Tuesday 29 December 2009

Editing

I've added some more stuff on the left and rearranged the sections. Work is still in progress.
The "How to..." section is just that. Links to other peoples blogs or sites, where they explain much better than I ever could how to do things. Of course there are thousands of these "How to..."'s available. I'll just pick those that are of interest to me.
Next is the CQMS. In this section I'll build a reference of sites selling miniatures, terrain, ...anything more or less wargaming related. Again, I'm not trying to build a defintive list of online stores...but just jotting down those I regularly frequent.
All this is done without any order of preference, nor do I get payed to advertise (but if any manufacturer or retailer should be empathic enough, I will never refuse a gift...but drop a line first so I can tell you exactly what it is you could randomly send me...).

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Sunday 27 December 2009

Taking stock

So, after four months of (in-)activity, where have I arrived?
On the painting front I have completed one Olley point. At a figure scale of 1/50000 this constitutes my imagi-army. Nice going Pjotr!
The Napoleonic project has taking a flying start as I have looked at the Perry Miniatures site.
My ancients project is in full swing as I spent time on the Plastic Soldier Review site trying to decide which boxes to buy.
My WW2 project is going steady, meaning I still haven't given it any attention.
So productivity is a bit low.
I did buy a couple of books...which gave me a lot of ideas, resulting in me being totally dumbfounded as  how to proceed.
And I did stalk and spam several well known wargame bloggers and forums, which gave me the feeling I was doing something.
I guess the time has arrived to decide if I want to go ahead, just take it as it comes or drop everything and admit I don't have the patience nor the drive to invest into a hobby.

Answers on a postcard.

Happy Gaming
Pjotr

Saturday 28 November 2009

About Me

Editing

I just edited the "About Me" section. I had to change the 45 into 46 today.

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Monday 23 November 2009

Blogging problems

About my blogging: help needed...

Well maybe not the first but certainly the most obvious problem I encountered was the mraculous change of font type a couple of posts ago. I wasn't expecting that to happen. Anyway, I tried editing the post using default settings. But as you can see...still the wrong font.

Another problem, even more strange is my, do you call it avatar? You know, the little picture that shows when you post a comment on someones blog or when you subscribe as a follower. At first all was good: whenever I communicated it showed a nice little face. But then, later on, for some other strange reason, it started showing the middle part of the picture. Now I know some people would be interested in that, but I don't think you can find those in the wargaming community, can you...Sometimes, I get the whole picture next to a comment...much less offensive, but not as it should be. Bother...

And last of all...I subscribed myself as follower to several of the splendid blogs on wargaming. I'm sorry if your blog doesn't show on the left of the picture, but I really don't know why. The initial batch of blogs I follow show up...the ones I added later on don't. Again I sit here staring at the screen, head cocked ever so slightly, a little dribble of saliva oozing from the left corner of my mouth, trying to think of a solution, but finding my mind going blank in a Homer Simpson kind of a way.

The saliva bit I added for fun, should you wonder...wouldn't want to short circuit the keyboard...

Next weekend, when the camera is back, I'll post another pic of the Hasselse Garde, which are coming along nicely. No really,  I promise.

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Friday 20 November 2009

Philolleysophy

A bit of a rant...

First of all, I won't be making promises again. By now I should have had a picture of the finished Hasselse Garde unit, but I don't, as you all can see. Real life bla bla bla...

I don't like my Hasselse Garde. I'll finish them and use them, but I don't like my painting style. It's to complicated. I posted a comment on the Blasthof Blog and got an eye opening answer from Phil Olley. He expanded on this in a next posting with some pictures. I think this is the way ahead for me. It's all a question of finding the balance between painting style, time you want to spend painting and the overall effect. In the end -and this is of course an individual choice/philosophy- I don't think that intricate painting will allow for a better game. So the plan is to finish the guard unit and start a next unit painted basic and neat, much how I finished the boys Warhammer armies and terrain (I didn't even know back then it was called Old School style). One thing I might do, seeing the pictures on the DPC RSM 95 webpage, is add some lining.

Also, I think I will be mixing figures from several manufacturers. Originally I planned on sticking with one make. But now I'll be mixing several same style minis, but per unit.  I feel units of Minden minis will mix perfectly with RSM 95, Willies, maybe even a nostalgic Spencer Smith or Huzzah unit. And who knows, if Hät Industry goes ahead with their 28mm project, even some plastics.

I recommend, really whole heartedly, to visit the Blasthof blog mentioned above and in earlier postings. Not only is it inspiring, the authors actually take the trouble to share their knowledge, ideas and even ask comments and advice. To me the Blasthof Blog is like Grant's "The Wargame Companion" but taken one step further by being interactive. I don't really mind having to miss Phil Olleys Broadsides and Cabinet now. I mean were getting more of him now: his new philolleysophy certainly hit the mark with me.

