The Battle unfolds .

 

The battle is in motion and by a lucky draw of the cards the Treborian Infantry arrive and head for the objective on the ridge. The Artillery deploys and open fire on the enemy.

First blood, the Roccain infantry come under fire .

On the other flank - a combination of the Artillery and the Lancers see off the the Treborian Dragoons, but with heavy losses to the Lancers.

In the centre the Soldatii de Furtuna come under heavy and acurrate Artillery fire and they break and flee (so much for this vaunted unit !)

The Ferraro Roccain Infantry deploy and advance agains the enemy.

Rupert of Hentza tries to rally the fleeing Soldatii !

On the other side of the board the Treborian General tries to halt and reorganise  the Dragoons.

The Treborians seize the objective but at a cost ! . A further report coming soon .....

 

A return to my beloved 40's

 

I decided that I hadn't played with my 40mm Imaginations collection for ages. So I set up the table, there are 3 objectives marked on the photo the winner holds the most at the end of the game . The forces are from Treboria (entering the table on the right and Ferraro Rocher on the left - who although united against the might of the Sublime Porte are at a constant state of bickering over borders. The rules of course are 'A Gentlemans War' 

The Rochain force marches onto the table of Mars . In the distaance a unit of irregular Lancers have been dispatched to control the far left objective .

The Treborian force - 2 units of the 'Alicia' Dragoons and a battery of Horse Artillery , the infantry will arrive on the first Joker card.

The Rochain Commander Rupert of Henza . Both sides drew Cameo Personality cards, the Rochaians were inflicted with the apperance of the General's mistress , who interfiers with the command structure.

The Rochain drew Spy - he will be deployed near the Treborian HQ .

The Rochain General dispatches the Hariboan Lancers up the road to hold the objective marked by a small bush.

The Ace up the Ferraro Rochain sleeve , a unit of 'Soldatii Futuna' armed with the deadly (?) 'Grenade ale mortii'. Theses are some semi flats I cast up from an old metal mould .

The Horse Artillery deploy under the gaze of an odd looking chap that evidently lives in the roadside barn !? . Up date on the game soon ........

Toy Soldiers in Art No. 37

 

I came across these photos on 'Military Toys of our Childhood' Facebook page , they are Elastolin figures from the maker Bartko & Reher (Berlin) and evidently there is a date on the back January 1936. They are probably from their catalogue , the photos are not very clear but I think they are 'modern ' (well pre war) Germans complete with tents , camp equipment and a sentry box . I assume the white sheet is to represent winter conditions (?) - I like the Alpine type house , sadly the purchasers of these toys would all to soon involved in a real war 

Wet weather job.

 

Well it's pouring down and blowing a gale here in the N.W. and the dog definately didn't want a walk (a quick dash into the garden for a wee !)(the dog - not me !), so I have been busy casting up Dutch/Belgian cavalry from Prince August moulds . The Gods of Homecasting smiled on me and I got these cast up without to many failures.They are on the left - Belgian Carabiniers, with a rolled greatcoat added with 'greenstuff' . On the right- Dutch Hussars, I mounted them on a new standing horse mould I got from Ebay and had to model the Shabraque to the horse again with 'greenstuff' - a good days work and I will be undercoating tomorrow and start painting them next wweek.

Toy Soldiers in Art No.36

Found this whilst browsing , it's a hardback book cover seeminly advertising 'Father Ted's' . Welcome Gifts series published in 1912 (?) . If I was the dog I would get out of the way of the lad with the cannon ! , once more the sailor suit makes an appearence - I half wish I had had the opportunity to wear one in my youth ! . I will investigate more on subject of Fathers Ted's books .

PS Did a bit more digging into the above post it was published bu Raphael Tuck & sons , at one point they were the worlds largest postcard publisher ! , more here at  Raphael Tuck & Sons - Wikipedia 

 

The Dutch-Belgians in action or Poirot's first Battle !

 

So over the last month or so I have been busy casting up and painting a Dutch/Belgian army using the 25mm Prince August moulds and now is the time for their first apperance on the 'Tabletop of Mars' 

Their Commander Brigadier H. Poirot (rumoured to be a distant relative of that detective chap!?) , rather a poor photo - must try harder !

The Dutch/Belgian force - the scenario is they must cross the table to secure a town - the French force will try to stop them .(the card is Poirot's trump card )

The Belgian 36th Chasseur Battalion , rather natty in their green uniforms.

Two Battalions of Dutch 5th Line 

Two Battalions of Dutch Militia , these are converted British Line - I  remodelled the Belgic shako into the older 'stovepipe shako with 'green stuff ' . I am looking forward to seeing how these chaps get on and will report back as the action proceeds.

Another 'Grand Day Out' !

 

With one thing or another it has been two years since I have been to a wargaming show so when 'A' invited me down to Partizan I jumped at the opportunity !. A rather poor selfie (due to my short arms ) , Me , 'B' and 'A' , we met up with 'B, at the show . We all got in on the concession rate - sadly nobody questioned our qualifying ages .

I was keen so see this game put on by 'The Paperboys' 

All hand cut 16,000 figures - one to one ratio Hastings !

Two units of Norman Archers 

The sheer number of figures was jaw-dropping !

The veiw from the top of the ridge - they played the game using Midgard rules and I believe it was a draw - Harold was killed but the Saxons still held half the hill by nightfall .

The show was packed with wargamers - very busy indeed .

I liked the use of 'teddy bear fur' in this game - Arras 1940 I believe - got a lecture from 'B' on the differences between Universal and Bren gun Carriers ! (trackheads !)

Interesting Japanese/Samurai game using 54mm figures '

They had got the snow effect just right , lots of figure conversions as well .

This WW2 Pacific game was massive !

The aircraft were well done as well.

The mountain side was magnificent, hundreds of glued on pieces of bark chippings giving a brilliant affect .

Of course there had to be this viginete !

Lace Wars game, was impressed by the Standards carried by these Regiments.( note to self I should invest more in banners instead of just photo copying them)

The Battle of Minden - with hundreds of superbly painted figures - a great spectical .

Just before we left we came across this game using 'lego' style figures and bricks .

Very clever system ! each unit came with its own casualty / status marker built in, as well as its own range device .

A very unusual idea , clever and VERY different ! . Well it was 'a grand day out' ! it was good to catch up with 'B' and to talk wargaming all the way down and back from the show with 'A' (click on photos to enlarge)