Battle of Took's Farm- with apologies to HGW...

Today I played my first Mythical Earth game . Please click on the above picture to see the dispositions...

Figures used were Minifigs Mythical Earth figures and Jim Duncan's rules - both circa 1976. 

Farmer Took had vacated his farm and sought shelter as soon as the first wargs were seen in the woods nearby .Soon they were joined by their evil allies. Farmer Took's son was able to seek the aid of Elves and Riders of Rohan to try and save his land. The Took family found a place from which to view the coming battle and waited for the action to commence.

A fierce battle was joined between the Wood Elves and the Trolls/Giant for  Firefly Temple.

Ent,Huorn,dwarves,goblins and Dunlanders contest the wood...

The Wood Elves flee in the face of superior odds...

The Riders of Rohan rout off the table after a fierce melee preceded by archery. The wizard ,whose magic has gone wrong routs off the table.

At the end of the battle the goblins and Dunlanders rout off the field,the wargs flee back to the mountains whilst the giant meets it's end at upon myriad lance points.
The game ended in a draw with farmer Took the only winner. Both sides slunk away under the cover of darkness. I really enjoyed the game and will have another solo one very soon adding in swarms of bats ,eagles etc...

A little light conversion work...

Yesterday my 40mm  pre painted Anglo Saxons and Vikings arrived from Expeditionary Force in Singapore. I finally got them unpacked this afternoon.They were really well packaged and travelled extremely well.So I settled down for a litttle light converting.Figures cut well and stuck on with superglue. In the first picture I have converted a Saxon Cavalry standard by taking a viking figure repainting the cloak,swopping a hand and adding a banner.

The above vikings have had a paper banner added and a sword hand stuck on from the mounted figure in the first picture.

All I have done here is to add a banner to make a Saxon standard bearer .

Finally a picture to show the scale involved. A 25mm SYW figure stands with a 40mm Expeditionary Force archer.
I am delighted with my figures and will set up a game soon using Tidders Saxons v Vikings rules. A pleasing enjoyable half an hours work.

Painting ...

One of the joys of this time of year is the chance to get a little more time to paint.I have no permanent place to lay out the work in progress  so sometimes I cannot be bothered to get out all that is necessary for the job. This morning I assembled the books etc needed to paint up some Pennsylvanian infantry from Fort Ligonier. I chose these splendid fellows for two reasons.Firstly I like the green coats faced red and secondly General Forbes lived in Dunfermline where we live. I enjoyed using for reference some Ospreys as well as a splendid American book I picked up in Foyles Bookshop in London in 1988. I loved the book at the time and it has given good service and joy over the years.

Ezekiel Dunn's Company of Rangers

1. Today we had a day at home ,having been feted by my cousin and his family yesterday. I resolved to paint a few figures for the French Indian Wars in the shape of a Company of Rangers. Figures are Rafm and I enjoyed painting and basing them.They will be used with Musket and Tomahawks  which I bought late summer and have not played yet. I hope you all had a good Boxing Day's Boxing Day if you know what I mean...

Old ,middle and new school?

Boxing day morning and all the rest of the family are still slumbering. I am up working on my Middle Earth project.Today I have finished an old school Huorn (sentient tree) from the mythical Earth range, middle school bat swarm (Chariot miniatures) and Eagles (Peter Pig) and new school- a plastic Hobbit film related goblin bought for a couple of pounds in a sealed bag in Waterstons when I saw it at the till when buying a present for my wife.I have utilised  him as a giant in the absence of having one of those lovely (Pauline Baynes inspired?) Minifigs Mythical Earth Giants I wish I still had. Please forgive the old/middle& new School peg  which I have hung my post on  as it is merely a passing thought.
Finally what rules did you chaps use for the Mythical Earth range in your youth and if anyone finds  any old M.E range figures in th eloft I remain interested...
Have a great Boxing Day!

Christmas Day

A splendid day is being had here in Tradgardland.Up at seven,Church at nine and home for bacon/maple syrup/pancakes and the rest of the pressies later. Jan made a beautiful meal,the girls assisted and I washed up.
A copy of the Wargamer's Annual and a book on Catherine the Great are waiting to be enjoyed later. New lead in the shape of 1920s Gurkhas and Pathans in 28 mm arrived and look superb ( you can't go far wrong with Copplestone and Empress I say) and will form the basis of a new project for 2013. Have a great day one and all...

