Tree Renovation part Five a pine in the .....

Pines part two

I have come to the realisation I have a lot of pine trees......

More Pines.....

Completed some more Pine trees but come to the realisation after I was about half way through my pine restoration I was missing some of my larger 28mm trees, so up to the third floor storage room for a visit. Low and behold another thirty odd Pine Trees, with a number requiring a bit of a dusting of new flock. plus new bases and more stumps to be made.....so quite a lot to be done. No rest for the wicked as they say.

Tree Renovation part four shruberies

 

Shrubberies

More garden trees this time,  again purchases from China, really like the little topiary bushes, I must have thirty odd of them to either base or put in gardens, more coming as I have completed cutting another 60 odd bases and prepared them for basing today.

War of the Roses.....look out for the billhooks

War of the Roses Cavalry 

Completing a small commission for some Perry 28mm WOTR cavalry for the War of the Roses skirmish game Never Mind The Billhooks. 

First batch of four Perry Miniatures cavalry, which I think are fabulous sculpts.

cheers

Matt

Tree Renovation Part 3 ....Pines

 

 Pine trees part 1

Still working on trees, really happy with the results, the painting of the bark and stumps, adding a few stones and bits to the bases has been a little therapeutic.

 I am now pressing on through the production line of rebasing the commercial tree lots to unify everything.  Lots more Pines coming after I cut some more bases!

I say Pierre, fine pines 

A little snow in sunny Mayenne

 

 Oh the Joy!

We get excited when it snows! Vanessa and I eagerly watch snow forecasts, and 100% snow predicted this week we were sure we onto a good thing. When it started its was wafts and flutters, but as the evening fell it all turned white and we were treated to a winter wonderland! We have been in France for almost three years and this was our first proper snowfall as Ville Mayenne is in a weather Zone 8-9 and we are only 80m above sea level. So although we often see photos of snowfalls in the surrounding countryside, its more a dusting here in town. I thought I would share some photos of the exciting event as two Australians run around excited like school children! And for the first time in my life I shoveled snow off a footpath......and today I am feeling it!

Our view across the Square to the Montpinçon hotel, my favorite view!

Swiss Pike Canton of Saint Gall

 Swiss Pikemen 

Completed a unit of Swiss Mercenary pikemen from the canton of Saint Gall for my French Army at the Battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier. Saint Galls colours were red so a majority of the unit are painted in the colour with the white cross. The miniatures are from the WOTR Perry miniatures plastics range. Based for Impetus rules, a second base of pike to follow as the depth unit.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

 

Cheers

Mart

Tree Renovation part two....shrubbery

 

 Garden shrubs

Next up are small garden shrubs I purchased from eBay China, about 3cm high they are perfect to fill back yards, town gardens and the side of a road, great for 28mm, 20mm and lower. I am so impressed with these I am going to buy two more packs at least. The bases were cut from MDF using my 2cm holesaw. I glued down the stump base then added my normal sand mix, and painted the stump a khaki brown, base earth brush, drybrushed the rocks added flock. 

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers

Matt

Tree Renovation part one ....a little fruity

 

Tree Renovation

 Well last week I commenced renovation of my current collection of 160 trees, plus the manufacture of 180 new trees 20mm and 28mm. Lets just say it is taking longer then expected as I cutting new bases, making forest bases and small rough ground sections, plus painting trunks on old plastics trees, reflocking some and new ground work on all of them, plus washing bark and highlighting bits, adding moss and twigs etc. 

I have decided to manufacture specific 20mm and 28mm as previously I had one size fits all method. I want larger more scale trees for 28mm naturally so they fit better with skirmish games. I also removed all of the trees I had glued on large wood type bases and then manufactured with MDF woodland bases that the trees slot into so they are removable which suits ww2 and large impetus bases better when moving through woods. Still more work to be done on these as I want to complete the trees before I go back to make the larger bases.

