Ivor the Engine?

 The Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited  has been rather preoccupied of late. Strange sounds have emanated from the engine shed day and night.There have been odd comings and goings .Now finally all is revealed.With rumbling and clanking, accompanied by a rather plaintive steam whistle, the brand new secret weapon of the Nationalst cause makes its way out of the shed into the daylight.It is met by the sound of a choir singing.Jones the steam is very happy and can't wait to give those Liverpool Lefties a surprise...

Finally got round to painting this Scheltrum miniatures vehicle I have had lying around for ages!

The game itself

Well we did manage a game last night.Here area few photos of it.

The  Llangubbin fast cycles are about to engage in a firefight with members of the people's assault column. The plucky cyclists put up a show but ended the game numbers greatly reduced and having cycled off the table in retreat.

The fully set up dining room table .The Liverpool Free State forces are on the right in this picture,no pun intended. Note excellent scenery my regular opponent has bought which serves well for a number of different periods.

 Finally a picture of the Welsh Nationalist battalion commander and his standard bearer.He is a French army officer (wearing his full dress uniform and carrying his cavalry sabre) and Welsh speaker ( French father and Welsh mother) who has come to offer his military expertise and throw in his lot with the fortunes of a Free Wales.

P.S I am a tad tired this morning as I stayed up to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremony on television with my family.It was quite amazing and a fitting start to the proceedings.A loud hurrah for all concerned with it I say!

Llangubbin Fast Cycles

Afternoon chaps! Painting up some troops for my Welsh Nationalist flying column for a 1938 Very British Civil War game tonight.Here are some splendid fellows- The Llangubbib Fast Cycles:

They are the "eyes and ears" of their brigade and are commanded by R.S Thomas the youngish curate fresh from his previous appointment at Chirk. All men are keen amateur cyclists and members of the Llangubbin and District cycle club. I am sure they will be plucky opponents for the Liverpool Free State this evening...

Summer in a day?

I am reminded of the Simple Minds  track "Life in a Day" for I fear Saturday was our summer a day.For the second week running we went to gardens opened by The Scottish Open Gardens Scheme. They organise for people's gardens to be opened to the public and the proceeds are given to charity Two weeks ago we went to see the gardens open in a village called Strathmiglo.They were varied in nature but all superb in their own way. This weekend we went to the Fife coastal village of Crail.

This was the first garden we saw built upon a long strip of land rising from the sea.We had to climb up through luscious vegetation and discreet areas until we reached the terrace with pond ,rill and glorious views.

Many had superb views like this one while others were enclosed within high stone walls.It is a joy to see round  other's work to talk with them and gain inspiration for one's own garden. We had a superb day and the weather was super too.Since then ( and before) the rain and wind continues unabated...
On the hobby front I am just completing around 40 or so Welsh Nationalists of 1938 for a forthcoming VBCW game. I am at the stage of adding flags, painting armbands and basing them.I hope to post pictures here very soon...

The hills are alive- part two

The assault is underway.Leading from the front is Duke Ferdinand himself.The duke is a keen swordsman of some skill and repute who specializes in the fencing taught by Italian and Tradgarlandian masters. Having lost an eye in military adventuring abroad the duke is already a favourite with the soldiers of the Ducal army.He wears a coat of the Ducal colours and sports an eye patch.

The advancing soldiers come nearer and nearer to the hills.A withering fire begins yet the Duke urges his men onwards...

Some croats charge from behind cover in a last ditch attempt to drive the Tradgardlanders off the field of battle.

Hand to hand fighting ensues and the Duke is in the thick of things .The battle swings back and forth but eventually the croats are pursued off the field.

An enjoyable little action to fight and I am pleased with the look of the hills. I am considering how to depict wooded hills and hope to try some experiments with paper/card 2d ones as well as tree models.On the agenda too is a folly watch tower which will fit into the hilly ladscape...

Yesterday (Wednesday) saw torrential rain all day here in the Duchy and a train was affected by a landslip just a mile or so down the road. Water poured forth from a crack in the neighbour's  garage and bailing had to be done in the corner we were working on. Thankfully at time of writing ( Thursday 7.30 a.m ) the sun is shining and not before time.

The hills are alive with the sound of .... croats!

The new Duke of Tradgardland is leading a detachment of the Ducal army into the hills between Tradgardland and the Umstrittental. For a number of days now news has filtered back of farms being raided and animals stolen.Farmers report that the croat troops of the Imperium are in the vicinity.Finally local scouts find the croats hiding in the hills and a Ducal howitzer is deployed-

After some time  and sweaty work under a midsommer sun the artillery crew have failed to flush out their quarry.Dejectedly they report back the Duke Ferdinand  who consults with his officers and advisers.After fierce deliberation over a seven course banquet it is decided to attack the hill position with infantry the next day.
The Ducal troops are up with the dawn and soon are mustering.Against the express wishes of his officers the Duke insisits on leading the troops forward himself...

With banners flying and drums beating the assualt is on.

The hills are alive- well getting there and a question of scale

After a very busy day in the garden on Monday ( sorting out the corner near the Shed/garden room/?) yesterday was a day doing things around the place.A little shopping uptown to get food and some p.v.a glue in the morning, a radio 4 play in the afternoon, culinary chores and some hobby activities in between.
Firstly a question.I was basing RAFM indians and put them beside my Front Rank and Foundry figures and the indians were dwarfed by them. I am quite happy using diverse figures on the tabletop in discrete units at the same time but can anyone think of another manufacturer of French Indian Wars figures compatible in size with RAFM?
And now for my other activity yesterday-hill building-

I got out wood offcuts,card and glue and enjoyed the messy process.The photo shows me wedging the hills with an old log and a courgette plant that will not grow in this cold summer. Later on an old crumpled paper bag was added for terraforming and paint added. Watch this space for the end result soon.