My hobby during the last Month. Found this picture on a CD whilst looking for some pictures of a 'Pony Wars' game in 2004 or there about. It a game at Fantizan 04 with Mike, Al and Wayne with a 110mm game.  I am sure Mike or Wayne will give you more information.

At present Martin Goddard of Peter Pig  is developing a new rule set for the Mexican Revolution aimed at 15mm, but playable in other scales.  Along side the rules Martin is making a range of 15mm figures and equipment

So we are still in confine.ment in Saint Michel de Montjoie.  I am lucky that quite by chance a war gaming friend from Somerset has moved into the village so we are still meeting most weeks.  Continuing with my hobbying.

Leslie BT on my work bench. 05-12-2020.

 

I have completed starting the units for my 15mm Government force first half of the war for the new PP rules for the Mexican Revolution called 'Fighting in Mexico'.  Started with a Mexican force using 15mm figures are from PP.  The figures are from the figure range for the 'Mexican Revolution' and a few from the Western range.  I have one unit painted and I am cleaning more figures and getting them based and primed.  This is will give me two forces until the rules are next revised.

Completed federal officer base for a unit in 'Fighting for Mexico'

 

Mexican MMG, Russian and Belgian WW1 MMG's with head swops.	Federal cavalry, mixture of cavalry from various ranges.

I still have all my Napoleonic Bavarians in 54mm, both painted and the makings  for more units, but do not know what to do with them at the moment as there are no local 54mm players.  These were started for the Leipzig game.

I have also been working on my 15mm Napoleonic's.  These are to finish off some British, Portuguese and Spanish that I started in the 1990's for playing General d'Brigade at the club in Bournemouth where there were a number of players.  Now I am here in France I have found that their is a club at Lécousse who are learning to play Battille Empire.  So I am getting some models finished to join them in learning the rules.  I have played a couple of games and the rules seem very similar so we will so which I end up using.

 

 

 

 

 

I have been looking at the War of 1812, in 28mm, for games to start with Sharpe Practise or Muskets and Tomahawks 2.  Then when enough figures are painted perhaps game bigger games using Black Powder.

The War of 1812 is interesting because its battles are smaller Napoleonic battles but with some Indians Tribes and Canadian voyagers' added to the troops we would see at a European battle.  I have some North Star figures which I have shown here which I hope to have finished for the next RFTSL.  We are in confinement until January 2021 at least.  So plenty of hobby time.

I am continuing with my figures for Maximilian in Mexico these are some Imperial Mexican troops .

Sharpe Practise deployment point.

More 1861 troops.

Sharpe Practise jump off point

 

Creating artillery sabot bases.

 

I have been creating sabot bases for my artillery.   I have a sabot with holes for 5 figures set into the base.  This means that I can move this base with out the figures falling off.  I have made some extra scenic discs that I can use in the empty holes.  I have several different artillery crews from different periods who can use this scenic base.  The base is MDF and the loose scenic bases are MDF as well.

This base has a shore RN crew and carronade.

The figures are mounted on washers.  The scenic basing is the same as I do on all my models.

·         The MDF is first primer with Halfords Grey spray primer.

·         First add black ready mixed tile grout.

·         While still wet I add a mix of bird sand, spray on a little water with washing up liquid added and set aside to dry.

·         After about 24 hours I paint the base with household emulsion coloured 'Whitby Brown', a light spray as above and set aside to dry.

·         Again after 24 hours I will drip onto the base a mix 50% water and 50% 'Sepia Ink'.  Spray lightly and set aside to dry.

·         When dry I then dry brush with two passes of household emulsion each light than the one before.

·         Then I add some PVA and add some flock and tufts.

·         All finished.

The crew figures have been swopped for US Mexican American War Flying Artillery 1846.

On my bases for crewed weapons I will mount the gun and usual three figures.  Often, depending on the rules, the number of crew figures may be more than three so I add the dice holder as in the picture below.  This then helps me keep track of the unit.  I can then reduce the number on the dice as the crew is reduced.  This again means that the squad can be moved easily and the figures do not keep falling over.