Christmas Greetings...

Although many of you have left Christmas greetings already( thank you one and all) I still wanted to post my Christmas photos for you all. The Ducal band is preparing for Midnight Mass accompanied and supported by standard bearers who will form part of the procession tonight.

The inhabitants of the Trollshaws have an expected visitor today outside their lair today in Mythical Earth...

Have a great Christmas whatever you are doing.I look forward to hearing of the gifts you have received and your plans for them and 2013!

Merry Christmas from all of us here in the Duchy of Tradgardland.

Music

The Duke of Tradgardland's  newish Band are finalising their music for the Christmas season in the shadow of the Ducal Palace.They have settled in well to life in the Duchy and are keen to make a significant contribution this year.

Four good things...

The postman brought a number of packages etc to the Duchy today.Firstly some Mythical Earth figures for my old school middle earth project- thanks Mike they arrived safely,cheers!
Secondly some garden inspiration in the form of a monthly magazine we subscribe to - good reading for the dark winter nights,inspiring gardens and tempting book reviews.
Thirdly the customary of our Lady of Walsingham- a new prayer book bringing the riches of the Anglican tradition into the Catholic Church ...
Last by no means least the latest very British civil War title from Solway Craft s and Miniatures.It is even more exciting as I contributed the material on the League of St Andrew and get a mention for doing so.I am chuffed to bits .
Only a few days to the Christmas hols can't wait!

The Hobbit

Went last night to see The Hobbit with my daughters.Great film and we loved it.What do you chaps think?

Funny little Wars help sought

Evening chaps!
I am looking for a historical precedent (if such a thing is appropriate or even desirable in our games) for having units of Army Black and Army White fighting side by side in a FLW army.Of course it is a case of wanting my cake and eating it ( how appropriate for the Austro -Hungarians of Army White)  and wanting to field both splendid troops in one force .Can you help?
many thanks
Alan

Jazz Age Imperialism...

Evening all from a frosty Tradgardland! Just a quick post with accompanying photo. I am hoping to get some 1920s/30s pathans and Gurkhas from Santa this year.Yes,I know it is a new period/diversion/side period but who could resist the Empress Miniatures figures and Copplestone Castings too?
I have been doing background reading in the form of John Master's autbiography,Edwin Herbert's Risings and Rebellions and myriad internet sites etc. I like the whole twenties/thirties vibe,solar topees,wooly poolies,armoured cars,tankettes,sepia photos and the alike.
I am looking for ideas for rules.So far I have Triumph and Tradgedy  and The Osprey Interwar Rules  in mind .However I would appreciate your ideas .It is to be a wee game set up- 30 or so figs a side ,a gun or two and an a/c.Maybe a gleaming silvered plane from the RAF. Let me know what you think...

Waiting patiently

It is six fifteen a.m and I am off to work very soon via the train. A combination of lack of time,energy and icy weather has meant I did not get round to my weekend game.So in the meantime,to encourage myself and to let you see part of the project , here are the forces waiting patiently in their new boxfile...

Hard times of old Tradgardland 2- The previous day...

Hiding in the woods a small figure looks and listens as the farmer dons his uniform,collects his musket from above the fireplace and hugs his wife and children farewell.The small figure remembers the farmer's politeness and frequent saucers of milk and with a heavy heart follows the farmer at a discrete distance until he sees him join with others soldiers marching towards the city. The farmer needs me reasons the small figure and he resolves to follow wherever it made lead...

Advent

And so Advent begins...

Yesterday Jan and I did a little Christmas shopping together in Edinburgh at Holy Corner (so called because of the number of churches at the junction of some roads there)which was a lovely way to start the Season. A sudden freezing has left the Duchy under sheet ice.Considering my enthusiasm for ski troops in miniatures I am surprisingly wary of ice generally as I walk about. We had wonderful coffee and apple strudel at the German baker/coffee shop pictured in the top photograph.If in the city don't miss this place!

Cards were bought too including ones with a painting by the Marianne Stokes.I have posted this image of another of her most famous works. I had better dash -off to Church soon and later this afternoon I hope to have time to set up a Middle Earth game on the dining room table. Have a good day one and all!