Old and Bold

I'm on a bit of an enforced break at the moment where sitting all day slumped over a painting table is not the best of ideas. So I'm doing a number of those 'always meant to do' jobs but its astonishing how quickly hoovering (or vacuuming, take your pick) becomes boring. Today's task has therefore been to edit some of my old picture files. I thought I'd post up some of the better examples from over the years - actually all of them are from the 21st century so perhaps they are not that old or bold.

I was very pleased with these Normans from Crusader Miniatures. Nice chunky figures with good detail and at the time I had an urge to build up a shieldwall collection. Enthusiasm ran out so I ended up trying to sell them on eBay where I was on the end of a really infuriating sting. Essentially I got nothing for them so if you should ever see them on a bring & buy or wargames table near you just poke the owner in the eye from me and call him a thief. Yes, it still rankles.

My first Flames of War effort. I found this in a model shop in Vienna and had never heard of Battlefront but the models looked great. And still do I must add. I've never taken to gaming with these figures as the BF style of solid lines of armour engaging at point blank range offends my purist eye. I much prefer a bit of distance between figure stands where the terrain is more empty than full. To each his own. The model shop was something else too. Figures were a sideline - they mostly went in for RPG costumes and associated literature and props. It was rather wierd and in a hobby full of wierdos the fantasy lot are the wierdest. I was once at Salute and overheard two 'types' arguing over the merits of an invisibility blanket one purported to be wearing. Harmless fun I hope.

A giveaway from Wargames Illustrated when they did that sort of thing. Stapleford Cotton apparently, British cavalry commander under Wellington. I put this in as an homage to Kevin Dallimore as I shamelessly copied his colour shceme for the sample figure shown in the magazine. Back in the day his innovative style took figure painting to a new level and I felt (rather self importantly) that the result was pretty good. Whilst I am name dropping I once met KD at a wargames show. I was admiring some Napoleonic Rifles that were on the Front Rank stand and asked the owner how he got such a fantastic matt finish on the figures.'You can ask the painter' he said and pointed to a long haired chap who patiently took the time to explain the technique and then offered to send me a copy of an article he had written for Practical Wargamer (I think) and later on in the week it duly arrived by post. I always meant to write and offer my thanks but shamefully never did. It was a great gesture from a very kind man and I have always remembered it. If its any consolation I did buy his Foundry painting book a few years later so I hope the royalties helped. Kevin, if you should ever read this then many sincere belated thanks 

 

You've never had it so good

I was looking the other day at some of my son's Airfix figures. He has the Waterloo set and my mind rolled back the years to when I was more or less his age and the first box of Highlanders was produced. It is difficult to understand these days just how much of a leap forward these represented at that time as the low cost alternative to Minifigs and their drainpipe bayonets then selling at the outlandish rate of 6.5p per figure. No matter how crude they may look now Airfix's contribution to wargaming can never be overstated. I remember avidly collecting the marching French infantryman in the artillery set to create a Battalion of line infantry. The release of a pack of French infantry was simply too much - I scoured the streets of Southampton to find this new holy grail. If you simply look at Airfix and see them as small lumps of cheap plastic then you are too young to understand what I am talking about or you weren't there, man.

You talking about me?

 

 

With this in mind I saw the latest Perry 'Retreat from Moscow' figures today. If you haven't had the chance then check out their website. No superlative can be too super for this astonishing ensemble. And then I see that they are bringing out a box of 8th Army in plastic. Can there be anything apart from some obscure Principality that today's Napoleonic modeller or wargamer cannot access immediately at very high quality? How lucky we have become with a range of manufacturers in all periods and scales? But, and there's always a but, I bet nothing compares to the frisson of excitement I felt when those Airifx Napoleonics first marched out of their boxes.

Mercenaries

I've reached the point where I have realised that I am actually not going to do anything with my ECW collection beyond look at it. Reward enough, I hear you cry, but it seems a waste. I've decided to put them up for sale so if you are interested then drop me a line. Regiments are 32 strong for foot and 12 for cavalry. Price per foot figure will be around £6.50 and they are worth it! A few photos below to give you the idea - more individual photos on request. There are other units as well - red, white, yellow,cuirassier.

 

Fort Nelson

For those who live within driving distance, can I recommend a visit to Fort Nelson on the hills surrounding Portsmouth. Built in the 1860's it is one of the Palmerston Forts and has been turned into a visitor centre with the added attraction of an artillery museum. Its been recently refurbished and is an excellent half day out. There's a lot going on - we went on a wet January morning so the crowds weren't great - and you get a very good idea of what life in one of these forts must have been like. Very cold, probably.

Worth a thought if you ever find yourself in that part of the world for HMS Victory or the RM museum at Eastney.
 

Is Anyone There?

I haven't been on the blog since the middle of last year. Apologies but I have been busy at work. I'd rather thought that I would come back and have to start all over again but no. Astonishingly I have had a constant stream of hits - not a huge number it must be said but enough to make me wonder who these visitors are. I'm guessing that some of these must be automatic searches but what do I know. If you have been a loyal visitor then many thanks. Please write and tell me who you are.

I haven't had the chance to paint much. Just a few bits and pieces but I did finally finish Brookes ECW regiment (the ones in purple). An unposed photo below - I'll aim for something more artistic shortly

 

You'll see lurking in the background the latest Regiment. In this case I am using them to represent the Blue Regiment (or Blew if you prefer) of the Trained Bands. I gather that just because a regiment had the name of a colour it does not mean that they wore that colour uniform. Maybe, but I'm not going to quibble. I put in a fair sprinkling of brown and grey in every unit. On a side note note I was glad to see that Bicorne have put out some new command packs. I've yet to see them but will give it a go despite their substantial price.

Talking of which I so wanted the new Empress miniatures Pike and Shot figures to be good. They aren't bad but stylistically they are a world away (unless you tell me otherwise) from the Renegade and Bicorne troopers. Its a shame and at their price I am unlikely to take a chance.

I finished off my Claymore castings. Great figures from a great company.
 

Of foote and shotte....

Here's a photo that has nothing to do with the text that follows. They are some old Foundry Spartans which I was rather pleased with. But I digress.

Well its more of a mini-rant and probably thoroughly irrational but well, it provokes me. So why is it that people use the words 'foote' and 'shotte' when talking about ECW units? Why? Does it lend greater authenticity to a tabletop unit? If so, why not write everything in contemporary text? Because it renders it impossible to read that's why. So why these particular words? It's a bit like the way WI illustrated used to use 'd*****d' in every single article on the ACW. I know that's how they used to write but the 19th Century was, well, two centuries ago. Are we expected to provide some greater historical context for our little men? Leave it alone and dont shotte yourself in the foote.

More Guard Grenadiers

Its surprising how many units you can get out of the Victrix box sets. I ordered 2 boxes of Guard Grenadiers and so far have completed 3 x 24 man Battalions with another one potentially in the pipeline. I've shown a march attack variant before so thought I would put up a firing line version. I'm guessing that the Chasseurs of the Guard box set is pretty similar but with different headress - if anyone could offer any guidance then I would be greatful. Presumably with the addition of shakos the basic figures could also double up as line infantry?