Now if only someone could persuade someone else to do the same for "The Wargame"...

End of rant. Comments welcome...but, I beg you, no more comments on the dog...pleeeease...

Happy Gaming
Pjotr

PS: I' m applying for copyright on the new word "philolleysophy"...

Friday 13 November 2009

Painting progress

Looking at my last posting I noticed that for some strange reason the font was changed. Strange indeed...
Anyway, I spent another hour painting this evening. Buff on the haversacks and the belt. Shadowing on the orange and flesh. I'll post another WIP picture tomorrow. I find the shadowing suddenly brought the minis to life. Excellent stuff. Next I'll start on all the fiddly bits and then general touching up.
I'll try and twist my cousins arm in an uncomfortable position to have him take some pics of the finished unit. He has a real camera that doesn't take blurry, yellowish photographs unless you tell it to do so.
So,  dearest Cozzen, if you are reading this...
I'll finish the miniatures with two layers of gloss Pledge Future Shine to protect them during handling. Maybe at a later stage a matt coating on top of that.
SWMBO laughed at me...she thought it funny that the posting with a picture of my minimilitivorous dog received more comments than the one with a picture of my WIP. Sad really...
Oh look, the old font type is back, it's a miracle.


Happy gaming
Pjotr

Wednesday 11 November 2009

WIP, The Blasthof Blog, Ancients and Armistice


Today a WIP report on the Hasselse Garde, followed by my thoughts on “The Blasthof Blog”. Next my ancients project slowly takes shape. And ending with a thought on armistice day.


Painting progress
I really wasn’t planning to show any pictures of my Hasselse Garde unit until the painting was done. But plans being what they are…here’s a picture of my still unfinished Imagination Guard unit. Up till now I’ve spent about 5 hours at the painting table, not counting the test figure. I streamlined the painting process to suit the Minden casting.
I’m having some doubts as to this is really the effect I want. Why shouldn’t I stick to one tone block painted models and make life easier for myself? I have to dig up my scrapbook and remind myself of the goals and style of my mid 18th century Imagination project I decided on months ago. But still…if…then…Maybe I should start a real Old School plastic army now Hät is coming out with 28mm figures.






In the background you see my palette. It’s actually an old egg container I salvaged from a refrigerator at the local recycling parc. I normally use three water containers: one for cleaning brushes with ordinary coloured paint, one for metallics and a third with clean water and just one small drop of washing up liquid. The reason for the first two is obvious: don’t want to get metallic particles mixed up with ordinary paint. The third container is used for wetting brushes and thinning paint. The washing up liquid breaks the surface tension of the acrylic paint and makes it flow better.


The Blasthof Blog
An Imagi-historic name and also the name of a new blog named “The blasthof blog” . Misters Asquith, Gill, Preece and Olley plan to enlighten us with all sorts of writings concerning “Charge”. From what I’ve already been reading, I guess the blog could easily have been called “The Charge Companion”.
I  do think that Stokes Schwarz, of Grand Duchy of Stollen fame, should -de facto- be made a member of that -not so- secret coven. I haven’t seen anybody so enthusiastically involved in “Charge” as himself. He has the terrain, the armies and the knowledge. Stokes, when reading this, know that you have my support and my vote.



Ancient gaming
One of my projects was ancient wargaming.
I’ve started to scribble down my first thoughts on the matter. I already have several rule sets at my disposal and I’ve started prospecting miniatures.  I’m now convinced to just collect miniatures I like and then building a Hyboria style campaign around these. Yes, letting the miniatures be the inspiration for my generic style Imagi-ancient armies. It works for me. Instead of doing all the work and designing a world, I just buy a box of, let’s say, Hät’s El Cid Almoravid infantry. I can imagine them living in the south part of a country named Cidonia. That country has a southern province called Almora, which is stuck in civil war with the northern province of Castilia…you see it coming, don’t you…


Armistice day
I would just like to end this posting with something I think is very important.
Today I attended a war remembrance ceremony in my village. Next Sunday I will attend a ceremony at a German war cemetery just north of where I live. Anyway sitting there in church my mind wandered of. As a soldier I find that less and less people feel any attachment to remembering the fallen of the two world wars. Which is maybe natural, as time trudges on and memories fade with the coming of new generations. But then I thought of the victims of the post Second World War  modern wars. And not only those who sadly lost their lives, but also those silent victims: the men and women suffering from combat stress related disorders, losing families and homes, sometimes ending up living in the streets. I think now is the moment to support efforts like the Combat Stress Charity  or whatever similar organisation you have where you live. Or maybe just donate to a local trauma centre as a lot of firemen, policemen and ambulance workers have similar problems as they sometimes get to see and live through horrible scenes. 


