Nice in NICE

I don't normally do non-wargaming posts on the blog, but on this occasion I thought I would make an exception, not least because there are some images I wanted to share that I found useful from a wargaming perspective.

Last post I mentioned "Life's Rich Tapestry", and it certainly has been (and thank you to all who commented).
But don't get the wrong impression...
The tapestry has been all positive, including a few days' break in Nice recently.

As a bit of a treat, Dianne and I stayed at Nice's finest hotel, Le Negresco... world-famous and beautiful and barmy.

And it sports a fascinating décor, collection of artworks, and a few items to interest the travelling wargamer.
Here are just a few images.

Above: Surely, inspiration for a palace interior. The chimney breast is in fact 17th century and was transported to the hotel from a castle in The Dordogne.

 

Below: Items on the landing area on the fourth floor, just outside our suite.

And in the bar...
a statue of Joan d'Arc, along with several uniforms from the 1860s period.

Plus, shown below, a picture of The Great Conde - although Monsieur Mark Allen disputes this, suggesting the picture is in fact of Louis XIV... any thoughts?

These are just a few of the immense collection of artworks, and other ornamentation that adorns this magnificent hotel.

Last, but not least. If you ever find yourself in Nice, take a trip up to the war memorial - a huge edifice, sculpted into the rock face. A very impressive monument to the fallen.

 

Right, back to wargaming stuff next time, I promise!

 

Back in your box, Wargaming!

It's been a while since I last posted, and I know, I really must do better!

In reality, life's rich tapestry has meant I have been uninclined to blog, and even I had started to get tired of simply putting up posts of the newest unit off the production line.

There has, however, been lots going on, and within that rich tapestry, even some wargaming!

I recently had a visit from Jim Purky, all the way from the good ol' US of A, and hosted him as part of the AMG forum Partizan weekend.
As well as making sure Jim got to see our local castle (Kenilworth), and had a pint of real ale in a local pub, visited the ruins of Coventry cathedral, and enjoyed an evening in one of our favourite local restaurants, we visited Griffin Moulds, which is not far from where I live. It was great to see Jim's delight at meeting the people who bring his Minden range of figures to life.
The passing of Stewart Griffin (who I met personally only a couple of times, but with whom I got on really well) has, of course, hit the Griffin team very hard. But there's a steely resolve to take the business forward, and things seem to be in very good hands.
I myself will be back there towards the end of the summer to run another mould. More of which anon.

I mentioned life's rich tapestry above, and it's been in my mind lately that I have found a perfect box for my wargaming hobby to co-exist with all my other interests... And that is helped considerably by me focusing on one main project. It means I'm not obsessed just with wargaming - an obsession which I've always felt somewhat unhealthy (to some that would seem like heresy, but each to their own...). I can safely say I haven't been as content in my hobby for a long while.

Too many people in our hobby, in my opinion, have far too much time on their hands, and seem to spend too many hours on forums obsessing in endless mastication, very often generating angst, jealousy, and argument. Keyboard warriors abound, and horrendous vitriol and childish threats ensue. I only visit a couple of places online regularly, preferring to have a weekend time slot to catch up on the wider online hobby, passing only a cursory glance over the online bickering, and seeking out the more positive and informative postings. However, of late, I have myself been subjected to such spite on a particular forum; seemingly arbitrary sniping, almost invisible to other participants, but very real nonetheless. Turning the other cheek to such pettiness is the best approach, and just walking away to get on with more important things is best policy. Life's rich tapestry - having plenty of other things to get on with - has allowed me to do just that.

So, back to this small corner of the online world.
Here's a little reward for reading this far... A new command vignette, painted by Mark Allen, based by me.

 

 

This is Phillipe Dejean, Duc d'Orly, one of the key French commanders in the forthcoming Pils-Holstein campaign.

Below, the reverse of the flag includes an interpretation of the d'Orly family crest (d'Orly is apparently root of my own surname) as it was described to me around 1990 by one of those "trace your family history" people who have stands in shopping arcades in towns around the country. Its accuracy is, of course, questionable, but when it comes to commanders' flags and insignia, I'm always open to a little creativity and imagination.



That's all for now...
But, yes, it is my intention to post more often... Thank you for your patience.

