Sunday, 19 March 2023

Impromptu Sunday morning game.


'A' rang me and said-"are you free for a game this morning" ?  , well my wife being at work and the dog already walked I said "yes" (ignoring the gardening I should have been doing).


He had recently taken delivery of some 15mm  Wofun 2D Caesarian Romans and swiftly having based them up he wanted to give them a spin using the free Andrew Callan rules. Here is my force under Pompey deployed, 6 units of Legionaries in the center , some slingers on the far flank and some Gallic cavalry nearest the camera.


'A' deploying his force under Julius Caesar , some Legionaries and a Scorpion bolt thrower.


His Numidian light cavalry on the right flank (he needs to fill in the bases and perhaps ink in the edges.


The rear of my position , the battle being fast and furious I forgot to take any photos of the action - but I lost narrowly - snatching defeat from the jaws of victory ! . A great game and a great way to spend a Sunday morning .


I don't often appear in my blog posts - this is not misplaced vanity , but it's because I'm taking the photos . "A" sent me this one of his.



 







 

Wednesday, 15 March 2023

Lucky eBay find .

 


Lets face it do I really need anymore 54mm figures - probably not BUT when I saw these on eBay and nobody seemed interested I put a low bid in for the two items and rather forgot about them - thinking that I was not going to get into a bidding war . And guess what ! I won both items at the price of just over a £1 a figure ! - Happy Bunny time ! 


They are Britains hollow cast West Point Cadets first issued in 1926 I think and being a total of 36 gives me three units for 'AGW' rules. The paint job is a bit of a mystery , they are depicted in the 'Winter Dress' (grey trousers) but the cross straps and buttons haven't been painted on ? or has the torso been over painted ? - the bases , rifles and faces are original I think , but maybe the gloves and waist belts could be a later addition ? .


To make them 'combat ready' they need gluing onto bases to prevent them falling over , but I'm not sure about adding paint to the cross straps , buttons and coat tails ? they have a naive charm to them as they are, I wonder if they are 'factory' seconds ? - but the faces are well painted with the standard 'dot' eyes red cheeks and mouths/moustaches , Hmm ! a bit of a mystery ?







Saturday, 11 March 2023

Another biography of H.G.

 


Found in a charity bookshop recently - will it mention toy soldiers I wonder ? , I'm eager to start reading it and will let you know .

Monday, 6 March 2023

Affordable Housing comes to Toieland.

 


Found these today whilst out shopping , £4 each , will take a bit of fixing (the large hole in the front)but should do well in my 54mm games when finished.




Friday, 3 March 2023

Friday lunchtime game.


Last year myself and 'A' started gaming on Friday lunchtimes , but so far 'real life' has got in the way this year , however we had a game today of 'Chariot Rampant' a version of the popular 'Lion Rampant' rules , which have been adapted for Bronze Age chariot warfare. 


'A' brought two forces from his 28mm collection . I took the Mycenaean Greeks (nearest the camera) and 'A' took a Hittite force , most of the figures are Foundary . Here we see his chariot unit about to charge my spearmen (it didn't end well for his chariots)


My 'man of the match' - a humble unit of skirmishers who hide in the trees and shot up every enemy unit that came near them.


'A' urges his army forwards . (note he has not removed his coat - my wargaming room is notoriously cold) It was a close run thing , but I managed to seriously damage his chariots and finally rout three of his spear units and won the battle. 'Lion Rampant' is ideal for these short lunchtime games and we hope to make these games a regular occurance.







 

Tuesday, 28 February 2023

H.G. Wells at play.


This photo of H.G. Wells was was posted on 'A Gentleman's War' Facebook page , I've never seen it before , I wonder if it was linked with the publication of 'Little Wars' ?

 

Friday, 24 February 2023

Blue Army Dragoons.

 


I've given the Blue Army Cavalry figures another coat of varnish and finally got a sunny day to get them outdoors and take some photos. I'm pleased with them and they give Blue Army a boost on the Cavalry front. They are hollowcast Britains Lifeguards with the heads removed and replaced with Irregular heads.


Here we see them on a patrol on the fringes of the Great Patio , hopefully they will be appearing in a game soon.