tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482398139935735272024-03-18T09:48:49.965+00:00Phil's War CabinetUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger294125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-71455444826256247292024-02-28T15:37:00.002+00:002024-02-28T15:44:19.234+00:00February Digest<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Following January's end-of-month post, I thought I would do the same for February as, once again, it has been a productive and varied month on the hobby front.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite being away quite a bit (business and pleasure), I have been getting a fair amount of time at the paint desk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Painting points</b> for the month are as follows:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ottoman Spahis 12 cavalry = 24 points<br />Tatar infantry = 12 points<br />Ottoman artillery = 5 points<br />Muscovite artillery = 5 points<br />Italian farm for Billhooks game = 1 point<br />3 tents for Billhooks = 3 points<br />Cavalry leader + standard bearer for Billhooks = 4 points</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Total = 54 points.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">... plus the Bob Ross style painting (see post from a couple of weeks ago)!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are some pictures of this month's output:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spahis (shown in a previous post):<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvy-cBOTJAyuGrRUl3TDd0qiL8gXeHd5sostKg8g7fi5dH6voWJTIEbowEvr9jmvMzR_2ATsSAThF_VbuwEADbpuCgsLEnmhs2YcH-CeoGGgPLJx7uWJCxHvjsMqhf8MP_zGqBmiXi-GdLUp-tVmuVe-RsDuUkEAfttELebdRQ2P6u-HI6V_cl_zQSf4/s2000/Spahis%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvy-cBOTJAyuGrRUl3TDd0qiL8gXeHd5sostKg8g7fi5dH6voWJTIEbowEvr9jmvMzR_2ATsSAThF_VbuwEADbpuCgsLEnmhs2YcH-CeoGGgPLJx7uWJCxHvjsMqhf8MP_zGqBmiXi-GdLUp-tVmuVe-RsDuUkEAfttELebdRQ2P6u-HI6V_cl_zQSf4/s320/Spahis%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tatar infantry:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGuO2fdlUmGsYZ8FODuyovFujDK2m0XsBO3pk2lISBR4vWrtF8EJ3Hdxl7NnCQI7QTkf916cog-IzWEDh9ihe7FDmfzLd1cR0OAmbPxmMSQCsuB3shr_VveITJhv4kOvUulhB1MiOa4VHDzy-WU87hs_SYWmx6o4ZcLQtoYhFB2El6LIAA2wc1oIMpK8/s2000/Tatar%20inf%20002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="2000" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGuO2fdlUmGsYZ8FODuyovFujDK2m0XsBO3pk2lISBR4vWrtF8EJ3Hdxl7NnCQI7QTkf916cog-IzWEDh9ihe7FDmfzLd1cR0OAmbPxmMSQCsuB3shr_VveITJhv4kOvUulhB1MiOa4VHDzy-WU87hs_SYWmx6o4ZcLQtoYhFB2El6LIAA2wc1oIMpK8/s320/Tatar%20inf%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note the use of sabots. One thing I dislike about movement trays and sabots is the 'gap' left by removing casualties. So,. my own Wargames OCD solution is to create 'spacers' to fill the gap. Think it looks quite neat.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5XqSDwk9TNPY7dFtcCqyFfOuSs_w1yUlhkI0mKpfbRgmJ3dlKkaGnu-7MOa-RsKjLzhNIojnVQDP6kVB4r-WC74Kt6TFvrozxD7lw5XWaRL9oien7SEoEpsaVTQTQld7C6xpRyyg02totYSEQb1BbdBSB5kBPxbpQhiJBabnNfZ7DjoqffD7buf9oF0/s2000/Tatar%20inf%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="2000" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5XqSDwk9TNPY7dFtcCqyFfOuSs_w1yUlhkI0mKpfbRgmJ3dlKkaGnu-7MOa-RsKjLzhNIojnVQDP6kVB4r-WC74Kt6TFvrozxD7lw5XWaRL9oien7SEoEpsaVTQTQld7C6xpRyyg02totYSEQb1BbdBSB5kBPxbpQhiJBabnNfZ7DjoqffD7buf9oF0/s320/Tatar%20inf%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, if you don't want to put them in sabots at all, they can simply look like this...</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EJpI2h1NTa1BPmpQ1LBMcav-UgKwsHla26HeD5uDv-gU7t6FL_us3ohPUCQ-1WL9RTXo0lXtQMu9HdL7d-M3DFPCZcotC4QVfg4iVUXwZc2-5l0iT0s9q8rPIAWZOF2P-3yDKQfnhyphenhyphenP3iN_Nv2lbFTPDXMnsqKVKTnXLyAfWdphD-vgTdX3p5HAdDpM/s1972/Tatar%20inf%20004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1972" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EJpI2h1NTa1BPmpQ1LBMcav-UgKwsHla26HeD5uDv-gU7t6FL_us3ohPUCQ-1WL9RTXo0lXtQMu9HdL7d-M3DFPCZcotC4QVfg4iVUXwZc2-5l0iT0s9q8rPIAWZOF2P-3yDKQfnhyphenhyphenP3iN_Nv2lbFTPDXMnsqKVKTnXLyAfWdphD-vgTdX3p5HAdDpM/s320/Tatar%20inf%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ottoman artillery:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvHKDNUVfpC9E1lqIg9dBA1ydqtI7CIbL8TppdTWEDgdVZunPWSbxkmDLMbidKehNMQyc4Tw5YwMFVAguhhaVhoAn1xlhgVSvMr71vUGK9qpTJkI_UDXKXjuYuTijhK0WwH1IWRanaQhEtjXpLhGlWqaHFBwNxW2meFRd6P-FKsny4iCrzg4isDpZVP0/s1571/Ottoman%20artillery%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1571" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvHKDNUVfpC9E1lqIg9dBA1ydqtI7CIbL8TppdTWEDgdVZunPWSbxkmDLMbidKehNMQyc4Tw5YwMFVAguhhaVhoAn1xlhgVSvMr71vUGK9qpTJkI_UDXKXjuYuTijhK0WwH1IWRanaQhEtjXpLhGlWqaHFBwNxW2meFRd6P-FKsny4iCrzg4isDpZVP0/s320/Ottoman%20artillery%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUey2FIndvMpmHKNeBx7aGjQAZ3rw79szqTm7g91mUgoR64eaAsgkggsq5RwZ2StGJbahyJmRyUE76GEWppMLXy8xGxJDVzOb6Qq9z11lsxxDuBHzIfDKXwv9Ix6s221uvP3nToWhMfo2Ce0bHinocU2EBxBogEMb37tCYbAfiS-xOJUzFuErtZkZW774/s1806/Ottoman%20artillery%20002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1806" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUey2FIndvMpmHKNeBx7aGjQAZ3rw79szqTm7g91mUgoR64eaAsgkggsq5RwZ2StGJbahyJmRyUE76GEWppMLXy8xGxJDVzOb6Qq9z11lsxxDuBHzIfDKXwv9Ix6s221uvP3nToWhMfo2Ce0bHinocU2EBxBogEMb37tCYbAfiS-xOJUzFuErtZkZW774/s320/Ottoman%20artillery%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Muscovite frame gun and crew:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GQHf63p1ubON_nnuB1K1i_KCr-7psj235A3Y9VtIqTfJgW3scR7i2x0-DexS7XlUC0K_cZssf_WEETxNhDB0lTcKsE5K84Gry7rAQpRryFO6Ekau9xyw2RMvOx35_-zm30AfHpUc29WnFpplqUgTTNJf8SMUQhm2EOsFghzSynjbg7evEtNp-ysa8yM/s1495/Muscovite%20artillery.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1495" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GQHf63p1ubON_nnuB1K1i_KCr-7psj235A3Y9VtIqTfJgW3scR7i2x0-DexS7XlUC0K_cZssf_WEETxNhDB0lTcKsE5K84Gry7rAQpRryFO6Ekau9xyw2RMvOx35_-zm30AfHpUc29WnFpplqUgTTNJf8SMUQhm2EOsFghzSynjbg7evEtNp-ysa8yM/s320/Muscovite%20artillery.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It hasn't only been the Eastern renaissance project getting the attention this month. In preparation for our recent game of Billhooks, the Condottiere set-up also got some bits n bobs done, such as this farm:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEv5vZkxsCZTcedNpidstqCsgKr-4cVfZJbeyy-v027mrkZgQWIIWzWnXSQ49yey_qhi-dFc3J9t-Sh1fhq8uR-wYxN_est2wgJ8KBuvy-t7jdUcWFipenvp0C-JHnlQ0tZBARLBlRwDCEB2yNpwI1Ptrml1sB_6Bc5RdTsYcRtUbP4FqrCD-00_dm9k/s2000/Decolla%20011.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEv5vZkxsCZTcedNpidstqCsgKr-4cVfZJbeyy-v027mrkZgQWIIWzWnXSQ49yey_qhi-dFc3J9t-Sh1fhq8uR-wYxN_est2wgJ8KBuvy-t7jdUcWFipenvp0C-JHnlQ0tZBARLBlRwDCEB2yNpwI1Ptrml1sB_6Bc5RdTsYcRtUbP4FqrCD-00_dm9k/s320/Decolla%20011.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Condottiere tents:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ypL2g7O11KH1qqKsSiXeV8BkrILER3upowdjzJaUMZtDUvRQktimIzKRrC_HTzn1Lft8bI0VpzoZ2bhO9ypQbcpwLr3Sw62j6NxlqMfax_jkHBuZx9q2qgFsKJc1vepQB6S5TaGYZ1qo214oBSDSyNhJ6VV6sdASaiPbChtpFyLpbTFaHhtBB-jII_M/s2573/Capriccio%20tents%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="2573" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ypL2g7O11KH1qqKsSiXeV8BkrILER3upowdjzJaUMZtDUvRQktimIzKRrC_HTzn1Lft8bI0VpzoZ2bhO9ypQbcpwLr3Sw62j6NxlqMfax_jkHBuZx9q2qgFsKJc1vepQB6S5TaGYZ1qo214oBSDSyNhJ6VV6sdASaiPbChtpFyLpbTFaHhtBB-jII_M/s320/Capriccio%20tents%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Condottiere cavalry leader for Billhooks:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFSN_x5gw144hoV9XTTxk8gn_Aj-DjrxoAT7Va5aJzStvYXZ896X1BTLIRa-4Qi72AepqfuZknZvm63xquZOY4ngJSVm6yrzDHbpukF-GcSwpcO5CnGcKPZ3xWWpI7pc8phUQnHXckSEl3nGLjwka75RS4Mx9nEb35HwBkCAkxtrsOCrNIQP5gUa8vrA/s1013/Luigi%20Riva.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1013" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFSN_x5gw144hoV9XTTxk8gn_Aj-DjrxoAT7Va5aJzStvYXZ896X1BTLIRa-4Qi72AepqfuZknZvm63xquZOY4ngJSVm6yrzDHbpukF-GcSwpcO5CnGcKPZ3xWWpI7pc8phUQnHXckSEl3nGLjwka75RS4Mx9nEb35HwBkCAkxtrsOCrNIQP5gUa8vrA/s320/Luigi%20Riva.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I named him Luigi Riva (if you were around for the 1970 Italy team in the World Cup, you might remember Gigi Riva... I discovered, sadly, he recently passed away).<br />I painted this in a bit of a hurry to get ready for the game... the power of a deadline!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Games</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />My previous post described the Billhooks game we had last weekend... so no more to say really, except that I am already level with the whole of last year in terms of games played!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxQYzRtMi-dkx_MXiIKmNlr6zwgdTfZaJAaMsdSZ1QIt97gsaXPYuteQzRdyejikPmgRiA4HbjN93Wyq3MIdF6pBFL9IqF54lazxutsAjbgpFB54Q846PK7R5ZAPYCvaqcOrfUgzGZ2pdBVulIOhKod-qZaPTzMS6Voxb3H6guO8wGDjfaL5Lbb_jCd0/s2000/Decolla%20006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxQYzRtMi-dkx_MXiIKmNlr6zwgdTfZaJAaMsdSZ1QIt97gsaXPYuteQzRdyejikPmgRiA4HbjN93Wyq3MIdF6pBFL9IqF54lazxutsAjbgpFB54Q846PK7R5ZAPYCvaqcOrfUgzGZ2pdBVulIOhKod-qZaPTzMS6Voxb3H6guO8wGDjfaL5Lbb_jCd0/s320/Decolla%20006.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Parting Shot</b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was delighted to see the recent FB post by The Perrys and North Star Nick showing a 1672 game. On closer inspection, I realised that several of the units in the picture were painted by me about 11 or 12 years ago... they were sold on to a well-known show trader in order to find their way back to Nick's collection. So it was great to see them in the photos... one of those 'double-take' moments!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's about it for the month.<br />I'll be heading to Hammerhead this coming weekend (browsing and shopping!), so hope to see many of you there.<br />All the very best for now...</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-56639670267578191832024-02-26T14:57:00.000+00:002024-02-26T14:57:15.808+00:00Never Mind the Paintings...<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had an "Old Berks" gathering on Saturday, so John Kersey and Andy Moran visited for a game... Steve G was unable to come due to a bout of illness. He was sorely missed... but John took on the mantle of two players in our game.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For a while, we have been putting together forces for imaginary European armies of the mid-late 15thC with the intention of playing Never Mind The Billhooks, and having had a few 'practice games', we decided to go for a slightly more involved and ambitious scenario on this occasion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The setting, the armies, the names were all totally made up so no need to go looking for the historical events they mimic.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even before the Deluxe version came out, I had an eye on using the core rules for mid-late 15C Italian Condottiere armies, and so our game used the basic rules, with the likes of "Swiss" (actually the Konfederation des Weissen Kreuzes) being veteran pikes (but without all the rest of the Swiss special rules), for example. Each army was approx 100ish points, so a game of around 200 points per side.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>The Protagonists:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Army of Bavetta (dark blue Milanese type chaps) commanded by me.<br />The Army of Haut-Dijon (sort of Burgundians) commanded by Andy.<br />The Army of Firenza (sort of Florence types) commanded by John.<br />The Army of The Konfederation des Weissen Kreuzes (sort of Swiss) commanded by John.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Map of the Table:</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPVBCWWBzRG8u771Qa5ic4pSFM3KJ3s5S6jxi51Jf0C62mMgMzFVNxundC3PCCM-k1Coha4x9Pt6hFHsCD542Az3hvWN7VO_vrm7A5iUKFq4G9xbPNEzB2ToqvmoGlG86RbEMj8hmIpZs9PabU6aB8cyjE5nsMqvWMHWwxqXl7qU3c0KJ5XcgVT-e6wA/s1463/Scan_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1463" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPVBCWWBzRG8u771Qa5ic4pSFM3KJ3s5S6jxi51Jf0C62mMgMzFVNxundC3PCCM-k1Coha4x9Pt6hFHsCD542Az3hvWN7VO_vrm7A5iUKFq4G9xbPNEzB2ToqvmoGlG86RbEMj8hmIpZs9PabU6aB8cyjE5nsMqvWMHWwxqXl7qU3c0KJ5XcgVT-e6wA/s320/Scan_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY0-8P9ht4bKjhZwK21wrrx4bkvEGwGBLvVhD9CB7MIv6JSifye6V4Vfu_dVZVnpd8HxMCg5Xi-41AcXsHXTBysABQjS4DPdcWcCequz12aCcGZJJ9tacUS9BVWvwI-nd4uMzGEstXsqOmSmARHIg6e7JNL6ASjtfbVVBYB7Z6eCZjndcncv2hUeZp7I/s2000/Decolla%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY0-8P9ht4bKjhZwK21wrrx4bkvEGwGBLvVhD9CB7MIv6JSifye6V4Vfu_dVZVnpd8HxMCg5Xi-41AcXsHXTBysABQjS4DPdcWcCequz12aCcGZJJ9tacUS9BVWvwI-nd4uMzGEstXsqOmSmARHIg6e7JNL6ASjtfbVVBYB7Z6eCZjndcncv2hUeZp7I/s320/Decolla%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;">Scenario Outline:</b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The army of Bavetta has called upon its allies under The Duke of Haut-Dijon in its fight against the forces of The Republic of Firenza. The latter has also called upon allies and a powerful force of The Konfederation des Weissen Kreuzes has answered that call.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The armies face each other across the open plain of Decolla. To add to the situation, it is rumoured that two masterpiece paintings by the renowned artist, Roberto Rossi, are to be found in the area. Local gossip has it that a code is concealed within the gilt frames of the pictures - a secret gunpowder recipe that will dramatically reduce the rising number of inadvertent artillery explosions that many armies have recently been experiencing. Understandably (anyone who has ever played Billhooks will get this), such secrets are much sought-after. The generals are aware of the value of the masterpieces, and of the secret code. The discovery of the paintings and the code would be a huge boost to any individual's currency at Court. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore, the objectives for each player are to destroy the enemy, seize control of the plain of Decolla, and find the paintings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">To add a further complication... there are actually 4 paintings hidden on the table. Two are the real ones, two are fake.<br />So that I wouldn't know which were the real ones, Lisa put a note of both the real and the fake paintings in a sealed envelope. On her return from a day shopping/ daughter's wedding venue visiting (leaving us boys to play toy soldiers!), she would open the envelope... more of which later.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;">Action!</b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having seen the table laid out, we diced for which side the armies entered from. Winning the dice-off, Firenza-Konfederation troops decided to enter from the west. Haut-Dijon and Bavetta would enter from the east, Bavetta taking the left wing, Haut-Dijon the right.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A hard fought game ensued, which ebbed to and fro.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Bavettans held the farm all day (discovering a painting in the main building) against an onslaught of the Konfederation pike/halberd blocks who had overrun the southern shrine (discovering a painting) and who came trundling down the hill and across the plain. Meanwhile, to the northern end of the table, the Firenza troops had launched up the hill, ransacking the shrine of Our Lady of Decolla (and discovering a painting), and starting across the plain. Haut-Dijon began his advance and soon had skirmishers in the woods, also discovering a painting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Firenza defence against Haut-Dijon was stoical, but eventually the arrow storms proved too much. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meanwhile, The Konfederation pike blocks had been stopped by a dogged Bavettan defence despite the Bavettan artillery, having caused a few casualties, eventually doing it's usual and blowing up, earning it the Old Berks "Good Grief" Wooden Spoon award which Andy had made specially and brought along on the day. The Bavettan infantry performed well, using the hard cover of the farm walls to good effect (and having a unit of skirmishing handgunners firing from the farmhouse helped) along with a sweeping Gendarmes attack. At last, the enemy blocks were halted, faltered, and began to break up. The 'Swiss' dice rolls in one turn temporarily earned them the Wooden Spoon, but it was soon back in Bavettan hands when the second unit of Gendarmes attacked the Swiss pikes in the flank, but failed to break them with some typically atrocious dice rolls.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Duke of Haut-Dijon, having seen off the last of the Firenza forces, began to come to the aid of the beleaguered Bavettans and the game was up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A terrific game, lots of fun, nail-biting moments. The vagaries of the dice were matched by the vagaries of the faux-Italian accents that accompanied the banter!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst the Bavettans were holders of the Woden Spoon, each army had gained a painting... but which were the real masterpieces and which were the fakes?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lisa tentatively opened the envelope to the eagerly awaiting Old Berks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes! Bavetta's was real. <br />And the Konfederation had also gained a real one. So, myself and John had the luck.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Haut-Dijon master of antiquities and art is now seeking fresh employment!