More French

Here's the latest French regiment to roll off the production line:
Normandie Regt.

Painting and flags by Mark Allen. Basing by me.

This brings the French forces to full strength for the Partizan show.
Just a couple of command pieces, wagons and guns to finish, and we're there!

Next Unit Please!

The Prussians are here!
The infantry are starting to arrive into Pils-Holstein in some force


Here are the latest units in my 18th century Pils Holstein collection.
They have been forming an orderly queue ready for basing for a couple of weeks. Ironically, immediately they were finished, a further unit joined the basing queue!

First up, Prussian regiment IR7 Bevern.

Painted by David Jarvis, flags by Mark Allen. Basing by yours truly.

Next, French regiment Bourbon. I was going to say, "These really take the biscuit," but that would be a pun too far!
Painting and flags by Mark Allen.



At the weekend, Mark and I also pushed some lead around the tabletop, more of which anon perhaps.
But here's a couple of pictures to be going on with...
.

Above: French commanders consider their options.

Below, the French force is now 6 infantry battalions strong, plus Grassins. Happy with progress, so far...

 

 

For those who are attending the Partizan show in Newark at the end of May, you will see this French force taking to the field in a large multi-player game being organised by Graham Cummings - a collaborative effort from all the guys over at the AMG Forum.

Looking forward to it...

 

Meanwhile, back to basing more French!!

New Blog for my re-enacting hobby

To avoid "contaminating" my wargame exploits with my re-enacting, I have decided to open up a fresh blog, purely for the latter.
And I present:
King's Dragoone...

http://kingsdragoone.blogspot.co.uk/

There will be more posts going up over the next few days, as we approach the first muster of the season...
Hope you enjoy.

17th century update

Back to the 17th century this past few days.
On Wednesday I received a signed limited edition print which I had first seen 20+ years ago as the cover illustration to Military Illustrated magazine (November 1992 issue).
It's a Chris Collingwood painting, and one I really think captures a certain atmosphere superbly well.

This was the front cover of the mag....

 

 

 

 

and here's the rear cover...




I took the picture to be framed, picked it up yesterday, and am now having to reposition other pictures in my hobby room to find space for it!

This week I've also been basing up some TYW figures.
The Swedish Yellow Regt is done, but flags not yet finished, so pics of these will be shown when ready.
Meanwhile, here are a couple of Imperialist officers. Both are conversions by Brian Rigelsford, painted by Dave Jarvis.







And finally, today I got chance to do some basic musket drill with a couple of fellows from my re-enactment unit who kindly came round for 3 hours and talked kit and weaponry! Excellent fun. Fortunately, we have quite a sizeable rear garden, and are not overlooked, otherwise the neighbours might have found it unusual to see 3 guys playing around with muskets! Looking forward to doing more in the coming weeks and months...

Super-numeries

For those readers and visitors to the blog who have been following the progress of the 18th century Pils-Holstein project, you may have noticed that within my 30 figure infantry battalions I do not include drummers. This was for a number of reasons, not least because I wanted to have a series of super-numery figures dotted around the tabletop as single figures and in small groupings, rather than within the units themselves.
These figures will have no bearing upon the rules, and will play no part in the games, other than to make the table look good.

I visited Mark Allen yesterday to pick up the first of these figures, some of which are conversions from my standard officer pose, others are conversions of RSMs, and the drummers are from the Eureka range.

Mark has done all the conversion work and painting on these, and I'll be doing the basing over the coming days...

 

Picture shows 3 French figures and 3 Prussians.

Also on the workbench at the moment...
Thirty Years War Swedish Yellow Regiment. These are being based and flagged, and I'll have pictures for you in the next few days.

Meanwhile...
In my previous post, I mentioned my starting into the re-enactment world, and I can say I have had many positive messages. So thank you.
I'm enrolled with a regiment, and am now starting to put together some kit. Mark kindly lent me some gear from his days as part of the ECWS, and I'm very grateful. Just a few bits n pieces to get started. I'll be adding to this shorty, and then the fun can really begin. This coming weekend one of the regiment's members is coming round again to just get me started on some aspects of the basic musketeer training. Looking forward to it.