Book of the Month 1

While I was in town with the wife, clothes shopping, I was left in Waterstones to browse (she knows I can spend hours in a decent bookshop) and came out with this one.

It was on the 'new' shelves just inside the door. Not an author I know, but has written a couple of books which I may seek out now.

This is a novel following the exploits of a cavalryman in the Crimean War, starts of as a corporal, goes down to private, up to sergeant and ends the book as an ensign, having fallen foul of his RSM, fancying the RSM's wife, disobeying orders, not thinking much of most of the officers in charge, and generally getting himself involved in all the major battles of the war. Written very much in the 'Sharpe' vein and using, as its basic plot, the (factual) mysterious Staff Officer from the battle of the Alma. I won't give any spoilers, but it is an enjoyable read. Can't see it as a series though, as the wars practcally over by the end of the book. 

A Whimsical Interlude

I haven't had a lot of time for soldiering lately, retirement seems to keep one busy doing other things, so there's not a lot of progress at the moment. Troops are being painted, but slowly, and I'm trying to get a couple of buildings built. More on that later.
In the meantime, I've been neglecting the 'Steam' part of the blog (and the 'Torpedoes' but I'm working on it.) and while I have a model railway layout in the planning stage the shed bench is taken up by unpainted regiments. I did, however, get to the exhibition in Bury St.Edmunds last saturday, and while my wife says "if you've seen one model railway you've seen them all" I think she'd find this one somewhat refreshing.

I hope you enjoy this slight side-track (!) I know a lot of visitors to the show did.

Some 40mm (?) Cavalry

During a ransack of the shed earlier this week while looking for something I came across a small box containing three drop casting moulds and the pictured figures. Now, these must be about 20 years old, and I'd forgotten all about them. I remember commissioning them from a gentleman calling his business 'The London Garrison', when I attended one of the London Toy Soldier Shows, intending them to be the first of a range.

Unfortunately I never followed up, and these two, plus a standing figure in undress with swagger stick, were the only ones I cast up and painted (I notice the varnish is turning a bit yellow with age), and as I say, they were cast into the back of a cupboard.

The problem is, I don't know what to do with them now I've found them. I'm not even sure they are 40mm, though they are larger than 30mm and smaller than 54mm. I don't want to start a fourth scale collection, as economically it's unfeasable, so what can I do. Suggestions, on a (theoretical) postcard, please.

Another New Blog

As promised, I have begun a new blog to cover my smaller scale doings. This is at  http://thegrandduchyofhumperstein.blogspot.co.uk/  It's only a beginning, there's a lot of work still to do, but I hope you will take a look, post comments, and enjoy its whimsicality.