Just back

 Been away in Morayshire near Elgin since Friday. Some photos including snowy weather travelling, Inverness Elgin, Pluscarden and Birnie Kirk which is 900 years old. Finally a good coffee shop in Granton on Spey.

Experimental Uniforms

 Getting the Swedes out of their Winter Quarters, sorry boxes, reminded mr ( for some reason) of the pre WW1 French experimental uniforms -

Some say if they had been adopted then the French would have lost far less men in the Great War. However that’s not what I want to discuss. I am interested if anyone knows of similar experiments conducted by other countries? If so do you have any pictures or further information?

HE figures

 Man of tin and recently had an interesting post on HE and SAE-

https://manoftinblogtwo.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/the-curious-sae-madeira-30mm-figure-story/

Brian C, not that one, the other one, tagged me on this picture-

Both these reminded me of my wee box of 54HE Swedes-

Might be fun to give them a paint and get them on to the Wargames table…

Spring Manoeuvres

 It is Spring in the Duchy of Tradgardland. The Ducal Guard and Swedish allies  ( in their experimental uniforms, complete with tricornes) are engaged in a series of manoeuvres to mark the changing season. 

Figures are 54mm . The Swedes , in their unique uniforms, were designed and cast for me by Irregular Miniatures. Houses are Belvita biscuit boxes converted.

Swiss

 I got this walking stick in Switzerland over fifty years ago. I have kept it through all my moves as it is a great souvenir of some holidays with my folks-

I recall using the tinniest of nails to fix on the metal badges. They came with each badge.

The stick was bought for outdoor use but today a quick trip to Timsons allows me use it indoors too for tendon purposes-

Finally l made this purchase in a charity shop-

Seems to be a bit of a theme going on…

April so far

 I am pleased I resisted the recent Footsore Viking Kickstarter. Don’t get me wrong , they were absolutely beautiful miniatures and will be an utterly splendid addition to any wargaming collection. However l didn’t really need them and the lead mountain is way too high already. I do look forward to seeing what folk do with them…

I started work on this kickstarter project l got some time ago-

They are a Late Judean Army, made by Potbelly Miniatures , as part of a Kickstarter some time ago. They were sent by post from New Zealand in these charming boxes. This army will provide opposition for my Early Imperial Romans and Republican Romans of my regular opponent. They idea is to try and get them table worthy quite quickly which should work as they are mainly shades of white, off white , beige and brown.

In other news my tendon problem, diagnosed by my podiatrist, is proving annoying by limiting how much standing or walking I can do. The garden needs work on it but at least it has been too rainy of late ( except for Sunday , which was sunny and allowed sitting in the garden to happen) to do anything, so no need to feel too bad .

I have been enjoying “The Expanse” on Amazon Prime and “ Shogun “ on Disney , both well worth a watch. Interesting reading material has come through the post-

When Saturday came and went.

 In no particular order-

We enjoyed my nephew’s child’s birthday party.

En route l stopped briefly to look at the fort remains and display board.

Before hand l enjoyed coffee at Cairngorm Melville, just beside where l went to school.

https://cairngorm.coffee/pages/locations

Sun shone on the Forth and l even had time to buy this splendid book in Waterstones.

I have begun it and it a fascinating read.

This Easter’s picture was by David Jones

http://www.david-jones-society.org/david-jones.html

Fascinating bit of pottery in an office, lovely looking.

Saturday ended in Scrabble for four…