Yet Another Highland Regiment

This week has been a busy one but not on the wargaming front.  With temperatures warming up, I made it out on the bike four days.  Bike and body are still functioning up to expectations after the long winter.  Even with little snow this past winter, recent rains and snowmelt have filled the Spokane River Gorge that splits the city.  Lots of water cascading over the falls.  One reader asked about the falls in a recent post.  I snapped the following photo on one of the rides this week.  As seen, the river is running high and parts of the river both above and below the falls are overflowing their banks.

If you look closely, pedestrians can be seen on the footbridges spanning the Upper Falls.  Spring cleaning and yardwork are also in full swing this week.  Much more work to accomplish before I can relax at the painting desk.

In the meantime, I did manage to push one more Highland regiment out from the painting desk.  Figures are again from Old Glory and the flag is from David of Not By appointment.

On the Great Wargaming Survey front, data exploratory is underway for the next piece of analysis.  Coming up is a look at opponent availability and a few of the attributes that may influence whether a gamer has enough or not enough adversaries to face across the gaming table.  Some of the attributes under consideration are population density, travel distance, and group size.  Hopefully, something of interest falls out from this effort.

WotR Mounted MAA

In an effort to bolster the mounted arm of the Wars of the Roses project, a couple of boxes of Perry Miniatures' mounted knights have been stuck together and painted.  The first unit of eight to trot out from the painting desk are these fellows.

Although mostly covered head to toe in armor, one or two of the horsemen sport the livery of Clifford.  More units, of similar nature, should be emerging from the workbench soon.  Sticking them together takes time, for sure, but the process was not too onerous.  There will be no dread in tackling even more.

Winter, here, in the Pacific Northwest has been relatively mild with only one noteworthy storm dumping seven inches of snow back in January.  Unless the region gets dragged back into winter that means cycling weather approaches earlier than expected.

Taking advantage of, perhaps, an early sighting of spring, I wrapped up and headed out for a short ride on the last day of February.  While I ought to go back to my cycling log to confirm, this might be the earliest I have braved the cold weather in a long time.  Perhaps I am hardier in my old age?

Although the skies will see much cloudier conditions today than in these photos from the 28 Feb. ride, I expect to return to the bike later today for a much longer ride once the temperature rises.  I hope this mild weather sticks.

Spinning My Wheels

Spinning both figuratively and literally!

Upper Falls split by Canada Island.

The literal wheel spinning gives a nod to an increase in mileage out on the bike.  While not up to the mileage of old, I am pushing an average of about 150 miles per week.  This is much better mileage than logged during the winter and early spring months of indoor training.  Good to get out in the pleasant weather before the daytime temperatures nudge the thermometer up into the 90s.  Doubly good to get the roadwork in before the hazards of negotiating crosstown traffic make the journey a bit stressful until I can get out onto the relative safety of the bike path and relax.

Upper Falls, South Channel

Saturday morning's ride saw me stopping on the Post Street Bridge for a brief snack break in the middle of downtown.  Breakfast consisted of downing a couple pieces of sushi while I enjoyed the pleasant view of the Upper Falls before making the long and hot climb back up the South Hill and home.  With no measurable rain for more than a month and the mountain snowpack long gone, the Spokane River is running low with both Lower and Upper Falls showing their mid-summer, natural state of exposed rock and reduced water flow. 

Lower Falls under Monroe Street Bridge

The figurative wheel spinning is happening on the hobby front.

Following the series on Mortimer's Cross battles and the chronicling of those very enjoyable games, returning to the keyboard and painting table has been difficult.  After wrapping up a series of battles, I am frequently distracted by what might occupy the table next.  That research continues.  After suggestions, a return to the 18th Century may be in the cards.  Early candidates include War of Austrian Succession and War of Polish Succession battles.  Which one to tackle first is still undecided.  

Another distraction is that Nancy and I brought a new dog into the family.  We all are adjusting quickly and this fellow has every hint at being a very good dog.  His calm and friendly disposition is unmatched by any dog we have had before.  The animal shelter says he is a poodle (mix?) but when I conducted an image match, a Spanish Water Dog came up as a close look-a-like.  Time (and possibly a DNA test) will tell, I suppose. 

Lee delivering a bow rake into Steve after I softened him up!

Finally, I did get a game in this week!  Reject Richard hosted another of his superbly directed playtests for the Age of Sail rules he is designing and developing.  Game ran smoothly and Lee and I came away with a victory.  Great fun!

