Skip to main content

Slowly Climbing Back into the Painting Saddle. . .

A melee between the small cavalry forces of the Grand Duchy of Stollen and the Electorate of Zichenau.  Figures by RSM95, Spencer Smith, and Holger Eriksson.


It has been, despite my good intentions, a slog getting back into the painting mode since our return from Mexico last week.  As many of you undoubtedly know already, playing catch-up following a vacation along with other unforeseen things (sick wife and child, etc., etc.) tends to sap any available free time that might otherwise be applied to painting.  I had considerable time yesterday evening, following dinner (the Grand Duchess sat with me but did not feel up to eating), but, frankly, retiring to bed with a book was a more attractive prospect by the time 8pm rolled around than was painting.  So, I spent several hours instead reading Deception (2010) by Jonathan Kellerman, a true master of psychological suspense.

However, I have had a chance for several moves in a solo game that I've had set up here in Zum Stollenkeller for a couple of months, and things are finally starting to get interesting at the close of Move 6.  A large cavalry melee has taken shape on the northern end of the battlefield, while the infantry and artillery of Stollen and Zichenau's advance guards elsewhere are now within range of each other.  Move 7 should be even more interesting once the dice begin tumbling (thank you, Mick and Keith), and the smoke clears.

This small game is based on Phil Olley's 'Vanguards Collide' scenario, laid out in the first Classic Wargamers' Journal from last year, and whichever army wins the day, it should help set the scene for the next tabletop encounter in the ongoing struggle between the terminally befuddled Grand Duke Irwin-Amadeus II of Stollen and his nemesis, the conniving Princess Antonia III of Zichenau.

Comments

A J said…
Welcome back. I hope your family feels better soon. Looking forward to the resumption of the game.
Conrad Kinch said…
You'll get back in the saddle - the inspiration always comes back. I'm in the middle of a game of vanguards collide myself.

Hope the family get well soon.
Bluebear Jeff said…
I hope that your family soon recovers from their unfortunate illness.

Good to see a post from the environs of Stollen once again.


-- Jeff

Popular posts from this blog

Here's an RSM Painting Update

Here's a picture illustrating my (S-L-O-W) progress with the second company of Stollen's Leib (Grand Duchess Sonja's Own) Grenadiers. You can see I'm doing things a bit differently this time, altering the painting process to keep it interesting basically. This evening, I'll do the white gaiters and, if that goes reasonably quickly, and time allows, the red breeches. Still lots to do, but I like the way these fine fellows are shaping up along side the completed 1st company that's standing in formation just off camera, to the left here. Until tonight then!

Presenting the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere!!!

Here they are, with the rearmost nine figures still drying, three squadrons of the Anspach-Bayreuth Kuirassiere, now in the service of the Grand Duchy of Stollen. And now, it's onto that artillery!

Having a "No Day". . .

  F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day."  A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day.  I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers.  These have stood waiting  untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday...