DOMINION WAR NEWS, JAPANESE COMMANDOS, NEW BOAT, and more

                           NEGOTIATIONS FOR A CONCLUSION TO THE DOMINION WAR

In Berne, Switzerland, representatives of the United States, and representatives of Great Britain and the Dominions have met face to face to discuss the present conflict. Both sides have indicated their wish for this meeting, and all future meetings will seek to conclude the current hostilities that exist in North America on fair and respectful terms. 

The Commissioners have agreed that the War in North America should be divided into five theatres. A sixth is presently disputed, as the United States is requiring restitution for businesses that have suffered during the Royal Navy blockade, and the Empire has had its proposal for compensation to the government and people of Canada also rejected.

The agreed five theatres are Lower Alaska, British Columbia, Lower Ontario, Ottawa and the border, and the coast of Maine, 

In an attempt to promote good will, both sides have agreed to exchange two captured military units per side in the Ontario area. The Royal Navy will allow civilian shipping to resume from Boston and Rhode Island, on the condition it excludes certain war materials, etc.

The Empire has agreed not to recognise the Spanish occupation of Florida. The United States has declared it will not involve itself in Empire affairs outside the Western Hemisphere.

The Empire and United States have agreed not to use sea mines, and aircraft will not carry out independent bombings. The United States recognises the Kingdom of Hawaii is a sovereign state in alliance with and under the protection of the British Empire.

A LOCAL TREATY IS SIGNED (DICE)

Six scenarios were envisaged for British Columbia. A D6 was thrown. The United States Army lightly besieging Vancouver has agreed to return to American territory. Some measure of compensation will be available for civilian losses sustained during this brief siege. No further military engagements will be enacted in British Columbia, or Washington State. Both sides, however, are permitted to remove their troops for service elsewhere. 

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                                                    JAPANESE AIRBORNE COMMANDOS

Have just reconstituted one of my Japanese infantry battalions into Giretsu Kuteital, or Airborne Commandos. In recognition of their suicidal tendencies , it will be given peculiar wargaming characteristics. On entering the table it will move as normal but on receiving fire, the LMG may choose to return fire, but the rest of the battalion will automatically charge towards the enemy. Moreover, it will continue to charge all opposition, with no requirement to test morale!

Interestingly, in 1945, during the battle of Okinawa, they are known to have smeared black ink, alternatively described as soot, on both their uniforms and accoutrements, as a form of camouflage. I have now painted up a standard bearer, with a flag based on a WW2 Japanese paratrooper badge, and also a cadet parade flag. Black patches have been added to their uniforms. Have chosen the Airfix charging figure to help capture their image.

                                            For purposes of education, no profit, no copyright.

                                                        This is a Paratrooper uniform patch.

This is apparently a WW2 parade flag for Air cadets, 

Mark Felton has an interesting article on these troops..... http://markfelton.co.uk/publishedbooks/suicide-commandos/

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A NEW SAILING BOAT ARRIVES

Very pleased to have picked up a splendid fishing boat from a local charity shop. And it only cost £3. I already had another, slightly smaller. But this one is in perfect condition. All I needed to do is remove the wooden stand and carve away the base, so it rests flat on the board. Will have to consider raising a civilian crew!

And here it is completed, the fixed rudder will be more durable.

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FOOT GUARDS BATTALION

The three guardsmen picked up at Exeter Toy Fair have been painted and integrated. The figures are Crescent box 1488, aka Castle Guard Figures. 

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DISPLAY CANNON

In December last year I picked up several artillery pieces from a local charity shop. They cost only £5 for the pair. However, one of them was a solid brass piece which would have been fixed to a wooden display base. I was able to find a supplier of mahogany bases and felt it was a worthwhile project, although it cost £11 delivered. Still, it is now restored. Steel rods at three locations secured the cannon to the new base. I'm still planning to use it in some games as I feel it captures something of early wargaming. 

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ROYAL NAVY OFFICERS

Thanks to Chris picking up a batch of cheap lead railway figures I've been able to paint up five captains and a midshipman for my retro toy ships.

Original condition, I had to home-cast some arms.

The following are for purposes of education, review, and no profit.......

