sides, and I think there is a definate need for some rules that reflect the problems encountered.
 On another thread, I was sent some lovely figures from Fighting Fifteens, namely Eurekas, String Quartet, Frederick the Great Playing his flute, and Frederick and Voltaire [ probably talking divel] in the Gardens at San Soucci.
 These are excellent figures, although not cheap. Well recommended for the Syw collector.
 

The York Show

Fresh back from the York show,I feel inspired and keen to press on with the resolutions that I have made.
I always manage to get to the show by a different route,but it was worth it. There was a definite buzz about the place,with some nice games,and loads of wargames products.Although my intention was to curb my spending I still managed to empty my wallet. The best buy being some more Minatur [TM] flocks, this time some summer flowers and new grass clumps, and best of all 25 copies of the old SYW journal including the first years releases.
 I particulary liked the do it yourself bring and buy,which was a good way to barter with the actual owner of the figures, much better than the normal scrum. All I need now is to be allowed to stage a game at the show, at the last count I was eleventh reserve. The best game for me was the Tobruk game in 15mm, excellent painted Italian tanks.

 On another topic, I have been gradually completing my OSW library,book by book. The idea was to obtain every book that has been released when I started wargaming in the year dot. It really was a daft idea,as some of the books when revisited aren't as good as I remembered, a bit like Dandelion and Burdoch [ a British thing]
 Still some hold their magic. The latest purchase was John Tunstill's Discovering Wargames, which was part of a series which also included, Rules for Wargaming by Arthur Taylor.

I have quite a few of John Tunstills magazine Miniature Warfare, which wasnt a bad wargames magazine in the early seventies. The actiual book is naturally dated,but still has its place in my growing library. As regards my wargames room [ sorry house ] building project, my builders hope to kick off in March. Its still difficult to get excited after all the troubles I have experienced over the last few years with the planners etc, but I can say I am excited about my room. If things go to plan my table will be larger than expected, with lots of shelf space. I still cant decide wether to scrap all my terrain boards,and build new ones, especially after talking to Alan from Games of War who reckons he now has a machine that can cut contours in insulation board, thus allowing me to create proper rolling terrain.

I had to include this photograph from the Discovering Wargames book, just to show how gamers looked 

in 1969. They certainly looked to me,more intelligent,and smarter in their dress.You cant beat a bit of cord.

Tackle Model Soldiers This Way

Over the last year or so I have been building up my Old School Wargame library, by sourcing and buying books that I felt typified the start of wargaming. I have been lucky in being to buy,usually at reasonable [cheap] prices, the books of Peter Young, Charles Grant, Charlie Wesencraft, George Gush and obviously Donald Featherstone. I already had a few by Featherstone, but have since been able to pick up most of the books he wrote. Last week however I saw this advertised and was intrigued enough to buy it,[ probably over the odds] Anyway it was a book published in 1963! and like all Featherstone books is interesting and informative, albeit obviously dated. Amongst the chapters is one on how to make your own figures including a helpful photograph of Donald Featerstone pouring molten lead from a saucepan into a mould. God knows what the nanny staters would make of that little gem of advice. It did take me back to my childhood of molten lead [ for arrows] small chopping axes and carbide bombs. I would probably be on an asbo now using current standards. Once again it reinforces how lucky gamers are now, and I for one do appreciate this, Still a very nice book and a pleasant read.

2010 A Retrospective

Well 2010 has flown over, and it only seems two minutes since I started this blog last New Year in response to my wifes illness and the inability to go out on the drink.
 I think the blog was a better choice in most respects. The year itself was a strange one from my wargaming point of view. I didnt get to attend my usual number of shows, and I didnt get to put on a game at the shows that we normally would. This was due to work,weather and holiday commitments in the main. My painting also tailed off alarmingly towards the end of the year,due in no small part to finally selling my home.
  2011 now beckons with another year of major changes and major stress. A new home to build, a new job to find,and a further grand child on the way. All are big things in their own right.
 The New Year is also a time for resolutions, and I think I will set some this year;
1] Finish off my SYW project.
2] Attend more shows.
3] Play more games, preferably at least two a month.
4] Whip the Prussians finally [ hello Colin]
5] Finally lead King James' army to glory against William.
6] Get the SYW rules published in glorious colour.
7] Lose weight and grow more hair.[ now these are unachievable.]

Further to 'A Nostalgic Whim'

If anyone would like a copy of these rules please e mail me a robbie3rodiss@msn.com, I thought charging £4.00 plus p/p seemed reasonable. I do have pay pal but Im not to certain how I send an invoice,hopefully it shouldnt be too difficult [ said Mr Luddite]