Sunday 8 May 2011

There And Back Again, Again.

Well, it's been a while since I last posted, and a lot of things have happened over the last year, amongst them a divorce, a move from darkest Wales, a new life and a new job.

Sadly, with all of that there has obviously been little time for my hobby, and so things went onto the back burner for a fair bit. However, now I have some free time and a little money to spare I am starting to get back on track, and also making plans for some new periods, mostly fictional, of course.

The WWII-era armies of Moldovia and Vulgaria are proceeding apace, with lots of new and esoteric vehicles added to both sides. I've made up a few dozen kits but as yet have not had the time to start painting again. I've also invested in some of the Valiant Miniatures 20mm figure sets, and look forward to making them up.

The ACW stuff is on hold, as I need to restart painting a couple of regiments for the pesky Rebels.

The home-cast Lace Wars armies are being reassessed, as I really don't have the space or inclination to build those further, so the whole kit and kaboodle might well end up on eBay or at a local wargames club Bring & Buy next month.

The new project I am looking at is a fictional turn of the century encounter between those two inveterate combatants, Moldovia and Vulgaria. The plethora of 20mm plastic figures from the 1870 to 1914 period has led me to dream of a couple of "steam-punk" armies, with colourful uniforms, cavalry, early breach-loaders, Gatling guns, and a mix of horse-drawn and vintage motor transport, along with some of the wackier WWI tanks. I've already invested in some packs of figures from the HaT and Zvezda early-WW1 ranges, and the Strelets Russo-Turkish War sets. Not yet got the armies organised, but the ideas are forming and it looks like fun.

On the board-game side of things, I picked up a copy of GMT's Commands & Colours: Napoleonics a couple of months ago, and have been solo-playing it for a while. It's a great system that builds on their wonderful Ancients rules, and really gives the flavour and fun of the Napoleonic period. I must try and get my old friend John Preece interested. I think it will suit his style of play and sense of fun.

4 comments:

Douglas said...

Welcome back to life. I wish you well, keep up with your approach.

abdul666 said...

Welcome back - glad to see you are enthusiastic and well again after harsh times in 'The Real World™'.

Personally regretting you're dropping your Lace Wars Imagi-Nations: could you not keep them 'in reserve' as mid-18th C. Moldavia and Vulgaria, 'Not Quite the SYW' fashion?

Regards and cheers,
Jean-Louis

Poacher said...

The real issue with the Lace Wars project is the time and effort in casting and cleaning the figures. It's a lot of work. :-(

But I do still feel a hankering for the basic project. I'm considering using the excellent Zvezda Great Northern War figures which, although more expensive, will be a lot easier logistically.

hugs
chrissie
xx

spmac said...

An old but great game. I'm glad to see you back. I missed your updates. I am curious about you progress on the Prince August moulds? I like the new look to the blog.

Paul MacNeil