Our Boxing Day Scenario. . .

 

I've always wanted to try The Battle of Guilford Courthouse.  For almost 40 years in fact.  It looks like now is the time!

 

Plugging away during the evenings here in Stollen Centrale with the last nine of an eventual 42 Minden Austrian dragoons.  The basic horse tack has been painted and highlighted now.  Today, I'll finish the hooves on the horses and make a few touch-ups before turning my attention to the saddle cloths, valises, and the men themselves although these already have their basic colors blocked in.  Of these, more anon.

But otherwise, I've got our Boxing Day game to plan and set up.  The Young Master has been clamoring for a larger game, so I think something based on Guilford Courthouse should do the trick with the addition of a few more buildings.  He really likes Ol' Dad's scratch-built buildings it seems.  Paul is also eager to see how the new hot wire styrofoam cutter works since I've got to cut out a few more hills to go under my Hotz Mats terrain cloths.  

Best of all, Young Paul informed me a day or three ago that he would also like a game on New Year's Day or January 2nd.  How can I refuse?  So, I am thinking about a smaller, skirmish game for that one but no firm decisions yet.

**********

Speaking of Young Master Paul, he has another belt test (Purple?) for Tae Kwon Do this evening.  If he passes, he will move to the upper tier of belt levels, and he will begin what they call Black Belt Prep through the next several levels.  Judging by the sounds made when he punches and kicks his heavy bag down here in Zum Stollenkeller during his online sessions, he is developing some real power.  

On a related note, Paul's instructors and masters -- in particular Master Fayett, Master Rodriguez, Miss Simms, and Mr. Hauser-- are amazing influences in so many ways, and Paul does extremely well with them.  Tae Kwon Do for our son has been such a positive influence in all of our lives during the last couple of years.  It will, needless to say, be fun to see Paul in action and cheer him on from the sidelines this evening during the test.

-- Stokes

 

A Styrofoam Cutter P.S.

The new styrofoam cutter worked like a charm, and after about 35 minutes, I've got a bunch of new layers to place beneath the terrain mats as generic hills and ridges one and/or two levels high.  Think what you might about so called 'crafters' (and I've been guilty in the past of rolling my own eyes), but they've got some cool and useful gear.  Best of all, two large sheets and a number of smaller, narrower strips of scavanged styrofoam sheeting remain, from which to cut some more complicated hill shapes at a later time.  Much to The Grand Duchess' chagrin.  Wives!