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Firenza is no doubt plotting revenge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can't wait for the next game.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Pictures:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kPByQI7WUIV7XBmYhvTjCnu1CRdxDPpfTStoObCWaRLn0xeAbU0Z0wIsFtoSkiXsFOaxEq2gI6gxoLA-XCZy4tc5Aa87IWJss3oT3AUXDlMKKkr-AJMfr_eLGjXA4eO-wRmnL3Bo3MV0Ywz-bpxjPWJlzZWm8fQL-wN9Jy5fwB_7SNg-HqnY5aDZILI/s2420/Decolla%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kPByQI7WUIV7XBmYhvTjCnu1CRdxDPpfTStoObCWaRLn0xeAbU0Z0wIsFtoSkiXsFOaxEq2gI6gxoLA-XCZy4tc5Aa87IWJss3oT3AUXDlMKKkr-AJMfr_eLGjXA4eO-wRmnL3Bo3MV0Ywz-bpxjPWJlzZWm8fQL-wN9Jy5fwB_7SNg-HqnY5aDZILI/s320/Decolla%20002.jpeg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNBfb7iMS64Qcv5FK5KR5Ed4kA2GfiEGM9Svnf-Rl2lHNP_rxSgqt-DnKCN0crs0y0FXqihdia3RgC56ywHdwD6icnyUaVoeFdVN_2IhDV6quxtWqVzK5tnT0dNOqSwFSzVC2a54jzxGzf2zXVGTqcXlwfMmX_5JOI33SP6E8biykH-GarlQyOtSO7hA/s2000/Decolla%20018.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNBfb7iMS64Qcv5FK5KR5Ed4kA2GfiEGM9Svnf-Rl2lHNP_rxSgqt-DnKCN0crs0y0FXqihdia3RgC56ywHdwD6icnyUaVoeFdVN_2IhDV6quxtWqVzK5tnT0dNOqSwFSzVC2a54jzxGzf2zXVGTqcXlwfMmX_5JOI33SP6E8biykH-GarlQyOtSO7hA/s320/Decolla%20018.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpcPUKLmURrDUQy8vY5ToZAAKJ_CGrxHT9PJyU3cxDH4LB11OtPb7gjYtIuLnfUl1Z0Vbxa19hwYYwAIz2Mbtn1XLKAHRvTlbMIzG3AI-J4BhbhabOI17IJjMhiND3CZ7Y-ktV5rqoxeCBpx9mD7K2lmdZQYu20kEynXDalAPROOm41_oVPCXOPuBGss/s2000/Decolla%20019.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpcPUKLmURrDUQy8vY5ToZAAKJ_CGrxHT9PJyU3cxDH4LB11OtPb7gjYtIuLnfUl1Z0Vbxa19hwYYwAIz2Mbtn1XLKAHRvTlbMIzG3AI-J4BhbhabOI17IJjMhiND3CZ7Y-ktV5rqoxeCBpx9mD7K2lmdZQYu20kEynXDalAPROOm41_oVPCXOPuBGss/s320/Decolla%20019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqVI4PySELLKw9PgYXBRwMoBplkEeNzkZzhuyBFRYC-7Od7VZ7GllXtqhZAHNEPzXUiM8qq5e0JfH9OzPQVatGXsgMIH9AiPwTpQ1bG-DexGwRrPMis2XRDY11CGuRn0iB-avqjrrUPVMCZI8QaT1JsSxIGbZ9dHSjby1sNK549mTBnGuhhewoAajU6s/s2000/Decolla%20020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqVI4PySELLKw9PgYXBRwMoBplkEeNzkZzhuyBFRYC-7Od7VZ7GllXtqhZAHNEPzXUiM8qq5e0JfH9OzPQVatGXsgMIH9AiPwTpQ1bG-DexGwRrPMis2XRDY11CGuRn0iB-avqjrrUPVMCZI8QaT1JsSxIGbZ9dHSjby1sNK549mTBnGuhhewoAajU6s/s320/Decolla%20020.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeI9yH8fmaiMajrHk_tbY2z1tnHjjmqUvdh7n-bXlLT9MHx85D1PSs9WXkSrbEaAFTQ58CNGETwlAQYZrc33rF0k78atAf1kYwCetWV2JZkJZb1c4uyP4QqLsKn9Vby80ancdQw5iEG_3nr7h_hU7zg54NGr55DB6r7k1xQEqC-9eQ2N5SLCFwGdmEuU/s2000/Decolla%20022.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeI9yH8fmaiMajrHk_tbY2z1tnHjjmqUvdh7n-bXlLT9MHx85D1PSs9WXkSrbEaAFTQ58CNGETwlAQYZrc33rF0k78atAf1kYwCetWV2JZkJZb1c4uyP4QqLsKn9Vby80ancdQw5iEG_3nr7h_hU7zg54NGr55DB6r7k1xQEqC-9eQ2N5SLCFwGdmEuU/s320/Decolla%20022.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>The paintings/ masterpieces:<br /></b>... you may recognise from my previous post a week ago!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-d6bkiWkn0nwI2h_y7qfcJTCFb2fDf1aVHLmJhmtxD-jTZDJAO1KI4TSGdgWM9xuam0ecLxK07xvALwKoRnSXpGD5WALb50XtVGnFSt2enrl6uhO6zztpmcyOTYOSjukG32DLq5prBlimF50mnnuW7k3Uf7As4Q7-odlWcMuV8GPfg2e5QAuU_jheSU/s1987/Decolla%20paintings.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1870" data-original-width="1987" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-d6bkiWkn0nwI2h_y7qfcJTCFb2fDf1aVHLmJhmtxD-jTZDJAO1KI4TSGdgWM9xuam0ecLxK07xvALwKoRnSXpGD5WALb50XtVGnFSt2enrl6uhO6zztpmcyOTYOSjukG32DLq5prBlimF50mnnuW7k3Uf7As4Q7-odlWcMuV8GPfg2e5QAuU_jheSU/s320/Decolla%20paintings.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's all for now folks...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Back later this week with a review of the month, more figures painted, and some more random thoughts about the hobby.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meantime, "Arrivederci", as they say in Bavetta.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-79781451369822702292024-02-19T14:13:00.006+00:002024-02-19T14:13:55.995+00:00Happy Accidents!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not related to wargaming, but I have been doing a bit of painting of a different kind.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like many, I became aware of Bob Ross a few years ago, and watched lots of his "Joy of Painting" episodes during lockdown. I always fancied a go.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having spoken to many wargamers, I know quite a few who had also discovered the great man, so hope this is of interest...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For Christmas, Lisa had organised a special painting day with a Bob Ross accredited instructor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Saturday we went along, and had a fabulous day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lots of laughs, and a "passable" painting to take home too.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrSPuoMJMoUdttZ-9whRPUONLJu9XUt7hZV9okOqRc8lm1RxYh9zetdj-s-FiKSEnoA_pw4UCv_S2AukpIbQggFrmgJIMPX3GwPi0ikO2QVHMTWlOGx-INOlmSN8H9viM2RvP58lohZO__tjJO10-ydmemnuYwx3WEWXFKQTrdhWCddyEdVB2ojShK7s/s2000/Bob%20Ross%20painting%20day%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrSPuoMJMoUdttZ-9whRPUONLJu9XUt7hZV9okOqRc8lm1RxYh9zetdj-s-FiKSEnoA_pw4UCv_S2AukpIbQggFrmgJIMPX3GwPi0ikO2QVHMTWlOGx-INOlmSN8H9viM2RvP58lohZO__tjJO10-ydmemnuYwx3WEWXFKQTrdhWCddyEdVB2ojShK7s/s320/Bob%20Ross%20painting%20day%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1DwfoH4Kd1pdFvebd3RB1utIacsi3YekK0dxKa2jJIpFtxDt5r6rAN5txlzQ4pOsP8HrDmJWzREYiaHIy0ScomBf6qesk3_1PxJ2aPz-5nZK0R2S0KlW4dQ830qwHp-qX0cvsmfzBLk1Xxa1xInFri5Rbvl9VGQfO6DbMNBUoivuAk-aWzipQAipvTU/s2048/Bob%20Ross%20painting%20day%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1DwfoH4Kd1pdFvebd3RB1utIacsi3YekK0dxKa2jJIpFtxDt5r6rAN5txlzQ4pOsP8HrDmJWzREYiaHIy0ScomBf6qesk3_1PxJ2aPz-5nZK0R2S0KlW4dQ830qwHp-qX0cvsmfzBLk1Xxa1xInFri5Rbvl9VGQfO6DbMNBUoivuAk-aWzipQAipvTU/s320/Bob%20Ross%20painting%20day%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's all for now... more wargaming stuff shortly!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-82270003028792623742024-02-16T10:31:00.002+00:002024-02-16T10:31:14.483+00:00Ottoman Spahis<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">February has been fairly productive in a bid to push the Eastern renaissance project along.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Ottoman Spahis presented a number of options; </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- should I go with a uniform coat colour, and uniform lance pennants? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- or uniform coats and non-uniformed lance pennants?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">- or non-uniformed coats with uniformed lance pennants?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As you'll see, based on some illustrations I had seen and a hefty dose of personal preference, I went with various coloured coats and uniformed lance pennants!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhukFjxdEzz3hYlnPDsukgUSluEgY400mLNOOKWFRWBIPaaKSh_WcQ1deHfyWON5kOLpcccRIkx1aWUfmMJ3fr0BlCRWHXXz9dG0LP9Hsk85D_AmC6X67IYx6ziCdIw_rUmYjA3ML-dugZ4LN16EJMDnkiqF3_Pyb4TMetTL70KgIynVXNMIUGSDmDLL4/s2000/Spahis%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhukFjxdEzz3hYlnPDsukgUSluEgY400mLNOOKWFRWBIPaaKSh_WcQ1deHfyWON5kOLpcccRIkx1aWUfmMJ3fr0BlCRWHXXz9dG0LP9Hsk85D_AmC6X67IYx6ziCdIw_rUmYjA3ML-dugZ4LN16EJMDnkiqF3_Pyb4TMetTL70KgIynVXNMIUGSDmDLL4/s320/Spahis%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlusu694Wm1YJe9PHys0duhW0PoKl1zXaSdAYA5TaMrO96V-VhVn26SSQXrtgyc4iPSMUKYnGoEp457bXRNrEKIAovkVc1REItgMQBI7Kco3grW3B_9_zHP-Ik81T8PCVojuKbdNB77rQTXZpy3sovBmwaA_l88HyhQZcBSqjDON3HMqkPEqHac_bJeFo/s2000/Spahis%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlusu694Wm1YJe9PHys0duhW0PoKl1zXaSdAYA5TaMrO96V-VhVn26SSQXrtgyc4iPSMUKYnGoEp457bXRNrEKIAovkVc1REItgMQBI7Kco3grW3B_9_zHP-Ik81T8PCVojuKbdNB77rQTXZpy3sovBmwaA_l88HyhQZcBSqjDON3HMqkPEqHac_bJeFo/s320/Spahis%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ5OuYUB5PoW8cIF3PsjV3zxX1JbByIEfv0FyNbTs5dCzsuuhF3aNN343pDzwN2nzNWEdNKn9y7YEQyKvOFRUn3tdkEhAK9kf6Dj3Iqvx7CKZV1wNqEvSCsXQg92lzPoogrKefXseBoWJtKptzYQnNoh5rapcwAG-j0ZpofpKknNdhybACcBhyUS5T_I/s1778/Spahis%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="1778" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ5OuYUB5PoW8cIF3PsjV3zxX1JbByIEfv0FyNbTs5dCzsuuhF3aNN343pDzwN2nzNWEdNKn9y7YEQyKvOFRUn3tdkEhAK9kf6Dj3Iqvx7CKZV1wNqEvSCsXQg92lzPoogrKefXseBoWJtKptzYQnNoh5rapcwAG-j0ZpofpKknNdhybACcBhyUS5T_I/s320/Spahis%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Flag is by Mark Allen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Figures by TAG.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite a number of people mentioning that Ottomans would never wear purple, I decided to include one figure in that colour, again simply out of personal preference.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have been productive on a number of other units too, so more pictures to come when they are fully ready.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meantime, thanks to all who commented on the previous post about Graham. Much appreciated.</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-44179592733033541602024-02-08T14:23:00.001+00:002024-02-08T14:23:50.203+00:00Farewell to a Friend<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Graham Cummings</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s taken me
some time to compose some thoughts for this post…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I must say
the news of Graham’s passing has been devastating. It’s thrown the whole hobby,
and life in general, into sharp perspective. Really truly sad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">We first met
in early 1990s at Triples where he and Lee Maxwell and Gordon MacLean (The
Redcar rebels, who Duncan MacFarlane had nicknamed “The Teesside Triumvirate”)
were putting on a Boyne game. I had been aware of them for some time as they
had featured in many magazine articles, most recently at the time for their
Demo Game of Killiecrankie (as seen in the yellow magazine Duncan produced –
Wargames World issue 3).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It was always
a joy to see what their next project would be and to meet up at many shows –
especially Triples and Partizan - across many years. We also played in many
games over the years, typically large multiplayer affairs. I don’t think I have
laughed so much in the hobby as when in the company of Lee and Graham.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Losing Lee to
MND 10+ years ago (Nov 2013) hit Graham hard. They had gamed together on a very
regular basis for many years, and by that time Gordon MacLean had left the demo
game scene, so Graham and Lee just planned and executed projects as a duo.
Graham was always coming up with new periods and new ideas, and he and Lee
would tackle them head-on and produce them, painting all the figures and making
the terrain, play frequent games with them, then show them as a demo game. Despite the loss of his best gaming buddy, Graham remained
enthusiastic, positive, and full of the possibilities of the hobby, always
looking ahead, forward to the next project, the next army, the next game. Now,
I hope Graham is once again getting some games in with Lee up there in the
clouds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">It was
fitting that Graham was able, just a couple of years ago, to put on his Culloden
game with his son, David, at Partizan, representing every unit on the tabletop –
a long held ambition of his. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">I’m a bit
shocked, and upset, to say the least. Suddenly, painting figures doesn’t seem
so important. But then again, what else is there to do than assign meaning to
the futile.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">My thoughts
go out to Graham’s family, and in particular to his wife, Dawn, and his
children, David and Helen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">RIP Graham
Cummings. Wargamer, Top Bloke, and great friend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-35280188760283434212024-01-29T13:29:00.000+00:002024-01-29T13:29:29.887+00:00January Digest<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of my objectives this year is to post more on the blog, so an end of month review, or Digest, is in order...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>January Production:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It has been a very good month.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Painting totals are up on last year's average (24 Janissaries, Ottoman command, plus basing of all the Cossacks) = c35 points. Plus I am working on a fresh unit too although this will only be added to the total when finished in a few days time and so counts towards the February painting points.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Additions to the ranks in January:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cossacks - by Dave Woodward, commander's flag by Mark Allen. The addition of unit flags, lances and pennants, and the basing is worthy of a few painting points... I am awarding myself 6 in total for this as it did take a full week of painting sessions.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7WGKamPA277sqJgb9EBJyGrhPBZSzMmZygaxAPetyweR8dtvXuJzERPAAeJ1fDvFDJBvHugQ65LPhrPr_dw9WSGwcyZ8367I_PqMn-L6jg9k8KrnBiAHi7g4uLXfGYcumvIi_dpIS_vlIka-RMKuM03i7WIiFOEY7KF-xIroZXYc5qz6A1qIQQ4fh9k/s1886/Cossack%20lancers%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1886" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7WGKamPA277sqJgb9EBJyGrhPBZSzMmZygaxAPetyweR8dtvXuJzERPAAeJ1fDvFDJBvHugQ65LPhrPr_dw9WSGwcyZ8367I_PqMn-L6jg9k8KrnBiAHi7g4uLXfGYcumvIi_dpIS_vlIka-RMKuM03i7WIiFOEY7KF-xIroZXYc5qz6A1qIQQ4fh9k/s320/Cossack%20lancers%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Janissaries. Flag by Mark, figure painting by myself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE9vTv6uL9vZ0a5ZYCNC1ESedC-8fMHvoHFJJBtEqlAvfvM_VwuqRQV3Lrfinqvs9NiEmYKTPj4e-QUWySb6K8jrHmIK3af9inFmPb-RLC5yrUwaa71ccmD10oDZ_eM2N_AJolghtS_9Eh33LDZ3gaHLYk8ykaxf8Lw58gZ72kNL_AkQxcYVTed1kfgU/s1791/Janissaries%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1791" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWE9vTv6uL9vZ0a5ZYCNC1ESedC-8fMHvoHFJJBtEqlAvfvM_VwuqRQV3Lrfinqvs9NiEmYKTPj4e-QUWySb6K8jrHmIK3af9inFmPb-RLC5yrUwaa71ccmD10oDZ_eM2N_AJolghtS_9Eh33LDZ3gaHLYk8ykaxf8Lw58gZ72kNL_AkQxcYVTed1kfgU/s320/Janissaries%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ottoman command. Flag again by Mark, figure painting by yours truly.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio_2QtDt5pw10EyrI88tk3rqO1xrVgMbVYDgoF_kkVQRPYjO4NyaUTEV7Y3ujD_mF-6YYCkkvY3RukT4iYs23aoZPKAJhJHo7KWYRGw3uzEBeK1wqAnqfF4EL2__b-hSWLP9IFyql3NqrHcLT5dYogbkf2XVWkaU237klmduQx83r4zwKEo2HZ_JO7kE/s2000/Ottoman%20cdr%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio_2QtDt5pw10EyrI88tk3rqO1xrVgMbVYDgoF_kkVQRPYjO4NyaUTEV7Y3ujD_mF-6YYCkkvY3RukT4iYs23aoZPKAJhJHo7KWYRGw3uzEBeK1wqAnqfF4EL2__b-hSWLP9IFyql3NqrHcLT5dYogbkf2XVWkaU237klmduQx83r4zwKEo2HZ_JO7kE/s320/Ottoman%20cdr%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">January gaming:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last weekend I had the first game of the year when Andy Moran visited with his Haut-Dijon (Burgundian-ish) army for a game of Billhooks. My Bavetta condottiere army performed better this time, although we agreed that it was still a close win for Andy whose Haut-Dijon army remains undefeated!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The game ebbed and flowed, in true Billhooks style, and provided some nail-biting moments, and some real hilarity too (it was the Haut-Dijon artillery that exploded this time!!). Very 'bloody', fun and fast-paced. An enjoyable day all round.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizphDgw_uY0dy2DZF4yFtmiRmGvxcpI-aNS_t2oWDjP4eFsKJbDGl1oKwNPZoPOEGeVYfLS_nVm35GZdUcPf2JdaGU499FU601fnRXLLo82DLQDdxQgoyvdV0_opsquFJM7ZNgvFPvJj5-SbJaAiL0NG2pj0mYD-nb862yFz_Ip5Cxm4rRDQJPLFtWIPE/s2000/Image%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizphDgw_uY0dy2DZF4yFtmiRmGvxcpI-aNS_t2oWDjP4eFsKJbDGl1oKwNPZoPOEGeVYfLS_nVm35GZdUcPf2JdaGU499FU601fnRXLLo82DLQDdxQgoyvdV0_opsquFJM7ZNgvFPvJj5-SbJaAiL0NG2pj0mYD-nb862yFz_Ip5Cxm4rRDQJPLFtWIPE/s320/Image%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr9Vqzkk2FCjb74mBUNttYCf0Jk7fRmUeergabOE4x8zxyhXIwgpW6Mt_Z_gKUviKr6ySfTfSaus0LEmb2okW1wsgYQVTcI7hFhGBEetfQRYdpyGAxUn-GwN7j7k-x8jm6jodM8uapF1-x50ZzL2zGk35-dNLzh9oBu7YFFFInwomSlyTRojuKn4PQhk/s2000/Image%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRr9Vqzkk2FCjb74mBUNttYCf0Jk7fRmUeergabOE4x8zxyhXIwgpW6Mt_Z_gKUviKr6ySfTfSaus0LEmb2okW1wsgYQVTcI7hFhGBEetfQRYdpyGAxUn-GwN7j7k-x8jm6jodM8uapF1-x50ZzL2zGk35-dNLzh9oBu7YFFFInwomSlyTRojuKn4PQhk/s320/Image%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLWTaTH3Lp6dZ8ekQ8fwadWrie5M0xKQMximaonqhnw15wILVimcSIJeB9IHLmvBDD6hbZq1om_mHsHGGQjgqg-79rah-5kSMZsSBMtyy3tMgaiTleRvhiw4X-rSX-mmMAtN5MGNqmoVPaCE2YonlSvOSAbR4ea0P2Tp28WFN-d5THDykukIzgf_XoJo/s2000/Image%20006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLWTaTH3Lp6dZ8ekQ8fwadWrie5M0xKQMximaonqhnw15wILVimcSIJeB9IHLmvBDD6hbZq1om_mHsHGGQjgqg-79rah-5kSMZsSBMtyy3tMgaiTleRvhiw4X-rSX-mmMAtN5MGNqmoVPaCE2YonlSvOSAbR4ea0P2Tp28WFN-d5THDykukIzgf_XoJo/s320/Image%20006.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzVXc9XqNY2h9P2IYhcduVEgBW5Ofd3SEMq2aUAH2I-J9bXQqoscbCAvn6nY8gdL4OVJVF8DTd9UQjZ2RUYPqGTrPL9HoJOb18rGzJHDMYLIOQYKUFtFdlqKP0-zZ3yRi5Au55LgzCQQRML6LR9LubJZe0F0RlO2Ur-n3XUznAQFkElYQ4sEya-XVKY4/s2000/Image%20010.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzVXc9XqNY2h9P2IYhcduVEgBW5Ofd3SEMq2aUAH2I-J9bXQqoscbCAvn6nY8gdL4OVJVF8DTd9UQjZ2RUYPqGTrPL9HoJOb18rGzJHDMYLIOQYKUFtFdlqKP0-zZ3yRi5Au55LgzCQQRML6LR9LubJZe0F0RlO2Ur-n3XUznAQFkElYQ4sEya-XVKY4/s320/Image%20010.