tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45693397799181110502024-02-19T10:02:50.587+01:00The Nyudrev ChroniclesA light-hearted blog (with the occasional rant) of my wargaming adventures.Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-26984338098671388262020-06-25T21:03:00.003+02:002020-06-26T13:07:18.827+02:00Toy soldier fun<i>It all started bout two months ago when I was looking for inspiration and examples for the 42mm project I introduced in my last post, I found a number of lots of 54mm Britains Toy soldiers for sale at very resonable price. I almost bought a number of boxes, but even at those give away prices, it would have been a serious investment. And then...</i><br />
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I was googling around for alternatives and I came upon Armies in Plastic 1/32 toy soldiers. And then I found a Belgian dealer, good prices and easy on P&P. I needed a plan, other than buying toy soldiers to play Little Wars, or maybe Glossy Coats and Shiny Bayonets style gaming.</div><div>Not much worried about the historical context, I ordered some boxes to make a blue/grey army and a khaki/red army. The reasoning was I could paint them in the 70's Britains Deetail style...just the weapons, skin and some details...the soldiers' plastic would be the main uniform colour.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-<i> And so it begins </i>-</td></tr>
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</div><div>Right, step 1 finished. Now I needed some kind of setting to do some mini campaining à la One-Hour Wargames (by Neil Thomas, nice little book, rules might just work for some 54mm gaming). I settled on a Crimea / Balaclava inspired setting where one force is harassing the outer perimeter of a beseiging army. They are the advance forces of the army that is trying to link up with encircled Petropolis. The skirmishes and at first smaller engagements are happening in the Table Valley and Wood Valley. That settled, the brave little toy soldiers need something to fight over.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPHFYEECVyUIMYDxO6tUk5ygcPOenNDmtZSgyMMYGJxWbWuBpChYqZimEb7F11mN4vZRMKwAO6Pp_iNQd1uvDgbvzRW2puLAZVaeOiYGyNK0uYqzBqM8i8N7EgtNNxflAnMCDgFMdw6A/s1600/WIP+cheese.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1600" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPHFYEECVyUIMYDxO6tUk5ygcPOenNDmtZSgyMMYGJxWbWuBpChYqZimEb7F11mN4vZRMKwAO6Pp_iNQd1uvDgbvzRW2puLAZVaeOiYGyNK0uYqzBqM8i8N7EgtNNxflAnMCDgFMdw6A/s320/WIP+cheese.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-<i>Aldi Emmenthaler cut in strips</i>-</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczWQv0rNV51At1fhGfjVcGyucRXuQwyFbWzjWNdj8WrgTjcUt5_L0-qbwcHpSgXYxExtIedJGPMWmxbqcraXvdOqpQBA99VJwD6IBKXKzfbpBJ1xACNfa91R_SGat1W5_pp32uQ-ypoc/s1600/WIP+Gabions.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczWQv0rNV51At1fhGfjVcGyucRXuQwyFbWzjWNdj8WrgTjcUt5_L0-qbwcHpSgXYxExtIedJGPMWmxbqcraXvdOqpQBA99VJwD6IBKXKzfbpBJ1xACNfa91R_SGat1W5_pp32uQ-ypoc/s320/WIP+Gabions.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-<i>I decided we needed new placemats-</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT4WO7NrNnrqxlbCE98G1gsfVRqznkvQ0iKvo87Sr0GwG8dPxFhZVUj0SRC8Syqg5zdpLy_1jguuRenCgBM6xTulaCVfkP2hJKdLaXpQlZvtbpuTbRPCjG7aEhFinw3bQAWXRVqX-lyc/s1600/WIP+testingforsize.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1600" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT4WO7NrNnrqxlbCE98G1gsfVRqznkvQ0iKvo87Sr0GwG8dPxFhZVUj0SRC8Syqg5zdpLy_1jguuRenCgBM6xTulaCVfkP2hJKdLaXpQlZvtbpuTbRPCjG7aEhFinw3bQAWXRVqX-lyc/s320/WIP+testingforsize.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">- <i>The gouache pots / placemat gabions being tested for size, I still needed to tease out the top to simulate branches sticking out</i>-</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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</div><div>Looking good I thought...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7WSFpwY2bw-HM1WC6Lxa7I_KHrnL83xaoYTq36K1kQKqqHszazxASla94Nyvn9TsMjHvIaL4MJ_1XjiuQNJFuB6mzjunZh_P0vHqj6UI9SRwBZHYoE-NAn7-EdOrVHsaZWcdeaUTNoY/s1600/Gabion+redoubt.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1176" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7WSFpwY2bw-HM1WC6Lxa7I_KHrnL83xaoYTq36K1kQKqqHszazxASla94Nyvn9TsMjHvIaL4MJ_1XjiuQNJFuB6mzjunZh_P0vHqj6UI9SRwBZHYoE-NAn7-EdOrVHsaZWcdeaUTNoY/s320/Gabion+redoubt.jpeg" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-<i>I found an acrylic wall paint tester, just about the right shade of brown, to simulate 70's brown plastic toys-</i></td></tr>
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</div><div>Then I found some cardboard boxes and made some rough and ready buildings:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuv40hofggxk2rVgCQL-wkvpD0VjcNm-pjaarjBKzWT-i9it_5-P5L-X8I-oTdi-MOn4rxb2klUzU8Rw1mHnkeNnkCW2HEKOqte7Uvkh5aX1DJ1OsYTb3S7Bea-HGstsTwr_KvHyxN4A/s1600/Fort.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1547" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuv40hofggxk2rVgCQL-wkvpD0VjcNm-pjaarjBKzWT-i9it_5-P5L-X8I-oTdi-MOn4rxb2klUzU8Rw1mHnkeNnkCW2HEKOqte7Uvkh5aX1DJ1OsYTb3S7Bea-HGstsTwr_KvHyxN4A/s320/Fort.jpeg" width="309" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">-<i>A fort</i>-</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_55N38xncsGXC4fAJeiBOl1haPoICizXuPCaahyphenhyphensD-ucK3L-GDh8n_3hIr8GxVlsnTUVPY2fNCt9iawc4soTe9S-9tQnhdRXgTmttv-gtCvvBJa6a0njkbhVTdELknJO1rdVr4Y11F58/s1600/Fibua.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1253" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_55N38xncsGXC4fAJeiBOl1haPoICizXuPCaahyphenhyphensD-ucK3L-GDh8n_3hIr8GxVlsnTUVPY2fNCt9iawc4soTe9S-9tQnhdRXgTmttv-gtCvvBJa6a0njkbhVTdELknJO1rdVr4Y11F58/s320/Fibua.jpeg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>-House searching in the village of Valcona, notice green cheese hedges-</i></td></tr>
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</div><div><br /></div><div>And there you have it, humble beginnings.</div>
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Now let me share <a href="https://paulywaulyswargamesblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">this </a>with you, Paul supported me to restart this blog, only for me to discover that he is way ahead of me. I forgot to ask him what rules he uses for his games. Maybe we should have a game together.<br />
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<i>I'm so very lucky to be able to do all this, must keep the momentum up...the armies need to be ready for the grandchildren to play with, granddaughter is three and a half , grandson is minus two weeks, ETA 2nd July...</i><br />
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Happy gaming,<br />
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Pjotr<br />
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Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-5510181347195352052020-06-22T15:25:00.000+02:002020-06-22T15:25:44.668+02:00Last in, first out<div><br /></div><div><i>Indeed, let's start with my last finished project, just to get started.<br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div>I've always been in love with toy soldiers, especially the old "Little Wars" style castings and also with the Britains Deetail range of plastic soldiers. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I was looking for an original gift for a fellow retired officer of cavalry. The unit he grew up in and where his heart is, is the Belgian 4e Regiment Lansiers (4th Lancers Regiment). Then it struck me: why not paint up some glossy toy soldiers as Belgian lancers? And the I thought: well, why not present them in a box, as if they where made by some toy soldier manufacturer?</div><div><br /></div><div>And so I did...</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 219px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 371px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mlLPBfTn3lhzzgtepQ9RO1AJfyu3s2OKqmgFXRtuDKzA8q38CdVXdFWRM9MyWMDrC423U9SzCdNfEfSyNlX9AZPp2xlh0MLsYrZf5kf7jDm__isljhNaWJqfC18svWisRP4Sre8Rkzw/s1035/4L+fig2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1035" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mlLPBfTn3lhzzgtepQ9RO1AJfyu3s2OKqmgFXRtuDKzA8q38CdVXdFWRM9MyWMDrC423U9SzCdNfEfSyNlX9AZPp2xlh0MLsYrZf5kf7jDm__isljhNaWJqfC18svWisRP4Sre8Rkzw/w320-h183/4L+fig2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Irregular miniatures German Uhlan Troopers, painted up as Belgian 4e Regiment Lansiers<span></span><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div>In the Britains boxes of four cavalry, you also had a trumpeter or standard bearer and an officer, so I made up those. The officer arm was a bit awkward as it had a hand stifly extending from the arm, so I had to sculpt on a light cavalry sword.