Plattville Project

I kicked off this project sometime ago and it has languished for over a year. Although I did put on the Battle of Plattville at Triples in May using my 40mm Prince August figures.

The recent passing of Donald Featherstone is something that I want to mark by celebrating his contribution to this great hobby.

I met Don twice. The first time was circa 1970 when my father took me to Dons house. I remember going but nothing about the conversation we had. The second time was about a decade ago at Historicon.

I have decided that that my stalled Plattvile project needs to re started and that it would be my celebration to Don.

I have now finished my second unit of metal Spencer Smith figures. They are Gloss varnished and un based.

I have also started gathering extra bits and pieces. Firstly I have managed to get 260 original plastic Spencer Smith figures. This cost a bit but are just right for my project. The first unit is on the painting table.

I have also got two packs of Merit plastic trees to use for Platts wood. And the search for a rubber Triang church is underway.

Cheers

Max's First figures based

My son Max has started his first armies. ACW plastic figures which he is going to use unpainted. After some initial problems getting the figures to stick to the cardboard bases he has now got his first base finished.

The bases are simple with some scenic groundwork added.

He has also received some old Airfix figures thanks to Tim Hall from the WD3 Forum. So it's full steam ahead with basing.

I am going to use Don Featherstone rules for our first games.

A day out

Today my children's school was closed due to a teachers strike so I decided to take a day off work and take them to Eden Camp at Malton.

Unfortunately my daughter is a bit under the weather so instead we went to the Duke of Wellington, aka 33rd, regimental museum just outside Halifax.

The 33rd fought in the American War of Independence and were Cornwallis regiment.

The uniform has a fair bit of lace and has got me thinking of painting up some of my 40mm Sash and Sabre figures as the 33rd

The museum boasts a hat worn by Wellington himself.

There is also a fair bit of on the Great War     

and they will have new section opening in August 2014 to coincide with the centenary of Britains entry into the war. Another visit is now on the cards.

After the museum we popped into Halifax  and I bought my lad some Italeri ACW plastic soldiers to get him going. On the drive back home I asked him how many ACW battles he could name. He got 9 right ! 

A pleasant afternoons gaming

My son Max is 7 and showing more interest in gaming. He has been getting into the American Civil War and has been looking at the drawings of the battles in a Bruce Catton book drawn by David Greenspan. These pictures inspired me as a youngster and seem to be having the same effect on my son.

So this afternoon I got out my old and battered copy of Battle Cry by Milton Bradley for a game. 

The initial dispositions showing the important railroad network.

I played the Confederacy and Max the Union. The rules are simple and he picked them up quickly. We played for an hour or so and the battle was raging in Kentucky when we had to halt the game for dinner.

Miniature Warfare

You can tell the age of tree by counting its rings. For a wargamer it's a bit harder. For me I know I was gaming by August 1969 because I still have the first magazine I bought from Teddington Model Supplies.

And a closer look at the date.

The next issue had one of my favourite covers and certainly helped kick of my ACW Airfix collection.

With adverts like this it was not long before I ventured North of the River buy Hinton Hunt figures from Camden Passage near the Angel Islington.

I am now going to browse through my collection of Miniature Warfare mags whilst sipping a glass or two of fizz.

Breaking news - today I bought 267 Spencer Smith original plastic figures on eBay. Looks like my Plattville project is back on

Musket and Tomahawks

We had a game of Musket and Tomahawks on Friday. This was our first game with these rules and it was good fun game.

The game was set during the American War of Independence and featured our small collection of 40mm figures made by Sash and Sabre and Front Rank. We will be using these rules and figures for our participation game at next February's York show.

The British had one regular and light infantry units whilst the rebels had one continental, militia and rifle units.

The game was close with each side thinking they were going to win until the end.

Ultimately it was the British Light Infantry who won the day.

They fought and attack by the American militia. Falling back they reformed and them proceeded to open up with their muskets. The militia were unable to take the accurate fire and quit the field,

These rules are fun and I can see working for some Petit Guerre action between the Elector of Lederhosen Furstenburg and Duke of Calvados using my 40mm Prince August figures,

Longstreet

I have recently bought a copy of the Longstreet ACW rules. I know these are not Old School but after a couple of games I can confirm they are a cracking set that are great fun to play.  It's been while since my ACW collection has been on the table however we are planning to kick off a Longstreet campaign in the next few weeks. So you can expect more updates on this.

Here are a few photos of one of these games.