Book of the Month x2

Two books from my shelves this time, as I couldnt decide which to feature first.

The Law Marches West, Sir Cecil E Denny, an Inspector in the original NWMP, was originally published in 1939 and reprinted in 2000. It is the story of how the RCMP (Mounties) made their epic march to the North West in 1874 and their subsequent feat of bringing law and order to this wild region. It is a tale of "guts and rugged determination....littered with blizzards and bootlegging, horse rustling and gold-digging...full of the romance of pioneering history. A very interesting read, I can see that it could lead to a number of scenarios involving the law, indians, settlers and roughnecks that could be slightly different to the 'Wild West' norm.

Broadsides and Boarders, Marvin H Albert. published back in 1958, is the story of the romantic era of warfare under sail told through the stories of some of the Great Captains, including Nelson, Drake, Suffren, John Paul Jones, Monck and De Ruyter. I first read this just after the publication time and, being a youngster, discovered that other countries had their naval heroes too, just as respected and loved as our own. Well worth searching out if you can find it. (My copy was priced at 21/- reduced to 4/11)

 

 

 

 I'm trying not to critique any books I put up, as I find that not everyone has the same taste, and that books I've enjoyed over the years may not suit you. I can only reccomend something that takes my fancy. Please feel free to comment on the choice or remarks.

On The Desk Today

It's pouring with rain outside, I'm suffering from bunged up nose, runny eyes and throaty cough, so don't feel like doing anything excertive. Just thought I'd post a picture of my painting desk as it is this morning.
This holds two 54mm FLW regiments, one cavalry one infantry, a batch of based mounted commanders from the Great Wars Crimean range who will be the General Staff for my 28mm Grand Duchy of Humperstein army, a batch of Foundry ACW artillerymen in shirtsleeves who will end up as Engineers for same, and an assortment of civilians from various makes to act as politicians and bystanders. I haven't painted anything this small for years, so it will be interesting to see how I get on. I'm not a fan of 'black lining' (my hand shakes too much) and I prefer gloss finish. Pictures eventually.

Book(let) of the Month

While very little is happening on the figure front (just finishing of Mr Llanfanihangel Penbeddw, President of the Republic of Wales) I thought I'd drop a picture and small description of this small booklet from my shelves.

The Great War Game, published by Britain's to support their range of soldiers. According to James Opie's book 'The Great Book of Britain's' it was put out in 1909, which I believe predates 'Little Wars' by a few years. My copy is a reprint put out in the early 1990s.

The cover is as illustrated, with portraits of 'warlords past and present' showing Wellington, Napoleon, Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchener' Von Moltke and the Kaiser. An interesting selection. The title page suggests that it is for 'boys of all ages from 5 to 75 years, the 16 pages of close type include chapters on the Battlefield, the Army, Moving of troops, Time, Ammunition and methods of firing, Killed and wounded, Recruits, Prisoners, Tactics and War correspondents, ending with a description of a battle between the French (Napoleon) and the Russians (Czar), showing that Napoleonic warfare was to the forefront even then even if the troops were of the wrong era.

I was interested in the army make-up, where one corps is made up of two infantry and one cavalry brigades, each brigade of two or three regiments, each regiment of three or four companies (infantry) or three or four squadrons (cavalry) all of ten to twenty men each. To my maths this makes a regiment of between 30 to 80 men, a lot to move around though trays of 12" by 6" are suggested. Although this is impractical today at 54mm it might be feasible in the smaller scales?

My sister and I have nearly sorted my late mother's estate, normal service should be resumed within a couple of months.

Back to normal

Well we've returned from our sojourn in Wales, which lived up to its reputation, as we had three days of the wettest rain for a long time. Sounded like the jungle drums on the caravan roof. MrsJ had expressed a desire to go up Snowdon even though she has a fear of heights. Because of the weather we went by the rack railway. A one hour trip, with 30 minutes at the top before another hour down. Our train was cancelled as we were the only two waiting for it, so we took the free coffee and waited for the next one.

This is MrsJ just outside the summit visitors centre. I couldn't persuade her the last few 30 feet to the top as 'there's no hand rail'. The trip up was memorable, squashed in like sardines and the view shrouded by mist, apart from a few stretches that showed what a good day could have been like.

This was the view from the summit. Believe it or not you're supposed to be able to see other countries from here. All we got was in impenetrable grey blanket.

We came home a couple of days early, so I was able to put finishing touches to my little gaming model of HMS Hotspur, matching the recent HMS Glatton.

She still needs boats (yes, and some bunting), but a couple more of these and I can have a small skirmish.

Book of the month

My wife and I are about to depart for two weeks in Wild Wales, half near Aberystwyth and half near Cardigan, taking the caravan and plenty of reading. Romantic bodice rippers for her, nice sedate murder mysteries for me. Just time to show you this book from my shelves.

Published originally in 1964, I obviously obtained my copy second-hand as it has a dealers sticker and pencilled price (£10) in it. It deals with a lesser aspect of military campaigns, namely the activities and expolits of War Correspondents.
Starting with William Russell and the Crimean War, the various chapters cover the American Civil War, The Franco-Prussian War, the Russo-Turkish War, and various fracas in Oxus, Abyssinia, Ashanti, Zululand, the Sudan, Cuba, Greece, the Boer War, and Russo-Japanese War, ending on the eve of the '14-18 do.
Definitely worth reading, and perhaps a few journalists might appear in your game plans? 

HMS Glatton

You first saw her in embryo back in July, now after various distractions HMS Glatton is finished in all her glory. Although the overall impression is good I'm not too happy with the finish, and the painting could have been neater. I think the model does capture the character of those old ironclads, and now she needs an opponent. HMS Hotspur will be on the slips shortly.

There should be more davits and boats scattered about, but I thought they might get damaged in use, so ignored them. I may put a bit more 'clutter' on the foredeck eventually, as it looks a bit bare as it stands.

Recent Abscence

I have not been putting anything up here lately. This is because my elderly mother had a nasty fall some weeks ago and I've been shuttling back and forth between Ipswich and Boston (some 200 mile round trip) to visit in hospital. All seemed to be going well and we were looking forward to having her home, when she contracted shingles, which suddenly developed into some long named meningitis. A massive stroke followed, and the doctors put her on very strong medication, but after a week of unconsciousness and a hard fight (she was a stubborn old lady, in her way) she passed away.
It is the end of an era for me, the last member of her generation of the family. It was very strange entering her house without her there. I shall miss her.
Now it only remains to get her affairs sorted and eventually get back to normal. Reports will resume soon.