The discerning reader will remember that back in December,my lovely wife(aka THE WIFE!) bought me a plastic kit of a Roman galley,well ever since I've been trying to get my hands on another model,with no luck.
However,last week,when "trawling" through Amazon site,I came across the very same model,being sold by a company in Frome-I subsequently sent for it,and it arrived on Saturday.
My time to build the model has been at a premium this week,but I have eventually finished it-hurrah!!
At this price,and free postage,what is there not to like?????
Various stages of construction,showing shields,castle and tent and hull c/w oars.
Model complete and painted.I found that it took me less time to complete this time,because I knew what I was doing(Hmmmm!)
A view from the stern(or back if you're not of a sailor-type disposition!!)
Shield detail!-I hope the "symbolism" of the black and white painting has not been lost on the readers who can remember that the original model was painted in red and white!!!
As it sails quietly across the kitchen table,I feel a Sea Shanty coming on,or is it just the need for a glass of Navy Rum??
Comments??
Last night we had a more than 100% turnout as our mate Michael made an appearance!-and at his request Dave put on a WW2 game based in the Ardennes,during winter.
Top photo shows the map which Dave had made(and I coloured in-well it gives me something to do!) Bottom photo is the table before any movement.
Graham and I were defending the town and surrounding area with German troops,whilst Michael,Brian and Paul were attacking us with American troops,the objective for the Americans was to capture the town.
Brian started the "hostilities" by mounting a swift attack with three Infantry platoons mounted on half tracks,combined with an attempted out-flanking move by some heavy armour!-he ran into "ace" WW2 wargamer(me!!!) and lost alot of men and two half tracks in the first two moves-hurrah!!
On the other flank,Michael attacked Graham with some tanks and infantry(I can't be more specific because I don't know one tank from another!!)Graham responded magnificently and knocked one of the American tanks out-another hurrah!!!
The American "high command" take instruction s from Dave(referee)-Paul is yet to get his troops into action,but I think when he does we will be in a spot of bother!!!
This shot shows a "spot of bother" developing!!-against my infantry and an anti-tank gun position
The "Yanky Doodle Dandies"-attack is in full swing now,and the Germans are suffering horrendous casualties-my flank is retiring back to the town-things are not looking good,but then Dave gave us two more tanks-but he also gave the Americans some too!!!
A shot down the table,showing the state of the attack and the look of despair on Graham's face!!!
Our left flank and centre are being pressed-it is not looking good,but Graham is holding his own on the right,and he and Michael are having a good old "slugging" match
Brian is now making his presence felt,as is Paul-in fact the Americans are all over us like a rash(the kind you could get on a Friday night in Newcastle down the Bigg Market!!)
Michael has now brought his troops up to the edge of the town,heralding an end to the game!
The "boys " seemed to enjoy the game,and the rules(devised by Dave) seem to be working,so well done to all,but I still can't get excited about the period(too complicated for me!)
Roll on next Sunday,probably an Ancients game.
I have been looking through some old photographs,and trying to sort them out into a semblance of order.I don't know if anyone will be in the slightest bit interested,but I' going to publish some of them to show,possibly, where I got my interest in the Military,and wargaming.
The smart looking Royal Marine standing 5th from the right,is my Father,the guy in the dark uniform is King George the 6th-apparently(according to my dad!) the king said "what cheer Geordie? " to which my dad replied "canny fettle,man canny fettle!"-The photo was taken at a training camp for the Royal Marine Commandos somewhere in Scotland,but I don't know where or what the date was.
This is my paternal Grandfather,who was a stoker on a ship called the "Caradoc" during the first world war-look at the boots and worn trouser hems-fantastic photo!
This rather battered old photo is of my maternal Grandfather,who was a RSM in the Coldstream Guards,and served in South Africa,and,presumably, in the first world war,but I have no more info. on him.
This is a copy of "Mooonbeams" magazine(Proctor and Gamble's in -house mag.) from 1973 the content was all about what was going on in the company............................
My God!!! I've got hair-I started the P&G wargames club(only three of us!) which ran for a few years before I left the company.
The reporter ran a three page article on us,which attracted alot of attention(and ridicule!) but was very informative and lively!
It's strange to think that even after 45 years I'm still following this fascinating hobby-maybe it's in the blood(???)
Having left THE WIFE in the front garden digging the foundations for a "Fall-out" shelter,I decided to have a solo game with my Mini-Tanks.
I am not a great fan of WW2,but quite like the idea of large tank battles,so my Mini-Tanks are ideal-I use the very simplest of rules,involving Points per tank,firing points per tank and movement per tank as well as ranges per tank.Firing is done by multiplying the fire points by a dice throw and the result is the damage done to the target tank-fast and fun!!
This is all I need to have a game,plus...........................
These fabulous things!-bought from the Pound shop-no expense spared,they are used to denote a "knocked-out" tank(as you will see.)
The tanks I use(from the Pound shop!) brown is light,green is medium,grey is heavy-the points values are written on attached clear plastic slips glued to the bottom of the tank-when hit the values are adjusted accordingly-no book-keeping,and when the totals are reached....................
A "star" is placed underneath the tank-simple!!
Now onto the game.............................
Brrrr! winter terrain always lends a certain atmosphere to games I feel-The tanks on the left are denoted by Red flags attached to each tank,with White ones on the right.I opted to "favour" the Reds,and decided to gain both flanks whilst holding in the centre(anyone would think I knew what I was doing!!!!)
