Just noticed that these old blog postings are being published sorta upside down as it were so to make sense of them you have to scroll down to the bottom of the post and work your way upwards - sorry 'bout that ! .
Wednesday 13th July 2011
Wednesday 13th July 2011
Back to 42mm
Aware that there has not been much about my 42mm Irregular armies recently . True most of my posts have been about the 54mm I have been casting up, but behind the scenes I have been busy painting up another Balkans Imagi-nation .
The first infantry unit of Fetaland - a country based on Greece and its army circa 1880-1900 . Must admit the name took some thinking up , I'd run out of sweet names that sound like nations ( well at least to me !) and Greece isn't renowned for confectionery (as far as I know) .
The Fetaland army alarmed by the conflict in neighbouring Treboria/Ferraro Rocca has take delivery of some ex French Mitrailleuse to boost their firepower , here seen on maneuvers .
Here we see the Fetaland CinC General Stavros Flatly and staff
Who will Fetaland ally itself to ? afraid I have not worked that out yet , will have to get more figures painted before they can take part in the conflict .
Monday, 27 June 2011
The search for the British Envoy (2)
Richard Hannay decides to go it alone and sneaks into cover using the sheep flock as decoy
The Ferraro Roccaian forces are being held up !
The opposing forces move further onto the table looking for clues .
The infantry find themselves confronting one another in a narrow pass
Another event marker is revealed ! only a goat herd !
The Treborian commander and the Dragoons find another event marker - a British poet/writer lost whilst looking for inspiration in the wilde (sic) and rugged scenery
The infantry open fire at each other
The cavalry exchange fire and there are casualties - some of them non military !
The Treborian cavalry charge the the FR cavalry and destroy them and their CinC , the infantry firefight continues with heavy casualties on each side . Richard Hannay can be seen sneaking across the bottom of the photo to check out a marker in the heavy cover nearby.
He finds the marker and it reveals - Sir Morris Oxford and servant ! ( No I didn't cheat ! it was just as the card where drawn !)
Hannay and Sir Morris retreat into the heavy cover and leave the table as the battle comes to a end . The Treborian infantry retreat having suffered heavy casualties . The Ferraro Roccaian forces retire having lost their CinC and cavalry unit also substantial infantry losses .
The Envoy is back in British hands - but is he out of danger ?.........
Sunday, 26 June 2011
The search for the British Envoy (1)
As you remember we last saw Sir Morris Oxford fleeing into the wilds of Ferraro Rocca. Both sides have dispatched forces to find him , also Richard Hannay and a band of partisans are seeking him as well.
Photo of the area to be searched , the markers scattered about mark the locations of various events/persons . There are 8 of them - 3 blank ,4 other persons/animals and Sir Morris . These can move each turn using 2D6 and a scatter dice, when a force comes within 6" of one the marker is removed and replaced by the event /person .
The search parties move onto the table , the Treborians nearest the camera , Richard Hannay and party in centre , Ferraro Roccaian forces in top right corner (I diced for entry points).
Hannay because he won the last game (Schwartzpool tower) gets to spot things at 12" instead of 6" like everybody else . The first event is enacted and turns out to be a cattle herder and cows .
He move swiftly to the next one , which obligingly moved towards him on the scatter dice .
and it turns out to be a shepard and flock .
The opposining forces move closer weaving in and out of the mountainous terrain seeking to locate the Envoy , but no luck (every time they got near a marker it moved away from them on the scatter dice and remained out of 6" spotting range). To be continued ......
Saturday, 25 June 2011
More civilians and 54mm Gunners
Several posts ago Ross Mac alerted me to the 40mm civilian figures produced by A.C. Stadden , I found the website and was amazed at the variety of figures he does . Mainly aimed at the model railway market he also does a marvelous selection of Victorian/Edwardian personalities , from Charles Dickens to Winston Churchill . I sent for a small selection as above - Oscar Wilde, Sir John Betjeman, an Edwardian lady and Edward Elgar . Quite a mix, but will be appearing in later blogs - peraphs even as themselves !.
Been messing around with my molds and by mixing arms,bodies and heads you can come up with lots of different figures. These are my first attempt at the 'Red' army gunners .
Think their officer will have to get them painting the gun , it looks a bit scabby!.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Adventure at the Schwartzpool Tower ( continued)
This is the situation were we left our hero - Hannay has gathered one clue (written in Ancient Greek by Sir Morris Oxford containing direction of his escape - luckily Hannay went to the same school and studied Ancient Greek) . Other members of the apposing forces search the woods but don't find anything of interest .
Hedei finds another clue but is gunned down by the merciless Mata Hari
Hannay's companion try to help but one by one they are killed by Velkro's henchmen .
Hannay is confronted by his Arch enemy
But with luck and the selfless sacrifice of his last ally he makes his escape !
.45 Adventure rules played very well and brought out the heroic qualities of the characters , other lesser characters/henchmen etc die quickly . The fact that Richard Hannay has got both clues will be reflected in the set up of the next game , giving him a advantage over the baddies !.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Adventure at the Schwartzpool Tower
The intrepid British spy Richard Hannay seeking the where abouts of Sir Morris Oxford after his escape from imprisonment in the Schwartspool tower decides to explore the area around the tower for clues . He has with him 4 trusty companions . Unfortunately the evil Ferraro Roccain Major Velkro has the same idea ! and has brought with him Mata Hari the beguiling female spy and 2 guards .