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="height: 277px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 391px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BzHZrjvV0meRltY1qmma-4zivxJh1xEXs7fznVRNnMxSWfKJUxiCA-O-K-wEiGQaW4NsiXzqgyqI6mQk2WU_XvevXzuig5wzi2h0PBywCTROuFwAygale0440qIq-F2WY2KQe222TZc/s1024/4l+fig4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BzHZrjvV0meRltY1qmma-4zivxJh1xEXs7fznVRNnMxSWfKJUxiCA-O-K-wEiGQaW4NsiXzqgyqI6mQk2WU_XvevXzuig5wzi2h0PBywCTROuFwAygale0440qIq-F2WY2KQe222TZc/s320/4l+fig4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The trumpeter's and officer's horses are different colours from the trooper's horses. Small mistake which can still be corrected: the piping on the officer's chapska should be gold.</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The miniatures where finished in Coat d'Armes paint and a coat of Windsor and Newton gloss varnish. The main colours per instructions where royal blue, golden yellow and sky blue. I'm quite happy with the "paint conversion", which is in the spirit of the old toy soldiers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next I wanted the box the have that retro look, so I copied the Britain's style boxes. I did however insert text on the inside of the lid, as I thought it would be a good backdrop when displaying the toys.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrm6t3SA9i3TEXihygaiojOti7ppLgHIq-SnW2iCdIdFtA9gN_NnBtCSfYzCryBH7wLVJbqpE6wKSDnOHbC1eZKg6Jm6rCue0Hc7fLgCaEPLxR1iPpMgpbRb6hG0R-CPzGwcuT0JAOeo/s1079/4L+fig1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1079" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrm6t3SA9i3TEXihygaiojOti7ppLgHIq-SnW2iCdIdFtA9gN_NnBtCSfYzCryBH7wLVJbqpE6wKSDnOHbC1eZKg6Jm6rCue0Hc7fLgCaEPLxR1iPpMgpbRb6hG0R-CPzGwcuT0JAOeo/s320/4L+fig1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>OOOOOH SHINY !!!!!<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLv7puWnMPOhCDTwf0DjZP1JD-MoHaVXkEI2Xl1SLSbQawX-uDPYvwmcMzOisRBpQlr5tFzpuPISuGpibtEM-DQKftRiyfLo7CkGCvzB0mgtFQKz3_KhdezVnoJU3FOc3GotPzhZCDZg/s1191/4L+fig3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1183" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLv7puWnMPOhCDTwf0DjZP1JD-MoHaVXkEI2Xl1SLSbQawX-uDPYvwmcMzOisRBpQlr5tFzpuPISuGpibtEM-DQKftRiyfLo7CkGCvzB0mgtFQKz3_KhdezVnoJU3FOc3GotPzhZCDZg/s320/4L+fig3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TADAAA!!!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I think I just might do a couple more sets like this, just for fun.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>There you have it, a first careful post, maybe the start of a renewed regular sharing of my leasure time activities.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>As always, <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Gaming,</div><div><br /></div><div>Pjotr<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-56828686263271693762020-06-16T22:46:00.002+02:002020-06-22T14:49:25.129+02:00Is anybody out there?<div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Well, is there?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Just checking, I might just fire up The Chronicles, slowly but surely, as more hobby time is created. But then only if someone is listening.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Gaming</div><div>Pjotr<br /><u><b></b></u></div>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-88993195204355726412016-05-12T20:40:00.000+02:002016-05-12T20:40:07.962+02:00The past in a nutshell<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i>So, getting back
into it. A number of “dead” links have been removed. T thought some of you might
be wondering what I’ve been up to last couple of eons…</i></div>
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So what -whilst being
away from the Chronicles- did I do…wargaming wise.
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There certainly were a number of
memorable activities.</div>
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What stands out is attending an “Old school “
Waterloo wargame on the 17<sup>th</sup> of June 2015 at the “Le 1815” hotel,
a mere 100 yards from Wellingtons famous Elm tree location.
And of course,
two days later, attending the reenactment on the Waterloo battlefield. I must say there was a rather large crowd attending the 200<sup>th
</sup>get together of the Waterloo veterans. Pictures are AWOL.</div>
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The Fridays following that event
I took command of Grouchy’s troops in another Waterloo game using Blucher Napoleonic rules. Again, can't find the pictures right now, to be continued....</div>
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Another game that stuck with me is when I took
command of a cavalry wing in a WSS game
and totally trashed the enemy cavalry
and then maneuvered into position to attack the enemy infantry lines in the flank
(<a href="https://thewargamorium.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/another-twilight-for-the-sun-king/">battle report</a>).</div>
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And there was <a href="https://thewargamorium.wordpress.com/2015/09/19/crimean-war-1854-2/">this </a>game that was set during the Crimean war. I took command of the Russian troops and after blocking an Anglo-French all but destroyed the Anglo part of the adversary in a well-coordinated counterattack. The write up of the battle says the dice were responsable for the Russian victory rather then superior generalship. You should take the writings of war correspondends with a pinch of salt.</div>
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In the mean time I’m assembling
and (still busy) painting a small Dutch-Belgian 100 Days contingent in
28mm, of which the Dutch militia already fought at Waterloo on the 17<sup>th</sup> of June
2015. Again, I'll try and get hold of the pictures.</div>
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In the mean time a lot of time is going to a four year course I'm following. I'm learning how to restore old documents and paper based works. I'll probably end up specialising in etchings and engravings of battle scenes, maps and fortification maps. More on that much later.<br /> </div>
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A special mention to the fellow gamers at <a href="https://thewargamorium.wordpress.com/">The Wargamorium</a> for having me join their games. </div>
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<i>And ever so slowly things fall into place again. Where are those damned pictures? Maybe on my old desktop? Where is my old desktop?</i></div>
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As ever, </div>
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Happy Gaming</div>
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Pjotr</div>
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Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-67048874533999888612016-04-23T15:55:00.001+02:002016-04-23T15:55:10.664+02:00First things firstMy first task will be to clean up the blog, i.e.: remove dead links, update sites I follow, introduce new favourites, etc...In short: do some long due maintenance.<br />
<br />
<i>Happy gaming,</i><br />
<i>Pjotr</i>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-45254585185619677692016-04-23T13:11:00.003+02:002016-04-23T13:11:52.368+02:00What's this.......a blog?<br />
I've forgotten about this.<br />
No, not really...<br />
I'll have a think about the Chronicles, and then see what will happen.<br />
<br />
<br />
As ever, <br />
Happy gaming,<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-89454020334435270922012-06-14T21:21:00.001+02:002012-06-15T07:23:40.055+02:00CQMS and a prize<i>Still tinkering with the blog and a grand prize for my 50th member / follower.</i><br />
<br />
Indeed, I deleted a number of less important links and added a few new ones which have caught my interest. Have a look.<br />
<br />
And then there is my 50th member / follower and he wins a prize: lifelong member- and followship to the Nyudrev Chronicles for FREE. Yes...free, gratis, gratuit, and that for as long as he lives or less long than that if that person should outlive me. For reasons of discretion and privacy the 50th follower has been personally contacted by me on his <a href="http://parumpugna.blogspot.be/">Parum Pugna</a> blog of his title of Honorary Follower of the Followship of the Blog.<br />
<br />
<i>Just to keep everybody interested: the 100th follower will also receive a signed picture of my dog (signed by me, not the dog).</i><br />
<br />
Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-91477003421337325002012-06-10T16:34:00.003+02:002012-06-10T16:41:29.499+02:00How to...<i>Me, I'm not the kind of man seeking fame by inventing warm water....</i><br />
<br />
The main reason for the "how to" section is to share someone else's great idea, and give that person credit. It also helps me find quickly those links when I need them.<br />
Anyway, I've added two links.<br />
