NAVY RECRUITS (Ebay)

Rather pleased with this Ebay purchase. Costing £11.85 delivered, these naval figures will be very useful. The two Wrens will not be touched (you have my word). But the others will be paint stripped and repainted. Most will be attached to my French 1870-1930 collection.

Four are unusual English-made castings. I assume they represent Royal Navy, but shoulder rifles in the French manner, on their right side. Sometime back Paul Watson sent me one of these figures, and it painted up well as a French seaman, a hat pompom being the only conversion. Three others will be likewise converted to French, to man a ship's gun. The remaining Crescent figure will join my RN fleet. 

Well, no need to fork out money trying to get some Starlux 'marin' toy soldiers, this now gives me ten figures manning my two French gunboats.

Here are the figures completed, and now serving on my French gunboats.

Please note, due to other projects, I'll be reducing my number of blog postings.

MGB

USN GUNBOAT DOLPHIN enters service (and BLOG NEWS)

Just completed a second American gunboat. My original plan was to construct ten ships for the Dominion War campaign. However, a shortage of plasticard, combined with a reassessment of what was actually required, allowed me to reduce the number to eight models, with one more constructed for my Soviet WW2 collection. Only thing still to complete are some national flags!

I'm very pleased with their general appearance, and have no doubt they will provide some great scenarios for future games. The miniatures collection in 54mm is also nearing completion, with less than fifty odd figures still to be integrated. So that too is a project largely sorted.

Concerning this blog

I can't deny, posting on this blog gave me the incentive to complete my projects, a very useful morale boost.

I've now decided its time to reduce my posting on blogs. I want to concentrate my hobby time on condensing numerous shoe boxes full of notes I compiled over twenty-five years ago! Half are on a feature of the American Revolutionary War, the others are on my local volunteers and yeomanry during the French Revolutionary Wars. Both are mainly drawn from Government papers. Completing these projects must take priority; these are my attempts to fully record the exploits of others, A lot of time and resources went into researching both subjects, and they include a great deal of information which has never been published before. It really is time to get my act together and bring the information together.

In conclusion, most of my future wargaming will be just a family affair, lol. Posting here will have to take a backseat.

MGB

THE FULL FLEET ON MANOEUVRES (inspired by some similar scenes on Megablitz blog, see links.)

FRENCH GUNBOAT and DOMINION WAR NEWS for JUNE 2 (Fictional Campaign)

 FRENCH MOBILISATION

The recent defeat of the French Field Army in Louisiana came as a major shock to the French nation. In response to this setback, the president of France called for a national mobilisation of volunteers, to provide the required manpower to secure their rights in Louisiana. The response was impressive (calculated with Dice). Two new expeditionary armies were organised around the national guard and new volunteers.

A Change of Plan

The French plan of action was to now launch a second front, with a substantial force being directed towards Washington. The remainder would be sent to New Orleans, as reinforcements.It should also be noted, off the west coast of the United States, a not insignificant force had also recently arrived, drawing troops from French far-east possessions, although the French government has made it clear they do not have any claims outside Louisiana and the southern half of Mississippi.

A New 'Heavy' Gunboat for the French.

Perhaps inspired by this tin model of the 1890s.

MGB

WW2 SOVIET GUNBOAT

My homemade, plasticard fleet has gained another ship, this one will support my 1930s-40s Soviet army. The collection had no artillery whatsoever but with the arrival of this coastal/river craft, and the recently completed armoured train, the Soviets can now supplement their small arms with medium artillery. Also shown is a converted Airfix US Marine, now serving as a petty officer. Behind the viewing tower is a position for a light machine gun and figure, this type of craft doesn't require a funnel. My plan is to eventually raise a naval landing party to work with this vessel.

MGB

Original idea for the gun

HMS Dragonbreath (Flat-iron gunboat) joins the fleet

Just completed my third Royal Navy vessel. This model is my plasticard rendition of a flat-iron gunboat. These type of ships were constructed during the period 1867 to 1894, although some were still operational well into the 20th century. They were designed for coastal actions and got their name from their similarity in shape to a clothes iron. Will be adding some flags in the near future. The spare 4.7 gun barrel makes this a particularly powerful addition to the fleet.

(PS. Message for Paul Watson, none of those 4.7 guns you kindly sent have been broken up, even the broken light blue model is planned to have it's carriage restored, for service with the Spanish, they had a few in the 1930s! This barrel came from a totally wrecked carriage picked up in a job lot for a few quid on Ebay.)

MGB

MGB

The KING OF SPAIN ARRIVES, to inspect a FRENCH GUNBOAT

His Most Catholic Majesty, King Alfonso the XIII of Spain, of the Royal House of Bourbon (the English-speaking world will be looking on in distain at such Bourbon bravado, lol), has been invited by the French Government to view their newly constructed gunboat. It is about to see service in the current war with the United States over control of Louisiana (see Dominion War).

The Spanish King was manufactured by a Spanish company called Almirall Palou. The manufacturer made a splendid range of painted 54mm castings, that look great with traditional Britains Toy Soldiers. Unfortunately, the company has now dissolved. Picked up the figure for £8.20 delivered, so not cheap. And it needed restoration, the nose was flat, and several paint chips. But all has been sorted out. Its a shame AP always added deep bases, but for my all important dignitary, I think it looks fine!

Original state

The toy has the king in a light blue cavalry uniform. Those below are infantry staff.

The French gunboat is based on an actual French-made tin toy of about 1890, as with my previous post, I really do like the look of these old toys.

Original tin toy, made by a company called 'CR'.

MGB

Painting some figures (Medieval, etc.)

Just a little post. A visit to my town market was worthwhile. Picked up these four figures for £1. The cheap Chinese toy is now a bannerman for some Florentine crossbowmen. Note the shield, its the coat of arms adopted by the local official employed to furnish crossbows to the civic levy. Florence was a Guelph city. Had to add and construct a new head. 

The Deetail knight thrusting with the sword is from Sienna, a Ghibelline city state. The Deetail archer has been converted into a Saracen/Turk. Milliput was used to make the baggy pantaloons and turban.

The seated tractor driver is a 1970s plastic Britains toy. Always useful to have.

I would like to thank George Mills, who recently popped over. He had picked up some figures in a car boot sale for me. They included two Deetail horses, still with saddle and shabraque! Also a useful cowboy. The horses required tails to be added, with steel rod and milliput, easy job.

MGB