A Blast from the distant past !

 In an idle moment I searched the Interweb Either and found my old defunct blog (killed cruelly by the alterations of Blogger many moons ago)and here is one of my first posts - over 12 years ago !- I think my photography has improve since then . A link to my old blog -Tin Soldiering On: 2014

Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Posting Photos

MUST  remember to shrink photos before trying to post them ! , otherwise it takes forever

Whats up next for painting.

 

These Figures have been based and undercoated for weeks, so feeling guilty I have decided to make a start on them . The mounted figures on the paint holders are a couple of Russian mounted Officers made by Empress Miniatures from their First World War range (?). they will be General Officers for my 'White' forces. The ones on the silver washers are the first of a dozen  Copplestones Miniatures Cossacks . I haven't been doing any miniature games on the tabletop recently as I've been playing a series of Command & Colors games which I find play very well solo and are addictive - having played one scenario you think "Hmm I'll play the next one seeing I've got the board out!".Great fun but doesn't blog very well .

I have played most of the scenarios in this box.

And all the scenarios in this box !

Almannia Expeditionary Force (AEF) on parade.

 

I've been waiting for the weather to pick up so I could photo the completed army . As summer has returned briefly today I took the opportunity to line up the toys up .

A modest force of 3 Infantry units and a gun and limber for use with 'A Gentleman's War' 

Karl von Bismark and his Aide de Campe Major Rupert Hentzau inspecting the troops which will be apperaing on the tabletop soon.

Never work with animals and children they say - these two did not help the situation ! , Hodge the cat demanding attention whilst getting in shot and Charlie looking for the opportunity to steal and run off with figures - when denied this he started digging a hole in the garden ! . By the time things where sorted the sun had moved round and I was in shadow ! .(click on photos to enlarge)

 

Toy Soldiers in Art No. 5

 

Found and appropriated from Facebook 'William Britains Toy Soldier Collector' the November 1939 edition - wonder if the barrage balloons were really filled with Helium ?

Almannia Flying Artillery.

 

I dislike painting limbers and teams - but once done they do look good on the table . I was hoping to photo these outdoors but as the rest of Europe bakes in sunshine the UK is covered in clouds and rain , so I have photographed them on my desk .

I didn't bother with all the complicated horse traces etc . , I do like how the crew fit onto the limber and gun , nice chunky models .

One of the problems with limbers is how they are attached to the horse teams ! , I have thrown authenticity to the wind and simply drilled some holes into the flanks of the horses and glued a pin to join them together . The limber I simply bent the trail around into a hook so it loops around the pin and it can be unlimbered easily.

The gun and crew unlimbered and ready for action . I'm off to paint up some more of the infantry now seeing it's still pouring down ! 

Holmes and Watson on holiday .

 

Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr Watson are spending some time on holiday in the Patiogonian Alps .

Their walk is interrupted by a fellow guest Professor Moriarty 

They admire the breathtaking views from the edge of the cravasse .

Watson is alarmed !!! . Figures are 54mm from Tradition (click on photo to enlarge)

Almannia Infantry on parade.

 

I've finally got the first unit of infantry done for the Almannia Expeditionary Force (AEF) here seen being inspected by their Commander Karl von Bismark.

The figures painted up better than I thought and have a lot of character .

A contemporary photo from the excellent "Eine vollstandige Geschichte das Expeditionskorps" *

*sadly now out of print , photo care of the University of Felpersham library .