An amiable array

 There are many rules that I have enjoyed using over the years but one that stays with me is the Wargames Holiday Centre Malburian Rules. Not that l used them there but often in my own home. They were fun to play, easy to learn and gave an excellent game. I look back on them with great affection. The other day l came across these on the shelf in the Ducal Library-

I got them nineteen years ago and they are an adaption of the aforementioned rules for the mid 18th Century. They were penned by the redoubtable Phil Olley. A quick read through and they came back to me and are just the ticket to use with my mid 18th century collection- mainly Hessians, Austrians and Jacobites. However there are a few basing considerations to take into account-

This is the basing suggested by the rules and the one l use currently with the Austrian forces. Four bases with four figures on each. Has worked well for me . However the Hessians and Jacobites, not to mention the 1780s imagination collection are based thus-

                                Six figures per base and a unit in Grim Panoply would look thus.

 I am thinking of running with the above five figures a base and a unit in Grim Panoply would look thus.

So that’s where we are on Thursday morning. Real life has intervened and my plans have changed so part of today will involve the continued rebasing project.

On that subject a big thank you to the Saturday Virtual Wargames Club members who gave me excellent advice on how to remove figures superglued to washers and pennies. It worked a treat- thirty minutes in the freezer and a tap or twist and bobs your uncle! Here are these fine fellows ( not painted by me and an unexpected retirement gift some years ago) off their old bases and ready for action-

Stormy Weather

 Been wild of late here in the Duchy. I have braved the rain and wind to go about my business successfully kept dry with a decent coat . However matters were a tad more dramatic on the Penedredfel Light Railway where this this happened-

Work to repair the station and perhaps make it more wind and watertight will begin today.

Finally an appropriate musical treat to start the day-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RmSqzQt05A8

Rules

 

I rarely buy big glossy sets of rules but made an exception for these. Nice Wright’s rules are always interesting and engaging , pop by here to see his other work- https://irregularwars.com/collections/all

These are for skirmishes and look very interesting so far.

Secondly, to scratch the itch I have for the late 17th century l bought BTLB in its latest form. Visually impressive and interesting, accessible mechanisms. Just the reads for wet, windy , stormy days…

On the painting table - resin & lead

 A wee change of period painting wise and a return to the 18th century. Firstly some 28mm resin figures l bought to see how they painted up-

Ignore the bag at the top , more of it anon. The resin Hessian jaeger came with heads attached to the support they were printed on. Easy to release from this and stick on with super glue. Resin was shiny and not brittle, l know as a figure was dropped after being glued to a 1p and the ankles did not shatter.

I also bought some command figures which came as one piece , involving no assembly work. They seem quite solid and are nicely animated.

A close up of the figures and heads prior to being given some heft by mounting on 1p pieces.

Next a braw wee bag -

Can’t recall who gave it to me, possibly Ronnie. I found it on the desktop under some detritus. I had forgotten about it. It was great fun to open and contained a selection of diverse highlanders just waiting to paint up. A judicious find indeed. After having a good look at them they were stuck onto 1ps. A great mix full of character.

Here they are with piper to the fore and possible leader.

Finally some shots of the other bag of figures and undercoated troops-

The metal Hessian Hussars were in another bag l had forgotten about. I had started to paint them, became overwhelmed by the task a popped them away. I will have another go in the coming days…

Undercoated figures ready to paint.  I am imagining , a what if , if you like . I am imagining someone found some documents saying that some Hessian jaegers were in fact part of the Hessian continent that came to Scotland to fight in the Forty Five. It is a fun conceit to have jaeger v highlander games. Well it could of happened, nearly did happen, well almost…

Winter on the Penedredfel Light Railway

 

The bear has decided to hibernate amidst the leaves on the line. A bewildered railway worker looks on. He hopes the bear may wake and look for better accommodation elsewhere.Meanwhile the paint on the roof seems not to be standing up to the weather.

Exhausted men napping after an arduous leaf clearing session. The train driver is deep in thought but about what?

Fox beside the luggage catches the eye of  someone working in the station. Clear off he shouts and the fox departs rapidly , forgetting that which he saw in the man’s eyes.

 

Using the Fourth Portable Wargame Compendium

 Working towards this whilst listening to the Ashes this morning-

Painting some figures and scenery for a Sci - Fi skirmish…

Two teams of around eight figures each.

The rules l was keen to try out from the aforementioned compendium.

Divided the chess board into 16 squares and marked them with a red pen. In other words each Square consists of four chessboard squares. Works perfectly well for a try out.

The game under way with me controlling both forces.

Close up of board with cork high ground and cover is provided by a ruined wall in the square. I will play the games to a conclusion tomorrow. It is a fun, simple set of rules easy to learn but very tactically interesting. I can recommend it with enthusiasm to everyone who wants an enjoyable skirmish game. Would work well too in 54mm instead of 28mm . Now where did I put those Airfix sf figures…

So Art Deco

 In Edinburgh yesterday for lunch with an old friend from my youth who l have reconnected with. We met here https://www.victorhugodeli.com/ in the Meadows. Thoroughly recommend it btw. En route l popped into an interesting antique shop filled with tempting old toys. I had passed it often but never found it open before. Most interesting Composition figures of British soldiers and scouts. Big , tempting but l resisted. Passed this too , a splendid Art Deco building by Sir Basil Spence. Took a couple of photos and here is an original drawing-