Happy New Year

 As new year approaches the forces of West and East  Tradgardland parade for the annual distribution of mulled wine and pies! Huzzah, Huzzah , Huzzah for the Duke!

Happy New Year to you and yours from everyone at The Duchy of Tradgardland! Thank you for your support, ideas, contributions and comments.

Stile Council

 This has been lying around the painting desk for years now I think. 

Never got round to it until now. A useful addition to games and quite pleasing to have it finished.

The stile taking centre stage in a wee vignette thrown together for the photos.

Wet and windy here, got soaked up town and am glad to be back home, probably for the rest of the year.

Currently enjoying  “ Die Kaiserin” on Netflix. A splendid romp through the life of Elizabeth of Austria. Great uniforms by the way.

The annual snowball fight

 

A guardsman bears the brunt of snowballs…

The dusk patrol is ambushed by soldier and civilian snowballers alike.

Leerie the lamplighter has a splendid view of the fun but watch out, you might be next.

Deer emerge from the forest to see what all the commotion is…

Click on this link to get some simple  and fun snowballing rules-

https://manoftinblogtwo.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/woking-snowball-fight-rules-2023/

Go on give them a go over New Year!

A close look… 2 other ranks

 Some pictures of the other ranks-

I assume these to be conversions with Scottish heads added.

What period, I assume Boer War and lead up to WW1

Are the tartan trews and uniform based on any particular regiment?

Again charming figures who will fight on. I am moving towards varnishing as the way forward…

A closer look at John Ruddle’s figures- Officers

 This post l want to take a closer look at JR’s figures-

Here they are close up. I like the deceptively simple looking painting.

The figure on the left has had a repair done to his right shoulder using solder, which is visible.

A wire walking stick has been added to the figure on the left. Wonder if he is high ranking or not?

I believe JR named his figures and kept notes on their service careers ( I wonder if such records have been preserved by someone, I do hope so.) even allowing some to retire. My officer figures have names painted on their bases but the non officer figures do not ( see future post)Note some figures have been renamed, perhaps after being a casualty?

Finally I am intrigued by the arm band and collar on the above officer. Thoughts?

One last thing, I am wondering if I should varnish the figures to preserve John Ruddle’s painting? Can’t make up my mind if that is the way to go…

Winter manoeuvres with John Ruddle figures

 I set this up this morning. My JR figures out on manoeuvres between Christmas and New Year-

I do like a bit of toy soldier terrain in the form of sticks from the garden as fallen trees.

The newly bought river pieces work fine as a stream for 54mm figures.

Lemax walling and trees are great sources of toy soldier terrain .

Staff Officers here to watch the action from near and far.

I am going to post some close up of the figures later…

Gifts etc

 I was very pleased with my gifts this year-

I asked for an umbrella and got an excellent one from Morris and Co. The rest were delightful surprises apart from the German art one which l bought and Santa gave me.

The new coffee grinder drying off after use. An excellent piece of kit.

Finally , one of my John Ruddle figures has taken up sentry duty in the garden-

So far he has survived magpie, squirrel and cat attack and any other invaders. He awaits Spring and potential garden gaming. He seems pleased to be outside once more.