They set off into the woods looking for clues . For this game I am using '.45 Adventure ' a set of Pulp type game rules for small heroic actions. There are 6 encounter locations on the board (marked by scenic based 2ps ), these have been placed at random and upon investigation reveal a clue, an event or even nothing !. The parties set off to investigate .
Major Velkro finds the first marker - but it reveals no information !(a sweet wrapper).
Richard Hannay rushes forward to investigate another clue , but as he tries to decypher the cryptic message he is confronted by the beautiful Mata Hari and is beguiled ! and shot twice in the arm by her !.
Whilst looking at his clue Velkro is seen by one of Hannay's companions - who tries to shoot the evil genius - but his gun jams !
Too be continued !!!! ...........
Sunday, 12 June 2011
More Characters and an idea !
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day, the lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea,
Well Irregular 42mm figures actually, some more animals and figures I've been finishing off.
From left to right - A Politician was a Scaletrix plastic figure , The spy Mata Hari- HLBC Wild West saloon girl and two Irregular nuns painted as Princess Adele's Nursing Service .
As some of you might remember I left the British Envoy Sir Morris Oxford escaping into the wilds of Ferraro Rocca having been sprung from imprisonment . The British government have dispatched Richard Hannay the celebrated spy to locate and rescue the envoy, hot in pursuit Hannay searches around the Schwartz Pool Tower for clues to his whereabouts . However the Ferraro Roccain commander Major Velkro is also looking for information as well !. When I came up with this storyline I wondered how I was going to game it ?, I hit upon the idea of using '.45 Adventure' rules as these will cope with the few figures involved . (click on photos to enlarge)
Richard Hannay on the case
(this post contains 2 literary allusions I'll try not to let it become a habit)
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Pastural Interlude
The menfolk wear plaid cloaks in bad weather and still use the old fashioned Jaeger muskets , which are cheaper to supply and repair than modern firearms .
Here is a Shepard with his flock of sheep which are the main source of income in the poorer mountain areas .
Unfortunately not only mules are beasts of burden and the woman and children have to work hard.
There is a small but growing tourist industry and the mountain scenery is popular with the English hikers and artists . ( click on photos to enlarge).
Monday, 30 May 2011
Simple conversions
One of the problems with gaming in 40mm is the lack of civilian and personality figures . To help solve this problem I have been scouring Ebay for any figures that might be usable . Above is a selection I have repainted and converted . L to R:- English tourist -an old Britains hollow cast figure . Politician - strange solid figure , may be O gauge railway figure ?. Ferraro Roccaian Staff officer- old O gauge railway stationmaster .Politician/Statesman- Plastic Scalectrix figure(added beard and coat). Priest - an O gauge railway re-cast model I think (beard and hat added - and a change of religion - originally was R.C.). Richard Hanney British spy- Plastic Scaletrix newspaper seller. Hopefully these figures will be making an apperance in future blogs .
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Battle of Hook's Farm (3)
Move 5 saw the Ferraro Roccain infantry attacking the farm, after 2 rounds of combat they were thrown back with heavy casualties, the Treborian Reservist infantry were aided by the cover the walls and buildings gave them.
On the other flank the FR Hariboan lancers charged and defeated the Treborian Elite cavalry .
In the centre the Treborian infantry took heavy casualties from the FR artillery and the Reservists by the church . Unfortunately there was a 'frendlyfire' incident as the FR gun fired prematurely as I was loading it and landed in the infantry on the left of the farm causing casualties.
I have a strict rule that where a matchstick lands that is where the damage occurs! - MUST be more careful when handling loaded weapons !. this is the situation at the end of the move , with the Treborian gun having to withdraw to a safer position.
The successful Hariboan lancers were charged as they reorganised by the Treborian Dragoons and were routed off the field this left the flank of the Farraro Rccain army open .
The FR infantry rallied and renewed the attack , they scored a 6 and rallied and were able to move the next turn .
In the centre the Treborian infantry took heavy casualties from the FR artillery and the Reservists by the church . Unfortunately there was a 'frendlyfire' incident as the FR gun fired prematurely as I was loading it and landed in the infantry on the left of the farm causing casualties.
I have a strict rule that where a matchstick lands that is where the damage occurs! - MUST be more careful when handling loaded weapons !. this is the situation at the end of the move , with the Treborian gun having to withdraw to a safer position.
By move 7 casualties were mounting on both side as the FR general launched further attacks on Hook's Farm
The FR gun limbered and repositioned to counter the enemy flank attack , the FR Reservists pushed forward driving the opposing infantry back.
However the renewed attacks on the farm ran into trouble and casualties mounted from rifle fire and close range artillery fire.
The Ferraro Roccain attacks failed and the survives fled back towards their baselines . The Ferraro Roccains having lost half their army points, the game was stopped after move 8 and the Treborians were declared winners .
The Ferraro Roccaians had lost the battle although they had given the Treborians a bloody nose .Their failure to support the attacks on the farm with artillery fire was probably their main fault , although the Treborians were rather passive in defence .
The battle was a close one and hung in the balance till the last move . Having used the random move rules this game I think they work well and give that bit of uncertainty to the game .Once more I found this another enjoyable game and am a firm fan of the 'Funny L
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