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOJxQpm_WHVS8nOeY4GJbnWd4jm37dir7hmsCn59kOgaDn0m2RCP9WAZWpEJwYZ3mXBUYtWDGfTDeQ0LqzlLXQdA5Wf-XfL7NuBg83X7i7wlwbfYze9hrfqoHZBinihuFC3VXSfS3A6IciYP-wRw0oyRkG0tfwwU5PSnSZH59GeCNka7mZ6xJvZjSrBQ/s2000/Image%20013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOJxQpm_WHVS8nOeY4GJbnWd4jm37dir7hmsCn59kOgaDn0m2RCP9WAZWpEJwYZ3mXBUYtWDGfTDeQ0LqzlLXQdA5Wf-XfL7NuBg83X7i7wlwbfYze9hrfqoHZBinihuFC3VXSfS3A6IciYP-wRw0oyRkG0tfwwU5PSnSZH59GeCNka7mZ6xJvZjSrBQ/s320/Image%20013.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The eagle-eyed might spot the inclusion of what the gang of Old Berks (Andy, Steve and John) have started to call "Olley-spacers". I basically really dislike empty gaps on movement trays, and perhaps it's my wargaming OCD, but decided to have spare 'spacer bases' to place in such gaps when casualties are removed. I could add casualty figures, I suppose, but for now having a box of spare, terrained and flocked, bases just helps with 'the look of the thing'. Tidiness is a virtue even in early renaissance Italy you know!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>January thoughts and ramblings:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In addition to the painting and gaming, this month I have also managed to get my Eastern Renaissance project journal up to date. This includes snaps of each unit as I finish it, plus plans for the development of the project, a painting schedule to keep me on track, reference materials I gather as I go along, including images off the net, and plans for future games and scenarios. I have also got a plan marked out for a small demo game at Partizan in May. I decided to give the project an outing at this early stage, simply because it's a marker for how the project is progressing that even after only a few months I might have something worthy to show.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This has thrown into sharp focus the challenges of putting on a small game, on a 6x4. It has also highlighted some of the positives that come from planning such a small game for display.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In general terms, I do think it's a good exercise to plan for a 6x4 table, regardless of how large the project may become in the future anyway. There's a tendency amongst the historical fraternity to think that all games have to be 'huge' affairs to be in some way 'worthy'. I've noticed this a lot, browsing around online. Yes, we all love the vision of a sculpted 16plus x 6 table (with several tables for reserves too!). However, the lowly 6x4 has plenty to offer, and like a short letter or a short speech, requires a laser-like focus on the effectiveness of the production. I think it was Churchill who said, "If I'd had more time, I would have written a shorter letter", hinting at the extra efficiency and effectiveness required with the smaller/shorter version. And so, I suggest, for a 6x4 wargame.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just to qualify, here I am talking about 28mm 'rank and flank' type games. the humble 6x4 is often seen with 15mm figures (and smaller), or skirmish games in the larger scales. That stands to reason. But for 28mm 'standard' forces it's often overlooked as a significant waypoint in a project development.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 6x4 has, of course, in some quarters become the norm... WAB, Billhooks, and others are notable here. In the world of fantasy, 6x4 also seems to be the standard. Perhaps it's in Pike & Shot and Horse & Musket gaming that the convention is ever towards 'biggism'. And yet, so many scenarios and possibilities exist for challenging and enjoyable games at this level, even with the P&S and H&M periods. So for those who, for whatever reason, are limited to a 6x4 table, don't despair. There's still much to be gained from a brigade or two of infantry and some cavalry and artillery support taking on the same numbers and having a great game.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Years ago, I chatted at length with Graham Cummings (Scotia Albion blog - get well soon Graham), and Lee Maxwell (sadly passed far too young) about having an initial target of 9:4:2 for their Horse and Musket armies - 9 Infantry units, 4 cavalry units, and 2 guns (or batteries). Simple. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Steve Gill and I have regularly discussed reducing this further to our "6-a-side" template. More of which in a future post perhaps.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The message is clear, plan to your limitations... it may reveal your strengths. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-40028371450850890862024-01-22T13:10:00.001+00:002024-01-22T13:12:21.554+00:00Cossacks<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Continuing the Eastern Renaissance project again...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are a couple of units of Cossack lancers.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ilpeYJTWlI2nPXziOBL1qCXRaKNEvHwyAZYdXlJTzhzXPkuVjzoJbNEbEuGegmX56HgCT6Al7cAmkQ5sA5d0tVMHzaiFl-NQjUoc5bqyeuNZ3wBxLg8YOwejF1g-Hm8XjGgOrfq8qNQnKecy7osXtKUFzC_oHtrEoYlkVtqJo6zoH3E9FoPxbQQyU0/s1886/Cossack%20lancers%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1886" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-ilpeYJTWlI2nPXziOBL1qCXRaKNEvHwyAZYdXlJTzhzXPkuVjzoJbNEbEuGegmX56HgCT6Al7cAmkQ5sA5d0tVMHzaiFl-NQjUoc5bqyeuNZ3wBxLg8YOwejF1g-Hm8XjGgOrfq8qNQnKecy7osXtKUFzC_oHtrEoYlkVtqJo6zoH3E9FoPxbQQyU0/s320/Cossack%20lancers%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xjNukkO-OCxaPyByUbEQa0hC_rt3cTknbqMZpmaKGM83io4Fv1xvwyzgemb2xdphx86lDMLFaN5nWiUReTM48YKfMf_m93_O3UscJKpQZZHFNY11b5UszY7sH2NE974LFahkmXR0DcBP68wJnBco0DQA1afHr1ZKZhdERwXG2t4BmR7P90VKvWzIWPA/s1394/Cossack%20lancers%20002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="1351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xjNukkO-OCxaPyByUbEQa0hC_rt3cTknbqMZpmaKGM83io4Fv1xvwyzgemb2xdphx86lDMLFaN5nWiUReTM48YKfMf_m93_O3UscJKpQZZHFNY11b5UszY7sH2NE974LFahkmXR0DcBP68wJnBco0DQA1afHr1ZKZhdERwXG2t4BmR7P90VKvWzIWPA/s320/Cossack%20lancers%20002.jpeg" width="310" /></a><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0au3dg2XkNV4nNM3iO67ZJFuEmxtYr4xgKN95liPMji3ehe258qkNvS3Kd5lVcQIYKxPOto8nQMGBLKuHho6LVbotpsCn_QO7jM8Mu_C1BJ7FLUTzgjyoWYi9PAQ20fLUn4fCk3KoUTlRQ45nnC2J5v4dlJX3aRBn1MXUAHsHvTchzQkCH6e_0SrdyE/s2000/Cossack%20lancers%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0au3dg2XkNV4nNM3iO67ZJFuEmxtYr4xgKN95liPMji3ehe258qkNvS3Kd5lVcQIYKxPOto8nQMGBLKuHho6LVbotpsCn_QO7jM8Mu_C1BJ7FLUTzgjyoWYi9PAQ20fLUn4fCk3KoUTlRQ45nnC2J5v4dlJX3aRBn1MXUAHsHvTchzQkCH6e_0SrdyE/s320/Cossack%20lancers%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNgeQnTROqNxfJ1VDTU7tSKD3IU0Vl9_osrMYsSaCLw5Zb85zDFWKHbKxLH5GucqM6fy7nRjSMxumPWxl-AZdBnfeyGySwRS_jm6mNnbStl7HtPiJ5jxh6SsR2vRsfzGH0MaOV_XMD_bVEdvp_2FGEZWUIM8UxYUp-Y6xK5iovn-8iWgcxfv3cV5qgHM/s2000/Cossack%20lancers%20004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNgeQnTROqNxfJ1VDTU7tSKD3IU0Vl9_osrMYsSaCLw5Zb85zDFWKHbKxLH5GucqM6fy7nRjSMxumPWxl-AZdBnfeyGySwRS_jm6mNnbStl7HtPiJ5jxh6SsR2vRsfzGH0MaOV_XMD_bVEdvp_2FGEZWUIM8UxYUp-Y6xK5iovn-8iWgcxfv3cV5qgHM/s320/Cossack%20lancers%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd5wXsszBH6aAxT0PW9myVFeXPsp2l4npwyUkjVtdg2HJhngyTiv__qBtnWZkdLqnQFJrimVPYR9F9auZ8IuIo2DS3etkchN4nF5etA3ImevRs5WLHLgCMEbsPyWIc4bS6aZz4jTRt3zgta5KdqRDf8eHlgPVn_3_eBafA-j0XPVxDdfFaEdp20L6_Ug/s1791/Cossack%20lancers%20006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1791" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd5wXsszBH6aAxT0PW9myVFeXPsp2l4npwyUkjVtdg2HJhngyTiv__qBtnWZkdLqnQFJrimVPYR9F9auZ8IuIo2DS3etkchN4nF5etA3ImevRs5WLHLgCMEbsPyWIc4bS6aZz4jTRt3zgta5KdqRDf8eHlgPVn_3_eBafA-j0XPVxDdfFaEdp20L6_Ug/s320/Cossack%20lancers%20006.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEite7HVTNHgI2h2AeVBMZmWb8s3xneFnvNPSL6SR2kE4ouO_W7VZph9Opx5AleR9SykNoCOLXQgXETGimpm7HVBqhWucGcY4s7iHc-K_eLjsit8S1iw0FXJrC_Q6gphCIREaIaTxvsDK6B5WJdXY4kY3yvq44uHnayG2e2_15yxC89jxpLojjA7BQ1-Qxk/s2000/Cossack%20lancers%20005.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEite7HVTNHgI2h2AeVBMZmWb8s3xneFnvNPSL6SR2kE4ouO_W7VZph9Opx5AleR9SykNoCOLXQgXETGimpm7HVBqhWucGcY4s7iHc-K_eLjsit8S1iw0FXJrC_Q6gphCIREaIaTxvsDK6B5WJdXY4kY3yvq44uHnayG2e2_15yxC89jxpLojjA7BQ1-Qxk/s320/Cossack%20lancers%20005.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The figures were painted by Dave Woodward (a figure painter of some considerable renown!).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Commander's flag is by Mark Allen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Basing, unit flags, lances etc by yours truly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Outsourcing to the professionals can give a project an early boost. In this case, it has allowed me to get on with various other units, more of which soon...</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-55569498417029121572024-01-16T14:13:00.001+00:002024-01-16T14:14:24.400+00:00Ottoman commander<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks to all who commented so positively on the previous post. Much appreciated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Continuing with the Eastern Renaissance theme, here is the Ottoman command group I completed recently.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQXVHL92Gb34VfbuYc6d6TFX0peTGKsVpLEKiDFNw5a0Z-3V0hLY8dxJSJL-di6OKACjEJIa6XGYMCwc9mODQyQ_Cf7kpCPVCpwJgRywOwHiHY70hXRGaga-VpUZeun6P9vBI0shXWKNYJBCINH3VVxGaJ0dcTpRIxn3uaI5NDOBg5X4EkEtXbvwl_Cc/s2000/Ottoman%20cdr%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQXVHL92Gb34VfbuYc6d6TFX0peTGKsVpLEKiDFNw5a0Z-3V0hLY8dxJSJL-di6OKACjEJIa6XGYMCwc9mODQyQ_Cf7kpCPVCpwJgRywOwHiHY70hXRGaga-VpUZeun6P9vBI0shXWKNYJBCINH3VVxGaJ0dcTpRIxn3uaI5NDOBg5X4EkEtXbvwl_Cc/s320/Ottoman%20cdr%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MPM_FJxzEHzXE1r211ds52lvFVYxGLBGvodagDE2ZD2y2aBsvki6R5Bipn9lHiUOhJ6o_ItU9MljK0h5bvHkDR7QDTWi0GDhhkqwPQQPIC0g-FmhP5Cuar4ae7hUBu_lV2OO2ZP-_a7BpUHB998SriYtCe3ZBQGTURZnBzEjnzrXlQ6pN4Re3bJ66fc/s2000/Ottoman%20cdr%20002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MPM_FJxzEHzXE1r211ds52lvFVYxGLBGvodagDE2ZD2y2aBsvki6R5Bipn9lHiUOhJ6o_ItU9MljK0h5bvHkDR7QDTWi0GDhhkqwPQQPIC0g-FmhP5Cuar4ae7hUBu_lV2OO2ZP-_a7BpUHB998SriYtCe3ZBQGTURZnBzEjnzrXlQ6pN4Re3bJ66fc/s320/Ottoman%20cdr%20002.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlXp83XhReZs936oinsS_0bO3lUu4Tn2_4lNTHQLBRdo9ksUO5tt6hvDyn5fzYHXrOEDuHt-XAIisqlGF42U4v9IbQAOjwmX361XN2pc_oume9MQ8iXbazo94i2Z8HXijJX0aS-H2vCMcJpL-pW4h3ft2CqnJB2PgKtfbkxPVLPm9l2ldk2a_IFc67dQ/s2000/Ottoman%20cdr%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlXp83XhReZs936oinsS_0bO3lUu4Tn2_4lNTHQLBRdo9ksUO5tt6hvDyn5fzYHXrOEDuHt-XAIisqlGF42U4v9IbQAOjwmX361XN2pc_oume9MQ8iXbazo94i2Z8HXijJX0aS-H2vCMcJpL-pW4h3ft2CqnJB2PgKtfbkxPVLPm9l2ldk2a_IFc67dQ/s320/Ottoman%20cdr%20003.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSb45hdD-Ed5mhuOotZlvxjLXuR-JtQ3GIQBN-zorAPEpZ8CeKvm49tTr2TSgu73sTexWXSXJ4w-rGFAtlwh56aKPaGYirMGcD3AMOpSDryq-IDNI80vlSCb2nv7GXgcKx4dS7-VfAwI4gUAP53TBzQ0wYZduK-7Z1AkRl9Iadug1o0F360u8sXR7H3c/s2000/Ottoman%20cdr%20004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguSb45hdD-Ed5mhuOotZlvxjLXuR-JtQ3GIQBN-zorAPEpZ8CeKvm49tTr2TSgu73sTexWXSXJ4w-rGFAtlwh56aKPaGYirMGcD3AMOpSDryq-IDNI80vlSCb2nv7GXgcKx4dS7-VfAwI4gUAP53TBzQ0wYZduK-7Z1AkRl9Iadug1o0F360u8sXR7H3c/s320/Ottoman%20cdr%20004.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpwoF7Q6tK22-F3ZDpYvbNXrybrnnWrTTNQL1FSfvRciGZylqGDP7gJtO0cC8MSGi71MP1hTMejYtLzcGZgxT-F1xw6KEokXzSE_T0fBpPzvVr9dM-Vrr3wqHyh6lG6axtU1V8stjlLKJvSEp_PwbGi19JObjnK_MIlIB1xUb7h65oa0iCD8unlNKhfw/s2000/Ottoman%20cdr%20005.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpwoF7Q6tK22-F3ZDpYvbNXrybrnnWrTTNQL1FSfvRciGZylqGDP7gJtO0cC8MSGi71MP1hTMejYtLzcGZgxT-F1xw6KEokXzSE_T0fBpPzvVr9dM-Vrr3wqHyh6lG6axtU1V8stjlLKJvSEp_PwbGi19JObjnK_MIlIB1xUb7h65oa0iCD8unlNKhfw/s320/Ottoman%20cdr%20005.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>Figures are The Assault Group. Flag by Mark Allen.... another of his 'gems'.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Considering names for this particular Ottoman personality... all suggestions in comments please!</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-18626989698755478142024-01-14T15:45:00.020+00:002024-01-14T15:45:00.208+00:00Janissaries<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> First unit of Janissaries complete for my 17C Eastern Renaissance Project.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMd_Cvh54R7k2Om0fN-e81KXBGyWz9W7qyWzOkh1w7IE_Biw2ClSs-MHb3UVDiCt6cgVnCwnjPh5lR9d7IET1SgbAgmKJlwjMjZMn8qpqMBwMqy_UZxW9Aq4KjbHO7HX2suJ71b5JCCgJs6rblA16S0EZL6YdS2VK_mYSRWM0I8c52aE1IoXVuBdv_fM/s1791/Janissaries%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1791" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMd_Cvh54R7k2Om0fN-e81KXBGyWz9W7qyWzOkh1w7IE_Biw2ClSs-MHb3UVDiCt6cgVnCwnjPh5lR9d7IET1SgbAgmKJlwjMjZMn8qpqMBwMqy_UZxW9Aq4KjbHO7HX2suJ71b5JCCgJs6rblA16S0EZL6YdS2VK_mYSRWM0I8c52aE1IoXVuBdv_fM/s320/Janissaries%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm5m0wfHHS93_hLHJ8yXDliFYXkitAsmugNwNag2O9U3a5vA5Vv1rHAiNfm6O1Zecwil-4WG-yQhvXLvpRXmATpIVS2nA36Itkcdwhcx19AL4U4tUTALOCayWIz_zOeuAHyQ7AAU4phyphenhyphen1_RVU907Wj01WGihXmWbcYPntnfWdTRgASEVYE7NSjANfC1M/s2000/Janissaries%20002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm5m0wfHHS93_hLHJ8yXDliFYXkitAsmugNwNag2O9U3a5vA5Vv1rHAiNfm6O1Zecwil-4WG-yQhvXLvpRXmATpIVS2nA36Itkcdwhcx19AL4U4tUTALOCayWIz_zOeuAHyQ7AAU4phyphenhyphen1_RVU907Wj01WGihXmWbcYPntnfWdTRgASEVYE7NSjANfC1M/s320/Janissaries%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaM96KhtStvxbBbmdDh5WA1K5isw2gNEUVg9Rjqpq4GIWa_YNVrthvhvT_-3TnByXmZ2pK3BVqwsRM8v3ASZkE2tFiV-tkT00lVegxrZpWgP3tsgk4zBwsjhCkhgrzAmmPMwQegBdiHVYVou9SR989Midf3zAI2a31DwJv08xBWwQBz_fINkNodM3Nbg/s2000/Janissaries%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPaM96KhtStvxbBbmdDh5WA1K5isw2gNEUVg9Rjqpq4GIWa_YNVrthvhvT_-3TnByXmZ2pK3BVqwsRM8v3ASZkE2tFiV-tkT00lVegxrZpWgP3tsgk4zBwsjhCkhgrzAmmPMwQegBdiHVYVou9SR989Midf3zAI2a31DwJv08xBWwQBz_fINkNodM3Nbg/s320/Janissaries%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE8-64NkxTje-zU1GBIjkdnRcjwLo4pC5IzUJtBpaV2ouobRHZwbDIvkVI6hv3-7UjZF2g0SWguJzG_ibXl0Xus4ChcPp8MwKlhmInMT84x6klp33-dWNxMiPCnkB4bJ4rjM1RLpIkDYhrm4kHrUopYdeJtsH9GV0pvmazIQU2w-jYeJK9ypRPEFTds0/s2000/Janissaries%20004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUE8-64NkxTje-zU1GBIjkdnRcjwLo4pC5IzUJtBpaV2ouobRHZwbDIvkVI6hv3-7UjZF2g0SWguJzG_ibXl0Xus4ChcPp8MwKlhmInMT84x6klp33-dWNxMiPCnkB4bJ4rjM1RLpIkDYhrm4kHrUopYdeJtsH9GV0pvmazIQU2w-jYeJK9ypRPEFTds0/s320/Janissaries%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">TAG figures. Quite a bit of cleaning up required on the castings, but enjoyed painting them.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Flag is by Mark Allen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A good start to the year I think...</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-65123702862964772522024-01-03T16:21:00.000+00:002024-01-03T16:21:15.370+00:00Reviewing, Reflecting, and Plans for the Year<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Firstly, Happy New Year! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I trust you had a peaceful and enjoyable festive season, and that 2024 is stretching out before you like an inviting new chapter, in hobby terms, to enjoy it with renewed vigour and joy!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the twilight, numberless, nameless days between Christmas and New Year (liberally peppered with hosting several social and family gatherings), I was curating a number of old hobby photographs. Amongst these were some of my hobby room when I lived up in Scotland.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfeTi2-lSg1Gc-U1c3P5771gQjWce4BWY2CQBUrkUEjID0MSPs5lhV9gManRk6Y8OAo3FQV6BSsMErHVMXv-jRzaUkQY9Pm64UBYQEN3098z77dLvBIwh8GoyQIeXwYD8mKc8ZbZgA4ePJgfcvQ9tkPrvOqYibIMdvw7o2XZVqWHhbLrf30hFar9Yehk/s2848/DSCF3216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfeTi2-lSg1Gc-U1c3P5771gQjWce4BWY2CQBUrkUEjID0MSPs5lhV9gManRk6Y8OAo3FQV6BSsMErHVMXv-jRzaUkQY9Pm64UBYQEN3098z77dLvBIwh8GoyQIeXwYD8mKc8ZbZgA4ePJgfcvQ9tkPrvOqYibIMdvw7o2XZVqWHhbLrf30hFar9Yehk/s320/DSCF3216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-6n8TTx6Sj95V3fmjJPaCWD5pVDG24l5IY8-n9B7bxu3BuQKwrmcrKeu-PB3yoXHx475Vo6-dLjWrN9a0cOjHHtg-9_iZ4qClfDVpjtTOlQggTiso5Vbp-CDLyaMR4tM6Wg4u6TFrroauWs6xUtNhuU1SdLkIZQj6f3KOzoccdja8gJE53p_FNlE9e8/s2848/DSCF3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-6n8TTx6Sj95V3fmjJPaCWD5pVDG24l5IY8-n9B7bxu3BuQKwrmcrKeu-PB3yoXHx475Vo6-dLjWrN9a0cOjHHtg-9_iZ4qClfDVpjtTOlQggTiso5Vbp-CDLyaMR4tM6Wg4u6TFrroauWs6xUtNhuU1SdLkIZQj6f3KOzoccdja8gJE53p_FNlE9e8/s320/DSCF3217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda0_b7vr641m6jhyphenhyphensKCpwQ1Wp7u2-Y07-ZtuzHRNlXJJSQwwNFxf-z6sa4w3ANMAnTVF1_3VQdJzyhEEZsWrOAVy-GMwdcu_5-J7houZnMUV5NyQDiayIabyZ-oJDIfkWy_GdgDDMXJnxp3x6PQ4mwak7Yj7Zj62rn5fjsK3GNSattuK_IAjv_6ggbxc/s2848/DSCF3218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2848" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda0_b7vr641m6jhyphenhyphensKCpwQ1Wp7u2-Y07-ZtuzHRNlXJJSQwwNFxf-z6sa4w3ANMAnTVF1_3VQdJzyhEEZsWrOAVy-GMwdcu_5-J7houZnMUV5NyQDiayIabyZ-oJDIfkWy_GdgDDMXJnxp3x6PQ4mwak7Yj7Zj62rn5fjsK3GNSattuK_IAjv_6ggbxc/s320/DSCF3218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaYH7iaz_0x1u-SflXWb3Liaz-N-nuwQzuyU5n7JzAXALcsZAwjtqnh7QO3huPpr_3rn1CvVAb1zJfqBdeJuSVKnO_CdfEzhd6YKiNR7i6vwoWRmJgA1tde3uFGQard_qKSmNJlW_BNhWe3mDQNVOfjUpWGsu9RM7RODxwMToi35tWp-zxokUoa87nyY/s1246/wargames_room_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1246" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaYH7iaz_0x1u-SflXWb3Liaz-N-nuwQzuyU5n7JzAXALcsZAwjtqnh7QO3huPpr_3rn1CvVAb1zJfqBdeJuSVKnO_CdfEzhd6YKiNR7i6vwoWRmJgA1tde3uFGQard_qKSmNJlW_BNhWe3mDQNVOfjUpWGsu9RM7RODxwMToi35tWp-zxokUoa87nyY/s320/wargames_room_03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Made me all nostalgic for a moment!