I just noticed The Chronicles have been visited over 2000 times. This is unbelievable to me, but at the same time very motivating to keep going. Please don’t be shy and leave a comment. I’d like you to share your thoughts, give advice or just say hello.
Next posting will hopefully see my first unit finished and the first 16 Olley points ticked off.


Happy Gaming
Pjotr

Sunday 1 November 2009

First DDU victim

During the fitting of the new Hasselse Garde uniforms, a soldier was kidnapped -or rather catnapped- and subsequently eaten by a dog.
The animals were hunted down and were about to be executed, but Kolonel Kevinovitch stepped in saved their lives by imprisoning them as he recognised the vile beasts as belonging to his mother.
Soldaat Vanpimperzele will be sadly missed amongst his friends and colleagues.


GUILTY !!!!

Happy gaming
Pjotr

New gaiters for the Hasselse Garde

 The Citizen-Regent of the DDU, Leopold van Loon, inspected the uniform of the Hasselse Garde today...

The poor soldier had been waiting in a small room inside of the residence of Leopold van Loon. Finally the door opened and he was ushered into the regents office by his commanding officer, Kevinovich Nyudrev.
-Sir, I present you the uniform of the Hasselse Garde.
The regent got up from behind his desk and inspected the soldier, standing uncomfortably to attention in his brand new uniform.
-I like it, kolonel Nyudrev, but...
Kevinovich raised his eyebrows. Leopold walked to a cabinet and started browsing some books. He beckoned Kolonel Nyudrev to his desk as he opened a book. He pointed to a picture of a soldier.
-This is the problem, the regent said.
-This book was presented to me. It shows all known uniforms of soldiers today. It was made by a man named Knötel. As you can see, Kevin (as Kevinovich was afectionately known by his peers), buff gaiters are worn by light infantry. I don't want my first guard regiment to be mistaken for light infantry.
Kevinovich looked at the picture and turned his gaze to the now sweating soldier.
-Sir, with the funds I was given to raise the unit, in the end we didn't have enough gold to pay but for plain buff gaiters.
The citizen-regent looked intently at Nuydrev, a smile coming to his face.
-Well, my dear kolonel, seems my gift to the Hasselse Garde will be new gaiters...white ones I think...yes, white should do it. Make it happen, kolonel Nyudrev. You can arrange the payment with my finance minister.



I big thank you to abdul666 and Fitz-Badger for their advice. It's always good to be able to count on the experience of others and it's very gentleman like of them for sharing their knowledge. I've also darkened the shadowing a bit. Well, my first Olley point has been earned.



Happy Gaming

Pjotr

Friday 30 October 2009

First test miniature painted

Presenting my first ever painted Imagi-historic figure.

Here he stands in all his glory. As you can see, the uniform is almost as designed in my scrapbook. Keeping with the story, the first unit - the Hasselse Garde- of the DDU received their  uniforms from the Prussians as military aid. To save money it was decided to just dye the clothes in other colours and use the rest of the equipment and fittings as received, except for some local made trappings. This seemed to work very well.


It took me about an hour to paint this figure. Now I have to figure out how I can rationalize the painting proces to get the same effect, but quicker and using batch painting. I was thinking of using layered painting instead of washes. Maybe the contrast (i.e. the washes) might be a bit darker too.



The pictures could be better, but being impatient I didn't bother to organise a well lit studio setup and just took a couple of pictures using my house, kitchen and garden camera. The little fellow is a Minden Miniatures casting.

Also, just a quick reminder to everyone:
on Saturday, 7th November, CRISIS 2009,  the largest wargame happening in Belgium, is being held in Antwerp. I'll be there...if I can find a couple of old ladies to rob of their money...have to go for a late night walk...

I guess next posting will be the whole unit...patience is a virtue, or so I was told. Please feel free to comment. If you think the painting is not that good...please don't comment. ( and if I don't get any comments I'll never, ever paint a single figure again)



Happy Gaming

Pjotr

Sunday 18 October 2009

War Cabinet, War Books and War Museum

Just a bit of a rant...

