End of an era.

 

It is with great sadness I have just read the news that Irregular Miniatures are finishing trading in March as Ian Kay is retiring . They have been running for 45 years and for most of that time I have been making orders to them and recieveing them promptly with their superb mail order service . A great loss to the hobby and I do hope somebody else steps up to continue their manufactor . I would like to wish Ian a well earned retirement and thank him for all the figures I have bought and painted from him and all the joy he has over the years brought to my hobby. I have sent a last order off to him to finish off my Franco-Prussian armies .

Wargaming Humour No. 67

 

Found on the Interweb ......

First painting of the year.

With one thing or another I haven't go around to painting anything this year so far . But this afternoon I had a bit of spare time and searching through my 'to do box' I came across these Iroquios indians for my 'Close Wars' project which have been undercoated and awaiting the brush for months . Nice figures from 'Crucible Crush' with a very muted palette which is a bit of a challenge , got the bases to do and a coat of matt varnish to finish them off.

 

Theraphy Wargaming .

 

Whilst getting over my operation wargaming was not a priority , however as a sign I'm getting better I have set up a Franco-Prussian game using AGM rules using the Grant Sawmill Village scenario. French nearest the camera .

The French High Command have based themselves at a rather nice establishment that has an very amusing wine list.

The Prussian Generals set up their command post at the Sawmill , not quite as commodious .

The French forces advance .

The Prussians have a good hand of cards and swiftly capture the village. To be continued ....

A medical update.

 

Found this old photo from years ago (with new sub-title) , my wounds seem to be healing well , visited my Surgery nurse and had a new dressing  put on one of them . Getting back to walking and my appetite has returned (huzza !) - onward and upward !

Toy Soldiers in art No. 33

 

We swap arts to the theatre this time , I had to do a Google search to come up with whats going on - It's a play of 6 acts called L' Aiglon by Edmund Rostand about the early life of Napoleon II , it premiered in 1900 with Sarah Bernhardt taking the leading role . I'm not sure what the Toy Soldiers represent and they seem pretty big , probably made just for the production (click on photo to enlarge it)

Sarah looking very fetching in her specialy designed uniform - but sadly minus toy soldiers 

And the amusingly named (well if you have a juvenile sense of humour like me) Minnie Tittell Burne in a Australian performance (1905)

The annual dose of Model Railways

So it's that time of year again and time for the local Model Railway exhibition . This year my wife dropped me off and said "remember your operation - don't do anything silly "!?, a model railway show is probably the place not to do silly things - unless she meant DON'T start a new hobby !? . On the Saturday there had been over 1000 people through the doors and there was a queue to get in on the Sunday.

This layout was for children (of all ages) to have a go at running trains.

The theme for a number of layouts this year was winter .

Brr it looks chilly !

This one is from the local club and is go through a overhaul , relaying the tracks.

I love the Limestone theme , lot of work gone into this.

A veiw of the signaling controls on a layout and with the timetable hung up.

More Limestone terrain , love that backdrop.

I do like these small layouts and the attention to small details.

This little layout was "best in show" for me .

So many little details, the chap gardening and his brasier had a flickering light in it .

The background was hand painted in oils I think and it was so atmospheric ! . I didn't take as many photos this year mainly because I stood talking to people I knew - two from my schooldays , two from the village and a couple who I used to work with . The only down thing was the miniscule sausage bun I bought at the cafeteria - it could not have been fesibly smaller ! . However a grand day out and apart from the bun I didn't do out silly ! 

 

French High Command (and a clue why they didn't do well in the war)

 

The French High Command 'Willie' figures from their Franco-Prussian 30mm collection . The chap on the right is in fact Napoleon III himself ! and seems to be somewhat distracted from his command duties by the Vivandiere !?

'Oh La La !' no wonder they lost the war !!! . For my money 'Willie' did the best female models out there and they must be over 50 years old now . Back to the more mundane painting next.

