The colour purple....

No not the book or film, the actual colour.

A friend visited fairly recently and on showing him the completed Soldier King armies, he remarked "you like the colour purple in your armies, don't you?"

My response was that if you couldn't make use of it in Imagi-Nation armies, when could you?

His observation was based on Hrvatska; the main colour is red and I made use of an old Citadel / GW paint - "Worm purple" for facings and on general staff ( influenced by a throwaway remark in Knotel that in the Saxon - Polish army the Poles substituted purple for red for generals). The colour itself is a paler lighter purple shade.

At the time of his visit, I had not started the Estavian guard some of whom are resplendent in Vallejo "Violet" (with a touch of Oxford blue) a much deeper shade; one line regiment has worm purple facings, so this may have influenced his remark. As I have been painting the aforementioned guard, his remark has been close to my thoughts.

I used it predominantly as it complements red nicely; as Hrvatska are the "red" game army and Estavia is the "Crimson Throne" , it follows from that. In the real world it was a rare colour, especially in military use.

The preserve of Roman emperors and Persian King of Kings due to the expense of manufacture (decomposing Murax sea snails does not make for an abundant dye) one would not expect to see wide use in the age of pre-industrial dyes (although the Osprey book on ancient Persians suggests otherwise, coupled with Saffron produced yellow for an eye-watering colour combination). 

That said, ancient Spaniards produced purple from a mix of indigo and madder; Republican Romans dyed feathers purple and even the ECW had "purple coat" regiments (who may not have actually worn purple, certainly not with yellow breeches as in the first ECW Osprey - there's that combo again). Of course, when referring to "purple" we could be referring to a wide spectrum of colours - I'm thinking here of shades such as Murat's " Polish Crimson " which is rendered in a variety of pinks, crimson and "Amaranth" another odd and elusive shade. I have a nearly expired jar of "Minature Paints - Ruby" for which I have never found a substitute, for that sort of colour (works well with purple as well!)

Aside from Imagi-Nations, I've used purple on Romans; 15mm Late Roman decoration and my Pompaian late Republican legionaries (to distinguish them from Caesarians in red) coupled with the aforementioned Ruby for their shields (which colour also features on the Late Romans), in this case the washed out worm purple. Aside from that, ancient Spaniards.

So while I do like it, it's been the SK Imagi-Nations which have seen most use.

Plod, plod, plod.....

Towards a conclusion...

At least that has how it has felt. Painting has felt more like a chore at times, but I keep plodding along. While not ready for a parade, decided to make a post to document progress.

Box 1, line, cuirassiers and Gendarmen hiding at the back (temporary hiatus as spider ejected having scampered in from outside of box when trying to rescue, resulting in removing ALL figures before putting back in).

Box 2 Line, cuirassiers, chevaux leger, dragoons and first Garde zu fuss

Bank holiday bodging

Taking advantage of the Bank holiday weekend to finish the last of the Israeli armour in use in 1967. M1 Sherman with 76mm and HVSS suspension. The IDF could not even resist making minor adaptations to these, although less drastic than with the remainder of the Sherman fleet.

They were used by two of the GASHAP territorial battalions (the other two had AMX-13) and the tank company of the Jerusalem brigade. This was technically an extra company of the 182 battalion (Central front regional GASHAP), sometimes numbered 29. By the terms of the 1948/49 armistice, the Israelis were prevented from having any armour in the city of Jerusalem, but the canny Israelis got around this by secretly stationing around 5 tanks of the Jerusalem brigade in the outskirts with the remaining 13 a bit further out.

The M1s of both units saw a lot of action in the battle for Jerusalem in 1967. If the Jordanians had succeeded in supporting their infantry with their armoured brigades, the M1s would have had to face off against M48 Pattons. As it was, they did not have it all their own way, one M1 ended up falling off an embankment and ending upside down in a gulley when encountering fierce resistance from the city walls (including bazooka fire). As the only armour available, they provided the Israeli paras with crucial support and one blew in the gates of the city in the final assault.

