Wargames

Visits: 87

In a reflective mood today… must be early Spring…

What is the real purpose of wargames?… war? (not at all)… a friendly atmosphere is a cherished thing… games? (we do not really want to lose at all I guess…)… in a game there is always that possibility (we all agree)… so… it is really puzzling in a way…

I thought when I first wrote a book about my toy soldiers that History was the main propeller… not really so sure nowadays… I still do collect Toy Soldiers mind… even my wargames minis are more a “collection” than the real thing…

Why I did spent so many hours painting Napoleonic 25mm MINIFIGS in my middle years?… probably (read surely) it was more escapism from daily work than anything else… why Waterloo? (Tons of easy available info about it!)… nice uniforms?… maybe… with years and years I realized how much of it was British Propaganda!… I would have been mad (if a Prussian) the way the tale was told… no offense intended for the steadfast British Infantry mind!

As for the French… what do you want me to say?… a Military Machine that only “conquered” (as all conquerors) the land their soldiers walked through… their were a real nuisance for nearly a quarter of a Century across Europe (and even Egypt!)… Revolutionary ideas shocked the conservative monarchies… they will later adopt them matter of fact (the ideas not the revolution)… but using Force (brute) to spread “light and sweetness” (thank you P.G.Wodehouse) does not work at all… look at the silly intents to convert to democracy: theocratic or autocratic states or regions of the modern world… such nonsense!… It is very difficult to export ideas and make people (very different cultural people) to abide to your “superior knowledge” (LOL)…

It is a strange world we live in… thankfully we have the music!

I do not know if it is really apropiate to say Enjoy!

Maybe better REFLECT! (a bit at least)…

A really nice pic! and nice wargame…
Another example of “secure flanks”… I hate the border of the tabletop!
Puzzling image of a wargamer reading his mobile…

Zulu War Toy Soldiers Collection seen in FaceBook, by Alan Green.

Visits: 54

Sometimes perusing FaceBook in search of original material to Post one finds gems of a sort… every Toy Soldier here is a small piece of imagination… the author confess he was influenced by the well known films ZULU and ZULU DAWN… of course I here you say! (aren’t we all?)… but actually he developped the subject out of the weel trodden way of Military Modeling or Wargaming.

There is a lot of work and customization on those Toy Soldiers… and I love the search of the “piece unique”.

So here you are… take your Martini-Henry and travel to the end of the world!

Enjoy!

Main Characters.
Natal Mounted Police
Sikhali’s Horse
Mounted
17th Lancers
More
Casualty
Heliograph Party
Highlanders
Firing Line
Highlanders marching
More casualties…

Modeling the 17th Lancers (Zulu War)

Visits: 79

It is quite difficult to publish everyday of the year something worthwhile… but lately this silly fixation of mine is getting easier by the sheer qualty of the pics that are published in Facebook.

I have already said a lot of times that I only have in my modest collection less than ten models like that.

But I do appreciate them enormously… after all they are the painting guide we all use in smaller scales and efforts.

So…

Enjoy!

Frontal view (seen in Facebook)
Lateral view.

More from Paul Watson!

Visits: 45

Paul’s a friend, and I am quite happy to Post here his late production or project!

By mere chance I have them sailors too (Steadfast from R.Prati)… but not that beast of a GUN! (I used to have them in 25mm when I collected only MINIFIGS!

I am glad he is publishing pics again… always a source of inspiration!

Enjoy!


Gun
Another view!
And another…
Really a mini-diorama in 54mm (toy Soldiers)

Diorama in a small base.

Visits: 64

Not my thing at all (personally) but I know quality when I see it. That bloody part of the late XIXth Century whem the European Powers (all of them) expanded “civilization” and “commerce”… all round the world… globalization at the point of the bayonet!

Masterful Military Modeling if you please!

In this case French troops.

Enjoy!

Very good “composition” if you ask me…

Riesig’s Own.

Visits: 61

What about something different today? I was feeling adventurous somehow… I guess they are semiflat figures that have an appeal of their own (and always look better from the side pics)… excellent flag BTW. French troops if you ask me. And I forgot to say… Prince August (they sell moulds too!)… with some additions from Front Rank!… and, of course, 40mm scale!

Enjoy!

It smacks of Barry Lyndon’s times (or even earlier)
Great painting job!… semiflats?

REPLICA comes back with an orgy of redcoats!

Visits: 61

The long awaited return of REPLICA is here!… and this set from the owner is very similar (enhanced by a lot more of figures for the pic) to a commission from the National Army Museum (UK).

What else can I say?

Enjoy!

A very similar composition is now at the National Army Museum… courtesy of REPLICA!
Another view of the decorations to Royal Fusiliers!
They look very similar but the details are important!
My own work would never be in a Museum… but I love that some figures in my collection are from Andrew Stevens from REPLICA!

Al Fisher’s Own

Visits: 71

Out of the blue an email with pics!… something out of the ordinary I can assure you! By the way if you want your collection or pics from it published here send them to me (as long quality is as shown below!).

It has been about three years since I started this Blog intermmitently, nowadays I try to post once a day (mainly I can do that)… but even if I have devised means to contact with other collectors… Facebook does the trick better because my son (Expert in computers… his career and way of life!) do not believe this humble Blog needs feedback because of spam… so… I keep publishing my email on it from time to time and sometimes SUCCES!… someone takes the pain of bothering about it and gets out of his or her way (I know it is mainly HIS) to contact me and drop a line or even pics!.

Yesterday was one of this days. So I give you the pics kindly sent by Mr. Al Fisher (Senior to me in experience and years!… who is still in the hobby…)

Truly glad of it! I asked him for permission to publish!… so there you have it… as always you can contact me at adb@andorra.ad (YES! a country with NO Army as Pete Seeger sung…)

Enjoy!

Wonderful composition and pic!
Prussians too!
A bit grainy but alright!
Last but not least… the first ever pic of Lawrence of’Arabia in this Blog! (El-Laurens)

Chat

Visits: 54

It must be frustrating (or not at all) not be able to comment on this Blog. So therefore I have created in Facebook a Group called (or named) www.mytoysoldiersandme.com and in it once you are a member (quite easy if you ask me) there you can comment, ask, and even disagree!

Thought it would be worth to mention.

And now what I do everyday… post some pic or pics as eyecandy…

Enjoy!

A small delightful paddle steamer…
A pic seen in the chat! Wonderful miniatures!