ANOTHER WARSHIP JOINS THE FLEET
This was a fun project. My house number was displayed on an oval piece of thin wood. It had been there for nearly thirty years, and it showed. Having picked up some nice brass door numbers for only £1.20 (my local Homebase was closing down), decided this piece of wood could be turned into something more useful.
My symbolic 54mm toy ship is very, very loosely inspired by the USS Monterey, commissioned in 1891, and completed two years later. It was actually a type of monitor, hence the very low waterline. The Monterey served in the 1898 American-Spanish War, and also WW1. Two colour schemes were available, as much as I preferred the yellow version, the grey is more practical for service with other armies and later based conflicts.
(When someone dismantles part of his house to construct a wargame toy...... that is commitment!)
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DOMINION WAR NEWS
Imperial intelligence has informed Empire Command for North America that the United States is planning to break the Royal Navy blockade of the Chesapeake Bay. Supporting this view, American newspapers have recently reported that a new warship has been launched, called the USS Congress, and it is large (21 inches long). With four 'heavy' guns, this is a mighty powerful vessel. These photos confirm its existence.
Its maiden Garden Voyage.
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NEW FIGURES ACQUIRED, PAINTED AND BASED
Officer, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Still need to recruit another to complete a battalion of twelve.
New Jersey Veteran Zouave, French-made Aluminium.
Officer, Japanese Skull Regiment. Converted Airfix
Harvey Series cowboy by LONE STAR. I know some will look on in distain, but I prefer these earlier solid plastic to Deetail and later Timpo swoppett cowboys!
Grand Budapest Hotel. Two more recruits for the DOUBLE ZEE battalion, making twelve.
Medieval Portuguese Javelin-men. I'm keen to increase the number of medieval shooters that aren't using longbows. Decided to alter these figures to hold a dart.
Some have suggested the English pub game of darts derives from these weapons. As a side point, the Crown passed a law in 1252 requiring ownership and regular practise in using the longbow, this applied to all males aged 17 to 60. I can confirm this law was repealed in 1948. Now I know my grandfather had a pistol, but I don't remember any mention of him owning a longbow.
MEDIEVAL WARLORD, repainted Lord of the Rings figure.
RAF REGIMENT, postWW2. Completed a second company (3 figures) of Lone Star plastic figures..
Recent additions from the collectables shop are these three figures. Someone has painted these solid and hollow cast rather nicely as Army Service Corps. So I will use them as British HQ orderlies, this unit was mainly concerned with transport, logistics, and providing staff clerks. I have been picking them up at £2 each.
The Detroit Light Guard c.1885 has gained two recruits, making a battalion of twelve. These are old Crescent lead figures with epaulettes and plumes added.
This was a Deetail Union officer with a damaged pistol and slouch hat. Decided to convert the figure into a mid-19th century naval officer. New head and pistol, altered the coat lapels, removed the water canteen and replaced it with a small cartridge box
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STATE OF THE EYES RIGHT YELLOW COATS
Have been devising a plan for utilising the yellow coated figures, kindly donated by a toy fair trader that lives nearby.
Neither the standing, or the marching bandsmen were suitable to complete a unit as they were. And seeking out the additions required to do so is not something I wished to undertake. So, some radical rethinking was required. Two of the damaged standing drummers are to be integrated into two plastic units of American infantry, theywill be repainted. And the lead drummers they replace will go elsewhere. By mixing and matching, I now have eight complete marching yellow coated bandsmen, these will remain authentic. Concerning the remaining drummers standing. Six are to receive home-cast West Point caps, and repainted as Hellcats (see photo). A fun unit to have on the table. The remaining seven will be swapped, as will the Royal Marine heads.
Original condition....
Below, the West Point Hellcats, a name they acquired due to their participation in waking up the officer cadets.
This is the reconstituted yellow coats, might purchase a drummer. I can confirm, the yellow was worn by Pershing's Own for a very brief period in the 1950s. The uniform was nicknamed 'Lion Tamer', but replaced with blue in 1957. Pershing's band was formed in 1922, and their ceremonial uniform has often changed, light grey, slate grey, and 'Ike' khaki was also briefly used! Interesting that W. Britains reproduced the yellow, it is certainly bold.
Have repainted the two damaged standing drummers......
PLEASE PLACE YOUR BIDS
I recently visited a local charity shop and spotted this. As a party game, I thought it was a good buy. It is made of wood, with a hinged glass lid. The wheel is well secured inside but spins nicely. The playing cloth was in perfect condition. There were two metal balls, and a small quantity of betting chips. Luckily, in my drinks cabinet, I found two plastic containers with more of the exact same chips, enough for a handful of people to now play. I may decide to purchase a larger playing mat, and then fix it with fabric glue to a wooden board. Can't help feeling, this wheel is a superior form of dice, and might have some service in wargame battles and campaign reactions. I only paid £5.
MGB
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March 20, Nice Weather!
Could not resist displaying the gunboat collection outside. Many of the toys have been upgraded since my last fleet photo, four more are new additions. 
The four postWW1 inspired are not shown.
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