More painting...

 

Waiting and keeping busy

 Over the last few days we have waiting for news of a seriously ill elderly relative. I have been by the phone, texting and messaging as required as well as offering support to those around me. I felt the need to keep my hands busy as I talked, listened and waited. So l went to the lead mountain and extracted some semi flat figures to work on. Here are three I have painted in a very simple toy soldier shiny fashion. They are Landwher or Landstrum from a Europe that never knew Bismarck nor  unified German Lands. Where petty princedoms, kingdoms, bishoprics and Imperial Free Cities continued into the Twentieth Century and beyond. Here are photos of the figures and illustrations which inspired the painting. I have lots more on the go...

Alpine terrain, some photos

 Set up an Alpine scene today with the terrain l have been working on supplemented with buildings etc-

Rules etc

 Today was slightly odd. We went uptown for coffee, a browse in WH Smith’s, Waterstones, the Works etc. It felt good but odd doing this simple thing, normal yet not so. It was busier as it was the day things reopened in Scotland. Not really sure what I made of it...

In the afternoon I had a rake about at home for rules I could use with the Wofun TYW plexi flats. I found 1644 ( purchased 1994) and not played much. Not too sure they are tyw friendly. Might give them a go. Next set found were the ones published by Bayonet and written by N E Dickinson of Miniature Figurines. No date but rather old. Will have a look and a read later. Final thing found was a booklet All About War Games by Otto Schmidt . I can’t recall getting it, perhaps it came via Society of Daisy. Great intro to Wargaming and some very simple but interesting rules in it too. 

Mountain paper mache scenery.

 Having seen this picture in my Bleisoldaten  book-

 

I was inspired to work on some mountain scenery out of card, paper mache etc. The first one was finished today and here are photos of the process and finished product-

We had joy we had fun we had Wofun in the sun... the infantry

 Unpacking the 28mm Wofun infantry today. They are not fragile in the least not even the pikemen. A good mix of figures including such fun as sword and buckler, Croat skirmishers and Highlanders. I will use the Highlanders as the Scots who fought for Sweden, Mackay’s ?  Some of the pike drums and officers might be used with the musket armed dragoons as that Imperialist short lived conceit of Pike armed dragoons. Not too many cannons but that could be rectified at a later date. The cavalry included Finnish , Croat, cuirassiers with lances and caracole pistol armed troops. The figures are great and I am pleased with them. I need to have a wee think about rules, something that brings out the different cavalry styles between those who caracole and those who charge with the sword. I am considering Wrg George Gush and might have somewhere in the house the Athena TYW rules by Terry Wise? I had wondered about Pikeman’s Lament but fancy fighting big battles with all the figures. I will see what I can find, suggestions welcome as ever. Now to the figures themselves.

It’s Flats Jim but not as we know it.

 I had a chance to buy some 28mm Wofun flats this week at a very reasonable price. They are Thirty Years War and arrived yesterday. I was delighted with them and their gaming potential. They came with bases removed but they were so simple to slot the figures back in. I have only had time to sort the cavalry so far. Here is a photo of the hoard and a parade of cavalry figures-

When a knight...

 When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old,

He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold
With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand,
For God and for valour he rode through the land.

No charger have I, and no sword by my side,
Yet still to adventure and battle I ride,
Though back into storyland giants have fled,
And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.

Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed
'Gainst the dragons of anger, the ogres of greed;
And let me set free with the sword of my youth,
From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth.

Beyond Glen Ford

 Having gathered in Glen Ford the Queen’s Enemies have ridden to Glen Turret to defend the castle and hold it against all who would try to take it . The castle ,formerly the home of Lady Allsop, has fallen into disrepair in spite of her good endeavours with the soft furnishings. It is held for her today by my Lorde Philip Spencer. The winds of war are blowing up the Glen...

A meeting in Glen Campbell...

 The Laird of Glen Campbell ( and Master of the Rhinestone mines) meets his scouts. They tell him that the Queen’s enemies are nearby mustering men in Glen Ford. The Laird hesitates not , riding his favourite spotted horse for home. He has troops to gather and a battle ahead...

An interesting board game

 

The kindness of fellow gamers

 l am always humbled by my fellow gamers who give of their time, knowledge and things in very generous ways. This week in the Duchy I have received three splendid parcels or rather boxes of delights. Firstly from James S who made three splendid Huts out of old card tubes and coconut shells as roofs. Here they are displayed with some Duchy of Tradgardland Colonial Troops. They will also come in handy for my semi flat Afrika games. Thank you James!

Secondly having seen my Carberry Hill set up Stephen C sent me some splendid 16th and 17th Century Minifigs to add to my set up for the period. As well as the lovely shiny lancers he sent some ECW Scots Cavalry which belonged to Stuart Asquith and came via Harry Pearson to S. C. Wargaming provenance indeed! Thank you Stephen!

Thirdly Mark MoT sent me some splendid recruits which he home cast very recently. They are 40mm semi flats and recruits for the Afrika games. I do like what he has done with the spears on the running figures and there is a heroic sword armed figure I haven’t seen before. Thank you MoT!

Scenery

 While the Tabletop is empty I set up some 2d and 3d figures and terrain. I also added natural materials like stones and wood. I wanted to mix things up a bit an£ see how they looked. Here are some photos-