Army Black...

Alfront, a good friend of this blog, sent me this super photo of his burgeoning Army Black. These splendid fellows look ready for business and are painted by him. Can't wait to see more...

If you go down to the woods today...

I decided to have a go at cheap and cheerful trees today. They still need another coat or two of paint before they are finished. I cut tree shapes from the card stuck them together in what would look like a Y from above (if you know what I mean) and painted them.I feel I need loads more but it gives an impression of what is to come.Let me know what you think...

Army Red/White- field of operations 1

I have posted some photos of the area around which my forthcoming gaming will take place.The setting will be in the country surrounding Interlaken and the two lakes,between which it lies! I have as background the idea of a rematch of the Sonderbundskreig coupled with certain cantons aligning themselves towards Germany. The local Army Red/White brigade is centered upon Thun ( pictured in the upper postcard and located on the lower postcard map) and has mobilised in the light of forthcoming hostilities. Hopefully over the next few weeks I will have enough figures ready for a small try out on the tabletop...
Finally thanks to all who voted in my flag poll - watch for some new designs soon.
p.s now Paul has published his plans for 2013 o the Yahoo Group I must fix my army list  and work towards it by purchasing then painting- time has a habit of flying by.I still cannot believe I was 21 years married Thursday past and my first born will be 18 next week...

Watch out there's an Army Black scout about...

Across the snowfields near the border with the heimat of Army Red/White (well our sitting room rug actually) a lone Army Black jaeger is skiing.He is scouting out the location of enemy troops in the vicinity...

AIP figure with metal head and skis courtesy of coffee stirrers from Ikea.I had great fun making him and he has given me the desire to work further in plastic. One day I would love to put down the white sheets and fight a winter campaign over it.Anyone tried it?

A conversion experience of sorts...

I have been working on an AIP Army Black conversion today.I have had little experience of plastic figures having been scared off by paint adhesion.However it is proceeding well and today at the local model shop I succumbed to Airfix 1/32 ww2 German inf. I remember them vividly from my youth.They are now moulded in blue plastic!

Using my copy of Roy Dilley's book I hope to convery them to late war Army Black chaps or even Freikorps. Hope to post AIP conversion completed tomorrow . I have also been working on metal Army Red/White gun crew and cavalry.

Army Red/White French style...

Al Front kindly sent me these pictures of some Swiss figures by Starlux he bought in Edinburgh in the 1990s.They are super figures and a battalion of them would be just the thing in 1920s FLW onwards. Excellent looking chaps indeed!

A question of flags

Army Red/White are currently deciding upon flags for their infantry regiments. I have posted two designs.One features the name of the town the regiment comes from ,the other the heraldic device for the town. I am unsure which to go for  so I am asking you to vote in the poll at the side of the blog.Comments sought and alternative suggestions too...

How I got into Army Red/White

...I blame family holidays to Switzerland at an impressionable age and Elastolin for beginning my Swiss interests. 40mm landsknechts,60mm (?) trappers and Indians and modern day (early 70s that  is) composition figures all fuelled it. My parents bought me an Elastolin castle,now sadly gone, which my 40mm chaps fought over valiantly.
In the later seventies (I think) I picked up the above books - one surveys the Swiss Army throughout history and the other concentrates on ww2.I have posted pictures of just what inspiration they contain inside and out.Now if only I could find out more about Freyerabend and his paintings of late 18th century Swiss troops called up  to fight Bony and his hordes...but thats another story for another time- yes ok it was that Military Modelling article that has remained in my mind,I wish I had cut it out!

Army Red/White advances

In spite of my being in the doldrums last weekend with regard to the hobby (see my Tradgardland Blog for further details and the excellent advice I was given) I have bounced back and got down to business today. Army Red/White has featured heavily in my work as you can see. I am preparing the army for use next year in FLW forthcoming celebration.Along the way I want to try "Big Wars" rules too by Stuart Asquith and Jack Alexander.A copy of them was kindly sent by Joppy and I have read them with enthusiasm at night this week.The smaller units( 12 for infantry and 4/5 for cavalry) required fits in well with my current painting situation and space available.I am most indebted to Joppy for his kindness and the way this has "kick started" the 54mm modelling again for me-thanks!
The plan is to continue building Army Red/White for the foreseeable future and game (using Big Wars)with it small, interesting and  tactical all arms games on the dining room table or floor. Come the summer we shall move outdoors. In forth coming posts I will outline my current thinking on a background to this Army Red/White civil war. Notes have been scribbled,maps consulted and I am having fun- what more can one ask of the hobby?

New Year in 54mm

Well a new year has started here and little 54mm lead work done apart from thinking...

The sitting room has my daughters artwork to be submitted for Higher and Advanced Art respectively lying around in various states of completion. I am therefore doing no modelling lest I spill paint or glue on such wonderful creations. Not having a dedicated hobby room can be annoying at times...

I am coming to the conclusion  I ought to finish to Army Red/White units I have before branching out into Army Black.This seems sensible to me and a way forward rather than going off on another tangent. When I have the few units I possess painted I will get a pack of AIP chaps to oppose the Swiss. In the meantime I will have fun with some ideas for Duchy of Tradgardland troops and try my hand at conversions.

The first picture of 2012 is of Swedish troops and I hope you like it.Do tell me gentlemen of your own FLW plans too.