NAVAL WARGAME, REPAIRING OLD LEAD TOY SOLDIERS, etc.

                                                       GUNBOATS IN THE GARDEN

On the 9th of April we had some lovely weather, perfect for a garden wargame. Having completed 'most' of my daily chores, time enough for a minor action involving gunboats. 

My Dominion War campaign required a gunboat action to decide who controlled Lake Ontario. It was presently held by the Americans but two Empire gunboats had recently appeared out of Kingston. Matchstick guns were used at a range of eleven feet.

                                                                    FIRST GAME

The first action involved two opposing gunboats near Grenadier Island. As this was a solo game I allowed each side to fire six shots..... the previous three shots system involved too much getting up and down to exchange fire. The Americans won the dice to fire first, with no simultaneous firing in this small wargame, this could be important.

FIRST FIRE The American guns missed. SECOND FIRE The Empire guns scored two hits. I then had to choose a HULL, GUN, or SUPERSTRUCTURE target, and then throw a dice. I chose HULL but threw a D3 which had no effect. I chose SUPER for my second hit which always confirms a reduction in the target's overall strength (four such losses on a medium sized ship would see it sink). 

THIRD FIRE The Americans now scored two hits. On both occasions they chose SUPER. FOURTH FIRE One hit by the Empire ship, I chose the GUN but the low dice throw gave no effect. FIFTH FIRE The Americans scored one hit, and again chose SUPER. SIXTH FIRE The Empire scored a hit and chose HULL, a D5 saw the American gunboat engine knocked out. However, the Empire ship could not afford another hit on its superstructure and decided to escape the scene.

RESULT The American gunboat's engine was damaged, but no losses. The Empire gunboat had suffered three casualties and had to flee the action. I decided the American loss of power was still a concern, having no allied ships to provide help. I threw a dice, D1, but as Lake Ontario has no tidal flow, I determined there was no risk of running ashore. I settled for the gunboat being towed to an American harbour by a passing fishing boat, where replacing the engine would involve some time and effort. 

                                                                  SECOND GAME 

Having enjoyed this first game, decided to have another. This action took place near Cape Vincent. Again, this involved two gunboats. 

FIRST FIRE went to the Americans. One hit. They chose GUN, and throwing a D6 knocked out the Empire's main gun! Unable to fire, the Empire gunboat sought to depart. I decided a dice would be thrown to determine how many moves the American guns could still fire before the Empire ship escaped. A D3 indicated three, or eighteen matchsticks. The SECOND FIRE six shots missed, the THIRD FIRE six included a hit. The Americans chose HULL, and threw another D6, the magazine exploded....... ship and crew lost. AN AMERICAN VICTORY.

Very simplistic rules, but still good fun. And they will work even better with two or more gunboats per side. 

RESULT. Lake Ontario is still firmly held by the United States. The American public is now demanding the US Navy engage the enemy fleet near the Chesapeake. 

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                                    REPAIRING AND RESTORING LEAD TOY SOLDIERS

On the 2nd of April I received a box of 54mm toy soldiers and display pieces from Graham Apperley, who runs the 'Tales From the Toy Room Blog. He was having a clear-out of some spares and wondered if the items might find some service in my collection.

Examining the contents, I was happy to confirm they were most welcome. Some castings were actually on my wants list.

During early April I worked my way through them. First job was to paint strip the lead castings. Then it was time to repair those that were broken. After a thorough cleaning, they were primed, repainted, varnished, and based. 

Here is the original condition......

This figure has been supplied a musket arm, to serve in my Schleswig volunteer army of 1848.

This country lady is now a street seller of herbs.

The Doghouse is restored.

It was tricky repairing the back with Milliput but it is good and secure.

And here is my Gentleman of the Road.

Better start on the garden lawn......

Here is the repaired farm well. Luckily, found a lead bucket in my spares box, which I will add with some thick  thread or string, it will then rise and fall with the handle.

A Lovely addition to my miniature garden, a sundial..... thanks Graham.

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OLD TINPLATE CANNON?

