A different variety of madness .

 

The other day my neice called around to drop off some books she thought I might like as she is slowly sorting out my late brother-in-law's belongings and she gave me these ! - they had orignally belonged to me about 60 years ago and had been past down to my nephew, who now living abroad didn't want them ! . Ah ! the waves of nostalgia ! I remember having quite a collection of these - I don't think I got them from new but past down from my older cousins .

An Alfa-Romeo and a Ferrari , they have seen better days , but being about 70 years old they have worn better than me ! , the one on the right seems to have newer tyres on it !? - I wonder if that was my brother -in-law repairing it ? . Filled with enthusiasm I implored my neice to search to see if the rest are still about . 

I did a bit of Googling and found this a gift set from the 1950's I don't remember a box and having as many but I think I would like to try and collect the set . The idividual cars do appear on eBay in various degrees of wear and refurbishment and prices , watch this space.......

PS Could you make a car racing game for these ????

A brief moment in time.

 

Doing the round on social media at the moment . That brief window of time in the 70s when wargaming was 'cool' , White Horse whisky - you can take a 'White Horse Anywhere ' the young woman is Catherine Schell who stared in the Callan movie again with wargaming as part of the plot . I would guess the model figures and table are by Peter Gilder .

The Walkers on holiday.

 

Whilst on holiday Mr Walker takes Mrs Walker to visit Missolonghi Bay *, the location where Lord Bygone came ashore to help the Helenyka Republic in their struggle to free themselves from the Sublime Porte .

They finally find the exact place - Mr Walker is ecstatic and very impressed ! - Mrs Walker seems less so - in fact she complains the lack of a cafe or ice cream van ! 

Lord Bygone swears an oath to defend the independence of the Republic of Helenyka (painting on the works of Ludovico Lipparini )

Lord Bygone (in 40mm)

* any similarity to Anglesey is purely incidental ,

Cutting,drilling and gluing .

 

Having just recieved a couple of  Prince August 25mm Napoleonic Royal Horse Artillery moulds  I cast up some for conversion to Prussian H.A., the pot has the makings of the crews. Also my new vice to hold things whilst I'm drilling  and I also invested in a new razor saw .

First decapitating the figures and the saving of Prussian heads - thank the Lord (and the Prussian High Command) for everone wearing covered Shakos in the Prussian army.

My new drill ! , a brilliant machine , not to expensive and designed for jewelry work . I have in the past used a small hand drill but found I was getting repetitive strain and having slipped and stuck it in my finger end numerous time it was time to upgun and also get a vice ! 

The author at work (photoed by my dear wife) , drilling a hole in the necks of the tiny heads was a challenge - hence my head magnifying glasses !

The first crew with their head glued on , they need a bit of tidying up and a bit of 'green stuff' to tart them up. I am using the RHA moulds because I needed figures with short coatees and swords , and will be able to convert French HA using the same moulds . Another update when I start painting them.

Making Plans

 

Whilst on holiday I sat down and made a list of the O.S. Napoleonics I have already cast and painted and where the project was going - this is unusual for me I normally don't plan anything - they usually  'just growed' like Topsy !

THE PRUSSIANS 

8th Brandenberg Infantry 

1st Batt. - done 

2nd Batt - done 

Fusiler Batt - done 

Pomerainion Infantry

1st Batt - to do 

2nd Batt - to do 

Fusilier Batt - done

2 Jeager Companies - done 

2 Landwehr Batts - done 

Foot Artillery Bat. - done 

Horse Artillery Bat- to do 

2 Hussar Regts - done 

Dragoon Regt - done 

Dragoon Regt - to do 

Uhlan Regt - done

    Landwehr Cavalry Regt- to do

THE FRENCH 

45th Ligne Regt.

1st Batt. - done

2nd Batt - done 

3rd Batt -done 

2nd Leger Regt.

Ist Batt - done

2nd Batt - done 

3rd Batt- done 

Ligne Batt - to do 

Ligne Batt- to do 

Foot Artillery Bat. - done 

Horse Artillery Bat - to do 

2 Regts Chavu-Leger Lancers - done 

Chasseur a Cheval of the Guard - done 

Red 'Dutch' Lancers- done 

Polish Lancers - to do 

2 Cuirassiers Regts - to do 

Carabinier  Regt - to do 

Well that's a lot done and quite a few to do . I would like to do a Dutch Army and perhaps dabble with the British, all using as much as possible the Prince August moulds , this will mean quite a bit of conversions which I'm looking forward to . I keep you posted .......

HG Wells and Holmes meet Ai

 Taking advantage of the pleasant weather Sherlock Holmes has gone to Germany to take the air and relax . He was pleased to meet up with his old friend H.G. Wells and his companion (?) (a woman who is certainly NOT Mrs Wells) , also there was Professor Moriarty who Holmes had met before but was not too keen on if truth be told . They go on an outing to a spectacular waterfall and gorge which is best veiwed from a rather narrow ledge .

Moriarty is facinated by it -  HG and his companion less so ! 

On the return journey HG Wells takes Holmes to one side to voice his opinion on the Professor which is not complementary !. Of course I have been dabbling with AI again ! and not taking my figures abroad ! (Click on the photos to enlarge )(the waterfall photos have added AI waterfall spray and the last one I asked for a Tyrolean backdrop and a rustic sign ) 

My latest castings on parade !

 

Got a couple of French Chevau-Leger Lancers regiments done and was pleased how easily they cast up , getting the lances to fit the hands was a problem, but super glue and green stuff did the job 

The mounted Officer are Hinchliffe Models and rather nice, their style is still  brilliant after all these years (50 years ?)

Meanwhile what have these two spotted ?........