First trees completed and renovated were formally orange trees that I had based for arid conditions, these are commercial trees from woodland scenics range. The oranges were repainted as apple trees, new bases, painted the trunks, added rocks and then flocked with 3mm flock. Most of these will go in a walled orchard that I am making and some will be able to be dropped into backyards and gardens as required.

I am really happy with the results and plan to purchase another 20 odd as Normandy and Maine are full of apple trees....

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

Swiss Mercenary Arquebusiers of Saint Gall

Swiss Mercenary Arquebusiers 

Completed a unit of Swiss Mercenary Arquebusiers from the canton of Saint Gall for my French Army at the Battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier. Saint Galls colours were red so a majority of the unit are painted in the colour with the white cross. The miniatures are from the WOTR Perry miniatures plastics range. 

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

Republican Roman Command

I like to paint commands first when I start a new army, so I have some 28mm First Corps Republican Roman command to go with the upcoming Wargames Factory Caesarian Romans. A little small to match but ok until I pick up some Foundry or Warlord figures. One consul with lictor and standard and one foot tribune with standard.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers

Matt 

Luftwaffe AA and Fallschirmjager crews

 

Luftwaffe & fallschirmjager crews

One of my project list goals for 2021 was to add crews to my flak guns, AT guns, and mortars both Luftwaffe and fallschirmjägers for my 20mm Normandy collection.

Quite happy with the results, I think the splittertarn variants may need a little work but overall happy. Good to get back painting 20mm again. a wide mix of figures SHQ, AB and Simons Soldiers. I need to pick up some more flak 88mm, I have a project in mind......

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers

Matt Williamson  

Sassanid Horse Archers

Sassanid Horse Archers

Hot off the desk this week are some A&A Sassanid light cavalry. One of the Romans most consistent enemies  of late period. Another batch from the project drawer that have been staring at me for the best part of 6 years......now done and dusted.

Based for impetus and the familiar circle I like to base my light cavalry on.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers

Matt Williamson

Terrain Tuesday Church

 A completed resin Hovels piece I believe, I already have one of these, and received another in a job lot of 20mm buildings I purchased online. So it joined the terrain to do pile about three weeks ago. I decided to pick it up and paint it on the weekend. A easy and simple paint job. Quite happy with the result, I will de able to use this for both 20mm and 28nm games.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

Cheers

Matt

French Revolution cockades

 For the new year I am planning a continuation of my French Revolution project (along with many others) including a set of rules that works for a mid sized skirmish game (60-100 figs).

With that in mind I ordered for Christmas some more books on the subject, three in French and two in English, plusI put aside some cash to spend on some militaria from the period.

 I looked at a number of auctions in England and here in France, set my budget then watched live. One of the items that got away that I was interested in was a number of revolutionary cockades ....they become a little too rich for me very quickly, so I now present the images at least.

Hopefully somebody will find them useful like I will as a reference when painting their miniatures. Note a number of variations including green and double rings.

"walk the battlefield in the morning, wargame in the afternoon"™ 

From Caesar to World War Two

cheers

Matt

100 years war Chevaliers and Écuyers Jean de Ouvroin V

 Jean de Ouvroin, knight of Maine

Jean de Ouvroin, lord of Chateau de Grazray, lord of Poligné. Captain of a company of Guy XIII de Laval and executor of his will. A Maine captain killed at the battle of Baugé. Another addition to my French army for the battles in the Anjou, Maine, Brittany and Normandy. 

Another Perry plastic figure

"Wargaming History"™ 

From Caesar to the Coldwar

Cheers

Matt

 The Final Countdown 2020

2020 is done and dusted, and as we all know a very strange year..........we are still here, and looking forward and currently planning for a prosperous 2021. 

A big thank you to our customers that did manage to attend and play a wargame this year. A big thank you for your continued support here on my blog, on Facebook, Instagram and the various Forums I haunt.