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the past few days, I have been enjoying the email correspondence with members of the Virtual Wargames Club who have been setting out their plans for the year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Similarly, my little gaming group, The Old Berks, have also been putting together their individual views on what the year will hold for them, hobby-wise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In time-honoured fashion, this afternoon, I had a couple of hours with my own hobby journal just taking stock and making plans, so I thought I would take this opportunity to do likewise on the blog, beginning with a frank review of the year just gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Review of 2023.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In short, if ever a school report could have said, "Could do better", 2023 was that year! Notwithstanding certain mitigating factors, reflections on the last year are:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Gaming</b> - not enough. In fact, very little. Now, whilst the gaming part of the hobby is not necessarily always my number one priority, I do want to have more games in the coming year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Painting</b> - not enough done. I started the year well with some Condottiere for playing Never Mind The Billhooks, and raced away for the first calendar quarter. Similarly, the last couple of months have been productive with the eastern renaissance project taking centre stage and getting some 'umph!' behind it. In total, in 2023, I achieved only 237 painting points (where an infantryman is one point, a cavalryman two points- one for rider, one for horse - and so on).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Display games at shows</b> - none done in 2023. Will be back 'on the circuit' in 2024.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Virtual Wargames Club</b> - this was a real boost; a Saturday afternoon tonic. Having set it up during lockdown back in 2020, I had dropped out for a while, but I'm delighted that it has been taken on by Stephen Caddy, and others, and adapted and improved along the way. I now attend when I can and certainly enjoy the company of the assembled throng.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Correspondence and Sharing</b> - whilst I'm not a great one for posting on social media about the hobby, I do value regular correspondence with several people, chiefly via email. Again, that has been a highpoint of the year in being able to just chat about plans and ideas for projects.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Talking of which...</span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Plans for 2024.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Games</b> - already have some in the diary, and hope this will be a much better year. Billhooks, some Eastern Renaissance using the fledgling collection, the old 1704 Wars of the Vaubarian Succession, will all get some attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Painting</b> - I have set myself a modest target of 350 painting points for the year, primarily for the Eastern Renaissance project. There are also plans to add to the Billhooks Condottiere armies, and to possibly add more to the 1704 WVS project. In addition, I may paint 'something different and surprising' later on in 2024, if the mood still takes me towards the end of the year. I'm not letting this get in the way of the primary projects however.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Shows and Display Games</b> - I probably won't go to York this year, but will visit Hammerhead and WMMS at Alumwell. I plan to do Display Games at both Partizans in 2024.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Writing</b> - I will blog a little more (maybe a lot more) and I also have some articles in draft for whichever magazine fancies them!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That just about covers it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Finally, I was sad to hear the news of Bryan Ansell's passing the other day. I didn't know him well, but back in the 1990s we did correspond for a while, and had a number of lengthy phone calls, chewing the hobby fat. I only met him a couple of times I think. He also sent a rather nice Christmas card on one occasion, which I kept.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy8lYb_Ss888v8nHnl6sRz_Rd6YD67dTK4XYBxhegMd_p3Ov_X-uPIiMsYe8JuBQjirTNCXEzZBATtA2azAl4kjIMrdpOPzs0k7kaHRq0FTBRuq3OJ3AvXyHgMzbQ6is256Mb7JSODDP7_Nks6iGwkWnMwcnI-7tnTTAuMX2WPAphPaXu6ah7IcPe2lc/s2000/Bryan%20Ansell%20card%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy8lYb_Ss888v8nHnl6sRz_Rd6YD67dTK4XYBxhegMd_p3Ov_X-uPIiMsYe8JuBQjirTNCXEzZBATtA2azAl4kjIMrdpOPzs0k7kaHRq0FTBRuq3OJ3AvXyHgMzbQ6is256Mb7JSODDP7_Nks6iGwkWnMwcnI-7tnTTAuMX2WPAphPaXu6ah7IcPe2lc/s320/Bryan%20Ansell%20card%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOedRpfjv7pqsqrN03Dx3X0kgxioDK2TE2Iit12gW1R2GHlUmGqzf-OVT-CGgOEWY0A13rkQBKEocsIQFFKTGdHVmtT1F4n-zR4vWx3wYMg1qo2LHFqBBi9KWFlHMfWVtFDe7eYqbhCxbr4rGBMp6swDrFAX8hyphenhyphenNgMDTz00Y_PxZ4_kwvxIqjILABL8c/s2000/Bryan%20Ansell%20card%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOedRpfjv7pqsqrN03Dx3X0kgxioDK2TE2Iit12gW1R2GHlUmGqzf-OVT-CGgOEWY0A13rkQBKEocsIQFFKTGdHVmtT1F4n-zR4vWx3wYMg1qo2LHFqBBi9KWFlHMfWVtFDe7eYqbhCxbr4rGBMp6swDrFAX8hyphenhyphenNgMDTz00Y_PxZ4_kwvxIqjILABL8c/s320/Bryan%20Ansell%20card%20002.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />He certainly had an impact on the hobby and made a remarkable contribution. My condolences to his family and friends.</span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-90290357902557651402023-12-20T12:44:00.000+00:002023-12-20T12:44:01.051+00:00Compliments of the Season<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Merry Christmas to all followers and readers of the blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This year has been 'quiet' to the casual observer, but I can assure you that behind the scenes there has been wargaming productivity aplenty, and a fair bit of painting. I'll do a full review of the year next week, once the festivities are over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the meantime, I wish you and yours peace and goodwill, and a very Merry Christmas.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZdeENnWWHKJHMk9HrxD8sy6O6qBeIbHjKaJACMhRDao19FTYCbjEbjys1X5V7fPnGq7VT8267Xr5cSEOhVn2vLjhgUT5YPYy93_c6On6dnag-MkYNUAyFU9eHKiFr133C7_yxgxqb4dTacpHB1Z_-hPaFNNPrgOGmrXSIS7diK7MHHq82n_SW0Csdcs/s1280/LB%20xmas%20scene%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1186" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZdeENnWWHKJHMk9HrxD8sy6O6qBeIbHjKaJACMhRDao19FTYCbjEbjys1X5V7fPnGq7VT8267Xr5cSEOhVn2vLjhgUT5YPYy93_c6On6dnag-MkYNUAyFU9eHKiFr133C7_yxgxqb4dTacpHB1Z_-hPaFNNPrgOGmrXSIS7diK7MHHq82n_SW0Csdcs/s320/LB%20xmas%20scene%202.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-12022584949524617792023-12-13T11:06:00.001+00:002023-12-13T11:06:32.983+00:00First Steppes<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">A few snaps of the growing Eastern Renaissance project.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Muscovite commander:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tIY2j6MSlQNlZI3QuCF9DYtl-DTmHGaHDJ8opqoD5hRrem2nLVF_Ngk117LH_ID8JxjUpFMYUhK_g4V7KGxjzn79Ytiq4UPuerzJaV-BBfRGr_8E1QYJucIMsby2hqhgN8FhbGzqTesJlcfsNQKDeNe5q5Wxi4CN2_Hp5jQ-dXWGuNh8yCvgz8p9kRQ/s2000/ERen%20layout%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tIY2j6MSlQNlZI3QuCF9DYtl-DTmHGaHDJ8opqoD5hRrem2nLVF_Ngk117LH_ID8JxjUpFMYUhK_g4V7KGxjzn79Ytiq4UPuerzJaV-BBfRGr_8E1QYJucIMsby2hqhgN8FhbGzqTesJlcfsNQKDeNe5q5Wxi4CN2_Hp5jQ-dXWGuNh8yCvgz8p9kRQ/s320/ERen%20layout%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsX4kDgtFfwD-wOgHl2Aj3Y3vII_qrlcqWNKGbIe4WS9VTX16mNt9tkx7MMsBlYTm_dOjN8csan0QPZOdIOop-KGNs9UddbrRltuWv1DXZOz10VeWm12Ny9bRSEaD5Mro_0pwRDZfFD7D02w76iTuaDgrvlB2IU3JybliUWCIQhXSyRCC97hnmd5ZICY/s2000/ERen%20layout%20004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsX4kDgtFfwD-wOgHl2Aj3Y3vII_qrlcqWNKGbIe4WS9VTX16mNt9tkx7MMsBlYTm_dOjN8csan0QPZOdIOop-KGNs9UddbrRltuWv1DXZOz10VeWm12Ny9bRSEaD5Mro_0pwRDZfFD7D02w76iTuaDgrvlB2IU3JybliUWCIQhXSyRCC97hnmd5ZICY/s320/ERen%20layout%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7hWdehRVB8LTvlf1dJD0PBem8Rpvx-3qDkxvqm-JKe1Pf77CJBb7DZG490ZTF2RNi4VHuFoplSuFiYcWp253KZ3mlQRo5PDGp7i_wtAfIZL9IYyJfYUv33K8DCfGYokDB6rXV1u-E8IwkFAp0-KLx5PHoLW4fVYKrlK-744h8yaVqxQPkAYOO_J3gdM/s2000/ERen%20layout%20005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7hWdehRVB8LTvlf1dJD0PBem8Rpvx-3qDkxvqm-JKe1Pf77CJBb7DZG490ZTF2RNi4VHuFoplSuFiYcWp253KZ3mlQRo5PDGp7i_wtAfIZL9IYyJfYUv33K8DCfGYokDB6rXV1u-E8IwkFAp0-KLx5PHoLW4fVYKrlK-744h8yaVqxQPkAYOO_J3gdM/s320/ERen%20layout%20005.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Figures are from The Assault Group (TAG). Really enjoyed painting these chaps. Flag is by Mark Allen. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next up - Tatars:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcJ-kVc4iUex26EVFGNQRHCvRJoSbKIWfcb0wKZ5yXAxx2K0HQEcedrfE5-GO0W3GD-l0ciCvLt7eGfa_KZn990DkaJuCA4AVifl6KfOEVv4YlKkjJhC0B3kfCi8bAFA0P0FdHoI5InriZoK9zDRKc9q0qn0qVPfEYy1bowi-0qYxHpDNKJFiWZSro70/s2000/ERen%20tatars%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcJ-kVc4iUex26EVFGNQRHCvRJoSbKIWfcb0wKZ5yXAxx2K0HQEcedrfE5-GO0W3GD-l0ciCvLt7eGfa_KZn990DkaJuCA4AVifl6KfOEVv4YlKkjJhC0B3kfCi8bAFA0P0FdHoI5InriZoK9zDRKc9q0qn0qVPfEYy1bowi-0qYxHpDNKJFiWZSro70/s320/ERen%20tatars%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExnhKRL_fI-SYKMHewON0vc3IC2r5QPkSSfKkB7iuFCqLdddUrll-ifNjYvqjEgLX-3-9SqyfjuQSXnrbNjCPiA0ID9AAVZF4HSsf4dLgt_6EWl8wmttyXvmoFvW2optaaESMWMX-PR0NeMbHS3sNPj81uUasD-DyDw22TVdBAsYz-4zqfcdvk1c9B-k/s2000/ERen%20tatars%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExnhKRL_fI-SYKMHewON0vc3IC2r5QPkSSfKkB7iuFCqLdddUrll-ifNjYvqjEgLX-3-9SqyfjuQSXnrbNjCPiA0ID9AAVZF4HSsf4dLgt_6EWl8wmttyXvmoFvW2optaaESMWMX-PR0NeMbHS3sNPj81uUasD-DyDw22TVdBAsYz-4zqfcdvk1c9B-k/s320/ERen%20tatars%20003.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKl7kJzRHuQcZ4Huqhe81VWE2vXLei-m1K7m6pb27XJU7rkstoFJfcDeaw_bbk6CO7R6HOfwJHXIhrTwaw_CdAQaQi-qakefVtio6V8zmOyV0w5BC6wBYR5WgjYEMS_9ykkoY_T3eRxtrv8nUj9CM0h_GyVa9qiOVgrUnLW7SBTf2SAxQOFlXk-_VuLo/s2000/ERen%20tatars%20004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKl7kJzRHuQcZ4Huqhe81VWE2vXLei-m1K7m6pb27XJU7rkstoFJfcDeaw_bbk6CO7R6HOfwJHXIhrTwaw_CdAQaQi-qakefVtio6V8zmOyV0w5BC6wBYR5WgjYEMS_9ykkoY_T3eRxtrv8nUj9CM0h_GyVa9qiOVgrUnLW7SBTf2SAxQOFlXk-_VuLo/s320/ERen%20tatars%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrV2HAGb7S663Lgtgh-LcY6YcGvlusN-G2FFcenpYfx0QVIvQ4EPzzLK1pX0dhyphenhyphenSBIZIPvvgnMG5h67XVShp1oUU91rIg-CwTZsUxoW062cE6IXeb4-OQVTYlaSW4NdWoCuheppGox0MFslvmn5YHr3CzJn9Iw4TiT6tnRxPpjeuUKmfKEi3qMzukXcc/s2000/ERen%20tatars%20005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrV2HAGb7S663Lgtgh-LcY6YcGvlusN-G2FFcenpYfx0QVIvQ4EPzzLK1pX0dhyphenhyphenSBIZIPvvgnMG5h67XVShp1oUU91rIg-CwTZsUxoW062cE6IXeb4-OQVTYlaSW4NdWoCuheppGox0MFslvmn5YHr3CzJn9Iw4TiT6tnRxPpjeuUKmfKEi3qMzukXcc/s320/ERen%20tatars%20005.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are from the Fireforge Mongol plastics box. I decided to paint them in dull brown clothing to match my perception of Tatars, largely formed by watching the film "By Fire and Sword" many years ago. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes it's nice to just set up a few scenes on the tabletop, without necessarily having a game... or at least, that's what I like to do...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here, Cossacks and Streltsi are fending off a Tatar attack on a small settlement on Muscovy's southern border.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-unlD_AoeWVgA73M0hLoCViiiFGXdONb37F_qHwWPSSsUK9kqIGV9n8dbAxaTqPgFKqtIkBgXiIZY5_7ypT4r0Hf6-ylueb6MCSygHNXAICL4V9zQf7Epf9CkFm2rvFO_Xl_qG2y-USsgBreKbrkmwm1WB5_oV7UWWgN2M8c91qfV-U8jTVeR66-kD4/s2000/ERen%20layout%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="2000" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-unlD_AoeWVgA73M0hLoCViiiFGXdONb37F_qHwWPSSsUK9kqIGV9n8dbAxaTqPgFKqtIkBgXiIZY5_7ypT4r0Hf6-ylueb6MCSygHNXAICL4V9zQf7Epf9CkFm2rvFO_Xl_qG2y-USsgBreKbrkmwm1WB5_oV7UWWgN2M8c91qfV-U8jTVeR66-kD4/s320/ERen%20layout%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst I don't yet have sufficient for a game, I am working to remedy that and early in the new year I will begin to play some games with this collection. The large numbers of cavalry will make for some interesting scenarios.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's all for now folks! Hope everyone is enjoying the 'wind down' to the festivities and the prospect of some hobby time.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-84307224481249054352023-11-26T19:47:00.003+00:002023-11-26T19:51:34.179+00:00Here's the Evidence<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The lack of activity on the blog might lead some to believe that if I was accused of being a wargamer there wouldn't be enough evidence to convict me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, dear reader, let me assure you that I have been up to various hobby-related activities of late.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In fact, there's been a bit of a Renaissance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, I decided to do a sort of mish-mash post, a smorgasbord of stuff, a digest of various topics, just to bring you up to date.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Renaissance</span></b> <br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">is definitely the word... Eastern renaissance to be more precise. The TAG Muscovites have always tempted me, and recently I took the plunge. In fact, having got rid of my previous Eastern Renaissance collection a number of years ago (Poles, Cossacks and the like), I've decided to do it again... it's an illness, not a hobby!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First up, some Muscovite Streltsi.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6m6iVDm_Bb8MIfWmJQ2obT2Bm9E23tROZd-e191SIRX7HRKFB91qaCvCuu1scV-6RfTuvv6es3F-Nh8GVuW2XERIixH0BfDrLQ1ULFosnGlOxTyoCwEIGEhECJpmUW8Sl1T_KeZghIz4qojfc3dcZdYngW2IGDMDBr0rrpC0YrYhXqx3jO3IQda3TDU/s2000/Streltsi%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2000" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6m6iVDm_Bb8MIfWmJQ2obT2Bm9E23tROZd-e191SIRX7HRKFB91qaCvCuu1scV-6RfTuvv6es3F-Nh8GVuW2XERIixH0BfDrLQ1ULFosnGlOxTyoCwEIGEhECJpmUW8Sl1T_KeZghIz4qojfc3dcZdYngW2IGDMDBr0rrpC0YrYhXqx3jO3IQda3TDU/s320/Streltsi%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5pO5a4D9eF2VXy4QSaDEZaiQbuXgUHnr1vdMnWEHrMMgtk2SgbJVjSNSZht9NzoLB5JzsxwOHzx5Cv3LfyuUI997uNxb6GXg4zuHkeDhnAa3aqAtJ74ag7QcfjuGxXvxLRL0kouVyvsR3kEDmm5ZtBoTbKM8H80FmKoK-ZM3hPLu8bcxDCtBQwn2z38/s2000/Streltsi%20002.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5pO5a4D9eF2VXy4QSaDEZaiQbuXgUHnr1vdMnWEHrMMgtk2SgbJVjSNSZht9NzoLB5JzsxwOHzx5Cv3LfyuUI997uNxb6GXg4zuHkeDhnAa3aqAtJ74ag7QcfjuGxXvxLRL0kouVyvsR3kEDmm5ZtBoTbKM8H80FmKoK-ZM3hPLu8bcxDCtBQwn2z38/s320/Streltsi%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_MtHhrjOwOUM5YxnnO4NReXWG0bkgXRBy4L7YMXayXj7uj0CLBDQSQoP3ZKuEZo-TgxP3TFTsNM7cvST-NUeIIK50SY9fPOWMemKOS0XL3659cACjbtkGztA0Grykmm3w5iROuSXmoPgALuRLUregp2zxpJ8avPRIpamf-4SYEBvirwX88kMm7Fc5us/s2000/Streltsi%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_MtHhrjOwOUM5YxnnO4NReXWG0bkgXRBy4L7YMXayXj7uj0CLBDQSQoP3ZKuEZo-TgxP3TFTsNM7cvST-NUeIIK50SY9fPOWMemKOS0XL3659cACjbtkGztA0Grykmm3w5iROuSXmoPgALuRLUregp2zxpJ8avPRIpamf-4SYEBvirwX88kMm7Fc5us/s320/Streltsi%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />This is Moscow Streltsi regt number 4. <br />I went for the uniform which is recorded for this regiment in the 1670s, even though I am setting this project much earlier (c 1600-1650). There are a few uniform differences just because I did them how I wanted them rather than be a slave to 'accuracy' (for example, the raspberry coloured hats, as opposed to the original dull grey, and the yellow button lace as opposed to the original black).</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The painting process was set back by a week with this unit when I experienced some spray undercoat bobbling which resulted in the figures spending as couple of days in Dettol, then being washed with soapy water for a couple of days before finally being left to dry thoroughly for a couple of days, finally restarting with some trepidation. After that it was plain sailing and they came out ok.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: verdana;"><b>Recent Game - Never Mind the Condottiere...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Thursday Andy came round for dinner and a game as he's currently working close to where I live. We decided it was time to get Billhooks out and give it a go. A first outing for The Army of the Duchy of Bavetta (a sort of Milanese condottiere based force) against Andy's army of Haut-Dijon ('not-Burgundians'). We had a lot of fun, enjoyed the first go at the rules, and some hilarity too when my artillery decided to blow itself up with it's first shot! I discovered that Longbows can be devastating against my cavalry, especially in the hands of a player who knows how to roll very decent dice!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A few snaps of the game in progress...