When I first intimated that I was beginning to collect Britains Deetail toy soldiers so that I could form a FUNNY LITTLE WARS army, Ross Mac contacted me and very kindly offered to send me some of his figures to add to my collection.
They arrived today ... and when I opened the box and unpacked them, I realised what a great favour and honour he had paid me. They are, quite simply, magnificent.
Not only will these additional figures allow me to form several new units (including a ceremonial bodyguard for my army commander), it will enable me to form two small American Civil War FUNNY LITTLE WARS armies that can fight against each other if need be! I also think that I now have enough Union and Confederate troops to fight battles using both my PORTABLE WARGAME rules and Richard Borg's BATTLE CRY!
Amongst the figures Ross Mac has sent me are character figures for General Robert E Lee and U S Grant, and they will serve as generals in the Army of Cordeguay (under assumed names, of course) as well as as themselves in any American Civil War battles.
Many thanks Ross Mac; you are a real gentleman, and it is an honour to know you ... and one day, I hope to meet you!
They arrived today ... and when I opened the box and unpacked them, I realised what a great favour and honour he had paid me. They are, quite simply, magnificent.
Amongst the figures Ross Mac has sent me are character figures for General Robert E Lee and U S Grant, and they will serve as generals in the Army of Cordeguay (under assumed names, of course) as well as as themselves in any American Civil War battles.
Many thanks Ross Mac; you are a real gentleman, and it is an honour to know you ... and one day, I hope to meet you!
Bob,
ReplyDeleteEven though Ross lives a few thousand kilometers east of me, I had the pleasure of playing with him a few years ago when he was out my way.
He is indeed a gentleman and I am honored that he has played on my gaming table.
-- Jeff
Bluebear Jeff,
ReplyDeleteI have followed the development of Ross Mac's websites and - more recently - his blogs with great interest, and I have always found them to be erudite, informative, and thought-provoking. We seem to be on similar wave-lengths, and I envy the fact that you have actually met and wargamed with him. I hope that one day I will be able to follow in your footsteps, and also meet and wargame with him.
Ross Mac is a true gentleman, and I only wish that the hobby of wargaming had more people like him in it.
All the best,
Bob
OK guys, blushing doesn't become me. I would really rather have come over a game in person.
ReplyDelete2 little background notes. When I 1st started doing some 54mm wargames in 1996/97, it was just before the explosion of modern 54mm figures. The Deetail cavalry were the only ones I could get hold of so I converted them to War of 1812 US Dragoons. At that time, it was unthinkable to me to not paint them.
A few years later, and deeper into Toy Soldiers vs Model Soldiers, my friend Tom was coming over for a 54mm ACW game using Volley & Bayonet. I was a few units short so stopped on the way home from work and bought some Deetail figures to fill the gap. The first figures I ever fielded that I hadn't painted myself. ( some painted metal toy soldiers followed so that cheap 1st purchase cost me a lot once the ice was broken! )
Incidently the diecast figures were by Bluebox, buzz was that they were painted by robots rather than the usual.
A very handsome present. Well done Ross.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting information as to how you started your 54mm collection, and origins of the painted figures (most of the latter are going to end up as gunners, by the way).
Until recently, the last time I bought a 54mm figure would have been in my pre-teens, although my wife did buy me a Britains mounted Horse Guard whilst we were at college. I very rarely buy pre-painted figures, although I have had figures painted for me. For some reason I always like to add some little detail to figures I have not painted myself (usually the base or rank markings) so that I feel that they are 'mine'. If I don't ... well they never seem to perform well on the tabletop.
Your mention of 'Volley & Bayonet' made me realise that I could use my growing 54mm collection with those rules as well.
With a bit of luck I should be able to begin the business of sorting my collection into some form of unit storage this week.
All the best,
Bob
Conrad Kinch,
ReplyDeleteI could not have said that better myself!
All the best,
Bob
A handsome gift indeed - and many thanks to Ross for sending these fine artillery targets...
ReplyDeleteBob,
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in reading about the battle Ross and I played, here's the link to my blog account (and at the end of it, a link to Murdock's account of it):
http://saxe-bearstein.blogspot.com/2008/06/wollmitz-action-above-photo-is-from.html
And it is hard to believe that it was almost three years ago . . . *sigh*.
-- Jeff
Tim Gow,
ReplyDeleteBeing a target is one thing; hitting a target is something completely different!
Ross Mac's gift is going to make the Army of Cordeguay quite impressive when it is fully organised; at least four Infantry Regiments and one (possibly two) Cavalry Regiments, not to mention Artillery and Engineers.
All the best,
Bob
Bluebear Jeff,
ReplyDeleteI intend to read both accounts of the battle as soon as I can, after which I will probably be even more envious than I am now!
All the best,
Bob