Phil’s War Cabinet on hold

News from Phil Olley as he announced on his  Breitenfeld blog, that he’s giving his War Cabinet site a rest. Although the high quality reading and eye candy on his new TYW blog will be just as inspiring, I’m sure, I will miss the high class “The Wargame” battlefields and other writings and musing. A thank you to Mr. Olley for being one of the prime motivators to start the this blog.
I do hope Phil will take the trouble rounding off the "Pils Holstein Campaign", maybe just a “temporary” last Broadside as closure. I'm particularly interested in the "The Wargame" rules amendments he made so as to play with multiple based figures. Or were they in fact new rules altogether? I remember him mentioning writing 7YW rules a couple of years ago, but I suppose they never got published nor were they made public. Or maybe they were? I think they were called “A Grim Panoply” at least as a working title. Mr. Olley, if ever you read this, please feel free to comment.
It seems one of the reasons for closing down the Cabinet is that people are using material from the site. Now I don’t know exactly how this works, but I would also feel bad if people started using my stuff, without proper reference to the Chronicles. Seems fair. But then, I think there’s still a long way to go before people would want to use any of my produce…On the other hand, I imagine it is understandable that if you start writing or co-writing wargame books, you wouldn’t want to give away to much, nor material, nor time...Phil also has only 24 hour days. Anyway I’m looking forward to Breitenfeld, and hoping to see more Pils Holstein in the future and I sincerely hoop Phil Olley will write a last broadside tying up loose ends and sort of rounding off that adventure.

New books to add to the Library

Thanks to a posting by Steve-the-Wargamer I found exactly what I was looking for.
First of all I ordered Donald Featherstone’s “Wargames” from John Curry Events, mainly because of the ancient rules (by Tony Bath, I think), but also for the reading and inspiration. Answering to the mentioned post, Steve very kindly answered back with a link to an EBay sale of the Gush-Finch “A Guide to Wargaming”. I put in a bid and on the 17th October, I got a message saying I won the book. Now this book is very, very interesting. I’ve written about my first and favourite Nappy rule set “Napoleonic Wargame Rules by the Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society” (still NWRbtTWWS in short). I maybe mentioned converting these to later 19th century gaming. Behold: Mr. Gush has heard me, taken a time jump to the 1980’s and published the late 19th century version of NWRbtTWWS for me to be able to pick them up from EBay at a very nice price today. Not only that, but he’s co-written some very useful guidelines on writing rules in that very same book, which is one part of the "ancients" project. How much more twilight zone can you get? (strange little music in background…)
A big thank you to all involved in this little adventure.

Belgian War Museum

Yes, I’m off for a guided tour of the Belgian War Museum in Brussels on the 30th October as part of a social event for my regiment's past and present officers.
Anyway, I’ll be picking up the third book of a series on the Belgian Cavalry whilst there. And maybe some postcard reproductions of watercolours on Belgian Army historical uniforms. Mad Carew probably wishes he was joining me, knowing of his 1914 skirmish project set in early WW 1 Belgium…well…if he needs anything...he can drop me a line…mind you, I wont go about stealing uniforms from the 1914 period for him, or any period for that matter. I even haven’t told him a live just 15 minutes driving (on a Sunday, wind from behind) from the 1914 battle field of the Silver Helmets. Actually, my unit, the “1ste Regiment Jagers te Paard” (i.e.: Chasseurs à Cheval) took part in that battle with a then experimental detachment with Hotchkiss machine guns.
Exciting stuff.
Which brings me to the fact that I actually live just a short drive away from some more and less famous battlefields and military historical sites. Landen-Neerwinden 45 minutes to the South, the start off Hells Highway just 5 km East of were I live. The cinema were Montgomery gave the operational order for Market Garden just a 5 minutes walk from my house. The Ardennes…1 hour drive…Waterloo…2 hours drive…Ypres, Oudenaarde,...and so on, and so forth…and there’s the beer and chocolate too…Ah, it’s good to be a Belgian…

I just had a tought (enjoy the moment, this doesn't happen that often): Gush's mid 19th century rules...Helion...Waterloo to Mons...oh yes...I can feel it...keep me motivated Matt.

That's it for today, please feel free to comment.


Happy Gaming
Pjotr

Sunday 4 October 2009

Three tree woods and mold lines

 Back to earth. I've started work on the first batch of minis in between playing Catan with the wife and kids, playing Magic, installing rainpipes and keeping generally busy.


As promised a look at my trees. They are quite shabby after years of abuse and admittedly need some redoing. The concept is as described in the latest Battlegames magazine, but using lichen. What I did is mounted them on a board which started as a single rough bean or kidney shape. Cutting this board in several irregular pieces and rounding the sharp corners gives three seperate woods, or fitted together -because the woods fit together snugly as a jigsaw puzzle- a small and larger wood or one large wood. Seperating two adjoining pieces by a couple of inches leaves a nice "track" or road through the woods. I guess a larger sheet of triplex or MDF could be used, making a jigsaw puzzle like design with five or more seperate pieces, a couple of feet square. Anyway, the thing I like is the "seemless" joining of the pieces when used as larger terrain feature. Anyway, this method of planting trees is still going to be used in the future.