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbLyfwV-R87J7bGlOicULbbA5DXNZLOncqaZnkgzIbebHH2cWt9AU2Nh8G5EHTowF-orfKGBEGD9Ka60P23O3IQ46qVaftTuNbcoKLgOzqDPfBx_kXZljk0jAwqCaGjNTS5phquXZurx3PG3HFJdUrVaSJ1ZXkLlj1X5qIidSuEZmo4Ytje59c4QEyG8/s2000/Billhooks%20game%201%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbLyfwV-R87J7bGlOicULbbA5DXNZLOncqaZnkgzIbebHH2cWt9AU2Nh8G5EHTowF-orfKGBEGD9Ka60P23O3IQ46qVaftTuNbcoKLgOzqDPfBx_kXZljk0jAwqCaGjNTS5phquXZurx3PG3HFJdUrVaSJ1ZXkLlj1X5qIidSuEZmo4Ytje59c4QEyG8/s320/Billhooks%20game%201%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVcwFfw27s7s4hCEFajLrsbyWkiJkU7ghSd8brfa2J6bPA4cjVDYZBUlKlKNLjscL_gJNg8ivk5xiw6-eX08VXTwnStVCuYEf2sCaK0PNdbdodBCaC0qsYMLUvz8QKGBr7l0tlfMfuL4CG3Gtz1sgk8hjnZVSemT5YWKe1BvQhC4JhyphenhyphenMC-nSkxwIn1_M/s2000/Billhooks%20game%201%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVcwFfw27s7s4hCEFajLrsbyWkiJkU7ghSd8brfa2J6bPA4cjVDYZBUlKlKNLjscL_gJNg8ivk5xiw6-eX08VXTwnStVCuYEf2sCaK0PNdbdodBCaC0qsYMLUvz8QKGBr7l0tlfMfuL4CG3Gtz1sgk8hjnZVSemT5YWKe1BvQhC4JhyphenhyphenMC-nSkxwIn1_M/s320/Billhooks%20game%201%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Above: The Haut-Dijon camp... 3D printed tents by Andy.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nt35Dn4L7ejERoE0Y5zlk4hGjhnpIYFH9nQ9lhMf6jnj-Mf7sIx2TzsIR5XZZwYZ_HVurY70aYij0J0_Ryy8dw9S1TAHbPXmT6EbDMaVH7DlnDUBocJz3DDWaQLgPHM7D2nDN1CvJgSe2duweoI3zFctJUGUJrC4-F3v8DqOXTgU9oL9J1NQ7MY1ZB8/s2000/Billhooks%20game%201%20006.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Nt35Dn4L7ejERoE0Y5zlk4hGjhnpIYFH9nQ9lhMf6jnj-Mf7sIx2TzsIR5XZZwYZ_HVurY70aYij0J0_Ryy8dw9S1TAHbPXmT6EbDMaVH7DlnDUBocJz3DDWaQLgPHM7D2nDN1CvJgSe2duweoI3zFctJUGUJrC4-F3v8DqOXTgU9oL9J1NQ7MY1ZB8/s320/Billhooks%20game%201%20006.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DrEznG1wn3kzbyXHqWYR4j2m5fV0S3fYtmQjVp9PN2wpHHFEXRx-gBMl6xT0U35cM2huS2qXDsf8sRVvyJ_YtpHB6Urk_3W1NI_6-TUGBsDlASlQDEpeTTo-Mc3889orxJMte7aWlILfN3XoOBmeffeyCfJ0xbZwwLvxXhxQggr8B0986dtaj0WiGkg/s2016/Billhooks%20game%201%20012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DrEznG1wn3kzbyXHqWYR4j2m5fV0S3fYtmQjVp9PN2wpHHFEXRx-gBMl6xT0U35cM2huS2qXDsf8sRVvyJ_YtpHB6Urk_3W1NI_6-TUGBsDlASlQDEpeTTo-Mc3889orxJMte7aWlILfN3XoOBmeffeyCfJ0xbZwwLvxXhxQggr8B0986dtaj0WiGkg/s320/Billhooks%20game%201%20012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All in all, Billhooks as it was intended... fun, and bloody. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Partizan</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <br />...seems a long while ago, back in the mists of October. It was a terrific weekend, as always, and the show was very good. There have been plenty of photos and reports online, so anything I can add might be a bit late to the party. However, I noticed some interesting trends.</span><p></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">The visual and aesthetic appeal of Participation games has been steadily creeping up and nowadays rivals those games designated as Demo Games. Some lovely stuff on show.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whereas in the past many demo/display games were put on by small groups of 1,2,3,4 people, the number of games being put on by large clubs with the input of a large number of members is evident. It's good to see.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is still much inspiration to be drawn from the smaller games too... and especially when they are so nicely presented. I spent a lot of time chatting with Kevin and Peter of The Iron Brigade and their Winter is Coming table based on Game of Thrones was very spectacular. I also really liked the Bramley Barn group Elizabethans in Ireland set-up. </span></li></ol><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6xwLr3L6by5mPj3iQYlyS6IlMYYrYV8Ue15pXWKXp08O2rL5lKIvS-Dl-T9UB9RWtrselHGMNZI6Pl9KOSCHiGX73fdNkfdwP4urDepUWijPObKvAL9xNi-1_Xek7su1_YDKi6UNCfBKBC6Jayr9XeDIEjAJx3LXmDQOMEHiPyQ7ZrjUS5-RXYblRYI/s2420/Iron%20Bde%20004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6xwLr3L6by5mPj3iQYlyS6IlMYYrYV8Ue15pXWKXp08O2rL5lKIvS-Dl-T9UB9RWtrselHGMNZI6Pl9KOSCHiGX73fdNkfdwP4urDepUWijPObKvAL9xNi-1_Xek7su1_YDKi6UNCfBKBC6Jayr9XeDIEjAJx3LXmDQOMEHiPyQ7ZrjUS5-RXYblRYI/s320/Iron%20Bde%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Above, Iron Brigade's "Winter is Coming".</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below: Elizabethans in Ireland</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWhh7j6ggCjhiTyJjfXBtj9P0uAauisgILxUXP1qS61Gy0NXVqP0_4l2TF8wcBZerQpgecWHYvbcr8lL48L92V-jjiBIkFIE7V4dlBwL4vgAz_g4AHoXV_MU5rv5GRD4afLnPdB31mEE1t2GOGSUyfVsQ7HdiCR0OzPcPF8AH0w_paB-15JJd8i_MOQg/s2420/Tudor%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWhh7j6ggCjhiTyJjfXBtj9P0uAauisgILxUXP1qS61Gy0NXVqP0_4l2TF8wcBZerQpgecWHYvbcr8lL48L92V-jjiBIkFIE7V4dlBwL4vgAz_g4AHoXV_MU5rv5GRD4afLnPdB31mEE1t2GOGSUyfVsQ7HdiCR0OzPcPF8AH0w_paB-15JJd8i_MOQg/s320/Tudor%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Castles are always an attraction on any display game, and this Partizan the stonemasons had been very busy. The pick of the bunch, along with that seen in the Winter game above, was Dave Andrew's edifice on The Bodkins game, below:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4mymAafpW-D8Zz8BqxcyQTBToQvWN5OhWFZCPnd4AXT6LJuq5fQf2V_t_MiWRDq5G1GuHGZC4q7u-AhiEBwMyGhbv4W6smEoVseYfmod37yO6M34lnnwDA-7N554X1P-UAjrhkWac2WUnmoKhNuDt8gZw5I_1hEVhIiHpQAYouYd9ltOiTJTdH8JL_k/s2420/Bodkins%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4mymAafpW-D8Zz8BqxcyQTBToQvWN5OhWFZCPnd4AXT6LJuq5fQf2V_t_MiWRDq5G1GuHGZC4q7u-AhiEBwMyGhbv4W6smEoVseYfmod37yO6M34lnnwDA-7N554X1P-UAjrhkWac2WUnmoKhNuDt8gZw5I_1hEVhIiHpQAYouYd9ltOiTJTdH8JL_k/s320/Bodkins%20003.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: verdana;"><b>Other inspiration</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The recent posts on Facebook by The Perrys regarding the acquisition of some of Peter Cushing's hobby notes really are worth taking a look at. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There's lots to be learned about the way he (and others of that era) went about the hobby... lots of lovely sketches, flag designs, battle reports, jottings and ideas. It's clear that back then wargames were <u>events</u>. Great efforts were made to ensure the few times each year that fellow hobbyists got to spend across the table from each other were well thought out affairs. There was no sense of 'Fast Play' being preferable - games were fully supported with scenario maps, objectives, and written orders. Great stuff.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's about it for now... more soon. I am currently painting up more Eastern Renaissance figures and at the same time wondering how to bolster up the Army of Bavetta before next facing the dastardly Haut-Dijon rascals.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's all for now. All the best ...</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-58808217202524661142023-09-19T12:03:00.001+01:002023-09-19T12:03:16.862+01:00Change of Plan<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Contrary to my previous post about painting bits n pieces for Partizan, unfortunately I will now not be able to put a game on at the show.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, I will be visiting as a punter/shopper, so look forward to seeing a few of you there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cheers</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Phil</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-85090831260598860402023-08-16T14:19:00.000+01:002023-08-16T14:19:16.096+01:00Bits n Bobs for Partizan<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having booked in to do another Display game at Partizan in October, I decided to create a small graveyard by utilising a pack of Renedra gravestones that had been languishing in the back of a cupboard for quite some time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here, the churchyard is being 'defended' by a rabble of rowdy rapscallions...</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMHHq-6N1dODad9qlbZivwobKy3Jm6uhzYlfEiVzVfJdzKg7Lz-Hl5comgDLR6-bywPmAYCKc3cwTfEUiy5_jpOQXQtiIOotYLeu4LTXh8EnPu-KLwKD_lJ6_wEZLcxCUS58j-g_KxKRs-MBgQcjjFiOKirt-kbhxdvrWs_9Bk2P9148HknB98D7-XNE/s2000/Graveyard%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMHHq-6N1dODad9qlbZivwobKy3Jm6uhzYlfEiVzVfJdzKg7Lz-Hl5comgDLR6-bywPmAYCKc3cwTfEUiy5_jpOQXQtiIOotYLeu4LTXh8EnPu-KLwKD_lJ6_wEZLcxCUS58j-g_KxKRs-MBgQcjjFiOKirt-kbhxdvrWs_9Bk2P9148HknB98D7-XNE/s320/Graveyard%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUtDVy30wfW-nx8BcMsrjX_65SmKHefZIT-bP4nVPetIG9IJh4APQHVjOrO5kIrkFWM3QTs0kEyslmMiDFV7mAZcnovzjf-TvieyDqwdXcaoKBYa0UKmFdNA9rDuL_LFa38ohTWZ7VRqCMgUjjVlXzNP_JLEYwqvcNuMW6TXYFDAXyFkIdcGE9-mNGdo/s2000/Graveyard%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUtDVy30wfW-nx8BcMsrjX_65SmKHefZIT-bP4nVPetIG9IJh4APQHVjOrO5kIrkFWM3QTs0kEyslmMiDFV7mAZcnovzjf-TvieyDqwdXcaoKBYa0UKmFdNA9rDuL_LFa38ohTWZ7VRqCMgUjjVlXzNP_JLEYwqvcNuMW6TXYFDAXyFkIdcGE9-mNGdo/s320/Graveyard%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pt93YmyzpRA6atUWeLjoEHuwRFd8e9UMI05_FZ6J5qyXs-efjovffJrF-KZxBIozlSzzzC3MFgUCNN25De7NIJ0ViRaDvBtirsZPOb9wap-vpx6-hrktQhWS6rruOzMOR7UXyBZxZakdaYJ49C9rVERvrkdtdfgtCHzTL6Eu0LegAFaYTjMZ8NviLVU/s2000/Graveyard%20004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pt93YmyzpRA6atUWeLjoEHuwRFd8e9UMI05_FZ6J5qyXs-efjovffJrF-KZxBIozlSzzzC3MFgUCNN25De7NIJ0ViRaDvBtirsZPOb9wap-vpx6-hrktQhWS6rruOzMOR7UXyBZxZakdaYJ49C9rVERvrkdtdfgtCHzTL6Eu0LegAFaYTjMZ8NviLVU/s320/Graveyard%20004.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p>More news on the actual game, scenario, etc nearer the time.</p><p>Have got an Old berks game coming up in a couple of weekend's time - Never Mind the Billhooks is on the agenda, using our fictional Condottiere armies, so that will be fun. I will post a few pics and a small report on that when it happens.</p><p>Meantime, all the best...</p></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-29375882136789403732023-07-16T20:39:00.004+01:002023-07-17T09:29:05.815+01:00A week reflecting on 'obbies<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last weekend was a milestone birthday, for which I had a bit of a 'do' for family and close friends (some wargamers amongst them). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Once the gazebos had been derigged, on the Monday Lisa and I set off for a rather special trip.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We went to Framlingham... somewhere I have longed to visit not least because it is where the fantastic TV series "detectorists" was filmed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were able to stay in the centre of the town, and all week were darting here and there following a very detailed google map which has many of the specific scene locations marked (a labour of love by someone who is as mad as me about the programme I guess).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, "what's this all got to do with wargaming?" you may ask.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, the series is very much about middle-aged blokes and their hobbies. It just so happens that Lance (played by Toby Jones) and Andy (played by Mackenzie Crook, who also wrote and directed the series) are metal detectorists. But the parallels with our own hobby, and indeed any hobby, are so very obvious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway, having watched all three series from the very start (plus the Christmas specials) and many hundreds of times since, I was able to indulge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those who have no interest in the show, apologies...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Normal service will be resumed shortly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meantime, a few snaps:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Below - Maggie's shop, as seen from our hotel room.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HjJ8qKKdLcC9mJIKffQoyNokQzRCNFOtTuOxFTX2YtwEZRxKxmu2ehOHloUNGi5wZYLtP5Ee43EhGyNaA8lGtv00VAizhinmhAdAMfLCelpGDKyZASBj6Gh4CQAzgsERb7NHkwpTmVINbHle79hVah-U_cpVr56aAo4oj5D0BendyswMQsrrcFWeo4g/s2000/Fram%20001.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HjJ8qKKdLcC9mJIKffQoyNokQzRCNFOtTuOxFTX2YtwEZRxKxmu2ehOHloUNGi5wZYLtP5Ee43EhGyNaA8lGtv00VAizhinmhAdAMfLCelpGDKyZASBj6Gh4CQAzgsERb7NHkwpTmVINbHle79hVah-U_cpVr56aAo4oj5D0BendyswMQsrrcFWeo4g/s320/Fram%20001.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lance's flat</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYA0bss4uh4gb6ANBdIBl2Z46bvV4S6pU9qGfUMz5IPRrFLVnm-cNkaW_1tJnwo-ynUDT1yD9iLOnvKeA--lkIXRUEzSHrZfaaVb81zgKs8_-KezEMaTR0UEURFEsP9mIdtmb5PcsnLjnTpQvOojM3omILUvNJdBGsUD4dliFCDcQpx7kZzA5DgFyV_s/s2000/Fram%20003.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYA0bss4uh4gb6ANBdIBl2Z46bvV4S6pU9qGfUMz5IPRrFLVnm-cNkaW_1tJnwo-ynUDT1yD9iLOnvKeA--lkIXRUEzSHrZfaaVb81zgKs8_-KezEMaTR0UEURFEsP9mIdtmb5PcsnLjnTpQvOojM3omILUvNJdBGsUD4dliFCDcQpx7kZzA5DgFyV_s/s320/Fram%20003.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Castle Inn was used for "The Two Brewers" external scenes </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf61MMyPcSwSe6OpYnWrItDl7LJs3ULdFkCL_Dabe74KkDJcR9aKeRqEIPJZTqvcWmL2bFWCTHGRFx6Xdd1twbeSeEvPMaAZb26-JDLvgww-izI0tx7kDSjLdzgWp4Ps0nDSCJp4h5KScocV_VDTqBP6QRQLdcOU_TRz5bUaMrGtZtZfhNpAUg132lRx0/s2000/Fram%20004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf61MMyPcSwSe6OpYnWrItDl7LJs3ULdFkCL_Dabe74KkDJcR9aKeRqEIPJZTqvcWmL2bFWCTHGRFx6Xdd1twbeSeEvPMaAZb26-JDLvgww-izI0tx7kDSjLdzgWp4Ps0nDSCJp4h5KScocV_VDTqBP6QRQLdcOU_TRz5bUaMrGtZtZfhNpAUg132lRx0/s320/Fram%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The King's Head in Orford was used for internal shots of the quiz night at The Two Brewers.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoyHUM8ZDnah6kCJkRnXHgn9NvdWctqAuy7xmuxGFiOQD5q3mCPd8ZWIVHI26OtfHNEkJTpQ-3bcNjmjEX6UB_v_U0kioo1SLtOLQ8AHE0Z_9TsaGDT29n0zuO-CyfxOVG3nPktX1wBFs0I1wmIR_Ttow7jyW3Mpq4_h3WWIjHGRBLPz7AhsEeGU9upI/s2000/Fram%20012.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoyHUM8ZDnah6kCJkRnXHgn9NvdWctqAuy7xmuxGFiOQD5q3mCPd8ZWIVHI26OtfHNEkJTpQ-3bcNjmjEX6UB_v_U0kioo1SLtOLQ8AHE0Z_9TsaGDT29n0zuO-CyfxOVG3nPktX1wBFs0I1wmIR_Ttow7jyW3Mpq4_h3WWIjHGRBLPz7AhsEeGU9upI/s320/Fram%20012.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Becky's school</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGQcJzAVmKj8XOEFtO7hOgVJ3i42K5la6UpnljaRrdmclDIvwbWa0KDCxZS3msEkQcPiLBjm35UX4cq9i7UwGcUWjswAOFd8oraWZLIw9fsbTXm6XWX45Wh2GpBTJo2O7qoRA1Zc5nW8yTEKq6Ptanb78DHYNJJIGOImYZ1S_mSAHKqmtRbUWm5d614k/s2000/Fram%20015.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGQcJzAVmKj8XOEFtO7hOgVJ3i42K5la6UpnljaRrdmclDIvwbWa0KDCxZS3msEkQcPiLBjm35UX4cq9i7UwGcUWjswAOFd8oraWZLIw9fsbTXm6XWX45Wh2GpBTJo2O7qoRA1Zc5nW8yTEKq6Ptanb78DHYNJJIGOImYZ1S_mSAHKqmtRbUWm5d614k/s320/Fram%20015.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Lemon Tree cafe where lance met his long lost daughter Kate is now a rather nice Italian restaurant... we insisted on the corner seat where Lance and Kate sat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tree in the churchyard opposite where Andy spied on them has since been felled, but other than that the scene is easily recognisable.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT2v37KTmgYR_tJ82gGXMv4XIsofc_IVVu-ePaJhqmrMB9Q-cVa_gpdCff6GUMJLh8hMB-Ptwt97JcgWU2RKcs2oyZt3V2SN1I8w3aVL6u3VcNen2GkdklvM6G7nZWuRaQHQD3hd1XldwiAq3pzukaP-WESvQvq5gaVZv6JSb-NvCU2ElyyPRhPL01LM/s2000/Fram%20017.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT2v37KTmgYR_tJ82gGXMv4XIsofc_IVVu-ePaJhqmrMB9Q-cVa_gpdCff6GUMJLh8hMB-Ptwt97JcgWU2RKcs2oyZt3V2SN1I8w3aVL6u3VcNen2GkdklvM6G7nZWuRaQHQD3hd1XldwiAq3pzukaP-WESvQvq5gaVZv6JSb-NvCU2ElyyPRhPL01LM/s320/Fram%20017.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The field where King Sexred's ship burial is shot.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfq3X2FA1DhCD9hqEo3cU982gUrcjlIFN6KXxqGbT4GwvBors75N3mX-nTP5B640DegXv0XG65Vuehze4UpTSrdl2fishL3PAe7EOiUdzRaDTtdFeeToE69tQqb72bgiY_r8trTg8TAF6ZwkFMcF1iHdFXToGAV4evws5l6N-a1DuTPungasO11q6yVw/s2000/Fram%20019.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfq3X2FA1DhCD9hqEo3cU982gUrcjlIFN6KXxqGbT4GwvBors75N3mX-nTP5B640DegXv0XG65Vuehze4UpTSrdl2fishL3PAe7EOiUdzRaDTtdFeeToE69tQqb72bgiY_r8trTg8TAF6ZwkFMcF1iHdFXToGAV4evws5l6N-a1DuTPungasO11q6yVw/s320/Fram%20019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Two Brewer's Beer Garden (in real life this is the White Horse at Ufford) where Lance and Sheila had a rather moving scene.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiEsVf0y9cjKxCA3o_kP2UGNSYU7F2VqKVK8mOPQATzvERA8_b0iRueB2CCDesFtA-aI4OB9IBXY9F96-qUXhlZsgqS9WjMzBkqtVCthe1gB-Ltxv35M-OXlXahZPpE36R77Klj-WI3P6OQsW4YhNNcWwiq9PzKMPqEknSqpsco1BGVBNQS9s7sPZ7js/s2000/Fram%20020.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiEsVf0y9cjKxCA3o_kP2UGNSYU7F2VqKVK8mOPQATzvERA8_b0iRueB2CCDesFtA-aI4OB9IBXY9F96-qUXhlZsgqS9WjMzBkqtVCthe1gB-Ltxv35M-OXlXahZPpE36R77Klj-WI3P6OQsW4YhNNcWwiq9PzKMPqEknSqpsco1BGVBNQS9s7sPZ7js/s320/Fram%20020.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Saxon Round Tower church... Boom! The church at Aldham</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceeHokNXwh4LHIEeK-vB1JhKr-CXZO0Ki7ZKS-BQKhiNpR_VRo976hMHtRvShZ4I_FKExzxNbdvLKjJUxc5VRIt_k9FIfT8OX4Cft6TpGVnuLR2rXt0uQwrgwUIKvvKicw1V5yeOLf7p5Wsib_fpdmpF-wbPKz4VJvnaDcS0ila5VxI8uDmC6MJDVigk/s2000/Fram%20022.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceeHokNXwh4LHIEeK-vB1JhKr-CXZO0Ki7ZKS-BQKhiNpR_VRo976hMHtRvShZ4I_FKExzxNbdvLKjJUxc5VRIt_k9FIfT8OX4Cft6TpGVnuLR2rXt0uQwrgwUIKvvKicw1V5yeOLf7p5Wsib_fpdmpF-wbPKz4VJvnaDcS0ila5VxI8uDmC6MJDVigk/s320/Fram%20022.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The spot where Lance makes his big find!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7I4vxTPsxkyK7aOOYA7kvP81iJOtO0o4hhyKrlP1tbDsMicXx2vc2DeJv9g50DZXx2UTla44qGpr4SmFM0bLuG20tQbaeUVm9bS2MooajOJM7hJpY7xXPaNTQy_zzEdDECgajW1c85sQ8IudndJVDb_k4x2c7aEHwoJy1U6aR2l5Hl2Hr17EbUq0KHc/s2000/Fram%20024.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7I4vxTPsxkyK7aOOYA7kvP81iJOtO0o4hhyKrlP1tbDsMicXx2vc2DeJv9g50DZXx2UTla44qGpr4SmFM0bLuG20tQbaeUVm9bS2MooajOJM7hJpY7xXPaNTQy_zzEdDECgajW1c85sQ8IudndJVDb_k4x2c7aEHwoJy1U6aR2l5Hl2Hr17EbUq0KHc/s320/Fram%20024.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGdD0ec_Fx0iBjIgXj1t6dmdvtzUGDg4dMPPO9DcUATBvuvzFQmBv0xEv8Fp8C-IC3ab9j72P926FC_eToM7WtEqavoJjsS10qbEScLfahici_YvUbXNO1OuV8sqzEChlkBo_SGZ-UB1P8wc_Qg7qYrRPxSVMyjcy-ELbwVLjW9BSmsp-Bu4LhoSTLpY/s1600/Fram%20038.