The models are 2x Boley Sherman and a similar model from another US company (name forgotten) heavily converted with plastic card, Milliput and Green Stuff, bits from the spares box and some very nice turned brass muzzles nominally 1:76th but not out of place on the 1:87 models. A M51 Sherman lurks in the background (needed to compare parts).

Let there be light!

More progress on mostly IDF armour for the Six Day War.

Added some scratchbuilt French Xenon searchlights to selected vehicles. Most commonly photographed on M50 and M51 Shermans, then AMX-13s with correspondingly few photos of them mounted on Centurions and M48s. This frequency is reflected in the models.

Also added some more details to the Egyptian Sherman with AMX-13 turret and a smaller and cruder AMX-13 from a French toy mounted on a Roskopf chassis of a Bundeswehr Rakette. The latter is destined for the Syrians. Granovsky identifies they had around 25 on the Golan and there is a well known picture of one either knocked out or abandoned which is frequently misidentified as Israeli. It is being inspected by Israelis and passed by Shermans (one of which has broken down or been hit). A close up of the photo just reveals Arab writing on the turret, common on Syrian vehicles in the Six Day War.

A possible sub-title is "for the want of a shoe". Adding some searchlights and kit, I discovered some of the distinctive Israeli coiled netting seen on vehicles which I had made from leftover Milliput and Green Stuff. As I had just made some for the AMX-13s, these initially appeared to be surplus to requirements.

I realised however, that I had still to make 3x 76mm Super Sherman and that a couple of the Centurions were missing one each which was the exact number of extras I had.

I therefore started digging out the bits needed. I found the Sherman and M40SPGs (for HVSS tracks) and was overjoyed to find I had three muzzle breaks (thought only had two). Spent a long time looking for suitable gun barrels and mantlets, before settling on surplus Achilles 76mm which I realised could have the mantlet cut and filed down to shape. What I needed was some of the anti-tank obstacles from Roco; the "Dragon's Teeth" are very useful for adding to Sherman to change the turret shape around which Milliput can be applied. I have used them on my M50 and M51 conversions. I was certain I had an unopened packet for just such a task......

Despite searching through numerous boxes I was unable to find them or any surplus bits from previous conversions......sadly a common occurrence! Parts have been put in a takeaway container for when they turn up!

POSTSCRIPT

Just after writing this post I starter tidying away. There right in front of me is a box of "useful stuff" where I also keep the plastic cement. Tidying this up, what did I find slightly tucked away but the packet of anti-tank obstacles.......oh **********! ☺

A special unit

The last few days have seen me painting another unit for the Estavian Imperial army, interrupted by Britcon yesterday.

This unit was a late addition, when I realised more cavalry was needed and enough figures were available. Having planned out the rest of the army, this evolution was left without a name, despite the troop type and uniforms being decided. The colours had evolved from a combination of crimson from Estavia and green of chevauxleger. The colours started to suggest an almost Irish theme. It was then the pieces fell into place. They would be the O'Hara Chevauxleger, named for my friend Danny O'Hara.

I met Danny a few years after moving to Cornwall; we were initially introduced as when outlining my interests in periods, it was suggested "you need to speak to Danny." Aside from our overwhelming mutual interest in the SYW / C18th we discovered we shared a taste for the obscure and unusual in wargames periods and armies.

We played many games, although like me Danny preferred running and umpiring to playing and we organised some truly huge games, such as a giant pirate extravaganza when halfway through the game, realised we were both using different versions of Peter Pig rules!

When I moved from Cornwall, we kept in touch and stayed at each others for local shows, but after moving to the midlands, we lost touch to some extent. I last saw him on a family holiday to Cornwall and we agreed to keep in touch.

In 2019, after a traumatic personal bereavement and the sudden loss of an online acquaintance in the USA, I rang Danny but got no answer. Shortly after that I happened to purchase something from eBay and noticed the postcode matched Danny's. The items I realised could well be Danny's; thinking he was maybe downsizing, I checked the name and recognised it as one of his friends. A search revealed his funeral memorial at the age of 50.