This base and holder will get painted and flocked as described above.

At home. 02/08/20

            So on the home front.

·         Things have become a little more normal, still no commemoration events here in Normandy.  But today we went to the first 'vide grenier'.

·         Another busy week working on the new kitchen for the bar, fixing the extract unit and its duct.  Plumbing up the washing up sinks and plumbing for the dish-washer.

            So time for my hobby has continued.

·         Nothing finished this week but I have been progressing bits and pieces.  Continuing with another two units 1846 Mexico, one US infantry and one Mexican infantry.  The US figures varnished and based, just some flock to add.  The Mexican artillery started, need to finish painting the equipment and complete the basing.

·         A group of 18th century civilians for Sharpe Practise are painted and need their bases flocking to finish them.

·         Hussars of the Supreme Powers to paint.

·         A group of Roman engineers to complete.

·         The French in Mexico figures to carry on with painting to increase my army.

·         Had a couple of games of Chain of Command, and then started an 'Infamy Infamy' Roman army.  Had a couple of small part games to great the hang of the rules.

·         Have built the Romans and now need to build some Numidian cavalry as auxiliaries.

·         Next to sort the scenery.  The rules play well with some very interesting mechanisms.  There is a very easy scenery and table set-up.  The way of playing the different sides is also very different the Romans having their drill and the Barbarians very different ways to operate the figures.

Have been preparing MDF movement trays for the various formation types.

At home. 07/06/20

            So on the home front.

·         Well this year has been a bit strange, normal years we would have attended several commemoration events here in Normandy.  This year they have all been cancelled.  Just very low key wreath laying with just the Mayor.

·         Its great weather here, its been hot at the beginning of the week and then some rain on Friday, the first we have had for weeks.

·         Another busy week working on the new kitchen for the bar and getting the bar cleaned.  All the social distancing has been marked out, the tables and chairs placed.  They were going to set up chairs and tables in the garden but the weather has overtaken that plan.

            So time for my hobby has continued this week.

·         Nothing finished this week but I have been progressing bits and pieces.  A M8 armoured car, another two units 1846 Mexico, one US infantry and one Mexican infantry.

·         I ordered some bits for my Chain of Command Germans.  A tripod mounted MG40 and crew, a LeiG18 light infantry gun and crew.  Cleaned these up and have them primed ready for painting.

·         A group of 18th century civilians for Sharpe Practise are cleaned, primed, based and ready for painting.

·         Thursday a game of Chain of Command, US against Germans based on the Bloody Bucket campaign.  Getting back into the rules and just playing the game to remember the rules.  Then we will start to play the campaign and keep track of the platoons from game to game.

            So the clearout.

·         Next up to go, 1:32 scale plastic, CTS Churchill tank.

·         1:32 British Para's by a couple of different companies, Airfix 14 figures and Conte 16 figures.

·         1:32 Airfix Japanese infantry 13 in number.

·         6 Britain's North American Bison.

·         1:32 Airfix British Commandoes, 40 figures.

·         A small contribution and the postage please for the bits and pieces.

·         Oh and I still have a lot of the heads and weapons castings.

At home. 30/05/20

            So on the home front.

·         Its is another 'jour férié' here on Monday.  So perhaps another game of Chain of Command in the week coming.

·         Its great weather here, its been hot all week.  So Monday decided to start making this years hay for the winter fodder for the sheep.

·         Started with the mower and after two times around the field the tractor just died.  I know the problem and the fix, because it does not get used a lot the fuel filter in the tank gunges up.  So its drain the tank, clean the filter, bleed the air out of the fuel system and off you go (takes a couple of hours).  So asked a friend to finish cutting the grass as I had to be down at the restaurant for the fixing of some new external doors. Les Sapeurs-Pompiers have inspected and required two external doors to have 'crash bars' and open out.  Took Monday and Tuesday to get the old doors out and the new ones installed so all is well.  More grass cutting for the neighbours and repairing an old greenhouse and planting tomatoes.