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGdD0ec_Fx0iBjIgXj1t6dmdvtzUGDg4dMPPO9DcUATBvuvzFQmBv0xEv8Fp8C-IC3ab9j72P926FC_eToM7WtEqavoJjsS10qbEScLfahici_YvUbXNO1OuV8sqzEChlkBo_SGZ-UB1P8wc_Qg7qYrRPxSVMyjcy-ELbwVLjW9BSmsp-Bu4LhoSTLpY/s320/Fram%20038.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Mayor's house</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdjkFm3sEwc9CzM2B3xWtr-RIrAqtvzbMNsKnu0if4fba6uWBpXywmVRNsBdU8MZlPQ2VlNBiToxQprDF6kXMlFXqKTvTOCIqNzU8dObELlUOCq8rVV3v-iDnI0aPZ0U5_EJ40O_0NFgEH5erdeCyDkbmurF8kJP_RmZQ8twEoi6513l5Yypr4091pFc/s2000/Fram%20026.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdjkFm3sEwc9CzM2B3xWtr-RIrAqtvzbMNsKnu0if4fba6uWBpXywmVRNsBdU8MZlPQ2VlNBiToxQprDF6kXMlFXqKTvTOCIqNzU8dObELlUOCq8rVV3v-iDnI0aPZ0U5_EJ40O_0NFgEH5erdeCyDkbmurF8kJP_RmZQ8twEoi6513l5Yypr4091pFc/s320/Fram%20026.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Crown at Great Glemham was the location for interior scenes at The Two Brewers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj--P3mpwxpG3UQWkqzF8f0bqwPSsj9a4UxjHhhWL7LW2KIMW1Wu2xTw_aYgg3Jj1C06LeEpMVNXpttVztiymVj1EECNWM0Q317yCTJhS847HJLvYLSTB_2xWVF7v4_sasgy4xHb1oW2SxknX1ZDi2VTMWBAGgR8x4j_qg2Gm7JtHtWRzjZeUYdfLRrLHg/s2000/Fram%20029.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj--P3mpwxpG3UQWkqzF8f0bqwPSsj9a4UxjHhhWL7LW2KIMW1Wu2xTw_aYgg3Jj1C06LeEpMVNXpttVztiymVj1EECNWM0Q317yCTJhS847HJLvYLSTB_2xWVF7v4_sasgy4xHb1oW2SxknX1ZDi2VTMWBAGgR8x4j_qg2Gm7JtHtWRzjZeUYdfLRrLHg/s320/Fram%20029.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQcnuufIOO_hJTpY5iZmAlET0XwHXpWBdhGYWVRXS-bxkH-ixzJxmfIVthV015LRQYVtQJFVwTxSCC43hY9zSaaR8icNw95tvZ39x2w6WoJbzFZZO5KjLORj6H5LIXBigafjUJXu-0VXJTqrX_riQP80hpNv2oKYTIf9X9wvS1rmVK_cwtLYOQ-2eZD0/s1600/Fram%20039.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQcnuufIOO_hJTpY5iZmAlET0XwHXpWBdhGYWVRXS-bxkH-ixzJxmfIVthV015LRQYVtQJFVwTxSCC43hY9zSaaR8icNw95tvZ39x2w6WoJbzFZZO5KjLORj6H5LIXBigafjUJXu-0VXJTqrX_riQP80hpNv2oKYTIf9X9wvS1rmVK_cwtLYOQ-2eZD0/s320/Fram%20039.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those who are interested, all series are on BBC iplayer.</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-57561929905191382092023-07-03T16:40:00.000+01:002023-07-03T16:40:05.768+01:00Holding Action<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyEinjPLrcuE4KoEyo5GbY6vAEpYx_-ZV5y-aRU2TdHtml7COBcNTUrxCX9GpJKcQzwMxVDYJafanpOP78V-UaEh_9IAq1RISO-jnjxRHcCzkxP08shut3ZjPZo1iRLFubTkwFqY5oiJ-xyF1t9_hDIJ9nLBB28J8iiHRUX84bdG6HpbDmR8uJQFdWh8/s2000/Hugellucke%20009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyEinjPLrcuE4KoEyo5GbY6vAEpYx_-ZV5y-aRU2TdHtml7COBcNTUrxCX9GpJKcQzwMxVDYJafanpOP78V-UaEh_9IAq1RISO-jnjxRHcCzkxP08shut3ZjPZo1iRLFubTkwFqY5oiJ-xyF1t9_hDIJ9nLBB28J8iiHRUX84bdG6HpbDmR8uJQFdWh8/s320/Hugellucke%20009.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A couple of weekends ago, The Old Berks (myself, Steve G, Andy M, and John K) gathered here for a catch up, a bit of show n tell, and a game.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We shared latest projects, and chewed the wargaming fat for quite some time before settling at the table for a small game I had prepared. I wanted to trial my 18th Century rules using the 1704 Wars of the Vaubarian Succession (WVS) armies and decided to create a 2 player v 1 player game based on one of Charles S Grant's 'teaser-style' scenarios (Holding Action).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I called the battle Hugellucke as the Vaubarian force (under the command of Steve) were to defend a hill line and the pass against the two columns of Astrovians (John and Andy).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was also a bit of random Hussar arrival, and a few other little surprises thrown in. The benefit of having an umpire allowed some of the defenders to be concealed behind the ridgeline and in woods too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a good game, and the Vaubarians held out in the end, despite a spirited and intense attack. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I won't give a blow-by-blow account, but will let the pictures tell a bit of a story....</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-TYvi-zMexdMQZOivookGqYeclRxyrH6hQVcKPmk07BcMmRsyxftuzKzqqYePP6npv6wSlVWC1fycdMPiqyhNCqBmZIJasZZ4F4Pzo0m_mAT4XfM7SLVPEdlTZ02dKY9_ahjPPDQwivLi5VHlhrpe688iK9sfvRuSncGTWC4B6bgSslSvQ-jiQ6-yy4/s1522/Hugellucke%20map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1522" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw-TYvi-zMexdMQZOivookGqYeclRxyrH6hQVcKPmk07BcMmRsyxftuzKzqqYePP6npv6wSlVWC1fycdMPiqyhNCqBmZIJasZZ4F4Pzo0m_mAT4XfM7SLVPEdlTZ02dKY9_ahjPPDQwivLi5VHlhrpe688iK9sfvRuSncGTWC4B6bgSslSvQ-jiQ6-yy4/s320/Hugellucke%20map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKidB0TBQx9lqW3echWxpjqCDhQtr0gp1iLwdtIsWIdUvoyrhQeOrvNENdQFncpGR_Sq2Vx0K2OyMnmbTcIDQIEMG6r0PjQZ7dJt3kfPPVDEw7Mo-c12iTUkgpHQajRr-6sKg-CKOuSnJrVU7YsqyOSdc7lrigpow8ZBZf-IhazsSEPZBKlgDMIXPUmz4/s2000/Hugellucke%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKidB0TBQx9lqW3echWxpjqCDhQtr0gp1iLwdtIsWIdUvoyrhQeOrvNENdQFncpGR_Sq2Vx0K2OyMnmbTcIDQIEMG6r0PjQZ7dJt3kfPPVDEw7Mo-c12iTUkgpHQajRr-6sKg-CKOuSnJrVU7YsqyOSdc7lrigpow8ZBZf-IhazsSEPZBKlgDMIXPUmz4/s320/Hugellucke%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRBKMJuWDmZmLJucrlCd1os3bjH2TSOlzJiDRTV28gTDelko_lPT1HfWgmvHRvsKVyTHvozYzAC0_5KihJwg-V_sQA83K-2y4MrSbee4wippzpV0S5P9SzkTANTJ1bVtsvb4wcoidsQyaa4arz_XGjVLgGKRBEsUvBxomDCf5mC8WwDm6VB-pM3EUcbk/s2000/Hugellucke%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmj8b4KLEyhkMOIE-udXotMLeEklSlhSmi8Gao8ero7qfo1F_OyWojXFxDIsAETMiHCK0Uvsxc6e2v5wL1I34wKwXd5YW79K_hICphlXzE4wd7Uqr_qyQtOTk0OO8zezbW-ZdKsKSbxKk0EhWJiCUQGzjEpVwvOUPnpXOuODgJUMpKhAO0lelof2-Hr90/s320/Hugellucke%20024.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For those who like to know a bit more detail of the set up, the forces were as follows:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Vaubarians (commanded by Etienne Graf von gill)</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">4 infantry battalions (Liebgarde, Dremel, Breitner, Ratzinga)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">dismounted dragoons</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Podolski Hussars (began the game off table... random arrival time and place determined by dice throw)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">2 field guns.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Astrovians</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">column 1 commanded by Herzog Johann von Kerplunk</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">3 infantry battalions (Frankl, Schrodinger, Mahler Grenadiers)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 cavalry regt (Klammer Kuirassiers)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 Field Gun</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">column 2 commanded by Brigadier Andreas von Tielemans</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">3 infantry battalions (Wittgenstein, Klimt, Schindler)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Karavani Croats</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">Czardas Hussars (began the game off table... random arrival time and place determined by dice throw)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">1 Field Gun</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was a most enjoyable and close encounter. The rules seemed to work well, and those unfamiliar with wargaming the period soon got into the swing of them which was very gratifying.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meantime, there's all sorts of fresh things afoot here... more of which soon.</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-46989154176405553232023-05-28T21:05:00.000+01:002023-05-28T21:05:02.554+01:00Going Dutch<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Been pottering around with a few projects over the past month or so, o</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ne of which is the 1672 Dutch wars.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is Dutch regiment Konigsmark (Infantry regt 77).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The flags are purely conjectural. The coat of arms of their province, Groningen, is in the top corner nearest the flag-staff in the style of Dutch flags of the time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDQbbDhtn18kc2L9a1kluCt-IPLh6pPJGVNBQB1qUWoZ3Fy4QoZzhRmMnn9_nR_Yv20TyDCTNxRbJBZXkN_JebslE3vgwhS-U1t7azLKVwLImqDj1VK8Ndl36EK__d0eVbjyFAZRHJhO4qPj-JMFwU-kF5d6bPFlXpjyf64Y-hhj9dhCRYjY-Ygnv/s2420/Konigsmark%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDQbbDhtn18kc2L9a1kluCt-IPLh6pPJGVNBQB1qUWoZ3Fy4QoZzhRmMnn9_nR_Yv20TyDCTNxRbJBZXkN_JebslE3vgwhS-U1t7azLKVwLImqDj1VK8Ndl36EK__d0eVbjyFAZRHJhO4qPj-JMFwU-kF5d6bPFlXpjyf64Y-hhj9dhCRYjY-Ygnv/s320/Konigsmark%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwUqFQDRRBYtMHOYJUV6ASOQJchWh5gZSU65llCbJogXtMVPcj4gH9nevoQ1q-LbIRAz70F_2tw1nbPkuDH4w0iMBcl8hAIm1PV3Bnq25ZzK5b1iEzWjZDg60hsqfLv6wqVBLXtdc5Sb2rEEcnnkITcCsxnDfLg083jiNX5iEH4UgK98RBs-0Z6Ke/s2420/Konigsmark%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwUqFQDRRBYtMHOYJUV6ASOQJchWh5gZSU65llCbJogXtMVPcj4gH9nevoQ1q-LbIRAz70F_2tw1nbPkuDH4w0iMBcl8hAIm1PV3Bnq25ZzK5b1iEzWjZDg60hsqfLv6wqVBLXtdc5Sb2rEEcnnkITcCsxnDfLg083jiNX5iEH4UgK98RBs-0Z6Ke/s320/Konigsmark%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2KGW5uGUFhKjeCZS3pGC5oZnTmZiIlz06DSdiI0wQP-XSR7mptvSGOHxEx7aAsnAagn4Nl3FMW6sFpbEZs6Nijqx_Xxg1dQ0Ngx8JIvNrymW_hO4tIThj_IiTBVmKJYLkUQmj85PaSH1-qkTo_U1pWsavGLwgupUmuGKO1wSnhaN26FHUu3eXU5P/s2420/Konigsmark%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2KGW5uGUFhKjeCZS3pGC5oZnTmZiIlz06DSdiI0wQP-XSR7mptvSGOHxEx7aAsnAagn4Nl3FMW6sFpbEZs6Nijqx_Xxg1dQ0Ngx8JIvNrymW_hO4tIThj_IiTBVmKJYLkUQmj85PaSH1-qkTo_U1pWsavGLwgupUmuGKO1wSnhaN26FHUu3eXU5P/s320/Konigsmark%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not really sure where I am heading with this at the moment. Just enjoying painting a few figures.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The North Star range has a very nice style to it. It's tempting to do more, and I did pick up another regiment at Partizan last week, so who knows where that might lead us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But... there are other temptations afoot too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-983207698440634612023-04-28T16:03:00.000+01:002023-04-28T16:03:04.386+01:00Pictures at an Exhibition<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, not quite an "Exhibition"... more a Museum.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In my previous post, I mentioned The Arctic Convoy Museum which is near Poolewe on the west coast of Scotland, on the North Coast 500.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As part of our recent trip, we enjoyed a good hour or so here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some snaps of the various exhibits:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCgyI1LAjo7xUanR7w9HfCwv7HnYuU53mTHFOxK8BeOnXSu7Tm21t1XWJR290LRAjoa_971Qh4NCP7a9q64TvN76nXOfZljfWsNOBh1PIm-oa4wmC0H0kSPdMftdevQCvMhFciFPpf5C0tDOf_bfCk5dWhrorXaVjSb8ytkkMesXzFuYnth76jlcI/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCgyI1LAjo7xUanR7w9HfCwv7HnYuU53mTHFOxK8BeOnXSu7Tm21t1XWJR290LRAjoa_971Qh4NCP7a9q64TvN76nXOfZljfWsNOBh1PIm-oa4wmC0H0kSPdMftdevQCvMhFciFPpf5C0tDOf_bfCk5dWhrorXaVjSb8ytkkMesXzFuYnth76jlcI/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20005.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZfiffgayDWJIB8xYDWrXiuEn7A7yaRhqW8Z8QhCq5JrGh2jDpJcl-Drz7RfZFCnuhRF8EFuk_uqC9FU9CK9vbWnrf-YbdktJ0cZ-gVpGACCpmbAjdIDV5AIoSlzGBe95dYVGZ34yPF55MXG91kPArIQZqF4_hGW2zoMyQ7LI_sLjgrPJ8AVTX-nB/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZfiffgayDWJIB8xYDWrXiuEn7A7yaRhqW8Z8QhCq5JrGh2jDpJcl-Drz7RfZFCnuhRF8EFuk_uqC9FU9CK9vbWnrf-YbdktJ0cZ-gVpGACCpmbAjdIDV5AIoSlzGBe95dYVGZ34yPF55MXG91kPArIQZqF4_hGW2zoMyQ7LI_sLjgrPJ8AVTX-nB/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20006.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9VZUPySCRm20thLCk47fBKSSD3ogJ8QP1CqIH0LfXsZHk5UCQv1_QdtkYB4ww-cKkW_yOtC9dv6PWtcWi7lor12nL2TJ6gQFxXdEAxkY5OBxsFOpGF3JZrKVaIdDZIl0yLCIvs6L4K5s5A7wAjkoVykFLgnW-OTskOnaeIbS6D5zMGnr6NulE-FL/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20007.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9VZUPySCRm20thLCk47fBKSSD3ogJ8QP1CqIH0LfXsZHk5UCQv1_QdtkYB4ww-cKkW_yOtC9dv6PWtcWi7lor12nL2TJ6gQFxXdEAxkY5OBxsFOpGF3JZrKVaIdDZIl0yLCIvs6L4K5s5A7wAjkoVykFLgnW-OTskOnaeIbS6D5zMGnr6NulE-FL/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20007.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVyrwgdeP8xUSNGFC7ePGz-v9OlDpNZGSfkgz9s8qrK0f9mYeX8g6DLW_zQhWzCjt5N1fRDvydjY38ewkQ14OyXpwg94grpEivvLvezPgW1-xk5tuqR6du8XopGlhB9py4J_0Lny0SD4NBqviRSLoTujMQwWv7_Z8N2EYUGAGR2F48x1M1tb5K4WO/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVyrwgdeP8xUSNGFC7ePGz-v9OlDpNZGSfkgz9s8qrK0f9mYeX8g6DLW_zQhWzCjt5N1fRDvydjY38ewkQ14OyXpwg94grpEivvLvezPgW1-xk5tuqR6du8XopGlhB9py4J_0Lny0SD4NBqviRSLoTujMQwWv7_Z8N2EYUGAGR2F48x1M1tb5K4WO/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20008.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGJY1feNQ7Ys94ntBzwIyiiGJnGhknLDYRe6WtflMihWlMfn0Sr6ZDZML6WgThbkB6pzLhlveIvl-z63P3aaVBYMETt28qU3qGgCh8om8yZaXetpDVlSHqN9GiFs4zHw8vja-OKvH-C_IJURztUo_nRAwg_OMvdsK8mbdyZ_J7Cdn6Zcj48PgADkO/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGJY1feNQ7Ys94ntBzwIyiiGJnGhknLDYRe6WtflMihWlMfn0Sr6ZDZML6WgThbkB6pzLhlveIvl-z63P3aaVBYMETt28qU3qGgCh8om8yZaXetpDVlSHqN9GiFs4zHw8vja-OKvH-C_IJURztUo_nRAwg_OMvdsK8mbdyZ_J7Cdn6Zcj48PgADkO/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20009.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWJZ8UyaVIsQoVzXQ0oQ855yr_-QjVVZuv9feSPTpydizWO6NyS2F30q0cIyiofw7X59vTb9c1nxO7Fg3yRoUi8BSRKvlSh-7PFU3EyD2lIGLVCyh5fmhVHt_yrYYAjpDCtVFcSxd_XuUNJB9HUtASNm9BLTSy7pZd-2xE8wdqc2l0DJSZ-f0bJK2/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWJZ8UyaVIsQoVzXQ0oQ855yr_-QjVVZuv9feSPTpydizWO6NyS2F30q0cIyiofw7X59vTb9c1nxO7Fg3yRoUi8BSRKvlSh-7PFU3EyD2lIGLVCyh5fmhVHt_yrYYAjpDCtVFcSxd_XuUNJB9HUtASNm9BLTSy7pZd-2xE8wdqc2l0DJSZ-f0bJK2/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20011.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUP1u3zQDKNneGdpKqVvriFtX9AMUAMDVXgTuUK5cqCCN7YRTbYt4KO8-HLKLxHYip5dcy9u8c0Tcf0tLdLv5YziU3ktwAGD-ejcAAj0eAGSD8V_dcRuagGiNeiRRCB_d2zhcojam7nPbtNt_SP7ekjiMt2M9Yur2FJJqmv-G-kmgE2AGdqPMzSxG/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUP1u3zQDKNneGdpKqVvriFtX9AMUAMDVXgTuUK5cqCCN7YRTbYt4KO8-HLKLxHYip5dcy9u8c0Tcf0tLdLv5YziU3ktwAGD-ejcAAj0eAGSD8V_dcRuagGiNeiRRCB_d2zhcojam7nPbtNt_SP7ekjiMt2M9Yur2FJJqmv-G-kmgE2AGdqPMzSxG/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20012.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMo_cCnzV-PlWB515WGuQRFPEZRXC5xGtQLSFdYXmGttCD3OqgGCKLuvK7Q69VAmRhcf_LzPorJwlzmA06OwvB9w3cUPCN7FoS5LJPDmvDWSdas5LkpxLjfE1fTaxbRMMllSJ3-42cYWxcm-8l2UCftZdyYp5WUpQOPepwS3FvSsdiOJ8vFM83ZiG/s2420/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMo_cCnzV-PlWB515WGuQRFPEZRXC5xGtQLSFdYXmGttCD3OqgGCKLuvK7Q69VAmRhcf_LzPorJwlzmA06OwvB9w3cUPCN7FoS5LJPDmvDWSdas5LkpxLjfE1fTaxbRMMllSJ3-42cYWxcm-8l2UCftZdyYp5WUpQOPepwS3FvSsdiOJ8vFM83ZiG/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20013.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzLrsgoyVRyaQfxm9ezCN0FWux4O_tDn-CK6uU36akGKpCZi6AAM-_EiIvqh0fYbLpH3Ln64M9fZ4GHY-JFvub7EZmWEyr4rXfvUJIiogmnjHQtxpb8WuYic6P7zslijI8UvcSBWxb_EOe-A3buwWQxngC19pgBewjsHKkIMyXhYAxUU4EhzvCbDo/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzLrsgoyVRyaQfxm9ezCN0FWux4O_tDn-CK6uU36akGKpCZi6AAM-_EiIvqh0fYbLpH3Ln64M9fZ4GHY-JFvub7EZmWEyr4rXfvUJIiogmnjHQtxpb8WuYic6P7zslijI8UvcSBWxb_EOe-A3buwWQxngC19pgBewjsHKkIMyXhYAxUU4EhzvCbDo/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20014.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were also some touching contributions from Russian schoolchildren thanking British sailors for their courage and bravery in helping save their country in their hour of need.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Given the current world climate, that was quite moving.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As was this prayer in one of the many journals on show:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDWKl_GGs_GtLxxQjljXDXZi8OsaZbHIta6ImwrIfEKD8IgzkyNWlEQPkLZ7ZvZHbtkSiMj5svq1Yz1p5ZHOOJv8bwSzIDuTCQL9ws5Pe1Rq0r4ReWMQgtwodl_KDfXrN91Xx6OMa0QAIyRq8UIUztSKqvwzy0ZP6tEO0DWGiUxs8nXfMc7VUaoVI/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20010.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDWKl_GGs_GtLxxQjljXDXZi8OsaZbHIta6ImwrIfEKD8IgzkyNWlEQPkLZ7ZvZHbtkSiMj5svq1Yz1p5ZHOOJv8bwSzIDuTCQL9ws5Pe1Rq0r4ReWMQgtwodl_KDfXrN91Xx6OMa0QAIyRq8UIUztSKqvwzy0ZP6tEO0DWGiUxs8nXfMc7VUaoVI/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20010.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you ever find yourself in the vicinity, it really is a place to visit. The staff were very friendly too. There are more sites around the area connected with the Arctic Convoys which we struggled to access as time was short, and the motorhome was quite large to get down some of the lanes and side-roads.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's all for now... soon be back to posting about wargaming again!</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-45006619805733832132023-04-27T17:44:00.000+01:002023-04-27T17:44:07.242+01:00Roadtrip<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The plan was simple:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lisa had long held an ambition to do a road-trip around Scotland's North Coast 500. On her semi retirement, taking plenty of time out to do so became practical, and with a bit of planning, my own schedule allowed us to take 3 weeks out in April.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perfect.