SPQR arrived

Pre order ( and two figure freebies) arrived today. Taking it outdoors for a first flick through with a cup of tea...

I will give you my first impressions later.

Warriors looked out awaiting the arrival of SPQR...

The warriors look on in amazement as the Druid shows off the trophies captured from the enemy. They cheer as the Eagle is raised aloft!

Meanwhile the warriors of Rome begin their journey to find the lost Eagle...

Today’s game

It isn’t even 09:00 but the table is arranged and the forces arrayed. On the menu is American War of  Independence ( sans aircraft ha, ha) using shiny Minifigs and Muskets and Tomahawks. The gamers arrive in under two hours so time for coffee etc.

Ski troops

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOK87ev8jU

Fascinating 1920s Pathe News clip of Norwegian ski troops training and doing drill on skis! Well worth a look.

Cornwall

I am just back from Cornwall visiting my middle daughter with my youngest daughter ( who graduates tomorrow- congratulations Freya) and we enjoyed the trip tremendously. Highlights included the warmth ,scenery and sea. I had the pleasure of catching up with Mark , Man of Tin in person. https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/29/54mm-repurposed-space-figures/ for his thoughts on the meeting.
This was most enjoyable and we had a splendid wide ranging conversation.
Pendennis castle was fascinating with both a Henrician fort and WW 1 and 2 fortifications and guns. Credit to English Heritage who provide evocative and informative  interpretive displays. Some sort of   Tudor game is filed away in my mind along with ideas of 20mm Airfix with coastal defence set from my youth.
I also enjoyed a river trip towards Truro , Truro itself, the Eden Project and Porthleven. There is a super coffee shop there called “ Origins” with some of the best coffee and pastries l have had for ages. Also  a splendid burger place in Falmouth called  “ The Meat  Counter . “
I saw a pillbox in Porthleven protecting the harbour, most interesting. I wonder if readers of this blog could suggest reading for me about ww2 coastal craft warfare as l imagined those small vessels coming in and out harbours.
A great trip in lots of ways, just wish Scotland was a bit warmer.

Projects : SPQR and Irregular Wars

There are all sorts of reasons for getting into a project. Some enjoy the history,the uniforms or the gaming system itself. For me it was the figures foremost then they built on a long standing interest.

Thy are from Hoka Hey Miniatures and are 28mm 16th century Irish. They are based to go with the system in the photo below. Irregular Wars is for smallish battles of the period. They look really interesting. Talking of rules l have preordered the forthcoming SPQR rules from Warlord Games. I have long looked for a set of ancient skirmish rules. The publicity l have read so far looks encouraging,including the video.l hope to use them with my 3rd century Romans and maybe my Scandinavian Bronze Age figures. Finally here is my holiday reading... 

AWI game

Today is the anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill and it is also the day that the fencing sent to me by the Mad Padre (thanks again) got its baptism of fire. It is also our first game of AWI Muskets and Tomahawks. I have built up a wee collection of second hand Minifigs for the period via eBay. They are charmingly old school and painted in a shiny black lined look l find hard to replicate. Here are a few pictures of the two games we played today. Most enjoyable and diverting. Photos are in the previous post