A SPLENDID END TO THE YEAR

I arrived home from work today to find a mystery parcel waiting for me.... Having assured Mrs. Atticus I hadn't ordered any more figures ( and if I do I get them sent to my works address), I was delighted to find a bundle of very old Minifigs sent South by The Duke of Tradgardland. Another example of what jolly nice chaps wargamers are...
Here they are hastily mustered outside an Eastern European looking castle

I've always had a soft spot for Minifigs, producers of my favourite fantasy figures, but as yet have not painted any Minifigs historicals. Very tempted to do a small Danish TYW army as I know his Dukeship would approve.

Many thanks Alan, I really appreciate the gift out of the blue.

A COUPLE MORE FINDS OF INTEREST

I haven't been doing much gaming of any kind recently, bar the odd dabble with Lion Rampant and Warhammer, but I have been out metal detecting rather a lot, and son 2 and  have found loads of goodies, 2 of which are of a bellicose nature, so suit this blog.

 The first is a Civil War musket ball, which are a quite common metal detecting find, but this was our first and found on a new piece of land we have been allowed to detect on at the village of Monkton Farleigh near Bath. On July 3rd, Waller's army laid an ambush at Monkton Farleigh hoping to surprise and beat back Hopton's Royalist force advancing from Bradford-on-Avon. They sprung the ambush but were driven back to the ford in the valley below where a fierce fight ensued. This musket ball was probably fired or dropped on that day, during the initial ambush round what is now called Shooters Lane.

The second find came to light earlier today, and I was desperate to run about telling as many people as I can about it. We braved thick drizzle (which was quite refreshing initially after a muggy day yesterday) to visit another new permission near Frome in Somerset and unearthed a Victorian penny first, followed by this considerably older item from 15" down

which I believe to be the head of a Frankish throwing axe, or francisca . These date from the fifth to the eighth ceturies and were used by Germanic troops either serving Rome or busy invading Britain and fighting the likes of King Arthur.  Needless to say I pinged a picture off to the county Finds Liason Officer and hope to hear back soon.

 

You can just make out the socket for the shaft in the picture above which we will be leaving untouched until the archaeologist has had a look. So all in all an exciting day. Ifeel a bit guilty neglecting the toy soldier front, but to be honest we are having such a blast detecting, I can't find time to do much else.

RESCUED AND TREASURED ONCE AGAIN

One of the reasons posts have been rather lacking (apart from my inherent laziness) is that I have started a brand new hobby which my sons are getting involved with too...metal detecting. A couple of months ago I took the plunge and bought a good lower end of the market detector and we are all absolutely hooked, so much so there is another better detector on order, so we are not queuing up to have a go.

It was a strange feeling entering an entirely new community with new jargon to learn, (strict) rules to follow and many people to meet but we are having the whale of a time. I won't post too much on everything we find , but here are a couple of items directly related to wargaming which have come up on one of our permissions (a permission is land where you have been allowed by the owner to detect).

The little chap below was found when son 2 was using the detector, and popped out of the ground yesterday in a field at the end of our road, he was about 6 " down.

A semi flat made of lead, probably about 25mm scale, the horses head was bent right back

A worm bids him farewell.

The upper end of the field we were in seems to have been a popular picnic destination in the 18th and 19th century. It has a splendid view of the valley and is far enough out of town to be a pleasant walk there and back to make a day of it. We have also found in the area coins from the reigns of George II, III , William IV and Victoria, teaspoons, a silver matchbox, and other items that may have been dropped by folk having a day out, and perhaps this soldier was lost by some little lad on such an excursion. He has now entered service guarding other finds on my son's shelf of finds.

Less pastoral, but from the same field was this alarming find

(the orange device is a pinpointer or mini metal detector for locating small finds in holes)

I extricated the casing out first and then was alarmed to see it was still full of  granules of what I now know to be smokeless propellant. The bullet was still lodged in the ground and appears to be coated in red colouring (tracer paint?). I guess this is a round from a Spitfire? I think the groove on the base of the casing indicates it was from a belt fed gun, but any ID'S would be welcome.

