The Naval Side

As things are a bit quiet at the moment on the troops painting front while I have other concerns I thought I'd put up a picture of an ongoing project. This is a small coast defence ironclad based on HMS Glatton. She is about 4inches long and has a single forward turret. I took the drawing from Oscar Parkes "British Battleships" just tracing it straight off the page. There's just a little more detailing to be done and a Victorian paint job. My intention is to have half a dozen or so of these little vessels for use on the grass with very simple rules, which I'm working on now and again. Once she's finished it may be the turn of HMS Hotspur, fixed turret but moveable gun.

One now for 'Chasseur' - I've managed, after a long search, to get hold of a copy of 'The Black Battlefleet' by Admiral Ballard. A detailed look at all the Royal Navies capital ships from Warrior to the 'Alexandra' of the 1880s. Originally published as a series of articles in The Mariners Mirror in the 1920's, my edition is from1980.

As well as giving details and many photos of the ships, the book has pictures of life aboard, and also includes large sail plans of some of the ships, including sizes of masts and yards. Also included are tables of armament and armour, and machinery data. The latter includes the avarage speed of the ship so any gamer could build any differences into his rules.

It was quite an expense, but will be worth every penny eventually. Strangely enough my copy came from Canada.



New Greens

Real life has been getting in the way of hobbies this month, and July is looking to be equaly as hectic, my elderly mother (94years and going strong) was rushed to hospital a couple of weeks ago after a fall. This is the second time in six weeks. As she is still there and the docs can't seem to find out what the problem is - latest opinion seems to be a thyroid problem - she's likely to be there a while. This means a round trip to visit of 200 miles on a regular basis, so other things get put on hold.

In the meantime here are pictures of my current ongoing project. I was slightly disatisfied with the fact that current figures don't seem to provide quite the style of troops I wanted for my volunteer units, so I've started to commission a small range for myself. Here are the greens for the first.

They utilise the same body, but I have currently two heads, one with a pom-pom and one with a plume, and arms for advance arms or slope arms. The plan is to have a further selection of heads (fusilier busby and rifles cap for example) and more arm positions, plus an officer figure to complete a unit . With judicious mix'n'match these will give me a considerable number of different figures (I did calculate that, using the various parts of the pack, water bottle and blanket roll this one body would give me 16 different figures ) Perhaps later another body pose perhaps walking. Then I can replace my langley armies with these over time. The greens have gone to the mould maker at the moment.

New Units

Just finished two new units for my volunteer forces. The first is a unit of Lincolnshire Yeomanry in their dress uniforms. First formed (in this incarnation, there had been previous yeomanry regiments but disbanded) in 1901and disbanded in 1922, the regiment saw service in Palestine and France during WW1, Most of the members did not own (because of cost) the full dress uniform, and I'm informed that it was unlikely the regiment ever used lances! The figures are based on Langley models items.

The second unit is a bit of a mish-mash. It is an imaginery unit, made up again of various Langley pieces. I had four privates, a standing officer and a mounted officer already, from some years ago, so I ordered enough items to complete the unit to my normal regimental size. Unfortunately it wasn't till I had glued them all together and started painting that I realised I had the wrong head on the new batch.

This unit is rather special, as it is the only one (currently) in the new khaki service dress,the only one without a 'County' designation, and it's the only one where each member is named.. Because of this I have called it 'The Gentleman Pensioners' . It is commanded by Colonel Grant with the officer on foot being Lieutenant Wells. The other members of the group are, in no particular order, Tunstil, Young, Lawford, Wise, Quarrie, Stevenson, Asquith, Featherstone and Perry. All familiar names. Their is one private so far unnamed, and I'm torn between Suren or Stadden, though perhaps I should go with Britain?

I've spent today undercoating figures for another three units, but they will have to wait now, as we are away for the weekend, helping my sister-in-law celebrate the Jubilee at her village in Northamptonshire.

Have a patriotic weekend.

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.