A CASTLE, TWO PARTERRES, AND A GROVE OF ORANGE TREES

We piled into the car today and headed up the Wye Valley to Goodrich castle. Last time I was there was in 1997 with the ECWS taking part in a brilliant siege with earthworks , gabions etc , probably one of the best re-enactment events I've taken part in.

English Heritage have tarted up their reception area, and racked up the prices, but there were some interesting exhibits,

Roaring Meg, the only surviving ECW mortar used in the 1646 siege

Two gargoyles I don't remember from my 1997 visit.

The Norman keep

The castle seems to grow out of the rock

Some lovely Herefordshire/Monmouthshire countryside

George tries his hand at the mysterious art of gunnery.

After visiting the castle we went on to Westbury Court Gardens, a rare surviving example of a late 17c Dutch style water garden

A fine canal

Neptune reigns here (I am writing a paper on pagan imagery in 18c gardens, but may have to include this as he is 1690's)

I can just imagine Mr. Neville from the Draughtsman's Contract setting up his easel here.

The pavilion from the end of the long canal.

All in all a jolly day out mixing warfare and gardening.

THIN RED LINES

The usual apologies for not posting for a good while, I've just been bone idle combined with a large black dog hanging about in my head . Every so often (usually in the Autumn) I feel like chucking all my figures out of the window and starting a single project from scratch, one that doesn't need rare and hard to source figures and provides a game with nice neat lines of soldiers in uniforms found in handy reference books and not too much imagination.( I suppose it's a comfort thing, like putting on a favourite jumper or cravat after a long and tediously hot summer).
 This generally means any conflict between 1700 and 1900. Seven Years War and Napoleonic don't really float my boat (although I do like Napoloeonic Bavarians and Brunswickers), but I have always had a real interest in The War of the Spanish Succession. The uniforms are attractive, but not too complicated and of course the wigs are a bonus. There is a good supply of uniform and reference books (including plenty of eyewitness accounts) but not an overwhelming amount. Likewise the figures are readily available, but not too much choice. I find the 28mm figures out there a bit bobbleheaded, so that leaves a choice of 20mm, 40mm or 54mm. The latter ticks the toysoldier box and inspiration can be found at the wonderful (but sadly quiet) blog Vauban and Shandy . 20mm are cheap, the rank and file coming from Zvezda's Infantry of Peter the Great . Zvezda likewise do artillery and some cavalry which could be supplemented with Irregular and Les Higgins figures , they also paint up nicely with a nostalgic "Airfix" feel. I have never painted 40mm figures before but I have a Marlburian officer I picked up on ebay and it's a nice scale. Figures from Irregular , supplemented with Price August semi-rounds, the cavalry would have to have the coat tails converted.

Just to get in the mood, and wielding a paintbrush again, I tried painting a few plastic Zvezda infantry as British foot. I was quite pleased with the result, 10 figures in an evening using white undercoat, and then yacht varnished.

NEW ROBIN OF SHERWOOD FIGURES FROM CONQUEST

Hot on the heels of my last post, I got a message today from Mike Hoddinott at Conquest Games telling me the next 4 figures in their Wolfshead range were out today. I have been waiting for this second pack for over a year now so I was very excited.

On viewing the figures I was a little disappointed by the Herne the Hunter figure, but having done my own conversion of this character it doesn't matter too much, The Nasir figure is good  but the beard looks a little full, Mark Ryan the actor sporting more of a chinstrap

The Marion figure looks quite good, or will do when painted as a redhead and Much the Miller's son could do with more curly hair, but nothing that can't be rectified with a bit of milliput or greenstuff. I suspect the figures fit in with the last pack and are thus 25-26mm so quite small compared to most current Norman figures, but this will make the outlaws harder to hit in combat. Order has been placed and hopefully the baddie pack will be out soon.

FATHER'S DAY

Things have been happening on and off on my other blogs, but little related to this one which seems to be reserved now for historical gaming stuff and general everyday life . I haven't been doing much hobby related recently other than painting fantasy figures , but as usual there are several projects simmering away in that shrivelled husk of grey matter I call a brain. One of said future ideas got a bit of a rattle today as I received this splendid book from my 3 sons for Father's Day. Hooded Man vol 1 by Andrew Orton, a geeks (er...I mean dedicated fans) guide to the first two series of Robin of Sherwood. Time to don a mullet wig and seize my trusty replica of Albion, Robin Hood's sword. Thanks boys.

Slowly stockpiling the figures for some skirmishes based on the TV series. 

H

LOOKING FOR CASTLE GATEWAY

Tarnation, I just missed this gateway on ebay (forgot to adjust my final bid). I had already painted and based this piece as a Hordes of the Things stronghold in my minds eye , so if any noble readers can tell me what make it is and if I can still get one I would be most grateful. I have seen them at shows over the years but not recently.

SPACE SAVING BUILDINGS

Apologies for not posting for some time, work and general business gets in the way, at least Blogger is letting me post pictures again...hurrah. An enforced day off from work due to galloping gutrot and the arrival of my 50th follower (welcome Baconfat, thanks for following) prompts me to get my behind into gear.

A couple of bloggers have been dabbling with space saving terrain recently, and I really like the effects of 2d scenery, much like stage scenery as Tradgardmastre said. I actually painted these buildings about a year ago during lunch hours sitting in one of the polytunnels at work (my colleagues think I'm cracked, which is fine), but as usual I have only just got round to photygrafting them . 3mm MDF each house made in 2 parts.

They look quite Cotswoldy , and should do for ECW or FLW's. I have a church half completed, so maybe I should creep back into the polytunnel before the weather warms up and makes it too hot.

MORE BLOGGING PROBLEMS- WHERE HAS MY BROWSE FOR PHOTOS BUTTON GONE?

I normally come on this blog if I need advice or just want a good moan. Now blogger seems to have removed the facility to upload pictures from my computer. They keep messing about with things and quite frankly I am getting really p****d off with it. I don't have a lot of time and the rare occasion I get my act together to actually post something I want to be able to do it without hassle. In a nutshell I am feeling as if the blogs are more trouble than they are worth. I'M ANGRY AND NOT VERY GOOD WITH TECHNICAL STUFF .