     ______________________________________________________________________________

Totals

Summing up my Wargame painting and terrain progress this year on my goals I achieved about 75% with a few minimal diversions. I may of completed more looking back, but motivation was up and down depending upon the external stresses of this strange year. On the positive side a lot of my stash completed with very few purchases of new lead or plastic.2020 Goals Achieved

War Room redecoration

95% complete, curtains still being made....lets just say this is not me......

Construction of the wargames table

16 ft Completed

28mm miniatures painting goal 2020

Gaulish 260 figs

59 painted roman auxilia

16th Auxiliary Cavalry 

9 Sassanid cavalry

50 early medieval cavalry

168 early medieval infantry

31 Medieval cavalry completed 

528 Medieval Infantry completed

18 Napoleonic cavalry 

12 Napoleonic infantry

1 Santa!

24 ACW union 28mm infantry (commission)

8 union 28mm cavalry (commission)

24 Napoleonic 28mm artillery guns (Commission)

16 Vikings 28mm (commission)

40 WW2 british 28mm (commission)

18 Pulp figures (commission)

48 7YW infantry (commission) 

24 7YW cavalry (commission)

Completed 28mm Infantry 1174 

Completed 28mm Cavalry 186

Completed Artillery 24 

WW2 1944 20mm 

160 infantry 

32 tanks completed

6 x Armored cars built

9 trucks completed

6 AA guns and crews

4 AT guns mixed 6pdr & 17pdr completed

5 gliders built

2 built-in buses

16 trucks and jeeps built

8 x AT guns kit built 

8 x Armored cars built

Bunkers 4 completed

16 landing craft built 

8 aircraft built 

20mm Infantry 160

20mm vehicles 56

Miniatures rebased and touched up

54 ACW rebased and touched up

8 cavalry rebased and touched up

34 Gauls rebased, touched up and hand painted shields

Other Science Fiction

1 Jedi Starfighter 

Total Terrain System For Now (TTSFN) Goals achieved

Castle board (1500x1200), includes  Gaulois fort, dark ages Motte and bailey, and 100 YW castle under construction ATM 40%  complete

Standard boards x 6 

Plowed fields 

Maize/corn crop fields 

Harvested crop fields 

20mm buildings x 8 

Dark Age Buildings x 6 

Medieval buildings x 10

20mm ww2 buildings x 6

Bocage mark V 12m

Stone walls  (master completed)

22 trees

Board game played

3 games

Wargames played

Ancient games x 3

Medieval games x5

Renaissance games

French Revolution games

Napoleonic games

Ww1 games x2

WW2 games x6

Modern games x1

Naval games x1

Fantasy

Science fiction x2

So quite happy with my results, although I am way behind on posting due to running out of my basing paint color....I did complete a further 18 bases of mostly medieval Infantry in the Christmas to New year including a lot of cavalry. I will post these over the coming week or so.

I think I will do a parade of the Medievals and the Gauls as they really were a big task. I think I have around 30 Gallic warriors remaining to do to complete the 300 figure starting goal so no spares in the drawers of doom. The medievals will continue this year, but WW2 will become the main focus as it makes up 75% of our main Wargames Holiday Business.

Completing bits from my project drawers and the focus on terrain has helped me a lot this year, as now I have space to plan 2021 which is well underway. I will continue to post every week as it helps me keep track of what has been completed. 

Let us all hope this pandemic can be over so we can socialize and share all of our new painted goodies, and watch our recently painted units flee off the table once again.

cheers

Matt

Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year to all of my Friends and followers, let us hope 2021 becomes a more normal year at some stage

Cheers

Matt

Jedi Starfighter

 

Jedi Starfighter

In the December pre Christmas sales, I picked up three Revelle Star Wars1/80th kits for five euros each. Overall they were very simple, with clear instructions and easy to fit components for construction. I base coated the main colours with a brush, completed the pilots and interior, and assembled the kit.  Then completed the painting, blacklining, added transfers and finished with a clear coat. All up about 4 hours work.