So there we are, let me know if you are interested in seeing other historical finds.

AN HISTORIC LANDSCAPE

As it was such a lovely day here, we went for a long walk round the Avebury landscape in Wiltshire. Parking at the Sanctuary we walked along the Ridgeway towards Avebury, skirted the village and back up towards Fyfield Down. Mrs. Atticus snapped up taking a break overlooking Windmill Hill on the path up out of the village.

Although I have always lived in Somerset, I always get the feeling I am coming home when we go across the border to Wiltshire. A move might be in order one day.

NEW ECW REGIMENT FOR SALE

Can be viewed here

POP GUN FOR SALE

Just posting some pics for a potential buyer of my matchlock musket. I can't imagine I'm going to ever fire it again, and the licences need renewing every few years.

ECW REGIMENT AND MORE NOW LISTED

I always like pale blue uniforms so painting these was most enjoyable

(above ECW unit now

 sold)

and also listed some more Normans 

(above Normans now sold)

I took delivery of some Spencer Smith Austrian Succession  figures yesterday, so I am thinking about how to paint them. Anyone recommend flags for them?

NORMAN FOOT KNIGHTS AND OLD SCHOOL GARRISON INFANTRY LISTED

Just listed a few knights here

(above unit of Normans now sold)

and some units of 25mm Garrison infantry I painted a while back for a fantasy game, billmen, bowmen and flailmen.

THE OLD SCHOOL MEDIEVAL LOOK

I've been taking stock of mountains of old school lead that reside in the attic, wondering how I want to progress with my own armies. Simple , shiny and medieval sum it up. This got me thinking about the influential films which I saw as a youth which filled me with fervour to recreate the armies portrayed in miniature (not that I have done yet, but there is still time hopefully)

The look of the troops in the following stills is the sort of look I would like to recreate. A lot of the armour has that brushed steel look, plenty of colour and no mud or grime in sight

above are 3 stills from El Cid. What a fantastic film. The battle scenes still inspire me.

These 3 above are from the 1960 Polish film Krzyzacy (Knights of the Cross) about the battle of Grunwald in 1410.

I can't remember where these 2 are from, but the soldiers in the picture directly above look just like Revell/Accurate medieval figures.

2 stills from Henry V . The charge of the French knights was rather splendid.

Any other suggestions of similar films?

SPECIAL OFFA! SAXON KING AND GUARD NOW LISTED

Just listed a Saxon King and his guard which were nice to paint. I think they must be mid Saxons, so about 8th century? Early Vendel type helmets, but also a Coppergate helmet and 2 Benty Grange (I know my Saxon Hats)!

Some Normans coming soon, and then a unit of Teutonic Knights I think!

ECW REGIMENTS BY MALPLAQUET MINIATURES

More figures recently listed among which are these 2 English Civil War regiments. I started painting these a few years ago, but the project stalled, so I have dug them out, finished them off and am now selling them.

(EDIT: ECW UNIT ABOVE NOW SOLD)

A unit of Norman cavalry sold this morning, so I packed them up and they are now heading towards Sienna! Clearly Italo-Normans.

THIRTY YEARS WAR PIKEMEN BY MALPLAQUET MINIATURES

Another shameless commercial , as Mammon reigns in the Atticus household. Just finished this batch of grubby pikemen which were great fun to paint. Renegade Miniatures have real character without being too goofy like a lot of Foundry figures, or a bit bland like Perry's.

Block paint, drybrush, wash and highlight worked well to give that ragged look one associates with the TYW.

Available to buy here, or comment below and I'll be in touch.

(THIS UNIT NOW SOLD)

I am tempted to do a small TYW force for myself (Mansfeld's band of mercenary scum would be jolly). 

I have just taken delivery of a small order of medievals from Front Rank for my Venetian army. Lovely crisp castings. Roll of February when I can start painting for myself.