This is just a simple post to provide a bit of info on what is happening behind the curtain.
I have several naval projects that have various, but comparatively little, amounts of completion. First off is a fantasy naval project, based on the fictional world of Tékumel. This project will utilize 1/1200 ancient naval ships for the most part, although many will need conversions.
Next is Age of Sail. In reality, this could be split into more than one project, but I am going to try and keep it simple (and to fool my brain about not having too many projects!) This will be in 1/1200 also, and will be subdivided into Anglo-Dutch and War of 1812, and maybe another...
Ironclads is the next project, once again at 1/1200. At first I was quite keen on ACW (as noted previously on this blog), but I am hoping to also add South American actions into the fold.
Last but not least is pre-dreadnoughts. I am looking to pick up the pieces of my old WW1 project by slowly acquiring more 1/1800 ships from WTJ, although the cut-off point for my collection will be well before 1914.
Of all of these projects, only the Tékumel naval set is remotely close to earning the title 'playable', as I still have some of the ships from previous work. Nothing is painted, however, and there are many ships to get for balanced forces. Age of Sail counts only two models in my possession at the moment, and much prep work needs to happen before I can start to build them. I want to get my ideas about rigging, basing, rules, etc. solidified before jumping in too deeply. In the Ironclads project, I have a few vessels from a variety of manufacturers, and those are not in a cohesive collection as they are scattered among different theaters of the war. Pre-dreadnoughts are still just a collection of books as I await my first order of models from WTJ.
It might seem that I am spreading myself thinly, and that is largely true. However, with many of these projects I can have a game with only a single vessel on each side, or maybe two.
29 April 2018
22 April 2018
Back
A bit too long of a break between posts! Even so, I will keep this one brief.
Many things are happening here, both hobby-wise and other-wise. I am still struggling to shake off the lethargy that descended many months ago, but I am picking up more steam as I go. There are old projects that will be revisited, and a new project or two that have suddenly sprung forth. Once I get my photo editing woes out of the way, there will be more posts. I just need to make it a habit once again...
And, my apologies to those who have blogs - I have been a very infrequent reader of even the blogs I enjoy, and a much less frequent commentator. I hope to rectify this also.
Many things are happening here, both hobby-wise and other-wise. I am still struggling to shake off the lethargy that descended many months ago, but I am picking up more steam as I go. There are old projects that will be revisited, and a new project or two that have suddenly sprung forth. Once I get my photo editing woes out of the way, there will be more posts. I just need to make it a habit once again...
And, my apologies to those who have blogs - I have been a very infrequent reader of even the blogs I enjoy, and a much less frequent commentator. I hope to rectify this also.
25 June 2017
The return of an old favorite, with a twist
Along with the Anglo-Dutch ships, I purchased a few miniatures for an era that I once played extensively - ACW naval:
These ships are part of a new series of ships from Thoroughbred Models. Thoroughbred is well-known for their line of 1/600 ACW ships, and I once had quite a few. They were sold years ago to make ends meet, but now I am ready to return to the genre except that my new collection will be in 1/1200 scale.
First up is CSS Arkansas:
Just 43mm or so in length, this model is a bit small but the detail is very nice. This is a one-piece cast, although there is a flagstaff and flag included with the kit.
Here is a port bow shot:
Next is a Union 90-day gunboat:
This model is more complicated, with masts, bowsprit, foredeck, and a pair of separately-cast guns.
Following these is another Union vessel. This one is an armed ferry:
Not a big ship at 37mm in length, but there is a lot of detail including a very nice 'walking beam' assembly for the engines.
Honestly, I find this project to be much less intimidating than the Anglo-Dutch ships, simply due to the greatly reduced amount of rigging needed per ship. Some of these will required little to none. Of course, once I get to USS Hartford, things will change!
These ships are part of a new series of ships from Thoroughbred Models. Thoroughbred is well-known for their line of 1/600 ACW ships, and I once had quite a few. They were sold years ago to make ends meet, but now I am ready to return to the genre except that my new collection will be in 1/1200 scale.
First up is CSS Arkansas:
Just 43mm or so in length, this model is a bit small but the detail is very nice. This is a one-piece cast, although there is a flagstaff and flag included with the kit.
