Moving forward and an arrival

 An arrival. See here for more info-

https://tabletopscoutingwidegames.wordpress.com/2024/04/24/backyard-battalions-usa-and-three-man-sorry-kid-patrols/

Also moving the mountains forward…

Currently painting

 These are on the painting table at the moment-

Mountain troops.

Mountains.

Diverse Matters again

 

Near my house there is a disused railway line now cycle track. Here are a pair of Blue Tits nesting in the key stone cracks in a bridge over the track. I have never noticed this happening before.

A sign of Spring springing- the first new shoots on the beech hedge. Almost eagerly anticipated and noted with pleasure.

An interesting Finnish painting from the early 1940s l saw recently online.

Footage of manoeuvres- inter war period

Here is some footage of interwar Manoeuvres . I have posted some, Swedish, Irish, Austrian, American and British footage. The interwar vehicles are fascinating…

 https://youtu.be/jk2rZ07jZ2o?si=kIx0epjizrcwlOup

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/62142/

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/43024/

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/39878/

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/43089/

Diverse matters

 

I recently started another art history course ( weekly for two hours) which this time is on The Age of Giotto. One of the extra joys is the excuse to pop into a small walled garden off the Royal Mile. Here it is the garden showing a little of the layout. See here for more.https://hiddenscotland.co/dunbars-close/

Secondly l have noticed the upsurge of stickers left by visiting football supporters around and about. They are often highly coloured as well as designed well , sometimes being amusing too. I find the phenomenon fascinating.

I found this photo on line of an old Edinburgh station, now defunct. I thought some of my readers might enjoy seeing it.

Finally a little work in progress-

A small Carolingian force, knights, officers on barded horses and spearmen to oppose P’s Arab Conquest force he is working on. I need five archers to complete it which I will pick up at some point soon. Figures are Essex infantry and Old Glory cavalry.

Roncesvaux again

 We fought a game based upon this battle again yesterday. A lighter armed Basque force took on heavier armed Franks in the Pyrenees. The players swopped sides and the rules were slightly amended to allow the Basques to only throw javelins at short range with a lesser effect. Their performance in the previous games was disproportionate. 

The armies laid out prior to deployment which was done by each side deploying a unit alternately.

Frankish infantry and cavalry deployed partially in wooded terrain.

Frankish staff slingers occupy boggy ground knowing that they would be safe from Basque cavalry charges. They remained here most of the game. The Basques vacillated and didn’t attack them.

A exciting melee between lighter Basque cavalry and Frankish knights.

The situation over at the left flank.

Frankish knights advance towards the enemy…

At that point I got caught up as umpire in it all and forgot to take more photos.  The game was going to be called a draw due to time factors but we played one more turn at that point which resulted in a significant advantage opening up for the Basques, who were declared winners. All in all another enjoyable old school game ( figure wise) with the dbv rules which as ever need a few more tweaks but still serve.

After the game l worked on some non Minifigs Carolingians to oppose the Arab Conquest figures my opponent is currently painting. Should be interesting to see both these skirmish forces on the table. 

Neuss 1474

 Anniversary this year of one of the most fascinating incidents of Medieval German history-

https://clemens-sels-museum-neuss.de/en/ausstellungen/neuss-1474

https://www.zonser-garnison.de/english/

My much stalled dbm army ( mainly plastic Perry figures) is/was/will be based round units present at the Seige.