MGB

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REPLYING TO FRIENDS COMMENTING BELOW

Thank you, Donnie. I like my military units to be clearly identifiable. It speeds up knowing how many casualties a unit has suffered, and do they need a morale test (for most units). I am also keen to add some flags to my Japanese. We know they had regimental colours but practically all were destroyed before capture. Most of those actually taken in action are small personal banners from family and friends. I'm very pleased with the new naval officers.... vital too.

Thanks Brad. It has been a successful spell with some nice additions to include in future games. We both share the same view on the inclusion of flags, they add so much to the table display. The arrival of the railway figures has really cleared a problem, the lack of suitable captains. Concerning the young midshipmen, I think it was the writer 'Farrel' (?) who suggested we like to think all who went before us were just predecessors to our generation, but what if we are just the afterglow of those that came before us? I fear, he might be right.

(Postscript It was actually J. G. Farrell)

Thank you, Roger, for the kind comments. I was contemplating those free WW2 figures you were given by your friend. But it really does depend on what your wargame ambitions are. If you are satisfied with skirmish 'team' type gaming, involving less than a dozen figures per side, then you now have enough for numerous teams. However, if you wish to engage in something that could be described as a battle, this will involve some serious contemplation and calculations, to be followed by research, etc. Not everyone has that wish, space, or the resolve. For what it is worth, I prefer to fight battles, although I fully recognise the fun I have had in some skirmish level games played with others. I do have some suggestions for battle level wargames, if they have some value. 

That's fine, Roger. I thought you might be more inclined towards that style of gaming, so I decided not to leap into potential battle groupings. Skirmish wargaming is arguably much more popular now, I suspect it was role playing games, and later Games Workshop rules during the 1980s which has seen a massive decline in the numbers seeking to fight and command troops in large-scale battles. Well, you now have enough figures for a very large number of platoons, from various nationalities!

Sure, Roger, they could 'just' be used in their original designation, but I too have converted 'odd' contingents. I used some cheap Chinese figures and raised a WW2 Dutch 'purely defensive' army. I converted some other cheapo figures into Ugandan Army and Somali warlord. But I became bored with point-based, even-sided wargames so many years ago. I now prefer games with difficult or even impossible odds to overcome. How can I make the best of a difficult situation? I was more interested in how you 'designated' or 'appointed' some contingents. To give you an example, the thirty 50mm Japanese could be designated an 'island defence force', with figures integrated into interesting defensive models, each a terrain/vignette piece on the gaming table, to be overcome by American landing forces. But I mustn't get involved, lol, each to his own. 

Splendid news, Graham. I have just had a quick view. Great to see some of your 54mm traditional toy soldiers in action. I shall be making regular visits. To be honest, there aren't that many blogs using historical 54mm figures in battles. I often have to wait for Tim (Megablitz), or Brian (Collecting Toy Soldiers) to post some inspirational photos! 

W. BRITAINS EYES RIGHT MARCHING BANDS...OPINIONS WELCOME

Continuing from the previous post, seven days after the Exeter Toy Fair I spotted one of the traders. He is actually a nearby neighbour, and was friends with my late mother. We briefly discussed and weighed up how the event had gone. Concluding, he mentioned having a box of toy soldiers which were mine, if I wanted them. I popped round, and said yes. He refused any payment so we compromised, I would give a £5 donation in his name to the local Hospice.

The box contained twenty-three W. Britains Eyes Right infantry bandsmen, all wearing yellow coats. This would indicate they were from W. Britains boxes 7488, 7493, 7494, and 7495, representing the Band of the United States Army...... I believe they are linked to Pershing's, but yellow coats?

                                                Here are fifteen standing, all but one are drummers.

Eight more marching.

(And there were also twenty-three Highland bagpipers in the box, haven't a clue how I will use these.)

Many of you will be aware the Britains Eyes Right bands and marching infantry were made in the late 1960s, and they have become somewhat notorious for plastic oxidisation. They really are peculiarly prone to snap at their ankles, or lose their arms. I've even seen one set in which the figures cracked inside their box! Now these appear to be good, but I haven't tried to actually bend them to really judge. A measure of attempted restoration has taken place as some of the heads/helmets are Royal Marines. Surely the original figures did not have Royal heraldry stickers on their drums?

