The varnishing goes on. First up is a unit of Virginia militiamen, campaign ready. I repainted some of the leggings so even though there are three sets of "VM-04" shown, plus a single "Civilian Wagoneer," no two figures are "exactly alike."
Next up is the British Supply Wagon and the two new pack horses, accompanied by the Wagoneers.
I haven't forgotten the French, of course. This is the new Swedish 4 lb. cannon and Artillery crew.
And here's a couple shots of the same Artillerymen manning a swivel gun on the French defenses at Ticonderoga.
That's all for now. See ya!
Since I don't really do the social media thing, I thought I would "like" this book here. The book is Rome and the Sword by Simon James. The description from the dust jacket states:
The story of Rome and its military seems a familiar one, told often
through movies, books and games, yet it is a modern myth obscuring a
different reality. As this groundbreaking study demonstrates, Rome’s
military was no war machine made up of mindless cogs. There was not even
an ancient term for the Roman army; rather, Romans spoke of “the
soldiers”—of men, not institutions.
Simon James provides a
striking new perspective on Roman history by focusing on the soldiers
and their actions. Throughout the story of the sword - both as supreme, bloodstained exemplar of technology and metaphor of imperial power - we learn the violent reality of Rome's rule. Soldiers were less sentinels of civilization
than enforcers for aristocrats and autocrats against foreign foes and
internal dissent alike. They were brutal and unruly, prone to mutiny and
rebellion. How, then, to account for their sustained success and eventual failure?
Rome’s dominion was achieved through
soldiers’ ferocity and excellent weaponry, but to maintain it the
conquered were integrated, as diplomacy accompanied the threat of the
sword. Allies and subjects became Romans themselves - millions through
military service, bringing with them new arms and tactics. Yet the aggression of Rome’s soldiers
precipitated the rise of enemies in the east and north who would ultimately bring the empire to an end.
I am a sucker for anything having to do with Romans and descriptions of the ways and the whys of combat. As my reading of Roman history has focused more on the Republic than on the Empire, I learned a lot from this book. I was particularly struck by the analysis of the combination of "the sword and the open hand" with which the Romans created and sustained the empire.
I am sharing an old favorite, as well, in the light of all the attention that Studio Tomahawk's SAGA rules have attracted. I re-read The Last Apocalypse by James Reston, Jr. every few years and it always gets me excited about the "Dark Ages" again.
From the dust jacket:
Enter the world of 1000 A.D., when Vikings, Moors, and barbarians battled kings and popes for the fate of Europe.
As
the millennium approached, Europeans feared the world would end. The
old order was crumbling, and terrifying and confusing new ideas were
gaining hold in the populace. Random and horrific violence seemed to
sprout everywhere without warning, and without apparent remedy. And, in
fact, when the millennium arrived the apocalypse did take place; a
world did end, and a new world arose from the ruins.
In 950,
Ireland, England, and France were helpless against the ravages of the
seagoing Vikings; the fierce and strange Hungarian Magyars laid waste to
Germany and Italy; the legions of the Moors ruled Spain and threatened
the remnants of Charlemagne's vast domain. The papacy was corrupt and
decadent, overshadowed by glorious Byzantium. Yet a mere fifty years
later, the gods of the Vikings were dethroned, the shamans of the
Magyars were massacred, the magnificent Moorish caliphate disintegrated:
The sign of the cross held sway from Spain in the West to Russia in the
East.
James Reston, Jr.'s enthralling saga of how the Christian
kingdoms converted, conquered, and slaughtered their way to dominance
brings to life unforgettable historical characters who embodied the
struggle for the soul of Europe. From the righteous fury of the Viking
queen Sigrid the Strong-Minded, who burned unwanted suitors alive; to
the brilliant but too-cunning Moor Al-Mansor the Illustrious Victor; to
the aptly named English king Ethelred the Unready; to the abiding genius
of the age, Pope Sylvester II--warrior-kings and concubine empresses,
maniacal warriors and religious zealots, bring this stirring period to
life.
The Last Apocalypse is a book rich in personal historical detail, flavored with the nearly magical sensibility of an apocalyptic age.
The book is full of "larger-than-life" characters and stories culled from the Sagas of the time, as described by the author in the book:
The Last Apocalypse has all the background needed to construct a Dark Age campaign for Saga, DBA or even HOTT. Oh yeah, I've thought about it. . .
See ya!
No high-minded resolutions or lofty goals for 2013 here. Work has me pretty busy, so The Goal over the next few weeks is to further existing projects that can be tackled in smallish increments. So back to the French and Indian War and varnishing. Here are some civilian types completed over the holiday break. First up is a Canadian frontiersman bartering with a young Indian from the Jenkins' "His First Musket" set:
Next up are civilians from the "Civilians 1 and 2" sets, defending their homesteads. The figure in the center of the photo is "Samuel 'Sandy' Jenkins, Wagoner" from one of the Jenkins' Annual Collector sets:
This is a French Marine from the "The Prisoner" set escorted by "Prince, Rogers' (as in Rogers' Rangers) Servant:"
Can you say "Last of the Mohicans?" Cora and Alice come to you via "The Captives:"
Indians have been hunting and gathering; from "The Hunters" and "The Gatherers." The young man with the bow is the "Young Mohawk Warrior:"
And finally, two British naval personnel present, and killed, at the Battle of the Monongahela, "Spendelowe and Haynes:"
Some good "characters" that will add color to future skirmishes. Possibly at Spring Recruits : )
Happy New year. See ya!