The wood in action.

Next up: I've just prepared the Hasselse Garde. Although these Minden sculpts were as good as flash and moldline free, I still wanted to go through the cleanup process. For scraping moldlines, I like to use a heavier blade in my X-Acto. A cardboard nail file (emery board?) was used to clean the underside of the bases. A drill was used to prepare the hands to recieve the spontoons and flagpole. And a rat tail file used to, ...well file...the places that were filed were then sanded with several grades of fine sandpaper. I sometimes wrap some sandpaper around a cocktail stick or file so as to reach the more difficult places (between the legs, ...of the sculpts of course). For cleaning sculpts like these , I don't use flat files as I find they damage the models to easily.


The Hasselse Garde undergoing severe medical examinations.

This time  I'll close with a question. In the Prussian 7YW armies: what were the lenghts of the spontoons, flagpoles and the flag dimensions? Okay, that's three quetions rolled into one: a bit like the meaning of life, the universe and everything.

Happy gaming

Pjotr

Thursday 1 October 2009

Pjotr Nyudrev, a hero...hunting wild beasts in the Ardennes

I'm back from from exercise and had a great time. The weather was just perfect. The countryside was great and the food was fine. Almost sounds like I was on holiday. Yes, we even had a "real" working toilet.
During a lull in the action, near the end of the exercise, I found myself in Spa, close to the village of La Gleize. There, at the site of Joachim Peipers last stand and subsequent retreat you can find a fine little museum dedicated to the fighting in the La Gleize and Stoumont area in december 1944.
I took the opportunity and convinced my driver (well, ordered him) to go on a little recce with me. Unfortunately the museum was guarded by a King Tiger tank. Heroic action was called for and a die throw of double six knocked the beast out.

Pjotr Nyudrev, posing in front of the Tiger II, aka King Tiger, he had
just knocked out in single handed combat in the village of La Gleize.

Next postings will probably show the first WIP pics of the Hasselse Garde Grenadiers and my own old version of trees as described in the latest Battlegames. I think my woods are cooler. Maybe I might even consider asking money for using my design, ...where is that patent certificate?

Happy Gaming

Pjotr

Sunday 13 September 2009

Wargames Library Part I, Sidetracking and Making everybody very, very jealous

As promised, today I’m taking a look at my wargames library. This first part I’ll be taking stock of the rules I’ve collected. Next, technology permitting I’ll show the photograph that I talked about in my second post.
And last of all, a small announcement that will take wargaming to the next level…


So here’s my collection of historical wargame rules. In order of gaming period, commented as I see fit and not counting rules freely downloaded from the net.

De Sumer A Constantinople (D. Coulon & F. Devaux): bought these after meeting the authors during a demonstration. In the end like DBM, but with more detailed combat formations.
De Bellis Antiquitatis (Barker, Barker & Bodley Scott, WRG): rules for a quick uncomplicated hour of fun. SWMBO beat me almost every game. I let her win because she took pity on me when I asked for a rematch.
War Games Rules 3000BC to 1485 AD 6th (Ph. Barker, WRG): recently bought as follow up for 2nd edition. At first glance not sure if I like them as much. Difficult to read. Is it at this point DBM started growing?
Field of Glory (R. Bodley Scott, S. Hall & T. Shaw, Osprey): I still don’t like chess board like formations and battlefields. High quality publication.
Minden Rose (B. Lee, Emperor Games): one of the sets of choice for starting my 7YW project.
The War Game (C. Grant, Ken Trotman publishing): the final goal of my 7YW project. For some reason, I like these rules so much more than Grant’s Napoleonics.
Batailles de L’Ancien Régime (W.B. Protz, Jr., Self Published): holy-cow, I didn’t like the alphabetical approach. Not sure about the card activation. Will try these again when my 7YW armies grow larger.
Charge! (P. Young &J.P. Lawford, Morgan-Grampian): nostalgia. Saw these in use as a youngster. If ever I use them I will probably change the scale of the game. Companies becoming battalions, batallions becoming regiments or brigades because I feel you get a game that looks like a skirmish game but doesn’t feel like one.
Napoleonic Wargame rules (Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society, Bayonet publication): see my second post. My favourite Old School rules written by G. Gush. Will be resurrected once I get my Nappies sorted out.
Napoleonic Wargaming (C. Grant, Model and Allied Publications): not sure about this set. Can’t put my finger on it. Not as good as the Gush rules and The War Game, but I really don’t know why.
De Bonaparte à Napoléon (J.-C. Raguet, Vae Victis): french napoleonic rules based on a DBM like game engine (DBN).
To The Sound Of The Guns III (R.P. Butler, Tabletop Games): well…they’re To The Sound Of The Guns III (and Napoleonic).
Fast Play Rules for Napoleonic and Crimean Wargames (T.J. Halsall, Newbury rules): lite version of the above.
In the Grand Manner (P. Gilder, Wargames Holiday Centre): not simple, but great battlefields. Switched to General de Brigade as for me, not being English, the latter were more structured and therefore easier to assimilate, but with the same look and feel.
General de Brigade (D. Brown, Partizan Press): second rules of choice for my napoleonics. In the grand manner like gaming, but easier to assimilate.
Fast Play ACW Rules (David Bickley, Active Service Press): I honestly don’t remember how these played.
American Civil War Wargaming (Terence Wise, Airfix): great memories of blue against grey. In the bookcase, but not forgotten…
War Games Rules 1925-1950 (WRG): Fun rules, many 1/300 scale battles. Memories of terrain drawn in felt tip pen on packing paper, cardboard layered hills, lichen woods…the Eastern front on the living room table. Happy days.
Rapid Fire 2 (C. Rumford & R. March): I enjoyed these with the boys, playing with cardboard and pencil coloured armies. I’d still use them, but with 1 to 1 scale platoon or company sized actions.
Blitzkrieg Commander (P.A. Jones): based on the Warmaster game engine. Liked the rules, but to easy to play the rules and not the period (depending on your opponent and his knowledge of WW2 warfare).
Challenger 2000 (B.R.- Taylor & B. Connor, Tabletop Games): see sub-sub rule 25.36.54, if marked **, then +1/-4. Modern rules for the die-hard fan.
Wargames Rules 1950-2000 (Phil Barker, WRG): had a few good small games with small numbers of vehicles to keep it manageable. More accessible than Challenger, because of playing the 1925-1950 set.