WOULD WELCOME OPINIONS

Should I restore them? Should I use them with a free hand to repaint, convert, or draft into other units, etc.? Has anyone else used Eyes Right on the wargames table? I really would like to hear how toy soldier collectors and wargamers feel about this acquisition. 

As a footnote. My Hanoverian infantry regiment were formally eyes Right Royal Marines which were badly broken and missing parts. They have now participated in several games.

THESE ARE NOT MINE...... Spotted on Ebay, these confirmed Eyes Right bandsmen have been given a repaint job and varnish. I'm impressed! 

MGB

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REPLYING TO FRIEND'S COMMENTS 

Thanks for the input, MJT. I am at a loss what is the best move. I'm hoping others also express their views. I don't want to act too quickly, and then wish I'd done something different with them. I can confirm, I'm not against having a band as part of my 1890s US Army, and I don't really mind if it portrayed something later in date.

By the way, MJT, have just this moment discovered that the yellow coats portray THE United States Army Band of Washington DC, not Pershing's. 

Thank you, Graham, I appreciate your opinion. Also, I was going through my files of inspirational photos a few days ago, blow me if I did not find ten that are listed as yours, which I recorded about eight years ago. I noted your lovely terrain, and some excellent traditional lead military units! Do please keep me posted of any 54mm wargaming activities!

Yes Graham, looking at those photos, I'm tempted to think we are on similar ground, perhaps yours is even higher, lol. If you do decide to set up a blog, I shall be very pleased to promote it, and certain to visit for my inspiration. It's up to you,  but I know it will encourage others to appreciate quality restorations, and the magic of 54mm toy soldier wargaming. NB. There are not that many of us, lol.

Thanks Donnie. My problem is I already have seven Empire battalions of Highlanders, and even a detachment of ACW Highlanders, and all have a bagpiper. One actually has six. I have promised myself, that is it! I might decide to give these extras away, or perhaps swap them for something useful. Yes, I too like the yellow coats. Only problem, I don't see myself mixing the standing figures with the marching. And I want any units to have headdress uniformity (except the bandmaster, he can have a bearskin.). Combine this with the Eyes Right 'issue', I'm still to devise a plan of action.

Cheers Brad. I still haven't made a definite decision what to do. I'm drifting towards keeping the marching yellow coats as a US band (to be expanded). Perhaps breaking up the yellow coat drummers, and getting rid of the Pipers. But it might be best if I delay any decision until I feel more confident. I do have plenty of projects to concentrate on.

BASIL BRUSH'S CAR, EXETER TOY FAIR, GARIBALDI'S TROOPS

                                                                 PURE NOSTALGIA

I loved the original series of Basil Brush 1968-80. The controversial, sometimes racy, wit of the puppeteer was hilarious. The puppet was made by Peter Firmin, who was part of a team that gave us magical children's TV programmes such as Nogin the Nog, Bagpuss, Ivor the Engine, and The Clangers. But it was the voice, script writing, and puppetry of Ivan Qwen that made Basil Brush a household name in the UK. Less known is that the character of Basil was almost certainly a composite of two of Ivan Owen's actual friends, that is Terry Scott, and Terry Thomas. 

Visiting the collectables shop, I spotted this lightly damaged die-cast, and couldn't resist it. They aren't that rare, but it was still kind of the owner to charge me £7, which included two plastic Britains draught horses. In 1971 Corgi joined with the Basil Brush Show to produce this toy, based on the one which appears in the show's intro.  will have to think hard to find a method to use this die-cast in a wargame, but if I fail...... no worries.

Youtube 'presently' has some surviving episodes from the original series.... great fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNfh-jvUvpA

Ivan Owen, d.2000

Terry Scott, d.1994. (Saw him in a Christmas pantomime in the West End, 1970s.)

Terry Thomas, d.1990

Terry Thomas tells a joke.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0jPxYcQW2I

Feb 18, paint stripped car

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EXETER TOY FAIR, FEBRUARY 15

Chris and I visited Matford once again. My budget was limited, but I did want to try and sort out a few gaps in the collection, and I was open to finding a bargain. 

