The die is cast...

Well Gentlemen it's official,you read it here first. With the aid of the poll ( many thanks to those who voted) and with much consideration I have decided my army for the Centenary Games of 2013 ( loud roll of drums and trumpet fanfare please) will be ARMY RED/WHITE! No surprises there then eh what? I will work on them whilst in Winter Quarters. To celebrate I have posted some of my favourite Swiss images. Sit back with the coffee, brandy or perhaps muesli and enjoy!

An amazing vehicle...

Can anyone shed light upon this interesting armoured car? A excellent modelling project for FLW is it not?

Wintery FLW inspiration and diverse matters...

Some suitable photos for this wintery weather and perhaps FLW winter warfare inspiration to some snow bound games....
P.S you might enjoy trying to identify the nationality of the vehicles and troops depicted in the photographs.
p.p.s I haven't forgotten the caption competition and will announce a winner very soon- sorry for delays chaps!

Blatantly bicycle pictures only...

Enjoy the piccies and don't forget to enter the bicycle related caption competition in the previous posting!

Caption required

Gentlemen . I have not posted here for some time and thought I would start with a caption competition for this super photo.Please leave your entry as a comment on the blog here- I await your ideas with enthusiasm...

Cycling

I am now off for my summer hols which is fantastic. I am reading a history of bicycles in warfare and recently found an article from "the Strand " magazine about these chaps -26th Midddlesex (cyclists) R.V . I t is really fascinating to read accounts of the drills used at the time as well as the use/potentiality of this kind of troops.

Unleash the Dogs of War...

I do hope you enjoy this image of Army Black anti cyclist dogs...

Training pictures

Good Morning one and all! A brief update here at Army Red/White etc - hopefully to hapen more often during the forthcoming hols. I have posted some images of "traditonal" training from our period . I am particuarly intrigued by the coloured postcard. I wondered if it was some event like the Royal Tournament but have not seen anything like it previously. As ever your input to clear up this matter would be gratefully be recieved...

I haven't posted here for too long I feel. Life has been too busy and I have got caught up. I however have been really enjoying participating in a campaign with Paul Wright and Patrick. It has given me much to enjoyably ponder upon on the train to and from work. With my gallant Norwegians landed upon the island of Samso a battle will soon ensue...

Last night I was on some Swiss websites and post these images for your delight and entertainment. Have a good weekend whatever you are doing...

The Duchy of Tradgardland Navy Part 1

Having seen these wooden warships on the internet (by Sampson-now sadly unavailable) I was rather inspired to try and portray some vessels of the Ducal navy in wood.

I will try and do some work myself but may employ Gary,our excellent joiner, to help with some of the tasks. I intend to use recycled wood from the garage and supplement it with balsa and other scraps...

We shall see where we go with this and also what time and funds allow. I am rather tempted by the Russian Ship/costal defence vessel that the Duchy of Tradgardland bought and renamed "Von Bergmann."

Mind map

I have been "mind mapping" the Duchy in the 1930s and am quite pleased with the work so far.

It is still moving forward but I feel I am onto something. By the way do any of you find mindmapping helpful in your hobby thinking?

Uniforms for Landstorme

Here are some photos of Tradgardland militia of Landstorme. They are depicted in the variety of uniforms they wear - which range across a wide spectrum from almost civilian to almost complete uniform. I hope to start work on some models very soon...

Tankettes of wood...

In the Duchy of Tradgardland agricultural experiments were carried out in the 1930's ...

It was a "win,win" situation - the tankette drivers got practice at driving and the farmers gained help with the work around the farm ,especially ploughing in particular.

I am resolved to try and build/carve some tankettes out of wood for durability. I have little or no skill in this area apart from woodwork at school!! However it will be a challenge and we shall see what can be produced. Any suggestions more than welcome!

Easter

A Happy Easter from all at The Duchy of Tradgardland!

Further uniform inspiration

These Swedish uniform items from 1910 caught my eye

Possible uniform for the Duchy...

Plume and trims in Rose perhaps- once more let me know what you think!

1930's Tradgardland

Another couple of images which have inspired my thoughts today...
1940 Danes and
modern ceremonial Swedes. I do find the Danish Guard uniforms very inspirational too...
More planning to do. Does anyone know of suitable figures for these and those in the previous post?

The Duchy of Tradgardland - a 20th century survival...

Jean Louis has persuaded me to investigate The Duchy of Tradgardland in the 1930's... As part of this process I have collected these images of 1930 Swedish and Danish uniforms. I am rather drawn to the coloured image of the Swede marching in blue- homeguard ww2.
As Tradgardland has always operated as a militia based force it seems very suitable . I will pipe the uniform /depict the collar in Rose -the Ducal colour.Off now to do some more researching. As ever let me know what you think...

I seem to be having problems posting images at present but will persevere. In the meantime enjoy these 1930's amy Red/White cyclists...

Further Norwegians...

I have uploaded some more atmospheric prints of the Norwegian army 1905-1909 for your enjoyment.Yesterday saw me painting an Army Red/White
cavalryman - results will be posted here when I finish him...

The prints depict jager,cavalry and Guard- as written upon them in a charming period hand. Thanks to Stokes (aka Duke of Stollen ) for the fantastic link which allowed me to find the recent pictures.A visit to the optician yesterday secured my first pairs of glasses ,which arrive here soon , and will feed into hobby work as well as real work! My thoughts/future gaming plans, as a result of these pics, are moving northwards into Scandinavia- somewhere often in my thoughts and reading anyway...