First Paul at Paul's Bods has this great technique for making halberds and in extension any kind of flat shape you could need at the end of a pole. I used it to create some finials -if that is the correct word- at the top of some standards. Thank you Paul for sharing that with us.<br />
Next , looking for a durable method of mounting printed paper flags, I came across this wonderful tutorial by Stefan in his Monty's Caravan blog. By the way, while you visit that blog, scroll down and have a look at those excellent painted miniatures. I've also included Monty's Caravan in the inspiration section. Stefan, danke ihnen.<br />
<br />
<i>Well, almost finished the updating, next up will be the quartermaster section. Who needs it? I for one don't have any money to spend on such frivolities as toy soldiers, or so she says...</i><br />
<br />
Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-46714915981873024202012-06-08T19:26:00.001+02:002012-06-08T19:26:32.723+02:00Favourite places<i>and those fallen out of favour</i>... <br />
<br />
I also deleted some of my ex-favourite places, because they're not my favourites any more.<br />
But please take a few moments to welcome following sites:<br />
-the Cent jours / Mont-Saint-Jean site gives you every uniform worn by all parties in the 1815 hundred days campaign. How spoiled can you get? And all is neatly organised, so you can research by country, or by battle order...and as new information is made available Alexis, the author/artist updates the uniform plates. This is truly a life work to be proud of;<br />
-WW2 uniform painting guides, an older blog page of "This miniature life" by a certain Lord Gumby from Brisbane, Down Under, giving links to all kinds of information on, guess...yes, painting WW2 uniforms. I do believe that blog is now defunct.<br />
<br />
And I'm still looking for figure ranges compatible with Warrior Miniature Napoleonics... <br />
<br />
<i>As ever, dear reader, don't be afraid to drop a line, even if to prove to my dear wife that people do read my postings even if there are no pictures of the balsa houses she made.</i><br />
<br />
Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-64173667160390251082012-06-07T21:46:00.003+02:002012-06-10T00:05:31.909+02:00New inspiration<i>and goodbye old inspiration...</i><br />
<br />
I've started to clean up the Chronicles a bit. In the "Inspiration" section I've deleted some defunct links. And put a few new ones (for me at least) in place.<br />
The Airfix American Civil War Project is a good example of how I would want my civil war project to look. It is completely in line with my other projects. <br />
Parum Pugna, what can I say, sowing the seeds of doubt in my mind. That Mr Pearson is a devil of sorts.<br />
And Vauban and Shandy, a fellow Belgian gamer, in the same line of work as myself...nice and inspirational garden gaming.<br />
Service Ration Distribution is a school example of how a sand table should look like. Respect...<br />
And last, Jeremy Jenkins' Marauder Moments. Those armies will be -even more- huge in a couple of years. But I'd love a game with them right now.<br />
<br />
<i>The near future will see more cleaning up as I go along. If you feel left out or if for some reason I unintentionally left you out</i>, <i>drop a line and I'll sort it out.</i><br />
<br />
Happy Gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-67176462692397925242012-05-23T21:06:00.002+02:002012-05-25T04:11:06.347+02:00Proof of life<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">This time I have written a post with several
purposes.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">First of all to prove I’m still alive, although
some people would probably consider me brain dead, which, in fact, suites me
fine. Next to give an update on how all the projects are progressing. An
introduction of my new acquisitions -wargames related, of course- follows that.</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">How do I
prove I’m still alive? A picture of me holding today's newspaper? Do I send a body
part to each of the listed followers (yes, you, and you, and…). I could do
that, but who gets which part and what will that leave for myself and my dear
wife to enjoy? Actually, I won’t be going into this before I discover SWMBO
really won’t miss anything and would happily start making 48 parcels with me
laying heavily sedated in a pool of blood on a cold stone slab. This would sort
of take the purpose out of the proof of life thingy. So, dear reader, just
consider these humble words as proof of life. Actually, putting the word
“humble” in the text sort of makes it not so humble any more…and here we go
again…</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">Which smoothly brings
me to the status of my projects...</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The Classic
or Old School wargaming project has slowed down a bit but will find new élan
because a small but permanent gaming set up is in the making, giving me a 4 by
6 foot wargames table. As for miniatures, a next restored regiment of plastic
Spencer Smith models is undergoing the last stages of restoration. The standards are painted on linen and came out very well I think. Next up is a 24 figure cavalry unit.<br />
I have also identified the 1/100000 metric map for campaigning using the method
described in “The Wargame”. Just to set the scene:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">It is 1758 and the Franlysse (French) armies are deployed in three lines along the Meuse and Ruhr rivers, between Meuse and Rhine and the first line along the Rhine as they are manoeuvring against Ferdinand of Brunswicks allied troops. The upstart DDU poses a serious threat to the lines of communications coming from Northern Franlysse, through Flanders, and also formed a possible allied bridgehead in the </span><span lang="EN-GB">Franlysse rear, West of the River Meuse</span><span lang="EN-GB">. Franlysse's Comte de Clermont had sent a large contingent south and west around the Ardennes, by way of Namur, to cover this threat to his rear lines. This contingent is ordered to strike North to force the DDU into treaty or surrender at the same time robbing the allies of a possible bridgehead. After breaking the DDU forces, the Franlysse troops -let's call them Clermonts rearguard- were to bivouac and set up winter quarters as far North
as possible.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Back to the campaign map.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">The map that will be used can be found <a href="http://www.ngi.be/NL/NL1-1-4.shtm">here</a>. I'll be using the Liège/Limburg sheets. Only thing I haven’t decided
upon yet (because of the work involved) is whether I’ll redraw the map and
adapt it using the contemporary “<a href="http://www.ngi.be/NL/NL1-4-2-3.shtm">Kabinetskaart</a>” for a more realistic setting. Anyway a new grid has to be superimposed
for campaigning the Grant way.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Also, as I don't really want to be a follower, I'll think I'll call my Classic or Old School wargaming something else: Retro Wargaming. Yes, Pjotr Nuydrevs Retro Wargaming project. It does sound a bit silly doesn't it. In a couple of weeks time you'll find discussions on other fora about the correct definition of Retro Wargaming, as mine -even though i think I just invented it- isn't correct anyway and should include...blah blah blah</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">Of course, in the mean time, imagi-history has taught us that in the end
Franlysse was beaten and the DDU survived to get mixed up in the Napoleonic
wars.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br />
The Napoleonic project using Rank and File rules is well under way. The models
for a generic French division are present. The cavalry (dragoons) are painted.
I’m using mainly Warrior miniatures for the infantry and some Minifigs for the
cavalry. I’m still looking for some artillery miniatures compatible with the
Warrior models. These could be Lamming, Tradition 25, maybe Hinchliffe or
Garisson? (some desperate hinting just to make sure someone out there does write a useful or at least sensible comment). These Warrior miniatures where bought at a bring and buy at a
wargames convention in GENTBRUGGE last year. The Minifig cavalry
where an Ebay find.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The generic
and partly imagi-nation allied forces are mustering also. Two divisions worth
of infantry models: part Warrior miniatures and part Prince August models. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The Warrior
models where acquired from Mr S.A.
who tells me these models originated from another Mr. S. A.. Anyway, these
models are painted up as the war of 1812 British and US infantry. The British
will form two large guard battalions. The US and Canadian troops will form DDU
militia units.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Mr T. H.
