Modelling three- the fort continues.

This is a continuation of modelling posted on 3rd July.
A visit to Starbucks at Abington on the way home from hols provided two more towers and a dome-

After being glued they were left to dry completely.Today I got out a mix of paint and sand and splashed it on merrily...

I am quite pleased with the progress.
Apart from 1930s North West Frontier I am wondering what other periods and locations I could use it for. Any suggestions?

We have been to...

Been off line this week due to a splendid family holiday (more about this later) to a place which has inspired a little imagineering and flag creating-

Any guesses as to the real place which inspired this flag I created since I got home?

I had plenty of time to read and finished this book which I recommend to you-

A very interesting read about a great poet and author.

I look forward to now reading about what you have been up to on your blogs.

Those of those who commented on my flags might enjoy this old post explaining about their meaning-

http://tradgardland.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/tradgardland-province-of-smaaland.html

Sunday morning

Hopefully less of this

Moving on from yesterday's all consuming nostalgia...

To more of this and further plans,ideas and butterflying.

À la recherche du temps perdu

I found this image on the web last night-

I looked for such pictures having seen an image of a model yacht in one of my wife's magazines and chatting with her regarding my youth.It is the nearest I could find to model boating pond memories of mine from the 1960s. In some details it is wrong- the ponds I went to were not raised up like this,they were at the seaside and I ,as an only child, sailed alone under my parent's gaze.
Much of our hobby is a combination of striving for the new (rules,lead,periods etc) and the old ( rules,lead etc) served up in varying proportions. I constantly have new ideas and plans ,many of which will never see the light of day or lay as ruins along the roadside.I cannot seem to focus on one thing.I am consumed by enthusiasm only for it to wither like a day lilly or die like a mayfly. Enthusiasms come round in cycles like a merry go round and reappear before departing again. More and more the hobby (for me) is either an attempt to portray a simpler/more manageable world or a case of "A la recherche du temps perdu" combined with a frantic search to find the ultimately fulfilling game/period/miniature/system.Am I alone in feeling thus...

Modelling 2- and a vague ,rejected working title

Spent much of the day trying to minimise mess and maxamise creative endeavours.Here is where I got to-

The fort so far but what to render the walls with?

An aerial view this time  with a view of the gate.

Ochre painted hills with wooden "firesteps" to put figures on.I am thinking of dulling down the colour...

As lain out on the table top. A set up for some Jazz Age Imperialism- North West Frontier in the 1930s.Figures are Empress Miniatures. A working title is still being sought as I have rejected Tradistan already.

Modelling...

Yesterday we all had a super day out to Perth which we all enjoyed.Today family members are doing different things and I am feeling creative.I am ensconced in the shed-

I have card,wood,paper,glue and sand- any guesses what I am going to do with it?

Valhalla - a first game...

Phil came over last night with his Saxons for our trial game of Valhalla.I fielded Picts.I had mainly unarmoured troops including four mounted warriors. My opponent's men were mail armoured  with shield and helmet.

Opposing benches ( name for units in the game) come to grips between the houses and the wattle surrounded field.

A tense moment as the mounted Picts are surrounded...

The last stand as others flee or meet their end.
All in all an enjoyable first outing for the rules.Being unarmoured does not help and missile fire is not too effective.You begin to identify with the named figures, each with their own strengths and weaknesses as generated by the website when you upload pictures and put in data with what they are armed with etc.We played this as a trial so set up no scenario with objectives.next time we will add a back story and see how that plays out.After the game we counted points and discovered the Picts fielded 157 points of troops to the Saxon's 202 points.That too may have helped the Picts to lose.
All in all I would recommend the rules as great fun and an excellent portrayal of the visceral nature of the period.
For more info here is the game's page with loads more details-
http://valhalla.eaststreetgames.com/
You can download the rules from the site and have a go yourself...
Do pop over you'll not regret it...