Over the last 20 years I have a collected plastic kits for a fleet of spaceship in various scales, they will join my aircraft in their display cabinet and may come out for a game one day........ I really enjoy a quick fun game in the evening with guests, and StarWars and WW1 Aircraft, Naval Dreadnoughts are part of our collection on offer at French Warames Holidays. 

I have had fun trialing a new App, for the background of the photos. It is not perfect but certainly does the job, to give the photos a fresh context and works ok.

Cheers

Matt

Seasons Greetings & a Very Merry Christmas

 

Étienne de Vignolles (The Knave of Hearts)

La Hire (the Knave of Hearts) 

Étienne de Vignolles, Chevalier, seigneur Lord of Montmorillon (Nouvelle-Aquitane) de Longueville (Normandy). Etienne the youngest member of his family born in 1390, he entered the service of liege Lord Bernard VII of Armagnac (constable of France) 1415-18 was a écuyer in the campaign against the comte de Foix.

1418 La hire and Poton de Xaintrailles, Vicomte de Bruillois both mercenary company captains, successfully raise the Burgundian siege of Coucy (Aisne) (Pontons brother Pierre de Xaintrailles was the chateau Captain). 

In 1419 he defended the chateau of Crépy-en-Laonnais (Aisne) against the Burgundians, Philippe le Bon successfully takes the Crépy in 1420. 

In 1420 At the battle of Mons-en-Vimeu where he is captured and after his ransom, La Hire and his company then moves south to join René de Anjou in his fight against the English in Maine. 

In 1421, he returns to the north to reinforce Ponton de Xaintrailles based in Guise, he leads a successful ambush at Notre Dame de Liesse killing Hector de Saveuse, the Governor de Beauvais and Compiègne (nicknamed the price of thieves and assassins); that same year La Hire was injured by a horse, when it fell on him and shattered his hip and leg and was left lame. 

In 1422, he traveled through Champagne and Picardy, capturing a new base for his company at Vitry-en-Perthois, from here he generally raids and harases the Burgundian countryside, La Hire and his men burnt 18 villages in the region. He defeated Antoine Count of Vaudémont, capturing him in 1423 in a raid and raised a large ransom for him, he then attended the handover of Compiègne to the Burgundians for the peace treaty. 

In 1423, he attacks Châlons-sur-Marne, leaving Vitry-le-François and sacked Luxembourg. 

In 1424 he moves to Maine in the Service of the bastard or Orleans and was at the Battle of Verneuil.  With the French army almost completely destroyed after the battle, new Captains are required and from this La Hire rises to prominence, several mercenary companies join his company most notably Antoine de Chabannes and Jean de Bueil, he is appointed captain of chateau Vitry-sur-seine (now Vitry-en-Perthois, Val-de-Marne). He is besieged at Guise en Thiérache, Jean de Luxembourg successfully sieges the chateaux in the region capturing la Hire, he is ransomed again. and departs with Ponton de Xaintrailles and their companies back to Maine. He enters the service of the Bastard de Orleans and is successful in the recapture of Le Mans (capital of Maine; Le Mans controls the trade routes North from the Loire to Normandy and from the west from Brittany, and produces high amounts of metal and linen, it falls to the English general Thomas de Montagu, Comte de Salisbury later in the year).

1425 departing Chateau Saint Suzanne (Maine) with a large company hear that the city of Le mans is lightly defended. La Hire, Jean de Beaumanoir (Lavardin),  Baudouin de Champagne (known as Baudouin ( I st )Baron de Tucé), and Pierre de Pasquier, Seigneur de Malidor: mount a successful surprise escalade and capture the outer city but fail to capture the chateau, they hold the city for 24 hours but it could not be held and they retire from the city.

In 1427 La Hire and Count Jean de Dunois (bastard of Orleans) successfully capture chateau La-Ferte-Bernard (Maine), then raise the english siege of Montargis (Centre val de Loire), chasing William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk and Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick north towards Paris. A wrought iron cross was also erected southwest of the city. On it was written: “In memory of Gaillardin, citizen of Montargis, who, in the fight against the English, under the walls of this city, seized the banner of Warwick, September 5, 1427 "

In 1428, leading raids into North-western Normandy from Mayenne, (Maine), he besieges Le Mans again unsuccessfully.

