Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts
Monday, 15 June 2009
Wargaming Going on Hold...
Lots of things will probably go "on hold" between now and next summer as we start work on "the book". This is Peter Burley, Harvey Watson and me writing a book for Pen & Sword on "The Battles of St. Albans". Contracts have been signed and our first meeting with Rupert Harding is on 9th September at Harvey's.
A Whiff of Grapeshot
(August 2005) Last weekend I went to "Whiff of Grapeshot" at the Firepower museum. Nice little show and it was interesting to see some of the stuff in the museum (e.g. French Napoleonic 12pdr in mint condition complete with caissons and all the gear). Interesting bunch of traders, some I had not seen before.
Spent a bit of money - buying all the bits for a third US infantry battalion for RF. Got 2 2 1/2ton trucks from Frontline, along with a nice little 57mm anti-tank gun made by Under the Bed. AB Figures from a local trader called Bull Models provided the 60mm mortar and the .50cal and from the same guy a cheaper set for the 81mm mortar. Would have got the AB one but they only do it as a pack of 2. The Frontline trucks are good value at only £3-10 each, will borrow the other two from the supply trucks. Thought the tricky bit would be the Dodge trucks, but found the Esci one (with paratrooper figures) for £5-95 on a trade stand called POL Models. Bought two! Effectively got 100 paratrooper figs for £1-40. Paratroopers were not my first choice but beggars...
Anyway, converted 3 of them from kneeling riflemen to bazookas and 3 spare Russian figures as crew for the 57mm. The two sets of paratrooper figs provide enough .30cal mgs to do a paratroop battalion rather than an ordinary leg unit. I can always buy a box or two of US infantry at some point (you can never have too many toys!).
Checking at Plastic Soldier Review, it seems the best WW2 US infantry are either Esci/Italeri or Revell (the Revell set are very good for Battle of the Bulge winter uniform, but don't have any .30 cal mgs).
Esci/Italeri: 3 mortars (60mm?), 2 bazookas, 2 .30cal
Revell: 2 .50cal 2 81mm mortars, 3 bazookas
Must finish the remaining two Chevy trucks for the Barce raid game.
Spent a bit of money - buying all the bits for a third US infantry battalion for RF. Got 2 2 1/2ton trucks from Frontline, along with a nice little 57mm anti-tank gun made by Under the Bed. AB Figures from a local trader called Bull Models provided the 60mm mortar and the .50cal and from the same guy a cheaper set for the 81mm mortar. Would have got the AB one but they only do it as a pack of 2. The Frontline trucks are good value at only £3-10 each, will borrow the other two from the supply trucks. Thought the tricky bit would be the Dodge trucks, but found the Esci one (with paratrooper figures) for £5-95 on a trade stand called POL Models. Bought two! Effectively got 100 paratrooper figs for £1-40. Paratroopers were not my first choice but beggars...
Anyway, converted 3 of them from kneeling riflemen to bazookas and 3 spare Russian figures as crew for the 57mm. The two sets of paratrooper figs provide enough .30cal mgs to do a paratroop battalion rather than an ordinary leg unit. I can always buy a box or two of US infantry at some point (you can never have too many toys!).
Checking at Plastic Soldier Review, it seems the best WW2 US infantry are either Esci/Italeri or Revell (the Revell set are very good for Battle of the Bulge winter uniform, but don't have any .30 cal mgs).
Esci/Italeri: 3 mortars (60mm?), 2 bazookas, 2 .30cal
Revell: 2 .50cal 2 81mm mortars, 3 bazookas
Must finish the remaining two Chevy trucks for the Barce raid game.
Spring 2005
(March 2005) Apparently this diary hasn't been updated since April 2004!! I am not sure what I've actually done in the last year - not much, mainly because of lack of space I think.
Last Christmas (2004) I ordered the 15mm ECW figures to bring the ECW armies up to the strength required for "Marston Moor on a 6 by 4". Didn't get round to painting them until Easter, when I discovered that I'd forgotten that Parliament horse are 4 figures per base not 3. Oh dear, I need another 3 packs...
Also got the Dixon figures (can't remember when - Salute 2004?) for the Battle of the Little Big Horn game. Started painting them but haven't touched them for yonks…
Have decided to try and sell the AK47 armies at the BnB at Salute (April 23rd).
Have been getting more involved with the Battlefields Trust. A couple of weeks ago we did a series of presentations at the National Army Museum - very well received. Now we have the 550th anniversary of the 1st Battle of St. Albans in May. BT study day on the Saturday, re-enactment on the Sunday, a busy weekend.
The idea for ECW is to write a series of scenarios for all the major battles. I now have orbats for most of them, although its surprising how different they can be from different sources. The biggest problem is how to draw the maps. I still cannot find a decent map drawing program. I don't really want to draw them by hand.
As a support to the Battles of St. Albans presentations, I want to use the 25mm WOTR armies to illustrate the action. Chopped up one of the old paste tables to get two boards 36" by 18" for the 2nd battle. Painted them green and will now mark the terrain (road net, Tonman Ditch, river) with black felt pen. Then paint? Was going to do the same for 1st battle but that is a 4 by 4 and it seemed a bit of a waste since it is mostly the town centre.
Rationalising: along with getting rid of the AK47 stuff, I'm going to put the Spanish Netherlands DBR stuff into store (the back eaves).
Last Christmas (2004) I ordered the 15mm ECW figures to bring the ECW armies up to the strength required for "Marston Moor on a 6 by 4". Didn't get round to painting them until Easter, when I discovered that I'd forgotten that Parliament horse are 4 figures per base not 3. Oh dear, I need another 3 packs...
Also got the Dixon figures (can't remember when - Salute 2004?) for the Battle of the Little Big Horn game. Started painting them but haven't touched them for yonks…
Have decided to try and sell the AK47 armies at the BnB at Salute (April 23rd).
Have been getting more involved with the Battlefields Trust. A couple of weeks ago we did a series of presentations at the National Army Museum - very well received. Now we have the 550th anniversary of the 1st Battle of St. Albans in May. BT study day on the Saturday, re-enactment on the Sunday, a busy weekend.
The idea for ECW is to write a series of scenarios for all the major battles. I now have orbats for most of them, although its surprising how different they can be from different sources. The biggest problem is how to draw the maps. I still cannot find a decent map drawing program. I don't really want to draw them by hand.
As a support to the Battles of St. Albans presentations, I want to use the 25mm WOTR armies to illustrate the action. Chopped up one of the old paste tables to get two boards 36" by 18" for the 2nd battle. Painted them green and will now mark the terrain (road net, Tonman Ditch, river) with black felt pen. Then paint? Was going to do the same for 1st battle but that is a 4 by 4 and it seemed a bit of a waste since it is mostly the town centre.
Rationalising: along with getting rid of the AK47 stuff, I'm going to put the Spanish Netherlands DBR stuff into store (the back eaves).
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