Books, Baggage & Blogging

Another one of my 'pot pourri' posts, as I had originally intended to post some of the contents a few weeks ago, but for a wide variety of reasons, 'real life' just got in the way, until now that is. So with a quiet few weeks ahead (famous last words!) time to take a look at what I've been up to, or not, as the case maybe.

Books

Our son loves to visit charity shops and occasionally you get to find some real bargains, as I did with these books. I'd not heard of the author before, but at £1.50 per book, it was too good an opportunity to pass by.

As part of my research into possibly gaming the Sino-Japanese War, I ordered this book to help me figure out what miniatures I might be able to sue from the Pendraken range. It gives a good overview of the period, but given the breadth it is trying to cover, it is a bit light on detail IMHO. At least it has given me some useful pointers, which was the reason of buying it.

Napoloenics is one of the periods that I get the urge to try, but am always put off but the size of armies required. However having seen Norm Smith's posts about these rules, I decided to give them a go. From a first reading they do look good, but have the odd area of ambiguity, that hopefully some game play will sort out. With luck I'll get to give them a run out this month.

We're just back from a short break in Nantes and I always like to take a book to read with me. I picked this up from the bookcase and am glad I did! I've had this since the 1980's and frankly had forgotten what a great read it is. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a good read and one that covers periods and battles with admirable ease and just the right amount of detail.

OK, not a book, but whilst in Nantes we got to visit the Chateau de Clisson that was closed last time we visited. An impressive ruin and one that really shows you how big some of these important castles were. It was also 'upgraded' to take into account the advent of gunpowder weapons. An interesting history to the place, which the de Montforts rules for some 60 years, reminding us of the close links with England at that time.

Baggage

I did manage of brief period of painting after the end of my Greco-Italian campaign, as I wanted to add some baggage animals and horses/mules to act as 'transport' for artillery pieces for WWII. I only managed to paint up those that would be used for decoration or as part of a scenario (round bases), with those on the square bases that will be the 'transport' still to be tackled.

Painting

Looking in the 'drawers of shame', I dug-out another Brigade for use with my 19thC ImagiNations armies. Trousers and tunics are basecoated and that's as far as I got before 'real life' intruded. I'm trying 'batch painting' to see if this helps speed up the turn around on the painting table. So far this is good for the block areas of colour, but not sure how it will far with the fiddly details, as my eyes might get tired too quickly!

And In Other News

On Amazon Prime they have been showing both 'Band of Brothers' and 'The Pacific' for free, given it is the 25th anniversary of the former. I watched the former countless times and still enjoy it even now. I've never seen the latter, but frankly if I had not read up on the Pacific theatre over the past few years, I would have not really followed what was going on in any meaningful way. I'm just at the start of the 'Peleliu' episodes, so am looking forward to these for future inspiration for my games.

Whilst reading the Osprey book on the Chinese Army above, I was taken with the idea of using one of the many Warlord Armies that worked alongside the Chinese Nationalists at various points during the conflict. As many of you will now know, I like the idea of 'ImagiNations' and having a story or something like that to hang my games and campaigns upon. It was at this point that up popped 'The Water Margin' tv series into my head, that for those of us of a certain age, was required viewing each week! 

So the Chinese will be led by Lin Chung, with their stronghold at Lian Shan Po, with the Canadian advisor Lt-Col Kent Walton in attendance. The Japanese leader will be one Kendo Nagasaki, again a 'blast from the past' from Saturday wrestling on ITV! Now all I have to do is settle upon a range of figures I like, but am currently torn, so watch this space...

The Other Partizan is on this weekend and, whilst I'm sort of toying with the idea of going, after the past few weeks I've had the thought of a long drive is the last thing I need! But you never know...

And finally Blogger seems to be for me at least, pretty much back to normal, which is of course rather nice after months of hassle.

What Next?

I'd like to make some progress on the painting front, but am in recovery mode as the minute, so will wait until the energy returns and the Muse is upon me. At least I know I have a couple of days were I can sit back and read in peace, a rare luxury these days:)!

As always, thanks for reading and any comments greatly appreciated!

TTFN.