As we move into the middle of the fifth week of the COVID-19 lockdown, I decided to set down some information about the projects I am currently working on.
- Renovating, repainting, and re-basing some of my 20mm Russian World War II tanks, soft skin vehicles, and artillery
- Producing a short lecture (with associated PowerPoint slides) about the early history of Freemasonry in Hertfordshire
- Doing preparation work for my next PORTABLE WARGAME book.
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HI Bob,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that your keeping buzy through this COVID-19 enforced isolation and Lockdown. I'm not sure which week we are in - though I guess there is a long way to go. I cannot drive for six weeks - so we're not going anywhere to-gether and i'm house bound entirely. On your next Book- do you have the Armies for The English Civil War or will you be sourcing photos from other enthusiasts- sound all very interesting. Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteIt’s always useful to have a plan ... even if you don’t keep to it!
We are now in the 5th week of lockdown and the 13th week since the first person in the UK was diagnosed ... and we are beginning to develop a regular rhythm to our daily life.
The book will definitely use photographs of other people’s ECW figures, and I’m already in the process of organising that.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteYes it will be a longtime before the Boarders are opened up again Internationally- we're somewhat fortunate living on Islands. Please stay well there- looking forward to your Postings- they are always most interesting and thought provoking. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI think that international travel (other than strictly for business) will be the last part of the lockdown to be removed. We have an around the UK cruise booked for August, and it has not yet been cancelled. It might still take place ... but we fully expect it not to happen.
All the best,
Bob
We are booked to go to Spain first fortnight in July which is looking to be a no-no. Just waiting for our airline to cancel the flights so we can start the hassle of getting our money back.
ReplyDeleteI have been flitting about between periods and projects.
Today I mounted two MDF WW1 aircraft on wires high up in the hut, they were pressies at XMAS from one of my daughters.
I painting (very slowly) some 60 10mm Black Watch for the Sudan in between the odd sand dune and a watering hole for same period.
Later I will be marking out some hardboard for my Sudan tabletop. It needs to be painted in appropriate colours for the desert and the edges marked for insertion points.
I may mark up and paint the reverse side for some Portable Wargaming as a diversion. I wonder where that inspiration came from.
Jim Duncan,
DeleteThere’s no harm in hoping that it won’t be cancelled ... but like you, I expect that overseas travel will be restricted for quite some time to come. Good luck with getting your money back if your flights don’t take place. The current record of some airlines with regard to refunds isn’t good.
The MDF aircraft sound interesting. I didn’t know that anyone made any. Having seen your other 10mm figures, I should imagine that your Black Watch figures will look pretty spectacular ... and they’ll look great on your newly painted desert tabletop.
One question, are you going to mark the PW tabletop for desert or grassland?
All the best,
Bob
I paid for the flights with my credit card so I expect them to be forceful on my behalf with the airline.
ReplyDeleteThe MDF aircraft are not wargaming models so will act as dust gatherers as they are quite fragile.
The Black Watch are in my impressionist style, hope they will be OK.
I have two boards which together will be desert for Sands of Sudan and the two reverse sides will be one green and one sand marked with squares as I have plenty of hex options.
Jim Duncan,
DeleteIf you paid with your credit card, you should get a refund fairly quickly.
Laser cut MDF does seem to have become a very popular with modellers, and when you commented that you had some aircraft made from it, I assumed that they were for wargaming.
I’m sure that your Black Watch figures will look good, and I’ve been very impressed with your impressionistic style of painting.
I do hope that you’ll feature your finished boards on your blog, As you will have gathered from some of my recent blog entries, I like seeing how other people model their tabletops.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Good news on the 17the front. Definitely something to look forward to. I found that the PW system provided an excellent resolution to flanking, which was so obviously important to the practitioners of warfare in the period.
ReplyDeleteBarry Carter,
DeleteThanks for your kind comment about my PW rules.
I actually began the process of creating the layout of the first draft of the book earlier today.
All the best,
Bob
I have only occasionally dabbled in this era, but I know enough to know that this era was an important one in terms of change. I don’t know of anyone who has looked at other parts of the long Renaissance period but the 16th century has many attractions too I’m sure.
ReplyDeleteSteve8,
DeleteI know very little about warfare in the 17th century other than that pikes and muskets were used by the infantry, artillery was fairly static, and cavalry seemed to charge about a lot or ride up to each other and fire their pistols at each other. As for the 16th century ... well I know even less about that period of military history!
All the best,
Bob
That’s alright. I was just musing aloud. All I ever learned about the era I learned from George Gush’s book and Blackadder II.
DeleteSteve8,
DeleteI’d forgotten ‘Blackadder II’! I can think of worse sources of information!
All the best,
Bob
Thanks Bob, I'd certainly be interested in 'Portable Pike and Shot'!
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteWell, there seems to be a bit of interest in me producing a set of PW rules for the period, and I already have two sets that have been supplied by wargamers who have already adapted the basic PW rules.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI would like to add my support for both early Renaissance and ECW rules.
Best wishes
Anthony
Anthony Morton (Anthony),
DeleteYet another good reason for me to give it a go!
All the best,
Bob
I had a closer look at the 'MDF' aircraft and seems it is made from a 3 ply softwood and therefore quite fragile, certainly couldn't be 'played' with. Mine are wired to the ceiling of my wargames hut.
ReplyDeleteJim Duncan,
DeleteThey sounds very interesting, and I can see why you’ve decided to hang them from the ceiling of your wargames hut.
All the best,
Bob