Jon delivering a stern rake into Dan to seal the deal!

Richard's account of battle can be read at Naval Playtest 4 - Nearly There!

Next time, maybe some new units to parade?  By the way, the dog is asleep at my feet as I type, snoring...

More Hittites

With summer just kicking off and the month of June winding down, activities on the hobby front are seeing signs of renewed life.  From May's low figure count in the Painting Log, June will see a marked uptick in output.  Not quite a hundred figures will pass out from the painting desk but it may be close.  Still one week to go before closing the books on June.  

With two games last week and one game yesterday, gaming is starting to work its way back on track too.  All three games were refights of the WotR Battle of Mortimer's Cross.  The first was a F2F game chronicled here.  The second was a remote game with Peter and the third was a four-player remote game with the Rejects.  Games 2 and 3 are yet to be chronicled.

Mortimer's Cross with the Rejects

Anyway, back to the painting desk.  Mustering out today is another body of Hittite spearmen.  These fourteen figures are mostly Wargames Foundry with the odd Newline Design figure tossed in for good measure.  A return to the SYW/WAS may be out next from the photo booth. 

Weather has been good on the Palouse and outdoor cycling has picked up accordingly.  While my lingering and annoying cold/flu bug has forced continued workouts on the indoor trainer, mileage outside increases.  Late spring and early summer are colorful times with the bright yellow blooms of rapeseed blanketing the landscape.  Seems many more fields of yellow this year than in recent years.  Nice contrast to the blue sky and the green, forested hills. 

Next time, hopefully a battle report!

Babylonians on the March

 

With heads barely peeking over the tops of their large tower shields, a body of Babylonian infantry is on the march out from the painting desk.  These 28mm Newline Design figures are some of my favorite sculpts from the Biblical range and I have many.

The shields these fellas carry are so large that they obscure the figure almost entirely.  Great figures and a pleasure to paint.

With Mother's Day coming up this Sunday, it is time for the crabapple trees to be in bloom.  Right on schedule, they are!

Weather has been pleasant and cycling has kicked up over the last few weeks.  River is running high from snow melt and recent rainfall.  The Lower Falls sees a complete inundation by the torrent of water.

South channel of the Upper Falls is much the same!

I close out today with a big red barn from a recent ride.

The Week That Was...

While not as vigorous as six games in seven days as seen a few weeks ago, I did manage four games over the past seven days.

Three of the games saw a return to the 203 BCE Battle of Po River using CCA and my 6mm armies.  Like the other two sessions (we fought the battle a total of nine times), Carthage came out the victor in two of the three battles.  Great fun although time to find another, equally entertaining scenario. Po River may be my favorite battle played.  Even though the Carthaginians wound up winning six games to three, the Romans seemed in the fight until the last banner fell.  Very well balanced and a fun challenge for both armies.

The fourth game of the week was a remote game with Matt (wargames in the dungeon) where we fought the opening moves of the AWI Battle of Brandywine Creek.  This session saw the British and Hessian attacks at Chadd and Brinton's Fords.  I only have screenshots but Matt will likely have a detailed expose of the battle soon.

I leave the battle account for Matt to spin!  This week, only one game on the docket for Wednesday.  Of course, that may change.

On the painting front, the brushes have been moderately busy with February seeing 70 figures cross the painting desk.  Weather has improved enough to prime figures too.  Painted units are stacking up at the light box so I need to get a move on.

First up are two British regiments for the SYW/WAS project.  These are the first of hopefully many British units to march out from the painting desk in 2025.

The two regiments muster out as the 1st and 2nd Foot Guards.  Each regiment has 22 Blue Moon foot figures led by a Eureka mounted colonel.  Only two regiments but it is a start.

Finally, weather improved enough to get out for a pleasant afternoon bike ride.  Oh, it is good to be back outside.  Very nice change of pace from a winter spent indoors on the trainer.  I am feeling the difference between trainer and actually cycling outside in the body today.  Still much grit and too many potholes to contend with on the road but things are looking up.

Now for Something Different!

After a productive August at the painting desk, I hoped to carry that momentum into September.  Well, the month began with good progress and good intentions but quickly ground to a halt.  Too many other distractions to make it down to the painting desk for any meaningful painting sessions.  Cycling and other outdoor activities, scenario study and design, and gaming all contributed to snatching away much of my free painting time.  