And also:

PSL Guide to Wargaming (edited by B. Quarrie, Patrick Stephens Ltd): guided me into wargaming other periods then WW2 and napoleonics. Generic rules based on the WRG ancients game engine.
Little Wars (H.G. Wells, Da Capo Press): a classic, if ever I find a suitable artillery piece these armies will be resurrected in 1/32 plastic (or Lego, or Playmobil?).

Next up: a centrefold photograph of a Gilder set up of La Haie Sainte taken from “How to make model soldiers” by Ph. O. Stearns. You’ll understand what the attraction was.


Gentlemen, again thank you for the kind comments I received. When I follow other peoples blogs I tend to read the postings, but not the comments. So I take the liberty of repeating myself when I write I have to remember that the Chronicles are just a tool for the hobby. As it has, thanks to the readers, taken a flying start, it is difficult not to get sidetracked and spend to much time "blogging" instead of gaming.

And now for something to blow your fine gentlemens minds. I’m of playing C.S. Grants “Breakout” teaser from issue 18 of Battlegames magazine. “What? Nothing special in that”, I hear you exclaim. Well, sit back down and read on. I’m off playing it for real. Yes…10 days of fun in a Full Troop Exercise (FTX) in the Belgian Ardennes. I’m playing Opfor for some Special Forces and guess what: I’m responsible for organising a POW camp that has to be observed and in the end “liberated” by the SFG’s. I think I will call the Camp “Klapso” and I’ll be Major Pjotr Nuydrev, VFS camp commander…

I'll be back (in a forthnight)

Happy Gaming
Pjotr

Tuesday 8 September 2009

My scrapbook and the Hasselse Garde Grenadiers Flag

My first attempt at posting pictures and a bit of tinkering with the Paint program. 

First of all an attempt at flag design with the Paint program. Not bad, but not there yet.
Secondly I present the reader with a page of my scrapbook. Here all my thoughts on wargaming are recorded. To me it's invaluable. The fun thing is that I can look back and see ideas evolve, or sometimes realise that earlier thoughts were better. Best thing...unless I misplace the book...I won't lose my doodles and scribbles as "somebody" cleans up the desk.
On with the show...
Here you see a first design of the Hasselse Grenadier Guards Flag. White and green banded background of the modern day Hasselt flag and central part of Hasselt coat of arms combined.


As promised a page from my scrapbook. Thank you Dave over at Not By Appointment for the uniform template. Some of you more learned or dexterous (computer-savvy) gentlemen would probably suggest to colour the template by some program...Hey...It's my blog... and the felt tip pens were a present from the same somebody whom cleans desks.

And yes...the scrapbook is in English...Why?...Otherwise I have to translate when I transpose my writings to the Chronicles (as I now lovingly call the blog). Doesn't that make sense?