1429, He is in Orléans as one of the captains of the city and at the battle of the herrings ("La Journée des Harengs"); he was then in the entourage of Jeanne d'Arc, and participated in all the deeds leading to the crowning of Charles. He was at the battle of Jargeau (10 juin 1429 - 12 June 1429), battle of Meung-sur-Loire (14 June 1429), battle of Beaugency (15 June 1429 - 16 June 1429) and Patay (18 June 1429), July 2, 1429 siege of Auxerre, July 4, 1429-July 10, 1429 : Siege of Troyes (In the Aube department, in Champagne-Ardenne), July 14, 1429 : Capture of Châlons-en-Champagne, July 16, 1429 : Capture of Reims, remaining with Jeanne d'Arc and partaking as the soldiers representative at the coronation ofCharles VII at Reims. Appointed bailiff of Vermandois, with a pay of 292 livres; he successfully retakes Château-Gaillard (Vexin) in 1429 (losing it again to the English in 1430), 

1430 August at the siege of Chateau Aumale (Seine-Maritine) and raid of Louviers (l'Eure), where he was then taken by  the Earl of Suffolk: 

"this week was taken the worst and the most tyrant and the least pitiful of all the captains who were of all the Armagnacs , La Hire was taken and was placed in the chastel of Dourdan. " 

He escaped from Dourdan in March 1432, and gathered a band of mercenaries to roam Normandy and Vexin based around Beauvais. 

1433, La Hire occupied Beauvais in the name of Charles VII. 

In 1434, he attacked Guy IV de Nesle, Seigneur de Mello & d'Offémont, besieging the chateau and ransomed it. 

In 1435, His victory at the battle Gerberoy, where John FitzAlan earl of Arundel was captured but died from his wounds.  La Hire and Xaintrailles resumed there brigandage of the countryside. During the Arras negotiations, La Hire and Xaintrailles continued to sack many of the Burgundian towns as far north as Amiens. 

In 1436 At the siege of Creil his brother Amadoc de Vignoles was killed.

1437 at the siege of Montereau, from Chateau Beauvais captained raids into English Normandy 

1438 received the seigneury of Montmorillon (January 7, 1438) (Aquitane). That same year, he was found in Alsace, where he and his mercenaries committed the worst abuses. 

In 1440, he tried in vain to take Harfleur, then fought in Picardy. 

In 1442, he accompanied the king to Guyenne (Tartas),  a few kilometers from his birthplace. 

Wounded at Montauban, where he died on the eleventh of January 1443.

 His epitaph: Cy gist noble homme Estienne de Vignolles dit La Hire, dans son pays d'origine

His tomb, installed at his request in the Saint-Laurent chapel in Montmorillon and decorated with a recumbent figure representing him, disappeared during the Revolution . A commemorative stone is still there in the chapel.

La Hire lives on........

One interesting feature of the French dominance of playing cards in this time is the attention given to court cards. In the late 1500s French manufacturers began giving the court cards names from famous literary epics such as the Bible and other classics. It is from this era that the custom developed of associating specific court cards with famous names, the more well-known and commonly accepted ones for the Kings being King David (Spades), Alexander the Great (Clubs), Charlemagne (Hearts), and Julius Caesar (Diamonds), representing the four empires of Jews, Greeks, Franks, and Romans. Notable characters ascribed to the Queens include the Greek goddess Pallas Athena (Spades), Judith (Hearts), Jacob's wife Rachel (Diamonds), and Argine (Clubs). The Knaves were commonly designated as La Hire (Hearts), Charlemagne’s knight Ogier (Spades), Hector the hero of Troy (Diamonds), and King Arthur's knight Lancelot (Clubs).

cheers

Matt

English Archers Guerre Folle-Mad War

 Another English Archer unit complete, or are they..... this unit will be a proxy English unit. The Bretons placed 1700 men with Tabard of the Red Cross of St George, the victorious French at the battle of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier put everyone wearing the Red Cross to the sword, only the young squire of Sir Edward Woodville (Lord Scales) survived as he was wearing his own arms.

