Here is a shot of the pre-TNG 1/2500 scale models I've been building, glued together, filled and sanded and ready for priming and painting. The white models are Federation starships; the Excelsior-class Enterprise B, the movie-era "re-fit" Enterprise and the Reliant. These are all from the AMT Cadet-series styrene kits. The green model is also an AMT Cadet kit, and is the Klingon K'tinga cruiser. The "cream-colored" model is a Klingon Bird-of-Prey from the AMT "Adversaries" kit - an older and less sophisticated model that required some scratch-built additions to complete satisfactorily. The blue models are resin kits from Delta Quadrant; a smaller 22nd Century Klingon Bird-of-Prey and two Romulan "Nemesis-era" Birds-of-Prey. The Delta kits are really nicely detailed.
Here is a photo showing three of the models - in proper scale with each other - next to the Attack Wing models. . . showing why I decided to "scale up."
The TNG-era starships start to get considerably larger. This photo shows a couple of the earlier models next to the "saucer" section from Picard's Enterprise D.
A couple of weeks ago I dropped into the Mall of America to check out Star Trek: The Exhibition. The exhibit has been open awhile so I literally had it all to myself for an hour. It was kinda high on the "Cheese Scale" - props and costumes, in particular, almost always make we wish I hadn't seen them. But some of it was fun and I'm glad I went. You can actually sit in Kirk's captain's chair on a replica of the original TOS Enterprise bridge.
And, of course, we say thank you and good bye to Leonard Nimoy.
All this focus on HOTTs and Star Trek lately. . . what's going on with the F&IW project? I have been slowly building some more "mountainous" wooded terrain, as well as adapting some open fields, hills and rivers for use with both my 54mm Jenkins figures and 28mm HOTTs/DBA. More on that as it develops.
Mr. Jenkins has been very busy. I've long hoped for some figures for the 60th Royal Americans, and Mr. Jenkins is finally obliging!
The 60th has a colorful history and participated in many of the key engagements of the F&IW. A brief history from the JJD UK site:
The 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot, better known under
its later name, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, has long been associated
with Canada. After Braddock's defeat by the French and Indians in 1755,
authority was granted to raise a regiment of four battalions to be
recruited in Germany and from German colonists in North America. The
regiment was named the 62nd, or Royal American, Regiment of Foot; but it
was re-designated the 60th (Royal American) Regiment of Foot in February
1757. Recruiting for the Royal Americans in North America was
disappointing, and more than half its strength was drafted from men
rejected by British regiments in Ireland. From this unlikely collection
of foreigners and cast-offs was fashioned one of the most renowned corps
of the British Army.
Among the officers recruited in Europe were two able Swiss soldiers,
Henri Bouquet and Frederick Haldimand, who commanded respectively the
1st and 2nd battalions of the new regiment. Bouquet trained his
battalion as light infantry, emphasizing the skills required for forest
warfare. Haldimand also adapted his European experience to war in the
American wilderness.
The 1st and 4th battalions of the 60th accompanied General Abercromby's
advance up Lake Champlain in 1758, and participated in the disastrous
assault on the Ticonderoga position the following July. In November,
Bouquet's 1st Battalion played a major role in the successful advance to
Fort Duquesne, which secured the western border of New England against
the incursions of France's savage Indian allies.
In 1758, the 2nd and 3rd battalions were assigned to the forces of
General Amherst for operations in eastern Canada. Both battalions were
present at the capture of Louisbourg, and moved on to Quebec with Wolfe
the following year. The performance of the 60th at Montmorency Falls on
31 July 1753 won the regimental motto "Celer et Audax" (Swift and Bold) from General Wolfe.
The 2nd and 3rd battalions fought at the battle of the Plains of
Abraham on 13 September, 1759. The following year elements of all four
battalions participated in the final advance to Montreal.
I have two regiments ready for basing, too. French Bearn is complete but I was waiting to base the British 42nd Highlanders until the command figures were released. We just got word of the first officer release, Major Duncan Campbell of Inverawe,
along with a short bio:
In the year 1739, the six independent companies of the "Highland Watch",
along with four newly-raised companies, were incorporated into a
Regiment of Foot under John, the Earl of Crawford. This Regiment was
originally numbered the 43rd Highland Regiment, but was renumbered as
the 42nd in 1749.