Here is a port bow shot:
Next is a Union 90-day gunboat:
This model is more complicated, with masts, bowsprit, foredeck, and a pair of separately-cast guns.
Following these is another Union vessel. This one is an armed ferry:
Not a big ship at 37mm in length, but there is a lot of detail including a very nice 'walking beam' assembly for the engines.
Honestly, I find this project to be much less intimidating than the Anglo-Dutch ships, simply due to the greatly reduced amount of rigging needed per ship. Some of these will required little to none. Of course, once I get to USS Hartford, things will change!
11 June 2017
Anglo-Dutch naval, part 1
This is the start of my newest naval project; just a pair of ships but I find it to be very daunting. The rigging of these ships will be the hard part for me to overcome!
Here is the first step - a pair of lovely 3rd rates in 1/1200 scale from Langton. (Edit: purchased from Waterloo Miniatures) (and the ratlines are sold separately!).
Inside the box one will find:
Above are the parts for the Dutch 3rd rate (Langton AD19). The hull is three pieces, while the masts and sails comprise a total of 15 pieces. All of the wonderful details that one expects from a Langton miniature are here.
The parts of the English kit (Langton AD9) are similar.
Please note that these miniatures are not very large. The pics above are on a ¼" (6.35 mm) grid. The hulls are less than 2" (51mm) long overall.
Here is the first step - a pair of lovely 3rd rates in 1/1200 scale from Langton. (Edit: purchased from Waterloo Miniatures) (and the ratlines are sold separately!).
Inside the box one will find:
Above are the parts for the Dutch 3rd rate (Langton AD19). The hull is three pieces, while the masts and sails comprise a total of 15 pieces. All of the wonderful details that one expects from a Langton miniature are here.
The parts of the English kit (Langton AD9) are similar.
Please note that these miniatures are not very large. The pics above are on a ¼" (6.35 mm) grid. The hulls are less than 2" (51mm) long overall.
03 June 2017
Been a while...
Sure has been a while since posting. It has, sadly, been quite an eventful time. For the major items, please go to my other blog and read this. For the minor stuff, read on.
Simply put, I made a mistake that I do not think that I have ever done before. While in a scramble to reorganize the place, boxes were shifted around and things thrown to the bin that should have not been. Namely, the boxes with most of the ship miniatures went out - 1/1800, 1/2400, 1/3000, 1/6000 all gone. Now, I did not have a large collection, but it was a shock to say the least and with the other issues going on it pained me to no end.
I did find a few ships that were stuffed into a different storage system. What survived? My Langton 1/1200 ancients ships, Figurehead 1/2400 Armada, and a few odd selections of Navwar 1/1200 ACW naval. None of the figures are painted, and with the exception of the Armada collection nowhere near complete or even playable.
But, I think that I have a plan. An order or two were made, some rules purchased from a well-known naval gamer's stand at Wargame Vault, and another attempt to get games going will be made. No pics of the ships yet, as I am awaiting the last order to come in from Brookhurst Hobbies.
I found a couple of books also:
They look very interesting and I need to start in on them soon.
Simply put, I made a mistake that I do not think that I have ever done before. While in a scramble to reorganize the place, boxes were shifted around and things thrown to the bin that should have not been. Namely, the boxes with most of the ship miniatures went out - 1/1800, 1/2400, 1/3000, 1/6000 all gone. Now, I did not have a large collection, but it was a shock to say the least and with the other issues going on it pained me to no end.
I did find a few ships that were stuffed into a different storage system. What survived? My Langton 1/1200 ancients ships, Figurehead 1/2400 Armada, and a few odd selections of Navwar 1/1200 ACW naval. None of the figures are painted, and with the exception of the Armada collection nowhere near complete or even playable.
But, I think that I have a plan. An order or two were made, some rules purchased from a well-known naval gamer's stand at Wargame Vault, and another attempt to get games going will be made. No pics of the ships yet, as I am awaiting the last order to come in from Brookhurst Hobbies.
I found a couple of books also:
They look very interesting and I need to start in on them soon.
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