28mm WOTR Perry miniatures 

Cheers

Matt

11th Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

 Well this year I have decided to enter the Analogue Hobbies painting challenge for the first time, aside from painting miniatures worth various points you can also participate by painting small challenges along the way for extra points. I have decided to stay focused and complete my own painting schedule, unless I finish early or get a little ansty and bored of what I am painting.

This challenge I will be painting some 28mm Napoleonic Cavalry, Infantry, and Romans to the total of 1500 points. You also need to paint a gift for one of the other participants...not sure what to do yet....

Each 20mm foot figure 4 points, cavalry 8 points

28mm figure is worth 5 points, cavalry 10 points

Napoleonics 

• Cuirassiers 
• Gendarmes d'elite
• Dragoons
• Mamelouks

Romans 

• Imperial Legionarys
• Auxillia
• Cavalry

And if I get board Medievals

• Bretons Guerre Folle
• French HYW
• Maine Plantagenet wars

wish me luck

cheers

Matt

Prince François de Rohan and Breton MAA Guerre folle -Mad War

 Breton Noble Men at Arms Saint Aubin du Cormier

A number of leading Breton nobles mustered to the call of the Breton Ordonances call to arms, like all border regions some families were split, especially those who had lands and Family in the border Marchers of Anjou, Maine and Normandy. 

Prince Francois de Rohan the 19 year old son of Jean II Vicomte de Rohan and Marie de Brittany(daughter of Duke Francois I of Brittany) . His Father Jean II Vicomte de Rohan had elected depart his allegiance to Francois I Duke of Brittany to side with the French King handing his border chateaux over to the French armies, coming from the Blois line, he also an ancient claim to the Dukedom of Brittany.  

At the coming of the war young Francois de Rohan like most young Breton Nobles was in the household of the Duke Francois, and in 1487 rallied to the Breton Duke, when Nantes was under siege lead the Arrie Ban of Cornouaillais and Leonard in its relief breaking the siege. 

In 1488 at the battle of Saint Aubin du Cormier he lead one of the Breton MAA companies on the right Flank, he was killed it was thought by French artillery. 

from the left 

• Pierre de Francheville (Scottish) wounded at Saint Aubin du Cormier and lance captain, taken prisoner was ransomed. After the war was appointed Seneschal of Rhuys, appointed the tax commissioner of the salt mines at Truscat and Seigneur de Sarzeau.
• François de Rohan killed at Saint Aubin du Cormier. 
• Baron Pierre du Pont de l'Abbé, seigneur de  Pont l'Abbé, de Rostrenen, and Ponthou, killed at Saint Aubin du Cormier, Lance Captain.

                              Raoul d'Estimbrieuc, écuyer seigneur de Estimbrieuc

cheers

Matt

Pegasus Bridge build part 1

 

Building Pegasus Bridge

The most famous bridge and coup de main of DDay is pegasus bridge on the orne river canal. I have already started the tiles for the bridge and I am hoping to really produce a lovely table to be able to replay this famous event on the tabletop. I also plan to build the village and road bridge over the river this will play on a 5 x 12 ft table. 

For the bridge I am using the Raventhorpe Sentry 20mm Pegasus bridge made from resin. I plan to add a few changes to this plus make some improvements and additions to the piece. 

My plan is to remove the solid handrails and replace them with wire ones, drill out the girders and above the control shed, file out the lifting beam arms, replace the cross beam, add plastic ladders and continue the light rail entry and exits off the bridge ramps.

drilling and filing out the girders, a bit of work and a mask and a vacuum cleaner nearby 

I hope to have this completed by next week.

Cheers

Matt