I confess it really hit me. I'd had vague plans of involving him and others in the Soldier King campaign, after some solo work to establish the ground rules (much like Tony Bath's Hyboria). But of course I needed to paint the armies and map out places and.....

While I'm well aware no one lives forever, I assumed I'd have more time. Danny was into the idea of Imagi-Nations as much as painstaking historical research. He told me him and his brother had created C18th Imaginary armies using Airfix George Washington figures.

While Martin Goddard has immortalised him as a Peter Pig collectable miniature, I decided to include him in the SK campaign as the chief of a unit. Danny was proud of his Irish ancestry; what better way to commemorate him than as a "Wild Goose" in my analogue of an Austrian army (Danny like me was an Austrophile for the SYW period).

So I present the Chevauxleger of Patrick Domnal ( "mad Dan") O'Hara with their motto:

"Is iad gníomhais fir a oidhreacht" or "Homo facta sunt legatum suum"

(Their flag will be green with a yellow cross and each motto on alternate sides - or that's the plan!)

Good but not great?

Today I attended my first wargames show since my last, just before Covid.

Britcon has moved from its previous home in Manchester to Nottingham. Oddly for what is often referred to as "the lead belt", the city itself has lacked a major show.

A few years ago there was an attempt to remedy this with the "Robin" show but after only two years, it seems to have become another victim of Covid. TBH, it needed to attract more trade and games as it was a bit lacking in atmosphere, not helped by a fairly empty venue for the amount of trade and games.

Newark is well served by Hammerhead and the two Partizan shows which may explain why little effort has been given to organising a show in Nottingham; it's especially odd since the demise of the Derby Worlds which reinvigorated itself when held at Derby University, only to decline and die when moved to more distant venues.

So Britcon held the promise of a two day show in the city itself. The venue is excellent; Nottingham University in one of the city centre buildings, a bright airy venue with plenty of space, reminiscent indeed of Derby Worlds. Well attended, yet not crowded. So why good and not great?

It's clear Britcon is primarily a competition show; various tournaments were being played and were clearly well attended. Sadly wargames competitions are not really a spectator sport.......

Not that you could see most of the games from the way they were packed together....

The trade stands had a few bigger names and some of the usual suspects, but......

There were probably too many 3d printed companies, all of which were somewhat "niche". A couple of traders had pulled out at the last minute, but obviously didn't have replacements. There was a bring & buy, although few "bargains" with some armies looking as if they had been painted especially for the event. At least it was cool and free from the usual rugby scrum.

The few non-competition games were mostly participation, in some cases linked to a manufacturer. No real "spectacles" .

The real problem was it didn't take that long to walk around and that was it really. I met a friend; aside from him I didn't really speak to anyone. We both bought a second hand book each, and that was the total purchases!

While we both agreed we have reached the age where we don't really need to add to our lead and plastic mountains, and are starting to become concerned about getting rid of what we don't use so as not to burden our partners and offspring with our junk when we're gone, there was little TBH to tempt us with an impulse purchase.

So what was good / positive? Well it's always nice to be able to look at things "in the flesh"; to be able to flick through a rulebook or book; to see the heft and detail on a figure range. I was tempted by some Perry AWI as these are on my "to do" list, but I realised I would have been buying just for the sake of it, not necessity.

The downside is of course you then buy after the show, somewhere else where it's cheaper (or in the case of one well thumbed rulebook, both cheaper and in better condition).

It was good to catch up with a mate; after those couple of positives, not much else inspired me. Perhaps I've changed but I used to get a real buzz out of shows, or perhaps shows have changed? Maybe Covid changed things dramatically; why bother dragging your wares to a show when you can sell more via the internet? And don't have to fork out for a trade stand to boot.

I hope Britcon continues in Nottingham and goes from strength to strength; it's nice to have a show with good public transport links on your doorstep (unlike the Newark shows) I'll certainly go again.

It's funny where wargames lead you......

So I spent an interesting evening yesterday scrolling through posts on MSFoy's always entertaining Prometheus in Aspic blog when I found myself on eBay looking at pottery houses (which may or may not have been for sale by ladies called Sue....).