PS This is one I painted earlier as I can't sit comfortably at the moment due to my op.

Ouch !

 

The Author after his operation ! (or man with a case of 'man flu' ),. So I've been for my operation to have my gall bladder remove (having been bothered by gall stones the last couple of years) , it was a day op at my local hospital (if there wasn't a hill and trees in the way I could see it) - everything went smoothly , there at 7.30am , op at 9.00 (first up )  key hole surgery and home for 4pm , due to the anasthetic I was sick on any food taken and extremely tired - but up at 6am this morning "up and not crying" as the Norwegians say , had my breakfast and going to have a little walk - take it easy but don't be a couch potato was the message I was given . So a bit sore but no pain , I must once more praise the NHS, everything went smoothly , highly proffessional and very careing - we in the UK are VERY lucky in having this service even with all it's problem . Back to wargaming matters soon .

Prussian High Command .

 

Before I start on the next Cavalry units I thought I would treat myself painting the Command bases for the two armies . Here we see the Prussian High Command , these are Tradition figures from their 1871-1919  Imperial German range 

They are beautiful crisp figures , not expensive although the postage from Sweden is a bit eyewatering , but very quick . Next up the French .

Wargaming humour No. 21

 

Found on the interweb ....

 

Toy Soldiers in Art No. 32

 

Found on the Interweb , a hand tinted (?) photo , (not of myself explaining to Mrs K why I need more toy soldiers) I would guess post WW1 perhaps the 20s/30s (?) the figures seem to be French as the standard carried seems to be a Tricolour and they don't look like Britains . I would guess they are 54mm but I don't recognise them I'm afraid.

Same figures, different rules - end game .

 

Under heavy artillery and rifle fire one of the Prussian Infantry Regiments failed it's morale test and fled back a move .

The French capitalised on this and swung round one of their units  and the two Regiments poured fire onto the remaining leading Prussian unit.

On the other flank there was a seriesa of Cavalry clashes , the French retired under the protection of their guns as the Prussians where whittled away by their fire.(the Red heart signifise that the unit has passed it's first morale test - if it passed it's next it would automaticaly pass all other tests)

At this point The Prussian General decided to call off the attack as his Cavalry was weakened and the Infantry had suffered substancial casualties . It was interesting playing with historical forces rather than my Balkans Imaginations and I think I will use these rules again with some of the special rules/personalites added . The double size units looked good and although dishing out double casualties, they have of course twice the figues to kill before unit morale kick in .  

Same figures , different rules.

 

I normally play the classic Featherstone rules with my Irregular 28mm Franco-Prussian war figures but I wondered if I could use them as well with my beloved 'Gentleman's War' . 

Having cleared up the figures from our last game I thought I would set it up again using the Irregular FPW figures . The only difference I have had to do is add two figures to each Infantry unit (hence the painted figures in the last post) to make moral checks easier to work out (my 40mm/54mm are in 12 figure units) so these will be in 24 figures . 

As in the last game the forces are the same as is the scenario , with the Prussians having to capture the bridge . The Prussian General has been dealt an impressive hand of cards to start the game ! 

And he uses them - swiftly deploying his infantry Regiments ready to attack. I will report back how the game plays out .

First fruits of the year .

 

After all the Christmas / New Year shenanigans I've finally got around to painting again . I've got these FPW figures that were started in December done and they are now ready for varnishing . Have not got any plans for new gaming projects but we will see what happens as the year turns.

Christmas/New Year Game

'A' called around for a belated Christmas game and we played a game of 'Honours of War' 

It was a bit of a re-learning process for us both , but we soon started remembering the rules .

My gun and crew line up for their next shot , we where using my 28mm Wofun 2D collection , I took the Austrians and 'A' the Prussians .

After some initial set backs 'A's force counterattacked and my force was beaten . It was a good game and helped to remind us why we like these rules as they are quick and easy to play . Hopefully the first of many successful games this year