A start

 I’ve had some of these figures since twenty  or more years into last century and some are new recruits last year. A whiff of enthusiasm coupled with a gaming suggestion led me to start these yesterday. Sometimes to be honest I am put off rather than encouraged or inspired when I see the Napoleonic masterly painting of others. This is an unhelpful trait in me I need to work on…

P.s this doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy seeing their work or that I don’t appreciate it , l certainly do but l need to utilise that enjoyment in a positive way.

Misty Mountain Hop

 Set up a wee play test today of MJT’s fantasy rules-

https://pampersandp.blogspot.com/2022/01/update-january-2022.html

Gadarast the Tawny helps defend the Shire against unwelcome visitors-

However off Virtually to this first-

https://www.wmgallery.org.uk/whats-on/events-calendar/in-focus-young-poland-today/event-type/talks-tours-and-discussions

I had tickets for this exhibition prior to Christmas but had to cancel the trip. Today’s event will make up for not getting.

Mat

 I took delivery recently of a hex mat l bought from DC. Included in the price were some mdf hills as well. DC very kindly sent as a surprise some trees, let’s face it one can never have enough trees for gaming purposes. I am delighted with my purchase which will see service with many different scales and periods. Here are a few trial shots I set up -

First solo game over the coming days will be to play test “Swords, Sorcery and Squares” Maudlin Jack Tar’s fantasy variant of The Portable Wargame.

Dérive in Edinburgh

 Yesterday would have been my wedding anniversary so I decided that a dérive in Edinburgh was what was needed. I had no set route and was open to possibilities. I got the bus from Fife, got off in Hillhouse road and walked through the Western General grounds. A wee wander through Stockbridge took me to the Botanics-

 

Having walked through the gardens I ended up via Cannonmills in Leith Walk. En route these historic gardens presented themselves

Finally up Leith Walk passing by the giraffe sculpture and the decorated pub l end the journey at Bross  Bagels where I had a Montreal. Best bagels l have ever tasted, definitely worth a visit to them if you are ever in Edinburgh.

https://www.brossbagels.com/bross-deli

Fascinating pub name

 Was in Edinburgh today and saw this pub sign…

Comment tales

 I have been having problems leaving comments on blogs, including my own. Some work some don’t there is no rhyme or reason. I have even found I cannot leave comments on Wordpress blogs using Facebook but have managed to using my Google account. So just to say I have been enjoying your blogs as ever , even if I can’t comment on them . Hopefully  the problem will resolve itself soon.

Giving the Chinese artillery in 54mm

 The Chinese figures came with no artillery. I decided to remedy this by firstly painting up a large old fashioned gun and secondly by scratch building from bits n bobs a jingall. The resultant jingall is a tad over sized but will serve on the battlefield. Here are photos of work in progress and also finished items.

Away and Home

 Friday saw me at P’s for an ancient game. P command the Germans and G and myself the might of Rome.Enjoyable and companionable game where success ebbed and flowed ending in a draw. 

Saturday saw an interesting post from Mark-

https://manoftinblog.wordpress.com/2022/01/22/micro-militaries-or-europes-tiniest-armies-mark-felton-on-youtube/

It reminded me of a book l had looked out for another purpose the other week Here are a couple of pictures from the book-

Makers mark

 Some of the Chinese have these stickers on them. Can anyone tell me about the company I can’t seem to find any info on it.

Reading and storage pondering

 Needing to work out the best way to store the Chinese, any suggestions welcome. Doing some reading too. The Osprey is a good introduction and the Ian Heath an excellent source of information. I have three others in the Foundry Book series and they are all well worth getting hold of. My others are on Tibet& Nepal, Burma & Indochina and Small Wars 1919 to 1939.

China in your hand 2

 The rest of the Chinese arrived today. Thanks to their previous owner’s excellent packaging they arrived safely and took ages to unwrap. I will set up a grand parade over the coming days but in the meantime a few photos-

Without over complicating things I want to differentiate on the table between modern rifles ( with a nod to ammunition problems as many Chinese units had many different rifles of different calibres in the same unit)  and older ones , melee only units and Western trained ones. I hope to bring out the character of the army. Longer term plans are to get some artillery, jingls and irregular cavalry. There are a lot of figures so I think initially I will make two armies out of them and fight a civil war or rebellion.

China in your hand 1

 I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity at the turn of the year to acquire a collection of 54mm toy soldiers depicting the Chinese of 1900. It comprises many conversions and other unique items. After some  thought I decided this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. The first two packages arrived today, excellently packed by their former owner B.P and a credit to his modelling skills. Eventually the collection will number around 270 figures once the rest arrive. So without further ado here are the photos 

I , needless to say, am delighted with the. They will be used with “Big Wars” , “The Portable Colonial Wargame” and “”Funny Little Wars” amongst other things.

Watched etc

And so it ends isolation today. I have not felt really ill but the process seems to have exhausted me and left me a tad low and fearful. I have no idea how I got it, my family have had it and are ok , there is much to be grateful for.

I really enjoyed the birds which visited the garden, they add something beyond their quantity, size and number. 

 I’ve not been feeling a hobby mojo really. I have enjoyed reading the blogs of others but desire/enthusiasm to do much painting or modelling has gone. I tried a little in isolation but put it away , dissatisfied with it. I managed to finish some tv series l had started some time ago.

Anyway some viewing recommendations- 

“Ride upon the storm”  a Danish drama set around Copenhagen. It is the story of a dynasty of Lutheran clergy in the contemporary church. Thought provoking and well acted. Available Channel 4 od 

“The Mandalorian “  as one who fell asleep in the cinema when the films first came out I was not expecting to be gripped by this.I much prefer the low level stuff of this to mass X wing battles and huge space fleets. Skirmish level not brigade and above. I was however really pulled into the story.I love the different races, the scenery and the background touches. Story is exciting, Western like, and engaging. Just finished this and have just started “The book of Boba Flett” which has begun really well. 

Also finished “The Wheel of Time” which I liked but not as much as “The Witcher” 

As for the hobby mojo ,I hope it returns quickly…

Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening in Albion

 

Thomas and his faithful dog Rex have been out in the woods all day looking for something for the pot for supper. Suddenly Rex stops, he growls and won’t go any further…

Through the trees Thomas can make out a strange machine and bear like creatures. Thomas and Rex creep forward,closer and closer and closer…

Even closer now they see they are not bears but not people either. The creatures  carry silver weapons and talk in clicks. Suddenly the machine emits a strange sound ,the creatures turn their heads to Thomas and Rex. “Quick boy!” Whispers Thomas to Rex and they stumble away through the snow…

Epiphany

 

 

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King, and God, and Sacrifice;
Heav’n sings Hallelujah:
Hallelujah the earth replies.

Lyrics from my favourite carol “ We Three Kings!”

Bigger is better

 As I am spending most of my time isolating in my room l brought my paints through-

I tried 28mm figures but was a tad tired for it so out came the 54mm and 60mm. I also did a few simple head swop conversions which worked well. I am trying to keep busy.