Moving projects forward...

Having woken up to a dull Duchy this morning it is had to believe how lovely the weather was yesterday by lunchtime. I moved things forward a little...

The vice was set up outside to drill out the necks of the Crescent guardsmen I am using as the basis for my 1910 Duchy of Tradgardland army. It is so much easier and more enjoyable do such tasks now it’s the correct equipment. A unit of jäger was got ready as well as two Colonial units. I am at the stage of needing the metal heads prior to continuing work. I did undercoat some figures in pva as a starter. The army is being raised for a game at Woking 2021 as well as solo campaigning here. I am enjoying the simple conversion work greatly. A root around in the shed found the figures needed.

And now a quote from  Don Featherstone-

The zinnfiguren figures have spurred me to move towards making a map ,campaign, imagineering in the style of Tony Bath and Hyborea. The lockdown needs, for me, something exotic and totally ahistorical but most importantly fun. So throwing caution to the wind there will be Aztecs, Romans, Barbarians and more mixing together. Yesterday I came across a purchase from some years ago of twelve small semi flat figures. Here they  are with the flats . I feel they are fine together with their thinner, finer cousins-

I will use them as nomadic tribesmen. So that was a report on yesterday in the hobby here .Two things finally- don’t forget the 42 mm figures for sale , do you know anyone who would like them , well let them know,thanks. Finally a very happy 80th birthday to Queen Margarethe II of Denmark from everyone here in Tradgardland,huzzah!

Donation to NHS charity of 42mm figures and how you can get them...

I have decided to donate my 42mm Franco Prussian Collection to charity. This is how it works- if you want them ( only as one job lot , I will not split it) you must arrange collection from me, pay the carriers fee and then make a donation of money you think appropriate to an NHS charity. Finally tell me you have made the donation. Simples eh?
Painted and unpainted Prussians , Bavarians and French. A new collection awaits. Leave a message here if interested. The pictures

Airfix figures conversions articles?

I am sure I have seen on someone’s blog  the Airfix Annual article about converting Japanese into Italian ww2 scanned in , but where? Can anyone help?

Britains trade catalogue 1963

I never knew where my father got this from for me.He certainly wasn’t in the trade. I poured over it as a boy and thought you might enjoy seeing part of it.

The stylish cover. Note interesting gun on the bottom right corner...

The portable wargaming box

“Here is a box, a wargaming box,filled up and ready to play...”

Open up the drawers ,take them out,sort the figures and terrain,fold out the playing surface and get playing.

First the snow covered terrain surrounded by forests,hills and the odd village. Below the standard green terrain with hills. Both can add terrain extras like trees and roads.

Here are both gaming boards and their box.

It was simple to make . Paste in a grid drawn on folding card,create a scenic back drop by painting on paper and stick it round the three sides of the box(the fourth side being cut at the side to fold down when the drawers are in use as a game. Eagle eyed readers may notice there is a third drawer to be used and converted to a scene. I am currently thinking of desert terrain with sand dunes round the edges, urban with buildings painted round the edges or even a seascape with blue sky and the odd island. What do you think and have you any suggestions? Finally a picture of the box as it began

Further Airfix..

Today’s pictures, hope you enjoy them. Definitely some sets here I had forgotten-

Found in the shed

Yesterday was one of those unsettled,odd days  for me. I couldn’t really settle to anything useful or diverting ( apart from an enjoyable book about Model Villages) all day. Too chilly to garden I eventually raked in the shed and came across some figures I used for pre Great War Portable Wargame activity set in Norway in winter time. I had forgotten them and now recall I had drawn a battlefield for them on white paper which must have been thrown out. Anyway here are the figures in the form of annotated photos-

I had forgotten that I had used muliput on the bases to make snow and made a few conversions such as the Danish sharpshooter and the Norwegian Guardsman skier. The simple nature of the figures and the memories of making them cheered me up. I will draw a board today and give them a most deserved outing. Finally, I wondered if the elk was called Ann?