Next I'll make an inventory of my wargaming literature (that will be laugh), watch this space

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Thursday 3 September 2009

A huge thank you and introducing my first unit and character

First of all: a huge thank you to all you fine gentlemen whom posted a comment or sent me a private mail. It is very motivating when one embarks on a project like this to receive all these splendid encouragements. Thank you.
And now for something completely different…


Kevinovich Nyudrev found himself half naked, penniless and horseless in a ditch outside the city gates of Hasselt. He was a spent man, but his fortune was about to turn. In more modern times, he would be recognized as a man suffering from combat stress, having fought in many of Europes battles. Once a bright cavalry officer, he fled from the slaughter and found relief in drink. That’s how he ended up in Hasselt: the capital of Jenever, a schnapps like drink made from berries. He told his tales in the drinking halls, trying to impress the ladies and getting free drinks from the gentlemen.
Getting himself together a small company of horsemen pulled up. He recognised the newly elected Citizen-Regent of the DDU, Leopold van Loon, at their head. Kevinovich also was recognized and was promptly invited to come to the offices of the Citizen-Regent at midday.
Leopold van Loon, having signed a treaty with the British, the Netherlands and Prussia, was very busy trying to organize a standing army. He had heard of the exploits of Nyudrev, indeed met him at a social event and listened to his tales. He had grown to like and pity the man.
In the DDU the economical power was held in the cities and their merchants, not the nobility. An army could only be raised supported by the cities and the union, once the taxes started coming in. The very rich town of Hasselt had agreed to fund the first unit of the DDU: the Hasselt Garde Infanterie . Recruits were still easy to find and relatively experienced as many were deserters from Flemish-Austrian units, looking for a job. That midday, somewhat cleaned up, Kevinovich was standing before Leopold. If he was understanding correctly, van Loon was offering him a job as Kolonel-commandant of the Hasselt Guards. Not really having any plans or other options, Nyudrev agreed.

In reality Hasselt, provincial capital of Belgian Limburg, really is known for the liqueur called Jenever. This city’s flag and coat of arms will form the basis of the Hasselt Guard flag. The red and yellow banded design, which I mentioned before, is historical the coat of arms of the medieval Graafschap van Loon, which used to be situated in the eastern part of modern Limburg. Many Limburg cities and towns have some reference in their flag designs to this historical fact. This was also the inspiration for the name of the first citizen-regent (but I think most of you figured that one out for yourselves).
Please feel free to comment. I'm still tinkering with layout and stuff. Any tips and tricks from the more experienced bloggers would be welcome. Pictures are promised...soon...-ish


Happy gaming

Pjotr

Monday 31 August 2009

De Dietsche Unie

Today I’m serving up history with a twist. This post roughly explains the origins of the Imagi-Nation part of my armies. Later posts will expand on the army, it’s colours, flags, maybe even a rough map of the area, etc…

After the War of the Austrian succession the southern provinces of the Dutch Republic changed hands and became part of the Austrian Habsburg empire. The reforms imposed by Austria, the treason of Austria wanting to dispose of the southern Lowland provinces in exchange for Bavaria, went down badly with middleclass and new upper class merchants which held the real power.
After a badly organised revolt in the Brabant province, which diverted the attention of the Austrian administrators, the people of the main Limburg cities on the Meuse saw their chance and in their turn started a revolt. But they had no intention of joining the northern Dutch Republic. Their movement, originating from a number of cities along the Maas (Meuse) river soon expanded to include the whole of the Limburg region and the eastern part of Brabant. England and the Dutch Republic -thinking a buffer was a useful thing- secretly, but effectively supported the uprising. Due to the economical power of the cities along the Maas, the regions depending on those quickly joined the uprising. A year after the War of Succession the Dietsche Unie was a fact.
The Dutch republic, Prussia and especially Britain now officially recognised the importance of a possible buffer state -able to support armies in winter quarters so near the channel coast and having a main river for transport- by signing a treaty with the new Union, mainly supporting the fledgling army of the De Dietsche Unie (DDU) with equipment and instruction. This gave rise to the first European standing military training camp called Leopoldsburg (named after Leopold van Loon, the first “elected” Citizen-Regent of the DDU) amidst the scarcely populated heath of the Kempa region.
The old colours of the Graafschap van Loon (horizontal bands of yellow and red) were taken as a field sign for the army.

I also see that already 19 visits have been made to my blog...I must admit that in all the excitement of starting a blog, at least 15 counter hits are by myself, showing unsuspecting friends and family what I'm up to. Makes me wonder...maybe Stokes over at the Duchy of Stollen really hasn't reached 70000 hits yet...