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As I had lived north of the border for nigh on 25 years, we could tie it in with visits to old pals, and to see my daughter and grandson too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And so it was that we travelled up to have a few days on Loch Lomond, a couple more at Loch Ness, a week travelling in a motorhome around the NC500, and then time in Perthshire, Angus, and Fife, before returning home to the midlands.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a sharp twist of fate, the weather in Scotland was mostly incredible, whilst at home it was, I believe, cold, wet, and generally a bit rubbish!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now, I won't bore you with endless photos of sunsets, lochs, mountains, waterfalls, sunrises over lochs and mountains, and the other miscellany of our trip. Suffice to say, it was memorable; driving through high mountain passes, round hairpin bends, on single track roads, was fun, as was pitching up at remote campsites on the edges of lochs and above golden-white sandy beaches.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, during our travels, we stopped at a few sites that may be of interest to wargamers, and with your indulgence, I will share a few snaps here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These were all taken on my iphone. Many more pics were taken by Lisa, the expert photographer, on her 'proper' camera, but she's currently sorting through them all for our scrapbook.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Staring off at Glencoe. The road through was as haunting as ever. I'd never been to the Visitors' Centre before though:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PZTybQ64ATf3PDfa5MUMmGUopwLi66wcsL9f04cvmEzyGA0KnThMVHrG8uVUEJcHJBMeH4TQ0lRBML7Qa6LCodj4xjMjlrWCC2h-8RBT_xVUMj6anAKFbJv3fk_eHI2kHYVerArul-nqM5pPdraeiCzJMb5D1awsBFDBfk8tca78uHtjhOevEzrI/s2000/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PZTybQ64ATf3PDfa5MUMmGUopwLi66wcsL9f04cvmEzyGA0KnThMVHrG8uVUEJcHJBMeH4TQ0lRBML7Qa6LCodj4xjMjlrWCC2h-8RBT_xVUMj6anAKFbJv3fk_eHI2kHYVerArul-nqM5pPdraeiCzJMb5D1awsBFDBfk8tca78uHtjhOevEzrI/s320/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2rDJ3p6gKvwY_z5oCJSWjkOLdOfCgkreYQP2KPGWJru3PEimrNgu_FguacGg_Ek-Ho6-ShI-ofSy_3R34oVW23xOzMuhhD7P716PXlk7_CNhVSZDo9JYggiGOWbQb8isUqdpvjGLptSoZKbiYX4vk5OEYqHHFY3GGw1T_J5Q_LOGlh5VZv8-bpUF/s2000/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2rDJ3p6gKvwY_z5oCJSWjkOLdOfCgkreYQP2KPGWJru3PEimrNgu_FguacGg_Ek-Ho6-ShI-ofSy_3R34oVW23xOzMuhhD7P716PXlk7_CNhVSZDo9JYggiGOWbQb8isUqdpvjGLptSoZKbiYX4vk5OEYqHHFY3GGw1T_J5Q_LOGlh5VZv8-bpUF/s320/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>The Commando memorial further along the A82:</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f5Y0joKRVS27SqYZYy-yavC3Hl-AO6d9DsaqiV0U3U1VuJbOC09Fi7SQdht1_uHXwwbbfFyVDe2BsYm97EFYrWrRwN15kzKRuOcYRcByz3VelGFvCbkwl57TpqYAysElra3X41qIaLBCqLpF6hsT8Ddqfvo8_vzFNP2-vfTXXU_WJGAOS7_VScHF/s2000/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8f5Y0joKRVS27SqYZYy-yavC3Hl-AO6d9DsaqiV0U3U1VuJbOC09Fi7SQdht1_uHXwwbbfFyVDe2BsYm97EFYrWrRwN15kzKRuOcYRcByz3VelGFvCbkwl57TpqYAysElra3X41qIaLBCqLpF6hsT8Ddqfvo8_vzFNP2-vfTXXU_WJGAOS7_VScHF/s320/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20005.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdb5M1hSvk8qd8JC9YiywDZxGrjoBlV_mlYxPz3SjgA3AbMb2__And2QRytKcL0EdNjNS0aRebUbt6B2x2UxcyOW6gzQDgzb-zoDboX8HFh4qMDxYMIAiGumixpuL3q2y3B110WABBwlxhQRTXZ7IlNakV2WAGmUuHsyPZvXC0Le1P5fjIu0ndzCI/s2000/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20015.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdb5M1hSvk8qd8JC9YiywDZxGrjoBlV_mlYxPz3SjgA3AbMb2__And2QRytKcL0EdNjNS0aRebUbt6B2x2UxcyOW6gzQDgzb-zoDboX8HFh4qMDxYMIAiGumixpuL3q2y3B110WABBwlxhQRTXZ7IlNakV2WAGmUuHsyPZvXC0Le1P5fjIu0ndzCI/s320/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20015.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSRysd4CmCo9f_PwBfWPsgXkTgBZoTy85061tY8s0JyLmdzmZb7Kt8KtQK5FcLVdcuORltjt25rNWtReHG3IA_QMetB4YyiYMeEtBBVwu-SpwThSk0CxvOfW6jZ0EvF0AJ6DyxETY_3c9JDHwnknfZr8TFB3Mdw2a_TpMwLtbqhyj4GLh301VAD5W/s2000/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20016.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSRysd4CmCo9f_PwBfWPsgXkTgBZoTy85061tY8s0JyLmdzmZb7Kt8KtQK5FcLVdcuORltjt25rNWtReHG3IA_QMetB4YyiYMeEtBBVwu-SpwThSk0CxvOfW6jZ0EvF0AJ6DyxETY_3c9JDHwnknfZr8TFB3Mdw2a_TpMwLtbqhyj4GLh301VAD5W/s320/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20016.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL37UrOCagYrCCnQHMQoFKlof2VUU3IzrXH7SM0MVpX9Z_OGsz8lT3sgFEtz24pn8xzCFQRQmN_WjoWbHuprxrHbk4C73jAQAr9FVTiFYkdcFn6oRQFzI-6XoN_Su5r7bNfMexHWgEmX6i3__luyly7ZpHsBIyCQ5sataqeffCwBxtfASEUZQxAz8/s2000/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL37UrOCagYrCCnQHMQoFKlof2VUU3IzrXH7SM0MVpX9Z_OGsz8lT3sgFEtz24pn8xzCFQRQmN_WjoWbHuprxrHbk4C73jAQAr9FVTiFYkdcFn6oRQFzI-6XoN_Su5r7bNfMexHWgEmX6i3__luyly7ZpHsBIyCQ5sataqeffCwBxtfASEUZQxAz8/s320/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20020.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIwKskivUeMKtGVWiTxpQDZLJfiAxIR5qhgErbZ6FtYhGZ7eHW1WX7BMzBnTr2opUQMX0VpW8bZx7W2_aAxLA42v_xmgz6MOfrXhr_vJODgULV0hx-Uj8a5jXZ_4u85EM0EeeuhrIzCXAZW0qjgrKRIwM5osulpyuoIQazRUmkjfHNnx0lXfHWYYZ/s2000/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIwKskivUeMKtGVWiTxpQDZLJfiAxIR5qhgErbZ6FtYhGZ7eHW1WX7BMzBnTr2opUQMX0VpW8bZx7W2_aAxLA42v_xmgz6MOfrXhr_vJODgULV0hx-Uj8a5jXZ_4u85EM0EeeuhrIzCXAZW0qjgrKRIwM5osulpyuoIQazRUmkjfHNnx0lXfHWYYZ/s320/Glencoe-Loch%20Ness%20023.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apparently, there was a sighting of Nessie the very day we took our boat trip on the Loch so I've been scouring my photos to see if anything strange is in the background of any of them!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On to the North Coast 500... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Castle Sinclair:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKm-GgKOhNl3Oc_dg9571gn9IItKraajnuExaP_IrjoWxvQDiMwGqB5IjmfNpDfIWa1altFkU3U5W747rk9fo3bEra0HZirqe7iy2G_GkqkhgyDFGaYt3H4BiPOtPmDMg3HeXAgbHosjuvjxqe4uZ7nFgyvM4a5vR-aYlqthiu9o8vi8X6wWEBC-p/s2000/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKm-GgKOhNl3Oc_dg9571gn9IItKraajnuExaP_IrjoWxvQDiMwGqB5IjmfNpDfIWa1altFkU3U5W747rk9fo3bEra0HZirqe7iy2G_GkqkhgyDFGaYt3H4BiPOtPmDMg3HeXAgbHosjuvjxqe4uZ7nFgyvM4a5vR-aYlqthiu9o8vi8X6wWEBC-p/s320/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20006.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr_ybIjbI4fpsruDg4TA3qetYxtGj_Vu5c4IXgBR17rx1sNpOvjAWHBIFlqwKSaALUmt-q6Z07gShlYTqhrFjlPuuJuQ9Qv2p5HfliNNgIQzgyAqHex54GrLojUSxowy8vagaj0OlNlpgEDECgdhDvcnc7uXUN-TSR2BGNYkWCyrjlIU8Xb32200N/s2000/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmr_ybIjbI4fpsruDg4TA3qetYxtGj_Vu5c4IXgBR17rx1sNpOvjAWHBIFlqwKSaALUmt-q6Z07gShlYTqhrFjlPuuJuQ9Qv2p5HfliNNgIQzgyAqHex54GrLojUSxowy8vagaj0OlNlpgEDECgdhDvcnc7uXUN-TSR2BGNYkWCyrjlIU8Xb32200N/s320/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20009.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQVzldmsy9tRXXFJB5hrl_Bw-oeTfZzu-Sds-O7Rf-xB5rqAHiATbFSUptvQ7yU0fu0NjPQET5kpz8d7HDy4dI9nNNhUOCgfQJJTWfMDiRic9d4ZpDv0ndskWzLefCn9S2Pp1RiofTD8TA0QkslTZZ1O4EEpRZkBspzfu0DDEE-5NV-i7kqe5HzZb/s2000/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQVzldmsy9tRXXFJB5hrl_Bw-oeTfZzu-Sds-O7Rf-xB5rqAHiATbFSUptvQ7yU0fu0NjPQET5kpz8d7HDy4dI9nNNhUOCgfQJJTWfMDiRic9d4ZpDv0ndskWzLefCn9S2Pp1RiofTD8TA0QkslTZZ1O4EEpRZkBspzfu0DDEE-5NV-i7kqe5HzZb/s320/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20011.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-1TZSLq7udOlCCgaR41immUoQ_IhkYDFBBXAUgBH-_opKFmLZWXORwz-QOMnv0JbZCbgLPbPPQ29qnrSFZRpbfgjUQfH6cdZjagBS6WG1Q4EpnEtYwxRQTp2-KZIkN6ABVsZkrLQge4jDwAFwrPN_lJmCTj0W7OzWuzV0nXUlEiAhIip8borV3y3/s2000/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-1TZSLq7udOlCCgaR41immUoQ_IhkYDFBBXAUgBH-_opKFmLZWXORwz-QOMnv0JbZCbgLPbPPQ29qnrSFZRpbfgjUQfH6cdZjagBS6WG1Q4EpnEtYwxRQTp2-KZIkN6ABVsZkrLQge4jDwAFwrPN_lJmCTj0W7OzWuzV0nXUlEiAhIip8borV3y3/s320/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20008.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Obligatory photo at John O Groats:</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig61XwI6H7rJ6fwOKR6qK9P5aSUT_NqXlR0V8HoGJqQmmJjHacGZuh13Slndf0lOBJUqjihPPctoOSBSpTJLN_aickxeexoktlXHC006JgLtVzFgcOhe-Jx8Of_l5Fkw1YEHlNm_ovriMk_RdT82pIgYTIVlqJkSc57NtOJYPwNQEQnVWAsRL1r3N5/s2000/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20018.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig61XwI6H7rJ6fwOKR6qK9P5aSUT_NqXlR0V8HoGJqQmmJjHacGZuh13Slndf0lOBJUqjihPPctoOSBSpTJLN_aickxeexoktlXHC006JgLtVzFgcOhe-Jx8Of_l5Fkw1YEHlNm_ovriMk_RdT82pIgYTIVlqJkSc57NtOJYPwNQEQnVWAsRL1r3N5/s320/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20018.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ardvreck Castle:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tMFsTLcLimjdA7lh2rEefRZXfEBHomNucfc4jzgriQm00StHuJt4uRqgA5zT6-6Qb78fY7CqFgtRPmF4cpaUz5ZGFrbwVa6QC_ZIlRS3EsJNdAzGWLvSsOXHawNw-P-V_ZGEmWm1TbsiTWJ7x5qHoNq-cQM-F_ji3OEcsXucgs6Ra4G2swwDqVcI/s2000/Scourie-Ardmair%20011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tMFsTLcLimjdA7lh2rEefRZXfEBHomNucfc4jzgriQm00StHuJt4uRqgA5zT6-6Qb78fY7CqFgtRPmF4cpaUz5ZGFrbwVa6QC_ZIlRS3EsJNdAzGWLvSsOXHawNw-P-V_ZGEmWm1TbsiTWJ7x5qHoNq-cQM-F_ji3OEcsXucgs6Ra4G2swwDqVcI/s320/Scourie-Ardmair%20011.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ge1AgspOVcBt5zbhvkqK_eHBXjWGufV--rei-N4mbmhe9BUnHg10FZJ9xI_vQuODWgNgzHs4j9o4bUI0hV8ZR1PVbSmfdz9WxS8bhI_3Qn0ylmydBdsUzgdGbBti7VIg_BbBezF46tBJAjO5xqD3HUEerCevYH9nxDxh7waml5g_kWuDp3pAYlww/s2000/Scourie-Ardmair%20018.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ge1AgspOVcBt5zbhvkqK_eHBXjWGufV--rei-N4mbmhe9BUnHg10FZJ9xI_vQuODWgNgzHs4j9o4bUI0hV8ZR1PVbSmfdz9WxS8bhI_3Qn0ylmydBdsUzgdGbBti7VIg_BbBezF46tBJAjO5xqD3HUEerCevYH9nxDxh7waml5g_kWuDp3pAYlww/s320/Scourie-Ardmair%20018.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPm5kAqRPoudTLJ8_6mQ4lFokofs-fWvBQ96vN3JqbraD8NYTJIc5vXKjvIXSD40mUr7gFnNwIjJzZ9K8A6Ki_k3XD_7BIG1_L79Rk2KsXbNCQlraIDPtKa5Bo_XYST63N56lY2NclVQsk3uJZoGd_rn3Azymf6M_86LIt2BPr5GTu35DzWdboXch6/s2000/Scourie-Ardmair%20023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPm5kAqRPoudTLJ8_6mQ4lFokofs-fWvBQ96vN3JqbraD8NYTJIc5vXKjvIXSD40mUr7gFnNwIjJzZ9K8A6Ki_k3XD_7BIG1_L79Rk2KsXbNCQlraIDPtKa5Bo_XYST63N56lY2NclVQsk3uJZoGd_rn3Azymf6M_86LIt2BPr5GTu35DzWdboXch6/s320/Scourie-Ardmair%20023.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifffrXnO5pgZlYATcgjVBz9ERDXc2GD5UC0B03e6IJNsv8YQEV0XTRxmoe1arAKDkTGOIgdLNl92rN2HP2_FMh-r_S8VwPQg7d2UQkkw-RbM-TZnklwBn-WhKxDwN7RvtHPf5Q4j72aNsFxaApP2E_qDCYcnSWqk17eQDsZKvdkNd5fg8y7BW1zIG4/s2000/Scourie-Ardmair%20024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifffrXnO5pgZlYATcgjVBz9ERDXc2GD5UC0B03e6IJNsv8YQEV0XTRxmoe1arAKDkTGOIgdLNl92rN2HP2_FMh-r_S8VwPQg7d2UQkkw-RbM-TZnklwBn-WhKxDwN7RvtHPf5Q4j72aNsFxaApP2E_qDCYcnSWqk17eQDsZKvdkNd5fg8y7BW1zIG4/s320/Scourie-Ardmair%20024.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the end of the NC500, we dropped down to the kyle of Lochalsh, onto Skye , and then back to the mainland to camp near Eilean Donan Castle:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHJS-IfyINfB3GSuHlTkuvJ7tzYHOelD1QJJhMKMcH35FQPVKuZNavWSFTsPf9DEp60fHCCDuSL9t5Vg00uqjvFgCDaauGlECDuIvpWSbxhSPvE7avqIl_YXpjaEeI9Ohmcva8no1w9O4GMWwi06h1wp7lGxDZ5dSsTcZ2vnSMvbXsBSdjRMkbyc8/s2000/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHJS-IfyINfB3GSuHlTkuvJ7tzYHOelD1QJJhMKMcH35FQPVKuZNavWSFTsPf9DEp60fHCCDuSL9t5Vg00uqjvFgCDaauGlECDuIvpWSbxhSPvE7avqIl_YXpjaEeI9Ohmcva8no1w9O4GMWwi06h1wp7lGxDZ5dSsTcZ2vnSMvbXsBSdjRMkbyc8/s320/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20008.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTJ7MtmfQnMgG5v5jSPeeJorpf_jSEo1UgCIOd_2E5dVTL0EERwwVDS93mO9ABXn7ExhU7O-eMf3RSqmTSDF5znWY9oCFPSYLmmkM5q2uZqWiA0df2DfNhD6-zGe0VpiR3rAed5uYjMwmi-WGFJeUP8r1Jr2L3tW8bpRaZMDukM7LMC_WmJXDAhUq/s2000/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTJ7MtmfQnMgG5v5jSPeeJorpf_jSEo1UgCIOd_2E5dVTL0EERwwVDS93mO9ABXn7ExhU7O-eMf3RSqmTSDF5znWY9oCFPSYLmmkM5q2uZqWiA0df2DfNhD6-zGe0VpiR3rAed5uYjMwmi-WGFJeUP8r1Jr2L3tW8bpRaZMDukM7LMC_WmJXDAhUq/s320/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20009.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20-y572GawSC6sVzr6VxC6PjBEapvwjZahr3UrwcQUEvHs5xR7nB5yWRdNOmAgYXYwrolxhGKLFoGCgv1NzJeiYfPwkAZzObMhxHE5lVqggcm5ouNcBqXY95ivklJ9iYeSp62oKJk0JXfEBuC3RKBMPJYPtnDRDC0e1VyrRNDCj_-kb4vIyIbHeUQ/s2000/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20022.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20-y572GawSC6sVzr6VxC6PjBEapvwjZahr3UrwcQUEvHs5xR7nB5yWRdNOmAgYXYwrolxhGKLFoGCgv1NzJeiYfPwkAZzObMhxHE5lVqggcm5ouNcBqXY95ivklJ9iYeSp62oKJk0JXfEBuC3RKBMPJYPtnDRDC0e1VyrRNDCj_-kb4vIyIbHeUQ/s320/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20022.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_htLoQZ_4tgKu4AaiYVfi_7bqIwpbD0AKv5wLv5hNbbHDp0Ryw2OEMQohj0AcE_9ky_drgZUuY5yUwSfFQkTLD9wWpbVuxH4ezCNFx11CaD_yhTAulL-nZ_bogsNxMwggss1TAfols3RuWA-CvcUir6kyOpPb-mLl6BVPcAYY-PgDk06Jd01rr6Ej/s2000/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_htLoQZ_4tgKu4AaiYVfi_7bqIwpbD0AKv5wLv5hNbbHDp0Ryw2OEMQohj0AcE_9ky_drgZUuY5yUwSfFQkTLD9wWpbVuxH4ezCNFx11CaD_yhTAulL-nZ_bogsNxMwggss1TAfols3RuWA-CvcUir6kyOpPb-mLl6BVPcAYY-PgDk06Jd01rr6Ej/s320/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20023.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznYS2cr0pL16jwykzPpPjnxIFi891XZv6ef7NeZaCb7Sgp5keALYUqmvn4-cmYxmcOdf7iUIp-wEk25aDUt7DVhm7JFyUpjbRfzOLds1OtUSn99CjxY2sxIwRwdVHJPV046dyNcWTkP9NOJm1hpn1ylCV87Q0fj373jGv4gJUBoJuIDrEMIQ-iDT2/s2000/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznYS2cr0pL16jwykzPpPjnxIFi891XZv6ef7NeZaCb7Sgp5keALYUqmvn4-cmYxmcOdf7iUIp-wEk25aDUt7DVhm7JFyUpjbRfzOLds1OtUSn99CjxY2sxIwRwdVHJPV046dyNcWTkP9NOJm1hpn1ylCV87Q0fj373jGv4gJUBoJuIDrEMIQ-iDT2/s320/Shieldaig-Ardelve%20024.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Heading back to Inverness, Glenshiel:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z63Ty-q2CzzHGEQ72GbAMFoiVdKEbPagKIgX-N4oyjn8Zz_ij2sfNJguO6jVT93Ig731PQioD3g1eSrfrHlHigG0guyn8CK2P3lVOiW5bGqngBVEHYhZgB8IqL4MWh4Ju6k3jnlQ-bpW-yQeADdF3kovtYtvNglh5wRnnDFQusKHSGOk8hx8ugcM/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20003.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z63Ty-q2CzzHGEQ72GbAMFoiVdKEbPagKIgX-N4oyjn8Zz_ij2sfNJguO6jVT93Ig731PQioD3g1eSrfrHlHigG0guyn8CK2P3lVOiW5bGqngBVEHYhZgB8IqL4MWh4Ju6k3jnlQ-bpW-yQeADdF3kovtYtvNglh5wRnnDFQusKHSGOk8hx8ugcM/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20003.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QpKHwQuDzNYEQdAdu0_oqC-dNhs33CcmjsCJ3VNonAx1akO8z7YTRVNqxqerPxL6RBaBNdPhkn9osixsan_bUFrEHKZhFIzwwvuk062mFBUmQggY_3qlsNqv7zmLKKIPdVa3PoaDzfF_V59WltEj808QHBPL_kaHy7dXL6xJ0MTCbx3-Nbo-sIVn/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QpKHwQuDzNYEQdAdu0_oqC-dNhs33CcmjsCJ3VNonAx1akO8z7YTRVNqxqerPxL6RBaBNdPhkn9osixsan_bUFrEHKZhFIzwwvuk062mFBUmQggY_3qlsNqv7zmLKKIPdVa3PoaDzfF_V59WltEj808QHBPL_kaHy7dXL6xJ0MTCbx3-Nbo-sIVn/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20004.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwszn3KNpmwaf0JwcfBxDgU69Rjz-OYDg3CauDOZ1dwDKqK0KcidVah_uUW4K4KWZNMiFCPwmIAosuvmGJBID2YijyLw_chEmHOc2O9yxqI-VVQjD72GI8-a4SAiw1Cy0nxIa603y8GtaXGZi8CEuw7yx0S6BbgnXPkTFVNOenqrcdH9YfMPUXNvoi/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwszn3KNpmwaf0JwcfBxDgU69Rjz-OYDg3CauDOZ1dwDKqK0KcidVah_uUW4K4KWZNMiFCPwmIAosuvmGJBID2YijyLw_chEmHOc2O9yxqI-VVQjD72GI8-a4SAiw1Cy0nxIa603y8GtaXGZi8CEuw7yx0S6BbgnXPkTFVNOenqrcdH9YfMPUXNvoi/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20005.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Culloden (we were able to reach Inverness for the anniversary of the battle on 16th April). I've been plenty of times, so only took a couple of pics:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNjf-hUs2gKa7ZmNv3c5SD-MGhKVw5P0exn1CpuCWDJjIdyFXlOmHe4bPhS2bJSkkiBFWxD9u4RxoLGkObG_6y_htFwLn4qzyiZsyPY_aKOdktU3XHOq8onqg5_woSR7F3Cmq_hGjSLJq584QDUNwIvzB3Xkr3zl8H5QnJ06POkO-2-WR2WjDWimz/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20007.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNjf-hUs2gKa7ZmNv3c5SD-MGhKVw5P0exn1CpuCWDJjIdyFXlOmHe4bPhS2bJSkkiBFWxD9u4RxoLGkObG_6y_htFwLn4qzyiZsyPY_aKOdktU3XHOq8onqg5_woSR7F3Cmq_hGjSLJq584QDUNwIvzB3Xkr3zl8H5QnJ06POkO-2-WR2WjDWimz/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20007.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir42aLFQgYgK-H2RpTVZtDJTFQTJc7ShN6RJ2isKoTLZOt6NVJLG1Sjb6zXZ0myliVNV3wMKG7_BVXx34FbhcjHkbTOqCs6lpqtQuhE4-w1jeB1KqGubw14ROlNiMxJ61-LwhonkVUl0SMConVop4CZSmf4k8Onx_AIGoU3ExsOd0goj6vUH1J3LIO/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20008.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir42aLFQgYgK-H2RpTVZtDJTFQTJc7ShN6RJ2isKoTLZOt6NVJLG1Sjb6zXZ0myliVNV3wMKG7_BVXx34FbhcjHkbTOqCs6lpqtQuhE4-w1jeB1KqGubw14ROlNiMxJ61-LwhonkVUl0SMConVop4CZSmf4k8Onx_AIGoU3ExsOd0goj6vUH1J3LIO/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20008.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Clava Cairns (near to Culloden battlefield). I've never been here before. Interesting place:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo_4B4UAk2GMnjXR-9C_WYHy5JD62YDDPKlSUgRKPOj2XNoxt22OFo_9w9AIHdnSFkZSQ-XeBbQzbQRTmBJ91kOs-k3FKCxmaSnlXASHsmclpwybFJwZbCfAhDp_HCTXFtDf8wZw63eBWEP8hRLNl_CL5N7ZAhkF4WYNVYoLTc67EkJavkxG8g6f2/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo_4B4UAk2GMnjXR-9C_WYHy5JD62YDDPKlSUgRKPOj2XNoxt22OFo_9w9AIHdnSFkZSQ-XeBbQzbQRTmBJ91kOs-k3FKCxmaSnlXASHsmclpwybFJwZbCfAhDp_HCTXFtDf8wZw63eBWEP8hRLNl_CL5N7ZAhkF4WYNVYoLTc67EkJavkxG8g6f2/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20012.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9dyP-n6Wc4iwhyIA02BFgR27lWd8NcyLi_sNGUzR79n6-a69Lx7ZNE2VxjOlFHwsYu9hHNNfrIrMV44P4U5XC7Db2sN6iD-Qu2R-Bhz6Ana2Xg_7SKKfg8-ZGEy5XUT_iWwr7W6hkW9KCpqETtdE7usGl4bEVMpkFpRSfssDmlhpFXmT4pWevEO6/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20015.