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AWI Battle of Chatterton's Hill

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My main priority of the summer holidays was to play at least one game. Time, inertia and Real Life scuppered my solo campaign plans, but I did at least get to play my old mucker Andy T at a game of Maurice. We borrowed the scenario for Grymauchs solo blog, details  here  which is a great source of inspiration. We played around with the forces, I ended up with 3 brigades of Rebels and a cannon, arrayed as per Grymauchs scenario.  Dug in regulars with Irregular infantry in front, forming Putnam's brigade. In Maurice, skirmishers like these have a longer range of 6 Base Widths. This is an incredibly useful trait. This force was led by a Notable (chosen at random.)  MacDougalls brigade with the CO planning destruction of King George and his Hessian lap dogs. The scenario called for the American forces to fight a delaying action in order to prevent General Howe turning Washingtons flank on White Hills. In terms of Maurice this meant either fighting...

Things to see and do

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A wander round the excellent  Muckleborough Military Collection  on my holidays. Didn't go on the bone-rattling drive in the back of a Bedford around the sight this time, but at least my lad was a bit happier to stop and read some about some of the exhibits this time! Always good to see things in reality to get ideas of scale and presence. The Dingo, for example,  really is a small little chap that could easily hide behind shrubbery. I'm not tall, but could easily look into this!  2pdr porter 6pdr 17pdr. A real beast of a piece!  Chieftain, Stug, Sexton and a Pz.61 Meat Chopper quad .50cals.  ex Irish Army Comet.  T55 in centre, with a T34/85 in running order next to it , with only 1 logged repair in its 79 year history and a T55 bridge layer.  the rest of the camp, ex RAF Weybourne, used to train AA crews from WW1 to the Cold War.  ...

Village Life

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Finished the village, quite pleased with the tin roof on the workshop building. Will add some vehicles and some street furniture anon. 

Does Amos village base WIP

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Spending a day working on this, using some Google image searches for inspiration. I see Dos Amos as being a reasonably colourful and busy place but also a pretty shady location. Plenty of tourism, yachts and money but also plenty of back alleys where Caribbean drug trafficking and crime might be going down.  a readymade sandbox for my 80s based 82nd Airborne to drop in and sort out or my early 2000s USMC MEU to storm ashore on.  Anyone know any good sources of 6mm palm trees? 

Back to the Brushes

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A busy few weeks in our house, end of term, end of my job and the start of another (in September) and a holiday to Northumberland.  the Shop Inn at Low Newton. Fewer finer places to combine a paddle and a pint.  Back now and ready to pick up the brushes. Took a trip to Hobbycraft the other week but no Warboss Green was to be had so Humbrol Grass Green has had to step in for my 80s-inspired 'Eavy Metal Goblin Green basing convention.  First job was to finally finish the Royal Pologne cavalry regiment to add to the strength for my 7YW French army.  Tonight I shall be finishing an Airfix Cromwell...

Right then...

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the hot weather, the busy summer term, a job interview for a new school, the endless distractions of the World Cup and not being able to attend Joy of Six has meant that the hobby has taken very much of a back seat over the past 6 weeks or so.  However, it is now the holidays. The first weekend is one of calm reflection in this household, so telling stock and bringing order to this sorry state of affairs is the order of the day. 

Hobby pursuits Vs summer

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Half term and with the unfortunate postponement of the CWC game at The Unit- a speedy recovery and get well to  Richard Phillips  - my gaming/painting urge has taken a backseat to enjoying the unseasonably hot weather.  Hilbre Islands from West Kirby earlier this week  So evenings have seen me mostly outside, reading and enjoying some nice beers rather than painting. I plan on doing some work on some French cavalry tonight though- the Royal Pologne regiment, to be precise, whilst watching Springwatch. Then I'll have a beer outside. It's not a bad life.  The trip over the Pennines earlier this week also allowed me and the Boy to visit  Western Approaches  which has been on my to do list for a while, especially after seeing some videos on YouTube  Lindy Beige  in particular, doing an interesting one about the WATU, schooling officers in ASW tactics through wargaming. What's not to like? Plus being underground on a boilin...