A GIFT ARRIVES FROM BRIAN

                                          NOW I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS 

Totally out of the blue a packet arrived on Friday, November 14. To my complete surprise It contained a box of toy soldiers from Brian Carrick. Now I don't really need to mention he is a leading figure in the annual plastic toy soldier gathering held in London. He is also involved in the magazine Plastic Warrior, and I can remember reading articles of his which appeared in Military Modelling dating back to the mid 1980s. This gentleman has been kind enough to occasionally comment on my blog, and often answered some questions which have arisen concerning recent acquisitions, and this has been most helpful. However, He had remembered my interest in a European-made figure of an Alpine hunter with dog. Having acquired several, he kindly gifted an example. If that was not enough, my verbal wish-list to recruit some plastic Robin Hood characters was also answered with a handful of figures to help start this project.

Thank you very much, Brian, for this kind deed. I really value this gesture of support. Just hope you aren't too offended if I seek to convert, paint and base these figures. I think they will look great on my gaming table, and useful too.

I'm going to very much enjoy working on these!

MGB

Postscript.

 Later that day I could not resist starting on some of the figures. Decided to remove the flimsy/broken bows and strings on five archers and replace them with unbreakable wire. The broken horn blower also received a head and bow. I then primed them. These reproduced Marx figures are full of detail!

Here is that damaged figure, but still useful!

SATURDAY WORK

On Saturday I started working on the remaining nine figures. 

These three will supplement my trebuchet crew. The Little John figure actually has some chainmail around the shoulders, I think he would look great with a handspike or cranking lever.

This rather splendid and distinctive figure represents Friar Tuck, but I don't think he's fat enough. I've decided to paint it up as a Cistercian monk, in their off-white habit. This order was known to have furnished some military personnel in Spain. 

This powerful figure was made in Italy, possibly by Dulcop. With moulded serpents on its shield it really must serve with my Milanese......

Not sure who manufactured this 58mm Robin Hood figure but I will enjoy painting it as Errol Flynn. No RH movie has ever surpassed his Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). A beautiful colour production that will never become dated..... uncannily, I watched it again only a few weeks ago!

Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-waFxj7Ijo
Two more figures. I suspect the first is for tree jumping, he carries an arrow in one hand, but no bow or quiver. I think he warrants such items. The other is a rather slight Maid Marian, but will serve better as a young royal.

And finally, a close up of the Alpine hunter with dog. A very nice addition to my collection of plastic rural figures and animals. This character really does deserve a fully textured base.

And here are the nine after some repair work, mould lines removed, and primed.

SOME FIGURES PAINTED AND BASED, NOVEMBER 18

Launched on a determined campaign to complete some of the Medievals generously donated by Brian. They might be toy soldiers, but they reminded me of well detailed 1/35 miniatures sold by Tamiya and others, although they wouldn't last long in a WW2 wargame, lol. Anyhow, here they are with their replacement wire bows. I've also completed the Italian-made knight, ready to command some Milanese retinue.

The tree jumper now has a bow and quiver. I was tempted to add some thread bow strings to these figures, but they probably wouldn't take my rather rough handling and storage system.

Added a sword scabbard, pinned to the torso.

TREBUCHET CREW

Painted and based, Wednesday, November 19.

Have completed the three Robin Hood figures which I felt could be more useful as Ghibelline crewmen for my Trebuchet.

A Stroll in a Bavarian Forest

November 20. Have painted and based the West German hunting figure. Brian had noted my interest in this toy and having acquired several kindly forwarded one. These figures were originally a freebie with Jacquet chocolates.  It's a fun addition to my rural plastic collection. 

This leaves just three more to complete from the fifteen. They will appear in my next post.

MGB

FARM COTTAGE, Medieval game, and lead projects

                                                FARM COTTAGE PROJECT

I've been planning to build a 54mm farm cottage for some time. Having discovered a rather nice sheet of cardboard at home, there was no excuse for delaying it further. Thinner card was used to construct the roof tiles. Matchsticks furnished some of the window features. And a sheet of 1/32 stone wallpaper completed the look. Including glue and paint, the model cost less than £5 to construct.