There must have been about seventy traders(?). With about half a dozen carrying toy soldiers. I must be honest, I did not see that many bargains, and it was quite noticeable that there was an absence of vintage plastic soldiers for sale. I spent £7 for two entrance fees, and £14 on lead castings.  And here they are. The cavalryman completes a unit of four. The three Guards firing completes a battalion of twelve. And finally, four odds that just caught my eye. Unfortunately, one of the latter is home-cast lead,  and I won't keep it.

I believe the Guardsmen below are from Crescent Box no.1488, aka Castle Guard figures. Have never seen them used by other wargamers, am I the only person that actually set out to collect them? Their scale is 55mm.

The West Point figure on the left is not worth saving, pure lead, badly cast. But good to get another railway station figure.

Well, nothing really special, but it was a nice day out! Chris roamed about taking photos, including a few toy trains for Roger (in Norway).

Nice seeing Trader Graham Pearson. He showed me some superb photos of Airfix WW2 Germans he had recently painted, but I'm clenching my teeth while writing this. I think his stall had a monopoly on plastic figures.

Other traders.

Visited Kevin Duggin's stand again. He knows I like restoring bargains, but I also like to be inspired.

Some other stands.....

Yes, it was raining, again, but better than staying inside!

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GARIBALDI gains another COMPANY

Going through my spares box I found four damaged ACW Confederates. With no plans to wargame the ACW, decided to repair and repaint as Carabiniere/Bersagliere Genovesi. Contemporary photographs show that this unit(s) adopted various outfits in shades of grey. Many of these garments were then faced or piped with mainly black. It certainly makes a contrast to the popular red shirts. For wargames. I will temporarily draft a dozen Britains Deetail and Swoppet Confederates to top up their number, but I won't offend others by repainting them, lol.

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SOME NEW TOOLS

Have been using a pair of modelling files for about twenty-five years, and they looked the part. Decided to pick up this set of ten for the reasonable price of £6.50, from a local hardware store.

I get through pens and pencils like few others, picked up twenty-nine new pencils, and two coloured plastic/glass pencils for £1 in a charity shop. Will remove the rubbish rubbers, I only use mars/plastic erasers.

MGB

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REPLYING TO COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS 

Hello MJT. The toy fair is held in Exeter two or three times a year. On some visits I have genuinely wished my funds would be a bit healthier. I would suggest, the November event was much better, but even this one is as good as some elsewhere in the country. On the positive side, I saw hardly any cuddly toys (he writes, having just promoted Basil Brush!). 

Hello Hugh, having already promoted the Basil Brush Show, I left it to others to mention the catchphrases, lol. I do wonder how many visitors will view this, wondering what is this all about. Until they have viewed an episode, they are missing out...... place a bet some will think it is like other kid shows...... not quite.

Hi Donnie. It's a bit strange, I don't feel I've completed that much this last week, but there is a fair number of projects that have moved down the pipeline. And, despite having a cold for four days, and working on a tricky sewing project, I have still enjoyed the week. I do get a buzz whenever I complete a project, so those odd figures from the show will give a good return, and there is a load of WW2 Airfix that has also been painted, just awaiting some photos.

Hi Roger, Chris has some interest in Steam Engines, so he was happy to take some railway photos for your interest. Despite the London Toy Soldier Show being held in my childhood home area, I've never been. But there are some good videos of past events on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9b_r05VhLQ

I've also noted, two or three who have commented on my blog, have reported picking up some splendid plastic soldiers, and apparently at fair prices. So the secondhand stalls are probably very interesting! 

Hello Tony. It only took us 20 minutes to get to the show. Daft not to make a day trip out of it. And I met a handful of traders that regularly view my blog. Just today, 22nd, met another trader that lives around the corner, he has very kindly given me a box of 23 plastic Britains Eyes Right US Bandsmen in yellow. What a very kind gesture! 

Thanks Brad. I thought the Italian uniform would be of interest. And it makes any excursions a little bit more authentic, being able to furnish this second unit on the wargames table. I will be aiming for a third, for sure.