Currently enjoying a coffee break after completing the white belts, small straps, and sword knots on one company of the Jaegers zu Fuss. After I finish my mug of java, it’s back to do the same on the second company. Then, depending on how time is going, I want to finish painting the white musket straps for the rest of the unit. I painted six of these the other night. Finally, I’ll touch up the “GW Goblin Green” bases, before moving on to the musket stocks.
Where is all this time coming from? Well, my wife left for a four-day conference in Colorado Springs today, so it’s just me, the kitty, and the beta fish. This means there’s some extra time. What better way to use it than to sit myself down at the painting desk and get cracking! Right?
I spent a little time looking through some books and magazines after I got home late this afternoon. Another favorite book of mine is Peter Young’s The War Game (1973). You know -- the one where ten famous battles from history are reproduced in miniature. My personal favorites have always been Lobositz and Waterloo, using Charles Grant Sr.’s and Peter Gilder’s figure collections respectively to illustrate each battle account.
As for articles, well there are others from Miniature Wargames #6 and #7 that I revisit from time to time. Incidentally, these were the second and third wargame magazines I ever bought, following a March 1981 copy of Military Modeling, which was given to me by good ol' Mom, who happened on it one day in October of that year while browsing the magazine rack in a bookstore and, thinking I might find it interesting, purchased it.
Anyway, C.S. Grant has a great article in MW #6 entitled “Fighting in Built Up Areas”, which is fun to reread a few times a year and full of interesting thoughts. In the same issue, Ian Weekley had his article “Model Forestry” along with a couple of great color photos featuring the completed, and rather large, wooded area. Very realistic and suitable for wargames use! I referred to it constantly when modeling the orchard and woods for my 15mm model of Hougoumont about 10 years ago.
And then there is David Hoyles’ article in MW #7 called “The Lazy Way: A Faster Method to Getting That (Painted) Army into Action”, which provides some very stimulating ideas for producing pretty nicely painted armies without it taking forever. Again, there is a great color photo of Hoyles’ ancient Indian army to accompany his article.
Finally, there is Paul Wood’s article “Defense Cut Blues: Hints, Ideas, and Advice for the Low Budget General” a little farther back in the same issue. This one, too, is a fun read once in a while. Although Wood’s article appeared way back in 1983, it has continued relevance given the continually rising figure/paint/scenery prices with which wargaming enthusiasts have wrestled during the intervening 23 years!
So, those are the rest of my personal favorites. I’ve meant for some time to scan and digitize these various articles in order to save my old magazines from additional wear and tear. Must make myself do that errand on Saturday before continuing with the Jaegers zu Fuss!
Comments
To the best of my knowledge, yes, Mark Allen had a series of articles on how he researched and created his (incredibly well-painted) armies of The Grand Alliance. I don't remember exactly, but these either appeared in the late 80s or early 90s and are very interesting to read, even if one's gaming and collecting interests lie elsewhere.
However, my gut feeling is that Ed is correct. And, yes, they were wonderful.
-- Jeff
http://saxe-bearstein.blogspot.com/