LEAD AND PLASTIC ADDITIONS

A visit to the collectables shop furnished a mixed parcel for £4. I was particularly impressed with what I believe is an early Scalextric mechanic. I wanted a couple of Airfix Japanese to complete a LMG crew. And I found three lead items for my farm display.

I'm going to have to look again at Scalextric figures, the scale is fine, and it has furnished a very useful addition to my garage staff.

And here is the mechanic revamped and based. No need to replace missing parts on the vehicle, it forms part of my planned garage forecourt.

And here are some more converted and painted Japanese.

A MINOR MEDIEVAL ACTION 

Decided to set up a quick medieval game with a member of my family. A simple dice mechanism required a river setting with several small woods. It also provided the numbers involved. I stopped playing balanced point-based games many decades ago..... history just doesn't support such a notion. And while 'some' will be ever-so-keen to choose what they believe to be the likely winner, I judge my success on capturing a period feel, a realistic result, a fun game, and some nice photos. I always allow guest players to 'choose' their army.

Scenario

The city states of Italy were divided into pro-Pope (Guelph) and pro-Emperor (Ghibelline). A Guelph commander had raised an army of professionals (mainly Milanese and mercenaries) to capture a nearby Ghibelline town. However, spies had warned the latter of his plan, and their local ruler decided to advance out and blockade an important river crossing. These defenders would be half professionals, and half civic levy. Dice were then thrown and it furnished 55 Guelphs against 40 Ghibellines. I granted the latter the right to construct some field fortifications, and also position some artillery. Chris viewed the situation and chose the defending Ghibellines...... I sort of guessed he would, he never chooses a French-flag faction lol.

The Guelphs Advance

While the Guelph commander was en route one of 'his' spies reported (D6) that the opposition had deployed at a key river crossing. Oh well, he would just have to take it by force.

MOVE ONE The Guelphs deployed for battle and moved towards the river.

The Ghibellines looked on with trepidation.

MOVE TWO The Guelphs advanced, their shooters now deploying in open order. But Chris had a secret plan for his Ghibelline cavalry.

MOVE THREE proved to be a serious blow on the Guelph pikemen. Numbers fell from arrow, quarrel, stone and shot, and my saving throws failed. While this was going on, Chris led his mounted contingent on a flanking move. I chose not to respond as I could not have seen this occurring.

MOVE FOUR My Guelph pike block was already near half strength. While my shooters were unable to reply effectively as their targets had cover. The pikemen now made space for the Milanese retinue, who were ordered to cross the bridge. MOVE FIVE Shooters now opened up on each other with some real effect. But it was a casualty on the civic levy archers that shattered the Ghibelline line, they panicked (D1). The situation had now reversed.

By MOVE SIX the game was effectively over, my archers were now free to silence the bombard, taking out all three unprotected crewmen. The Milanese retinue were about to take the bridge. The Guelph cavalry spotted the flank attack and had time to face them. As they outnumbered the opposition by two to one, the outcome was fairly clear, and the Ghibelline cavalry wisely chose not to engage.

Guelph losses were twelve. Ghibelline were eight, but with enough time to safely retire from the river crossing and then back to their home town.

HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE

A notable feature of the Guelph-Ghibelline conflict is that city commanders often hired professional fighters, or mercenary companies. As you would expect, these fellows had to be paid promptly, or they would seek employment with another, including the enemy. It is also clear many of these fellows had little or no sympathy for their adopted side, and this led to the recruiting of foreign fighters of note that might prove to be more committed, such as Swiss pikemen, or even English archers. Officially, the conflicting parties ceased to fight each other by the 1320s. Unofficially, the party labels continued to influence Italian Wars during the fifteenth and even the early sixteenth centuries!  

MOVIE LINK

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY (1965) is a superb and moving account of Michelangelo's relationship with Pope Julius IInd during 1508-12, and stars Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison. I have access to the full movie but only clips are available on Youtube, but here is a splendid battle scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcmMLOpLkCU

SOME NEW FLAGS COMPLETED

A naval ensign, and two Medieval. 

AND FINALLY SOME MORE OF THE CHEAP LEAD ITEMS RESTORED

A rather nice hand water pump.

Some Rabbit hutches.

Some repaired beehives.

Some more farm animals

Some fencing for the Railway Inn.

Some rather useful stiles.

