Black Hawk War

 Trying out some ideas for a 1832 Black Hawk War game. Grid based, 60mm Expeditionary Force figures and simple rules. Very much a work in progress…

Weather in the Seven Samurai

 The recent torrential rain, apart from bringing me down dramatically, reminded me of the rain in the film The Seven Samurai. That was what it felt like being out and about. I found this interesting little video-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A72doIjNayw

It is about rain etc in the film and is well worth a look.

Thank you.

 Thank you Professor Duffy for all the joy, knowledge and inspiration you have given me over the years.

Box straight to battlefield

 I very recently bought some Conflix buildings. Here is one pre painted, straight out the box and ready to use.

The buildings work well with 54mm figures as undersized terrain works well in games.

Here is a box , a Conflix box, opened and ready to play…

Same building with 28mm interwar Swedes. Works well with lots of periods and places…

My regular opponent has been using them for countless years, I am late to the party. The buildings will fit in nicely with Kev’s splendid houses too. What’s not to like!

Get the King ! A Vbcw scenario

 I came up with a scenario for P  & G today for our VBCW game. We played this period a lot during Covid via Zoom. The scenario ran as follows- the aircraft carrying Edward viii had to make an emergency landing due to engine failure. He was seen leaving the aircraft by locals. They told the two factions - Liverpool Free State and Anglican League Swedes where he was. Both factions attempted to capture him and escort him off the table-

The table at the start of the game and close ups of the King and his transport.

I umpired using the “Went the day well?” Rules which are ideal for platoon action games. It was terrific fun all round. A few more photos-

Another game is planned for the very near future. P.S the Swedes managed to capture the king and escort him off , a victory therefore to the Anglican League.

Mountain Men etc

 As a boy I had a few 60mm Elastolin figures of trappers, as I called them , and my favourite-

The above is just an internet image as are those below  , he is long gone. He fought with or allied with these and others, also long gone-

They towered over my Britains and Timpo and mainly fought each other. Later in my teens I bought this in Thins bookshop and loved it-

I still have it and it still reads well. Recently I enjoyed the films The Revenant and Prey. 

Whilst on eBay I saw some Foundry mountain men at a good price. I bid and was successful. So a wee “sandbox” or should I say “ Potting bench “project  has been commenced. Just a wee skirmish game to scratch the itch for those old toy soldier games of youth…

Reinforcements

 I collected the package from North Star Friday morning  and here are the contents-

Later on I made a start-

The above figures came with bergens already. I glued a spare bergen onto the officer . These will form the mountain troops for Ostmerk. 

The figures below are the mountain troops for Morava. I glued backpacks on all of them. I am thinking of white jackets with desert yellow beret and trousers but we will see…