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9dyP-n6Wc4iwhyIA02BFgR27lWd8NcyLi_sNGUzR79n6-a69Lx7ZNE2VxjOlFHwsYu9hHNNfrIrMV44P4U5XC7Db2sN6iD-Qu2R-Bhz6Ana2Xg_7SKKfg8-ZGEy5XUT_iWwr7W6hkW9KCpqETtdE7usGl4bEVMpkFpRSfssDmlhpFXmT4pWevEO6/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20015.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Lisa has been watching too much Outlander and hoped that by leaning on the stone, she'd travel back to the 1740s!)</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtRf6_EK4I1SRZgcQ_9jYvDDUG0zj-labVd_-1F0XQKHtqf9_FAJmIyG7P1SJZPqMSzvUtBlf74VHn7Z5WprRkeLxl6FPGJJKMWUT5hB8r_SDZk9nyQLDYGdC9Jx2ND5PfhdhmBDFVTCdpmDUsgnQc_BqQrE16lQ0IpJcJrbjVsBTIylbQUPTBMVh/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20018.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtRf6_EK4I1SRZgcQ_9jYvDDUG0zj-labVd_-1F0XQKHtqf9_FAJmIyG7P1SJZPqMSzvUtBlf74VHn7Z5WprRkeLxl6FPGJJKMWUT5hB8r_SDZk9nyQLDYGdC9Jx2ND5PfhdhmBDFVTCdpmDUsgnQc_BqQrE16lQ0IpJcJrbjVsBTIylbQUPTBMVh/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20018.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UdX7Cf8zTSHmx1LwjjPupiGyS0cJDiOPdG8HMP-Cfoh9GaA89RJmurcMsfKXOv8ZrGxXM9_PaDYjQOhhD1z1spLODKHppITd9_0M_FhZngEb4biqaBtXibN4mzLZ1QjSTPqibQl1fbdoNS9eiKmteQAWXDAJue9jGfth7TZ5X4KLPDo1ZM-FSZmQ/s2000/Ardelve-Inv%20014.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UdX7Cf8zTSHmx1LwjjPupiGyS0cJDiOPdG8HMP-Cfoh9GaA89RJmurcMsfKXOv8ZrGxXM9_PaDYjQOhhD1z1spLODKHppITd9_0M_FhZngEb4biqaBtXibN4mzLZ1QjSTPqibQl1fbdoNS9eiKmteQAWXDAJue9jGfth7TZ5X4KLPDo1ZM-FSZmQ/s320/Ardelve-Inv%20014.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were able to overnight stop at some stunning locations, so here are a couple of gratuitous sunsets, and our motorhome for the week:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_-ZpNrFg4wOGkaQ3lNIHnjywyqP_ZSvznqA1XJXbFNlme2hnULH7wMxDRklMWCohIPwOIpr_RXuGKKz2Nv-HmZ85_ZlgnPg5PjDP8lIItDWRRecy5auo4sDR7OY70V8WdEG0qHW_oa4x7-q6LBBOPdjXpD9No0iN6h90zGwEkHck4gUCvehwG_-V/s2000/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_-ZpNrFg4wOGkaQ3lNIHnjywyqP_ZSvznqA1XJXbFNlme2hnULH7wMxDRklMWCohIPwOIpr_RXuGKKz2Nv-HmZ85_ZlgnPg5PjDP8lIItDWRRecy5auo4sDR7OY70V8WdEG0qHW_oa4x7-q6LBBOPdjXpD9No0iN6h90zGwEkHck4gUCvehwG_-V/s320/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowCPW_g8KPyuodycKJVF2QzmuU98ZFOcJreMZEVDPQz2SJGMnIsrd-xCGGbDow2bOcm8uGkcIZnRXTT3R3fLKi0VWo8yTYxrSi7j4iw1f-W_k-1u40BlK62ApiWsb8DKTBB1-dGe3JNq4zYJVod-Z9rVJ8j8xEjCejgvs2Am4WQHEl_1zgt-Ub0cc/s2000/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowCPW_g8KPyuodycKJVF2QzmuU98ZFOcJreMZEVDPQz2SJGMnIsrd-xCGGbDow2bOcm8uGkcIZnRXTT3R3fLKi0VWo8yTYxrSi7j4iw1f-W_k-1u40BlK62ApiWsb8DKTBB1-dGe3JNq4zYJVod-Z9rVJ8j8xEjCejgvs2Am4WQHEl_1zgt-Ub0cc/s320/Dornoch-John%20O%20Groats%20021.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmfk54qwJBBeEHE_drEw7FjCx0tV4JQC40seoe8RIFB-PtS_GKeDhzbOL37jWClJ7JmLWHAfy4UUOjVrDXjjZvU5zBa4rzbADq3OgRpqzkeUcExmADp2rq9g_Xp8xDdAx2u3PX2ye2EEq8A_UYqyDgVu7NyjSs2oaToXYa97CqBEVWxrhw99zOSDX/s2000/Scourie-Ardmair%20031.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmfk54qwJBBeEHE_drEw7FjCx0tV4JQC40seoe8RIFB-PtS_GKeDhzbOL37jWClJ7JmLWHAfy4UUOjVrDXjjZvU5zBa4rzbADq3OgRpqzkeUcExmADp2rq9g_Xp8xDdAx2u3PX2ye2EEq8A_UYqyDgVu7NyjSs2oaToXYa97CqBEVWxrhw99zOSDX/s320/Scourie-Ardmair%20031.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vO0fNgJHNmlfqcO9rNhOkDDWdNnSFo_EoAWSBLM2ROXlIYlauKeghimCTHmonRjeZMF4Y89byCZXjIKsqHJVXmrVh46-ZISJ858LcMrAPcwO2XuBdILLnstndUzW-mvmtIzUkBXAgogmlGpYnWMNBKHS2E9aQgRtFtC3Jbdm5n9qxa4xMGxJpNFa/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20026.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vO0fNgJHNmlfqcO9rNhOkDDWdNnSFo_EoAWSBLM2ROXlIYlauKeghimCTHmonRjeZMF4Y89byCZXjIKsqHJVXmrVh46-ZISJ858LcMrAPcwO2XuBdILLnstndUzW-mvmtIzUkBXAgogmlGpYnWMNBKHS2E9aQgRtFtC3Jbdm5n9qxa4xMGxJpNFa/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20026.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Vy4xx6iwsyADnqs59LsuEA8v_UdT8LrZOJNc-3lrQavkpkBJrwhp5oriw_P8Wbv2mx3kfKSwEIStumSlc-SAsj8rlRjJI7ArYPcRXObIYf-D3gJNgDCsIgCVvSf04qR7FtrcbWf7vnOcBQnhlxP_5feO-LBGDpQtur1AIjF22AKLtbjOC672YgU/s2000/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20027.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Vy4xx6iwsyADnqs59LsuEA8v_UdT8LrZOJNc-3lrQavkpkBJrwhp5oriw_P8Wbv2mx3kfKSwEIStumSlc-SAsj8rlRjJI7ArYPcRXObIYf-D3gJNgDCsIgCVvSf04qR7FtrcbWf7vnOcBQnhlxP_5feO-LBGDpQtur1AIjF22AKLtbjOC672YgU/s320/Ardmair-Shieldaig%20027.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p>All in all a great trip. Highly recommended.</p><p>We also stopped at the Arctic Convoy Museum near Poolewe on the west coast and I will do a separate post about that in a few days.</p></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-40019257699528802812023-03-26T12:37:00.000+01:002023-03-26T12:37:11.469+01:00On a roll...<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">... a Swiss roll.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For my Italian Condottiere project, circa 1480ish, I have included a Swiss mercenary pike block.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Under the 'Never Mind The Billhooks' rules, this represents 2 companies of infantry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Whilst in the deluxe rulebook there are many special rules appertaining to fielding a Swiss army, I have decided to simply count these as Veteran pikemen. They are dressed in the livery of the canton Uri, and carry that flag too.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSML5dNU1K-6sA_t2LYx_TV-WKQAUiqXXHPkRlmuaEF91EqRgJ7F-3B1KHeTCuqdQT9mqFwy-NDsUiOJFTlNTGSn4y5iskdJise4XbVDD3q0suhnoYjnCTU8fGhY16tv1rgjPQEPA2peHuvp09a56s55QHty5ZzHQHI7CVqsFFfBv1-ZQbdAZb_SNe/s2420/Swiss%20001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSML5dNU1K-6sA_t2LYx_TV-WKQAUiqXXHPkRlmuaEF91EqRgJ7F-3B1KHeTCuqdQT9mqFwy-NDsUiOJFTlNTGSn4y5iskdJise4XbVDD3q0suhnoYjnCTU8fGhY16tv1rgjPQEPA2peHuvp09a56s55QHty5ZzHQHI7CVqsFFfBv1-ZQbdAZb_SNe/s320/Swiss%20001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjAbSV1BotsRpKk8fwURkRRNr-4ev_VgvqFOElN8PmLeDQIFkUzTpUITWKnzLXjLsEgQJKxQMCo7M08jbzms4fNX24MhGNQbg8aY8YMX5ll1pVPor-Xedr8xSDwsiuugF3ku6u-B-J8kNCYN2HkW7TtReNveJqY0TqBiLIXVSYye4m5mZn9cfR9WL/s2420/Swiss%20002.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1816" data-original-width="2420" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjAbSV1BotsRpKk8fwURkRRNr-4ev_VgvqFOElN8PmLeDQIFkUzTpUITWKnzLXjLsEgQJKxQMCo7M08jbzms4fNX24MhGNQbg8aY8YMX5ll1pVPor-Xedr8xSDwsiuugF3ku6u-B-J8kNCYN2HkW7TtReNveJqY0TqBiLIXVSYye4m5mZn9cfR9WL/s320/Swiss%20002.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Figures are Perry Miniatures (metals), flag was downloaded from an online image and then overpainted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That completes the first army for this project.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thanks to all who have commented and encouraged, both here and on Facebook. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Right, what's next? The enemies of these chaps I suspect...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-25375349497779016382023-03-20T14:25:00.003+00:002023-03-20T14:25:35.619+00:00Skirmishers<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next up, the skirmishers in the army, s</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">tarting with the mounted crossbowmen:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJy3nAchD8HQLPspKbMd3Sqi4HFAqkFl2BVxIK2MoIl0JKu2X_xf0tsctAKr-vPHm80wDn7yM-8nXmhjv5gYWS3Ezuf1mkosg3PKo_84qq9OmkzDq6OuMstE5Yn0Ukr456EOAIDcXxPxBVNOzvHomRiYPeR8cW94Fvi7S5Cfh7WBrzShBUyQwb4Lnl/s2048/Milanese%20014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJy3nAchD8HQLPspKbMd3Sqi4HFAqkFl2BVxIK2MoIl0JKu2X_xf0tsctAKr-vPHm80wDn7yM-8nXmhjv5gYWS3Ezuf1mkosg3PKo_84qq9OmkzDq6OuMstE5Yn0Ukr456EOAIDcXxPxBVNOzvHomRiYPeR8cW94Fvi7S5Cfh7WBrzShBUyQwb4Lnl/s320/Milanese%20014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are metal figures on plastic horses. Perry miniatures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And here is a unit of skirmishing handgunners:</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuDZX_hpw4YnJrZmpGbJZ9QnjeCezF31DkcI1JikmUhQPsvJWfa-o9sii_3_pWZGaUOK0NryTwG1395Fbsf5ZLseF7yhOl5_WMuZLkUvkpQBQJeGu0-MT1pNsCtozSUYufHn38r_li7WxLV8vecisx82qvoyqnIxRyAmBh5VOq9mVmfvnyMaSbaEn/s2048/Milanese%20018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuDZX_hpw4YnJrZmpGbJZ9QnjeCezF31DkcI1JikmUhQPsvJWfa-o9sii_3_pWZGaUOK0NryTwG1395Fbsf5ZLseF7yhOl5_WMuZLkUvkpQBQJeGu0-MT1pNsCtozSUYufHn38r_li7WxLV8vecisx82qvoyqnIxRyAmBh5VOq9mVmfvnyMaSbaEn/s320/Milanese%20018.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again, Perry miniatures from their European mercenaries plastics box.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've also done an artillery piece, again a Perry pack:</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-PzFstjTuBbTDq8FRMnRRAqvYCf9qsZNsKeE8MziHVH64SAU-rWlLJtCmVxTl3cOJxHWZTvxmLYYK9tjnp7O_aVREIZ93p4EFMFr1ibu7O-la0PlTsQzm9kKuogORxoIY6CnaoLZ9r2-CqzS2WqE-SVE_yUqOvKDrm4fbGXU5RGbmz5nh8sLvX8A/s2048/Milanese%20017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-PzFstjTuBbTDq8FRMnRRAqvYCf9qsZNsKeE8MziHVH64SAU-rWlLJtCmVxTl3cOJxHWZTvxmLYYK9tjnp7O_aVREIZ93p4EFMFr1ibu7O-la0PlTsQzm9kKuogORxoIY6CnaoLZ9r2-CqzS2WqE-SVE_yUqOvKDrm4fbGXU5RGbmz5nh8sLvX8A/s320/Milanese%20017.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was a little tricky to assemble. Under the rules, only three crewmen are required, but I painted all four that come in the pack.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That completes the Italian contingent in this army, all laid out below.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S5oaVajtdAai4GlvBvP7xKhAo3qbwK5dghFUtio5X62Fv4qUshbutWx7DftVO9I2dno5RTRzVQgdN5n1iWhtuQt9u_EQMbtbMJnj4sEYDv3Ax08E--BaXCctUSdRsIGkxeb_hnNaAR3CQlsRJyJ4ZQ167Fv81M7ZzXZfhPLeWWDZ3GOO2lQiyowd/s2420/Cond%2024.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2420" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_S5oaVajtdAai4GlvBvP7xKhAo3qbwK5dghFUtio5X62Fv4qUshbutWx7DftVO9I2dno5RTRzVQgdN5n1iWhtuQt9u_EQMbtbMJnj4sEYDv3Ax08E--BaXCctUSdRsIGkxeb_hnNaAR3CQlsRJyJ4ZQ167Fv81M7ZzXZfhPLeWWDZ3GOO2lQiyowd/s320/Cond%2024.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p>This week, I am finishing up a mercenary pike unit that I will show in the next post.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until then, I hope your brushes are being wielded to good ends too...</span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-12475123594375635732023-03-16T15:31:00.001+00:002023-03-16T15:31:26.406+00:00Ducal Infantry<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Duchy of Bavetta maintains a professional company of Halberdiers under the command of Marco Baggio.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvxfQ6q2qtGWe-m0FV7Iu58Vc6RTPClmcKtfewWXj6UKeERgTukTVrJO2-EfUN29ic1FuE_ovBaBIHYKS0qS7hbC_fJVknhdIhHEhWii7DTSUxTgqxCs7YGrjgHprnu05_33JLPm1Gg26ZCZU-gem1L3LDU8KmdqEapwVpcyuamdcCZ68nhGURm0Y/s1953/Milanese%20015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1953" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvxfQ6q2qtGWe-m0FV7Iu58Vc6RTPClmcKtfewWXj6UKeERgTukTVrJO2-EfUN29ic1FuE_ovBaBIHYKS0qS7hbC_fJVknhdIhHEhWii7DTSUxTgqxCs7YGrjgHprnu05_33JLPm1Gg26ZCZU-gem1L3LDU8KmdqEapwVpcyuamdcCZ68nhGURm0Y/s320/Milanese%20015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVoUvlqjUY39Wanqax3inPG7OpyAmmwYcbDrvix0ZjZGSGkqfekntAyqlbUZz87ZnrMV2pVeoAYRg5hiP_H6H6AQK-C9US2T9OV7ggU4Lu7SugOGeVWGTI_Xew0nBmZgQqI-17x567EpHFrlLmwv9VZZ6O1zYnNoKuudgRGQtqpk4iqNgok-2-AsZ/s2038/Milanese%20016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2038" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVoUvlqjUY39Wanqax3inPG7OpyAmmwYcbDrvix0ZjZGSGkqfekntAyqlbUZz87ZnrMV2pVeoAYRg5hiP_H6H6AQK-C9US2T9OV7ggU4Lu7SugOGeVWGTI_Xew0nBmZgQqI-17x567EpHFrlLmwv9VZZ6O1zYnNoKuudgRGQtqpk4iqNgok-2-AsZ/s320/Milanese%20016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note the blue cross as a replacement for the traditional red cross of Milan.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Flags were downloaded from the Outpost GY Facebook group and overpainted.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Figures are metal Perry miniatures from their 1450-1500 European range. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Each unit in the army has its own 'Disarray' token in the form of a casualty figure.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-15673852757888951052023-03-14T15:27:00.000+00:002023-03-14T15:27:02.980+00:00Heavy Horses<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Firstly, thanks to those who commented on the previous post. I'm glad this little project is hitting a spot, so to speak!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The plastic Gendarmes are the strike force of this army. Two units done.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">First up, the Ducal Gendarmes (raised amongst the nobility and knights of the Duchy of Bavetta).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil92M0P-ZRo8S9t5e8uE1pPcca1Ug3jBzDM4zOj-D75UX2rokMgdCAWQQKFKUl5YdiZ7EnBT_UXY4XEAm6Gs-S4Wucag8ijpECnX-MN6YKqHQni4Rrqji6_gmTsiypP6jaEKnZ5aWmh0FGuwhn0CqHWUBW0n1A5vIK3stMcgx5maJ0YMJkY5cy4XTE/s2048/Milanese%20012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil92M0P-ZRo8S9t5e8uE1pPcca1Ug3jBzDM4zOj-D75UX2rokMgdCAWQQKFKUl5YdiZ7EnBT_UXY4XEAm6Gs-S4Wucag8ijpECnX-MN6YKqHQni4Rrqji6_gmTsiypP6jaEKnZ5aWmh0FGuwhn0CqHWUBW0n1A5vIK3stMcgx5maJ0YMJkY5cy4XTE/s320/Milanese%20012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Next, the Condottiere Gendarmes, provided by Guiseppe Maldini.</span></div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk267d5AIjlTR01XCpoIpP8N-dvTddy4AHSos_DHjHgZR0fcGo_04qQm0RJjkCncb5ph_hI8YGBD1FqrOpzSW4qmGELR2HBkvZ0uBAsdjIAQ3_K-X_Tl6NCmx49cAXKdrc0bMF08LlIhSaE9IJAEiZdXDBiv1ly10UYzpg-KH0zhkoH2gSShmmr6gb/s2048/Milanese%20013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk267d5AIjlTR01XCpoIpP8N-dvTddy4AHSos_DHjHgZR0fcGo_04qQm0RJjkCncb5ph_hI8YGBD1FqrOpzSW4qmGELR2HBkvZ0uBAsdjIAQ3_K-X_Tl6NCmx49cAXKdrc0bMF08LlIhSaE9IJAEiZdXDBiv1ly10UYzpg-KH0zhkoH2gSShmmr6gb/s320/Milanese%20013.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was sparing with the hoop-coloured lances as I am not convinced these were 'a thing' in the earlier period and perhaps came along later with the Great Italian Wars fashions. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Billhooks is one of those rules sets that has an established style, which seems to include movement trays. Given the figures are plastic, it does make sense to use such trays for ease of movement. I am yet to get used to the lack of heft in the plastic figures so the trays should prevent any major accidents when playing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Other news - </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I popped in to the Alumwell show on Sunday and enjoyed a meander around for an hour or so. Some nice games (from a variety of periods), a good chat with a few folk, and some small purchases, mainly for the enemies of the Duchy of Bavetta.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">By the way, for those who saw the title of this post and clicked on it expecting to find Jethro Tull related "Heavy Horses" references (I'm looking at you, Tradgardmastere, amongst others!), my apologies. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just to set you off, think "Iron-clad feather-feet, pounding the dust... etc." Go on, have a listen. You know you want to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Till next time... all the best.<br /><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748239813993573527.post-67917369178344102662023-03-09T17:29:00.000+00:002023-03-09T17:29:07.677+00:00The Duke<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's 1480.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Roberto, Duke of Bavetta, head of the ruling Mancini Family, knows that war is just round the corner and has been busy mustering his army.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVo8fZ8dl4naJujVOOF9BrDOsQerIJwYIl7SrJUmjBFLm3__3ElTm1dH1VcAIVM4bGg8rqUOU43QbpPZj2VzW8BQQyOi4bXFq-sWHV_hcG0lO0-gs2aqJ6jC7z_1GcfeH6qqBcBQ3YDtkHJJwTHWI7lYMHlT0_rjB_x-3BBFGco9HPPA8XSxrQDST/s2048/Milanese%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVo8fZ8dl4naJujVOOF9BrDOsQerIJwYIl7SrJUmjBFLm3__3ElTm1dH1VcAIVM4bGg8rqUOU43QbpPZj2VzW8BQQyOi4bXFq-sWHV_hcG0lO0-gs2aqJ6jC7z_1GcfeH6qqBcBQ3YDtkHJJwTHWI7lYMHlT0_rjB_x-3BBFGco9HPPA8XSxrQDST/s320/Milanese%20001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The famous Condottiere Captain, Guiseppe Maldini, has arrived in Bavetta to once again enjoy the fruits of the Ducal warchest.</span></div><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy0GBkG9YCCEGpGcBH8Df5Ds_NU2syhO7vFZEZSinaJ8wUBcC5eorYGzFjVUrJlW-HoWTWAuCPTEpFSQMWbF7HGkXDClU3wkpXR9xPC2cyZE1rTmsNeI1xiM9oyS59EG5Qh9kqPOEycoQRbPE-h0HlVVTq5DpnOqlSpK_ZRXUtik-hYzR5Zly05Rz/s2048/Milanese%20011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy0GBkG9YCCEGpGcBH8Df5Ds_NU2syhO7vFZEZSinaJ8wUBcC5eorYGzFjVUrJlW-HoWTWAuCPTEpFSQMWbF7HGkXDClU3wkpXR9xPC2cyZE1rTmsNeI1xiM9oyS59EG5Qh9kqPOEycoQRbPE-h0HlVVTq5DpnOqlSpK_ZRXUtik-hYzR5Zly05Rz/s320/Milanese%20011.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, it's Imaginations, Italian Renaissance-style.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAjWTGGe6YBrkQfsGHYLaZf8VC4faKA8Pe7pWSWxJbjIW4Aklfbs7AZcfk9bJkTEbS_p52ljSewSTK6yVz5_AxALcsln50FXsqHXv2IOT_uXw_SKqELb11W8-ZUTk9HIcW2mOXesMOWSsBdofnPN9S7QGLGjWAm1n8u2nwOccBqLhgNd4mtKPsdB3/s1726/Cond%2021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1726" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAjWTGGe6YBrkQfsGHYLaZf8VC4faKA8Pe7pWSWxJbjIW4Aklfbs7AZcfk9bJkTEbS_p52ljSewSTK6yVz5_AxALcsln50FXsqHXv2IOT_uXw_SKqELb11W8-ZUTk9HIcW2mOXesMOWSsBdofnPN9S7QGLGjWAm1n8u2nwOccBqLhgNd4mtKPsdB3/s320/Cond%2021.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">More to come...</span></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11