from Promotheus in Aspic fame, also sent me two battalions worth of Warrior miniatures
painted as Spanish. These will make up two DDU line battalions. Of course all
figures will be paint converted, keeping a maximum of the original paintwork.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">You can imagine
how the allied are organised with DDU militia and line units standing in for
historical 100 days campaign Dutch-Belgian troops.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Next, at
this years Gentbrugge convention, I picked up a load of rather crudely painted Prince
August miniatures which will need some work to form five British battalions. To complete
the allied army I still need some artillery and cavalry.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">So I think -after resolving some basing issues- I'm well on the way here.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24AAkBIcAfVc2W-r5SDCgrILNTAg6DInx8pqXUQ-tnCUBmnyswtT1Ntt8xOu5Y6Z2LabmcQmpdAiavSOTn1r2-Ls-8NssEOQJtLoPNan9xsh_hGCDUSNr3msUII6qF6mAeTx7UOm9XnM/s1600/IMG_3226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24AAkBIcAfVc2W-r5SDCgrILNTAg6DInx8pqXUQ-tnCUBmnyswtT1Ntt8xOu5Y6Z2LabmcQmpdAiavSOTn1r2-Ls-8NssEOQJtLoPNan9xsh_hGCDUSNr3msUII6qF6mAeTx7UOm9XnM/s320/IMG_3226.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">- These 88 fellows will form half of an allied Napoleonic 100 day-ish army<br /> after rebasing and touching up of course.-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">Which means that I’ve already largely given
away what has been brought into the house. But that was not all. </span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I have also bought a number of books: The Wargame rules, Scenarios for all Ages, the Funcken books on the 7YW...</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">But I won't renew my Battlegames subscription. I don't like the lecturing (is that the correct expression?) tone of many of the authors and reviewers and most importantly: Diane S.'s hand fetish photographs don't do it any more -for me at least- and I think of upgrading to Playboy or some such.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><i>On hold</i></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Due to the unexpected influx of Napoleonic forces and the loss of the main motivator (The Classic Wargaming Journal) my ancients project is now last in the line.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">But I'm happy with that. I don't want to set time bound goals and challenges to organise and structure my hobby to get the most out of it.... I'm doing all that at work...I just want to fool around with toy soldiers and paint some sometimes, throw a few dice, read history books and not feel guilty when I'm not doing anything...Isn't life stressful enough? Let me enjoy the chaos of my hobby at my leisure.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-GB">Pictures</span></i><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">"No hands, no cookies", as my grandmother used to say.... </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Happy gaming</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Pjotr</span></div>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-88105470122368089812011-09-21T21:06:00.000+02:002011-09-21T21:06:41.550+02:00The Nyudrev building society<i>And now for that terrible secret concerning the first batch of balsa buildings...(see previous post)</i><br />
<br />
I'm loath to confess...yes...it really hurts to say that...<br />
they were made by my lovely wife. And to make matters even worse, she's better at it than me. Please enjoy the work of Sabrina Nyudrev - Von Wunderheim.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXaRdMkhmeVnnFI_IEwcF1yVzN3EPwGpyyHnodx-pCNSgyoh-3j3-IZnmzyvghWdWt2enX3oTvXb__TFYuPOMsdUKpz0xKrdDQqpsFF8IMpHUGkcdefTMV-Rw59oL0V7sFvqVmcuZbtQ/s1600/IMG_2784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXaRdMkhmeVnnFI_IEwcF1yVzN3EPwGpyyHnodx-pCNSgyoh-3j3-IZnmzyvghWdWt2enX3oTvXb__TFYuPOMsdUKpz0xKrdDQqpsFF8IMpHUGkcdefTMV-Rw59oL0V7sFvqVmcuZbtQ/s320/IMG_2784.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Buildings in several states of finish. As you can see, the top lifts of to reveal ruins. The miniatures in the pictures give you an idea of scale.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpSCPSVEJXvNK3EZcqp_f7rcwVx_gAX_amNnRJRuzBEg5fkDTZ4fEdXpppOfqiwQ5ZZ2SlpIVxlg0l7ud9-BQu-cUxamT1UYmR4DCXl7dxAtkP_lKA0CFk-tLp6crLlCrnIGxT6fFI3A/s1600/IMG_2785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpSCPSVEJXvNK3EZcqp_f7rcwVx_gAX_amNnRJRuzBEg5fkDTZ4fEdXpppOfqiwQ5ZZ2SlpIVxlg0l7ud9-BQu-cUxamT1UYmR4DCXl7dxAtkP_lKA0CFk-tLp6crLlCrnIGxT6fFI3A/s320/IMG_2785.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-ooh, and hedges and fences and trees...-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In the "how to" section on the left you can find a link to the Leadgardens blog, where all is explained to make these splendid "classic wargaming buildings". As if there is any other way to make wargame buildings, in any scale...</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>I feel a bit silly now, having tricked the love of my life -after all her hard work- into a goblin green sitting room. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy gaming</div><div style="text-align: left;">Pjotr</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-62736615040590619502011-09-20T21:46:00.001+02:002011-09-20T22:52:58.646+02:00Pictures<i>I know it's been a while...but there is so much to tell, I won't even bother trying.</i><br />
<br />
Instead enjoy these pictures of the Grenadiers de Franlysse. They featured <a href="http://nyudrevchronicles.blogspot.com/2010/07/wip-report-finally.html">here</a> and they are a unit ready for battle know. I haven't got around to painting the wargames table yet, I'll explain later why this is...<br />
But I wanted to see if everything would come together and look right to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimROakjjhkn4_y7eB37dAKoxqKUitYHXVIfqY7yoxnrT5PeCIZqHVXCOFXNKF3ORFOD6wxNNxqqiswzZvsngsF5hpC1e9auV8BxZkVIcKDPSbRee4EZS_Q7hc33aaCKzk8sva9jYTpsq0/s1600/grendefranlysse+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimROakjjhkn4_y7eB37dAKoxqKUitYHXVIfqY7yoxnrT5PeCIZqHVXCOFXNKF3ORFOD6wxNNxqqiswzZvsngsF5hpC1e9auV8BxZkVIcKDPSbRee4EZS_Q7hc33aaCKzk8sva9jYTpsq0/s320/grendefranlysse+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Note linen flags, NCO with soldered spontoons, and balsa house in the background.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVXhZSZe3ToHzStQfb2uA1t4U7SIpRIl2KEL0xYYqP96U-OkS3obvv0Dkvq6c9vnbQ0-1_TpqzcXsU2JBcaXAvmwRIpcaafr-c0_TNSZcKHy40MqyPvnC9tLIM60nIkOCvyySQ33L2pk/s1600/grendefranlysse+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVXhZSZe3ToHzStQfb2uA1t4U7SIpRIl2KEL0xYYqP96U-OkS3obvv0Dkvq6c9vnbQ0-1_TpqzcXsU2JBcaXAvmwRIpcaafr-c0_TNSZcKHy40MqyPvnC9tLIM60nIkOCvyySQ33L2pk/s320/grendefranlysse+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-ooh, and the hedges and fences...and trees...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And have a look at the biggest Old School or Classic (what's in a name? ah yes, copyright and stuff) wargaming table ever painted...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_860712692"></span><span id="goog_860712693"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkJsdiSUvm9KWTN8xBXGrYDE4kA4-vOxajPZH_GKidWas_NIicmlJXhGXbcCdnHeacnjkSYpyC35du95Qcvsob42t4wV9u22nTzyzCP0Ittott7nz5Svnsjdsuv4OvMWe0b79leQw4DY/s1600/grendefranlysse+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkJsdiSUvm9KWTN8xBXGrYDE4kA4-vOxajPZH_GKidWas_NIicmlJXhGXbcCdnHeacnjkSYpyC35du95Qcvsob42t4wV9u22nTzyzCP0Ittott7nz5Svnsjdsuv4OvMWe0b79leQw4DY/s320/grendefranlysse+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-How about some 9 by 15 feet of goblin greenish surface...?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRJ2_sPyIFM-IGZlslY1RmyZvLKPBDnxjHgQzr1vQx2JmgKUdxY4FaCtWRmEuIN0KU0PCJe1bJAA-YJdEwTN0TSXc91cH4uhvIb62kxGpuc2WnzibS1kvfoJKsmry7SiSKftIJCu4j6I/s1600/grendefranlysse+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRJ2_sPyIFM-IGZlslY1RmyZvLKPBDnxjHgQzr1vQx2JmgKUdxY4FaCtWRmEuIN0KU0PCJe1bJAA-YJdEwTN0TSXc91cH4uhvIb62kxGpuc2WnzibS1kvfoJKsmry7SiSKftIJCu4j6I/s320/grendefranlysse+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Just a pity it's vertical...but then, who else can say they tricked their spouse in having a goblin green feature wall in the sitting room.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It did cost me 1745 pots of paint...GW shares went up last month. But, this job is the reason why the games table hasn't been painted...I ran out of green...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>So now that all the have to's have been seen to, it's play time.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Oh, and there's a terrible secret shrouding the balsa buildings...but that's for later.</i><br />
<i>And there's books I picked up, and miniatures arrived from the USA...and...and... </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy gaming<i></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Pjotr<i><br />