The 42nd was sent to New York in 1756, and fought in the first battle of
Fort Ticonderoga in 1758, losing over half its troops in a valiant
assault on the breastworks. Prior to the action at Ticonderoga, the
42nd was given the distinction of being a "Royal" regiment, changing the
uniform's facings from buff to royal blue, and earning the right to
bear a distinctive seal on the colours and drums. The regiment was known
from then on as The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment or Royal
Highlanders.
The 42nd is rich in tradition from the battle. Foremost is the account
surrounding the death of the regiment’s major, Duncan Campbell of
Inverawe. The 42nd was a Campbell regiment. All 5 officer casualties at
Fontenoy in 1745 had been Campbells. At some time in the 1740's Inverawe
had been involved in concealing a fugitive. When it turned out the man
had murdered his cousin, Inverawe turned him out in breach of a promise
he had made. The fugitive appeared in a dream to Inverawe and said “I
will see you at Ticonderoga”. By 1758 Inverawe had served in the Black
Watch for some 20 years and was the major. Only on his arrival in
America did he discover the existence of Ticonderoga. The fugitive
appeared again to Inverawe in a dream the night before the battle. The
bloodstained figure predicted his death. Inverawe was severely wounded
in the battle and died at Fort Edward after his arm had been amputated.
And back to terrain, Dave at Traverse Dioramics has produced, with a little encouragement from me, a very nice "Dogtrot" Barn to go with his Hatchet Creek Farmhouse and Smokehouse. I think I have the very first production model.
Oh - and this blog reached 20,000 page views this week! Thank you to everyone who checked in on us over the last 80+ posts.
See ya!
So. . . not HOTTs in Poland. . . The Poland part comes later on. Bruce and I played three games of HOTTs last weekend. I played with my Undead, Bruce trotted out a different army in each of the three games. I played with 8 Hordes, a Behemoth, 2 Flyers, A Hero (vampires) and a Magician General. I defended in the first game.
The Sea Kings brought Riders, Airboats, Flyers and A Hero General. We both lined up fairly conservatively, holding our Flyers in reserve. The Riders waded into the Hordes while the Airboats threatened the Undead left flank.
The left flank turned into a scrum. An Airboat went down to a Hero then the Sea King Hero General picked a fight with the Vampires and lost. . . so Game One goes to the Undead.
For Game Two Bruce defended with the Macedonians: Shooters, Spears, Riders, Behemoth, Warbands and Hero General, of course.
And then, suddenly, as the armies are closing, the Macedonian Hero General is ensorceled. Game Over! The "hole" in the Macedonian line is where the Hero was. . .
Since it was over so quickly, we decided to play the game out. With the General gone, all of the Macedonian moves cost an extra pip. The Hordes held on long enough to allow the Undead Behemoth to kill its Macedonian counterpart, then finish off the Warbands for the "official" win.
Barbarians turned up for Game Three. Magician General, two Heroes and Warbands. A scary number of Heroes.
I lost my Hero to one of the Barbarian Heroes. Though I was able to ensorcle one of the Barbarian Heroes and play for time, the other Hero shrugged off 3 magical attacks as it chased down the Undead Magician General for the win. The Warbands never even got into contact!
So what about Poland? I just finished reading Poland by James A. Michener. Not a new book; my mother-in-law recommended it - strongly - citing my Polish ancestry. Amazon describes it thus:
In this sweeping novel, James A. Michener chronicles eight tumultuous
centuries as three Polish families live out their destinies. The Counts
Lubonski, the petty nobles Bukowksi, and the peasants Buk are at some
times fiercely united, at others tragically divided. With an inspiring
tradition of resistance to brutal invaders, from the barbarians to the
Nazis, and a heritage of pride that burns through eras of romantic
passion and courageous solidarity, their common story reaches a
breathtaking culmination in the historic showdown between the ruthless
Communists and rebellious farmers of the modern age. Like the heroic
land that is its subject, Poland teems with vivid events, unforgettable characters, and the unfolding drama of an entire nation.
Praise for Poland
“Engrossing . . . a page-turner in the grand Michener tradition.”—The Washington Post
“A Michener epic is far more than a bedtime reader, it’s an experience. Poland is a monumental effort, a magnificent guide to a better understanding of the country’s tribulations.”—Chicago Tribune
“Stunning . . . an unmatched overview of Polish history . . . The
families themselves come very much alive, and through them, Poland
itself.”—USA Today
“A titanic documentary novel.”—The Wall Street Journal
I learned a lot. For instance, I didn't know anything about the Russian attacks of 1920. Mr. Michener does a great job of creating characters you can really care about. . . and so many of them meet tragic ends. Quite a read - I recommend it, too.
See ya!
