Resins to be cheerful and money well spent.

 

This was waiting for me on my return home yesterday. A charming guide to a model railway pioneer. Lovely coloured and b&w pictures and interesting text too. A bargain imho.

Glasgow looking lovely in the sun yesterday.

New resin recruits in 28mm to be used for VBCW Welsh nationalists supplied by France.

Some metal Welsh , including a Mari Lwyd used as a standard.

Pictures from Wednesday’s game. The village people and opponents in a shooting match.

Enemies encounter each other at the village bridge.

The Scout section takes heavy casualties.

The Blackshorts have seen off their opponents at the churchyard.

My opponents gain an upper hand in the other end of the churchyard. The game was declared a marginal victory to my opponent. Even more marginal when I reminded him all my troops were all inexperienced except for two medium machine guns . He fielded a variety of grades of troops including veterans.

Visitors to the Firth of Forth.

Doing some background reading on the Welsh nationalists supplied by Al Front many moons ago. He helped me get hooked on the interwar period.

Sitrep and Juxtaposition etc

 Last week post Ambleside passed quickly in a flurry of volunteering, preparing for the 30th birthday gathering here on Saturday and the game l posted about. It was hectic but the family gathering went really well and daughter number two really appreciated the event. As a result little hobby stuff was done as creative energy and time went into the garden and house. However a chance encounter with this splendid conversion from Brush and Battle on his Instagram-

It led me to consider 40k Feudal Worlds , something totally new to me. Basically for me a juxtaposition of medieval society and weaponry with hi tech kit. I found some illustrations to inspire and produced these conversions-

Here’s the painting desk and gathering too.

Trying to move Craigshire forward too. Maintenance of the aim..

Penedredfel Light Railway at night

 

Yesterday’s game part two- set up and early turns.

 Some photos of my troops and those of my fellow commander.

MMgs kindly lent by the Duke of Brunswick. WW1 veterans.

The Automobile Association men formed a section, they had forgotten their transport.

Villagers with Boys anti tank rifle , Spode, the chap from the wireless shop , a 2inch mortar and two sections of Black Shorts . The above commanded by G my ally. Below my troops-

Command group with WI banner, medic and important people from the village. The Vicar, the Verger and the scout troop formed a section.

The cricket team form this section above, resplendently wearing their blazers.

The shooting party from the Big House with shotguns only

The men from the bank and their clerks.

Members of the WI and their husbands , many gardeners amongst them.

Some early highlights-

The enemy advancing confidently through the village.

The race to occupy the church and its stone walled perimeter.

The shooting party ready to line the hedge and fire.

The situation at the church seen by a keen eyed kestrel flying over.

The men from the banks have lost most of their section and the cricket club members coming up in support. Time caused us to stop and we will finish the game next week.

Thanks as ever to P our host and opponent and to G my ally.

Yesterday’s game - VBCW

 

En route to the game with figure transport and a coffee& Danish from the wee coffee stand at the bottom of the ramp at Dalmeny station.

This is only carrier big enough for the figure boxes to sit flat. Contents include dice, the rules something to read and figures in boxes / shortbread tins.

My Order of Battle hastily scribbled on paper I picked up from a hotel on holiday.

My opponent has his troops, The Liverpool Free State , lined up and organised. As l hadn’t brought vehicles and also to make it simpler as we get used to the rules, we went transport free. Below my chaps milling around before the game and getting into starting positions.

Landscape as inspiration

 Before l came on this wee trip to the Lake District l photographed this page from one og my note books-

It was written in the cafe at Chesters by the River in 2014 on a family trip over coffee in the July of that year. The notebook is one I collect hobby ideas in. I have a habit of dating the pages and saying what I was doing at the time. It was and is taken to trips as well as things like hospital outings, something to work on and divert and while away the hours. 

Anyway the above page was for an imagination based on features geographical and cultural of the Lake District or at least how l saw them. The Duchy of Fellund was the name I chose at the time. It has been interesting to read this again, albeit in facsimile form on the iPad whilst down for the weekend as the rain lashed and the clouds parted. 

Last night the “ Young People” decided to stay out a little longer that I wanted so l walked back to the air b&b though heavy rain, uphill all the way through unlit streets for the majority of the way. On Friday we had done this route with big suitcases with tiny wheels and felt we were never getting there. Sunday evening the same route was atmospheric and thankfully luggage free. I felt a combination of interest in the lit windows and quiet lanes and an overwhelming desire to be “home” out of the rain. It was a walk almost timeless through the Ambleside streets with occasional pools of light and the odd strategic street lamp. I imagined a walk like this pre electricity…

Yesterday at Derwentwater l was entranced by the exposed tree roots-

The treees had grown round rocks embedding them.

Finally l thought l saw Tony from blogdom at Windermere train station waiting for a bus Friday afternoon. Was it you?

Day three - the birthday

 

Reading these with a view to use R&P for Craigside and the other set for late medieval possibly.

Evening in Pub , Ambleside.

The opening of the birthday cards and gifts late afternoon.

Interesting beer served with lunch in the Rowan restaurant, Ambleside.

Vintage bus passes through Grasmere.

Selfie at Derwentwater.

Fascinating trees on edge of lake.

The young people went in for a morning swim.

Trees again…

On the path to the lake side having parked nearby…after a hearty birthday breakfast in the air b&b.