Saturday 16 March 2024

The Cousin's War - more figures painted.


So chugging away in the background of lost wi-fi , real life issues etc, I have been painting away at my Perry plastic WOTR's figures , here we have a unit of bowmen of the Percy retinue. 


And a unit of Billmen again for the Earl of Northumberlands retinue . They are in groups of 12 for the Lion Rampant rules which I will be using for this project.



 

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Toy Soldiers in art No.14

 


Mrs K has just been to the doctors for a hearing test - I must stop using high explosives in my games ! , found on the interweb - obviously to do with our American cousins.

Sunday 10 March 2024

The Library in tidy mode (for now)

 


I've finally got my bookshelves (or more grandly - The Library) tidy , a veiw to the north . I now think I know where all my books are and although to the untrained eye it appears a jumble .


The veiw to the south , rather awkward trying to photograph them without clambering over the spare bed etc .The shelves are adorned with various knick-nacks , memorabilia and my collection of WW1 pilot/aircrew figures . I'm pleased to have got it done and slightly alarmed at the number books that have been taken to various charity shops , but I feel strangly cleansed and rather pleased.(click on the photos to enlarge and peruse the shelves)



Thursday 7 March 2024

A photo of the author as young man.


When I've been clearing up my library I have been checking the books for old photos etc , as I  have a habit of using them as book marks , I came across this one - It's of myself repairing the cobbles in the village of Dent - once in Yorkshire then reorganised into Cumbria (my boss who hated the place used to say nobody wanted the b***er !)(it's a long way from anywhere). It must be back in the 80s I think ?- Dent still had a Post Office then !, I remember they would'nt close the road and we had to lay steel plates to get wagons and tractors past , which also limited how much we could repair at a time as there was only me and my mate and a rather battered pick up. It took a long time and rained quite a bit as can be seen in the photo . I look rather Dickensian ! = Health and Safety was in it's infancy in those days ! . Dent is notable for it's cobbles and gets very busy in the tourist season nowadays .

 

Sunday 3 March 2024

End game.


Well I've managed to finish off my SYW game that has been delayed by various real life issues . The Prussian Cavalry drive off the remaining Russian Cavalry but due to the replacement lack lustre Brigadier they stall.


On the other flank the Russian Infantry manage to rally themselves and start to move forward. Yes we have got sunshine - nice weatherwise but not for photography .


The Russians get their act together and move forward to the attack - they are being harrassed by the Frei Korp .


And after - The leading Battalion breaks and flees crashing into the next one and that flees as well , a third one has to retire to try and rally it's casualties off. . Oh dear ! 


That ended the battle in favour of the Prussians , the Russians having lost half their units, the army morale broke and they are forced to retire . On the far left the Prussian Cavalry and Grenadiers are stalled, the forces in the centre took little part in the battle and on the near right the Russians were defeated by a combination of the constant snipping of the Frei Korp , effective Prussian Artillery cannister fire and the blundering control of their Generals . A great game which took longer to play than I expected , but the rules worked well and the fact that I didn't have to paint any of the figures was a bonus ! .









 

Tuesday 27 February 2024

Well that didn't go as planned.

 


Well this weekend was going to be devoted to wargaming - it didn't go to planned !.My wife dropped me off to walk the dog and said - "don't do anything silly !" . Whilst walking the dog I slipped on a muddy patch and painfully pulled a muscle in my leg ! , OUCH ! - for a while I thought it was going to be a "go for help Lassie/Charlie" however I managed to right myself and mud bismerched managed to hobble home . I spent the rest of the weekend with my leg elevated and only got back to the game today.The Prussians Cuirrassiers crossed the stream, chased off some Cossacks and clashed with the Russians Dragoons.


On the other flank the Russian Infantry advanced but came under cannister fire as well as flanking fire from the Frei Korps which drove the first line back - when a unit recoils it disrupts the units behind it so this had a detrimental effect on the morale of the following units.


The leading Prussian Grenadier was broken by the Russian artillery and fled , The Cuirrassier broke a Russian Dragoon regiment but had to retire across the stream to reform , the Prussian Brigadier was also a casualty (his replacement is one ability worse - hence the green counter)


On the other flank the Russians got into a right pickle retreating through each other and driving down their own morale - Oh dear ! they need to get a grip ! , to be continued ....
*I did not tell my wife of my accident till she returned - she didn't say anything - but her look confirmed her opinion of my antics.







Friday 23 February 2024

Whilst the Cat is away !

 


My wife is away this weekend , so I thought it was the ideal time to set up a Seven Years War game using my Wofun 2D plastic figures . Nearest the camera the Prussians and in the distance the Russians - a new army that I have been slowly building up over the last few months .I will be using the Honours of War ruleset .


Frederick consults with his Cavalry Brigadier . I have yet to win against the Russians - they have inferior Cavalry but the Infantry is as good as the Prussians - but their Command system is slow and rather antiquated.


Behind the Prussian Artillery looking towards the Russian lines.


The Prussian Grenadier Brigade who (hopefully)will be supporting the Cavalry with an attack on the Russian right.


Prussian Frei Korp who will be annoying the Russian left flank , the coin is to remind me if they have been activated - they are a small independent unit.


The Russian General Staff - facing the wrong way (for the sake of the photo) and getting very enthusiastic ! - the Green counter denotes this Brigadier is 'Dithering' (Oh dear)


On the Russian left a unit of Cossacks - an independent unit of 'Inferior' cavalry.


On the Russian right - a Battery of Artillery Hopefully I will be able to report back on how the game progresses over the next few days .