When I spotted these on Ebay, decided to put in a bid. I turned out to be the only bidder, and picked them up for £27 delivered. It is not clear who made these pea shooting, tinplate guns. But one claims to be made in Germany. Others, camouflaged, were apparantly made in that country just before WW2, but I have seen half a dozen green-painted that were made just after WW2, although they all had modern wheels. Some of the latter were also marked 'American Zone'. 

While I cannot confirm their age, I still think they are fun additions. I will be listing them as Heavy Field Guns. For the record, I found some items to represent peas, or shells, and the firing range was always ten foot or less, nothing like the power of the matchstick firing die-casts. 

OTHER EXAMPLES ON THE INTERNET

Here are some examples I have seen elsewhere. It is the distinctive shooting hook (box) system on the gun trail that identified them as being made by the same company.

A lighter green paint. The seller claiming it was a Hausser Lineol, 1930s

Camouflaged, and described as pre-war.

Alternatively, mine are well produced fakes...... but I still like them.

MGB

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DOMINION WARGAME, OLD TINPLATE TANK, a GENEROUS GIFT

                                                          TINPLATE TANK ARRIVES

I decided to take a gamble and purchase this tinplate tank. The toy is not particularly rare, but the vast majority you find are covered in rust, this one is fairly free. It was made in China during the 1960s for the CODEG company, and the model number is 226. My decision to purchase was influenced by the quite fair price, £20.27 delivered. It's a fun piece, and will look great as a tankette with several 54mm armies.

When it arrived I noticed the rear plate was disconnected to the side and base plates. Pleased to report this has been fully corrected. As for cleaning, I used a multi-surface spray polish and a soft white rag. It had no impact on the original paintwork, but some orange rust was clearly removed, and the tank acquired a pleasant shine.

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                                     NEW BASING SYSTEM FOR PLASTIC CIVILIANS

I recently decided to split my collection of civilians into two sections, the predominantly metal figures, and the somewhat smaller plastic. The former will have simple bases, relying on the quality of the old castings. The latter will have textured bases, and most will be grouped into pairs. Being smaller castings, about 52mm, the plastic will work perfectly with my Ruritanian collection. Here they are rebased.

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                                                                A RATHER NICE TOY VAN

A visit to a local charity shop (March28) proved worthwhile. Picked up this toy van for only £1.25. Further research indicated these were made either in the 1990s, or 2019. Made in China for Tootpado, and other importers, they are Zinc alloy die-casts, but with a large amount of plastic. But the doors work, and the roll-back mechanism is very robust. It is listed by one source as 1/24 but I think you will agree this is nearer 1/32 in scale. I have found some others for sale, starting at £16.

Most vintage-style die-cast are Dinky, and too small for 54mm.

I really wanted to repaint the vehicle as a military ambulance, or the Dad's Army blue van. After all, I got it cheap. But now I'm not so sure.

PS. Production is still listed as part of the Tai Tung Metal Factory range of toys, so someone might decide to import some more.

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                                                            MORE CIVILIANS ARRIVE

My town figures are going through a reorganisation. Here are a couple of new additions. Already painted, they cost £13, including delivery. Have added some extra detail.

MGB

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DOMINION WARGAME

The recent arrival of reinforcements to Detroit was not by chance, the American commander for Lower Ontario immediately ordered a rapid three pronged attack on London, Ont., only recently liberated from the Americans. It is estimated that some eighteen military units were to be involved in this new campaign. 

The Empire commander for London was fully aware of this likelihood and sent word to the Toronto garrison for assistance. By calling in his own outpost guards, the London garrison mustered twelve units. However, the garrison commander chose attack as his best means of defence, leaving five units in the city, he advanced out to engage the American brigade approaching from Niagara. Uncannily, this furnished a game in which two armies both mustered seven units...... so I decided they WOULD comprise similar components. (That doesn't happen too often!) I also granted both sides air support.

The table terrain was distributed in my usual way, a grid and dice determining the location of key features. I then join up the dots to create a visually attractive setting.

