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