</i></div>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-41421528547785634452011-03-16T22:10:00.000+01:002011-03-16T22:10:23.743+01:00Update<i>First of all you've noticed that it has been really quiet on the Chronicles, which is exactly what I intended. The Chronicles are not the main hobby effort and with less available hobby time last couple of months they where on the bottom of the priority list. So what has been keeping me busy, you wonder?</i><br />
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Most of my available hobby time was spent sorting through thousands of 1/72 plastic soldiers of all makes and ages. The aim was to organise two Napoleonic armies for my local "De Witte Ridder" games club. Basing was to be generic, but primarily for use with the Black Powder (BP) rule set at 2/3 scale. Several stands of miniatures are easily reconfigured to play any rule set possible. In the end it should help the club discover historical gaming for minimum cost and effort and maximum effect. Ludo, a club member also interested in historical gaming, was a big help in sorting the little soldiers.<br />
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The "unpainted" miniatures were then glued to bases -six to a base- with three bases giving standard units, four for large, two for small (and as a bonus: the number of bases also being a reminder for the units Stamina value as described in BP) . For cavalry I counted three four horse bases as a standard regiment. I based the scaling down on roughly 1/30 miniature to men ratio.<br />
In the end I managed to put together some 45 infantry battalions, 12cavalry regiments and 14 guns, casualty markers, Brigadiers and CinC. I guess that means I salvaged some 1500 Napoleonic soldiers for some good sized Napoleonic games.<br />
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Those of you served with good memory, will recall that one of the projects announced at the very beginning of the Chronicles was Old School (or Classic) ancients war gaming à la Tony Bath. This project has taken a flying start in Phil Olley's Classic Wargaming Journal (CWJ). You will not see much of that project on the Chronicles, maybe some surplus pictures or some such. It is my intention to keep this a long term and exclusive "hard copy" project, as long as CWJ exists anyway. I did discover this "<a href="http://tony-bath-rules.proboards.com/index.cgi">The Rules of Tony Bath</a>" forum, which I intend to join.<br />
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I've also been thinking (that's new, Pjotr, be serious now...) and I've come to the conclusion that I wanted to serve to many masters, as they say (don't they?). I wanted my 7YW imagination armies based for classic wargaming, with optional use for gaming with figure tray based game engines (BP, Rank and File, ...). I would be able to split Classic units in two and game with twice the number of units...I'd been working on basing combinations...to find it doesn't work for me. So I've decided to start Napoleonic armies with the delightful "Classic" <a href="http://www.warrioronline.demon.co.uk/25mm/25napind.htm">Warrior Miniatures</a> range of models. I've acquired a reasonable number of French infantry at a recent bring and buy and things will go on from there. No rush, no hurry. The good news is that in the end the imagi-history battles fought by imagi-nation units will solely be resolved using The Wargame or Charge as rules engines and basing matters are simplified. Good thinking, Pjotr...<br />
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"So what about all that imagi-thingy stuff?", I hear you cry. Calm down, hold your horses...The DDU is very much alive and might even appear in the Napoleonic wars. In the mean time, units have been listed, paint schemes sorted and several hundreds of miniatures have been ordered. This week restoration of the old SSM's will resume. Also terrain has been defined, trees ordered, paint brought in, buildings planned...and as al my projects will be classic and of comparable scale, that terrain will be usable for all my wargaming needs.<br />
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<i>Am I still following my time line? Well considering I want all projects at cruising speed (i.e. fully playable) by the time I retire...I still have nine years to go. So yes, everything is going as planned. I promise that when something I deem interesting pops up, more posts will follow, ...</i><br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-73214489343616240932011-01-10T14:13:00.000+01:002011-01-10T14:13:29.767+01:00A New YearBelatedly, but nonetheless a Happy New Year to all readers of the Chronicles. I wish all of you and all those dear to you a wonderful 2011, with lots of love, good health and piles of lead.<br />
(Funny this, somebody I know thought that "piles of lead" were a bodily affliction...he was thinking of..., well you can guess, can't you? Something like this is bound to happen when English is ones third or fourth language.)<br />
I've been flying below the radars the past couple of weeks. Of course there are good reasons for this. Let's just say that due to a few unfortunate events (or rather mishaps), I had little available hobby time. And what I could do in that time was hampered physically (with me hanging together with hooks and threads so to speak) and this has nothing to do with the piles of lead mentioned above, thank you.<br />
Anyway, I decided that I best first fulfilled my hobby commitments I had made to others. In the end, some of you will certainly (or hopefully) enjoy the fruits of that work by mid January.<br />
In the mean time...<br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-70202818811458431432010-12-05T18:29:00.000+01:002010-12-05T18:29:16.685+01:00Update<i>You might get the idea not a lot is happening in Chateau Nyudrev. You might be right...</i><br />
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As I've explained before, I'd rather spend time getting my different projects organised than posting on the Chronicles.<br />
First of all, slowly but steadily, figures are getting painted and restored. You've allready seen pictures of the Hasselse Garde nearing completion. But between painting and blogging, I was loosing sight of something very important: pushing toy soldiers around the tabletop. To remedy this little problem, I'll do two things. The first will not be new to regular readers. I'll step up and make some serious work of sorting out that big box of 1/72 plastics and organising some ad hoc improvised napoleonic units. I guess if I put my back into it I can have everything sorted out, based and marked in a couple of weeks time. <br />
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For myself, I had the idea that I could temporary base the SSM troops I now have and use them to game with as they are. Working to restore one unit at a time, replacing an unit which I'll start work on with a finished one would mean that rotating units this way I'd always have enough troops for a game and at the same time get motivated as unit after unit gets the treatment. I've chosen plain beerfelt card to base, using a small blob of putty to fix the figures. Minimum effort, maximum effect.<br />
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Of course there's other hobby related stuff going on, but you'll have to read a certain <a href="http://classicwargaming.blogspot.com/">Journal </a>to know what that is about. In the mean time note that last weekend, I had to change the numbers in the "about me" section again.Speaking of Mr Olley and his endavours. Did you know that his <a href="http://warcabinet.blogspot.com/">Warcabinet </a>has done the "Phoenix thing" and is know again alive and kicking? Of course you do. This is old news isn't it. Anyway, I'm making a point of becoming a follower and placing a link. But first, I'm making dinner.<br />
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<i>So you see, the Chronicles are alive</i>,<i> but I don't find every little thing I'm doing worth a special mention. On the blogging side of things, it will really get interesting as units get ready for the battlefield and there is something worth showing and a story to be told. In the mean time you can expect an update...now and then...-ish</i><br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-77055902857559552172010-11-15T11:58:00.001+01:002010-11-15T22:31:59.068+01:00Teaser<i>Edited: I replaced the original pictures in this post with better (sharper) ones, but there still is room for improvement. I've also added two pictures</i>.<br />
