Adobe buildings using cork

So, I've been agonising about the possible price of buying the buildings I need for my Pulp Alley venture having no 28mm terrain to speak of. I found an interesting Desert Village paper terrain kit at RPG Now by Papermodels which provided the inspiration (and plans) for a test run with balsa - wanting something a little more durable than paper terrain. I found the stock I was using way to light and lacked the substantial feel I had hoped for. My eye drifted over the pile of 7mm cork tiles I'd recently snapped up at the local hardware (being hard to find at times) and it came to me in a flash what a great building material it would be.

I quickly cut out and assembled the shell of a simple building and saw this was the way to go. Now, fellow wargamers, I thoughts I was pretty clever for about 30 minutes thinking I'd come up with something new. A notion that about 10 minutes searching the web completely disabused! I trawled over forums finding all sorts of interesting work using cork tiles but all roads led to Matakishi's Tea House.

So, 36 hours later, I fond myself well under way. The simple building style for desert villages makes for quick results. I'm even getting to the stage of splaying the first coats of paint on a few. Here's some initial pics – much is held together with pins (glue still dying) and the canopies are just slapped on. Once they are completed and weathered they'll look much better. A couple are awaiting a dome as well.

I've decided to draw some inspiration from Matakishi's Afghan buildings as well. I'm starting to realise that these will open up a world of gaming - Pulp, colonial, modern. Hmm. I'll keep on working on getting more of a market town feel to it all then populate it with some of Eureka's excellent Middle Eastern civilians.

Wilhelm, the unknown Krupp.

I hope you enjoy my first hesitant steps into the world of VSF and Pulp!

The Great Panic of 1873 saw Alfred Krupp spread his financial interests beyond the family's steelworks into Spanish mines and Dutch Shipping. While on business in Rotterdam, Krupp's little-known half brother, Wilhelm Krupp, saw an opportunity to combine the family's passion for armaments with the growing interest in clockwork automation among the Clockmaker's Guild in Rotterdam.

Wilhelm had spent time in the Far East and had seen first hand the devastating effect of Richard Gatling's monstrous machine during the Boshin War in Japan. He returned to Europe in time to serve as a staff officer in the war of 1870, and through his connections in the Prussian high command had heard talk of the potential of weapons such as the French Mitrailleuse volley gun (used rather ineffectually in 1870) on dense infantry formations. Krupp spent many a long night pondering the potential of a mobile, rapid fire weapon on the serried ranks for the Poilu when the opportunity came for a return to hostilities.

For years, Wilhelm slaved in his secret workshop in a rat infested corner of Rotterdam perfecting an armoured suit that could deliver the devastating fire of the Gatling where and when it was needed on the battlefield. The need for secrecy was paramount. British spies were everywhere in the Netherlands, so Wilhelm rarely ventured out. His Oriental mistress and his two Bavarian clockmakers, Ernst and Heinrich, were his only companions. Nevertheless, his plans crystallised and slowly, a new machine of war was born.

It was on a grey July morning in 1882, in a secluded polder, that Wilhelm unveiled his ultimate prototype of his Kreighosen to a distinguished visitor – none other than Prince Leopold of Bavaria! The Prince had served alongside Wilhelm in 1870 and had heard of his top secret work. Wilhelm had acquiesced to the Prince's insistence, that he be the one to give the suit it's first field trial. So, after several false starts – the Dutch mud playing hell with the exposed mechanism – the Prince navigated the sodden fields with ease and, despite Wilhelm's protests, insisted in firing a burst of the terrible Gatling Gun.

Sorry, ghastly photo!

After a gruelling trip back to the workshop under the cover of darkness, Wilhelm and the Prince toasted their success and made plans for more extensive tests of the Kreighosen, hopefully under battle conditions. The news of the following day, that the British Imperialists had bombarded Alexandria, provided the ideal opportunity. The Prince had a connection in the Suez Canal Company in Port Said who arranged a bogus invitation for the party to inspect the canal. While the Prince called in favours in diplomatic circles, Wilhelm busied himself with packing his monstrosity in grease and arranging for its transport on a Krupp family ship. "On to Port Said", he mused, as he departed on the Krupp family steamer a week later.

Little did Wilhelm know, that as they steamed out of Rotterdam a mysterious crate was being hoisted from the hold of a British steamer in Alexandria. Wilhelm would soon discover that the British spy network in the Netherlands were not as incompetent as he had believed.

A vexing Vauban venture pt 1

After many months with ruler and compass, I have finally taken the first step towards building a section of Vauban fortress to grace the corner of the occasional 6mm WSS battlefield. Not only does the complexity of these works make for a design challenge, the well-documented short comings of many models weighs on my mind – for instance see this TMP thread.

I was very interested to see the approach being taken by The Kingdom of Wittenberg in their excellent Fortress Fever posts. Particularly good to see such efforts pit into the Glacis which would seem to overcome must of the criticism of other models.

I took to the shed today and had a first attempt at cutting a bastion from a nice piece of cedar I have been holding onto for years. The initial plan is to construct a modular Vauban fortification mostly for the fun of it at present but also with the impending publication of Vauban Wars ruleset.

I have begun with a bastion to see if I can overcome some of the modelling issues I will face with managing the issues associated with getting the wall height to look right in conjunction with ditch and glacis. Here's the results of the first day's efforts with some bases of 6mm Baccus figures and buildings thrown in to give a sense of scale.

 My first impressions is the wall is too tall but I'm working on the bedding this down into the terrain considerably.

You can see the proposed height for the bottom of the ditch roughly marked on the outer edge of the bastion in the photograph below.

Using cedar for the construction has proved quite a success at least at this initial stage. It is so easily worked with hand tools for the initial cutting into shape and the parapet was then formed freehand with a router. It also has the advantage of being quite strong, yet light. The only struggle I'm having is the ex-joiner inside me keep thinking how nice this would look well sanded up and oiled, but I know I should give it a faux masonry skin!

