Response to MofT’s By the sward divided post…

 I left this comment ( awaiting moderation) on Man of Tin blogpost below-

https://manoftinblogtwo.wordpress.com/2023/10/08/by-the-sward-divided-garden-wargaming-future-past-and-present-and-john-ruddle-rip/

“Enjoyable post Mark. I did get a game on the small rockery earlier this year by cheating using 54mm figures mounted in groups on see through acrylic bases. Thus the bases don’t stand out on grass , alpine grit or even on indoor playing surfaces. The ww1 Bovington tanks really ought to get more of an outing
I miss the now out of production American garden railway magazines. The layouts were aspirational or probably more realistically unobtainable . Huge gardens and large basements were employed and I always enjoyed the wee bits of biographical details supplied. The wondrous layouts often were the product of husband and wife collaboration. In one or two magazines there were pictures of a model railway built in a retirement village for enthusiasts to work on together. I pretty sure some were built on waist high raised beds for the tracks. Such a set up for uk al fresco wargaming is something to imagine…
I do wonder if John Ruddle had been American might he have converted his whole basement into a wargaming/model railway all weather world. Kneeling on soft carpet wouldn’t be too bad to fire the cannons.
Going round garden centres and my beloved Botanics in Edinburgh ones mind travels to miniature landscapes in Alpine houses or green houses, defeating the rain stopped play vibe of British al fresco gaming. Cultivated alpines, moss and waist high benches might work. A walk way down the middle to allow access to the sides for moving figures could represent a river or lake with boats on stands ( taking them to the same height of the raised beds) moving troops the length of the alpine house . Small villages with jettys could be built on the liminal area between raised beds and walk way.
If l win the football pools who knows this might happen but incidentally l don’t do them…“

Here are some photos preceded by a link to a bit of info on American Retirement homes and model railroad- https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/230339.aspx

The photos show the gaming possibilities of alpine houses and basement layouts-

Alpine house at the Botanics in Edinburgh.

Imagine the paths as seas with ships on stands taking them to the right height for the “Land “ roundabout.

Basement laid out for model railways, imagine Hook’s farm and surrounding countryside instead…

Food for thought or rather perhaps dreaming…