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As I was trying to figure out basing my almost finished Minden castings, I thought I'd take a couple of pictures...just to show of my flag I painted freehand on linen. One side of the flag shows the standard of the Hasselse Garde imagination unit, the other side shows one version of the DDU flag.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6ICtW7d-TXGXZwFlNJ_z_WBas1tGMnP3SSh_uW8JLdkumcsT-_82KH9nRp65CLN69_LjMueKzWHpZJ0l1x9PE0Ri_anuRqAyi_e1-GPFO6lKU0q8EZ-nj-lky5dkdi98nMbrj6nZ990/s1600/IMG_0804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6ICtW7d-TXGXZwFlNJ_z_WBas1tGMnP3SSh_uW8JLdkumcsT-_82KH9nRp65CLN69_LjMueKzWHpZJ0l1x9PE0Ri_anuRqAyi_e1-GPFO6lKU0q8EZ-nj-lky5dkdi98nMbrj6nZ990/s320/IMG_0804.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Hasselse garde standard is based on the real life flag of the town of Hasselt and the <a href="http://nyudrevchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-scrapbook-and-hasselse-garde.html">designs </a>I sketched earlier in my scrapbook. It shows the white and green banded background of the modern day Hasselt flag and the central part of the Hasselt coat of arms combined.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGXMz9r0tQY6rojzIhQogasQtwbx8vcBAQbbO9uxZTi9Y9t0X8jOq0uYLX2WslEQGMpG8sncLfis0kfUpZCoyOu4hzW_rNwrbtDGC-zgzepcdMFqrlyiv9ZNRmp9ext0EZARwM4M338Y/s1600/IMG_0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGXMz9r0tQY6rojzIhQogasQtwbx8vcBAQbbO9uxZTi9Y9t0X8jOq0uYLX2WslEQGMpG8sncLfis0kfUpZCoyOu4hzW_rNwrbtDGC-zgzepcdMFqrlyiv9ZNRmp9ext0EZARwM4M338Y/s320/IMG_0805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The DDU flag is based on the modern province of Limburg flag. I gave it a twist by having the blue band symbolising the river Maas -"the Meuse" which plays a major part in the DDU economy-, green for the fertile valley of the Maas and yellow for the sandy "Kempa" region consisting of moors and heathland. The central roman lettering are the mirrored initials of Leopold Van Loon, the first regent of the DDU. The second variation of this flag will carry the initials DDU.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPC3jMggqaUIm6wUcrpaBDdKSywoovfcgPSTUbZaDTpf1qTrk6DVQR_ronvfC_2Z8lTnNp0Eqjo8Ry8-T1Q9jbege7ou6cRziYRW66SJXMe4no9s5d_KvTBeC0maPhZeR0xmFsphBi74/s1600/IMG_0808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPC3jMggqaUIm6wUcrpaBDdKSywoovfcgPSTUbZaDTpf1qTrk6DVQR_ronvfC_2Z8lTnNp0Eqjo8Ry8-T1Q9jbege7ou6cRziYRW66SJXMe4no9s5d_KvTBeC0maPhZeR0xmFsphBi74/s320/IMG_0808.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVut66o_gZYlgcbBrGPd_tnKB00AQ7cJMPf758hniAkCfdOVBqmGPcQXe_xxllqJEm-YzoRkCxH9mz2KRSw7SPTsmPvZIb3ba1A8ZJYkOXCWWEIdwedFYhhmto4v3WcrvE2-OsHgLhhrg/s1600/IMG_0809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVut66o_gZYlgcbBrGPd_tnKB00AQ7cJMPf758hniAkCfdOVBqmGPcQXe_xxllqJEm-YzoRkCxH9mz2KRSw7SPTsmPvZIb3ba1A8ZJYkOXCWWEIdwedFYhhmto4v3WcrvE2-OsHgLhhrg/s320/IMG_0809.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I sketched some basing possibilities trying to figure out what would work well for me. The unit still needs two coats of varnish, espontoons fitted and the flagpole finished<br />
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<i>Anybody having a 600 Euro state of the art camera laying about and wanting to get rid of it...just send it over. Mind you, I won't pay for the postage. </i><br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-66005543472593791812010-10-19T14:15:00.001+02:002010-10-22T12:59:43.856+02:00Classic Wargamer's Journal Volume I, Issue 1Strangely enough, I haven't seen much feedback on the first issue of the <a href="http://classicwargaming.blogspot.com/">CWJ</a>. Myself, I'm still taking it all in. So I guess a lot of you are doing just the same as me: enjoying the moment of discovery. But in support of Phil Olley and the CWJ, I decided to do this small post in the Chronicles anyway.<br />
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I enjoyed reading Phil's editorial as he wrote another fine example of his "philolleysophy" (sorry Phil, couldn't help myself, I just love that word) under the "Soapbox Time" heading.<br />
I think it's a strong first issue, clearly marking the way ahead for the journal and I'm convinced it will inspire a lot of wargamers -classic, old school, new school, whatever- to refresh their view on the hobby and go on with a new found "élan". I know it did so with me, as I spent yesterday evening painting Minden castings.<br />
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Through the CWJ, I even rediscovered Greg Horne's <a href="http://mavisming.blogspot.com/">Duchy of Alzheim</a>, which I had -for some inexcusable reason- lost track of. I've put a link in the "Inspiration" section on the left. Note that the Old School ACW blog already listed there, also is Greg's brainchild.<br />
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The CWJ is 100% pure wargaming fun, undiluted by merchandising. On second thought, I won't review the contents. Instead I invite you all to at least try an issue. There are two of them now: a pilot issue and the first "real" issue. Even if you don't like it, never mind, you've probably will have spent a couple of pounds or Euros on worst things than the CWJ.<br />
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There is one drawback though: I don't think I'll have the patience to wait until January for the next issue to drop in the letterbox. And I don't think issue one will last that long, unless I ration myself to reading two pages a week...now that's a silly and bad idea.<br />
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Tonight I'm playing an ancient wargame, using the Command and Colours game system. I'm looking forward to that.<br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-2850001254952050072010-10-11T14:16:00.002+02:002010-10-11T15:52:28.050+02:00Links, rivers, roads and trees<i>Introducing a few more links and some more ideas and finds.</i><br />
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First of all I spent my hobby allowance for the next umpteen years ordering miniatures from the RSM95 (the old Rusty Sabre Miniatures) range. Following C.S. Grants thoughts for a balanced force for horse and musket armies as laid out in his "The Wargame Companion", I'm aiming to build two armies each initially comprising 8 units of line infantry, 1 unit of light infantry, 3 units of medium/heavy cavalry, 1 unit of light cavalry and one battery of artillery.<br />
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Remember the inhereted SSM plastics and my E-Bay buy? These will be roughly devided in two to form the first part of both armies. Work has already started restoring the Grenadiers the France. My initial buy of Minden miniatures will be in due course expanded to more Old School/Classic proportions, giving me another three regiments of infantry. RSM95 miniatures will give me another 7 units, leaving the rest to be filled out with Minden. This will give me two armies approximately consisting of 40% SSM, 40% Minden and 20% RSM95. Reconfiguring these armies for rules such as Black Powder, Minden Rose or Rank and File -remember the careful planned basing?- would give me the double number of units.<br />
Of course this will be documented in full -maybe even reconfiguring this blog- as the adventures of the DDU and its armies start happening.<br />
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Now, Tony, over at the <a href="http://prometheusinaspic.blogspot.com/">Prometheus in Aspic</a> blog has shown me the way ahead for my later Napoleonic projects. Although I'm not using hex based rules, nor his army organisation, his miniature painting and basing style are what I'm going for. You can follow -for some time now- his latest posts in the "inspiration" section on the left. I'm a big fan of his writings and sage advice that he gives as "Foy's Laws", which he comments and explains in no uncertain language, which I like very much...sometimes agreeing to disagree...great stuff.<br />
The advantage of all this will be that all classic/old school terrain I build for my imagineering will serve at least two periods. Maybe the DDU will fight under Napoleon, or as part of some coalition against him...who knows?<br />
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Which brings me to terrain and I'm not talking about my garden. In the "how to" section I included a link to a recent post at the <a href="http://toomuchlead.blogspot.com/">Too Much Lead</a> blog, because that seems to me the ideal way to make rivers and roads for a classic looking battlefield. The TML blog is already listed in the "inspiration" section of these here Chronicles.<br />
So, that's green paint, rivers and roads sorted out...now, what about trees? Easy that one, Stokes in his <a href="http://grandduchyofstollen.blogspot.com/">Grand Duchy of Stollen</a> blog suggested using plastic trees from a company making cake decorations of all things. I ordered item 2140 from the novelty items section of the <a href="http://www.sugarcraft.com/">Sugarcraft company</a>.<br />
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</div>They also do plastic evergreen/spruce trees and they even have a 1 1/4"-non marching- marching band (item S71)...lovely stuff indeed. You can also find bridges, fences and there's even an "army" section. Well if it's good enough for decorating cakes, it's good enough for my wargames table (after eating the cake of course).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/novelties/musicians.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/novelties/musicians.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And last, but not least, a couple of members of my local games club <a href="http://www.de-witte-ridder.be/">"De witte ridder"</a> had thrown together all their old 1/72 plastic soldiers in one big box. The plan is to base a number of units and introduce those interested to Napoleonic gaming using the Black Powder rule set. Nothing fancy, just plain unpainted armies as used by my brother in wargame arms Ludo and myself a couple of posts ago, good fun, hopefully lots units on big tables and we'll see how it goes from there.</div><br />