Eureka Skeletal pirates

Much as these undead denizens of Davy Jones' Locker are the result of powerful enchantments, so have I been taken under the spell of a new (non-historical) genera!

In a project that began years ago with my daughter (then 6, now 9 and dead keen on gaming, bless her!) wanting to paint some Eureka Teddy Bear Pirates, I have, at last, found some renewed passion for miniatures and gaming (sorely lacking in the past 6 months).

I came away from an all-too-long overdue visit with the kiddies to Eureka Miniatures on the weekend, with some new projects - the first to hit the painting table are Eureka's Skeletal Pirates in 28mm. I've not tried anything like this before and while I feel like my 28mm painting skills have a long way to go (having been focussing on 6mm lately), I'm really happy with the results. 

A model brig is on the workbench in the shed and will soon take to the seas to host the first encounter between skeletons and teddy bears! Despite their appearance, I'm not underestimating the courage of these furry bed companions when it comes to a good bit of biffo using Eureka's Fifteen Men rules.

Alas, these photos are only with the old iPhone, so not very clear, but give you an impression. More to follow.

Acceptance

Thanks to the Monday Knights for this cracking motivational poster!

Source: http://www.mondayknights.org.au/gallerys/category/2-posters

Sabre Drill, Patten 1862

A recent discussion on Fanaticus was questioning a rather unusual Sabre grip used when delivering a thrust during a cavalry charge. The method saw the little finger looped over on the other side of the grip to the other three fingers.

A quick search came up with an excellent collection of 19th Century swordsmanship resources from the Schola Forum: http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=22

I should also mention the Schola Gladiatoria Victorian Marital Arts page as an useful resource: http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/victorian/

Among these is the Cavalry drill and sabre exercise: compiled agreeably to the latest regulations of the War Department, from standard military authority by George W Patten (1862).

Below are some of the key plates that may be of some assistance.

1. Instructions in the small sword exercise (Patten, 1861)

In his subsequent work on Sabre and Cavalry drill (1862), Patten refers back to his earlier work on infantry tactics for anything not covered in this later work. I found this description of the sword grip.

Source:
Patten, G. Washington. (1861). Patten's infantry tactics, bayonet drill ..: Comp. agreeably to the latest regulations of the War department, from standard military authority. New York: J.W. Fortune.
Reproduced at: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4236832


2. Sabre Drill, Patten 1862

See 'Present' (middle of page) for description of sabre grip. This is the only reference I found to the position of the little finger when gripping a sabre.

The following pages then go on to describe the method used to practice the thrust of a sabre.

Source:
Cavalry drill and sabre exercise: compiled agreeably to the latest regulations
of the War Department, from standard military authority ...
Patten, George Washington, 1808-1882.
Richmond : West & Johnston, 1862.
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/dul1.ark:/13960/t10p1w656

Ulsan again!

Having last night tested a new set of simple, quick play rules with the Russo-Japanese War scenario, Battle off Ulsan, I felt inspired to give another ruleset a go tonight. This time I used Rob Heath's Coaling Stations  – rules for pre-dreadnougt naval wargaming.

I'll skip the preamble as that's covered in my previous post, the order of battle is as follows:

Russia

Vladivostok cruiser force
Rear Admiral Karl Iessen

Armoured cruisers:
• Rossia (flag)
• Gromoboi
• Rurik

Japan

2nd Squadron
Vice Admiral Hikonojo Kamimura

2nd Unit: armoured cruisers:
• Izumo (flag)
• Azuma
• Tokiwa
• Iwate

4th Unit: protected cruisers:
• Naniwa
• Takachiho

The action opened at 06:00 with the Admiral Iessen's squadron on a north-west heading in the Sea of Japan, off Ulsan, spotting four Japanese armoured cruisers around 2 nautical miles to the east. It was a clear morning with good visibility and light seas.

Iessen and Kamimura both ordered their squadrons to open fire with the Iwate scoring a single hit on the Rossia although no significant damage was caused. Kamimura ordered his cruisers to 'make smoke' as the lines of cruisers continued to close on one another.

The Rossia is hit but makes its 'armour save' so records no damage

Kamimura's cruisers 'make smoke' providing a +1 to to hit rolls in the next round

 Admiral Iessen takes the initiative and orders his squadron to 'flank speed' (the fastest speed of which a warship is capable) while a second salvo form the Russian guns sees the Rossia score a hit (but no damage) on the Izumo and the Gromoboi hits and scores a point of damage on the Azuma. Iessen orders his squadron to make smoke in preparation for the next Japanese salvo.

As Kamimura's 2nd unit attempts to catch up and close on the Russians, a quick change in weather sees a light mist form in the sea of Japan reducing visibility down to 1 nautical mile. Iessen sees an opportunity to break contact from his foe and make for Vladivostok.

Hoping to disable his opponents flagship before making for port, Iessen seeks to cross the T and disable the Izumo with a broadside, but the visibility is too poor for gunnery at that range. 

Crossing the T

Kamimura's evasive manoeuvres in the mist pay off as he avoids the deadly trap being set by the Russians.

Iessen orders his squadron onto a north-westerly heading while just managing to stay our of range in the early morning mist. Despite a close encounter in the final turn, the Russians succeed in exiting all three cruisers from the board un-damaged. Kamimura's 2nd Unit only managed two salvos before the mist settled in and the protected cruisers of his 4th Unit never managed to engage the enemy at all. 

The Vladivostok cruisers live to fight another day!

Coaling Stations performed really well in this scenario (my second use of these rules). Playing solo, the uncertainty built in by the command rules made for an interesting action. More comments about the game mechanics will follow.