MGB

EXETER TOY FAIR and More

                                                          EXETER TOY FAIR VISIT

A member of my family was visiting Exeter and kindly offered to provide a brief excursion to the September Exeter Toy Fair. I popped along with the intension of clearing some unwanted figures, and perhaps pick up a few that I did. Well, the traders seemed a little sombre, and I fear the public turnout might have been a bit modest?

Anyhow, I swapped thirty figures, and purchased some scenic items at a very fair price. To encourage a deal I was happy to exchange on a five to one. To be honest, the Eyes-right bagpipers, yellow-coated marching bandsmen, and also a few WW1 Lead figures were totally unwanted. So exchanging them for six Deetail or DSG French Foreign Legion was perfectly acceptable to me. They even had their bayonets and backpacks. I have always wanted some of these since my childhood, now I'm thinking about increasing them to a full battalion of twelve.

Another stall holder had a box of broken lead castings at £1 each. Now I really liked this, and I spent £12. Here are the goodies, just wish my funds allowed the purchasing of some more. (Plus a cavalryman.)

So my day trip cost £12 plus £3.50 entrance fee. I was only in Exeter for less than two hours so I must apologise for the rushed photos.

The £1 Box..... let me through, please.

And this one is for Roger....

WORKING ON THE BRIDGE

The £1 bridge shown above had clearly been in the wars. Part of the walkway was broken, and the handrails were well warped. Having sorted out the rails, I decided to glue some sandpaper to the underneath of the bridge, and then applied some Milliput.

When painted dark grey the stiff sandpaper is barely discernible.

lightly sanded.

The original paintwork was dark brown, with the stonework given a simple dry-brush in mid green. As mine was now a repaired toy I allowed myself a repaint. I adopted sand-grey stonework, with mid-green pointing to represent moss. A lighter brown was used for the walkway, and a dark green was used to bring out the moulded grass along the base.

Finally. I gave it a gloss varnish spray, and then cut some groves from one of my old river sections to permanently fix the bridge. I very much enjoyed this simple restoration.

                                                                  GARDEN PLANTS 

A small box recently arrived from Graham Apperley (Tales from the Toy Room Blog). He has recently been reorganising his wargame buildings and terrain, including garden plants. The box contained two spare lead garden pieces to link with my wooden Edwardian houses. They really do look superb, and my home-constructed alternatives are boring in comparison to these beautiful lead items....... I must get some more..... it's a new sub-hobby. Thanks again, Graham, really lovely additions to my miniature world.

                                  SOME RESEARCH ON THAT LEAD TREE just acquired.

The large £1 tree is rather interesting. I will have to keep an eye out for the appropriate gate but I'm still very pleased with it. It was commissioned by W. Britains, and possibly made in both the UK and France. The code number was 7F. I initially thought it was missing its foliage, but apparently not. I include a photo of a 'complete' boxed model for purposes of education. (The toy reminded me of a Saturday morning kid's television series 1971-73 called Follyfoot, with their theme song 'Lightning Tree'.)

Looking at my tree above, tempted to paint the ground and fencepost, but just varnish the tree..... it looks suitably dead!

Follyfoot theme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqwJoEGyGMY&list=RDCqwJoEGyGMY&start_radio=1

                                                               1970s COMEDY SHOW

A few months back I picked up a three disc dvd set of a fairly well known comedy show. It only cost £1 in a charity shop. Not quite a classic, but still worth watching for an occasional scene, or just pure nostalgia, CITIZEN SMITH was broadcast in 1977 and stars a very young Robert Lindsay, and not forgetting the wonderful and much missed Peter Vaughan. They both worked together again during the 1990s in the absolutely superb Hornblower series. 

And the connection? In episode three the Lindsay character cannot move into the spare room as Vaughan's character is planning to convert it into his battlefield room....... his character's daughter went on to explain 'he refights battles using toy soldiers, he always wins, and wants to recreate the Battle of Alamein'. Well, it certainly made me smile!

                                           SOME FLAGS FOR THE JAPANESE and others

Lost my internet connection for over a week, and I don't own a television! Decided to use a few evenings painting up some wargame flags. I was particularly keen all my Japanese WW2 units should have distinct colours.  

JAPANESE WW2 FLAGS, uploaded for purposes of education.

MGB