I finally managed to finish the remaining units for my FUNNY LITTLE WARS/PORTABLE WARGAME ARMY BLACK.
I don't have any current plans to add further units to my ARMY BLACK ... but you never know with imagi-nation armies when the desire to add this or that might strike!
I know that my ARMY BLACK is not an accurate representation of a Prussian/German Imperial Army (its weaponry is anachronistic when compared to its uniforms!) but I think of it as the sort of army that HG Wells would have created if Britains had made 15mm figures ... and some Prussians/Germans to boot!
Hi Bob -
ReplyDeleteI rather like the creative anachronism that Imagi-Nations permit. So long as the anachronisms are vaguely plausible
This would be a fine army, a worthy opponent for Azuria or Ruberia, or even Izumrud-Zeleniya.
Which reminds me. Some time soon I hope to post about my own recent tinkerings, and I am reminded that some HaT Cossacks have been recruited into the Zeleniyan army... Along with my mounted samurai, torpedo boats and Army Men forces, should make for a wide ranging post...
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteBy allowing plausible anachronisms, it makes it possible to field colourful armies with relatively modern weaponry on your tabletop. As I said in my blog post, it is what I think HG Wells would have done if there had been 15mm figures around in the early 1900s. I have a couple of small Corgi Bleriot monoplanes that I hope to use at some point for reconnaissance and even bombing with hand grenades etc.!
Your future blog post sounds very interesting, and I look forward to reading it. I have plans to add some ships to my FLW/PW armies … but my priorities are to get my latest book finished and work on my ARMY BLUE started.
All the best,
Bob
Hi BOB,
ReplyDeleteGood work there on the Artillery and Officers- I like how your thinking that if H.G.Wells had access to 15mm Armies- the type of units he would deploy. This is a very interesting Project for you Bob and I certainly look forward to seeing how your FLW all pans out in the near future. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI am thoroughly enjoying creating these small armies, and have plans for others as and when I can fit them.
One of the joy of such projects is that I am using stuff that I have had unused and in storage for years, and they don't take up huge amounts of time and effort to complete. They are also small enough to store easily and are expandable if the mood takes me to add more units in the future.
They are definitely a win-win project!
All the best,
Bob
Looking good! Perhaps we will see some your funny little wars armies in action at a future date?
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteI hope to use them as soon as I have finished writing my BALKAN LEAGUE MATRIX GAME book.
All the best,
Bob
I love your generic armies! They're inspiring me to do a quick paint-up of my boy's toy soldiers and fight a Little War on the back patio.
ReplyDeleteI'm re-reading Little Wars again for the second time in, ohhh, 25 years? I'm stumbling a bit over the old-timey language but I've "fixed" it a bit by modernizing and Americanizing a few words here and there.
It's a delightful read TBH. Wells really lets his inner boy come through while remaining an adult.
If only I could find a cannon like he used. I guess I'll have to scrap together a few from PVC pipe, wooden dowels and springs. I'll share some pictures if I can get one working.
Mr. Pavone,
DeleteI’m very pleased that my efforts have inspired you to revisit LITTLE WARS!
During the recent Spanish Civil War FUNNY LITTLE WARS battle I took part in, we used Nerf guns for the long range artillery and spring-powered toy cannons for field artillery. The latter were bought for a few pound from eBay. For infantry fire, we throw D6 dice.
All the best,
Bob
Mr Pavone, you can download instructions for making a paper cannon that will shoot from Peter Dennis's paper soldiers Little Wars book from: https://peterspaperboys.com/collections/little-wars/products/making-little-wars-paper-figures-plus-a-free-cannon
DeleteHope this may be of help. Best wishes, Arthur
Arthur1815 (Arthur),
DeleteThanks very much for the useful link.
All the best,
Bob
I too like the flexibility that Imagi-Nations provides in terms of weapons and technology, provided, as Ion says, they are vaguely plausible. The years around 1900 provide a perfect opportunity for deployment of such creative thinking which is why my Imagi-Nations are set in that era. In this context I like the idea of an early monoplane very much. Regards.
ReplyDeleteTony Adams,
DeleteThe period from 1890 to 1910 is a great one in which to set one’s imagi-nations. Technological change was at one of those defining points, particularly when applied to military weaponry. Ironclads are morphing into pre-dreadnoughts, aircraft (both lighter and heavier than air) are on the horizon, automatic machine guns are in production, and recoil systems are being applied to artillery. Furthermore, army uniforms are on the cusp between being colourful and drab. What’s not to like?
All the best,
Bob
PS. Corgi produced a model of the Wright Flyer as well as the Bleriot Monoplane.
It has been interesting to read about and see your Army Black being recruited (painted) over the last few months.
ReplyDeletePeter,
DeleteThank you for your kind comment.
I’ve certain enjoyed putting my ARMY BLACK together as it enabled me to put stuff that I had storage for far too long to good use. I’m now about to start on my ARMY BLUE, which also promises to be an interesting project that will tie up a number of loose ends.
All the best,
Bob
I can see it now a time warp volume of , HG Wells and R Cordery, The Portable Little Wars Game ... 1913/2021 ...
ReplyDeleteMark, Man of TIN,
DeleteIf only that were possible …
All the best,
Bob