Vicenti Infantry Regiment

Despite these pulls on my time, I did manage to muster out two regiments of infantry for the 18mm SYW/WAS project.  Today's release features an army not often seen on the wargaming table, Genoese!  These two, 23-figure regiments represent the Vicenti and Biembo Infantry Regiments.  Foot figures are Old Glory lead by Eureka mounted colonels. Flags provided by David at Not By Appointment. 

Biembo Infantry Regiment

This week (Wednesday) saw the first game of refighting the Confederate attack on Sherman at Shiloh.  With a little luck, maybe a battle report can be hammered out in a few days.  The game was a long one but one featuring some surprise, jubilation, despair, and a lot of laughter.  All good fun.  A rematch is in negotiation.  

Rebels advance!

On cycling, weather has been absolutely perfect with warm, sunny days and a slight breeze.  A real pleasure to be out on the bike in such conditions.  A handful of photos from recent outings follow.

I will be back on the bike later this morning once the thermometer climbs about 25F.

Back to the Brushes

With game reports seemingly monopolizing blog posts in June, high time to return to featuring some of the units crossing over the painting desk of late.  While productivity with the brush began the month with a bang, as the days of June tick by, time at the workbench has dropped.  Some of this loss of productivity is within my control.  Some of it not.  Of course, gaming and reporting on gaming consumes my limited time but as the weather heats up cycling moves up the priority list as the mileage increases.

One local highlight is that the Post Street Bridge has finally reopened after a four-year reconstruction project.  Long delayed by COVID interruptions, the bridge is finally back in service.  The original, 1917 bridge has been converted primarily into a pedestrian and cycling friendly crossing of the Spokane River.  The vantage point from the bridge is one we have not seen in, well, four years.  That is, a handsome view of the upper falls and the two foot bridges connecting Canada Island to the north and south banks of the river.  If you look closely, a tiny person can be seen on the footbridge to offer a sense of scale.

Upper Falls from "New" Post Street Bridge

Whoops, I digress.  Back to the painting table.

Off the painting desk today are two, nine figure stands of Swiss crossbow for the 28mm Great Italian Wars project.  Discovering that more crossbow were needed after fighting Fornovo, I placed an order to bring in more crossbowmen.  Figures are Wargames Foundry.  I have an equal number of Swiss arquebusiers to push into the painting queue at some point.  Not yet, though. 

Finally, I received a package this week from Ray of Postie's Rejects fame.  Having recently sent off a CARE package to Richard with some "spare" FRW figures that Ray may be able to press into service as well, in the post was a soft package from England containing the item below and a nice note from Ray.

How about that?

The Rejects have graciously accepted me as a full-standing member of Postie's Rejects (American Chapter, of course).

How cool is this?

Thanks guys!

Hiking, Biking, and Gaming

Weather has been very pleasant on the Palouse of late.  Mother's Day this past Sunday was no exception.  As if on cue, the pair of flowering crabapples in the backyard were in full bloom on Mother's Day.

Flowering crabapple trees in bloom.

The festivities started off with a bang as Kevin hosted a massive Waterloo game in 10mm on Saturday.  The game saw six players gathering to refight Waterloo and celebrate our host Kevin's birthday.  More 10mm WoFun figures than I could count were jam-packed onto a 12' x 6' foot table.  The battle began mid-morning, saw a break for a bratwurst lunch, and then a conclusion to the game by mid-afternoon.  My French came away with a convincing victory as the Allied center was broken and their right turned.  Good fun!

Kevin setting the table.

I commanded Reille in the French Center.

Generals pondering their next moves.

After putting 30 miles into the legs Sunday morning, including a pass over Spokane Falls, Nancy and I headed out for an afternoon hike to the Rocks of Sharon.

Lower Spokane Falls.

South channel of Upper Spokane Falls.

With temperatures approaching 80F, the hike up to the massive rock formations about the valley floor was breath taking.  After catching our breaths from the hard climb, the views from the top were equally breath taking but in a very different manner.  Stunning views.  From the top of the mountain, the Palouse stretches out below.  Perhaps too many photos of mammoth granite monoliths but why not? 

Rocks of Sharon "Big Rock"

With the end to the long series of Fornovo Italian Wars' battles (let's not forget Sanguetta too!), the gaming table has been cleared and a new battle set in its place.  Later this week sees the first of possibly multiple playing of the 1745 Battle of Bassignana.  Thursday's game is expecting six players.

Battle of Bassignana 1745

Bit of a mixed bag today...

Next time, maybe some freshly painted figures?  Sumerians, anyone?