Surveying things.

 Yesterday I began to put my flats into units and listed them. I was surprised by the amount I had! The next stage is to write a little background for each one. I find model soldiers fight better if they have an organised unit they always fight as part of, esprit de corps or some thing like that. I will mark the
underside of them so they know who they are. I need to consult the Featherstone book today and see if his ancient rules incorporated ideas of elite or raw troops, something that adds character to an army without over complicating things. Sturdy boxes have been ordered ( along with some to hold my daughters vintage china collection more safely and my lead mountain) to serve as barracks to the

flats. I am currently considering scenery. I like the Faller stuff I have and feel I might just get away with my ruined castle, Church and Swiss chalets for the East Mark and the Great River. Flats terrain will suffice for Lurland but not too sure what will happen in the West Mark. The land of Flowers will have very basic stepped pyramids to suggest habitation.

The basing complete and first coat of paint applied to bases. It was a suitably mindless task for me alone or to keep me occupied when chatting. Time willing I will get in a couple of games this week. The dining table and kitchen table are covered in other’ Craft materials or piles of study books and printed off articles so we are back to the small set up again.  Finally the after tidying picture, actually I am quite chuffed with the new streamlined look.

The Underground print above for inspiration, the screen printing stuff wedged in out the way,tidier shelves , no craft materials spilling forth over the floor and out of sight on the left is Rodney Matthews “In search of Forever” waiting to be flicked through and enjoyed in a quit moment.

Dark age flats for Lurland

These are the last of the painted flats I bought last month. They are men from the East Mark. They are formidable axe wielding warriors.

The figures are fragile with their two handed axes and beautifully animated be they just standing, fighting or my favourite the running figure. I am still amazed at the movement that can be got from a two dimensional figure. I am intending not to buy more figures for the the Lurland project currently ( the Ducal war chest took a hammering) but concentrate on finishing. Basing needs to be completed, these Lurland civilians painted, twelve West Mark cavalry need painting and there are about thirty Lurland spearmen/axemen/swordsmen to paint. That should keep me busy. Longer term I am keen to buy some chariots ( probably Celtic light ones though the heavy kind are tempting ) and war elephants to add to the exotic mix and in memory of  Derek Guyler’s glorious elephants I oohed and aahed over all those years ago.

“In a flats trap you’ve been caught” apologies to Bob Geldorf

Over the past few weeks I have become more immersed in the world of flats/zinnfiguren. As with all new interests you realise that there is a whole new world out there of which you new little. I have looked at the websites of  museums devoted to entrancing dioramas built with the figures and read some what around the subject. The variety of figures is truly amazing as is the artistry of some of the painters. I have finished buying second hand painted ( for now) and want to get on with the campaign. However I have made contact with a dealer in flats in Germany, tracked down the codes of the Nordic Bronze Age ones I got and ordered some unpainted recruits for Lurland. However in the meantime I discovered this range -

 They are civilian figures based around the Sun Chariot and show a procession as well as people going around their daily life. These, I felt , were fitting figures to start my painting practice on. I am not aiming for the oil painted artistry of the elite flat collector but rather a decent stab at them for the wargames table. Painting them is challenging and very different to the figures I normally paint but I am experimenting, having a go and having fun in the process. After all, especially at this time, is what it is all about.

TLC for tribesmen

I took some time to base these figures yesterday. I find them easier to work with them  based rather than holding onto the flat figure’s own metal base. Flats are very light and a tad fragile. It goes without saying that you only have two dimensions rather than three, almost like painting on paper,to deal with. These Celts are beautifully animated, most armed with those big swords that they had to flatten out at times  in battle.

As they came with sandy coloured bases I have made the card that colour too. It is a change from green and one I find pleasing. They will form two units of twenty figures in each. I am not repainting them completely but just touching up where spears have lost their paint and arms too. Just a few touches and they will be ready.
The next to be worked on are the warriors from the Land of Flowers who have an Aztec vibe to them. I think I may add more variety to the feathers colour wise but we will see. As for their spearheads and weaponry I am in two minds whether to repaint them green/black to represent obsidian or not given the way they would have had access to bronze and iron weapons in my Bathesque setting. Perhaps a mix would do.

Unboxing and imagineering.

Spent the majority of the day in the garden. In the afternoon I unboxed some zinnfiguren bought second hand. They will be added to armies for the Tony Bathesque campaign. They are painted but not to the fine standard of the last lot. I cannot make up my mind whether to completely repaint, touch up or just leave.

Packed in layers around the edge of foam board they traveled well and safely.

These are from the East Mark. The look solid and dependable spearmen. The forts on the Great River are manned by soldiers similarly equipped. They control the movement of amber,spices and other 

goods by boat.

Cavalry from the West Mark. The West Mark has had problems with invaders and continues to do so .Patrols scour the borders to keep what remains of the West Mark safe.

These warriors from the Land of Flowers value feathers and flowers  above all else. They trade for these luxuries which they also grow themselves. War is engaged in both for sacrifice and for conquest. They are beginning to establish trade with the other inhabitants of the region but are also aware of their reputation as fierce warriors. Alliances may be sought soon.

Different images of the Late Scandinavian Bronze Age

For sometime I have been collecting images about this period as well as reading about it. Here are some I found recently-

An old representation which I think might have been used for propaganda purposes.

One familiar to many of us from the “warriors and weapons “ book.

Two pictures from a Danish book of the 1950s. The girl showing an  ancient costume is so fifties looking that it made me smile.

A relatively modern imagining of the period above and finally below a depiction of the period from a cartoon history of Denmark-

Different images of a fascinating society possibly saying as much about when they were made as they do about ancient times.

A little light cartography etc

This moleskin notebook was given to me ten years ago. I mainly use it for writing down hobby jottings and plans. Yesterday I decided to try and map very roughly my initial thoughts for my Tony Bathesque zinnfiguren campaign. I found the process to be absorbing and although I am not good at drawing at all I was quite pleased with the results-

I debated what each country would be called but in the end  I stuck with simple names as at times I get mixed up with exotic names. Having spent  most of my ancient wargaming avoiding playing against non historical opponents it was really liberating to  leave that behind for this project and let imagination go wild . So here goes version 1-

Lurland- Late Scandinavian Bronze Age in terms of material culture .

West Mark- vaguely Roman looking , the remains of a once proud empire fallen on hard times.

East Mark- Frankish, Carolingian feudal in nature,haughty proud nobility.

The Tribes- Gallic/Celtic / Germanic barbarians who squabble a lot amongst themselves and beyond.

South of the the West Mark is still to be decided ( suggestions please)

Land of Flowers- well organised newcomers to the area with highly organised society, an unusual take on warfare, liking for chocolate drinks and a penchant for cities on lakes.

The Great River- main trade route for goods of all kinds. Its length sees vineyards , trading communities and petty castles in the hands of competing warlords.

And that’s it so far. Basic forces have been recruited  ( and still en route) in the form of  second hand and new flats, some painted and some to paint. Your comments are welcomed as ever.