Celtic Huts(part deux)

I wasn't really happy with the cheap-skate Celtic hut I made previously,so,using a different method of construction,I have made another two huts,which I think look much better,see what you think..........

I used the same body,ie masking tape rolls,and mod-roc,but instead of lolly sticks for the roof,I simply made a cone out of paper,and stuck it to the roll,and then covered it with the mod-roc..

The painting process begins-note over-hang of thatch-I'm getting too clever!!

The finished article,and an "in situ" shot to show the size compared to a mounted figure.
What next,I wonder,I've still got some mod-roc left,hmmmmm!!

Hasdrubal vs Celts 208BC

Last night saw Paul,acting as Hasdrubal Barca,leading a newly-recruited Spanish force,over to Italy to help his brother Hannibal.However a Celtic force,led by me,was massing at the Rhone,trying to exact a tribute payment to cross!!

The table before any movement,my tribesmen are "lurking" on the flank,and about to attack the Carthaginians in the rear(or so Paul was led to believe!!)-the troops in the foreground were just there as a threat-but of course,Paul didn't know that either!!

I had selected the warbands on the flank of Paul's column,to be my best troops,and duly sent them in against the Spanish first,hoping to gain an early success-and I did,winning the melees and killing most of the officers-hurrah!!-However,Paul never gives up,and fought back magnificently,eventually driving me back.

Despite the flank attack going on,Paul kept the head of his column together and moved them towards the river,where I only really had an archer unit,a light cavalry unit and a unit of heavy cavalry-had I made a big mistake??

I had written in my battle plan,for the far left troops,consisting of 4 warbands,some skirmishers and 2 cavalry units,to "feint" towards the rear of the column,and then turn to attack the centre of Paul's line from in between the gap in the mountains-this photo shows that happening-however,as usual,things didn't go to plan!!!

This is the view from Paul's side of the board,showing my attack on his flank,and the "gap" attack about to take place-nice straight lines!!!!!

Paul is using his elephants well,and by keeping them close enough to my cavalry,is forcing me to fight dis-ordered-the swine!!-this is the fight at the river,which is not going too well

Back at the centre,my initial success has been thwarted by good use of skirmishers,and the fact that my cavalry failed to charge home on the Spanish unit nearest to the gap-woe is me!!

My far left "holding force" is being beaten to a pulp by Paul's cavalry and,again,great use of his elephants-dis-ordering me-these were to be the eventual game winners for Paul,who drove me away and then was in a position to attack my exposed flank!!!!

This is it happening!!-cavalry all over the place,infantry being elephantised(new word!)-what do I have to do??

The head of the column is just about ready to cross the river,although it is still being assailed by arrows and javelins!but the centre and far flank is in tatters-looks like the end..........

Yes it is-hardly a Celt in sight-we didn't want your rotten money anyway!!
Once again a good game,lots of movement,melees,shooting and laughs-well done Paul,roll on Sunday,probably Colonial,and hopefully Brian will be able to join us.

7 years War battle.1756

Last night Paul's Austrians were put to the test,against my Prussians.
Brian and I were the Prussians,and were tasked with capturing two villages on the Kallistra stream.

This is the scenario and table layout-Brian's plan was to attack the lightly held village on the left,and then swing around and attack the Austrian flank,whilst I moved against the right hand village and centre-however,because of a mis-understanding(I'm being very kind to you here Brian!!) Brian kept hold of his Dragoons,whilst I was expecting them to come to my assistance,on my left flank-woe is me!!

With Grenadiers leading,drums beating and colours flying,Brian begins his magnificent attack on the village-he had 6 regiments to Paul's 3-however Paul was defending the village and river bank-this was not going to be easy!

My advance also begins,as my columns crossed the stream,Paul's Austrians were also moving into position in the village-again,this was not going to be easy!!

Paul has secured the village,and is sending red-coated troops to help out against Brian.

Early success for Brian! His Grenadiers are winning the fire-fight,and his left hand attack looks strong-can Paul get his reinforcements there in time??

As the fighting turns to hand-to-hand in the village,Brian rushes forward his reserve,just as Paul's reserves reach the back of the village-too close to call!!!

This is a shot looking down the board from Brian's flank-everywhere is action!!-my attack is developing against my village-there's a cavalry battle raging on the very far flank,and one is developing in the centre-hell's flames,this could go anyway!!

As things start to go "tits up" in the village,it looks as though he is going to have to put his(MY?) Dragoons into the fight-Paul has got his red coats into position,and look as though he might give Brian's troops a bloody nose!!

My attack has stalled,due to Paul's cavalry beating mine all along the line!!-however I did manage to get one regiment into the village,for one move,before it was ejected-things are not looking good for the Prussians.

