And It's Already November. . .

'Political Billiards Game in Germany, 1758'

A decided lack of mojo in the Grand Duchy during recent months, something I must do more to snap myself out of.  As I have mentioned here in previous recent posts, and to be entirely fair, there has been too much on the ol' work plate of late.  I have fallen into the trap of taking on too much and been guilty of letting that overtake everything else.  Sigh.

But what of things actually in-progress over on the painting desk, albeit untouched since late last winter?  The 28mm Eureka Saxon cuirassiers sit patiently in their clear plastic box.  One squadron of 14, along with the regimental staff, are very close to being finished and the glossing stage, true, but the second needs a good basecoat of white gesso before anything more can happen in the brushwork department.  

I'm thinking of painting the second batch in a different facing color to represent another regiment, however, since the squadron was the basic cavalry formation of the day, and not all squadrons of a regiment necessarily operated together in the field.  Greater variety and visual interest, given the period in question, seems only right and proper in any case.

With the long U.S. Thanksgiving weekend at the end of November, followed by the Christmas-New Year's period a few weeks after that, my mind turns toward pushing some lead around the actual table, which has been taken down and put away for quite some time.  Longer than I can put my finger on at the moment.  But here's what I'm thinking.

A small campaign based on four different scenarios gleaned from what's over on the ol' bookshelf here in Zum Stollenkeller.  Start small with a skirmish based on one of the scenarios in Neil Thomas' One-Hour Wargames.  I'll follow up with a modestly sized version of the wagon train scenario from Charles Grant Sr.  And if that goes reasonably well, a refight of the venerable Blasthof Heath from Young and Lawford's Charge! Or How to Play War Games.  

The campaign envisioned would, no surprise, culminate in a larger battle.  Here, I am thinking of that old favorite, the Battle of Sittangbad.  Taking a page from the late Stuart Asquith with all of this, and revisiting a few favorite fictitious scenarios.  I plan to undertake this as a solo affair, but if the Young Master is of a like mind, we might face each other across the tabletop. 

Ambitious, yes, but I have everything I need (and then some) painted, based, and in the collection already.  Plus a rather extensive supply train.  Just need to whip up a few small river sections in the meantime.  Easy enough, and that might help shake off the hobby doldrums and restore a bit of balance to life.  

I am reminded of an exchange between Calvin and his father in the much missed and now long defunct Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, in which the two sit together on their back porch one summer evening observing nature and the pleasant surroundings.  His father remarks to Calvin that it makes little sense to work so hard to afford everything around them that little time is left to enjoy any of it due to his self-imposed workload.  

Sure, it's a comic strip, but there is a lesson of some kind there nonetheless.  A few manageable games of toy soldiers over the next couple of months sound like just what the doctor ordered.

-- Stokes  

 

The Young Master, who turned 15 at the end of October, has long pointed out the close resemblance between yours truly and Calvin's father.  My retort has always been that you get that way once you have a child or two and adult responsibilities take over.