After an hour's play,this was the sorry state of my forces!-I had lost 7 tanks to the White's three-I can't even win a solo game!!!!
Great fun,and time just flies when you're having it!
In this shot you can see that the original points(80-medium tank) has been reduced to 20,and is nearing its demise!-I use a piece of paper to rub the original points off etc.etc.
All three "types" with their original points values.(note bottle of beer on table!-it's great being retired!!)
Well,I'd best go and see how THE WIFE is getting on,I told her about 8 feet down would be enough,but I'm sure I just heard an Australian accent!!
Last night we had another "foray" into the horse and musket period,in the form of a 7YW game provided by Paul.
Top photo is the map we were each given,and bottom is the scenario and terrain restrictions.
Dave was Austrian commander,aided and abetted by Brian,and I was Prussian commander aided and abetted by Graham.
The first 4 moves were taken up by each side manoeuvering into position,this shows my Prussians trying to deploy,whilst the Austrians are already in a good position on the ridge/hill.
The Austrian deployment!-I had already formulated a plan,which would depend on the Austrian position,but seeing them in equal numbers,and in a defensive position,my plan was scuppered!!!-Dave had decided not to attack(and why would he?) and if I attacked I would be "ploated" to say the least!!!
The impasse had to be ended,so I ordered Graham to attack with his cavalry against the flank held by Brian-this was successful,in the end,mainly due to some "diabolocal" dice throwing from Brian!!!-the language was choice!!! but my infantry was being chewed up by some fantastic gunnery from Dave.
The Prussians are still moving along the road!-The brigade in the foreground was poor quality,so I decided to try and lure Dave to attack them with his cavalry,by moving them forward,then catch him in a cross-fire from my guns,backed up with my reserve Cuirassiers-this failed!
The Prussians advance(slightly!) but the Austrians are clinging to their hill-the swines!
Apart from the cavalry battle on the far flank,inaction seems to be the word!!
Tumbleweed,tumbleweed,tumbleweed!!!
Action!!Graham has advanced and is giving the Austrians on their right flank a good old battering,and his cavalry are winning-hurrah!!-my infantry have advanced and a fire-fight is ongoing,however my "poor" brigade has decided that they would be better off back in Berlin!!! and have taken off!!
With Graham winning on his flank,but my centre and right in all kinds of trouble,we decided that the position was too strong to take,and called it a night.
I am trying to encourage the "lads" to come up with more scenarios(I'm running out of ideas!) and the more they put on the more experience they will get,and they will discover the joy(as Paul did) of putting on a good game.Well done for last night,and next week our mate Michael is coming down for the week-end,and he has requested that we put on a WW2 game!!-it will be Dave's turn to shine,using his figures,Paul's figures and Brian's figures-so roll on next Sunday.
Before I'd started my wig-wam project,I sent away for some Plains Indians war figures from Warrior Miniatures,hoping to start another new period.The figures duly arrived (in double quick time!) and they are magnificent-cracking detail and proportions,and poses and very easy on the pocket at 70p for a foot figure and £1.40p per mounted figure(including the horse!)
I have been painting the figures for the past three days,and I am pleased with the results,however,because we don't do skirmish type games,I wanted a fair few figures,both Indians and US cavalry,and at the moment,because of Council Tax,Gas and Electricity bills etc.etc. I can't afford them.But on the positive side,my 70th Birthday is coming up in July,so might just ask THE WIFE,and kids for a contribution then!
Here are some photo's of the figures.....................................
Top photo is all the samples,and bottom is an Indian in war bonnet-quite a bit of detail,which my painting doesn't show,but you can get the picture!
US cavalry and Buffalo!!!
Close-ups of cavalry and Indians.
One final shot-he looks mean!!!
One of the figures is Custer,so I might do a little diorama of his last stand!!
Roll on July!!!
A few weeks ago I put on a game involving my Woodland Indians,and represented their village with one plastic wig-wam(teepee) and a Totem pole-and to be honest it looked pathetic!!-but since then I have been thinking of ways to make,cheaply, more wig-wams at very little expense.
I looked at the internet,and actually found a couple of sites that showed how to make them,but seemed a little bit intricate(involving compasses and oblique angle cuts!!!) so decided to have a go myself.
I experimented,using bits of paper,to find the correct size I would need for 25/28mm figures,and came up with these measurements.
I then made a hard card template,as above,and was ready to mark some thick craft card with the design.
Using only the items shown,I quickly marked and cut out the requisite number,ie 4 shapes per wig-wam and was ready to go.
24 shapes done,ie 6 wig-wams,and now for the sticky bit!!
Putting a line of UHU glue down each right hand edge,I carefully stuck them in a sort of fan shape,as shown.
After about a minute and a half,they had stuck enough for me to pick them up and fold the final edge around to form the wig-wam shape.
Hey Presto!!-a wig-wam,but not yet complete-poles are needed!
The aperture(hole!) where the poles,aka cocktail sticks,will be shoved!!
A thin line of UHU stuck the sticks in place,resulting in this.........................
Who's a clever boy then???? any finishing touches? eg a door and some crude designs on the "walls"-using felt tip pens,I achieved this finished article..........................
Not bad! I found these things so easy and fun to make,that I may have gone a little OTT!!!
by making 12 of them-some Indian village!-I'll have to find a use for them(???)
