Military books in British Heart Foundation Dunfermline

I was up town today and had a browse in the British Heart Foundation shop. They had quite a few military history hardbacks in today including the fantastic Poltava by Englund. I only bought one -

A bargain at £2 and filled with fascinating information and some black and white photos which could launch many a game.

Lyonesse and District Light Railway.

https://lyonessedistrictlightrailway.blogspot.com/

I have lurked around model railway blogs, books and magazines for ages. I have started the above blog as a means of being somewhere to post about my efforts in this field. I am a complete newbie but keen to get something going. Do follow the link and have a wee peek.

It’s in the trees, it’s coming...

Winter Warfare in the Duchy of Tradgardland: for the Mad Padre and other fans of ski troops.

Winter has come to Tradgardland. The first heavy snows have fallen covering the Duchy in a blanket. Such weather does not deter the soldiers from training. The ski troops are already moving through the forests and are encouraged by their regimental chaplain and officer. The artillery men have got their sledge mounted light gun out of store and are firing it for the first time this winter.

 All figures are 40mm semi flats.

BIG WARS, wee game. The Battle of Bee Keeper’ Cotttage a Stuart Asquith tribute game.I

Set up this game as a tribute game to Stuart Asquith. A Swedish landing party ( comprising sailors, soldiers and volunteer riflemen) has landed on Holy Isle , Northumbria in an attempt to raid the mead distillery. Albion troops have crossed the sands from the mainland only to find the Swedes in a fortified position at Bee Keeper’s Cottage. A battle ensues...

Vaesen by Johan Egerkrans - for Man of Tin

Thought you might be interested in this albeit without James Mason etc-

 A really interesting book with fantastic illustrations.

Hunting high and low part the second

Well, did you guess correctly? The mystery was a large troll ( given to me by Jim Duncan in its wonderful painted glory- thanks again Jim) and here is the ensuing battle. The troll was the regenerative kind courtesy of Poul Anderson and then D & D. In game terms that meant each turn a d4 was thrown and the resulting number was the number of hit points the troll got back but only to its starting total of 10 and no more. The coins were used as “dummy troll” markers which had to be spotted before it could be fired upon. One coin was the troll the others just distracting rustling in the undergrowth. A close game resulted in the light infantry failing to damage the troll and running away! All in a a fun wee game. More troll hunter action soon.

Hunting High and Low : a Portable Wargame

Sweden 1807.
Rumours of children going missing from local farmsteads have been coming into the local authorities. Human bones and scraps of clothing have been found. An investigation has been undertaken and as a result of it some soldiers have been sent into the forest...

The light infantry are responding to stories of a strange creature seen by moonlight. They are armed and go into the trees reluctantly...

PD Hancock and model soldiers

l just found this today in an oration given at his funeral. I did not know he was interested in model soldiers,I wonder if anyone can tell us more?
“Philip was born in Edinburgh in 1928 his mother having returned from India where she and Philip’s father were stationed with the Army; his father in the Army Education Corps, his mother a nanny to the sons of the Colonels of two Indian Regiments. As an Army child his early life was peripatetic. A particularly happy episode was their time in Malta, despite this coming to an abrupt end in 1940 as the battle for Malta began. In later years he often used to speak of this period of his life, and he retained an interest in Indian history and in military life, the last most notably through his reading and his fine collection of model soldiers.”

Inspiring Reads - P D Hancock

 Many of us are taken by the imagineering in the world of wargaming. Books like Charge are favourites for many of us. Names like Brigadier Peter Young inspire us still. Today l want to highlight a giant from the world of model railways- P D Hancock. He created an imaginary railway the Craig &  Mertonford  Railway in his bedroom. I love his attention to detail as witnessed to by the back story he wrote including a map and history. I love the layout plans as seen below. The life’s work of a creative individual who still inspires today.

Gaming and reflecting

On Monday l played an ACW game with my two regular opponents. We were trying out a new set of rules to us “ Charge boys, Charge!” from the Old Glory Uk website, l think by Andy  C. The scenario was based upon Burnside bridge l believe and involved dicing for fords and for confederate arrivals.

 It was great fun and has been left up to finish next week. The rules were four sides of A4, more than enough for me. The death of another wargaming giant this week has made me do a lot of thinking about the hobby, of the part it has played in my life and how it has enriched it.Books ,lead, plastic and dice have been a constant through thick and thin.Also this week l have been tinkering with Nordic Bronze Age rules by a fellow wargamer who has just completed a thousand miles. They were fun, simple and enjoyable too. I contrast that with a how to play video from a mega manufacturer who had done their best to make a complicated system accessible. It was too much for me. Gamey too if you know what I mean.
As time goes on all l want is to play ( with others or solo) are simple ,fun games with rules that don’t exhaust ,bewilder or frustrate me.  Toy soldiers,dice and good company that’s what the hobby is and story ( or scenario led if you prefer) games. Imagineering too as exemplified by the EvE creation of Bluebear Jeff. I have “met” so many super folk through the hobby, kind and sharing folk some who l have had the privilege to meet in person. Let’s cherish our hobby, our blogs each other and our gaming.