The Hobbit - The Battle of the Five Armies

At the movies last night to see "the most look forward to movie of the year for me", The Battle of the Five Armies, the concluding film of The Hobbit trilogy. I now fear that Christmas will not be the same now another Tolkien saga has come to an end.

We watched the DVD of "The Desolation of Smaug", last weekend, to refresh our memories of what happened last Christmas. The film picked up where we left off with Smaug doing what he does best, being the ultimate pyromaniac, and swiftly moves into a concluding massive battle of smiting the forces of darkness. Great Stuff.

If, like me, you are a fan of these films, you wont need me to tell you what a great film this is to see. I will watch these on DVD again, but if you are that person thinking I can't be bothered to see this on the big screen, go and don't miss out on a great cinematic moment. 

Painting Desk Tidy Up with a Christmas Present

A very tidy table, for me, with my new Battle Flag paint storage tray top left

Whilst getting over excessive eating and quality time spent with family on Xmas day I was up this morning keen to put together my new Paint Storage Tray from Battle Flag, that Tom & Will got me for Christmas, cheers Guys, and to do a bit of tidying up on the table.

http://www.battle-flag.com/

I am really pleased with the tray as it helps keep my table clear of paints that I use regularly plus I can slot my tweezers and needle files in it as well. I would like to get another one at some stage to add a bit more storage, but I thought I would share with you what a really useful bit of kit this is

Romans, Redcoats, Rangers and Indians on the desk

After tidy up I got a bit of time to finish off the block painting on some Aventine Roman commanders I am putting together for the Dacian Wars collection. In addition, at the same time I have the next project on the "sticks" at the back, a set of French Indian Wars British Redcoats, and some Rangers and Indians I am doing for a friend's Muskets and Tomahawks collection. Pictures of finished items to follow.

In addition to a few other things, I got a book, from my lovely wife, which I am looking forward to reading, based on my reading of "Galloping at Everything, by Ian Fletcher, a brilliant book to read that I reviewed back in November.

Galloping at Everything - Ian Fletcher

Edward Charles Cocks was, amongst other things, one of Wellington's "Galloping Officers" and had a very daring military career, which led eventually to his death at the Siege of Burgos in 1812.

In addition to that I was given a few more toys from AB to help move the Talavera project on including some of the gorgeous dismounted French Dragoons.

More stuff to come on JJ's with a trip up to North Devon to play a bit of ACW skirmish for our annual Xmas game, plus pictures of Romans, Redcoats, Rangers and Indians, and a look back on the plans set out for 2014 and what's coming in 2015.

Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year

The Duke was often described as cold and aloof but occasionally, just occasionally, he was known to join his General Officers to hand out the presents.

Happy Christmas to everyone. 

Oporto 1809 - Miniature Wargames, the Director's Cuts.

January 2015 issue of Miniature Wargames has the third and final instalment of the series of three articles looking at the Oporto game run earlier this year.

This final article shows the way the game played with one of the four play tests we ran, written in the form of an account from the people involved, that is the little 18mm chaps on the table, with some insightful comments on what the rule system was doing at the time.

One aspect that I was keen to illustrate with playing these games with Carnage & Glory is the way the rules system helps to add the extra drama to the game, in the way it simulates all the "friction" and stress caused to the armies.

http://www.carnageandgloryii.com/

Obviously, with a limit on what you can include in a series of three articles, decisions had to be made on what pictures to include to illustrate the action, and for regular followers of this blog I know you will have seen my previous reports without the Seminary building on view. The amazing model was made by James Sharpe of Oshiro Model Terrain.

http://www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk/

When I could include the model in the game, I decided to let Miniature Wargames readers have first view with the final play through report of the scenario that I ran with my two sons Tom and Will back in September. If you want to see the game report, you'll have to get Miniature Wargames, which with all the other good stuff it has will make a jolly good read over Xmas.

All the files for the game can be found in the side bar on the right under My Scenarios, which include the orders of battle for Carnage & Glory, the PDF briefings and the Cyberboard map used for off table troop movements.

However as a little thank you to all the people that joined me on the project here on JJ's, I thought I would put these extra pictures up from the final game, a bit like the "directors cuts". There are a lot of pictures as I wanted to give myself plenty of options as to what to include in the article. Points to note are that these pictures were taken under my new daylight bulb lighting for the room and, with use of the mini tripod and timer for better clarity, after a crash course in photography from some one who should know about this kind of stuff, Mr Guy Bowers editor of Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy" magazine - cheers Guy, but please note any "duffers" are down to me and my journey from the bottom of the learning curve. Lots of pictures, enjoy.

That's Oporto done and dusted, and normal service will resume with our progress into the Tagus valley in the summer of 1809, with Sir Arthur Wellesley's Peninsula Army and the Talavera campaign.