·         Then on Thursday afternoon the Prime Minister announced that bars and restaurants' can open next week starting on Tuesday.  So its all hands to get the building clean and all the furniture clean and everywhere presentable.  And then decide on what's required for the bars operation.  All the social distancing marked out and then table and chairs placed.  Fixed and plumbed in a new glass washer for my daughter so that they can get all the glassware washed over the weekend.

            So time for my hobby continues, not this week.

·         This has not been very productive this week.

·         The weeding out.  A unit of 28mm Prussians for the Franco-Prussian War has been sold.

·         The bases are now complete on the 28mm cavalry, a unit of 1846 Mexicans and a unit of US cavalry.  They are now based and flocked.  In the box with the rest of the painted figures for the 1846 Mexican American war.  I know have enough painted for a game of Sharpe Practise.  I still have some German models to finish, a fixed MG42, Wespe, and Panther but they will not be needed in the first games.

            So the clearout.

·         Next up to go, 1:32 scale plastic, CTS Churchill tank.

·         1:32 British Para's by a couple of different companies, Airfix 14 figures and Conte 16 figures.

·         1:32 Airfix Japanese infantry 13 in number.

·         6 Britain's North American Bison.

·         1:32 Airfix British Commandoes, 40 figures.

·         A small contribution and the postage please for the bits and pieces.

·         Oh and I still have a lot of the heads and weapons castings.

      Sorry no time for pictures this week, too busy making hay.      

At home. 22/05/20

            So on the home front.

·        

My MG42  squads for CoC.

Its was another 'jour férié' here yesterday.  I have been amazed at how much more wild life we have been seeing close to home.  We have a family of hedgehogs around in the garden, they seem to be digging up the turf looking for grubs. 

My MG42 squads for CoC.

We have also seen a family of hawks, one of them dropped into the chicken pen after small birds.  The hawk knocked over the chicken feeder and that made the chickens very cautious.  We have a family of Woodpeckers visiting the feeders in the garden.

·         We are still having to wear masks and in some stores gloves as well.

·         Its great weather here , 26° yesterday.  Still some work with the neighbours, grass cutting and clearing out a greenhouse ready to plant more tomatoes.  Monday / Tuesday I, with Louise's help, finishing off the ceramic tiling for her restaurant kitchen.  That finishes the tiling in the new kitchen.  Next to fix the stainless steel panels behind the cooker and getting all the sockets mounted into the walls.  Buying and fitting the extract hood.

            So time for my hobby continues.

·         The weeding out.  Next will be the 54mm WW2 British.

Germans Panzerschreck supports.

·         Back to the boxes and getting figures ready to game with.  Bases have arrived for the 28mm cavalry so the 1846 Mexicans and the US cavalry can be based and flocked.  The late war Germans are coming along.  I still have some models to finish but they will not be needed in the first games.

            So the clearout.

·         I am going through my boxes to sort out the figures that I do not intend to use for any project.

Late war German infantry

·         To go all in 1:32 scale plastic, CTS Churchill tank, British Para's by a couple of different companies, 13 Japanese infantry, 6 Britain's North American Bison and British Commandoes.

            So the hobby.

·         I have finished the rest of the late war Germans that I have.  We had a game yesterday, spent a lot of time remembering the rules.  Started to make an M8 armoured car for use by a German forces. 

The other German figures to make the squads up.

·         I ordered some Spanish infantry to go with the irregulars that I find I have painted.  This will allow me to have a force of Spanish Peninsular troops for Sharpe Practise.  These are cleaned up and ready for priming.  I have also found some Spanish cavalry, ready primed, just need to sort out what they are and to find a paint scheme.

·         So for the next week prime my Spanish infantry.  Paint and base two US 1846 artillery crews.  Finish my two oxen drawn wagons.  And I have several markers to finish for Sharp Practise.