What had brought me hither so my recently viewed page on eBay is full of Anne Hathaway's house and similar porcelain monstrosities.....err masterpieces?

It started with a boardgame: The King's War by Charles Vasey. It's a game around the English Civil War by someone who knows their history. "That would make an excellent basis for a campaign" I thought.......

All the signs had been there for a while and manfully resisted; that overwhelming butterfly urge to start yet another period.....

Reading Stuart Reid's The King's War pushed the urges further....

I had been looking at fastplay rules (Tilly's Very Bad Day and In Deo Veritas) and debating figure ranges (10mm or 15mm?). I had even bought a sample pack of Steelfist figures. I had even given thought to what sort of look I wanted - single based units on a nice thick base - fill with the number of figures that will fit, depending on size....

"What about the Germans" (says my internal Gene Hackman alternating with "do you pick your feet before kipsy...").....err I mean what about the painting....concentrate. Well if I can somehow combine black washes with Contrast paints it shouldn't take as long as working up from black undercoat.....

I was unable to decide between the Blue Moon 15/18mm and 10mm; each had their strengths. A successful bid on an eBay lot of Blue Moon with some 100x50mm 3mm MDF bases settled that. Some others have joined them and I took the plunge after working out what forces to build and bought a lot more (still to arrive). Given the financial climate in the UK at present, I didn't want to suddenly find the prices increasing when only part way through the armies....

To be truthful, the ECW and I have a long history. I first dabbled using 15mm over 40 years ago; Peter Laing Irish Confederates and various manufacturers for Royalists. Sold as they did not inspire. Switched to 25mm Hinchliffe and Minifigs as pictured in Stuart Asquith's games in Battle and Wargamer's Newsletter fighting over Britain's hedges....

It was the first army I attempted to paint really well in a pseudo-Gilder style using enamels, following his painting guide from Military Modelling and slavishly copying the pictures just appearing in Miniature Wargames of the King's Lifeguards, Rupert's regiment (both foot and horse). Bases had Miliput cannonballs and were textured with ruts showing where they plowed into the ground. Played and built up units painting as I went. Notable for switching to acrylics and keeping the same painting style, obviously in a darkened room to judge by the ill-advised choice of a yellow coated foot regiment which positively glowed as if radioactive when first fielded at the local club......

After some use, continually searching for a decent ruleset (eventually used Terry Wise's ECW and TYW set) which didn't upset some opponents, moved to other periods. With an impending career move to the other end of the country and a need for cash, they ended up being sold at Northern Militare. I regret it now and wonder what their fate was

I did keep some of my ECW books and all the articles from Military Modelling (now of course I'm assured by ECW "experts" that they are hopelessly out of date....). So buy some more books to find the most current research says "well they may have worn red/blue/green/sky blue pink or it could just refer to their flags..."

Not much help in ideas for painting an army is it? Although despite the experts sneering, it's difficult to say you are wrong with such minimal sources .......despite the purists I'll stick with Haythornewaite and Scollins for inspiration however innaccurate they apparently are! I've always thought the best response to such picky "experts" is "Oh, so were you there then?"

I digress. So what of the pottery houses? Well finding yet another set of rules ( Peter Pig's Regiment of Foote) I realised I probably needed some dedicated scenery. So buildings. I plumped for 10mm as having a better footprint. Bought some lovely Battlescale half-timbered houses, nice but small and no church (got to have a Norman church). Eventually found one at Lancer Miniatures. Very nice but looks huge! Maybe I should look at 15mm buildings on the smaller side.......hence the visit to:

http://prometheusinaspic.blogspot.com

The Tey Pottery ornaments look much better on the blog (matt varnish?) than they do on eBay, despite being painted after a fashion. I think I may stick to the wargames models so alas will not being enriching any of the "Sues" (visit the blog for an explanation).

Bautzen at Claymore wargames show 2022

Some photos of a huge Bautzen game involving reportedly over 3000 10mm figures on a handpainted cloth mimicking a C19th map, put on by members of my old club Tyneside Wargames Club at the Edinburgh Claymore show today.

