Scottish Mythology for Basic Impetus...

I have been out to the Lead Mountain in the new garage...
I have been put off the Greek Mythological idea for Basic Impetus by the potential cost!!! I have, with a rummage out in the garage, come up with another idea/cunning plan based upon Scottish Celtic mythology. The fantasy elements will be allied to my Picts/scots.I have the fantasy figures and pict/scots already apart from one. Here are the ideas so far-
Firstly a unit of Sidhe-foot warriors from the Faerie Court as well as a chariot sidhe unit.Secondly a Fachan - a one armed,one legged giant armed with a massive club.Thirdly a waterhorse/kelpie to cause terror in opponents.Finally(so far) is the urisk/ourisk a Scottish equivalent of the satyr as a skirmishing /lurking type of creature. Back to work tomorrow so this may have to wait to the weekend...

Gods,Generals and Bordurians...

It has been good to be off at half term. The weather has left much to be desired but I have got things done and been out and about a bit.In to Edinburgh a couple of times and up to St Andrews etc.The 18th century Bordurians are moving on and I am quite pleased with them .There are now 40something( number not age that is) balkan irregs to paint which are undercoated and ready to commence.
I have finally finished the film "Gods and Generals" and really enjoyed it. I was most taken with Stonewall Jackson and when funds allow I intend to invest in a biography of him .I have now started "Gettysburg" which arrived the other day and have begun to watch it- missing Jackson already! I played a lot of ACW gaming in my uni days using Johhny Reb 2 which worked well and gave an excellent game too. I am tempted to dip a toe in this period again. I played " Brother against Brother" a few years ago but didn't like the mechanisms really at all.We shall see...
I am resolved too to get some games of Basic Impetus in. My LBA Scandinavians are still to be given their first game. Hopefully soon. I don't really like unhistorical opponent games ( no Charles the Bold versus Sumerians for me- that 's fine if it is your thing but it isnt mine) so it is really my fault!
I have been rereading Thomas Burnett Swann - looking out the book you see depicted here which I got circa 1978. I have soo enjoyed this tale embedded with Greek mythologies once more. If you haven't read any of Swann I urge you to do so. I you have read him it is worth returning to again.
Fired up by such reading I began to plan a Basic Impetus army based upon Greek myths such as dryads ,centaurs etc. I used the Internet to research this most pleasantly. However having found useful figures I am confronted with £6 a centaur or worse. I know they are lovely figures,someone has to design,cast and make a living but it does not make for an affordable hobby I fear . This plan will have to wait I fear!!!!
Oh by the way there seem to be a variety of BI fantasy rules out there - a tad confusing. But those centaurs are lovely....
I hop you enjoy the weekend whatever you do.Off for annual flu jab today and then begin the process of getting my mind into a work mode again!

Autumn in Borduria-the army on the march...

It is autumn now in Borduria.The army is on the march. A heavy cavalry lancer unit,a unit of light cavalry and a unit of Janissaries are depicted here. More information on the background to the 18th Century Bordurian army soon...

A BIG filmclip... with echoes of Borduria?

A busy weekend with no painting accomplished.I thought I would share this with you in case any of you do not know the Big Knights. Do watch,hopefully you will enjoy it and let me know what you think. There is something of Borduria about it

And now for something completely different- another distraction...

I have been lurking around colonial blogs of late as well as diverse stempunky/vsf sites too. I have been inspired by what I have seen. I owned Space 1889 many moons ago and found it fascinating. So as half term has arrived I decided to seize the day - well give it a little grasp that is. I downloaded ( a terribly convenient way of spending money in the comfort of one's home...) the pdf of "When the Navy Walked" rules. I have a Spanish army and American army of the Spanish American war in 15mm. I intend to scratchbuild some landships and away we go!
Ideas,comments, strict instructions to return to the age of the tricorne,etc are most welcome...

Casulty Markers...

In a fit of enthusiasm for a forthcoming Basic Impetus day event I made some "in period" casulty and disruption markers. Sadly the day sounds like it will not be coming to pass. Nevertheless I have some useful markers for the Nordic Bronze Age Scandanavians and also the desire to do markers for other periods too.

Go East...

Amaïh! That is Bordurian for welcome.Welcome to some interesting news about a forth coming collaboration with a fellow EvE stalwart- Jim from Syldavia.Follow the link to find out more-

http://syldavianchronicle.blogspot.com/

I look forward to a very exciting autum and winter ahead!

Update from the Duchy

Morning all! Up with coffee here on Saturday morning.Jan and the girls commence two weeks off school today ( which they are most certainly ready for) and I will have my half term week starting next weekend. It has been a very busy week with parent's nights at school and myriad other tasks there too. I am tired and looking forward to a week off very much. Still the weekend is here .I got up with the good intention of painting some lead but am not awake enough yet...
It has been busy of late here in Tradgardland. Jan had another 3 month check up on Wednesday with her consultant and I am delighted to say all continues to go well. Our next visit in January will mark a year off treatment.
Two weeks ago I nearly had the pleasure of meeting up with Jim from Syldavia but circumstances prevailed against us. Jim has very kindly lent me some 28mm Syldavian troops to "kick start" my Borduria v Syldavia project. Photos and further info soon I hope.Further coffee calls so I shall break off here.

Bordurian standard...

Although I ran out of superglue, and had to fix the standard on with bluetac, I was keen to post this photo of a Bordurian irregular cavalry standardbearer. The flag was designed by Jim of the EvE Syldavian blog and looks excellent! More news of Bordurians here soon I hope...

Syldavia on film...

Well not exactly.I thought this video might give an idea of what Syldavia would look like...
Well worth watching for the visuals as well as a wonderfully bad joke by Prince Charles- enjoy!

Fantasy races- how to depict in the 18th Century

As my previous post tells you I am currently thinking about antiquarian adventurers belonging to a Antiquarian society based in Tradgardland. They will be used in dungeon/wideness adventures.Today I was pondering how other "fantasy races" such as elves,orcs and dwarves would have developed in the 18th century- any thoughts figure suggestions?I would like to perhaps raise other warbands with a 18th century feel to compete against the Tradgardlanders in diverse scenarios...

best wishes

Alan

On the painting workbench

I have been working on some figures to depict 18th Century Adventurers who ,being of an antiquarian frame of mind,have decided to use antique weapons as well as the their trusty muskets...
One wears a hunting shirt from his sojourn in Ny Tradgardland another a protective coat from New Spain. The solo figure is one I have had lying around for years and years.It is put upon servant who is encumbered with everything his masters might need. Hope to finish them soon tomorrow.

Painting times...

I have been busy painting this weekend. I finished the monsters I had been working on for my gaming set in the world of D M Cornish's Monster Blood Tattoo books. You can see them over at my blog http://lamplightershaven.blogspot.com/ devoted to this fascinating imaginary world...

This morning I started some 18th Century Adventurers who belong to an Antiquarian Society. I am enjoying this project and will post images here when done- hopefully later this weekend!