<i>Well, that about sums up what I wanted to get of my chest. TTFN...</i><br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-8116999648850593162010-09-30T13:14:00.000+02:002010-09-30T13:14:09.453+02:00Green, green or green? <i>Guess...it's all about paint, green paint.</i><br />
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I was searching for a "classic" basing colour. As I don't have a store selling Dulux "Moss Green" in the neighbourhood, I compared following paints I had in the cupboard: Old GW Goblin Green (hexagon pots), New GW Goblin Green and a mat acryl mix from the paint store. I want both figure bases and base plates to be the same colour, which should also be the table colour.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2PiCkazNHWcvEzyAXCA8eogRR76YJi2cmfrhmzBdZjMCRVc_ylB4BPeGC9npkZ6TsDWFCWbytqNMdgjn0Og2tn161zOUr5U-tWEzYjhRHU21PnRNJhmx_5Wfhyphenhyphen0Mmjhmsb8tFRC4Buc/s1600/sugarcraft+billing+information+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2PiCkazNHWcvEzyAXCA8eogRR76YJi2cmfrhmzBdZjMCRVc_ylB4BPeGC9npkZ6TsDWFCWbytqNMdgjn0Og2tn161zOUr5U-tWEzYjhRHU21PnRNJhmx_5Wfhyphenhyphen0Mmjhmsb8tFRC4Buc/s320/sugarcraft+billing+information+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mGbDG-za2P9uDRmFC5cufEKfQOrW2Donw7ZlBKd0k-J5wP9FjP_zitHW3BNDN7fvWa4t6IFdDioS0s7_CI-4b9shcYv0zZdkDpo7ah2EjlD7_Q09oi4Fd_wg2CY1pdZvIc2Ms611S6I/s1600/green2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mGbDG-za2P9uDRmFC5cufEKfQOrW2Donw7ZlBKd0k-J5wP9FjP_zitHW3BNDN7fvWa4t6IFdDioS0s7_CI-4b9shcYv0zZdkDpo7ah2EjlD7_Q09oi4Fd_wg2CY1pdZvIc2Ms611S6I/s320/green2+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Top picture with colours automatically enhanced, lower picture as scanned.-</div><br />
In reality (as above pictures distort the colours somewhat) the Levis mix really is a good slightly olive green, just a touch lighter of tone than both GW greens and a shade just in between those two. I think I'll go for the Levis paint mix as I can have lots of it made cheaply, and I still have much of it left after making a wargames table for the boys' Warhammer armies (years ago). Also the Levis paint is finely grained/pigmented enough to paint the miniatures bases. Just add a tiny drop of washing up liquid to the water you dilute the paint with, just to break the surface tension.<br />
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Also, for the moment I'm not posting that much (yeah, thanks Pjotr, we didn't notice that, duh...). And the hobby time I have left I'd rather spend painting and modelling, so that in due time I can start presenting proper finished units and start developing the DDU story and commence other projects and...and...(I'm getting that 36 hour watch for X- Mas.<br />
<br />
<i>Anyway , next post will be the presentation of some new links I've started incorporating in the Chronicles. As always: remarks, comments and suggestions are welcome.</i><br />
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Happy gaming,<br />
Pjotr<br />
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</div>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-27089295064718259832010-09-07T20:55:00.000+02:002010-09-07T20:55:28.323+02:00Old School ACWJust a quicky to share this <a href="http://oldschoolacw.blogspot.com/">Old School ACW</a> blog with you. I've included it on the left in the inspiration section, so I'll know when new posts have been made. Of course, if you visit my blog regularly, you'll know too. In the mean time, I've been very busy on the gaming front, but in a very unexpected way. Some of you will find out what I've been up to in a couple of weeks...Also I've been -so very slowly- working on the restoration of Jan's SSM models. A tedious, but very satisfying part of the 7YW imagination project.<br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-67456316217384355302010-08-16T02:31:00.002+02:002010-08-16T15:13:04.929+02:001809 - Une affaire de postes<i>Last Saturday I was invited by Stephan for an Old School game using a collection of 15mm Napoleonics in his safe keeping at his home. Stephen (really, with an "e" this time, just to confuse me) joined us later and Stephan moderated and umpired a scenario based on the Battlegames 20 table top teaser "An affair of outposts".</i><br />
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Stephan had cleverly adapted the scenario. We had to form three march columns each and with those troop dispositions we had to enter the "unknown" table/terrain and try and secure a line of outposts at the opposite table edge.<br />
We each had four half battalions of infantry, two companies of light infantry and two squadrons of cavalry. I played Austrians and Stephen got the French. We used a slightly adapted version of Grants "The Wargame" rules. I took a couple of (mediocre quality) pictures of the game which I like to share with you.<br />
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On my flanking columns I put my light infantry and cavalry to secure my flanks, supported by a half battalion of infantry. These last were initially to reinforce the centre column of infantry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO6T5UWQAFMMy7LaBzCAzN4jhTpHKe-3rllRAjCK4H-JhLpAdD35orDp1KERfw7sbcLgsbiO-rx_wxqLlIM4qJ10Di86WOSUObrok7mTxzFGuUgi4AdAegr4STWW0LpTsOSbMoTGycnk/s1600/14Aug1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO6T5UWQAFMMy7LaBzCAzN4jhTpHKe-3rllRAjCK4H-JhLpAdD35orDp1KERfw7sbcLgsbiO-rx_wxqLlIM4qJ10Di86WOSUObrok7mTxzFGuUgi4AdAegr4STWW0LpTsOSbMoTGycnk/s320/14Aug1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-The right column encountered Stephens left flank comprising his two cavalry units. As intended my troops secured my right flank succesfully.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Originally I wanted to push forward centrally to the opposite table edge with cavalry and light troops guarding the flanks, meanwhile trying to evade the enemy and not get pinned. Once on the opposite table edge I wanted to deploy/spread out left and right and establish a line of outposts. Stephen thwarted these plans by deploying his cavalry on his left and forming an attacking force of infantry on his right flank</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUlyt-kP7kjumDLLyGrFfm6LeLiPIagDuqq21YGVcAI35ErGHPpnr-LyDrPidadu7yyvzZipw_qnRMfuD6QdAjqIASSfkMbAOslXV0n3MARd4BmeB4Y38jdyCVkMnR-nbOLcBQ4Sp_Rc/s1600/14Aug2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUlyt-kP7kjumDLLyGrFfm6LeLiPIagDuqq21YGVcAI35ErGHPpnr-LyDrPidadu7yyvzZipw_qnRMfuD6QdAjqIASSfkMbAOslXV0n3MARd4BmeB4Y38jdyCVkMnR-nbOLcBQ4Sp_Rc/s320/14Aug2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Stephen's columns speeding forward covered to the front by his light infantry.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB0Xie_X8Ce5-ANm2yujO3FYqUP4GxrAFSdMW5REqdOcudFIwKFxaY8kHhJBQ-nfC49AP4cT1ZVu7BO4asmq4U-e77cnm8AJVMHQzYqS9R0APRYYQfrvh8euXfmEBxItgS3vq3ozwPFA/s1600/14Aug3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB0Xie_X8Ce5-ANm2yujO3FYqUP4GxrAFSdMW5REqdOcudFIwKFxaY8kHhJBQ-nfC49AP4cT1ZVu7BO4asmq4U-e77cnm8AJVMHQzYqS9R0APRYYQfrvh8euXfmEBxItgS3vq3ozwPFA/s320/14Aug3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-In the foreground my flanking units doing their job. In the background you see (in white) my Austrians forming a firing line to receive the French infantry attack. I moved my left cavalry unit in reserve behind a hill as a support for my infantry.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPSr4B6YGfFiNjmgx5b8BkQlVS2k-ONM8YIdxTBX4uau566fDcqyk2Uj3ElW2-9IokCmQaFVAESvxmC0uwr8PxS1iX1zkz7z9fFuOcukErehx8IjgY1Va_TAU8QUq8-Aa_klpHFMjTOw/s1600/14Aug4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPSr4B6YGfFiNjmgx5b8BkQlVS2k-ONM8YIdxTBX4uau566fDcqyk2Uj3ElW2-9IokCmQaFVAESvxmC0uwr8PxS1iX1zkz7z9fFuOcukErehx8IjgY1Va_TAU8QUq8-Aa_klpHFMjTOw/s320/14Aug4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-My left flank, forming firing lines, cavalry in reserve,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as the French form attack columns and advance relentlesly.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxW8QsALitX_WxMGF0oP-VY7hfBW9Frb2sPIai-08-9lj70MICR-F6CCeZx4pOv8PRqDDgHuOrzRzZNM0odlUmjcJG7rvBo_gkl21Df70AGJyWjM4cZvdTxiwKHfpYLYVoa9IBgPrKSg/s1600/14Aug7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxW8QsALitX_WxMGF0oP-VY7hfBW9Frb2sPIai-08-9lj70MICR-F6CCeZx4pOv8PRqDDgHuOrzRzZNM0odlUmjcJG7rvBo_gkl21Df70AGJyWjM4cZvdTxiwKHfpYLYVoa9IBgPrKSg/s320/14Aug7.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Endgame: the French columns received an unhealthy dose of musketry and the Austrian cavalry charged over the hill in to the flanks of the attacking French seen here retreating.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">At this stage it seemed that what evolved in to a full fledged battle was over, leaving the way open for the Austrians. Having other commitments we stopped the game here, supposing an Austrian victory.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So went my first real "Old School" game with a real opponent. Probably the first game ever where I hadn't had the difficulty of second guessing myself (as Stephan aptly put it). I do thank Stephan and Stephen very much for their hospitality and for welcoming me open armed into their small wargaming fraternity. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>All in all, a wonderful afternoon, which convinced me I was on the right track with my "Dietsche Unie" project. And I haven't even mentioned the fondling of each others miniatures, discussing rules and other gaming projects and so much more.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy gaming</div><div style="text-align: left;">Pjotr</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Pjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-14911250469817366802010-08-06T07:04:00.048+02:002010-08-06T08:00:07.071+02:00Soldering on<i>No, that is not a typing error in the tittle. Let me explain...</i><br />