Photographs supplied by Pete Foggin

Egyptian Sherman with FL-10 turret

 Here's the result of 2 weekends modelling. An M4/FL-10 hybrid Sherman.

While the Israeli IDF with French help, mounted the French 75mm (developed from the Panther's gun) into existing Sherman turrets, using bustle counterweights and an  extended mantlet, the Egyptians took an easier option, using the French designed upgrade mounting the AMX-13 turret on a Sherman chassis. 

At this time, De Gaulle was attempting to maintaining good relations with both Arabs and Israelis until later Arab support for Nationalist movements in French colonies resulted in Israel becoming the beneficiary of French support.

Both sides had done so recognising that the Sherman was becoming increasingly obsolete. That said, the humble Sherman continued to serve in various armies into the 1980s, although much altered. Unmodified Shermans were used in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, alongside various upgunned versions using the US 76mm, French 75mm (in an unmodified turret) and Soviet 76mm (as used in the PT76).

A small number of unmodified M4 Sherman were used by the Egyptians in 1967 and there are pictures of knocked out M4 in Gaza. Officially, they were attached to or part of the 20th Palestinian Division, although at least one source indicates that while paid for, were not transferred to the Palestinians. As they and the FL-10 versions clearly served and were knocked out judging by photos, perhaps they remained crewed by Egyptians with the Palestinians not having time to train on them.

Numbers vary widely. A total of 50 were modified with the FL-10 turret, but many were lost in 1956. Between 40 and 80 Sherman of both versions seem to have been available in around 4 companies, possibly in two weak battalions in Gaza, Rafah, El Arish and the Jeradi defile. Many were in poor repair, with some dug-in as static defences. The Egyptians had problems with the complex AMX autoloader system due to poor maintenance.

Here's my version with a completely scratch turret on a slightly modified Roco M4.

Progress

 After a hectic weekend last week (visit by some friends and clearing out the hobby room / office in preparation for a new work desk) I'd hoped to be able to knuckle down and make some progress on the hobby front.

Sadly a combination of fatigue from work (and coping with 40 degree heat), cores and from last weekend, meant I did not make as much progress as hoped.

I did however recover my electric drill / Dremel style tool from the depths of the garage which allowed me to drill holes in the IDF Sherman turrets for MGs and aerials. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate the plastic ties I intended to use for aerials so had to order some more from eBay (they are the plastic locking ties used for tags on clothing they come with something that looks very much like the base of an aerial).

I was unsure about how I was going to fix the MGs, but after hunting around have found just enough Roco parts. Ideally I'd like something stronger, but couldn't find a way to do it using plastic MGs. I could perhaps use metal, so have parked things to stop me rushing into an impetuous solution while I think about it.

Here's the current fleet of IDF M50 and M51 Shermans waiting for MGs, aerials and searchlights on about 4.

Slow weekend

With the weather very hot, painting has been limited this weekend. I suspect even a wet palette wouldn't have coped with the heat on Sunday.

I therefore limited myself to finishing the stand of Estavian Cuirassier I started last weekend; main colours were done it was a case of touching up fine black lining and redoing colours where this strayed over them. Took longer than expected but finished by Saturday evening. This morning I varnished them (Wilco diamond clear gloss acrylic - fast drying) which even with the cooler temperature this AM didn't take long before they were dry.

I contemplated more painting, but the rising temperature and the knowledge I wouldn't get anything finished (have to tidy everything away), decided me on some modelling.

The Israeli Shermans had some work towards completion; brackets added for searchlights and attempts made to drill holes for MG and radio antenna. I say attempts as I only managed indentations. I suspect my cheap mini drill bits are not up to the job, or I need to find my electric mini drill.

I did however do some work on the cast hull M51 and (single cast hull) M50. While researching searchlights, I'd noticed the cast hulls on the models I'd used (Boley Sherman) were not quite right. Had not noticed until then despite working on extensive conversions! Turned out easier than expected.