Happy gaming
Pjotr

Friday 28 August 2009

A trip down memory lane or How did I get involved in Wargaming

As a youngster in the early seventies I spent much time in Dover. My father was a captain on the ferries based in Ostend and I played stowaway quite a lot. One of my favourite pastimes in Dover was the walk up the cliff to Dover Castle. There a part of Sibornes diorama was displayed. I spent hours looking at it.

Then came the discovery of a modelshop on the mainstreet. Only one word of explanation here: Airfix. I also remember some painted second hand Napoleonic wargame units for sale. I never had enough money to buy them, but I like to think they once passed through the hands of Charles Grant. Anyway, with lego brick buildings battlefields were created and battles fought using blowpipes and marbles.

Next came a book on modelling soldiers. In that book there was a double page colour picture of a wargame by Peter Gilder. And that, was that …The same modelshop also gave me my first (beloved) ruleset: Napoleonic Wargame Rules by the Tunbridge Wells Wargames society (from now on NWRbtTWWS in short). The unpainted airfix armies got a chipboard and coloured chalk battlefield. Units were mounted on cardboard bases and a shot was fired that was heard around our household. To have larger battles my cousin, my only opponent, and I even recruited our ACW figures and played blue and gray against yellow battles. But did we have fun...

As we got older interest shifted to 1/300th WW2 gaming using the WRG 1925-1950 rules. Those were tank battles of legendary proportions. We also played some PanzerBlitz and other boardgames.

In 1985 I bought the first edition of Warhammer, for a long time this became my main interest and other wargaming sort of got sidetracked. Next real life kicked in…I still bought the books and magazines but never played a wargame again. Then in 2002, after a long stay away from home (I’m a soldier), my sons declared that they wanted to start warhammer armies. Old loves were rekindled and now, with the kids (sort of) grown up, it’s time for several generations of the military NUYDREV dynasty to tell their stories from the battlefields long past.
…and so it begins.

Happy gaming

Pjotr

FIRST POST

Well, to my first reader and all those following...Welcome.

Let me start with a small, well small-ish explanation on my plans.

Only now, and never again, I apologise if ever I insult or injure someone by a bad choice of words. English is not my first language. I do try my best, but sometimes something really idiotic (which of course I don't see) comes up, or some huge spelling or grammar mystake sort of makes a comedy appearance. So forgive me for that, if you can't, well...don't read on and goodbye, thanks for visiting.


So here I go, for real now...

I plan to use this blog as a tool to help order my thoughts on my wargaming adventure. Of course readers will have to put up with the occasional rant…

The first project which has taken a start as I write (figures are being shipped from the UK) is my 7YW Imagi-Nation. Phase one is assembling armies for rules compatible with DIE KRIEGSKUNST style basing. My inspiration for this came from Keith's Wargaming blog and Angus Konstam. Of course credit goes to many more fine gentlemens Blogs like Alte Fritz, Duchy of Stollen and many more: I thank you all. Where was I...Ah yes,

Phase 2 should be to build on this to recreate Grantian (is this a word?, now it is...) sized 7YW units. Sounds easy when you read it like this, doesn’t it? Anyway, these armies will be 25/28mm.


My second project will be Napoleonic gaming. I have two rulesets I want to use for this; First of all my beloved Napoleonic wargame rules by the Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society (actually written by George Gush). With these rules, several boxes of Airfix, coloured chalk and a chipboard battlefield, my cousin and I fought many battles. The rules are so Old School, and -for me- better than Grants Napoleonics.

These Napoleonic units will be based such as to be compatible to play General de Brigade. I wanted to play In the Grand Manner, but as the GdeB rules are so much more structured they are more accessible for someone who’s first language is Dutch. Here I will chose 25/28mm models, probably in a generic 100-days setting.

My third project will consist of ancients. Saving some Euro’s here I will probably go for 1/72 plastic armies. Rules will be either WRG 2nd or 6th, or a homebrew of these, combined with George Gush’s ancient rules and the rules from Quarries Guide to Wargaming. I don’t really like DBM, Field of Glory type games. (Yesterday I learned that the "Warrior" rules are descendants of WRG ancients...have to find more on that.)

Project number 4 is the Second World War. Also in 1/72 plastic these will primarily be a diversion for painting Horse and Musket uniforms. Rules of choice are Rapid Fire and Battlegroup Panzergrenadier. Bonus is the scale modelling aspect, also one of my passions that was put on hold for a long time.

I think this is enough for today. Time to get some painting space sorted out, check on brushes and paint, create some simple terrain…in short: time to get started.

Happy gaming.

Pjotr

PS: I haven’t sorted out this blog configuration yet. I promise things will get better.