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As mentioned in the previous post, I wanted to convert some SSM minitures as NCO's. As two model soldiers of the Grenadiers de France, the unit currently being reconditioned, had damaged muskets, I decided to remove these (ooooh) and replace them with scratch build espontoons (aaaah).<br />
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Now this would prove to be the tricky bit. Armed with some 1mm diameter wire, cut to length I set about carving some sort of espontoon "head" to put on the wire staff. Whilst I was busy, I also tried to sculpt a head for the staff of the unit's colours. I was quite proud of the result. But then I just had to compare with the Minden Miniatures "flagpole / espontoon" castings. I must admit that the roaring laughter from those -even though they should know better- looking over my shoulder didn't help...<br />
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But then I remembered something which would prove very important in this venture: I had a nephew. Actually, I never forget that, he's after all the only family I have left. But the point is: he's a very accomplished military modeller, winning prizes in modelling competitions, writing articles for modelling magazines and all that sort of thing. And I've seen him do some eyebrow raising stuff with some brass wire and a soldering iron. So I phoned him explaining my problem. A date was set and he would teach me how to solder.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SakDoxcvpng-1jaBuY1xU1M5JWdGHl_-X_j3sAlh5AS0pq4dV1CEUPe1nYJlPQ4ITObnJFy9adUBhSvQWc4r6VkQ8mX4LQImcx9fuC-IJ4da6CRlPii9DNRWljvam8tFLK6cFNcq-KI/s1600/IMG_9802.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SakDoxcvpng-1jaBuY1xU1M5JWdGHl_-X_j3sAlh5AS0pq4dV1CEUPe1nYJlPQ4ITObnJFy9adUBhSvQWc4r6VkQ8mX4LQImcx9fuC-IJ4da6CRlPii9DNRWljvam8tFLK6cFNcq-KI/s320/IMG_9802.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Left my first attempt (steel wire and carved plastic sprue), </div><div style="text-align: center;">in the middle the Minden cast and on the right the soldered espontoon. I was bit impatient taking this picture, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but a bit more filing should make a perfect spontoon for my SSM's.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yesterday I found a store that had all I needed to start soldering myself. For about 15 Euros I had everything I needed. I think the picture speaks for itself, doesn't it. This also means I will be replacing the Minden staffs with brass wire, but keeping the cast heads. I guess you can also do swords and spears and lots of other weapons and implements for toy soldiers.<br />
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<i>Maybe it would be a good idea, when I produce the next batch of "Kurzgewehre" to try my hand at a small tutorial, if there is any interest out there. Maybe I'm the last person on earth that didn't know how to solder?</i><br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-10938208048929714482010-07-24T09:49:00.002+02:002010-07-24T09:58:41.266+02:00WIP report, finally...<i>well, first up, a WIP report, rather obvious from the title, on the SSM Grenadiers de France and my thoughts on Phil Olley's newest project: the Classic Wargaming Journal.</i><br />
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Having had the "luck" last Monday of hurting my back -doing some 1 scale terrain modeling, I was able to devote some time to the hobby this week. I started with the tedious job of removing flaked paint from the Grenadiers figures. Remember I had already taken care of the flocked bases.<br />
I was rather disappointed to find that quite a lot of flaked enamel paint came of, especially around the lower legs of the models. What I did expect was stripping the paint from the flexi-muskets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWNaCflHpeZeLDLxuMygXX8lAjdeLKk4Zg71oZBOvMN7EY9hnBdnMdNsLxDyVAmkC_Ku4HdpkcvMg_u0BLND9NUZyZP1rRHIX70gDsvaSqjjVuCYFRW49ABdCcwu7R0i-lC__C_AoYBE/s1600/me+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWNaCflHpeZeLDLxuMygXX8lAjdeLKk4Zg71oZBOvMN7EY9hnBdnMdNsLxDyVAmkC_Ku4HdpkcvMg_u0BLND9NUZyZP1rRHIX70gDsvaSqjjVuCYFRW49ABdCcwu7R0i-lC__C_AoYBE/s320/me+001.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Removing flaked paint.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Moving on, I undercoated all affected areas and those bits needing repainting with white gesso. This way the miniatures will be ready to receive new paint.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm5f_zDD3WFotvJHMjoElu1h_8nBcgId7gg7SqbjP0XsRYUca9Wiw1m4wPE0VAPz2CO7jxQn1kLY-LkESts_hl_E5t2adgPkezGBNZZiR-q5DHiAcDLPDR1VQuZy9EZ8SqyeYVi4is2Y/s1600/me+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm5f_zDD3WFotvJHMjoElu1h_8nBcgId7gg7SqbjP0XsRYUca9Wiw1m4wPE0VAPz2CO7jxQn1kLY-LkESts_hl_E5t2adgPkezGBNZZiR-q5DHiAcDLPDR1VQuZy9EZ8SqyeYVi4is2Y/s320/me+004.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-Undercoating with white gesso.-</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>In the mean time I'm experimenting with colouring varnish to simulate the original yellowish varnish (through ageing and some UV bombardment, no doubt) to tone down the new colours. All models will then receive an extra two layers of varnish, just because...I have a lot of varnish in the cupboard. Maybe I should add that by varnish I mean Johnson's Pledge Future Shine acrylic floor polish (also known under other names, just Google to find out what name the product has where you live). I also discovered I'll need to convert some soldiers to standard bearer and NCO's.<br />
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That said and done, how about the <a href="http://classicwargaming.blogspot.com/">Classic Wargaming Journal</a> (CWJ)? Well, I love the idea. I will certainly try and have at least one article published. But I do hope the CWJ will find enough contents to keep alive. I think a lot of readers and contributors will be the same people writing, reading and commenting each other's wargaming blogs. I fear there might be a redundancy of contents in the CWJ. So I guess the message is: don't write everything in your blogs and save some special topic for a nice page filling article in support of the CWJ.<br />
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<i>Enough damage done for one day...till next time...</i><br />
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Happy Gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4569339779918111050.post-48607237810908129232010-06-17T22:31:00.001+02:002010-06-17T22:36:30.519+02:00Books: future and present(s)<i>Last Sunday was fathers day over here.</i><br />
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And I did get some presents...I got Harry Pearson's delightful "Achtung Schweinehund" -no surprise there- and John Ellis' "Cavalry-The History of Mounted Warfare" which was a surprise. My oldest son picked up this title from Pen & Sword Military Classics in a bookshop in Gent, where he was following a course. Needless to say a went quite emotional after receiving such lovely gifts (not mentioning the cigars, beer, candy, festive breakfast and cards from the kids).<br />
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Anyway -this is what I really wanted to share with you- I was browsing the second Ken Trotman Ltd catalogue for 2010 and found following:<br />
Grant and Olley's Wargaming in History 2: The War of Austrian Succession (Dettingen, Fontenoy and Lauffeld) is being edited and should be ready for Christmas...This means it could be ready in time for my birthday...<br />
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<i>These are good times for our hobby...</i><br />
<i>By the way, would the person having made the ten thousand hit please identify himself...proof delivered by screen-shot will be needed to receive a special -surprise- gift.</i><br />
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Happy gaming<br />
PjotrPjotrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07839126310583926922noreply@blogger.com3