The Grand Duchy of Stollen

Beautiful to look at , but very, very dangerous from a wargaming perspective. I n light of a recent conversation I had with a wargaming friend while in Berlin, I find myself lately pondering how I might use those unused Waterloo-era Napoleonics.  These, some of you might recall, have been in careful storage since the early 2000s when I made the radical switch from 15mm to 30mm, and the Grand Duchy of Stollen project with its imaginary mid-18th century focus began.   In theory, it all seems so simple.  So plausible.  So reasonable.  So do-able.   Here's my thinking on all of this.  Think more like a general instead of a company officer.  Make the game a more abstract exercise.  Use the hundreds of figures I have painted already, transfer them to small, square basswood bases, and paint up the few remaining that I might still need.  The figures become purely symbolic, a dozen or so (for infantry) representing various divi...

The recently released Hay Wagon from Black Hussar Miniatures.  Tempting, don't you think? W ell, Sir, we finally made it through our front door just after 9pm last night (Saturday) after something like 24 hours awake and in transit.  I immediately put the Young Master and his teddy bear "Bear" to bed while the Grand Duchess made me some fresh coffee, and then I quickly unloaded our suitcases from the car.  Ahhhhhh. . .  Travel is fun, but getting there and back is always an ordeal given the indignities of modern airports, jetliners, and related activities.  The Grand Duchess and I sat and chatted for a few minutes, and then hit the hay.  I'd bet we were both asleep before our heads hit the pillow.  I finally woke at about 7am this morning, so I am more or less back on a regular sleep-wake schedule it seems. "Wonderful, Stokes, old man," you might say, "Fascinating.  But what about your residence in Berlin?"  An interesting time to say ...

Gelbensande Manor outside Rostock, Germany, masquerading here as the country home of the Grand Duke's cousin, one Bernhard 'Bumby' von Tempelhof. I t has been some time since last we met our heroes.   Irwin-Amadeus II and his faithful manservant Hives have spent July and the first half of August 1765 summering outside of Königsberg, at the country estate of a distant cousin to the Grand Duke.   Today is an unseasonably hot day, and we find Irwin-Amadeus II sitting alone at the harpsichord in the breezy music room, picking out a melody and accompaniment while humming to himself.   He occasionally sings out loud and picks up a quill pen to jot down lyrics on a chord chart propped up before him.  Hives: (Enters music room with try of chilled refreshments) Good afternoon, Sir. Irwin-Amadeus II: Ah, Hives!   There you are.   Give a listen to this.   (Begins playing and singing):   ♪♪ . . .  Good night Königsberg. You city of a mi...