Brian has used his Dragoons well(mumble,mumble!) and has cut the village off from the rest of the Austrian army-hurrah!! but things are not going according to plan on my flank...........

The final photo-I haven't captured the village,although I do have a Brigade moving across the plain towards it!!
It's nine-o-clock,we've been playing for three hours,and have finished 12 moves,what more could you expect from a game?-well done to Paul and Brian-another "belter" roll on Thursday.

Cheap(skate) Celtic Hut

A few months ago,whilst "rooting around" in a cupboard,I came across a roll of "Mod-Roc",which is plaster-impregnated bandage,and a bag of "lolly sticks"-having no use for them,I put them in my memory banks,and thought no more of them until yesterday.
Whilst in the doomy depths of decorating despair,I ran out of masking tape,and was just about to throw the cardboard inner away,when my thoughts turned to what possible use this could be-a Celtic hut,was the obvious(?) answer,but how was I to make the roof and supports?-Bing,Bing,the memory banks kicked in and the Mod-Roc and lolly sticks were retrieved from the cupboard,and my small project began!!

Masking tape tube and lolly sticks-note I have "notched" the ends,to fix onto the tube....

Roof supports glued into place-those "notched" ends were a good idea!!

The roll of Mod-Roc,for those under a certain age!!I calculated that I must have had this for about 5 years!!-you just dip it in warm water,and drape wherever you need it-it dries in about a minute-great stuff,if you don't mind a mess!!

Strips cut and bowl of warm water ready-the first batch of roofing is about to go on.

A very rough looking roof is taking shape-i must point out at this time that my modelling skills are minimal(does that sound like an excuse?-you bet!!)

Roof support complete,now for the outer bit........

Lolly sticks are stuck to the outside of the roof using a combination of "No Nails" and superglue

Final roof cover(or thatch) in place-I made a doorway from lolly sticks,and that was stuck onto the hut,before painting.

Doorway in place and initial paint job-it took two coats to cover the gaps in the Mod-Roc,and then I had to figure out a way to show "thatching".

I plumped for a very simple paint job for the thatch-well,I did say I wasn't a modeller!!

Finished article in situ-I may have gone a bit overboard with the smoke-it looks more like Mount Vesuvius than a Celtic hut!!
Well,it's back to the bloody decorating,I'll have to try and use more masking tape if I want a whole Celtic village!!

Battle of the River Styx 479BC

Some games are good,some games are great,this game was EPIC!!

Here is the scenario,and the table layout-Paul chose to be the Greeks,and made a fairly simple plan-secure both flanks then attack with his central Hoplites-my plan was to also secure the flanks,prevent the Spartans from landing at the river side,then attack with my heavy infantry in the centre.

These two shots show the first tentative moves-Paul moved his left flank Spartans and cavalry forward,as I moved my mercenary hoplites towards him-this is where the first clash would occur-skirmishers are skirmishing,and the river side Spartans are on their way,to spoil my day!!!

My mercenary hoplites and Persian cavalry are charging forward against Paul's cavalry and Spartans.Paul declined to take the charge of my hoplites,but his Spartans just managed to get into line before my charge went home,and,CLASH!!

Meanwhile,on the other flank,my Immortals are waiting patiently for the Spartans,and my cavalry is awaiting the Greek cavalry.

What the hell is happening??-the Spartans,obviously not sea-faring people,have landed on the starboard side and not the port side(where,incidentally,the enemy is!!)-has the Greek commander gone mad?

With both flanks now seeing some kind of action,the centres have charged,and a right royal melee started,that would last for four moves,neither side wanting to give way-epic stuff!!

Paul's outrageous plan is now evident-he has surrounded my cavalry!!-the swine!!-apart from knocking my cavalry out,he also thought I might have more troops coming onto the table from that side of the board-would I be so sneaky?(actually,I wish I'd thought of that!!)

My right flank hoplites are beaten and are retiring,but my cavalry are nicely placed for a charge-which they did-and "bounced" off the waiting Spartans.
In the centre,the melee goes on,but we are both moving our second lines up to the fray.

In this shot,we have both exchanged lines,but Paul's Spartan pressure on my left is beginning to tell,my formation is defensive now,my right flank is beaten,and my centre is "crumbling-woe is me!!

Double woe is me!-Paul's troops are gaining both flanks and the centre!! So we decided that the Persians had better go back home and get another army-this was an epic game-either side could have won,at any point-Paul summed it up when he said that this is what wargaming is all about.
Well played Paul,roll on Sunday, 7 years war,and hopefully Brian will be with us.