Artscow

I'm sure many of you will have already heard and found the Artscow site
 http://www.artscow.com/
but you can create and design all manner of things on there and then for not unreasonable prices have them printed and delivered.
The Big Red Bat (Simon Miller) sent me a copy of his 'To The Strongest' Ancient rules, Simon uses packs of playing cards instead of dice for orders, combat etc.
Anyway I thought I'd treat myself so I contacted Secundus on the Iron Mitten blog
http://iron-mitten.blogspot.co.uk/
he is a very talented cartoonist and has done some great sketches of all periods so I asked if I could use some of his sketches to illustrate the cards for non. commercial purposes and he said no problem.
Below is the result,

The top picture shows the random events pack, on the left, which Simon hasn't included in his rules but which I'm going to try out. On the right is one of the player packs 80 cards numbered 1 - 10 (8 of each) and which I've used Roman numerals. Also included are two random event cards shown in the second pic( the poor Roman Musician) and also a reshuffle pack card .
It also shows the backs of the second player pack
I think great value for money and they are the only ones!!!!!!!
So once again thanks to Secundus for allowing me to use his pics.

Goodbye My Friend

It is a very sad day for me, Lee Maxwell my close friend for many year died last night following his year long battle with Motor Neurone disease.
Lee was part of the informal group called the Redcar Rebels or as Duncan McFarlane used to call us the Teesside Triumvirate and we put on demo games at most of the Northern shows for many,many years.
Lee was a potash miner and rugby player so it goes without saying that our weekends away at the shows were normally accompanied by a few pints of which he could consume an awful lot more than me!!
In the early days of the League of Augsburg group we were invited to a few of Phil and Barry's mega games and I know Lee particularly enjoyed these at the early 18th century was his favorite period.
His reputation as a cavalry commander(***) became established during this time, give Lee the cavalry and it was guaranteed either to fail the majority of its command rolls or having once found its way into melee failed to score any significant hits.!!! His luck with cavalry never changed until our final game when his cavalry regiment rode all over my troops!!
His developed a passion was for 42mm gaming and in later years we did a number of demo games with his Franco-Prussian war collection. We were terrible for encouraging each other to expand the lead mountain, always discussing new periods/scales options, rules whatever and when I retired two years ago we had great plans.
Fiasco last year was when he told me he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease and unfortunately Lee had its most aggressive form, his speech deteriorated quickly and over the year he suffered muscle wastage. It was hard to see him deteriorate so quickly but always in his eyes was that sparkle and mischief. He was determined to go to the Partizan show in September and Dave Imrie had suggested we help him in his game.
I knew that this would be his last show and Lee wanted to go to see old friends and say his farewells, to those people who spoke with him and and had a laugh with us I thank you all.
My deepest sympathies and thoughts go to his wife Amanda and his children Tom and Anna.
Will miss you mate and whatever you do dont take charge of the cavalry!

New Reiver Pictures

I realised that the pictures I posted were a bit hurried and too top down here's some better ones.

The Border Reivers Return.

Whilst this is primarily associated with CrannTara I wanted to inform people that together with Alan from Hoka Hey wargames we have purchased The Border Reiver range sculpted by the late Jim Bowen and once sold by Monolith under their Graven Images label.

Over the coming weeks I will be listing the figures on the Crann Tara shop, what is a surprisr is that there are many figures that have never been released (almost 100) and Jim was obviously extending this into the Elizabethan Wars in Ireland of which there are also a  lot of figures.

We are in talks with a sculptor who we feel complements Jims style with a view to extending the Reiver range and completing the Irish.

Ive also started work on some skirmish rules.

In the mean time here's some pics-

IRISH PIKE

GARRISON MEN WITH BOW

GARRISON MEN WITH LEVEL PIKE

GARRISON PIKE MARCHING

IRISH COMMAND

THE REIVERS

IRISH KERN JAVELIN

IRISH KERN ARQUEBUS

 All the figures were painted by Jim Bowen, what a talent to have lost so young.
But these figures will be available at Smoggycon in November.

A Military Gentleman part deux!

Well as suggested, last night I settled down in the arm chair with a large glass of malt and started to have a more detailed look at the book.
Have my initial thoughts been dampened? Not likely they have been reinforced.
In preparing this book John has pulled together a team of professionals;-
Bob Marrion who has provided a significant number of illustrations.
Brian Rigelsford  who has illustrated large portions of the book with his wonderful ink drawings.
Tim Hall who wrote up the memoirs.
To name but three.
The book is essentially a telling of the story of Nicolas Welch and is based upon his memoirs the finding of which is a tale in itself.
Of course to follow this interesting tale the book is profusely illustrated with photos from Johns collection and what a collection (sigh).

Hope John doesn't mind but here's two pics to whet your appetite.
My 18th. Century bug is well and truly bitten.
So tonight guess what I will be doing? The malt is ready....

 Now I can say no more except I dont care what Santa brings me now, if anything - nothing can better this.

Time for a sip!

Christmas comes early.

See what the postie brought today----

This book is absolutely worth every single penny, quality, production is first class and the contents, what you want to see? Well you can't at least not just yet.
This is truly a labour of love, crammed full of content and pictures of John's excellent collection this is a book that warrants sitting down in a quiet corner with a large malt whiskey and savoring both the contents of glass and book simultaneously.

When I've had a good look I will post a little more, in the mean time if John has nay left (limited run of 500) I suggest you find a way to treat yourself.

Head over to
 http://amilitarygentleman.blogspot.co.uk/
and order one.

Highland Command and Lowlanders Painted. Secret Project ongoing!!!

If you go to my Crann Tara blog you can see the painted masters I have got finished whilst awaiting stock,
just a couple of pics to wet your appetite

Also I am currently in negotiation to purchase a range of figures, the figures haven't been available for a while and are in a new period for me. They were and still are excellent sculpts and many of the figures were never made available so it could be exciting times. More news to follow!!!!