THE BATTLE COMMENCES

Both sides were forewarned of each others near proximity by their air support but still strived to secure a local bridge. MOVE ONE The first loss of life, an elderly gentleman came out to greet the Empire army only to become the first casualty, from the American biplane..... shocking.

MOVE TWO The Empire biplane dropped a bomb on the bridge, well that was rubbish. Still, no matter, the river is totally fordable. Both sides could now clearly see each other. MOVE THREE Both sides began to take up positions, with the advantage going to the Americans. A Canadian goose voiced his displeasure and was promptly shot......shocking! 

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS BELIEVING THIS, my honest word, I did not cheat. Both roving cannons fired their shots at each other, simultaneously. The Empire RC scored two D6, the American scored a D3. I even ensured a suitable space was set aside for clear throwing of the dice. What a start to the game! I do confess, at least one person in the vicinity shouted out something. Despite some crammed targets on the table, the biplanes did nothing worthwhile.

(My experimental 'smoke and fire' cutout.) 

MOVE FIVE At this point, I don't know what to write, the American artillery piece unlimbered, while the Empire RC fired its gun again........ two D6s, followed by another D6, even taking out the gun crew. The biplanes continued to waste ammunition. But no small-arms fire, they were just out of range. MOVE SIX Neither side wished to enter the no-mans-land, but the Empire field gun and RC just threw D5s as if there was nothing else marked on the dice.

(Both the Toronto Scottish and London Scottish regiments wear the same Hodden Grey dress uniforms)

MOVE SEVEN My natural cautiousness led me to think it might be best if the Americans withdrew. But I decided to throw a dice, LOW would see them withdraw. HIGH, they would charge the upper field to try and break their predicament. They scored a D3, and started to retire, I allowed the biplanes, Empire artillery, and RC to continue to act for two more moves, but no serious pursuit.

RESULT

This was not the game I was expecting, concluding before small-arms even came into range! But the Campaign required a strategic American withdrawal. The Americans suffered thirteen casualties, with two military units destroyed. The Empire had one Canadian Highland casualty (the final bomb from the biplane), one civilian, and a Canadian goose. 

The Empire commander decided to move five military units closer to Niagara, while hastily returning to London with two. The planned American attack on the city was actually cancelled after intelligence was received that reinforcements had already arrived by train from Toronto.

The US President has instructed nine military units to prepare to be sent from the Washington area to Pittsburgh. 

MILITARY UNITS

MGB

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A BOX ARRIVES IN THE POST

I already had on file some photos of wargames Graham Apperley had staged several years ago, and I was impressed. It was also clear we shared an enthusiasm for trying to capture that pre1980s Toy Shop look on the wargaming table. Graham subsequently made contact and shortly afterwards started his own blog...... and its arrival has already enhanced my internet excursions with just a few of his uploads.

TALES FROM THE TOY ROOM

https://talesfromthetoyroom.blogspot.com/

In a recent email, Graham mentioned he had some items that were not required, but might be of service for my projects. Sure enough, a box arrived a few days later, with a real assortment. And yes, despite that wide variety, EVERYTHING has turned out to be of genuine interest to me! Not least because some of those items are a little bit tricky to find.

Here are some photos......

Starting off. A Hornby 1950s tinplate 'O' Scale station. Now I already have two items which work perfectly with 54mm, but this is distinctly smaller, but I love it, and I will joyfully keep it with the other Hornby items. Don't you just love the colours?

It's one of those Marks & Spencer Christmas lanterns. This one is missing its light, but that works well for me. The two I have in good condition I'm keeping as decorations. So this one can be converted and painted for 54mm wargames.

There are some very nice lead extras here, and I will enjoy repairing and repainting them. Will upload more in a future post.

This is a W.Britains plastic ornamental pond, with plants. I will integrate this into my plastic civilian collection. Do I leave it as it is, or fully rebase, it already requires some pond water?

Graham, thank you very much indeed for this generous and interesting box of gaming extras. I can see a load of fun projects.

Very much appreciated.

Michael

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